elder sister
Capital city, imperial palace.
The wind blew across the vermilion palace walls, but it could not blow away the stagnant heaviness in Xue Han Palace.
The teacup in Concubine Yu's hand fell to the ground with a "bang" and shattered into pieces. The warm tea splashed on her skirt, but she was completely unaware.
The messenger knelt on the ground, his body shaking like a fallen leaf in the autumn wind, and his voice was filled with tears as he conveyed the shocking bad news from the front line to her ears.
The hall was dead silent; you could hear a pin drop.
Concubine Yu felt dizzy and her vision went dark, and she almost fell down.
Yier…her Yier! How could this happen? How could this be possible?
Clearly, good news was pouring in, and victory was clearly within sight, so how could it suddenly...
She was so heartbroken that she could hardly breathe.
Her daughter, her daughter who had gone through so much hardship and finally managed to break free from the cage and fly, could she really be broken in the wind and sand in the frontier?
Even though the letters from the front were mostly euphemistic, she knew that the situation was more dire than good...
She almost cried out loud, she had lost her only daughter.
The only daughter she loved deeply in this world was almost gone with her.
But just as tears were streaming down her face, Concubine Yu finally regained a bit of her sanity.
Her Yier is not only her daughter, but also the regent princess of the Southern Dynasty. She is the monarch who commands thousands of troops, recovers Hebei, and points her sword at the Western Qiang!
She has achieved unprecedented achievements. Her reputation after death must not be tarnished, and the good situation she has established must not be allowed to be stolen by scoundrels.
If Yi'er really can't come back...
As a mother, she would fight to the last breath to protect the thing that her daughter cherishes most.
She will never allow anyone to throw mud behind her back, tamper with her achievements, or even overthrow the government she has painstakingly built!
"Someone come!"
The trusted palace maid quickly stepped forward and said, "Mrs. Dowager Concubine."
"Go to Prince Qing's palace immediately and tell him I'm telling him to come over right away. Tell him I'm feeling unwell and want to see him. Be sure to personally invite him here. Anyone who tries to stop me will be apprehended!"
"Yes!" The palace maid did not dare to delay and immediately turned around and walked away quickly.
Concubine Yu then looked at another eunuch and said, "Hurry up and summon Lord Wang Jingzhi, Lord Nong Zishi, Lord Shen Qingyan, the Deputy Prime Minister, and Lord Su to the palace to see you immediately! Quickly!"
In the past, she never got involved in court affairs for fear that her daughter would be raped, but now, she doesn't care about that anymore.
She wants to protect this world for her daughter.
*
Prince Qing Ning Yanhe was practicing calligraphy in his study when he heard that Concubine Yu had summoned him and that she was not feeling well. He immediately stood up and prepared to go.
However, a leading eunuch appointed by the Jing family beside him smiled and stopped him, saying, "Your Highness, today's homework is not yet completed. Master Jing specifically instructed that we will test Your Highness on the Zizhi Tongjian at noon. If the Dowager Concubine is only slightly ill, why not wait until Your Highness finishes his homework before paying your respects?"
Ning Yanhe was slightly startled, and a strange feeling flashed through his mind.
Empress Yu had never summoned him specifically for a minor illness during his school hours, and what about the eunuch's tone?
He is already fifteen years old and is no longer that completely ignorant child.
The vague atmosphere of unease in the palace in recent days, the teachers' evasive words, and the eunuchs' unusual behavior at this moment all made him feel inexplicably nervous.
Did something terrible happen in the palace? Was it related to Empress Yu? Or was it related to my sister who was far away at the front?
He didn't dare to think too deeply, but frowned. For the first time, his tone was filled with the dignity of a prince: "How dare you! Concubine Yu is my stepmother, who raised me for many years. Now that she is not feeling well, I should go and serve her immediately! How can schoolwork be compared with filial piety? Get out of the way!"
The eunuch was stunned for a moment as he had not expected that Prince Qing, who had always been gentle and submissive, would be so tough.
Ning Yanhe ignored him and walked straight out.
Not far from the palace gate, he was stopped again. This time it was one of his masters, Jing Yu, who was carefully selected by the Jing family and placed by his side.
Jing Yu looked hurried, but his tone was still as gentle as usual: "Your Highness, where are you going? Today's lecture on the sutra is not yet finished..."
"Master Jing," Ning Yanhe's uneasiness grew stronger. He stopped and looked at Jing Yu. "The Imperial Concubine Yu has summoned me. I must go immediately. We can discuss the matters of the sutra later."
Jing Yu's eyes flashed with anxiety. He took a step forward and lowered his voice: "Your Highness, there may be changes in the palace at the moment. The situation is unclear. Why don't you return to the palace with me first and wait for me to find out..."
"Master Jing, what do you mean?" Ning Yanhe's heart sank, and his voice grew colder. "How can it be that Concubine Yu summoned me? Why is there something unexplained? Could it be that Master thinks Concubine Yu will harm me?"
Just as the two sides were in a stalemate, a sedan chair stopped not far away and Concubine Jing got out.
She is the biological mother of Prince Qing. Although her status is lower than that of Concubine Yu, she usually stays at home and rarely goes out. She is the person closest to Prince Qing.
She seemed to be passing by, and seeing the scene before her, she softly said, "Master Yu is here too? What's going on? Yan He, are you going to pay your respects to Concubine Yu? Mother is also going there, why don't you go together?"
Jing Yu's face changed slightly when he saw this, but he could no longer stop them. He could only bow and say, "How dare I delay the Empress Dowager and His Highness? I will take my leave."
He looked at Prince Qing with complicated eyes and retreated reluctantly.
Ning Yanhe was full of doubts and silently followed his biological mother to Xuehan Palace.
He remained silent along the way, and the bad premonition in his heart grew stronger and stronger.
As he stepped into Xuehan Palace, Ning Yanhe immediately felt a solemn atmosphere that was different from before.
Concubine Yu sat upright on the couch. Although her face was a little pale, her eyes were sharp and clear, and she did not look sick.
Seeing him come in, Concubine Yu dismissed her attendants, leaving only the three of them, mother and son.
"Yanhe," Concubine Yu looked at him, "I want to ask you, what does Sister Lingyi mean to you?"
Ning Yanhe's heart tightened, and without hesitation, he knelt before Concubine Yu, his tone extremely sincere: "Empress Yu, sister is not a parent to me, but she is better than a parent! If sister hadn't risked her life to protect me and took me away from the palace, I would have died in the coup. If sister hadn't supported and taught me along the way, how could I be where I am today?"
"Sister is not only my elder sister, but also my benefactor and my support! Her contributions to the Southern Dynasty, the recovery of Heshuo and the expedition to the Western Qiang, are greater than heaven and have benefited all people!"
As he spoke, his eyes were already red: "My Lady, is something wrong with my sister?"
He finally asked about his biggest fear.
Concubine Yu couldn't hold back her tears. She reached out and embraced Ning Yanhe, her voice choking with sobs, "Good boy, good boy... If someone bullies your sister and slanders her reputation and destroys her legacy, what will you do?"
Ning Yanhe suddenly raised her head. Although there was still a hint of youthful confusion in her eyes, she was very determined: "I will never agree! If anyone dares to disrespect me, I will do my utmost to protect everything I left behind!"
"Okay, okay..." Concubine Yu stroked his hair, tears dripping onto his clothes.
Ning Yanhe's heart sank completely, and his voice trembled: "My Queen, please tell me, what happened? My sister..."
Concubine Yu didn't answer directly, but just hugged him tighter.
At this time, the eunuch outside the door reported that the three prime ministers Wang Jingzhi, Nong Zishi, and Shen Qingyan, as well as Su Qingfan had arrived.
When everyone entered the hall, their faces were extremely heavy, and it was obvious that they had learned the shocking news.
After the ceremony, the hall fell into dead silence.
Wang Jingzhi spoke first, his voice old and hoarse: "Your Highness, Your Highness, the affairs of your Majesty, we old ministers are deeply saddened. However, the most urgent task is to stabilize the court and respond to the great changes. The 100,000-man Northern Expedition army depends on your Majesty alone. Now that your Majesty is missing, the generals in the army are all commanding heavy troops and far away from the center. If any of them harbor ulterior motives, I am afraid..."
He didn't finish his words, but everyone understood the unfinished meaning.
It is not impossible for him to wear the yellow robe and establish his own regime with his own army.
By then, the Southern Dynasty would immediately fall apart.
Nong Zishi interjected. He was the one who could least accept Ning Lingyi's misfortune. He said, "Your Majesty has promoted us. This is a great favor! We must do our utmost to safeguard Your Majesty's legacy. Prime Minister Wang is right. The possibility of him wearing the imperial robe may not be impossible. However, the situation is still unclear. We must be extremely cautious in allocating food and fodder. We must not give too much at once. We must carefully examine the movements of the various armies to prevent any unforeseen events."
After these words were spoken, everyone present became more nervous.
Shen Qingyan was calmer. He also pointed out the hidden danger: "Controlling the current situation starts with the capital. The Jing family has accumulated wealth for thousands of years and has been in the court for many years. They have already infiltrated various departments and even have influence in the Military Affairs Department. If they take advantage of this and incite the court, it will be difficult to deal with."
Everyone's eyes involuntarily fell on Prince Qing Ning Yanhe.
This young prince has always been the object of the Jing family's meticulous training. His attitude is crucial, yet also the most worrying.
His feelings for His Majesty as a brother are undoubtedly deep, but how much has the influence of the Jing family left on him over the years? What will he choose now?
Even if he chose his sister's kindness now, what about the future? Would the boy still remember his sister? Would he be willing to live in her shadow forever?
Concubine Yu saw everyone's doubts. She took a deep breath and said, "What the Jing family wants is the throne. If they can hold on for a while, what if the throne is given to Yan He?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall had different expressions.
Wang Jingzhi pondered, Nong Zishi hesitated to speak, and Shen Qingyan's eyes flashed slightly.
This was indeed a move to temporarily stabilize the Jing family and prevent the capital from immediately falling into internal strife. However, this move was also fraught with risk. If Prince Qing completely turned to the Jing family, then...
All eyes were focused on Ning Yanhe again.
Ning Yanhe stood there, feeling that those gazes were as heavy as a mountain, pressing him so hard that he could hardly breathe.
emperor?
This position, which he had been indoctrinated and expected to be in since childhood, but felt extremely far away because of his sister's existence, was suddenly pushed in front of him.
My sister may no longer be here...
He never thought of replacing his sister. He always believed that his sister, who was as powerful as a god, would always protect him. He would always be her younger brother, assist her, and respect her.
However, the change came so suddenly and so violently.
He felt lost and helpless, like a lone boat thrown into the raging waves.
What should he say? What can he do?
The hall was silent, everyone waiting for his reaction.
Ning Yanhe lowered her eyes and chose to remain silent, just like her sister did when she left the Jing family.
He didn't know what to say, so he chose to say nothing.
Concubine Yu looked at him and sighed in her heart. What else could a young man who was suddenly pushed to the crest of fate, a prince who had always been raised in the hands of others in the deep palace, do?
Ning Yanhe lowered his head. He had a lot of thoughts in his mind. He needed time to think clearly about what he should do to live up to his sister, the country, and himself.
His silence made the atmosphere in the hall even more subtle.
Concubine Yu knew that the storm had just begun.
Prince Qing has completely become the center of the storm.
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