"Alright, Luo Luo, you must be tired. Go back to your residence and rest. I'll investigate this matter."
Su Luo lifted her head from Nangong Chiyu's shoulder, her eyes resolute.
"No, Nangong Qing's injuries are quite serious, I have to go and stay with him."
Nangong Chiyu felt awkward. Su Luo was his wife, and doctors are said to have the heart of parents, but Nangong Qing's intentions towards him were impure, which made Nangong Chiyu very reluctant to let Su Luo take care of him personally.
"You haven't slept all night, you won't be able to handle this."
"No, Nangong Qing is too badly injured. I can't afford to be careless."
No matter what Nangong Chiyu said, Su Luo insisted on personally staying by Nangong Qing's side. When there was nothing to do, she could even take a nap.
Inside Ji'an Hall!
Nangong Qing has woken up. A Xu had someone bring him some white porridge and soup. He is covered in wounds, so Su Luo can only give him liquid food, and he should eat small meals frequently.
"Master, you should go and rest. I'll keep an eye on the Third Prince; he'll be fine."
Nangong Qing spoke with difficulty, using all his strength in his right hand to grasp Su Luo's index finger. After spending several years together, Su Luo understood his questioning and thirst for knowledge.
I grabbed his hand and put it back in place to keep him from moving.
She sat beside him and recounted what had happened in the palace that morning.
"Alright, don't worry. The person who hurt you has received the punishment he deserved, and His Majesty has also sent you a lot of tonics."
Half of the imperial physicians are here to take care of you. Don't worry about anything; just focus on recovering and don't think about anything else.
Su Luo didn't tell him everything that happened to Nangong Jingyao, but Nangong Qing wasn't stupid; he would suspect his second brother when he was injured.
Nangong Qing closed his eyes to rest, his mind filled with countless thoughts. He pondered that the imperial court was a place of open and covert infighting, and he tried his best to stay away from it.
But in the end, he still couldn't escape it. And judging from what Su Luo said, Nangong Jingyao must have encountered something else, otherwise, given his intelligence...
Even if he were to be harmed, he would find someone to take the blame or cover it up. It's impossible for him to be arrested so quickly. There must be something else going on, but he just doesn't know it.
"Luo Luo..."
Nangong Qing wanted to ask more, but Su Luo was already asleep, leaning against the edge of his bed.
Nangong Qing felt extremely distressed that Su Luo was so exhausted because of him.
He wanted to reach out and hold Su Luo's hand, but he didn't dare. Su Luo was no longer the Su Luo of the past. She was now the Princess Consort of Yu, the Princess Consort of Yu who no longer even left him with any illusions.
In the end, he only dared to place his hand in the position closest to Su Luo; that one finger's width of distance was something he had stolen.
...
Over the course of several days, the emperor took care of Nangong Qing while dealing with the secret henchmen left behind by Nangong Jingyao.
The Second Prince's residence was almost completely cleared out, its former splendor replaced by a prison that held him captive.
These past few days, Nangong Jingyao has calmed down and deeply pondered why he has become like this.
There are three reasons. First, he is too confident!
Second, he believed that the people in the court were all on his side, because apart from him, none of the ministers could support him.
Third, he failed to have any trusted confidants, which led to his current predicament.
As for Xing Sisi's death, he couldn't understand it. He didn't poison her. The only explanation he could think of was that Xing Sisi was so angry because he wanted to marry Ye Qianning that she suffered a stroke, which led to the accident.
But the Xing family didn't think that way. Minister Xing and his wife were convinced that he had killed Xing Sisi.
Besides pondering, he also watched as the Second Prince's residence grew more and more desolate, and his heart grew colder with each passing day.
Is Father really going to depose him? This action shows no mercy and is not just meant to frighten him.
But he was still waiting. After all, there was no official decree, and he still held onto a sliver of hope. His secret troops were waiting for him to give the order.
But deep down he felt he should wait...
Just as Nangong Jingyao was feeling utterly dejected, the guards outside suddenly fell silent, and there was even the sound of someone collapsing to the ground.
The door that imprisoned him was suddenly opened from the outside, and when he turned around, he saw Ye Qianning dressed in black.
He stood up unconsciously and walked towards that petite figure.
"Your Highness, how did you become so thin?"
Ye Qianning took Nangong Jingyao's hand, her eyes filled with heartache.
"Princess Qianning, how did you get in here? You should leave quickly, lest Father finds out."
Nangong Jingyao turned to look outside the door. Ye Qianning hadn't brought many people, and the imperial guards who were watching over him were all unconscious and lying on the ground.
It's obvious without even thinking that Ye Qianning drugged them with sleeping pills.
"Your Highness, I'm not leaving. I came here to save you. If you're going to leave, we'll leave together."
Nangong Jingyao pushed Ye Qianning out the door: "No, if I leave, not to mention what will happen to Nanning, you will also be implicated. I can't let you suffer."
Nangong Jingyao forgot that as long as the marriage alliance between Nanning and Beiliang exists, and Ye Qianning is indispensable to him, his father will punish him leniently for the sake of the friendship between the two countries.
He will slowly climb up the ranks, and even the Crown Prince will fall into his hands, let alone the unambitious Nangong Qing.
"Your Highness, can't you see the situation clearly? Don't you know what has happened outside while you've been imprisoned here?"
Ye Qianning offered kind advice, holding Nangong Jingyao's hand and earnestly explaining.
"Your Highness, do you think you'll still be the high and mighty Second Prince after you leave?"
Qian Ning had heard some rumors that His Majesty of Nanning had already arranged a marriage for the Third Prince, and that the chosen bride was the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Yan of Nanning.
Do you know what this means? The Prime Minister's daughter—isn't that a clear indication that she's trying to support the Third Prince?
Moreover, the Third Prince's health is improving day by day. You have already lost power, Your Highness. Do you understand Qian Ning's words?
Nangong Jingyao stood with his back to Ye Qianning, deep in thought. His father hadn't come to see him these past few days, nor had anyone come to comfort him. Was he really not given any chance at all?
“Princess Qian Ning, I’ve always had a question for you. The imperial physicians said that I was responsible for the death of the Second Prince’s wife.”
"My brocade robe was poisoned, but that day, around 3 PM, I only went out with you. Tell me, did you know about this poison?"
After thinking about it for a few days, even though he trusted Ye Qianning completely, he still wanted to hear her say it herself.
Ye Qianning frowned, her eyes filled with grievance, and tears streamed down her face.
"Does Your Highness suspect Qian Ning?"
Nangong Jingyao: "I...I just..."
"Your Highness, there's no need to say anything more. I'll tell you everything you want to know. I've also heard about the circumstances surrounding the Second Prince's Consort's passing."
It was caused by that poison, but has Your Highness forgotten? Qian Ning is also a woman. Isn't Qian Ning afraid that the poison will harm her?
Others may doubt my character, but Second Prince, you are the person Qian Ning will rely on for the rest of her life. How could I possibly harm you?
Harming Xing Sisi at this time would be tantamount to harming himself. Nangong Jingyao didn't think Ye Qianning would be that foolish.
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