confused
Empress Dowager's Palace
During this period of time, because of the incident of the bell tower, since Song Qing suddenly appeared in the court that day, the Empress Dowager began to panic about what he had found out.
A few days ago, Song Yizhou suddenly came to the palace and asked her why she wanted to get involved in other people's divorce affairs.
The Empress Dowager hurriedly explained, "Madam Zhong and I were indebted to each other when we were young. Zhong Lou asked me to help, and I couldn't bear it, so I intervened."
Song Yizhou implied that the Empress Dowager was overreaching and that she should not bribe court officials for her own selfish desires in the future.
The Empress Dowager was relieved after hearing this. After hearing what Song Yizhou said, she must have believed her words. At most, she would not trust her in the future and would not investigate her.
After all, she has been cautious over the years and has not made any mistakes except this time. Song Yizhou is busy educating Song Jing and controlling the government, so he has no time to care about her.
She firmly believed that the Zhou family did not have the courage to tell Song Yizhou what happened that year. After all, it was a capital crime punishable by death.
As for Zhong Lou's daughter Zhong Ningning, so what if she is familiar with Song Yizhou? The Zhou family would never tell this to a young girl.
Unfortunately, the Empress Dowager did not expect that Zhong Lou concealed what she had said in front of Zhou. She only thought that Song Yizhou came to her because of her bribery of the Dali Temple Minister, and she did not know that Song Yizhou had known that she had been secretly supporting Zhong Lou all these years.
Of course, Zhong Lou didn't dare to tell this matter. If the Empress Dowager knew about it, she was afraid that Song Yizhou would find out something and would definitely not keep him. He also held on to the hope that Zhou would forget about it.
At present, the affairs of the Zhou family are the Empress Dowager's biggest concern. If the Zhou family is really forced to tell what happened in the past one day, she will be the one to die.
Although the Empress Dowager felt that she and the Zhou family were in the same boat, she was still worried, so she came up with a plan to let the Zhou family hand over a hostage as a handle, and this person must be someone who can support the Zhou family.
Later, Zhou Qi found her again and told her that she had not been able to enter the court for many years and the Zhou family was in decline, so he asked her to promote the Zhou family members.
The Empress Dowager felt relieved after hearing Zhou Qi's request. If Zhou Qi agreed so easily, she would be suspicious. In this case, she and the Zhou family would still be in the same boat.
It was Song Yizhou's idea to let Zhou Qi visit the Empress Dowager again in order to dispel her suspicion. As for whether she believed that Zhang Bai was a member of the Zhou family, it all depended on Zhang Bai.
In order to avoid suspicion, Gu Shi never went to the Empress Dowager's palace in these years and had been exchanging letters with the Empress Dowager.
After reading the letter from the Empress Dowager, which stated that Song Yizhou had dispelled his suspicions and that the Zhou family was willing to send hostages, Gu Shi always felt that things were going too smoothly. Was Song Yizhou really so gullible?
But Gu Shi was very confident. He was sure that Song Yizhou would not suspect him. Even if he found out something, it would only be related to the Empress Dowager, and his great cause would not be affected.
Song Yizhou had been hesitating whether to tell Song Jing about the Empress Dowager. After all, the Empress Dowager had raised him for several years, and Song Jing had some feelings for her.
If I tell Song Jing that his father was killed by the Empress Dowager and that he himself was almost killed, would Song Jing be unable to accept it?
In the past ten years, Song Jing was raised by Song Yizhou. Perhaps because of this, Song Yizhou always feels soft-hearted around Song Jing.
If it were a few years ago, Song Yizhou might have chosen to keep it secret, but now, Song Yizhou felt that it was time to let go. Song Jing would grow up one day and become a qualified emperor, not a child hiding behind his uncle.
Besides, once this matter is settled, Song Yizhou will not stay in the capital. A'an will leave, and he will definitely stay with A'an.
Song Yizhou told Song Jing about the Empress Dowager without much hesitation, asking him to be wary of her and not be used by her in the future.
Seeing Song Jing sad when he knew that the Queen Mother had killed his father, Song Yizhou did not comfort him this time. Instead, he said sternly: "Song Jing, it's time for you to become a qualified emperor. I can't stay by your side forever, nor can I help you forever. I should let go, and you should grow up."
After saying this, Song Yizhou left the palace.
Song Jing stared at Song Yizhou's departing back, his eyes red. He was not sad because he knew that the Queen Mother had killed his father. In his eyes, the Queen Mother was no match for any of his relatives and friends. Now he just knew that he had gained an enemy.
He was sad. Song Yizhou began to shift the burden to him. No matter what happened in the past, this imperial uncle always took the responsibility. But in the future, he would be the only one left.
For so many years, Song Jing felt guilty towards Song Yizhou. He always knew that his uncle was trapped in this palace because of him and was forced to endure dangers from all directions for him.
Song Jing heard the story of the emperor's uncle from Song Xi. Only then did he realize that the emperor's uncle's life in the past was so beautiful. There was no intrigue and he could do whatever he wanted. The emperor's uncle could have lived the life he wanted, but because of him, he was trapped here.
Ever since Sister Lin Yan came to the capital, Song Jing realized that the emperor's uncle was about to leave.
The emperor's uncle explained the matter of Prince Jing to him very clearly, telling him in detail how to deal with it and how many dangers were involved. Song Jing knew that after this matter was over, everything would be resolved and the emperor's uncle should leave.
Song Jing thought that he should be happy, happy for his uncle, because he could finally leave this cage and live the life he wanted.
But if the emperor's uncle leaves, he will really be the only one left in this cage. Xishui will get married in the future, and the friends he made in the academy will also have the distinction between the emperor and his subjects. Soon, he will be the only one left.
The eunuchs around him always said that if he married in the future, there would be many people who loved him and accompanied him, but Song Jing didn't like that. He only wanted one wife, one whom he loved and who loved his wife. When he told others about this, they would be surprised to find that this was possible.
Yes, how is this possible.
If possible, he didn't want to be the emperor. Song Jing felt that he was not cut out to be the emperor. From childhood to adulthood, there had always been people helping him. He even felt that everyone around him was more qualified to be the emperor than him.
But the people around him only wanted to train him to become a qualified emperor.
But he didn't want to. He liked everything outside the palace and liked a free life. He hated this oppressive palace the most. If possible, he wanted to leave here.
Song Jing climbed onto the roof and sat there all day, from sunset to dusk, and no matter how his servants called out to him, he refused to come down.
The weather was cold, just like his heart.
Zhou Mansion
The Zhou family's affairs were almost resolved, and Zhou's heart also settled down. In a few months, it would be Ningning's seventeenth birthday, which was the most suitable age for women in the capital to get married.
Students who want to take the exam to become female officials in Shangde Academy can stay in the academy, while other women who have reached marriageable age can already leave the academy. Zhou Ningning has no ambition to become a female official, so she no longer needs to go to the academy.
Thanks to the relationship between Lin Yi and the Regent, even though the divorce happened, there was still an endless stream of people coming to propose marriage.
Seeing so many talented young men coming to propose marriage, Zhou was overjoyed and took Ningning to visit them every day.
Zhou Ningning was not very annoyed. She didn't know why, but in the past, when her mother asked her to think about it, she would resist but not to the point of being annoyed. But recently, she just wanted to run away.
Finally, on a sunny day, Zhou took Zhou Ningning to the temple to see her, and she ran away without caring about anything.
Zhou Ningning ran very fast, fearing that her mother and her men would catch up with her. People who didn't know would think there was a vicious dog chasing her.
She ran for several blocks, looked back breathlessly, and found that no one was catching up with her. Zhou Ningning breathed a sigh of relief.
Perhaps because she had been running for too long, Zhou Ningning felt a little dizzy. She staggered and almost fell. A hand almost caught her, but fortunately she dodged quickly.
Zhou Ningning held onto the wall beside her and took a long time to look up to see who the person was. After seeing the person's face clearly, Zhong Ningning's face froze and she raised her foot to leave.
"Why did you see me running? When did I ever offend you?" Song Jing wondered.
"Do you know me?" Zhou Ningning awkwardly retracted her foot and touched her nose.
Song Jing: "I was there at Sister Lin's birthday party. Have you forgotten? I remember your name is Zhong Ningning."
He was upset all day yesterday, so he sneaked out of the palace today and strolled on the street. He saw Zhou Ningning running all the way. He was bored and followed her out of curiosity.
"My name is Zhou Ningning," Zhou Ningning corrected dissatisfiedly.
"I almost forgot, your mother got divorced, congratulations," Song Jing clasped his fists in congratulations.
"Thank you. Is there anything else I can help you with? If not, I'll be leaving." After saying that, Zhou Ningning prepared to leave.
"Don't go. Are you hungry? I'll treat you to a meal." Song Jing stopped her.
Thinking about how she was dragged out by her mother today and didn't have time to bring her purse, and now she was a little hungry and didn't want to go home, Zhou Ningning agreed spinelessly.
Song Jing took Zhong Ningning to a nearby restaurant, and the two sat down and waited for the dishes to be served.
Song Jing asked the question that had always puzzled him: "Have I offended you before? Why do you leave when you see me?"
"No." Zhong Ningning looked awkward and didn't want to talk.
"I remember the first time we met was in the academy. You fell down while climbing the wall for unknown reasons..." Song Jing recalled.
"Stop talking," Zhou Ningning hurriedly stopped him, feeling extremely embarrassed.
Song Jing felt that he had discovered the truth, "You are not embarrassed because I saw you fall while climbing the wall, are you?"
Zhou Ningning: “…”
Forget it, it has come to this, Zhou Ningning gave up, "I heard from my classmates in the academy that there is a new student in the academy next door who is good-looking, so I went to see him secretly. I didn't expect that I had seen you before, and I fell down without paying attention."
After Zhou Ningning finished speaking, she lowered her head. She didn't hear any movement for a long time. When she looked up, she saw Song Jing laughing with his head down.
"Stop laughing," Zhou Ningning said angrily, "I shouldn't have told you if I had known."
"No, no, I won't laugh anymore." Song Jing hurriedly changed the subject, "Why did you say you had seen me before?" He rarely left the palace, but he could be seen here.
"It was the day of the Qiqiao Festival. My sister accompanied me to look at the lanterns. I liked one of the lanterns, but I didn't know how to guess the riddle, so you beat me to it. I wanted to buy it from you, but you left all of a sudden," Zhou Ningning complained.
"I remember now, you were there that day when my royal...cousin was exposed," Song Jing said embarrassedly, "The lantern is still here, do you want it? I'll give it to you when I get back to...home."
"No, I don't want it that much," Zhou Ningning waved her hand to refuse.
The food was served on the table, and the two chatted for a while and gradually became familiar with each other.
Song Jing asked curiously, "Why did you run so fast just now?"
There is nothing to hide about this. Zhou Ningning has been troubled by this matter recently. Someone happened to complain to her, "My mother forces me to look for a bride all day long, but I don't want to get married. Today my mother forced me to look for a bride again, and I couldn't stand it, so I ran away."
"You have courage," Song Jing praised, "I really envy you. If you don't want to do something, you don't do it and just run away, unlike me..."
"What's troubling you?" Zhou Ningning asked curiously.
Song Jing sorted out his words and said, "My family wants me to bear the burden of the family, but I don't want to. I want to leave home and go to a wider world, instead of being trapped in a place I don't like."
"Then just run away. Is there no one else in your family who can replace you?" Zhou Ningning asked in confusion.
"I can't run away from there just because I want to," Song Jing sighed and asked, "If you don't want to get married, what do you want to do?"
This question really stumped Zhou Ningning. Yes, she seemed to have never thought about what she wanted to do.
"I need to think about this carefully." Zhou Ningning felt that what Song Jing said made sense.
One of them didn't want to go back to the palace, and the other didn't want to go home, so they got together and wanted to play together forever.
It was almost dark when Zhou Ningning said goodbye, "I should go back. I've had fun all day. My mother will definitely scold me when I get back."
Song Jing said goodbye to her and said, "I'll treat you to dinner next time."
Zhou Ningning: "No, no, no, I'll treat you to dinner next time."
Song Jing smiled and said, "Okay"
On the way back to the palace, Song Jing was puzzled. He had played outside the palace for a whole day, but no one came to catch him back. Little did he know that the shadow guard had followed him all day. If it weren't for Song Yizhou's instructions, he would have been caught and taken back long ago.
Song Jing thought about what Zhou Ningning said and decided to find someone who could take on the heavy responsibility in his place.
But this is not that easy. Where can he find someone who can command the support of the people, has the right status, and is willing to be emperor?
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