After saying that, Zhao Ying was hugged by Zhao Cong. Zhao Cong finally expressed the emotions that had been suppressed for a long time. He choked with tears, "Ying'er, Ying'er..."
Shangguan Shu looked at her coldly. It would have been fine if he was her biological brother in the past, but now they were not related by blood, so what was there for him to hug?
Shangguan Shu pulled Zhao Cong away without leaving any trace, saying, "There are many eyes and ears in the palace. If you two do this, it might be difficult to plead for mercy later..."
Zhao Cong shook his head upon hearing this. "Sister Ying, please stop begging for mercy. I...I deserve this. I've known my life story for a long time, but I kept it a secret. It's only right that Father and Mother are angry and resentful of me."
Zhao Ying pursed her lips and said, "Don't think like that. Even if you don't ask for mercy and are willing to die, what about Ah Shu? What about your child?"
"I don't want to implicate you..."
Zhao Ying lowered her eyebrows and said with difficulty, "It's okay. You know how much my father and mother dote on me. This matter will definitely not implicate me..."
Zhao Cong said nothing more, only asking Zhao Ying to take care of herself. Before leaving, he glanced at Shangguan Shu, wanting to say something more, but Shangguan Shu's brows softened. "Don't worry, the Zhenguogong Mansion still has a golden medal of immunity from death."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Cong paused for a while, covered his mouth, and sobbed.
"Runzhiwuwu..."
He excitedly wanted to go over and hug Shangguan Shu, but Shangguan Shu stretched out his arms to separate them. Zhao Cong didn't care, but cried like a child.
Zhao Ying twitched the corners of her mouth.
Well, his true love is indeed Shangguan Shu.
She talked for a long time, but he remained indifferent.
Shangguan Shu opened his mouth and watched him cry so helplessly.
There was no one around, and there were brick-red palace walls on both sides. Some palace servants passed by and saw them from afar. In order to avoid paying their respects, they took a detour.
Zhao Cong cried enough and turned away.
Zhao Ying stared at his back, a hint of guilt suddenly flashing across her dark eyes.
She hesitated to move, but suddenly sighed.
Shangguan Shu saw this, stretched out his arms and took her into his arms.
Zhao Ying didn't push him away. She lowered her head, resting her forehead on his hard shoulder blades. After a while, she muttered, "Am I very bad?"
"Brother believes in me and you so much..."
Shangguan Shu said calmly, "I can only say... we have a good understanding."
The tacit understanding is so strong that... no need to discuss, we reach the same goal through different means.
Zhao Ying laughed at himself, then raised his head and looked at Shangguan Shu. His eyes seemed to be dripping with blood, filled with pain and entanglement.
Shangguan Shu suddenly panicked, held her face in his hands, and comforted her, "Don't think about it anymore..."
"I can't help it..." Zhao Ying narrowed her eyes, her expression empty and bitter.
"That day, Yue'er and I were feeding fish on Mirror Lake. Suddenly, I caught a glimpse of the shimmering water, reflecting our figures. You know, the face on the lake wasn't clear, but... it looked a lot like Shao Yihui."
"You know, at that moment, my breathing almost stopped. I couldn't believe it, and I forced myself to suppress the thought. But at night, I recalled what Yue'er said, that she calculated that Qi Dongqiang had the character of a phoenix, and I basically believed it..."
Fengge?
The phoenix should be paired with the dragon...
Shangguan Shu stared, he did all this not to let Shao Yihui reap the benefits!
Ying'er wanted to become emperor, but couldn't bear to take the throne from Zhao Cong, so it was natural for him to pull Zhao Cong down and help her.
As for Shao Yihui, he should just be a wealthy prince!
Zhao Ying didn't notice Shangguan Shu's strange behavior. "I sent someone to investigate secretly, but they only found a few details. But I'm basically sure..."
"Every day since then, I've been torn. If it's exposed, Zhao Cong will be in danger. If it's not exposed... He's my own brother. I think about what he's been through, and about Qi Dongqiang. I wonder why someone as brilliant and intelligent as my brother would have a special liking for someone as shallow and vicious as Qi Dongqiang. Could it be that she was his only light during his difficult years?"
"He's having a bad time..."
"Shangguan Shu, ever since you told Shao Yihui to go and fetch Pei, I knew what you were going to do. I kept saying I was protecting Zhao Cong, my brother who grew up with me, but I acquiesced. Even Gongsun Yuda's appearance was something I acquiesced to. I'm actually quite selfish. I appear to be loyal and righteous, but I'm also biased..."
"Don't blame yourself. Even a saint would be at a loss in this complex situation. On one hand, there's the friendship we've shared since childhood, and on the other, blood is thicker than water. You've done well. You don't need to blame yourself too much. Whether it's the inner palace or the previous dynasty, there's no right or wrong; there's only a balance. The current result is the best outcome after weighing all the pros and cons."
Zhao Ying paused and nodded slightly. "You're right. Now that it's done, there's no point in overthinking it. But I'm still worried..."
"You are worried about Yue'er..." Shangguan Shu hit the nail on the head.
Zhao Ying's expression suddenly turned cold, and she said quietly, "I really shouldn't sympathize with someone who hates me, Yue'er. Maybe now that Qi Dongqiang is dead, I've started to feel a sense of compensation for him."
"I hope he won't be so desperate as to go against me for someone like Qi Dongqiang!"
Shangguan Shu smiled faintly, "Don't worry, I won't allow that day to happen."
Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Shangguan Qiyou was taken away by Nanny Li to play, and after a while, Shangguan Qingyue was also taken out by Wu Yonggui.
Shangguan Qingyue's small hands clung to the palace door, unwilling to leave. "Grandfather, listen to me. I've figured it out right now. Please don't be disappointed in me!"
"Give Yue'er another chance!"
"Wuwu, Imperial Grandmother..."
Wu Yonggui reluctantly pried the little fellow's fingers apart and said, "Young lady, may I take you to the imperial kitchen to get some fruit?"
"Your Majesty doesn't distrust you, he's just worried you'll starve!"
The little fellow pouted and drooped his eyebrows, half believing it, and let Wu Yonggui carry him to the imperial kitchen. "I also want to drink pearl milk tea... Mom said that when the imperial grandmother comes back, she will make pearl milk tea for me!"
The little guy's voice faded away.
Inside the palace, Emperor Jianxi glanced at Empress Xiaomin, coughed lightly, and asked, "Did you hear what Yue'er said just now?"
Shao Yihui was stunned and completely understood the key point. He frowned slightly.
Emperor Jianxi and Empress Xiaomin carefully observed his expression. Seeing him like this, they felt more reassured. When Shao Yihui nodded, Emperor Jianxi asked, "What did she say?"
"She said..."
[Why did the Emperor's grandfather leave me here alone? Hmm, maybe he wants to ask me how to prove that Shao Yihui is the Emperor's grandfather's biological son? After all, everyone knows that I am Zhui Chongming!]
[Does the Emperor's maternal grandfather also want me to be his military advisor? ]
[The emperor's grandfather has a very sharp vision! ]
【But... I haven't figured out a solution yet. 】
「Ahhhhhhhh……or maybe I should just make one up. What should I make up……」
[Got it! My mother once said that on the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon raises its head, and if a nephew gets his hair cut, his uncle will die. So I'll wait for the second day of the second lunar month to get a haircut. If Shao Yihui dies, then he'll be my real uncle!]
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