Chapter 356 Strange Things Happen in Ruzhou
The next morning, Zhao Wanqing arranged to meet Shen Xu.
"You're going to Ruzhou? That's so sudden, is something the matter?"
Zhao Wanqing nodded gently.
"I heard that there is a Prajna Temple in Ruzhou, which is very popular and is most effective for praying for the health and safety of the elders in the family."
I plan to go there and perform the three prostrations and nine kowtows, and observe a vegetarian diet for three months, to pray for His Majesty's well-being and long life.
Shen Xu held Zhao Wanqing's hand with emotion, his expression tender.
"Wanqing, you're so kind, but this is too hard on you."
Zhao Wanqing lowered her head, her face flushed with shyness.
"It's not hard work. I... I will be by Your Highness's side from now on. Your Majesty's good health is a good thing for Your Highness."
Shen Xu gripped her hand tightly and solemnly made a promise.
"I'll send more people to protect you, Wanqing. I'll treat you even better from now on."
Zhao Wanqing gave a soft "hmm," pulled her hand away, and feigned shyness as she let go.
As Shen Xu watched her retreating figure, he couldn't help but murmur, "If Li Nanke could be as well-behaved and sensible as Wan Qing, I would have much less to worry about."
He sighed with emotion, and upon returning to the palace, he told Empress Xue about Zhao Wanqing's trip to Ruzhou to pray for the emperor's well-being.
Empress Xue praised Zhao Wanqing in front of Shen Xu, but her face darkened as soon as Shen Xu left.
"Zhao Wanqing seems so well-behaved and sensible on ordinary days, but I never expected her to be so scheming behind the scenes."
She realized that I intended to use her to get rid of Li Nanke, so she fled to Ruzhou for refuge.
"Ha, she certainly has a good plan!"
The trusted nanny bowed and asked, "Zhao Wanqing is gone, what do we do next?"
Empress Xue said, "First, send someone to keep an eye on Li Nanke and see what she does."
She absolutely forbids Li Nanke from marrying her son!
Li Nanke was unaware that she was being secretly targeted. Today was a rest day at Jingxing Courtyard, and she went to Xuanwang Mansion early in the morning to find Shen Cong.
She wanted to ask Shen Cong if he would be willing to get engaged to her. She thought it would be easy to ask, but when she actually stood in front of Shen Cong, she found that she couldn't bring herself to say it.
How should I ask?
Should we just ask Shen Cong directly if he's willing to marry her?
What if Shen Cong refuses?
Li Nanke's face scrunched up, but then she was suddenly tapped lightly on the head.
"You're so distracted while playing chess, what are you thinking about?"
She looked up and met Shen Cong's deep gaze, which held a hint of inquiry. Her face flushed inexplicably, and she hurriedly lowered her head.
He casually picked up a white piece and placed it on the board.
Shen Cong raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure about this place?"
Li Nanke stared at the scene for a moment before realizing that his white pieces had been surrounded by black pieces without him noticing.
The move she just made was practically walking into a trap.
"Ah, I don't want to go this way."
She pouted, preparing to pick up the white piece and place it again.
The moment her hand touched the chess piece, Shen Cong's hand reached out and gently pressed against the back of her hand.
"Once a move is made, there's no going back, huh?"
His hand was slightly cool, the coolness traveling through his palm to the back of her hand.
Li Nanke instantly felt a tingling sensation travel from the back of her hand all the way up her arm and down to her heart, causing her heartbeat to slow down abruptly.
She hastily withdrew her hand, scattering the chess pieces on the table.
"Ugh, I'm not playing anymore. You always win when we play chess, it's so boring."
"Ninth Brother, if you always win, you'll have no friends left!"
She glared at him, feigning anger.
Shen Cong's lips curled slightly. "I didn't have any friends to begin with. It's alright, I can use my left and right hands interchangeably."
Li Nanke...
Shen Cong gave her a deep look.
"You seemed distracted all day. Is something on your mind?"
"Huh? No...no."
Li Nanke denied it somewhat flusteredly.
"Really not?"
Shen Cong raised an eyebrow, his expression carrying a hint of ambiguity.
Li Nanke shook his head.
"No, really."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Cong tossed the black piece in his hand onto the Expectation Piece, making a crisp sound.
"Never mind if you don't have it."
Li Nanke's heart skipped a beat. Observing his expression, she tentatively asked, "Is there something you want to ask me, Ninth Brother?"
Shen Cong lowered his eyes, making it impossible to discern his inner thoughts.
"No, I just noticed you seemed distracted, so I asked. If you don't want to tell me, that's fine."
Li Nanke bit her lip, thought for a moment, and then mustered her courage to say, "I was just thinking..."
Halfway through the conversation, Erfeng hurriedly walked in, holding a small piece of paper in his hand.
"Your Highness, this is a message from General Xie via carrier pigeon."
Shen Cong opened the note and glanced at it, his expression grave.
Li Nanke leaned forward, tilting his body to the side.
What did Xie Xuanxiao say?
Shen Cong handed her the note.
The note read: "Qin Wei has been frequently active near Ruzhou recently, and I plan to go to Ruzhou to find out what's going on."
Qin Wei was the commander of the Imperial City Guard, directly responsible to the emperor and only obeying his orders.
Ruzhou?
Li Nanke asked, "Since Qin Wei appeared in Ruzhou, he must have been ordered by His Majesty. Although Ruzhou is not far from Luoyang, I heard that the mountain roads there are rugged and the area is very remote."
What was Qin Wei doing there?
Shen Cong couldn't figure it out either, so he gave instructions to Er Feng.
"Reply to Xie Xuanxiao and tell him to go to Ruzhou immediately and report back promptly if there is any news."
After Erfeng left, Shen Cong turned to look at Li Nanke.
"What were you trying to say?"
"Oh, it's nothing."
The courage that Li Nanke had finally mustered vanished, and he stood up with slumped shoulders.
"It's getting late, I need to go back."
Shen Cong watched her departing figure, his gaze becoming extremely complicated.
Is the little girl trying to talk about her marriage to Shen Xu?
She probably doesn't want to marry Shen Xu either.
Or perhaps she wanted to ask something else...
Shen Cong gave a bitter smile.
Li Nanke was unaware of Shen Cong's thoughts. As soon as she returned to the Marquis of Anping's residence, Li Mu and Song Yi hurriedly came to greet her.
"So, did you get the information?"
Song Yi stared at her expectantly.
Li Mu, hands behind his back, scoffed, "Let's make this clear first: even if that kid agrees, everything has to be done according to the rules. He has to..."
"I didn't ask him!"
Li Nanke whispered.
"What? You didn't ask?"
Song Yi and Li Mu spoke in unison.
Li Nanke scratched his head. "Well, His Highness was busy, so I didn't dare to ask."
"You silly child..."
Song Yi helplessly tapped her forehead.
Li Nanke playfully took her arm.
"Oh dear, His Majesty won't be back until after the New Year, so there are still several months to go."
Li Mu looked suspicious.
How do you know His Majesty will be able to return after the New Year?
Li Nanke secretly stuck out his tongue. "Oh dear, the weather will warm up after the New Year, and His Majesty's health should be better by then."
Li Mu had no suspicions and simply said "Oh".
"Alright, let's discuss this further. I need to go see the river map."
He has been busy with the management of the Bian River for the past few years, and now he has gradually become accustomed to the tedious official business.
Remembering the incident in Ruzhou, Li Nanke quickly followed.
"Father, may I go with you?"
While looking at the map with Li Mu, he asked, "Father, are you familiar with the terrain of Ruzhou?"
Li Mu asked in confusion, "Ruzhou? Why did you suddenly ask about that?"
Li Nanke said "Oh," and added, "I just suddenly remembered and was just asking."
Li Mu bent down and took out a scroll from the box.
"Here is a map of Ruzhou. You can see that Ruzhou is a poor and remote place with many mountains and little land, and it is full of unruly people."
If it weren't for the Shi River flowing through the city, that place would have long since dried up.
Li Mu tapped his hand on the map.
Li Nanke followed his gaze and it fell on the map.
Shihe River?
division......
In a flash, a strange intuition suddenly surged into my mind.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
