When people in the capital heard about Tang Ning's accident, they all sighed and lamented her tragic fate.
How could there be such a tragic girl in this world?
Having been switched at birth, she was born into a wealthy family but ended up as the lowly daughter of a merchant for over a decade. After a long and arduous journey to find her biological parents, she became engaged to the heir of the Prince of Jian, a man of equal social standing. However, the heir maintained a secret relationship with her adopted daughter, and they were caught in bed together at the princess's residence. Forced to break off the engagement, she chose Helan Ruo, the young master of the Duke of Guo's mansion, as her husband. But after only a month in the Duke's household, Helan Ruo caused another scandal, completely disregarding her as his legitimate wife.
Now, they've even lost their lives.
Is there any girl in this world more miserable than her?
Isn't the Duke's mansion and this young master Helan really committing a sin? Such a lovely girl, gone just like that, how could her parents be willing to let her die?
With this in mind, everyone in the capital turned their attention to the General's Mansion.
Their daughter had only been married for a month, and now she was gone. General Qin and his family are known for their fiery tempers, so it would be strange if they could easily swallow this insult.
What was originally a friendly relationship between two families has now turned into enmity.
No one in Beijing could help but sigh at this.
As for the General's Mansion, which was the focus of everyone's attention, it was not without anger and resentment when it learned that Tang Ning had perished in the fire. In fact, when He Lanruo did such a rebellious thing for Ji Muqing, General Qin was already furious and wanted to take his son to demand an explanation.
In the end, it was Madam Qin who stopped them, saying that Princess Qingping and her husband were not in the mansion at the moment, and the old lady or the second branch of the family were in charge of the Duke's mansion. She had heard about these people before, and they were the kind of people who would help others without hesitation. She was afraid that they would not only fail to get justice but also become a laughing stock, which would not only damage Tang Ning's reputation, but she was also most afraid that Tang Ning would be isolated and helpless in the Duke's mansion and would be bullied.
Thinking this way, Madam Qin would send people over every day to inquire about Tang Ning's situation and patiently wait for Princess Qingping's arrival. Yes, even if she wanted to seek justice, she had to talk to someone who could reason with her. She didn't believe that Princess Qingping could stay outside after Helan Ruo had caused such a big incident.
The Qin family has never been afraid of trouble. If they can reason with Princess Qingping, that's fine. If not, they can simply bring Tang Ning home. The General's Mansion certainly doesn't need her.
But who could have predicted that Princess Qingping would return, and before Madam Qin could even find an opportunity to visit, such a thing would happen?
Upon hearing that Tang Ning had left, Madam Qin was caught off guard and felt dizzy. Tears streamed down her face. But before she could gather her thoughts on how to help Tang Ning get justice, Tang Ning suddenly appeared in front of her.
And who else could be the person accompanying her but the current emperor?
Madam Qin knelt down with General Qin in a daze, and was helped up by Tang Ning who rushed forward. She still found it hard to believe what was happening, especially when Situ Yin took Tang Ning's hand as if no one else was there. Madam Qin was even more dumbfounded.
These past few days, from learning of Helan Ruo's insubordination to Tang Ning's miraculous recovery, and then to her informing them that she was about to enter the palace, Madam Qin felt her heart pounding wildly.
"I've come today for two reasons. Firstly, Tang Ning was worried that you might be too heartbroken over her situation, so I came to put your minds at ease. Secondly, it's an undeniable fact that Qin Tang Ning died in the fire at the Duke's mansion that night. The woman standing before you today is Tang Ning, the niece of the wealthy merchant Master Tang from Jiangnan. Since you and your husband, General Qin, have already taken in an adopted daughter and have some experience, if it's convenient, how about taking in another one?"
While playing with Tang Ning's hand, Situ Yin said this with a straight face.
The words made General Qin and his son, who were usually unconcerned with formalities, twitch at the corners of their mouths.
"this……"
"I've come here today merely to inform you, my husband and I, that Tang Ning has agreed to come to the palace. Whether you choose to acknowledge her as your daughter or not, it's all the same."
Throughout the entire process, Situ Yin's gaze never fell on General Qin and the others in front of him.
Madam Qin, who had finally come to her senses, listened to Situ Yin's words and her gaze unconsciously fell on Tang Ning, her eyes filled with anxiety and worry.
Upon meeting her gaze, Tang Ning immediately understood that her mother had something to say to her, and promptly pulled her hand away from Situ Yin's grasp.
No sooner had she pulled her hand away than Situ Yin immediately looked up, frowning, and said, "What are you doing? Can't I even hold your hand?"
"no……"
Upon hearing this, Tang Ning glanced awkwardly at her family below, then leaned close to Situ Yin's ear and said, "Can I go aside with my mother and have a private talk? It'll only be a moment."
Tang Ning raised her index finger.
Hearing her say that, Situ Yin looked at the white jade-like finger she held up and the pleading look on her face, and raised an eyebrow. "I'll give you a quarter of an hour, no more than that. I'm telling you, don't even think about escaping. If you do, I will definitely call... Anyway, just go and come back as soon as possible."
Worried that his threats would cause a change in the scent of her body, Situ Yin swallowed back the threat that was already on the tip of his tongue.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Rest assured, a person cannot stand without integrity. I will not run away."
After saying this earnestly, Tang Ning and Madam Qin walked out one after the other.
No one knows what Situ Yin did, but even though the mother and daughter had already walked into the outer corridor, not a single servant of the Qin family could be seen.
As soon as the two stood still, Madam Qin immediately took Tang Ning's arm and looked her over from left to right. After confirming that there was no burn mark on Tang Ning's body, she breathed a deep sigh of relief. Then, with red eyes, she raised her hand and gently patted Tang Ning's arm.
"You silly girl, how could you not discuss such a big thing with your parents..."
"What's the use of discussing it? He's the emperor."
Tang Ning's eyes were also a little red.
Upon hearing Tang Ning's words, Madam Qin immediately reached out and gently embraced Tang Ning. Since Tang Ning returned to the capital, she had been saying nice things, but in reality, this was the first time she had done such an intimate gesture to her own daughter. How could she have the face to blame Tang Ning for not consulting her on matters?
As soon as Madam Qin held her in her arms, Tang Ning's eyes reddened even more, and her body even began to tremble slightly.
Feeling Tang Ning trembling, Madam Qin immediately hugged her even tighter.
At this moment, she no longer wanted to know what had happened between Tang Ning and the Emperor, or what Tang Ning thought of the Duke's Mansion. Yes, she didn't want to know anything anymore.
If she could, she would only want her daughter to live a better, more carefree, and happier life.
"Entering the palace is like entering a deep sea. His Majesty... he treats you... never mind, why am I asking these questions? Before, I thought Helan Ruo treated you very well, but now it seems... Ningning, listen to me. No matter how others treat you, I don't ask for anything else, I only ask that you guard your heart, take good care of yourself, and put yourself first in everything, understand? For so long, your father and I have been sorry for you. In the palace, whatever you do, you don't need to think about us. Think more about yourself, understand?"
As she spoke, Madam Qin released her embrace and reached out to wipe away Tang Ning's tears.
"Um."
Tang Ning nodded and responded softly.
Almost as soon as he finished speaking with Madam Qin, Situ Yin prepared to take Tang Ning away.
As soon as Tang Ning settled into the carriage, she immediately noticed that Situ Yin lowered his head and their eyes met. This startled Tang Ning, and she took a step back.
"you……"
"You cried?"
Situ Yin had absolutely no idea what tact was.
Tang Ning subconsciously tilted her head, stubbornly saying, "No..."
"I am the emperor. Lying to me is deceiving the emperor."
After he said that, Tang Ning had nothing more to say.
"But it's okay to cry. I've heard that girls cry when they get married. Even though this is your second marriage, it's only natural for you to cry a little."
Situ Yin looked like he knew better than anyone else about marriage, to which Tang Ning simply closed her eyes, indicating that she didn't want to say anything more to him.
Unexpectedly, she closed her eyes and leaned against the carriage wall behind her. Immediately afterward, Situ Yin, as if they were old friends, also leaned down next to her. Tang Ning didn't say anything, but he didn't seem bored at all. Instead, he took Tang Ning's hand and started playing with it, looking quite pleased with himself.
Feeling the strange sensation in her hand, Tang Ning forced herself to ignore it, repeating this to herself until she began to believe it. In addition, after a night of tossing and turning because of the fire, leaning against the soft carriage that felt like one could sink into it, a sense of sleepiness gradually crept into Tang Ning's heart.
However, before she could fall asleep, the carriage, which had been moving at a steady pace, suddenly stopped.
Tang Ning immediately opened her eyes as well, "Have we arrived?"
She asked, slightly confused.
Situ Yin did not answer her question. Instead, he jumped off the carriage and stood under it, reaching out his hand to Tang Ning.
Seeing this, Tang Ning, assuming they had arrived, also subconsciously got out of the carriage.
As she leaped down from the carriage, supported by Situ Yin's hand, Tang Ning looked around at the unfamiliar environment that didn't resemble the palace, and her eyes widened in surprise.
"here it is……"
Upon hearing this, Situ Yin turned around and shushed Tang Ning, saying mysteriously, "Before we return to the palace, I'll show you something interesting."
Something interesting?
Tang Ning frowned immediately, then let Situ Yin lead her by the hand and swagger into the gate of an empty, magnificent mansion.
Tang Ning couldn't quite understand why there was no one in such a well-maintained mansion. Then she watched as Situ Yin led her to the west side of the mansion.
There stood a large, leafy tree...
Tang Ning seemed to remember something, but before she could speak, Situ Yin grabbed her waist and, with a leap from the man in black, the two of them were on the trunk of a tree several meters high.
Sitting on the tree trunk, Tang Ning could clearly see part of the scenery of the Guo Guogong Mansion next door, especially the house that originally belonged to her and He Lanruo's new house, which had now become a ruin.
Upon seeing this, Tang Ning was completely stunned.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Helan Ruo, who had been in the capital's prison for a full eleven days, finally received the imperial edict that Situ Yin's death sentence could be waived, but he could not escape punishment and would be demoted to a commoner. He was released, and when he was released and looked at the dazzling sunlight outside the prison cell, he really felt like he had seen the light of day again.
Before he could even enjoy the warmth of the sun for a moment, Helan Ruo saw Ji Muqing, who was unconscious and had lost a lot of weight, being carried in on a stretcher and then casually tossed aside beside him.
Upon seeing Ji Muqing like this, He Lanruo panicked. He quickly squatted down and checked her breathing, which was already very weak.
Knowing that Ji Muqing would not live much longer if she was not treated, Helan Ruo did not bother to condemn the rude jailers. Without hesitation, she carried Ji Muqing on her back and stumbled towards the Duke's mansion.
Now, all the imperial physicians and doctors at Huichuntang are fake. He remembers that his mother had a thousand-year-old ginseng. Ji Muqing probably really needs something like that to keep him alive so that he can continue his treatment slowly in the future.
Even though he himself was already exhausted from hunger and fatigue, Helan Ruo managed to knock on the door of the Duke's mansion because of the meal Tang Ning had brought him the day before.
Unaware that Helan Ruo had already attracted the attention of almost everyone in the capital by carrying Ji Muqing all the way from the capital's prison back to the Duke's mansion, she had long since replaced Wei Jing as the number one scumbag in the capital.
His wife, preoccupied with worry for him, perished in the fire. Before her body was even cold, Helan Ruo was able to brazenly carry the former Consort Chen, Ji Muqing, back to the Duke's mansion.
Countless young women who had once envied and been jealous of Tang Ning were now cursing He Lanruo at home.
If you put yourself in Ji Muqing's shoes, you might indeed feel He Lanruo's deep affection, but if you put yourself in Qin Jiatang Ning's shoes, it's more disgusting than being forced to eat shit.
If they were Qin Tangning, they probably wouldn't even die in peace; they would crawl out of the underworld to find them.
Unaware of the various opinions people outside held about him, Helan Ruo had just stepped into the Duke's mansion under the guidance of a servant when she soon saw Princess Qingping, her face pale, slowly walking towards them with the support of her husband.
Princess Qingping's pale face was mainly due to the fact that she had been kneeling all day yesterday, and only rushed back after learning of Tang Ning's misfortune, but it was already too late.
Princess Qingping fainted from crying more than once because of this. You should know that before returning to the Duke's Mansion, Tang Ning even went to the palace to look for her.
She told her that she had already managed to get into the capital's prison and even brought Helan Ruo some food from home. He was doing well, so she didn't need to worry too much.
Then she kept talking incessantly in his ear, but by then Princess Qingping had been kneeling for a long time and was already dizzy and lightheaded. She could only hear Tang Ning saying a few words of shame that it was because they, the younger generation, were unfilial that she had suffered and been heartbroken at an age when she should have been enjoying happiness. She also told him with certainty that Helan Ruo would be alright.
Princess Qingping had initially thought Tang Ning was comforting her, but now, upon closer reflection, something seemed amiss.
However, at this moment, Princess Qingping no longer had the mind to delve into the strangeness of the deceased Tang Ning, because she saw that her son had carried Ji Muqing back into their Duke's mansion.
With a pale face and an expressionless expression, Princess Qingping immediately and without hesitation pulled Ji Muqing off Helan Ruo's back as soon as she reached him, whose eyes had just begun to light up with a hint of surprise. Before Helan Ruo could say anything, she raised her hand and slapped Helan Ruo hard across the face, then slapped her again with her other hand.
Slap after slap, after kneeling for a whole day, and overwhelmed with grief, Princess Qingping had little strength left in her hands. Even so, she still raised her hands and kept slapping Helan Ruo's face and body.
Realizing his mistake, Helan Ruo immediately knelt before Princess Qingping, crying, "Your unfilial son..."
This kneeling caused Princess Qingping's already fragile emotions to completely break down.
Without a second thought, she grabbed a stick from a servant and swung it at Helan Ruo. "I'll beat you to death! I'll beat you to death, you unfilial son! I'll beat you to death, you good-for-nothing! Ji Muqing, Ji Muqing, Ji Muqing, all you ever do is talk about Ji Muqing! If I had known you were like this, I would never have agreed to let Tang Ning marry into this family, so as not to ruin a good girl's life for nothing..."
Princess Qingping said in a trembling voice, "Are you satisfied now? You finally rescued your Ji Muqing, are you satisfied? Tang Ning... is... dead now... are you satisfied?"
When she said that last sentence, heaven knows how much strength Princess Qingping used; she didn't even have the strength to hold the wooden stick in her hand anymore.
With a sudden loss of strength, the wooden stick in her hand fell to the ground with a loud thud, like a heavy hammer slamming into Helan Ruo's head.
With a deafening roar, Helan Ruo's entire thought process shattered into dust in that instant.
What died?
Who died?
Why did he die?
Why can't he understand a single word?
It was a joke, right? His mother was angry with his behavior these days, so she deliberately made this joke to scare him, right?
It's really not funny, not funny at all!
He Lanruo began to tremble violently, completely out of control, her teeth chattering in her mouth.
Just then, the second aunt from the Duke's mansion was fanning the flames, saying, "Of course she's dead! The fire was so big last night, even the gods in heaven couldn't escape. Qin Tangning and her two maids, what were they called Tan Mian, didn't make it out..."
"I heard it all from the servants at home. Nephew, for as long as you were locked up in jail, your wife was heartbroken. She couldn't eat or drink, and couldn't sleep at night. Because she had been in so much pain, she tripped and fell, accidentally knocking over the oil lamp. The fire started instantly, but because of the fall, she couldn't get up. So she could only wait to die on the spot. Her two maids were also loyal. When they saw the fire, they didn't care about themselves and rushed in together, dying in the fire with her. Tsk tsk..."
"Say less!"
Her second uncle then reached out and tugged at her arm.
"What did I say? Wasn't everything I said the truth?"
My second aunt looked indignant.
At this moment, Helan Ruo, who had been kneeling on the ground, was nowhere to be seen. She had already gone mad and rushed straight to her and Tang Ning's new house.
Almost immediately upon seeing the new house, now a charred ruin, Helan Ruo's legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground.
Unwilling to believe it, he immediately threw himself into the ashes in front of him and began digging frantically, disregarding everything else.
Some unburnt bits and pieces in the ashes instantly cut his palms, drawing blood, but he seemed oblivious and continued digging.
Tears streamed down his face, one by one, from his wide-open eyes.
She was perfectly fine when she brought him food to the prison yesterday. She could walk, laugh, and talk. Everything was fine. Why did she... become like this after just one night?
Actually, everyone was lying to him, right?
He's been digging for so long, but he still hasn't found Tang Ning's... body...
Who can be so sure that Tang Ning was in this house when the fire started?
Maybe she escaped a long time ago, or maybe she never even came in!
She was just angry with him. She was angry that he was thinking about Ji Muqing and that he was being stubborn, so she deliberately hid away to make him worry!
That must be it.
must……
Thinking of this, Helan Ruo immediately stopped her hands from sifting through the ashes, straightened up, and looked around with a blank yet expectant gaze. At the same time, her hoarse voice rang out.
"Ningning, come out! Please come out."
"I know I was wrong, I was wrong. I don't want to repay Ji Muqing for saving my life anymore. I don't want to save her anymore. I don't want to help her anymore..." As she spoke, He Lanruo made a gesture of surrender.
"I don't want any of it, okay? Just come out now, as long as you're not angry with me. I don't want anything, I don't want anything at all! Okay?"
"Please, Ningning, please, come out, okay?"
After uttering these words in a trembling voice, Helan Ruo's legs went weak, and she collapsed to her knees amidst the chaotic, charred ruins before her. She lay prostrate in the ashes, her whole body trembling, and a mournful wail escaped from her throat.
Meanwhile, Tang Ning's eyes on the tree trunk were already red.
But at that moment, a sharp chin suddenly rested on her shoulder.
"Feeling sorry for them? Hmm?"
A soft murmur sounded in her ear.
Upon hearing this, Tang Ning lowered her eyes and remained silent.
He brought Tang Ning here to watch a good show, but why does he feel a little annoyed by it?
I'm unhappy.
Author's Note: Situ Yin: I'm unhappy, I want to kill a nephew to cheer myself up!
He Lanruo: ...
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