The salaries for the harem have indeed not been paid yet.
The main reason is that the national treasury is a bit tight recently and no money has been allocated. And from what Dongfang Jin said, the money in the national treasury was first allocated to the border defenders. After all, winter clothes and winter food are the most important, so it can only be delayed a little longer.
And from what Dongfang Jin said, the border is a bit unstable right now, and no one knows if a war will break out.
She tried hard to recall whether there had been any wars in her previous life, but she couldn't remember because all her thoughts were on state affairs. After the death of the crown prince, she and Dongfang Ye mobilized all their connections to get the ministers to support them in ascending the throne. At that time, she was so busy that she didn't even have time to eat. She had to build good relationships with all the ladies and use the smallest chips to get the biggest benefits. At that time, her dowry was almost spent, and she couldn't tell her father because her aunt was the housekeeper and she always cried poor in front of her. How could she have the nerve to ask for help? She even thought that if she got the throne, she would help them.
An Qingran didn't want to recall the past anymore. Now that the person was gone, she really hoped that she could let go of the hatred and that he would let her go. However, the assassin came again, and she didn't know who would follow suit.
Two days later the emperor issued an edict.
Prince Ning was given a fief in Su'an, which was no more than a thousand acres. Together with the barren hills, it was less than two thousand acres. He was not even qualified to be a big landlord. Once he was granted the fief, he was not allowed to return to the capital without being summoned.
Everyone knew what the emperor meant. The Ning Wang Mansion was originally built in the capital, and the sudden fiefdom was given to the couple within two days of inviting them to the palace, and no one was allowed to explore. Moreover, the reason for their entry into the capital was already known to insiders, so everyone knew that the emperor's fiefdom was actually exile.
Qin Xiangning was almost dumbfounded when she heard the news. She wanted to cry but couldn't. Is there any better reason for exile than this fiefdom?
If there is no imperial edict, I will never be allowed to enter the capital in my lifetime. Wouldn't that mean I and my parents will be separated forever and never see each other again? I also heard that Su'an is a place where no birds lay eggs and there is no one living for thousands of miles. How can I and Prince Ning survive?
It's easy for me and King Ning to talk about it, but what about my descendants? Do they want to be there for generations?
Then the Dingyuan Marquisate can't rely on me, and it's impossible for me to avenge my brother in this life.
After receiving the imperial edict, Prince Ning thanked him expressionlessly, without even saying a word about his previous complaints, and began to walk out of the Hehuan Palace.
Seeing the crying Consort Xian at the entrance of the palace, Prince Ning bowed and said, "Mother, I will not be able to show my filial piety to you anymore. Please take care of yourself."
Xianfei almost fainted from crying when she heard this, but there were still other people around, so she forced herself to nod: "It's a good thing that your father gave you the fiefdom, and you're going to thank your father?"
Prince Ning nodded, a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes, but then he strode forward and arrived at the imperial study. Emperor Yunqi looked up at him, seeming to want to say something but stopped himself.
Prince Ning knelt on the ground and said, "I bid farewell to you, Father. Please take care of yourself."
His tone was calm, almost cool, without much emotion, and completely different from what he had just said to Concubine Xian.
Emperor Yunqi sighed: "From now on, you should take care of yourself. When you arrive in Su'an, remember to benefit the people..."
"I obey your order, but Father, I have never done what you think I do. So, please take care of yourself and find the real murderer. I will do that."
"No need to say more." Yun Qidi's face darkened. "You will naturally not admit it. You should pack your bags quickly and set off tomorrow..."
Prince Ning finally stopped talking. From that moment on, he realized how stupid he had been.
Now that he is smart, he should know that it is useless to say more, so he nodded and said, "Father, please let me know how much I can take with me on the journey."
Emperor Yunqi looked at Prince Ning's thin shoulders and his limp expression, and finally sighed quietly: "Take whatever you want, but remember, although you have a fief, you can only maintain the courtyard, and you cannot exceed the ancestral system. A hundred or so people are enough. The court will not ask for your tribute, but you also have no right to levy taxes. If anything unbearable gets to my ears, you know the consequences."
"I understand. I will support myself." King Ning became more respectful in appearance.
Return to Prince Ning’s Mansion.
Prince Ning asked that everything be packed up, not even a chamber pot be left behind. The more he did this, the more relieved the emperor would be.
Qin Xiangning looked at the gloomy Prince Ning and felt fear for the first time. This man had changed and became a little scary. Maybe he was planning something in his heart. If it was really as she guessed, would she oppose or support it?
Suddenly, there was a cry. When Prince Ning looked over, he saw a gorgeous figure running towards him while crying: "Your Highness, I want to take the laurel in front of the window with me, but the housekeeper said that I can't take it with me. What about my favorite osmanthus cake? I also like to drink osmanthus tea. It's the best for my throat. I heard that there is no grass in Su'an. If we don't take it with us, where can we find it?"
The one who ran over was Huan Ge, who was also the concubine that King Ning favored. King Ning looked at her crying and said nothing, but just had a stern face. Huan Ge did not see the clues, but pulled his sleeve and said, "King Ning, please say something."
Qin Xiangning turned and left upon seeing this.
She couldn't bear to hear their crying, nor could she bear to see their laughter. She was keeping a low profile now and didn't want to offend them. She wasn't in the mood for that, not to mention she didn't have the energy. She had too many things to think about right now.
She also had to send someone to deliver a message to her parents. No matter what, she wanted to see them before leaving.
Thinking of this, she was overwhelmed with grief. She had just taken two steps when she suddenly heard a scream behind her, a voice that did not sound like a human's. She turned around and couldn't help but gasp, only to see a pool of blood on Huange's chest, still gushing out, and the sword in King Ning's hand was also dripping with blood. Everyone around was like wood, watching all this stupidly. Huange did not die immediately. She couldn't believe it and almost popped her eyes out. Looking at this man who was usually very gentle to her and never gave her anything she wanted, he actually wanted to kill her?
“You…you!”
"What about me? I'm in a bad mood." King Ning wiped the blood off the sword with the sole of his boot, then turned to look at the stunned servants, "Why don't you hurry up?"
The sound was not loud, but it was like a drop of water falling into a hot oil pan and immediately exploding. Everyone wished they could grow four legs and run away to a place where he could not see them.
Qin Xiangning looked at everything in front of her and raised her eyebrows. Prince Ning had really changed. She couldn't tell whether this change was good or bad, but it gave her some expectations. At least she and he were still alive. However, they had to be extremely careful along the way. She didn't know whether the person who framed them behind the scenes would let them reach Su'an safely.
While Prince Ning was preparing for his trip, Prince Kang hadn't even come to visit. According to him, if he came now, his father might think he was in cahoots with him. He could only express his feelings from afar. He wrapped a package of silver and sent it to Prince Ning's house. Prince Ning looked at the silver and laughed in his heart. When did he start to treat him like a beggar? This silver was not enough for a game, but it was given to him as a gift.
However, he smiled and said to the visitor: "Go back and thank King Kang, and tell him that I will remember King Kang's kindness."
As for the others, I didn't see any.
Prince Ning couldn't help but sigh at the fickleness of the world, but he had already thought about it and didn't mind.
I didn't expect that Dongfang Jin would come.
The bright yellow robe formed a sharp contrast with the dark grey on his body, but Dongfang Jin was not as arrogant as expected. Instead, he looked at everything in the yard and said, "Is everything ready? Do you need help?"
King Ning couldn't understand his true thoughts, so he just nodded: "That's good, I can leave tomorrow."
"Be careful on the road." Dongfang Jin said calmly, "I know there are still doubts about that matter, but it's not without benefit if you leave this place."
After hearing this, Prince Ning actually smiled and said, "I hope that the Crown Prince will have smooth sailing in the future without any more setbacks. With the Crown Prince's words, I feel that my grievances have been redressed."
There seemed to be sarcasm in his tone.
Qin Xiangning didn't dare to say anything to Dongfang Jin openly, but she didn't expect that the man who was assassinated would come to see the murderer. This really made her look sideways. It seemed that Dongfang Jin was indeed not an ordinary person. He had a bright future. She had always been optimistic about him and thought that she was right in her vision.
Looking at his handsome face, her heart began to beat wildly again. She couldn't help but look away. Dongfang Jin felt that she had said what she needed to say, so she said, "If you need anything, just ask."
"If the emperor knew that the prince came here, it would be difficult to explain to him." Prince Ning ordered him to leave.
He felt that there were several layers of hatred between him and the prince. Although this false accusation might not be a trap set by him, it was at least related to him. On another level, he knew that Qin Xiangning had feelings for him. Now one was the prince and the other was a demoted person. They were afraid that they would have no intersection in this life. What else could he say?
Dongfang Jin didn't stay long either. He just said take care and left.
In fact, after Emperor Yunqi heard that the prince went to see Prince Ning off, he had a deeper understanding of the prince. He felt that the boy was responsible and magnanimous. He was not sure whether it was Dongfang Yan who harmed him. The reason why he let them leave was also another kind of protection for them. He just didn't know whether they would understand his painstaking efforts.
When Emperor Yunqi thought of this, he covered his chest. After all, that was his son. Once he left, he didn't know when he would see him again. All he could do was to send as many people as possible to protect and monitor them on the road. As long as they were still alive, it would be fine.
On the day Prince Ning left the capital, Concubine Xian cried so much that she fainted, so she did not go to see them off. Neither did the others. Although Prince Ning had dozens of carriages, it did not seem desolate at all.
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