An Qingran felt vaguely uneasy.
Sure enough, as soon as one wave subsides, another wave rises.
But she didn't expect such a storm to arise.
So she was a little dazed for a moment. She originally wanted Dongfang Jin to do something wrong so as to awaken Emperor Yunqi's sense of responsibility, but now Prince Ning's matter came at the right time.
Dongfang Jin continued, "You are right. They kidnapped Prince Ning and demanded a million dan of grain from the court."
"Want food? Not gold and silver?" An Qingran was very surprised after hearing this. What kind of thieves are these? "How can they store so much food? It seems that the thieves have a lot of soldiers. If we really give them food, wouldn't it be like raising a tiger to cause trouble? When they are fully grown, I am afraid they will cause even greater troubles. These thieves are really stupid. If they want some gold and silver, it is possible, but if they want food, I am afraid that the emperor will not allow it, right?"
"Yes, Father is against it. Everyone knows what the consequences of a million dan of grain will be, so we must be more cautious. But we don't know how things will develop. Prince Ning and his wife are also careless..."
"I can't blame them. I'm afraid they have been targeted by those thieves for a long time. But there are too many strange things about this matter. Is there something else?" An Qingran sighed. If Emperor Yunqi agreed to the conditions, then the court would lose its majesty. Of course, the war with Lei Taiguo had already consumed the manpower and financial resources. How could they afford such a loss now? At that time, the people would definitely be in chaos.
Thinking of this, she felt that things were not that simple.
"I will send someone to investigate this matter." When Dongfang Jin said this, An Qingran was a little worried.
"Just send someone, don't go there yourself. I always feel that there is something wrong here. Those people must have spies in the capital, so you have to be careful. When you leave the palace during this period, you have to bring more people with you. Don't be careless. Do you understand?"
Dongfang Jin nodded: "I will. This is an extraordinary period. I will be careful for you and the child."
That night, there were some happy and some sad people in the palace.
************
Jiaoxiang Palace.
Concubine Shu had calmed down. When she heard that Prince Ning was in trouble, she didn't know whether she should be happy or cry. The emperor had treated Prince Kang better because of the pain of losing his son, but now something like this has happened, the emperor's mind must have been diverted.
At this moment, Concubine Shu still had some thoughts about seizing the throne, but recently she had heard the most about how the Crown Prince was strategizing and how wise and open-minded he was. The more she listened, the more discouraged she became. She was afraid that her son had no hope, and now, her grandson was nowhere in sight. What else could she hope for?
***
Prince Kang's Palace.
In Youmeng Pavilion, the candlelight was dim, and a figure was imprinted on the window. It was An Ranyue. At this moment, she was listening attentively, and suddenly said: "Xiao Nuo, did you hear Lin'er crying? Is he sick again?"
Hearing this, Xiao Nuo's eyes flashed with helplessness: "Master, you should take a rest. Lin'er has left..."
"Nonsense, he's only a few months old, how could he leave?" An Ranyue's eyes were bright, she had just woken up from a dream, now calmed down, she also sighed, "What's wrong with me? I forgot again, he was still smiling in the dream, I was confused, this child is destined to be with me, when I took care of him, I didn't have much sincerity at first, I was just competing with Madam Yun, later, I liked him more and more, I really wanted to take care of him as my own child... It's all that Lei Yuezhu's fault, can't she give birth to one herself? She has never taken care of a child, how can she have experience, she only knows how to feel comfortable, how can she care about Lin'er's life or death? And the prince is also wrong, he didn't believe me is the biggest mistake!"
Xiao Nuo stepped forward and handed over the tea: "Master, you should be more open-minded. If you want a child, you will have one sooner or later at your young age."
"Will it?" An Ranyue suddenly turned around and stared at Xiao Nuo with earnest eyes. "You are telling the truth. By the way, I asked you to send people to Yuehua Temple to burn incense and pray for me a few days ago. Haven't those people come back yet?"
"No, I thought to myself, since the two maids have nothing to do anyway, let them stay in Yuehua Temple to copy more scriptures and practice for the master."
"That's good. Give them more money and don't let them be lazy. Oh, by the way, ask the best tailor to come to the mansion tomorrow and make two new sets of clothes for me. I have lost so much weight recently that my clothes don't fit me anymore..."
"Master, please put off making the clothes for a while. If the prince knew about it, he would think that you are not sad and would feel hurt."
"Yes, Xiaonuo, you are right. So, tomorrow you go out and tell the maids that I have been ill and have been muttering Lin'er's name. Let the maids spread the word. Do you understand?"
"I understand. In fact, everyone has been saying recently that you really love the young master. It's just that I dare not send anyone to the princess's courtyard. But I heard that the princess has not had a good time recently. Since the young master passed away, the prince has not been to her courtyard. Now he goes to Madam Yun's place when he returns home. As for the concubine Huang, the prince also sent more people to serve her, saying that she is a meritorious minister and will give birth to a son. She must not have any problems. Master, you said that the concubine Huang is in such a good health and has given birth before. How could she give birth to a dead child without taking care of it?"
"It's better to just say this here. Who knows who did this? I suspected it when An Yanran got into trouble. Although I have a bad mouth and I'm jealous, I still have a conscience and I won't do evil. I hope the Buddha can bless me. It would be best if I can have a child myself..." An Ranyue's voice became smaller and smaller. She sat back on the bed dejectedly, looking at the pair of red candles and began to daze.
Xiao Nuo stopped talking. Wasn't she also wishing for such a thing?
She also hopes to have a successful day with her master.
Suddenly An Ranyue frowned again: "Did you really not hear the baby crying? Did I hear it? Am I really that sick?"
"Master, that's the little princess crying. Today is a north wind, and the crying sound was brought by the wind. I heard that the little princess has been making a lot of noise recently, but Madam Yun is very careful and doesn't trust the wet nurse. She takes care of her by herself every day. She has become very thin, and the prince has asked people to give her a lot of tonic food for this."
"Oh, I forgot. Madam Yun is lucky to have given birth to a daughter. If it was a son, I don't know what would have happened." An Ranyue said this and suddenly snorted coldly, "That little girl is so ugly. She doesn't look like the prince at all. It's a good thing that the prince still treats her like a treasure."
Xiao Nuo smiled and said, "All babies are born like that."
"Hmph!" An Ranyue's face darkened. Xiao Nuo didn't dare to say anything more. She could only walk lightly to prepare the bath water and help her take a bath.
Shen Zhiyun loved her child very much, and she thought his daily crying was heavenly music to her, which made Dongfang Ye very worried. He didn't want to go to Lei Yuezhu, and Huang Ying'er was still in confinement, so he came to Youmengxuan, but when he reached the door, he suddenly lost interest and turned around to walk out of the mansion. There was no place in this mansion that made him feel comfortable. It was better to go to the brothel with singing girls, so that he could forget his troubles temporarily.
So soon, rumors spread in the capital that King Kang, despite losing his two sons, was still obsessed with singing and dancing and lingered in places of entertainment.
The emperor had also heard about it, but at the moment, he was not interested in these rumors.
***********
Imperial study.
All the military ministers are here.
Dongfang Jin stood beside the imperial desk, silent.
Grand Tutor Qin said, "Your Majesty, Prince Ning is of royal blood. This is a matter of honor for the royal family. We cannot just do whatever the thieves tell us to do."
"Yes, Your Majesty, this one million dan of grain is a huge number, enough for our army to eat for a whole winter. But Prince Ning is your son. If Your Majesty ignores Prince Ning's life or death, your subjects will think that Your Majesty is too cruel and has no love for his son, and they will instead talk about it." The Minister of War spoke.
Emperor Yunqi had been listening with a blank expression. How could he not understand the cause and effect of this matter? But it was precisely because he was his son that he found it difficult to make a decision.
If you pay a ransom, the consequences will be even more serious.
Finally, he looked up at Dongfang Jin, who had been silent the whole time, and asked, "What do you think, Prince?"
Dongfang Jin thought for a moment after hearing this and said, "This condition can be agreed to."
"What?" Emperor Yunqi was stunned as he did not expect Dongfang Jin to say this. Prince Ning was demoted because he assassinated the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. Would he deal with it like this?
Dongfang Jin nodded: "Father, we must agree to this. Only by agreeing can we turn the passive situation into the active one. Now Prince Ning is in their hands. We have no other choice. If we watch him die without helping him, it will be difficult to stop Youyou from talking. What's more, Prince Ning is your son and my brother. How can we watch him get into trouble?"
Emperor Yunqi frowned and said, "This unfilial son can't handle his own affairs well, and always causes trouble for us. If we save him, will the soldiers have to starve? Therefore, I have decided not to agree."
Everyone could only sigh inwardly upon hearing this. They all knew that although Emperor Yunqi spoke so firmly, he must be extremely painful in his heart. Although he was a criminal, they were still connected as father and son.
When Concubine Xian learned of the emperor's intention, she came directly to ask for an audience with the emperor despite her sick body.
Emperor Yunqi in the bedroom had a sullen face and paced back and forth on the floor. Eunuch Xi came in to inform him again. He knew what Concubine Xian was going to do without thinking, and he was in no mood to deal with her at the moment.
So he waved his sleeves and said, "Get her out of here!"
Eunuch Xi didn't dare to really chase him away, so he could only go out and persuade him in a weak voice.
But Concubine Xian was angry. How could she go back so easily? If she didn't insist, her son might not even have a bone left.
She only has this one son.
She might as well fight for her life now. If the emperor doesn't save her, they will be together on the road to the underworld.
So she knelt there straight: "If Your Majesty does not want to see me, I will say this here, please save Prince Ning. If you can save Prince Ning, I will not mind losing my life. I beg Your Majesty..."
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