Chapter 113 A Day as Husband and Wife, a Hundred Days of Kindness
Princess Ning'an looked at her calmly, her eyes devoid of any emotion, as if this woman was a complete stranger to her, and decades of affection could vanish in an instant.
Princess Ning'an is a normal person.
A normal, flesh-and-blood woman.
How could so many years of feelings just disappear like that?
Although the Empress Dowager's affection for her was for a purpose, the decades-long bond between mother and daughter could not be easily severed. However, at the same time, she was also acutely aware that she had always been a pawn.
She couldn't accept this fact, so her love and hate were intertwined, causing her great pain.
If that were all, Princess Ning'an might have stopped there, punished Wen Yishu's family, and allowed the Empress Dowager to spend her later years in peace in the palace.
Unfortunately, her mother died at the hands of the Empress Dowager.
This truth overturned her perceptions and all her emotions.
Princess Anning had never met Consort Jing from back then and had no feelings for her, so it would be disingenuous to say that she was in great pain. However, reason told her that the woman in front of her was the one who killed her mother, and she could not forgive her.
Princess Ning'an gently closed her eyes, calming the mixed feelings in her heart. After a long while, she finally spoke: "You are my mother. I have called you Empress Dowager for decades. No matter what, I can't do anything to you. So all my resentment and revenge will be directed at Wen Yishu's family."
She stood up and looked down at the Empress Dowager, at her face that had aged more than ten years in just a few days: "I will make sure they live to see the end of their exile, to suffer all the hardships and tribulations they deserve. You can rest assured."
After saying that, she turned and left.
The Empress Dowager's expression changed drastically: "Ning'an! Ning'an, you can't do this! He is your husband. Even a day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness. How can you do this? Shiyu is your son. You've loved them for so long, don't you really have any feelings for them at all? Ning'an!"
emotion?
Princess Ning'an smiled coldly, straightened her back, and walked out of the palace, looking up at the azure sky.
Why should she have feelings for a husband who has been calculating since the beginning of their marriage, and three children she has raised for over a decade who are still full of resentment?
What a huge joke.
The palace gates were closed behind them.
Princess Ning'an knew that this might be her last meeting with the Empress Dowager. If nothing unexpected happened, the Empress Dowager would most likely spend the rest of her days in solitude and desolation.
At the end of the palace road, a group of people were waiting there.
In front were palace maids and nannies, and in the middle sat a noble woman in a sedan chair. She had once been so dazzling and flamboyant, but now all that remained on her face was endless haggardness.
The four eunuchs carrying the sedan chair lowered their heads and looked down respectfully.
Princess Ning'an stopped and looked up at the woman in the sedan chair.
Consort Shu, the mother of Prince Jin.
If the Empress Dowager was grieving and desperate because of the misfortune that befell Wen Yishu's family, then Consort Shu's state at this time was probably one of dejection and powerlessness as the tide turned against her.
She looked at Princess Ning'an, a hint of resentment and anger in her eyes: "Is the Princess in such a hurry to report the good news to the Empress Dowager?"
The Wen family of five had just embarked on their journey to exile when she couldn't wait to stab the Empress Dowager in the back. How ruthless!
Consort Shu was in a daze these past few days, shaken by the successive upheavals. Her mind was in complete chaos, and she had no time to think about anything deeper. But she knew that the Empress Dowager doted on Wen Yishu and, by extension, loved the three children of the Wen family as much as she loved them.
The Empress Dowager is undoubtedly saddened by this unexpected turn of events.
However, she couldn't quite understand the Empress Dowager and Princess Ning'an, and couldn't help but suspect that Wen Yishu and Princess Ning'an were switched at birth, otherwise she couldn't explain the Empress Dowager's strange relationship.
Moreover, Princess Ning'an and Wen Yishu are about the same age.
Consort Shu looked at Princess Ning'an and the more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
She raised her hand to rub her temples: "Wen Heyun's incident happened at the Princess's residence, followed by the Wen family being imprisoned... Was all of this a carefully orchestrated scheme by the Princess from the very beginning?"
She was exhausted by the recent upheavals at the Prince of Jin's residence and had no energy to think about anything deeper. She only knew that after that banquet, the Wen family started to have problems and there was no room for maneuver.
Princess Ning'an raised an eyebrow, thinking that she didn't have that much ability to bring down the Prime Minister's mansion with a little careful planning.
However, there's nothing wrong with Consort Shu thinking that way.
After all, the Prince of Jin has been having a pretty rough time lately.
After his misfortune was averted at the Prime Minister's residence and Pei Yi'an's imprisonment, there was no chance for him to turn things around. Therefore, Consort Shu's mood at this time was probably one of despair.
Princess Ning'an remained silent for a moment, then said calmly, "The rules of the world are so cruel. Those who are on the same boat share the benefits, and they must also share the hardships."
When princes vie for the throne, forming factions is inevitable.
One day, an accident occurred, and the entire ship was wrecked.
This was a predictable situation, so there's nothing to complain about.
After all, even if someone else were to fail, the new emperor would still eliminate dissidents and purge a large number of his opponents' supporters from the court after ascending the throne.
Consort Shu's expression was gloomy: "Although I don't know why you did this, but..."
“Your Highness Consort Shu,” Princess Ning’an interrupted her, “Pei Yi’an’s charge of treason has not yet been decided. Perhaps the Emperor is still considering it, because the crime of treason has far-reaching implications, and the Emperor still has a shred of mercy in his heart. My suggestion is to let Prince Jin behave himself and completely give up any improper thoughts. This way, you and your child may still be safe.”
"I have said all I need to say. Consort Shu, please take care of yourself."
After Princess Ning'an finished speaking, she turned and left.
"Princess," Consort Shu called out to her, her tone suddenly turning icy, "Was it Chu Yunjin who instigated you to get pregnant?"
Princess Ning'an paused slightly, turned to look at her, and raised an eyebrow: "Why would Consort Shu think that way?"
"On your birthday banquet, Wen Jingyi offended the Sixth Princess and the Princess Consort of Yan." Consort Shu's voice was cold. "Then Chu Yunjin wanted to talk to you alone, and then you became pregnant... Ning'an, I am not senile. All of this was caused by Chu Yunjin behind the scenes."
Princess Ning'an smiled and said, "Consort Shu's information network is quite extensive."
Consort Shu pursed her lips: "Doesn't the Eldest Princess think that the Princess Consort of Yan has suddenly become very suspicious?"
Princess Ning'an was taken aback: "What do you mean?"
"What does the Princess think she means?" Consort Shu sneered. "I suspect she is possessed by an evil spirit."
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