Meeting a scumbag again is not the same as before
This is the Qiankun Kingdom's Palace of Purity. The country's imperial concubine Wei Ningshuang hates the thin, slender, and fair-skinned Yin Banruo and Yin Defei in front of her. This is because the two were originally the beloved ones of the Yanyou Kingdom's Crown Prince Xuanyuan Haonan, but were abandoned by the crown prince. Wei Ningshuang was even more wronged because Yin Banruo was favored by Xuanyuan Haonan, and was forced to take their son to seek refuge with Li Lin.
"If Yin Banluo hadn't seduced Xuanyuan Haonan and framed me, why was I insulted in the first place?"
Chen Yun said coldly, "You should call her Yin De Fei." Then he thought to himself, "Before, there were Zhen Yin and Yan Ruoxi, and now there are Yin Banluo and Wei Ningshuang. These two pairs of enemies are really troublesome. I have to find a way to reconcile these people. Let them vent their anger for now."
Chen Yun turned and left, and Yin Banluo was also about to leave, but was caught by Wei Ningshuang.
"Sister, you've gained quite a lot, haven't you? You actually gave up the love that was within your reach and came from so far away."
Yin Banluo's lips twitched as she forced a smile. "I simply made the same choice as you, but there is a difference. First, the Yin family respects the strength of the Qiankun Kingdom and its generosity in recognizing talent, so we have devoted ourselves to it. Second, His Majesty now loves me and is clearing my name, but there is a difference."
Wei Ningshuang grasped Yin Banluo's hairpin with one hand, and said coldly, "Sister, your hairpin is messed up. I'll adjust it for you. Now that you've come to the Qiankun Kingdom harem, you must remember the palace rules. This isn't like the Yanyou Kingdom where you can do whatever you want. His Majesty is a very talented person. He loves you, but he's just using you."
Then Wei Ningshuang forced her head down, frightening Yin Banluo into retreating in panic. "I'm different. I know that hairpins can be beautiful, but they can also cause harm. So I manage the harem for His Majesty and the Empress. The words of a common vixen might be very hard on me. I hope you'll keep this in mind."
Wei Ningshuang left coldly, without a trace of emotion.
Yin Banluo recalled the past. In the palace of Yanyou Kingdom, when Yin Banluo was still Xuanyuan Haonan's beloved concubine, she saw him wandering restlessly and wanted to go forward to comfort him, but he slapped her in the face.
"If it weren't for you, how could Wei Ningshuang leave me?"
"Prince, we have nothing to do with each other. She left you because she was wronged. Why would you offend someone like that..."
Xuanyuan Haonan kicked Yin Banluo away before she finished speaking, then accused her, "Are you blaming me? She was seduced by that bastard Prince Li Lin! Get out!"
Then slowly, she followed in Wei Ningshuang's footsteps and fell out of favor.
The Yin family originally wanted their daughter to be favored and become the new Crown Princess. They reached an agreement with Li Ji, the prince of Qiankun Kingdom, and secretly attacked Qiankun Kingdom before the Haimen Incident. However, they were defeated by Chen Feng who led his troops out of the city at Wumen.
Xuanyuan Haonan knew that the losses were heavy and was afraid that it would affect the morale of the army, so in order to redeem the soldiers, he was willing to hand over everyone in the Yin family mansion.
After Yin Banluo learned about this, she tried to seek help from Xuanyuan Haonan, but a divorce paper was thrown in front of her. At that moment, her heart completely turned cold and tears fell unconsciously.
Yin Banluo also tried to enter the palace to plead with Li Lin, but was imprisoned by Fang Zai.
Back to the present, Yin Banluo clenched her fists, thinking silently in her heart: "Shameless evil concubine who brings disaster to the country, just keep your position as a concubine. I only want to save the Yin family."
Rongpin and Lifei were in the garden of the palace, both looking worried.
"The emperor has been offended by us before, why hasn't he punished us yet? What's his intention?" Rongpin looked at the fruits on the table thoughtfully.
Concubine Li said, "I don't even dare to go near the retired emperor now. But...ah!" Concubine Li straightened up and said, "I heard that the relatives of the Chen family who adopted the queen have come to seek refuge with her, and she can use those people."
Rongpin's eyes lit up as she said, "No! We should use someone from the Changsun family! They've never acknowledged their niece, who's been living in exile for so many years, as the queen. We can definitely make use of her. Who would be suitable?"
The two of them thought about it carefully, then pointed at each other and said, "Changsun Anye!"
Concubine Li said, "Our goal is to remove someone who shouldn't be there. As someone's relative, it's not easy to refuse an opinion. It just so happens that the Crown Prince of Yanyou will ascend the throne next month, and he will come to our country first to make friends with the current emperor."
Rongpin continued, "Then we will use him to create conflict between the two countries. Changsun Anye is addicted to alcohol and has no business working for the retired emperor's younger brother, Prince Jian'an. Prince Jian'an has always been arrogant, so we will use this opportunity to have him attack Prince Xuanyuan."
Concubine Li stood up and said, "What are you waiting for? I will send the letter right away."
As the two of them were plotting, they were unaware that, while Chen Yun cared about the Changsun family, he was unlikely to be too concerned about the consequences of their actions. Instead, he was focused on national issues. After receiving the news of the reception for the Crown Prince of Yanyou, he ordered his servants to prepare a banquet.
On that day, a long corridor covered in red cloth was festooned with lanterns and colorful decorations, featuring carved dragons and painted phoenixes. Golden cups of fine wine were served, along with a wealth of delicious food. Li Lin and Chen Yun, the Emperor and Empress, sat at the front of the hall, while Yin Banluo and Wei Ningshuang sat to the sides. Civil and military officials sat below, providing support.
Xuanyuan Haonan brought his entourage with him. As soon as he arrived, he found that the two women he had betrayed were sitting in front of him.
"Wei Ningshuang, unexpectedly Yin Banluo is here too. Luckily, I was prepared." Thinking of this, Xuanyuan Haonan's cheek twitched slightly, but he still saluted politely: "Crown Prince Xuanyuan Haonan of Yanyou Kingdom and a group of officials have arrived in Qiankun Kingdom. Here, congratulations to His Majesty on your ascension to the throne! I specially prepared a gift today, so please forgive me for not being able to congratulate you in time."
Wei Ningshuang stared at Xuanyuan Haonan intently.
Although Yin Banluo appeared calm, her heart was filled with complex emotions, her past humiliation intertwined with her current situation. She gripped the wine glass tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.
Li Lin raised his hand slightly, smiling in a regal manner. "Your Highness is very polite. The Queen and I are deeply honored to have come from such afar. I will accept the gift. Please take your seat, Your Highness. You must enjoy yourself today."
After Xuanyuan Haonan thanked them, his gaze lingered briefly on Yin Banluo and Wei Ningshuang before he sat down at his designated seat. The banquet officially began, with the melodious sounds of stringed instruments filling the air. Dancers in their splendid attire danced gracefully, and fine wine and delicacies were served continuously.
After three rounds of drinks, Xuanyuan Haonan suddenly stood up, picked up the wine glass, and said to Li Lin and Chen Yun: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, it is a great honor to meet old friends today. I, the prince, would like to offer a toast to you two and everyone here." After that, he drank it all in one gulp.
Wei Ningshuang and Yin Banluo accepted the toast without saying a word.
Then, Xuanyuan Haonan said, "Your Majesty, I ascended the throne the following month. I am here in person today in the hope that our two countries will maintain everlasting friendship, regardless of the distinction between ruler and subject."
Chen Yun quickly spoke up, "Originally, the two countries are independent nations, and there should be no distinction between rulers and subjects. Peace and prosperity between nations should also be based on the people. After all, there is a country before there is a family. I hope that the prince can govern the country well and his family well."
Chen Ying had a smile on his face, and when he paused for a moment, his words clearly implied that he was mocking Xuanyuan Haonan for not handling the relationships with the spouses around him very well.
Yin Banluo was very surprised to hear Chen Yan speak like this. He couldn't help feeling happy, and even the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise slightly.
Xuanyuan Haonan knew he was being ridiculed, so he adjusted his unhappy expression and said, "Your Majesty's words are reasonable. However, family matters are internal affairs, so you don't need to worry about them. From now on, I will work with the Crown Princess to govern Yanyou Kingdom and create a prosperous and peaceful era for both countries. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
"Co-building a peaceful and prosperous world is the foundation of our country, and we have long developed towards this goal. There is no doubt that my strength leads to a strong country, and therefore a strong army and strong cavalry. At this time, it is even more necessary for Yanyou Country to suffer some losses and issue more decrees to align with the development of Qiankun Country."
Xuanyuan Haonan smiled and said, "Father has already issued a barter order. Yanyou Country is rich in wood and plants, including chrysanthemum, artemisia selengensis, wild ginseng, and coptis chinensis. We will exchange one tree for ten taels of silver for food from Qiankun Country."
Chen Feng scoffed and said, "Among these weeds, only wild ginseng has some value. There are alternative medicines. And ten taels for one tree is outrageous."
Li Lin thought for a moment, then asked Chen Yun beside him, "Queen, what do you think?"
"Your Majesty, these are all excellent. Artemisia selengensis, among them, has a strong bitter and aromatic aroma. Honey can be mixed with it to mask the bitterness. Its flowers are pungent, bitter, and cold. They are also poisonous. A compound called shan dao nian (Shan Dao Nian) can be extracted from the flowers. Shan dao nian (Shan Dao Nian) excites the insect's ganglia, causing them to contract spasmodically, thereby driving the expulsion of the parasite. The effect is remarkable. Furthermore, Coptis chinensis and Artemisia selengensis are rare plants and difficult to care for. Whether this is worthwhile remains for your Majesty and the ministers to consider."
Xuanyuan Haonan was instantly impressed by Chen Yun's intelligence and applauded repeatedly, "Your Majesty, you have a wonderful queen. I envy you so much." Then his eyes changed from glittering admiration to a dim, damp look as he glanced at Yin Banluo and Wei Ningshuang, "Unlike the women I've met, none of them are smart or useful."
Yin Banluo's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, but she quickly regained her composure. She sneered inwardly. Xuanyuan Haonan's words seemed to praise Chen Yun, but in reality, they were mocking her and Wei Ningshuang. She gently put down her wine glass, a subtle sharpness flashing in her eyes.
"The Empress is incredibly intelligent, unmatched. The saying 'there aren't any clever and useful women I've ever met' is probably a bit biased." Yin Banluo's voice was low, yet filled with passion. "Back in the day, in Yanyou Country... the beauties around His Highness each had their own strengths, but His Highness simply didn't cherish them."
On the other side, Wei Ningshuang had been observing Xuanyuan Haonan silently. There was hatred in her eyes, as well as a hint of complex emotions that were difficult to detect.
She thought back to every little detail of her past with Xuanyuan Haonan, all those sweet and painful memories that had now turned to hatred. She wanted to prove that she could live a better life without Xuanyuan Haonan.
Wei Ningshuang picked up a glass of wine and walked to Li Lin. She deliberately knelt beside him and raised the glass to look at Li Lin. Li Lin understood what she meant and watched Xuanyuan Haonan hold Wei Ningshuang in his arms with one hand.
Wei Ningshuang put the wine into Li Lin's mouth with a charming look on her face, and Li Lin drank it.
Wei Ningshuang watched Li Lin drink it, then whispered clearly, "In the past, I was untalented. When I first entered the palace to serve Your Majesty, I could only do my best to serve the court and the harem. Unfortunately, my talent is not as good as yours now, and I have forgotten what I did that day."
Li Lin cooperated, a hint of unintentional ridicule on his lips. "If it weren't for my beloved concubine, how could we have resolved the issue of Japanese collaborators? Similarly, my beloved concubine has made an indelible contribution to my ascension to the throne. A book could be written about her in her entirety."
Wei Ningshuang continued, "When Your Majesty was still a prince, you trusted me and provided me with financial support, allowing me to build a girls' school." Then Wei Ningshuang turned and stood up. "Who thinks a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent? Is it because so many intelligent women have lost their chastity that lack of talent is considered precious? Could it be that only some people fear talented women and oppress them? It is precisely because of the construction of the girls' school that Qiankun Country has gained more beautiful sentences and articles. There are even more surprises in places we don't know about! This is the wonderful side of women!"
As soon as Wei Ningshuang finished speaking, the hall fell silent, and everyone's eyes focused on her. Xuanyuan Haonan's face instantly turned gloomy. He didn't expect Wei Ningshuang to mention the past in such an occasion, and he didn't expect her to satirize him so bluntly.
"Empress Wei, today is a banquet to celebrate the diplomatic relations between the two countries, and it is also a celebration of the upcoming ascension of Crown Prince Xuanyuan to the throne. Don't ruin the atmosphere because of personal grudges." Li Lin spoke at the right time, with a hint of warning in his tone, but he also cleverly protected Wei Ningshuang's face, allowing her to end the incident with dignity.
Wei Ningshuang bowed slightly and saluted Li Lin, then returned to her seat, still looking at Xuanyuan Haonan provocatively. She knew in her heart that these words were not only a provocation to Xuanyuan Haonan, but also a declaration to everyone present that she, Wei Ningshuang, was not a weak woman who would allow herself to be bullied.
Xuanyuan Haonan suppressed his anger and forced a smile, saying, "Noble Concubine Wei is truly eloquent. I didn't realize that back then. However, the past is over. Now I only wish to forever forge a friendly relationship with the Qiankun Kingdom and create a prosperous era together."
A soldier hurriedly ran to Xuanyuan Haonan and whispered a few words. The next second, his expression became embarrassed and solemn.
Xuanyuan Haonan slammed the table and stood up, "Emperor of Qiankun Kingdom, what do you mean by that? You actually killed my people!"
Soldiers from the Qiankun Kingdom also rushed into the hall. "Report! Outside the city, Prince Jian'an led his troops to attack the Jiedu Guard of the Yanyou Kingdom! They also requested that the message be conveyed: Your Majesty is unworthy of your position and cannot protect the Qiankun and Yanyou Kingdoms."
Chen Feng realized that such an action would be detrimental to both countries, so he immediately proposed: "Your Majesty, I am willing to go and suppress King Jian'an!"
Yin Banluo said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I have a plan. Now that the Yin family is no longer in the government, there are many opportunities to weaken the rebels. Once my family has weakened their military strength, we can send someone to suppress them by force. This will definitely ensure the safety of the Yanyou soldiers and minimize the damage."
Xuanyuan Haonan thought Yin Banluo was seeking revenge against him, "Yin Banluo! Are you planning to use the Yin family as an opportunity to take revenge on our Yanyou Nation?"
"Your Highness, Qiankun is a nation with a broad mind. If there is no hatred, how can there be any? His Majesty is so loving and kind to me, no one can compare to him. Naturally, I must prioritize protecting my homeland, rather than speaking sweetly to others even when no one pays attention to me."
Wei Ningshuang thought to herself, "This girl is quite scheming. For the time being, we should team up to resolve the current situation and gain the appreciation of His Majesty and the civil and military officials. This is very important for those of us who are getting married for the second time."
Wei Ningshuang proposed to Li Lin to go to war, "Your Majesty, I also have a plan that can make it difficult for Prince Jian'an to attack."
Li Lin saw Xuanyuan Haonan's anger and thought to himself, things may change over time, why should we look down on others and insult them?
So he said, "Prince, now that I am here, those rebellious rebels in the country will be dealt with. Prince Jian'an has dispatched troops without permission and harmed friendly relations. His intentions are clear. Concubine Wei, take the Minister of Personnel, Changsun Feng, and go suppress the rebellion. If necessary, we can kill them. Concubine Yin De, you will assist."
Xuanyuan Haonan quickly said, "I won't question the abilities of your Majesty's generals! But Concubine Wei... is just a woman who has never fought in a war. Isn't that just courting death?"
Wei Ningshuang immediately stood up and removed the hairpin on her head. Her hair fell on her shoulders. Her eyes were determined and full of vigor. "Your Majesty, your late sister, Princess Pingyang, once prevented the Yanyou Kingdom from taking a single step forward. Now, I am plotting a war! Prince Xuanyuan, please reconsider the current Wei Ningshuang."
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