Chapter 136 Love the House and the Dog
After finishing the work in the palace, Concubine Hui followed the emperor's wishes and temporarily moved Wen Ning to a side hall.
From beginning to end, Xie Jinglan didn't have a chance to say a word to Wen Ning.
Concubine Hui and her entourage passed through numerous palace gardens until they reached a corner of the palace with towering red walls. It was quiet all around, with only the sound of the wind passing through the eaves.
Concubine Hui stopped at the right time, her eyes swept across Wen Ning's drooping eyebrows with pity, her heart filled with mixed feelings.
I never thought that the once stunning Concubine Lu would leave behind such a daughter, and that she would be so deeply in love with Jinglan.
The incident happened suddenly, and thinking of old friends, my heart inevitably surged with old sorrow. But looking at Wen Ning in front of me, that sadness was mixed with some real joy.
Concubine Hui glanced around and saw Xie Jinglan still standing a few steps away waiting, so she sighed knowingly, "Lan'er, come here."
Xie Jinglan followed his instructions and stepped forward to pay his respects. Concubine Hui's eyes flicked between the two of them and whispered,
"Even though I'm reluctant to let go, I can't disobey the Imperial Order. Your Majesty has just recognized Ning'er, and naturally he still has countless questions to ask. Concubine Lu's past affairs, her burial place... all need to be clarified in detail. It is indeed more convenient for Ning'er to stay in the palace for the time being than in the Marquis' Mansion. Don't worry, Lan'er, she is in my palace, and I will never let her suffer any injustice."
Xie Jinglan's eyes swept across Wen Ning's lowered face, his Adam's apple moved slightly, and he finally bowed and replied, "I understand. Thank you for your care, Your Majesty."
Concubine Hui nodded and said softly, "Hurry up and say a few words."
He then signaled his left and right companions to step back, leaving the two of them alone for a moment.
Xie Jinglan immediately stepped forward and held Wen Ning's hand. He gently stroked her gauze-wrapped fingertips with his fingertips and said in a low voice, "Does it hurt?"
Wen Ning shook her head, a trace of worry in her peach blossom eyes, "My Lord, I don't want Xi Bao to enter the palace."
"Ning'er doesn't want to either, right?" he asked, staring at her.
Seeing her nod slightly, Xie Jinglan felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife.
Wen Ning's gaze swept across the towering palace walls, a trace of hard-to-conceal bitterness flashing in her eyes. "My mother suffered injustice within these deep walls, and died with hatred in her heart. Ning'er can't be completely open-minded. Seeing those who were involved in the past... it's inevitable that resentment will build."
Xie Jinglan felt as if his chest was hit hard by something, causing him to ache.
How could he not know? Her mother's injustice lay ahead of her. Although His Majesty was her biological father, he could clearly sense the complex emotions swirling in her heart.
Wen Ning calmed down and turned the conversation to what he was most concerned about.
"Xibao is still young, and... I was born out of wedlock. In this deep palace, I'm afraid he'll suffer a lot of contempt for no reason. He's been taken care of very well by the old lady, and he's used to everything.
"My Lord, I think... the Xie family is full of loyal and brave people, and the old lady was personally appointed by His Majesty. If she personally goes to the palace to plead with His Majesty to allow Xi Bao to stay in the mansion, His Majesty will surely agree, considering their old friendship and merits."
Xie Jinglan's heart ached when he heard this, and he immediately said, "Ning'er, don't worry. Even if I don't mention it, Grandmother will come to the palace immediately if she knows. She loves her great-grandson more than anything else and will definitely do her utmost to protect him."
He paused, his eyes filled with clear heartache, "But, I know Ning'er must be reluctant to leave Xibao. If Ning'er stays alone in the palace, I'm afraid she will be worried day and night, distressed."
Wen Ning's ears felt slightly hot, and she lowered her head and asked softly, "Could it be... that the Marquis wants Ning'er to stay in the palace for a long time?"
His poison...isn't there an antidote?
"Of course not!" Xie Jinglan said firmly, "I will ask His Majesty to marry Ning'er again. If he still disagrees, I will force him to marry me—"
Wen Ning's heart skipped a beat when she heard this, and she quickly raised her finger to cover his lips, "My Lord, be careful with your words!"
The man's nose was suddenly filled with a faint fragrance. He subconsciously lowered his eyes, slightly opened his thin lips, and kissed the delicate fingertips affectionately.
Wen Ning pulled her hand back suddenly as if she was scalded, and her cheeks instantly turned red.
She glanced at Concubine Hui who was waiting quietly in the distance and whispered, "I'm sorry to keep you waiting. I, I should be leaving now."
After saying this, the hem of her plain skirt brushed lightly across the palace path.
The crimson is silent and gradually goes away.
Xie Jinglan stood alone under the red wall, watching the figure disappear into the depths of the palace.
…
The old lady did not wait for the palace to send someone to pick up Xibao, but ordered someone to dig out the imperial robes that were kept in the bottom of the box and put them on, and sent a sign to ask for an audience at night.
When she met Emperor Chengxuan, she did not beat around the bush. After a trembling salute, she started by telling the story of how the ancestors of the Xie family followed Emperor Taizu to conquer the world, and then talked about how the old marquis accompanied the late emperor through life and death and died on the battlefield. Every detail was mixed with blood and tears.
When she was moved, the old lady wiped her tears with her sleeves, her voice choked with sobs:
"Your Majesty, the Xie family is full of loyal and brave men, with generations of men dying on the battlefield. Now, Jinglan is the only one left. I have no other wishes but to be able to watch over this great-grandson and enjoy a few years of family happiness. If even this wish is taken to the palace, wouldn't it completely break my bones and hope?"
What he said showed the sadness and grievance of the Xie family who sacrificed their lives for the court, but now, His Majesty cannot even tolerate a young child and insists on taking him away from the mansion.
Emperor Chengxuan was so uncomfortable with her words that were a mixture of tears and complaints, and a mixture of emotion and reason, that his temples were throbbing.
He was well aware of the importance of the old minister's widow, and even more aware that the Xie family's achievements could not be ignored. He could not withstand this soft but tough "complaint" and finally relented, saying helplessly: "Forget it, forget it. I agree. Let the child stay in the Marquis' Mansion and be raised by you personally."
The old lady was delighted and wanted to strike while the iron was hot, so she brought up the matter of the arranged marriage.
Unexpectedly, when Emperor Chengxuan heard the word "granted marriage", he clenched his teeth tightly and refused to give in at all.
…
Within two days, an imperial decree was issued from the palace to confer the title.
The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims:
My daughter, Wen Ning, is the daughter of Consort Lu. When Consort Lu passed away years ago, to avoid the turmoil of the imperial court, this girl was fostered away from home, where she grew up safely. Now that she has returned to her family, I see that she has a pure character, respectful, filial, and fraternal. Although she grew up among the common people, she has retained the dignity of the royal family, which truly comforts me.
I have specially conferred the title Princess Yanning and graciously permitted her to retain her original surname. This is out of my deepest affection for her, a desire to preserve her true nature and demonstrate my loving care for her. In the Imperial Genealogy, she will be recorded as Princess Xiao Ning'er. For the time being, Consort Hui will carefully teach her and instruct her in etiquette and rituals.
From now on, Wen Ning will return to her clan and be naturalized as my own daughter. All the officials in the court and the public should know that this is a blessing for the reunion of the royal family and should not make any unwarranted comments or speculations.
So ordered.
None of these people had expected that the decree of enthronement would be issued so quickly.
It was as if he was afraid that if he was a step late, the daughter he had just found would disappear again.
Xie Jinglan had a vague understanding in his heart.
Although Your Majesty is an emperor, you rule the world and have supreme majesty.
But when he took off the dragon robe, he was still a man of flesh and blood.
Even if he has three thousand concubines, perhaps the only one who can truly be placed at the top of his heart is that one.
But that person became a cinnabar mole on my heart that would never heal. The slightest touch would bring about overwhelming regret and pain.
He was all too familiar with this feeling.
Just like how he treated Xibao, even though he mistakenly thought that the child was not his own, just because it was Wen Ning's child, he couldn't help but take the little person under his wing and gave his all to protect and cherish her.
There is nothing more true than loving someone and loving everything about him.
Thinking about it this way, at least... His Majesty will not hurt her.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com