Chapter 200 Bitterness
In the study.
Old Prince Ning sat at the desk, rubbing his eyebrows continuously.
Given his status, there are very few things that can make him so helpless and troubled.
The palace examination has been delayed for so many days and there is no way to postpone it any further. But after several days, I still can't think of a solution that will satisfy both parties.
Just as I was worrying, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
The maid pushed the door open and entered, bowing and saying, "Old Prince, the old princess wants to see you for something."
Old Prince Ning frowned. Old Princess Ning rarely came to him for help. Old Princess Ning had full authority over matters in the palace and did not need to discuss them with him. Old Prince Ning was worried and asked, "What happened?"
The maid hesitated, and Old Prince Ning said, "Speak!"
The maid said stiffly, "The old princess wants to go to the Jokhang Temple to pray and burn incense tomorrow. Nanny Zhao advised her against it, and she realized something was wrong. Nanny Zhao had no choice but to tell her the rumors about the prince..."
Why did he suddenly think of burning incense? Old Prince Ning was in a dilemma. Although this matter would be revealed sooner or later, after losing his son and grandson in succession, Old Prince Ning could no longer withstand any blow. If anything happened to Old Princess Ning, he would not want to live anymore.
Old Prince Ning was so exhausted that he barely stood up by holding on to the table. He had to pretend nothing had happened when he went to meet Old Princess Ning.
Princess Ning sat on the Arhat couch, her eyes fixed on the bluestone floor. No one knew what she was thinking.
Old Prince Ning walked over and asked, "Why are you looking for me suddenly?"
Princess Ning looked up at Prince Ning and asked, "Is Huan'er the son of Marquis Pingyuan?"
Old Prince Ning said, "It's just rumors, how can you take it seriously..."
Old Prince Ning sat down and suddenly felt something was wrong. He turned to look at Old Princess Ning, "What did you just ask me?"
A trace of sorrow flashed across the eyes of the old Princess Ning, "Is Huan'er the son of Marquis Pingyuan?"
Old Prince Ning was shocked, "You..."
Princess Ning felt bitter in her heart and smiled bitterly, "How could I not know whether Huan'er is my biological grandson? I knew it the day you brought Huan'er to me..."
She and Prince Ning had been in love for a lifetime and she gave birth to two sons for him. Princess Ning knew that they would have to depend on each other for the rest of their lives.
After experiencing the pain of losing her sons twice, Old Prince Ning was her courage to live, and she was also Old Prince Ning's support. No matter which one of them fell, the remaining one would not be able to survive alone.
In order to hide it from her, Prince Ning found a man whose features somewhat resembled her grandson. How could she have the heart to expose such painstaking efforts? The lifeless Prince Ning's Mansion also needed a little vitality.
Princess Ning knew it very well but just didn't say it out loud. Although her grandson had left the capital to recuperate, she had watched him grow up. She was not so confused that she couldn't even tell whether he was her own grandson or not. Over the years, she had already regarded Xiao Huan as her own grandson.
She sincerely hoped that Xiao Huan could stay in the Ning Prince's Mansion and inherit the Ning Prince's Mansion, but the premise of all this was that Xiao Huan was an orphan without a father or a mother, and no one knew about it.
Princess Ning said, "I was wondering why you have been so close to Marquis Pingyuan recently. Is it because of me that you don't allow Huan'er to recognize his ancestors?"
Prince Ning didn't say anything, which was considered as his agreement.
Princess Ning knew this was the case. She said with red eyes, "Huan'er is a miserable child. How could you bear it?"
Princess Ning had heard a lot about the Marquis of Pingyuan's Mansion recently. The eldest son was lost at the Lantern Festival, and the second son was replaced with another at birth, taken out of the mansion and almost buried alive. Princess Ning was also saddened when she heard it, but she did not expect that Xiao Huan would be Shen Sui's eldest son who was taken away at the Lantern Festival. He was only four years old, but because of the title conspiracy, he was forced to wander outside. He finally found his family, but because of her, he could not return to his roots. Princess Ning could not bear it.
Old Prince Ning said, "Huan'er and Roujia are engaged, and they will return to Pingyuan Marquis' Mansion sooner or later. I was afraid that you would not be able to bear the shock, so I did not dare to tell you. Who would have thought that this news would suddenly spread, catching me off guard."
Princess Ning's nose was sour, "Huan'er and Roujia are a good match, but it's a pity that you and I are unlucky. It would be great if Huan'er was really our grandson..."
"Huan'er has his own family. Don't let our selfishness prevent the Pingyuan Marquis from enjoying the happiness of family life. Let him return to his roots as soon as possible."
Old Prince Ning said, "I mentioned to Marquis Pingyuan before that I would take Huan'er as my adopted grandson. What do you think?"
Princess Ning choked up and said, "In my heart, Huan'er is my grandson."
Old Prince Ning said, "Huan'er is a filial child. Even if he returns to Pingyuan Marquis's Mansion, he will come back to see you and me from time to time."
Princess Ning could no longer hold back her tears.
She thought she could keep this secret forever.
As early as when her two sons died, Princess Ning had cried until her tears dried up. Seeing her crying now, Prince Ning felt very uncomfortable. The thought that had popped up in his heart countless times came up again, and this time he could not suppress it at all.
Old Prince Ning stood up and said, "I'm going to the Pingyuan Marquis' Mansion."
…
As for Chen Tang, after having lunch with Old Madam Jiang at the Jiang family, he stayed for a full half hour before reluctantly saying goodbye.
When she got back to the Pingyuan Marquis's Mansion and got off the carriage, the gatekeeper reported to her, "Second Miss, Prince Ning is here and is talking to the Marquis in the study..."
The rumor that Prince Ning is the eldest son of their Pingyuan Marquis Mansion has been circulating for a few days, and the servants in the mansion are also curious.
Old Prince Ning is the current emperor's uncle, and his status is so noble that sending someone to invite the Marquis to his house for a talk is already giving him face, not to mention coming to the house in person to see the Marquis.
Old Prince Ning came to see his father at this time, it must be about his eldest brother's recognition of his ancestral home. Chen Tang really wanted to go to the study to listen, but even if she had some courage, she would not dare to do such a thing. Thinking that such a big matter would definitely make the old lady ask about it, Chen Tang went to Songhe Hall.
Arriving at Songhe Hall, Chen Tang walked around the screen and entered the room, and the old lady asked her, "Is old Prince Ning gone?"
Chen Tang shook his head, "It wasn't there when I came back..."
The old lady asked, "What are you discussing that takes so long?"
Chen Tang was surprised, "Has Old Prince Ning been here for a long time?"
Mother Wang glanced at the clepsydra and said, "It's been nearly half an hour."
So long...
Could it be that Prince Ning came here not to let the eldest brother recognize his ancestral roots?
Chen Tang thinks that won’t happen. Since his elder brother doesn’t recognize his ancestral roots, he can’t marry Princess Roujia, and he can’t cancel the engagement.
Chen Tang said, "Grandma, please be patient. It shouldn't take long."
Just as she finished speaking, a maid came in quickly and said, "Madam, the Marquis and Old Prince Ning left the house together. He said he would talk to him when he came back..."
The old lady frowned and asked, "Where is the Marquis going?"
The maid shook her head.
How could a maid like her dare to ask what the marquis was doing outside the mansion? She didn't know what he was doing outside the mansion, nor did she know when he would be back.
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