Chapter 317 Eavesdropping
Behind the screen, Princess Rongning covered her mouth tightly.
What does it mean to be afraid to gamble and not be able to gamble?
At the Immortal Gathering Banquet, Xue Quan mentioned that he had consulted Physician Wang about the elixir, and Physician Wang said there was nothing wrong with it.
Therefore, Physician Wang is my father's man. My father instructed Physician Wang to lie so that Master Miaoqing could speak favorably of him to my uncle, thus harming the Crown Prince and my uncle, and ultimately seizing the throne...
Tears welled up uncontrollably, flowing down the back of her hand that was covering her mouth and onto her clothes.
Outside the screen, the conversation between Prince Fu and his advisors was clearly audible.
“The new emperor is merely gentle and kind, not weak or foolish. He must have some suspicions about me, and he hasn’t taken action simply because he doesn’t have any evidence yet.” Prince Fu couldn’t hide the anxiety in his eyes.
"Your Highness, the news that Physician Wang might still be alive might just be a trap."
"So what if it's bait?" Prince Fu raised his voice slightly. "If the new emperor intends to lure me out with bait, doesn't that just show that he suspects me? He is already the ruler of a country. Even without evidence, since he has this intention, he can convict me of a fabricated crime when the time is right."
Prince Fu's expression was ferocious: "Doing nothing won't help us escape this situation. Rather than being easily dealt with by the new emperor in the future, we might as well take advantage of his recent ascension to the throne and the fact that his power base is not yet stable, and fight to the death!"
Behind the screen, Princess Rongning's breath hitched.
A desperate gamble?
Father has no intention of stopping.
"...Let's set it for the day of the late emperor's burial, to avoid any unforeseen complications..."
When Prince Fu and his advisors were discussing something, they deliberately lowered their voices, but Princess Rongning could hear them clearly.
"Go ahead and make the arrangements. I need to be alone for a while."
The sound of the door closing softly was heard, followed by a long sigh from Prince Fu.
It was unclear how much time had passed before Prince Fu finally got up and left the study.
Princess Rongning slowly stretched her numb body, not in a hurry to leave.
Soon, the servant who was specifically assigned to guard the study came in and tidied up the tea set on the table.
While he was wiping the bookshelf, Princess Rongning quietly slipped out of the study and returned to her residence.
Her favorite incense burned in her boudoir, and everything was arranged in her usual way. It was the place she longed to return to during her time in Xijiang.
But at this moment, Princess Rongning looked at all of this and felt a sense of unfamiliarity.
Her father was not what she thought; his kindness and righteousness were just masks to conceal his wolfish ambitions.
What should she do?
"Princess, the Princess Consort requests your presence."
"knew."
Princess Rongning washed her face again to make sure no one could tell anything was wrong before going to the main courtyard.
"Rong Ning, come sit next to your mother."
Princess Rongning walked over and sat down next to Princess Fu: "My mother is looking for me."
"You look thinner again?" Princess Fu looked at her daughter's face with affection.
Princess Rongning raised her hand to touch her cheek and forced a smile: "It's getting hotter and hotter, the summer is unbearable, it will be better in autumn and winter."
Princess Fu held Princess Rongning's hand: "Rongning, have you not let go of Xijiang's matter yet?"
"No, King Xijiang is dead, and my daughter has nothing to worry about."
“You can fool others, but how can you fool your mother?” Princess Fu tucked a stray strand of hair behind Princess Rongning’s ear. “Your mother knows you have a knot in your heart.”
"Mother, you haven't told me why you called me here."
"Rong Ning, what do you think of Yang Zhen, the Deputy Commander of the Palace Guard?"
Princess Rongning was taken aback.
“My mother has inquired carefully. Yang Zhen is twenty-seven years old this year. He was once engaged, but the woman passed away before the wedding, and the marriage has been delayed until now. At his age, he is outstanding to serve as the deputy commander-in-chief, and he is a good match for my Rong Ning…”
As Princess Rongning listened to the soft words of the Princess Consort of Fu, the scene of Yang Zhen killing the Immortal Miaoqing at the Immortal Gathering Banquet came to mind.
Such haste and impulsiveness meant that Master Miaoqing was killed without giving him a chance to say a word.
Knowing his father's thoughts, it wasn't hard to guess that his so-called impulsiveness was nothing more than a desire to kill and silence witnesses.
Yang Zhen, the deputy commander of the Palace Guard, is one of my father's men.
When the mother brought up the marriage with Yang Zhen at this time, it must have been the father's idea to make the connection between them stronger.
"Why is Mother suddenly bringing up my marriage? The national mourning period has just ended."
“My mother has been looking for a suitable candidate since last year, but none of them have met her standards. I heard from your father that Yang Zhen is a good person with good character and ability, and he is interested in marrying someone…” Princess Fu said, her heart aching.
There were people who were to her liking, but Rong Ning had been betrothed to the King of Xijiang. Many people said that Princess Rong Ning was righteous, but when it came to actually discussing marriage, they harbored disdain.
No matter how outstanding the man is, a woman who dislikes her husband will not want him.
It really is my father.
Princess Rongning lowered her eyes, concealing the sarcasm in them: "Mother, I think Yang Zhen is too old."
"What do you mean by old age?" Prince Fu walked in and his expression darkened slightly upon hearing Princess Rongning's words.
Princess Consort Fu found Prince Fu's sour face inexplicable: "Rong Ning thinks Yang Zhen is too old, and I actually think so too. Let's call off this marriage."
“No.” Prince Fu looked at his wife, who knew nothing, and was extremely annoyed. “Yang Zhen is not even thirty years old yet, but he is already the Deputy Commander of the Palace Guard. He has a bright future and is worthy of Rong Ning.”
More importantly, the next steps depend on Yang Zhen. He needs Yang Zhen's loyalty, and Yang Zhen needs his protection; as father-in-law and son-in-law, they can both feel at ease with each other.
"But Rong Ning doesn't like it."
Prince Fu glanced at Princess Rongning with displeasure and said in a firm tone, "Marriage is always a matter of parental arrangement."
At this critical moment, he no longer had the patience to act like a loving father.
"Father, you have already sacrificed your daughter once, do you want to force her a second time?" Princess Rongning asked expressionlessly.
"What do you mean by coercion? Father is doing this for your own good."
If he succeeds, Rong Ning will be a real princess. What has he done to wrong her?
“Your Highness, if you truly care about Rong Ning, you should respect her wishes instead of forcing her to accept them.”
Prince Fu said impatiently, "Enough! You've spoiled her rotten!"
"Your Highness—"
"Mother, please stop." Princess Rongning tugged at Princess Fu's sleeve and gave Prince Fu a deep look. "Let's do as Father says. Father is right, you are doing this for my own good."
"It's good that you're sensible. Your Highness, please take good care of the engagement. I'm going to get back to work." Prince Fu smiled and turned to leave.
Princess Rongning calmly watched Prince Fu's departing figure, her heart no longer troubled.
How ridiculous! He pushed her out to marry twice, both times for his own wicked ambitions, and all she got in return was a "sensible" comment.
"Mother, I'm going out for a walk to clear my head."
Princess Fu was worried that her daughter might be thinking of doing something drastic, and asked anxiously, "Where should we go to clear her mind?"
Princess Rongning smiled and said, "I'm going to go play with Aheng."
Princess Fu was relieved to hear that she was going to find Qiu Heng: "Go ahead, take more people with you."
Princess Suiyun and Rong Ning have a good relationship; if they talk more, Rong Ning will feel better.
(End of this chapter)
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