Seeing Yin Yuyao's words and expression, Ning Yuyuan pursed her lips slightly, as if she had made up her mind, and finally decided to tell everyone what she knew.
It turns out that after Ning Ci resolutely left the palace, she came to Xunyang alone to settle down.
As time passed, Ni Huashuo volunteered to go to his fiefdom, and by chance, the mother and son were able to reunite and renew their kinship in Xunyang.
However, good times don't last forever, and Ni Chengli eventually sought out Ning Ci.
Ni Chengli stated that he had no intention of taking Ning Ci back to the palace; he was simply longing for her and came to visit, hoping to fulfill his wish with just one glance.
However, Ni Huashuo remained suspicious and did not readily believe it. He secretly kept a close watch on his father, fearing that his mother would fall back into the same predicament as before.
Ni Chengli stayed in Xunyang for over a year, returning with an infant in his arms. He publicly claimed that the child was born to a beauty in the palace and worked with the Empress to conceal the truth.
This baby was the only one in the royal family who did not take the emperor's surname, but instead took her mother's surname. She was also granted the title of "Wuyou" (meaning "no worries"), which brought her unparalleled glory. She was also the last princess of the Rong Dynasty.
Ning Qianyun?
Yin Yuyao and Chen Xiao exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with confusion and surprise.
Could it be that what Xixi said is true?
Is Ning Qianyun really Ning Ci's daughter?
Ning Yu noticed the strange expressions on the two women's faces, so she stopped talking and looked at Yin Yuyao and Chen Xiao, asking hesitantly, "Does Your Majesty know Princess Wuyou? Does His Majesty... also know her?"
Yin Yuyao nodded slightly and replied, "Although I have been living in seclusion in the cold palace for several years, I have heard some things about the outside world. Wuyou... is my adopted daughter. I saw her on the eve of the fall of the Rong Dynasty."
Chen Xiao remained silent for a long time without uttering a word.
Seeing Chen Xiao's state, Ning Yu knew there must be a hidden story, one that was unknown to her. With such a wondrous fairy as Yin Yuyao appearing, there must be other strange occurrences.
Could Princess Wuyou also be a fairy? Ning Yuyuan pondered to herself.
She could understand why Chen Xiao was unwilling to tell her at this moment, after all, she was ultimately an outsider to Chen Xiao.
Ning Yu stopped dwelling on it and slowly recounted what happened next.
After Ni Chengli left, Ning Ci and her son's lives gradually became more stable. Ni Huashuo also met the love of his life, married her, and had children.
For a time, three generations of the family enjoyed the bliss of family life.
However, the good times didn't last long, and Ning Ci's health deteriorated rapidly. At that time, Ni Huashuo was traveling around with his wife and was completely unaware of this. Only Ning Yuyuan, who was only seven or eight years old at home, knew about it but was powerless to help.
It was during this period that Ning Yuyuan learned about Ning Ci's past deeds.
Ning Ci was in dire need of confiding in his son, while Ni Huashuo was a thoughtful man and deeply immersed in happiness with his wife. Ning Ci did not want to trouble his son with his own affairs, so he did not write a letter to inform him.
Ning Yuyuan is still young and cannot understand many things. Moreover, Ning Ci knows that his time is coming to an end. Only his granddaughter Ning Yuyuan can accompany him for the rest of his life and be the one he can confide in.
Therefore, I am willing to know many secrets.
As Ning Ci had predicted, Ni Huashuo and his wife were unable to see Ning Ci one last time. Ni Huashuo was devastated by this and was bedridden for three months, his health deteriorating ever since.
Subsequently, Ni Huashuo and his wife passed away one after another, leaving Ning Yuyuan alone at home.
Ning Yu then moved away from his old residence and found a dilapidated temple on the border to live in.
At this point, Yin Yuyao was stunned for a long time before sighing, "So, you are the owner of this temple."
Seeing that Yin Yuyao did not press Ning Ci about the matter, Ning Yuyuan felt slightly suspicious. However, upon hearing this calm remark, she inexplicably felt guilty.
Although she knew that the various formations and mechanisms in the temple were not set up by her, she was still afraid that Yin Yuyao might misunderstand, so she hurriedly explained: "Although I have lived here for a long time and know the mysteries of this place, I have absolutely no intention of harming you! I noticed that the formation was activated and knew that someone had come to visit, so I came out to investigate immediately, but unfortunately I was still a step too late, which caused Your Highness to be injured."
Yin Yuyao tilted her head slightly, casting a reassuring glance, and said, "I know it wasn't your intention."
At this moment, a soft voice broke between the two: "You knew all along that I wanted to come looking for you, and you also knew that I might get caught up in it, but you had no intention of showing yourself. Was it because you didn't know that Yu Yao was also involved? If you had known, you would have shown yourself much sooner, or even come to greet me."
The truth that Ning Yu had carefully concealed was directly exposed by Chen Xiao.
Ning Yuyuan's ears turned slightly red, and her eyes showed some panic. She murmured softly, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, I... I really don't know what to do. I didn't mean to hide it, but many things were intertwined, which made me lose my composure. I feel so guilty. I shouldn't have let Your Highness get hurt because of me. It's all my fault."
She lowered her head slightly, her hands nervously twisting together, her body unconsciously curling up slightly, looking as if she wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into. Her voice was full of regret and self-blame, with a hint of sobbing.
Ning Yuyuan appears to be in her early twenties, but in front of Chen Xiao, she is like a valiant and composed heroine, exuding confidence in every gesture.
However, as soon as Yin Yuyao appeared, she became like an ordinary junior, and her former spirited demeanor was completely gone. Her appearance at this moment was completely different from when she was in front of Chen Xiao.
Only then did Yin Yuyao understand Ning Yuyuan's thoughts and actions. Although she had some idea in her heart, she did not say much, but turned her gaze to Chen Xiao, her face full of hesitation.
Chen Xiao looked at Ning Yuyuan's two completely different sides, and then at Yin Yuyao who was still unaware of what was going on. He gently shook his head and said slowly, "Don't overthink it. I don't mean to blame you."
After saying that, she asked, "So, do you despise our royal family? Or perhaps, are you disgusted by the entire Night Dynasty?"
Seeing that Chen Xiao didn't mind, Yin Yuyao turned her gaze back to Ning Yuyuan and waited for his response.
Ning Yu pursed her lips and remained silent.
Although he did not utter a word, his attitude seemed to have said it all.
Thus, both Chen Xiao and Yin Yuyao understood Ning Yuyuan's true feelings—she not only despised the Ye Dynasty royal family, but also disliked the Ye Dynasty itself.
Chen Xiao frowned slightly, his expression revealing a hint of complexity: "If you despise it so much, why do you linger in this Night Dynasty? You can easily move to another country. As far as I know, the Night Dynasty has no regulations that prohibit its people from moving."
Ning Yu raised her eyes, a hint of stubbornness flashing in them: "Although I despise the royal family and the Night Dynasty, there is a place here that I cherish, and something that I must protect."
Yin Yuyao roughly understood why Ning Yuyuan disliked the Night Dynasty and its royal family. She asked softly, "Is it related to your grandmother and parents?"
Ning Yuyuan glanced at Yin Yuyao and nodded slightly: "When I moved from my old home to this temple, I brought many old things with me. Therefore, this temple contains my parents' memories and some of my grandmother's secrets. I cannot let them be destroyed."
Chen Xiao pondered for a moment: "If it's just to protect your memories, you can take what's important and leave Yechao for another country."
Ning Yuyuan sneered: "Your Majesty, some things lose their meaning once they are moved, and I have few attachments left in this world. Staying here is a way of giving myself closure."
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