After saying goodbye to Ning Yao, Ning Qiong returned to Mingjing Garden.
This was the first time she had ever lived in this courtyard. At first, she thought it was too much trouble, so she just found a room in the front. Now that her family had come, she had finally moved in.
"Young Miss, watch your step!" Zhihe lifted the curtain and let Ning Qiong carry Ning Yiyi inside.
Ning Qiong stopped after taking only two steps inside.
Zhihe asked in confusion, "What's wrong, Miss?"
Ning Qiong stared intently into the room and said to Zhihe, "It's alright. It's getting late. You should go and rest too. Get up early tomorrow; there's still a lot to do."
"That young master?"
Ning Qiong shook her head: "It's nothing. Yi Yi is very well-behaved. I'll sleep with him tonight."
Ning Yiyi was raised by Ning Qiong herself, so Zhihe didn't think much of it and left.
The door closed, and Ning Qiong's demeanor changed. She said defensively, "Come out. I know you're here."
The room was completely silent.
"Is the supreme ruler, second only to the emperor, now only capable of such petty theft?"
As soon as Ning Qiong finished speaking, a barely audible sigh was heard.
"Qiong'er, must things between us be like this?"
Shen Ce emerged from the room.
Ning Qiong looked at the man she had once loved and trusted without any emotion: "Your Majesty has visited my boudoir time and time again. This is not in accordance with reason or custom. Please do not come again."
Shen Ce's gaze was fixed on Shen Qiong and Ning Yiyi in her arms.
As the ruler of the world, he could not protect his wife and children, and he never expected that the child he thought would die young would be switched at birth by the Duke of Zhenguo and sent out of the palace to live.
When he first heard the news, he was both angry and relieved, and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
What a fine family of the Duke of Zhenguo! They even dare to confuse the royal bloodline!
Ning Qiong felt uncomfortable under Shen Ce's gaze, and she coldly ordered him to leave: "It's getting late, please leave!"
"Qiong'er...I..."
"I want to see the child..."
Ning Qiong tightened her grip on Ning Yiyi's arms and sternly refused, "No need, this is my child."
"But he's mine too..."
"Your Majesty's child is within the majestic palace walls, not in this rural countryside. Please do not speak recklessly."
Seeing Ning Qiong's unwavering expression, Shen Ce felt quite frustrated.
He knows he was wrong before, terribly wrong, but now he understands, and all he wants is to be with her and the children.
As for the position of the supreme ruler, it's better to do without it!
"My royal uncle has come to see me," Shen Ce changed the subject.
Ning Qiong said, "It has nothing to do with me."
"My imperial uncle said that the capital is in chaos, the Zhang family has rebellious intentions, and the Zhang and Lin families control the palace. I need to return to the capital."
Thinking of her conversation with Ning Yao and the others that evening, Ning Qiong said stiffly, "Those in positions of power should fulfill their duties. Your Majesty should be concerned about the livelihoods of the common people, not getting entangled with me in this remote town."
Shen Ce's handsome face showed sadness and disappointment, and his mouth was full of bitterness: "I know, I have promised my uncle to return to the capital, but the capital is thousands of miles away from here, so it has become difficult for me to see you."
"And one more..."
"Your Majesty's affection for me was severed when Yi Yi was born, wasn't it? Consort Rong perished in the fire, Empress Zhaohui rests in the imperial mausoleum, and I am just a daughter of the Ning family, with no relation to them whatsoever."
Ning Qiong believes that since marrying into the prince's mansion and becoming a concubine in the palace, Shen Ce has had little say in his life.
Even though their relationship wasn't what it used to be, she could understand and felt that their old affection for each other still remained.
However, after giving birth to a stillborn child and being banished to the cold palace under the guise of an ominous sign, she completely lost hope in this man.
The young man's ruthlessness and the death of her child made Ning Yao wish she had actually died in that fire.
If her father hadn't told her that Yi Yi wasn't dead, she wouldn't have had the will to live, nor would she have been able to emerge from the shadows so quickly.
"Is there really no chance, Qiong'er?"
Ning Qiong replied indifferently: "Absolutely impossible."
He carried Ning Yiyi into the inner room, ignoring the people outside.
After placing Ning Yiyi on the bed, Ning Qiong sat there blankly for a long time, until her face was covered with cold tear stains.
Shen Ce, watching her resolute back from outside, sighed and quietly left.
The entire Mingjing Garden fell silent.
"My lord, you've come countless times, and the Empress has rejected you countless times. Why are you still so upset?"
Shen Ce seemed to be talking to himself: "It's only been three months. Compared to the suffering she's endured, what is this?"
The guards beside him were somewhat confused; this wasn't the first time their master had said such a thing.
But every time he said this, it always revealed a feeling of heartache and despair.
But Consort Rong didn't suffer any hardship after leaving the palace.
The Duke of Zhenguo bought such a large estate, stored so much grain, and protected the young prince very well.
In this chaotic world, it was a life like a paradise.
If the master is distressed by the suffering and grievances the empress endured before leaving the palace, then it is somewhat understandable.
But what about the despair in those words?
Is there some other hidden story?
The guard snapped out of his thoughts and watched as Shen Ce headed off in another direction.
"Master, you've come the wrong way..."
Inside Qinyao Pavilion, Ning Yao was talking to Zhilan.
“We’ve settled down here now, so there are some things we need to start making arrangements for. This estate is huge, and there are many places that need repair. Come with me for a walk tomorrow.”
Zhilan nodded: "This servant understands. Then Miss, please get some rest."
"Yes, you too."
Just as Zhilan was about to leave, there was a knock on the door.
Ning Yao and Zhi Lan exchanged a glance, and she said, "Go open the door."
Zhilan opened the door and was immediately stunned.
"Miss...it's...it's His Majesty!"
Ning Yao immediately became alert, watching the person who came in from outside the door.
What are you doing here?
Upon realizing Shen Wei's purpose and seeing Shen Ce, Ning Yao instantly understood: "You've already met my eldest sister?"
Shen Ce's gaze was inscrutable, but he nodded slightly: "I've met you."
Ning Yao laughed in exasperation: "Don't you think that bothering her now is a real nuisance to her?"
"How dare you be so disrespectful to His Majesty!"
Enraged, Ning Yao moved with ghostly speed, passing right past Shen Ce.
Before the two could react, her hand was already gripping the guard's neck.
The royal guards, skilled in martial arts, were now completely unable to move!
Ning Yao's hand slowly tightened, and her bloodthirsty voice rang out: "Want to die? I'll grant your wish!"
The atmosphere inside the room instantly became tense, with Ning Yao's overwhelming killing intent engulfing the two of them.
Zhilan closed the door behind her and reached for the soft sword at her waist.
He had killed many people as a bodyguard, but for the first time, he began to fear death.
In this critical moment, Shen Ce said in a deep voice, "Consort Rong, leaving the palace without permission is a capital offense, and poisoning the Empress is an even greater crime that would result in the extermination of your entire family. Now you are committing this crime in front of me. Do you really not want to live anymore?"
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