Imperial city.
Health Hall.
The cold wind was still blowing, but the air seemed to be getting heavier.
In the courtyard of the palace.
"Father, are you still unwilling to see me?"
Li Ci Ning, dressed in a white brocade robe, was still kneeling in the yard. His figure became increasingly thin, as if he would fall down at any time.
"His Majesty is in seclusion at this critical moment, and no one is coming... Your Highness, you should go back first."
Chen Zhao's hunched figure appeared at the side, sighed and spoke, trying to comfort him.
"Your Highness, you have been kneeling here for a whole day and night. Your Highness recently suffered a serious illness and has not yet fully recovered. Your health is of paramount importance. If anything goes wrong, I cannot bear the consequences..."
In the courtyard, Li Ci Ning slowly raised his head and looked at the hall in front of him. After a moment, he turned his head and looked at Chen Zhao.
There was no expression on his face, but his eyes were extremely firm.
He stared at Chen Zhao silently for a long time before finally speaking slowly. His voice, almost uttered from his throat, was extremely low: "Father, are you really in seclusion?"
"Your Highness, what do you mean by this?"
"You know what I'm talking about!"
Li Ci Ning stared at him.
"Why did the Emperor completely ignore state affairs during his current retreat? He's been in seclusion for so long, yet there's been no news from him. Even though the court is in jeopardy, with the northern grassland tribes stationed in war zones and our Daning Dynasty on the brink of collapse, there's still no news from the Emperor..."
"Manager Chen, is the Emperor still in seclusion?"
Li Ci Ning's voice was low and hoarse, but it seemed as if it was shrouded in a shadow, and he asked in a cold voice.
Chen Zhao's expression changed slightly after hearing these words: "Your Majesty is practicing the way of immortality, so you should be oblivious to what is happening outside..."
"Before His Majesty went into seclusion, he had already ordered Your Highness to be regent. This was a sign of his trust in Your Highness..."
"Could it be that Your Highness is doubting this old slave?"
Li Ci Ning stared coldly at Chen Zhao in front of him without saying a word.
Chen Zhao stood quietly by the side, his body still hunched and bent over, his old face without any emotion, his eye sockets sunken.
Li Ci Ning withdrew his gaze and looked towards the inner hall in front of him, his expression slightly solemn.
Then, he slowly stood up from the ground.
"I want to see my father!"
Hearing this, Chen Zhao spoke again: "Your Majesty is in confinement..."
"I want to see my father!"
Li Ci Ning repeated coldly, interrupting him.
"Why, you want to stop me?"
"I dare not!"
Chen Zhao lowered his eyes, but then added, "I, Your Majesty, have ordered that no one approach or disturb Your Majesty's meditation... Your Highness, please don't embarrass me!"
"I want to see my father!"
Li Ci Ning's voice was still cold as he repeated it again.
This time, his tone was full of determination and indifference.
The next second, he walked towards the inner hall.
"Your Highness!"
Chen Zhao, dressed in a black robe and with a hunched body, stood in front of Li Ci Ning.
"Swish, swish, swish!"
At the same time, hurried footsteps were heard outside the yard.
Several figures flew in from outside the courtyard, accompanied by the sound of unsheathed swords and the cold light of sharp swords. Seeing this, the guards in the hall also drew their swords.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the inner hall became tense.
Confront each other!
Seeing this scene, Chen Zhao's eyes were deep and his voice became hoarse: "Your Highness, why are you making things so difficult for this old slave?"
"Today, no one can stop me from seeing my father!"
Li Ci Ning put his hands behind his back and stared at Chen Zhao with cold eyes.
"Chen Zhao, do you want to attack me and rebel?!"
Behind him, countless guards carried murderous auras. Simultaneously, outside the inner hall, several powerful auras surged.
Experts have been waiting for a long time!
Chen Zhao's reaction made Li Ci Ning more convinced that something might have happened to his father.
Today, he must see his father!
No one can stop it!
The atmosphere became increasingly tense, as if swords would be drawn in the next second.
Just when they were about to face an inevitable conflict, a low voice suddenly came from the inner hall.
"Ning'er, come in."
As soon as this voice came out, Li Ci Ning suddenly raised his eyes.
"Father?!"
A hint of excitement appeared in his eyes and he looked up at the inner hall.
Father, finally a response?!
At the same time, the guards around him, who were originally on the verge of a fight, all knelt on the ground.
"Your Majesty!"
Chen Zhao, who was standing in front of Li Ci Ning, heard the voice without changing his expression and slowly stepped aside.
"Your Highness, please!"
Li Ci Ning suppressed his excitement, straightened his clothes, stepped into the inner hall.
There were several Buddha statues in the inner hall, with offerings placed in front of them. Apart from that, the surrounding area was empty.
There is a secret door behind the Buddha statue.
Li Ci Ning walked into the secret door, followed the dim light, passed through a long stone corridor, and finally came to a secret room in the innermost part.
Standing at the door, Li Ci Ning became more and more excited.
Finally, he reached out his trembling hand and slowly pushed open the secret door.
Behind the secret door is a secret room!
The secret room is surrounded by stone walls and is extremely simple, forming a sharp contrast with the luxury of the prosperous imperial city.
The niches around the stone wall were lit with lights, and the entire stone wall seemed airtight, giving people an extremely depressing feeling.
Right in front of us, there are also several Buddha statues whose names we cannot remember. Sandalwood is burning in front of the statues, and smoke is curling up.
On the cushion in front of the Buddha statue, a slightly weathered figure was sitting there with his back to the door!
"Father?!"
When he saw this figure, even though he hadn't seen it for a long time, Li Ci Ning still recognized it at a glance.
He looked excited and fell to his knees with a thud.
"Your son, I pay my respects to your father!"
"Ning'er!"
An old and low voice came, with an indescribable weakness.
Li Ci Ning slowly raised his head. The emperor, who was sitting on the futon before him, had turned around and looked at him. But when Li Ci Ning's eyes fell on his father's face, his eyes immediately turned into horror.
"Father, you...what's wrong with you?!"
At this moment, Li Ci Ning was extremely shocked.
What appeared before him was an old man who looked like he was about to die.
His hair was gray, his skin was withered, and his body was thin and hunched. There was not much life in his body, just like an old man who would die at any moment.
This scene made Li Ci Ning unbelievable!
My father is only in his early fifties now. While not young, he's definitely not old either. The last time I saw him, he was clearly in good shape. But it's only been over six months. Why is he like this?!
"What the hell is going on?!"
Li Ci Ning's voice trembled: "Father, you, you...what on earth is going on?!"
"Who made you like this?!"
On the futon, the current emperor of the Daning Dynasty, the emperor who single-handedly established the Daning Dynasty's current prosperity, now looked like an old man about to be buried, with no trace of his former elegance.
He looked at the prince who was kneeling in front of him, and there seemed to be something flickering in his eyes.
"I'm afraid I don't have much time left."
Emperor Ning's voice was hoarse and deep, as if he had reached the end of his energy, a very old man. It was completely different from the sound of the powerful internal energy that penetrated the secret room and reached the Yangxin Palace.
Upon hearing this, Li Ci Ning was shocked: "Father, what on earth is going on? Why did you suddenly become like this?"
"Don't be impatient!"
Emperor Ning waved his hand, signaling him not to worry.
"I should have died long ago. It's a miracle that I'm still alive now!"
Emperor Ning narrowed his eyes and spoke in a hoarse, low voice: "I, when I personally led the expedition to southern Xinjiang, I was seriously injured..."
Hearing this, Li Ci Ning raised his head in surprise.
He had indeed heard of this matter. The palace historical records recorded that more than ten years ago, his father had personally led an expedition against the countries in southern Xinjiang.
My father was in his prime that year, at the age when his body and ambition were at their strongest!
Some people said that the emperor was worried that the then Southern Expedition General Lin Hengzhong was too powerful and prestigious, so he led the army in person to give him a warning.
Some people also said that my father wanted to expand the territory himself and become an emperor of all ages who could kill enemies on horseback and govern the country on foot, just like Taizu.
There are many different opinions about the purpose, but palace records record that my father returned home shortly after leading the expedition. After that, he retreated to the palace and never mentioned the matter again.
No one noticed anything unusual at the time, but they just felt a little strange about His Majesty's behavior!
Now, after hearing his father's words, Li Qining finally realized something... Did his father get injured during that imperial expedition, leaving him with serious sequelae?!
"I was in my prime at the time, and although the injury was severe, it wasn't serious. However, I ultimately underestimated the cunningness of those tribes in southern Xinjiang..."
Emperor Ning's voice was unusually low.
More than a decade ago, Emperor Ning was a man of both civil and military talents, proficient in both civil and military strategies. Although his martial arts skills were not unparalleled in the world, he was definitely a top master.
Ordinary injuries are not a big deal to him.
But the problem is...
"Although my injuries seem to have healed, I was poisoned without my knowledge..."
"Poison?!"
Li Ci Ning couldn't help but ask, "Didn't the imperial physician see it?"
"That's not an ordinary poison, but a very rare kind of poison!"
"Poison?!"
"This kind of poison is too subtle for ordinary people to detect... Although I felt unwell at the time, I didn't take it seriously."
Emperor Ning's eyes were deep, with a hint of regret in them.
"When I was young, my internal strength was strong, so this poison didn't cause me any harm... But as I grew older, my health began to deteriorate. This poison was lingering within me, slowly eroding my life... It wasn't until a few years ago that I finally realized something was amiss..."
Li Ci Ning also suddenly remembered that his father had suddenly announced a few years ago that he would go into seclusion to practice, and announced to the outside world that he wanted to cultivate the art of immortality.
At that time, the officials in the court were all trying to persuade the emperor to remonstrate with him, and some even angrily criticized the emperor for his incompetence in his later years. But the emperor continued to do as he pleased... So, at that time, the emperor realized that something was wrong with his health, and his seclusion was just a pretext?
"Over the years, I have been sending secret agents to secretly search for an antidote. I have also sent people to southern Xinjiang to find the assassin who assassinated me, but to no avail..."
"My body has finally begun to break down. Although I am still alive, I am aging faster..."
When he said this, there was a hint of trembling in Emperor Ning's tone.
As if afraid of something.
When facing life and death, even the emperor of a dynasty who is high above everyone else will inevitably feel fear.
"I should have died more than half a year ago... but Chen Zhao found a life-extending remedy from the folk, which has allowed me to survive until now..."
"However, I don't know how much longer I can hold on..."
Having said this, Emperor Ning seemed to have lost his breath, and he looked more and more gloomy.
It seems like it will disappear at any moment!
At this time, Li Ci Ning finally understood why his father had to go into seclusion... It was not for the sake of immortality, nor was it because his father had become a tyrant, but... for the sake of survival!
My father has come to this point in order to survive.
The so-called retreat is done out of necessity!
Li Qining felt extremely heavy-hearted. This truth still made him feel uncomfortable: "Father, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"Why has there been no news in the past six months?"
"I thought you..."
He didn't continue.
Before meeting his father today, he had already had countless speculations in his mind. Even within the court and among the people, there were many speculations and doubts.
The most common speculation is that the emperor might have... passed away!
Li Ci Ning's suspicion of Chen Zhao grew even stronger. He even suspected that his father's seclusion was just a cover, and that Chen Zhao was actually controlling his father, trying to use the emperor to control the princes and disrupt the government.
"I cannot show up again!"
Emperor Ning looked at Li Ci Ning in front of him. This was the prince he had supported and the heir to the throne he had chosen.
However, he is still too young to support such a huge dynasty.
Even more...
Ning'er's personality is not suitable for being the crown prince!
"I must not appear in the court in this state, and I must not let anyone see me."
"Otherwise, there will be chaos in the world!"
Emperor Ning's voice gradually became serious. Even at this moment, he still had an aura of majesty without even being angry.
If word were to get out about his frail appearance, it would surely cause panic throughout the world.
The death of the emperor means that there will be a change of dynasty and chaos.
At this time, how could Ning'er, who was still young and had not yet gained sufficient prestige and influence in the court, suppress all the civil and military officials?!
How could he possibly suppress the two extremely powerful kings of different surnames in the north and south?!
So, he can't die!
He must not let anyone know that he is going to die!
And seclusion is his best choice.
Emperor Ning had spent decades on the throne, campaigning across the country and the north. He not only created the current prosperity of the Great Ning Dynasty, but also fulfilled the long-cherished wish of unifying the dynasty that had eluded several generations of previous emperors...
In terms of achievements, he is comparable to Taizu!
In terms of prestige, Emperor Ning almost reached the peak both in the court and among the people!
As long as he is alive, there will be no chaos in the court, and there will be no chaos in the world!
But once he dies, this barely maintained peaceful scene will be broken in an instant!
Therefore, seclusion is also a form of deterrence.
Let those who are ready to make a move dare not act rashly.
At this moment, Li Ci Ning also instantly understood his father's good intentions, and an indescribable feeling of sobbing welled up in his heart.
"Father..."
Li Ci Ning's voice trembled slightly, and he wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Emperor Ning waving his hand.
Emperor Ning's voice suddenly became somewhat dejected: "In the future, the Daning Dynasty will be handed over to you. I hope you will not disappoint me, nor our ancestors..."
Li Qining's eyes were red, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Don't worry, Father. I will definitely live up to your and our ancestors' expectations!"
“What a pity…”
Emperor Ning seemed to have thought of something, and a trace of worry flashed in his deep eyes: "I have left you two difficult problems. I'm afraid you will need to figure out the solutions yourself!"
"Son, I will definitely find a way to solve it!"
Emperor Ning nodded, looking pleased. But after a moment, he sighed and said, "It's also my fault for being too confident and too eager to succeed!"
Emperor Ning was full of ambition and ambition at that time, and he wanted to fulfill the long-cherished wish of unification that had eluded several generations.
He succeeded!
He destroyed more than a dozen countries, large and small, in southern Xinjiang and finally unified the country.
But at the same time, hidden dangers were also left.
During this war for unification, a man named Lin Hengzhong emerged. He excelled in both civil and military strategy, a rare talent. Emperor Ning placed great trust in Lin Hengzhong, and he lived up to his promise. In just a few years, he had assembled an elite division that swept through the southern border states with unstoppable force, ultimately achieving the current state of unification.
However, as Lin Hengzhong conquered the various states in southern Xinjiang and achieved remarkable military success, his prestige among both the civilians and the military was extremely high! There were even rumors within the military that Lin Hengzhong was occupying the south and proclaiming himself king!
With such outstanding military achievements, no reward other than being crowned king is enough to match this man's military achievements.
Emperor Ning had to make an exception and confer the title of king on him again.
A hundred years after the establishment of the dynasty, another king with a different surname appeared!
At the time, Emperor Ning was full of vigor and ambition, immersed in the dream of becoming the greatest emperor of all time. He held a high prestige among both the civilians and the military, and he wasn't worried about being unable to subdue Lin Hengzhong.
He also has plenty of time to weaken Lin Hengzhong in the future and regain control of him.
But before Emperor Ning's plan could be fully implemented, this sudden physical change disrupted all his arrangements.
So much so that it has come to this point.
While he is still alive, there is no need to worry too much about Lin Hengzhong's rebellion, but what about after he dies?
Can Ning'er calm Lin Hengzhong?
Will the Lin family, which commands hundreds of thousands of troops and occupies the southern territory of the dynasty, repeat the drama of the dynasty's division in the next generation, or the next generation?
Li Qining understood his father's concerns. He gritted his teeth secretly, his eyes determined: "Father, don't worry, I will never allow anyone to split the dynasty!"
Emperor Ning looked relieved and nodded.
"However, I haven't been completely unprepared over the years. When the time comes, I will hand these over to you, and they will be of great help to you at the critical moment... But the rest depends on you..."
At this moment, Li Ci Ning felt sad.
He could tell that his father was giving his final instructions for his funeral.
The frail father before him had lost even a shred of his former majestic presence. His father's words weighed heavily on his shoulders like a heavy responsibility.
He shoulders the hopes of the entire dynasty!
He couldn't relax at all.
"Father..."
Li Ci Ning looked up at Emperor Ning, his eyes filled with sadness, but at the same time, he was also filled with doubts and confusion.
Waiting for father's answer.
Emperor Ning seemed to see through his thoughts and said, "Ask whatever you want to ask."
Li Ci Ning hesitated for a moment and asked, "Third brother..."
"You want to ask why I left Yuan'er in the capital to become an obstacle for you?"
Li Ci Ning lowered his eyes: "Father, do you want to train me?"
"You're half right!"
Emperor Ning spoke slowly: "In fact, Yuan'er is more suitable to be the emperor than you!"
Li Ci Ning said nothing and waited quietly for his father's answer.
"In terms of ability, political strategy, and governing a country... Yuan'er is not as good as you. In these aspects, you are indeed much better than him. But there is one thing that Yuan'er is much better than you!"
Emperor Ning looked at him and said, "Yuan'er is even more ruthless, more decisive, and more cold-blooded than you..."
"That's what you lack... And right now, my Daning Dynasty needs a ruthless and iron-fisted king to intimidate those villains..."
"Yuan'er is undoubtedly more suitable than you!"
Li Ci Ning was silent.
He instinctively wanted to retort, but when the words came to his lips, he couldn't utter a word.
He suddenly realized vaguely that maybe what his father said was right?
"If my health hadn't been in jeopardy, and I had cleared all obstacles and left you a peaceful kingdom, you could indeed have become a king who maintained a prosperous dynasty. But you are too soft-hearted, and this is precisely a fatal flaw for an emperor..."
"You can't control the court officials today, nor can you control the Lin and Xu families in the north and south..."
"Although Yuan'er is not as good as you in every aspect, his character and methods are just right for this position."
Li Qining was silent for a long time: "But my third brother is ruthless and cruel. I am worried that he will..."
"He can't be a tyrant!"
Emperor Ning said, "Now the kings of the north and south are eyeing the throne covetously, and the court is in a complex web of factions. Whether you or Yuan'er takes this position, you will face pressure from all sides... How could he have the chance to become a ruthless emperor?"
Li Ci Ning was silent. This was something he had not thought about in detail.
But when he heard his father's words, he didn't know why he felt a sense of... recognition?
If it were a peacetime, a ruthless crown prince, without the constraints of power, might indeed become a brutal and cruel tyrant.
However, the Daning Dynasty is now facing internal and external troubles, and there are many factions in the court. Even if the third brother really sits on that position as he wishes, how much power does he have in his hands to allow him to act like a tyrant without restraint?
Thinking of this, Li Ci Ning fell silent!
After a while, he finally spoke: "So, Father has always wanted my third brother to be the crown prince?"
Emperor Ning looked at Li Ci Ning in front of him quietly and said in a deep voice: "Yuan'er, he lost to you in the end. This is his fate, and he can't blame anyone else!"
Li Qining was silent for a long time, then said, "If your Majesty wishes, I can release my third brother. I am also willing to..."
"madness!"
Emperor Ning's tone suddenly became furious, and he interrupted him with a cold scolding.
Li Qining's body trembled slightly: "Father..."
"Do you know why I don't think highly of you? It's because you're so indecisive and soft-hearted. You're such a loser!"
Emperor Ning stared at him coldly, "Do you know what would have happened if it was Yuan'er instead of you who showed up here today?!"
Li Ci Ning lowered his head and didn't dare to speak, like a child who had done something wrong.
"Yuan'er will definitely kill you without hesitation. He will never give you any chance to live, and he won't be stupid enough to say something as stupid as giving up his position!"
"The victor is the king and the loser is the bandit. If you win, you win. Yuan'er can't beat you, that's his fate! Giving away what you've won is the most foolish thing in the world!"
"As a member of an imperial family, I cannot be soft-hearted!"
Emperor Ning stared at him coldly: "You are the future emperor, the hope of our Great Ning Dynasty. You must be a cold-blooded, ruthless, and decisive emperor..."
"If you are like this, how can I trust you to hand over the kingdom of Daning to you?!"
Facing Emperor Ning's sudden rage, Li Ci Ning kept his head down, as if he had done something wrong, and couldn't utter a word.
He knew that his father was right to scold him!
He is indeed too soft-hearted and is not suitable to be an emperor at all.
"Father, I know I was wrong."
Emperor Ning was heartbroken. After taking a deep breath for a long time, he gradually calmed down.
His time is running out, and there is no chance to re-select an heir. Li Ci Ning is his only choice.
"Remember, you must never be soft-hearted towards your enemies. Even if they are your own brothers, if they choose to oppose you, they are your enemy!"
"When dealing with an enemy, you must use the most ruthless and decisive means to eliminate him!"
"Do you understand?!"
"Your son obeys."
Emperor Ning closed his eyes, then slowly opened them again, his tone softening considerably.
"You did a good job this time."
"Yuan'er's rebellion is also an opportunity. Take advantage of this opportunity to reshuffle the court and eliminate all dissenters and officials who disobey your orders..."
Emperor Ning stared at him and said, "This is your best opportunity to establish your authority in the court. You must show no mercy. Kill those who should be killed, and release those who should be released. Use both kindness and severity. Whether you can purge the court depends on this opportunity!"
"yes."
"However, you can't go too far, lest you cause a backlash. There are still various factions and powerful families in the capital. If you can balance these family forces, they can provide you with great help..."
"And Prime Minister Zhao... He will be your greatest helper at court. He has assisted me for many years and is loyal to the dynasty. With him around, you don't have to worry too much about chaos at court..."
Emperor Ning paused for a moment, his gaze growing increasingly serious. He stared at Li Qining and warned, "Remember, your greatest rivals will always be the Lin and Xu families... The Lin family, entrenched in the south, controls a large swath of territory in the southern border of the Great Ning Dynasty. The Xu family, located in the north, shoulders the heavy responsibility of guarding the nation's borders..."
"They are the dynasty's most formidable weapon, but if they ever rebel, they will immediately become the dynasty's greatest threat..."
"I will definitely remember your father's teachings."
Li Ci Ning lowered his head and spoke respectfully.
Emperor Ning's eyes gradually became cloudy, as if he had spent all his strength. He looked deep in his eyes, "If I remember correctly, the Lin family... that kid is in the capital, right?"
Li Qining nodded: "Prince Lin has been in the capital for two months, and I have met him twice!"
"How about this boy?"
"Great wisdom appears foolish, and is hidden deep."
A sneer seemed to appear on Emperor Ning's aged face. "How could Lin Hengzhong's son be an ordinary person? He had previously been disrespecting himself and hiding his incompetence in Linzhou. Did he really think I couldn't see through him?"
Li Ci Ning didn't say anything.
"Where's the Xu family?"
Emperor Ning asked again.
Li Ci Ning said, "Years ago, I heard that Prince Xu and that princess had also come to the capital. Their purpose is still unknown..."
Emperor Ning narrowed his eyes and said expressionlessly, "They are most likely following Xu Hong's orders to come to the capital to test whether I am still alive."
Li Ci Ning was shocked: "Father, Prince Xu... does he really have rebellious intentions?"
Emperor Ning said expressionlessly: "We must be on guard!"
"Be careful and keep a close eye on them, none of them are easy to deal with!"
"yes."
Emperor Ning seemed to recall something: "Where's Piaomiao?"
Li Ci Ning said: "Piao Miao is accompanying the Queen Mother in the palace."
"Let her come and see me."
"yes."
Li Ci Ning spoke respectfully.
Just as he was about to stand up, he seemed to think of something: "Father..."
"Um?"
"What should we do with our third brother?"
Emperor Ning looked at him indifferently: "What do you think?"
Li Ci Ning lowered his head and said nothing.
"You are now the Crown Prince Regent. Your decision is my will. Yuan'er has brought troops into the palace with the intention of rebellion. How should I deal with him? Do you still need to ask me?"
Facing Emperor Ning's cold gaze, Li Ci Ning was silent for a long time and finally took a deep breath.
"I understand!"
Li Ci Ning slowly stood up from the ground, and when he was about to turn around, he suddenly stopped.
"Father, there is one more thing!"
"Third brother has always had secret dealings with the Secret Heaven Division, and has also colluded with Chen Zongguan, who is close to our father..."
Having said that, Li Ci Ning did not speak again, but looked at his father.
Emperor Ning nodded calmly: "It was my instruction."
"I understand!"
Li Qining nodded, "I'll take my leave!"
…
Li Ci Ning exited the secret room and came to the Health Hall.
Outside the palace, the imperial guards were fully armed and had been waiting for a long time.
"Your Highness!"
Seeing Li Ci Ning appear, the commander of the imperial guards quickly stepped forward to greet him.
Li Ci Ning waved his hand: "Let's go to Jingning Palace!"
After saying this, Li Qining turned around and glanced at Chen Zhao, who was standing quietly under the eaves. His hunched figure looked a little servile.
Li Ci Ning took a few deep glances and walked away.
Inside Jingning Palace.
The decoration is ancient, the pavilions and corridors are exquisite, and the courtyard is full of flowers in full bloom.
Although it was still winter, there was a hint of spring in the palace.
This is the bedroom where the current Empress lives. The Empress likes quietness, and apart from a few palace maids, the palace seems a bit deserted on weekdays.
In the inner courtyard, under the eaves, a woman in an embroidered skirt was sitting under the eaves, tearing the flowers in her hands out of boredom.
The beautiful flowers were destroyed and scattered all over the ground, but the woman looked more and more bored.
“How boring!”
After a while, the woman sighed softly.
"I really want to go out for a walk, but I don't know what the situation is like outside... I'm going crazy from being stuck here..."
The pretty woman sighed and glanced at something not far away.
A girl with a cool temperament was standing upright under the eaves, like a sculpture.
Although they looked almost identical, their temperaments were completely different. One was slightly passionate and charming, while the other was cold and icy.
The same appearance, but different temperaments perfectly show the contrast between the two people.
"Aren't you tired of having a stern face and trying to act like a princess every day?"
Jinxiu couldn't help but ask: "Wouldn't you feel bored?"
Under the eaves, the cold girl said nothing and was too lazy to pay attention to her.
"Don't you think you're just copying a tiger but not a dog? You can't even imitate the princess's temperament. You look neither fish nor fowl. Don't you think it's funny?"
“…”
"Don't you think your behavior is really childish?"
“…”
"Hey, I'm talking to you. Is this how you treat your own sister?"
The cold girl who had not responded finally turned around to look at her and said with a straight face: "I am your sister."
A cold tone.
It doesn't sound like a conversation between real sisters, but more like a conversation between enemies with a grudge.
"You're my sister!"
“I’m your sister!”
"Where do you get the courage to say you're my older sister? How can you compare to me?"
Jinxiu rolled her eyes beautifully: "Are you as tall as me? Are you as mature as me? Do you have a better figure than me? Are your breasts... as big as mine?"
The cold girl listened to Jinxiu's chattering and remained silent.
After a moment, he glanced at the fullness wrapped under Jinxiu's skirt, then glanced down at himself...
More and more silent.
"You have no shame... Who wants to compete with you in size?"
"What do you care what I'm competing for? Can you win? If not, then just be my little sister!"
“…”
Just as the two were arguing about the boring topic of who was the elder sister, footsteps were suddenly heard outside the palace.
Immediately following.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"
Is the Crown Prince here?
Jinxiu and An Ning both stopped and turned back. Not far away, outside the palace, the Crown Prince, dressed in a white brocade robe, approached, looking dusty.
"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Jinxiu and An Ning stood up and saluted.
"Where are Jinxiu, Anning, and Piaomiao?"
Li Ci Ning asked.
"The princess is in the backyard with the queen." Jinxiu replied.
Li Ci Ning nodded and went straight to the backyard.
Jinxiu and An Ning stood there. Jinxiu looked at the Crown Prince's back, thoughtfully asking, "Your Highness's complexion seems to have gotten even worse?"
"Nothing unexpected will happen, right?"
Jinxiu murmured to herself. As a maid beside the princess, Jinxiu also knew some inside information.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's health has not improved and his condition is somewhat serious.
"I heard that the princess planned to go to the Linwang Mansion in Linzhou and wanted to go into Ruyi Tower to find medicine to heal His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Did you know?"
Jinxiu suddenly turned her head and looked at An Ning.
An Ning didn't say anything, but it was obvious that she had heard about it too.
"Will you go with the princess then?"
An Ning stared blankly. She rarely left the palace and had never considered this issue.
Just as she was thinking, Jinxiu interrupted her.
"Don't even think about it. I definitely won't take you with me."
Jinxiu said with a smile: "You are stupid and foolish, and you can't take care of the princess. You are just a burden. Bringing you along will only drag the princess down..."
"Just stay in the palace and watch me and the princess go out and have a good time together, hehe..."
When An Ning heard this, her eyes widened and she stared at her coldly, seeming a little angry, but not knowing how to vent.
final.
"snort!"
Only a heavy cold snort was heard.
“…”
Jingning Palace, back garden.
Li Piaomiao was in the courtyard with the Queen, enjoying the flowers and chatting.
It was called a chat, but in fact no one was talking.
Li Piaomiao had always been very taciturn and not good at speaking. The Empress seemed to be in a bad mood and didn't say much either.
Until Li Ci Ning appeared and broke the silence.
"Mother, Piaomiao!"
Li Ci Ning walked closer.
The eyes of the two people in the yard fell on him.
Li Piaomiao remained unchanged, but the Queen's expression changed.
"Ci Ning..."
The Queen's voice trembled slightly, and her face was full of worry. She looked at him with complicated eyes, and her eyes were red.
"Mother."
Li Ci Ning stepped forward and spoke respectfully.
The Queen took a deep breath before cautiously asking, "Where's your third brother?"
Li Ci Ning knew what his mother was worried about and shook his head: "Third brother is fine."
Hearing this, the Queen breathed a sigh of relief.
"So, what are you going to do with him?"
Such a big thing happened in the palace, how could she not have heard about it even though she was in the harem?
Moreover, this matter involved the feud between her two sons. No matter what the outcome, she did not want to see it.
Li Ci Ning was silent for a moment.
The Queen's eyes immediately turned red again: "He is your biological brother..."
Li Ci Ning remained silent.
"Mother, I know, but..."
"Third brother, after all, wants to rebel this time..."
Li Ci Ning did not continue speaking, but the Queen understood something and her body trembled.
"Just, can't you let your brother go?"
Li Ci Ning remained silent.
After a while.
"I'll do my best."
Hearing this, the Queen opened her mouth and didn't ask any more questions.
She also knew that Ci Ning had indeed tried his best.
Yuan'er had committed such a heinous crime this time that he could not escape death, but...
This result was obviously not what she wanted.
Thinking of this, the Queen's tears could not stop flowing, she was heartbroken.
"Mom, don't be too sad..."
Li Ci Ning sighed, comforted his mother for a while, and sent someone to send her back to her room to rest.
In the back garden, only Li Ci Ning and Li Piao Miao were left.
"Piaomiao, how is your body?"
Li Ci Ning asked with concern.
"Nothing serious."
Li Piaomiao shook his head, his expression neither cold nor indifferent.
"That's good."
Seeing that Piaomiao still had a somewhat weak look between his brows, but seemed to be fine, Li Qining breathed a sigh of relief.
Then he brought up the business!
"Father is still alive."
"But the situation is not good..."
Li Piaomiao was stunned when he heard the news.
"What's going on?"
Li Qining said in a heavy tone, "I'm afraid my father won't have much time left..."
Hearing this, Li Piaomiao finally raised his eyes, his body slightly frozen.
"Father... has been poisoned!"
Li Ci Ning spoke in a deep voice and briefly explained his father's current situation to Li Piaomiao.
"The Emperor is in very poor health and can no longer appear in public. He can only secretly intimidate those who covet power... The Emperor's time is running out. We must make preparations as soon as possible..."
Li Piaomiao listened quietly with no reaction on her face.
“That’s right!”
Li Ci Ning looked at her: "Father, he wants to see you!"
"To see me?"
Li Piaomiao was slightly stunned, but there was not much surprise on her face.
She quickly came to her senses and nodded.
"good."
…
Health Hall.
Li Piaomiao, dressed in white, walked through the deep stone passage and came into the secret room.
Push the door open and walk in.
Emperor Ning was still sitting quietly on the cushion.
"Father."
Li Piaomiao walked in.
Emperor Ning in Putian slowly raised his head and looked at his most beloved daughter in front of him with a dazed look.
Li Piaomiao also quickly saw his father's current appearance and condition.
Although she had already known the situation from the prince, she was still stunned for a moment when she saw it with her own eyes.
Father, the situation is so serious?!
"Is there no way to cure father's poison?"
Li Piaomiao frowned.
"The poison has penetrated into my bones, there is no cure!"
Emperor Ning said in a hoarse voice: "Don't waste your energy. I don't have much time left."
Li Piaomiao was silent. The more she thought about it, the more she didn't know what to say. She wasn't good at expressing her feelings, and she didn't have a deep feeling about the separation of life and death.
"Piaomiao, do you know why your father wants to see you?" Emperor Ning also knew his daughter's temperament and spoke slowly.
"Piaomiao doesn't know." Li Piaomiao said.
"You are my most beloved daughter. You have always been excellent and have never disappointed me..."
"I don't have much time left to live. Once I die, the peaceful situation of our Daning Dynasty will collapse..."
"The century-old foundation left by our ancestors must not be destroyed here..."
"Your brother is indecisive and I don't trust him. When necessary, you must make decisions for him. Don't be soft-hearted..."
Li Piaomiao's expression remained unchanged: "Piaomiao understands."
"Also, I hope you can do something for me..."
Emperor Ning spoke again.
"What is it?"
Emperor Ning said in a deep voice: "Piaomiao, I have always placed high hopes on you..."
"Whether it's training you in martial arts from a young age, sending you to a sword-fighting tradition, or studying books on civil and military tactics and statecraft, it's all for backup..."
"I know you don't like it, but I don't have a better choice... You were born into a royal family. This is your luck, but also your misfortune. Do you understand?"
Li Piaomiao's eyes were neither happy nor sad, and he looked at Emperor Ning in front of him calmly: "Piaomiao knows."
Emperor Ning looked at Li Piaomiao in front of him, feeling a mixture of emotions.
For him, perhaps, Li Piaomiao in front of him is the "successor" he is most satisfied with!
She possesses the same intelligence and talent as Ning'er, yet possesses a colder heart than Yuan'er. Unaffected by any emotion, she is more capable of becoming a ruthless and decisive emperor!
The only pity is... she is a girl!
If she were a boy, that would be great...
Emperor Ning sighed inwardly, looking at his daughter, who was always shrouded in a layer of coldness, and said, "I have nurtured you since childhood, even marrying you to the Prince of Lin, all for this day..."
"Lin Hengzhong commands a large army and is entrenched in the southern part of the dynasty, threatening to destroy us. After my death, your brother will undoubtedly be unable to suppress him. Even if he doesn't rebel, the Lin family will be completely out of control and become a cancer on the dynasty..."
"No one can guarantee that this 'cancer' will one day threaten our Daning Empire!"
Li Piaomiao seemed to realize something, raised his head, and met Emperor Shangning's gaze: "What does father mean?"
Emperor Ning looked frail, like a man in his twilight years, devoid of any life. His voice was hoarse, as if he was struggling to speak.
"I originally wanted to delay it a little longer until the time was right. But now it seems that my time is running out, and it's too late..."
"Only you can do this...and only you can do it!"
Emperor Ning stared into Li Piaomiao's eyes and said word by word:
“Piaomiao…”
"I want you to marry Prince Lin!"
"Are you willing?!"
“…”
11,000 words updated, please vote!!!
