Afterwards, the Anguo Mansion held the funeral for Old Madam An and Duke Anguo.
On the next morning, after Emperor Ning Cheng passed the throne to Ning Yan, he went to his bedroom to rest. After lunch, Emperor Ning Cheng took a nap and died peacefully on his bed...
For a time, the whole country was in grief!
In just one month, Ningguo lost its wise emperor and brave god of war!
This heralds the end of one era and the beginning of another.
The people of Ningguo were a little panicked for a while. The country was empty and there was no one to support it. The Xiongnu Lancang was eyeing them covetously abroad. This internal and external trouble was really worrying.
Fortunately, after Ning Yan succeeded to the throne, he made drastic changes to clean up the bureaucracy, reduced taxes and levies, and boldly employed fresh blood. An Xin also suggested some ways for Ning Yan to revive the economy.
For a time, Ningguo was clear and prosperous.
Because of the death of Emperor Ning Cheng and Duke An Guo, Ning Yan ordered strict frugality and even the scale of the coronation ceremony was reduced.
The coronation ceremony was held in March, which was also the second year since An Xin came to this world.
An Xin and Ning Yan had already moved into the palace. Just after the coronation ceremony, An Xin came to the Palace of Heavenly Purity and said to Ning Yan: "It is early spring now. I think it is time for the cute baby to return to Ningguo..."
Ning Yan put down the pen in his hand, laughed out loud and said: "I have also thought about this matter a long time ago, but I was a little busy a few days ago and neglected it. Fortunately, you reminded me in time today."
When Ning Yan heard An Xin calling herself a concubine, a trace of displeasure flashed through his heart. He said: "If there are no outsiders in the future, there is no need for you and me to use honorific titles..."
An Xin heard this and felt some strange emotions flash through her mind. Then she said stubbornly: "Your Majesty, there is no need to do this. This is the rule..."
Ning Yan looked at An Xin, a trace of helplessness flashed through his heart, and he said: "My lady, do you have to be so distant with me? I have also told you that I really like you, and I hope you can like me too. You are not without feelings for me..."
An Xin was silent for a while, and finally blurted out: "This doesn't make sense!"
Then, An Xin glanced at Ning Yan and said, "I heard that today in the court, the court officials hoped that Your Majesty would fill the harem, and I think what the court officials said is right."
Ning Yan's original joy at seeing An Xin was replaced by greater anger in an instant. Ning Yan said coldly: "Do you really want to do this?"
An Xin's heart sank when she heard this, and she said respectfully: "I am thinking about the overall situation. I am very busy and have to write a letter to ask Meng Bao to come back..."
"Write a letter? To whom? Xiao Yu? An Xin, you have been rejecting me, is it because of Xiao Yu?" Ning Yan, who was already a little angry, was like a flame meeting oil when An Xin said this casually, and he exploded in an instant!
Seeing that Ning Yan misunderstood her, An Xin looked at him coldly and said, "I have a close relationship with the Ninth Prince, Your Majesty, please be careful with your words!" Then she looked at Ning Yan and said, "I hope Your Majesty will be careful with your words and actions, and don't let the tragedy of the previous emperor and his successors happen again..."
An Xin said this and left.
Ning Yan was left in the Qianqing Palace, stunned for a long time...
At this moment, Ning Yan finally understood how Ning Chengdi felt at the time. It turned out that if one cared too much about a person and let jealousy blind one's eyes, the consequences would not be something that anyone could bear...
After leaving, An Xin also felt very innocent. It was impossible for her to stay here for long. What was wrong with choosing a few more women for Ning Yan to fill the harem
As long as the throne is still Mengbao's, then you can...
But whenever she thought of this, An Xin couldn't help but feel a little pain in her heart.
You still care after all, right
But now, Ning Yan is the emperor, and she can only be a virtuous queen, a mother of the country, and help Ning Yan usher in a peaceful and prosperous era.
An Xin put aside other emotions and busied herself writing a letter to Xiao Yu, asking him to send some men to escort Meng Bao and Yingzi back to Ningguo.
It's so urgent, firstly because he misses her deeply, and secondly because this cute baby is Ning Yan's only blood relative now. If he stays in another country for a long time, he might be in danger.
For several days, even though Ning Yan asked to see her every day, An Xin avoided seeing Ning Yan on the grounds of being tired.
It was the annual Flower Festival, and a banquet was held in the palace.
An Xin and Ning Yan finally met at the Flower Festival banquet.
An Xin and Ning Yan sat at the table together, looking at some important ministers and some beautifully dressed women below.
After three rounds of drinking, a court official stood up and said, "Your Majesty, today is such a beautiful day. I recommend my daughter to enter the palace..."
An Xin's eyes darkened when she heard that. She looked at the stupid straight man who stood up to recommend...
Ning Yan heard this, looked at the courtier with a smile and said: "It seems that Lord Qian is a little unconscious, so he should go home and rest for half a year..."
Upon hearing this, Lord Qian was sweating profusely and was very anxious. He knelt down and pleaded guilty: "Your Majesty, I deserve to die!"
"You really deserve to die..." Ning Yan glanced at Lord Qian coldly and said calmly.
This sentence frightened everyone and made them nervous. After all, if the emperor was angry, millions of people would die!
Lord Qian was so frightened that he fell to the ground. Ning Yan didn't even look at him. He raised his wine glass and said calmly, "The late emperor has only been away for a few days, and you're already thinking about stuffing people into my harem. Is it really for my own good, or is it for some other selfish motive? I don't know! Besides, I already have enough people in my harem. In addition to the queen, there are ten concubines. Today, I'll say it again, if there is a next time, I won't be so merciful!"
As he spoke, Ning Yan threw the wine glass heavily to the ground, scaring everyone to kneel on the ground.
At this time, Chen Yan brought over a new cup filled with wine and gently placed it in front of Ning Yan. Ning Yan glanced at Chen Yan and said nothing.
Chen Yan also saw that Ning Yan was very angry, so she didn't dare to say anything more. After putting down the cup, she returned to her seat.
Ning Yan then said to the court officials below: "Instead of worrying about my affairs, you should think about how to make Ningguo more prosperous and how to take back the lost territory!"
At this banquet, everyone except An Xin knelt in front of Ning Yan.
An Xin glanced at him calmly and said, "Your Majesty, today is the Flower Festival Banquet, it is not appropriate to discuss court affairs..."
Ning Yan saw An Xin finally paying attention to him, and immediately smiled and said softly: "Yes, yes, it was my negligence, I will listen to the Queen..."
As he said that, the people below said: "Stand up..."
When everyone saw Ning Yan's attitude change so quickly, they felt more and more that His Majesty's feelings for the Queen were really deep. Any word the Queen said casually could influence His Majesty's behavior.
For a moment, I became more respectful towards An Xin.