an insurmountable chasm
Nangong Wang listened to Qi Yan's plan to kill him, and clapped his hands in admiration: "My brother-in-law is the best in the world, and I can get my brother-in-law to help me, just like Zhang Liang and Xiao He. Why don't you worry about something big?"
"His Royal Highness is overrated, this is just the duty of a courtier."
Qi Yan's arrogant words were more than a thousand words of praise when he heard Nangong Wang's ears.
But the joy only lasted for a moment, and he hesitated: "Brother-in-law's plan, if the father emperor's dragon body is healthy, the second child will be saved, but if the father emperor can't survive, wouldn't it be a wedding dress for others?"
Qi Yan sneered in her heart: The people of the Wei country are so indifferent to their flesh and blood for the throne, how can such a court be passed down
"What do you mean, Your Highness?"
Nangong Wang's heart sighed and said: "The second son has a very big life. The last time such a big thing failed to hit him to the bottom. He is older than Ben Gong, and he is deeply popular with the people at this time. Brother-in-law has The way to prevent this palace from being suspected by the father and emperor, and to completely abolish the second child?"
Qi Yan thought for a moment: "Yes, I'm afraid His Highness will feel that the minister's heart is vicious and alienated from me."
Nangong Wang's expression was a little unnatural: "Don't mention the old things brother-in-law. From now on, you and I will work together to seek a great cause."
"Dare to ask Your Highness, how is the situation of the eldest prince?"
"He is the son of a lowly servant who gave birth to him privately. His father arranged for him a mansion in Gyeonggi, and he rewarded five hundred households with food.
"How is the guard in the palace?"
"This, Ben Gong has to check to find out. Why do you suddenly ask this?"
"What is the reason why Your Highness dare not touch the second prince?"
"Naturally..."
Nangong Wang understood: Qi Yan asked him to find a way to assassinate Nangong Ping, and then put all the blame on the second prince Nangong Wei.
Nangong Wang hesitated a little. On the one hand, he was worried that he couldn't bear it if it was revealed, but on the other hand, he still had such a trace of conscience.
Qi Yan saw through Nangong Wang's thoughts, and said coldly, "Which emperor from ancient times to the present ascended the throne cleanly? If Your Highness is really unrelenting, I advise His Highness to take the initiative to surrender before the Second Prince has a bad relationship. When the second prince ascends the throne, His Royal Highness may be an idle prince and live the rest of his life."
One sentence touched Nangong Wang's hidden taboo. Seeing that the hesitation in his eyes dissipated, Qi Yan took the initiative to resign.
…
She boarded the carriage back home, leaned on the carriage and slowly closed her eyes.
Trying to recall Nangong Ping's appearance, they only met twice. The other was a taciturn middle-aged man who consciously sat in the corner at every palace banquet.
According to common sense, Nangong Ping, who came from a humble background and was far from the political center, is the prince who is most likely to get a good death, but unfortunately, the Nangong family all have original sins.
Qi Yan abruptly opened her eyes, her eyes grim: Eleven years later, the Nangong royal family should also pay a little interest for the bloody debt of that year...
…
In Ganquan Palace, Nangong Jingnu was accompanying Nangong Rang to speak.
Outside the bedroom, there was a voice of the servants singing and shouting: "Empress Ya Fei, please see me!"
Ji Ya entered the main hall, leaned down and bowed: "See Your Majesty."
Nangong Rang showed a smile and stretched out his hand to Ji Ya: "Ya Fei, come and sit."
Ji Ya sat down on the dragon bed and took out something from her arms: "Look, Your Majesty!"
Nangong Rang looked at the tortoise shell with cracks: "What is this?"
"This is the way of praying in our grasslands. Throw the tortoise shell into the brazier and pray to the gods with the wishes in your heart. If you take out the tortoise shell with an even number of cracks, it means that the gods have agreed."
Nangong Rang's eyes overflowed with tenderness that should not belong to an emperor: "What wish did you make?"
"I wish your majesty a speedy recovery..."
Nangong Jingnu looked at the scene in front of her, and it was difficult to understand the feeling in her heart.
She has forgotten the appearance of her mother, but this tender scene is very vivid and clear.
Watching his father take the tortoise shell over, count the lines on it, and then smile. I also saw Ji Ya's eyes looking at the father emperor with affection.
She suddenly missed Qi Yan, and it was time to retire.
"Father, it's getting late, my son will go back to the manor first."
Nangong Rang held back a little, and let Nangong Jingnu leave.
Nangong Jingnv looked at the sky outside, because she couldn't see Qi Yan on the first day of her father's illness, and she hadn't seen him for more than 20 days.
I don't know if he's doing well. Are you still bored in the study as before, staying there for a whole day
Nangong Jingnv returned to the mansion, ordered the kitchen to prepare a dinner and instructed Qiu Ju: "You go to the concubine's mansion in person and invite him over."
"Yes."
Nangong Jingnu was a little ashamed, this was the first time she took the initiative to invite Qi Yan into the manor.
In the past, she lived a free and easy life, and everything was free to choose.
But later, I saw that the second sister was in endless trouble because of handing over white silk, and the royal father also warned that the pen knife in the hands of Yanguan was the most terrifying thing in the world.
Under the guidance and influence of Qi Yan, I read a lot of books and learned what it means to be fearful.
The more you know, the more scruples you have.
I also understood with hindsight: why did the second sister frown, and why did Qi Yan abide by the palace rules so much.
But today, when she watched the warm interaction between Jiya and her father, the longing spread silently in her heart.
With Qi Yan's temperament, I'm afraid it's impossible to take the initiative, so I'll change myself to be brave.
If you want to write, you can write yourself...
After thinking about this, Nangong Jingnu felt a lot more relaxed.
She looked down at the palace clothes on her body, counted the time when Qi Yan entered the mansion, and turned to the Tangquan Hall...
Qi Yan was writing in the study, and Xia He reported, "My concubine, Your Highness the Princess invites you to have dinner at the Princess Mansion."
The walking pen paused: "I know, come here."
Qi Yan put down the brush, took out two books from the stack of books in front of the desk, and left the study.
Nangong Jingnv put on clean palace clothes, and the two maids entered the palace one after another: dinner was ready, Qi Yan was waiting outside the door, everything was just right, and Nangong Jingnv's mood brightened.
Entering the imperial dining hall, Nangong Jingnu instructed: "All retreat, no one will be served."
"Yes."
Qi Yan clearly had something to say, but Qi Yan was sitting in front of her, but Nangong Jingnu didn't know where to start.
It was Qi Yan who spoke first: "Is your majesty's dragon body healthy?"
Nangong Jingnu replied: "The imperial doctor said that after a few days of rest, you can go to court. Sorry... I went to the palace to visit the emperor on the first day of the new year."
"I know."
Qi Yan was keenly aware that the other party's mood was a bit wrong, and put a chicken leg in Nangong Jingnu's plate: "Your Highness has something on your mind?"
Nangong Jingnu first nodded and then shook her head: "Too many things have happened recently, and I don't know where to start."
It was the first time that Qi Yan read the word "sorrow" on the other's face, and suddenly realized that this fifteen-year-old girl seemed to have grown up.
"Can you stay tonight?" Nangong Jingnu asked softly.
"it is good."
…
After dinner, the two walked around the garden first, then returned to the dormitory and ordered Qiu Ju to bring the chessboard, still letting the fourth son, Qi Yan Zhibai go first.
Luzi's voice came out from time to time, and the two of them were very quiet.
Qi Yan found that Nangong Jingnv's chess skills had improved again. She wanted to praise her, but she stopped when she saw the serious expression of the other party.
Nangong Jingnu made her move very slowly, considering every step until it was completely dark outside, the chess pieces on both sides covered the chessboard, and black and white were entangled after a fight.
Nangong Jingnv looked at the chessboard for a long time, and put the black piece on her fingertip back into the chess box: "Bengong lost." The short four words revealed a touch of melancholy.
"Your Highness...?"
Nangong Jingnu showed a reassuring smile: "It's getting late, go to bed."
"Yes."
Qi Yan blew out the candle on the table in her underwear, and the bedroom fell into darkness.
Turning around, he saw a beautiful figure standing behind him. Nangong Jingnu's gentle voice came: "Bengong is holding you, slow down."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
After lying down on the bed, the atmosphere fell into a brief stagnation. Qi Yan didn't know if this was a punishment from the gods, or an illusion of a guilty conscience.
Every time she does something "evil", Nangong Jingnu will appear, as if to test her tolerance.
Nangong Ping is just the beginning. In the days to come, the Nangong royal family will continue to bleed.
Although Qi Yan hasn't decided who will be next, in the end it will be the family that Nangong Jingnu loves.
They were close enough to hear each other's breathing.
So close that Qi Yan didn't dare to let her expression show any loosening...
It was clear that she deliberately provoked Nangong Jingnu, but when the other party responded, Qi Yan just wanted to run away.
Nangong Jingnu, who was lying beside Qi Yan, was engaged in a "battle between heaven and man".
She always felt that there was something between her and Qi Yan, and she didn't understand until she saw the relationship between her father and Ji Ya.
Qi Yan is obedient to herself, and can even be said to be respectful, but... This does not seem to be what a husband and wife should look like.
Feeling the sleeve being pulled, Qi Yan called out, "Your Highness?"
"Can you... lie down?"
An uneasy feeling rose in Qi Yan's heart, today's Nangong Jingnu is too abnormal.
Nangong Jingnu bit her lip, and the other party's hesitation stung her heart.
Slowly loosening Qi Yan's sleeves, holding back the pain in his heart, he turned around in silence.
In the end, he carried a woman's modesty and the pride of the royal family, even if he felt Qi Yan's "rejection", he did not break it.
Qi Yan knew that she had hurt the other party, so she raised her hand subconsciously, and finally took it back under control.
At this moment, the step bed seemed to be extremely spacious, and there was an insurmountable gap between the two.
Qi Yan knew the reason.
Almost two years into their marriage, their relationship has reached a critical point that is about to overflow. As long as she takes the initiative to lean over and coax a few words in a soft voice, she can ease her anxiety as easily as before.
But then what...
A moment of peace can only be exchanged for endless calamities. After all, he is a daughter, and no amount of disguise can change the truth.
Even though Qi Yan felt a lot of guilt, this time, she didn't dare to coax Nangong Jingnu as before.
Her shoulders carried too much, the destruction of the grasslands, the scars on Bayin's head, and the concealment that Ding You helped her do.
She also turned around, and the two were lying on the bed back to back.
The night gradually deepened, and only the red light hanging in front of the bedroom door penetrated into the red light.
Qi Yan slowed her breathing, but her eyes lost focus: If the premise of protecting her identity is to make Nangong Jingnu sad, then she has no choice.
Nangong Jingnu folded her arms, tears spilling out silently, soaking the orange-yellow brocade on the jade pillow.