At this time, Ning Qingchao had completely lost the majesty of the past.
He was wearing a commoner, his hair was gray, his face and arms were as skinny as firewood, and deep wrinkles covered every corner of his brows and eyes.
This is also normal. After losing to the Privy Council, he essentially lost his position as emperor. He then dragged his already poor body from Qi State to Yongding City, and then was thrown into the deep palace like trash. It’s weird to get better.
Ning Qingchao was sitting in the center of the lobby, as if she had been waiting for Ning Wanjun's arrival. Behind her was the standing Buddha statue, which added a sense of tranquility to this dilapidated scene.
Ning Wanjun frowned slightly.
She had expected her father to burst into tears, panic, or even scold herself, but... nothing.
The other party's calm attitude was not what she wanted to see.
"You're here." Ning Qingchao was the first to speak.
Ning Wanjun sneered, "You should understand what the purpose of my coming here is, right?" She looked around the lobby, "Where are your concubines?"
"Most of them have left. The food here can't supply so many people." Ning Qingchao replied in a low voice, "Now there are only three palace ladies, two court attendants, Ming Fei and Ning Weiyuan. What do you want? Call them over?"
Ning Wanjun clenched her fist violently.
She stepped forward, came directly in front of the other person, grabbed his collar, and pulled him up hard!
"Why can you be so nonchalant!? Don't you have any regrets about what you did to your mother? I know everything from Eunuch Li. She didn't die of illness at all, but because of your murder!"
"How could I...not regret..." Ning Qingchao said intermittently.
"What did you say?" Ning Wanjun let go slightly.
"For more than ten years, I have regretted every moment. Your mother... Qiu Xingyun, I still... ahem... remember her appearance."
"Do you think I will forgive you if you say this?" Ning Wanjun didn't believe this nonsense at all.
"I never expected your forgiveness, because your hatred of me... is what she and I share."
Ning Wanjun couldn't help but be stunned.
Common purpose
... Him and his mother
What does this mean
Subconsciously, she let go of the collar in her hand, "Mother... you want me to hate you?"
Ning Qingchao took a deep breath for a while before slowly replying, "Yes, this is better than holding a grudge against the Privy Council and losing your life in the end. But no one expected that you could reach this point. If you can If Yun Jiuquan knows it, he will definitely feel more gratified..."
"What on earth is going on? Tell me from the beginning!" Ning Wanjun said in a deep voice.
"Your mother's death... is indeed related to me, this... I can't deny it." Ning Qingchao closed her eyes, with a hint of sadness in her voice, "It is true that Xingyun was jealous of Concubine Qi and Concubine Feixiang at that time. But I didn't expect that they would actually team up with the family's alchemists to do something secretly..."
It was a medicinal powder made by a magician. It would make people weak without knowing it, and eventually their internal organs would fail, and conventional medical techniques could not cure it. By the time Ning Qingchao realized this, the situation was irreversible. However, at this time, the situation in Shangyuan City was surging, and the Privy Council Office was already out of control. In order to suppress this group of alchemists, Ning Qingchao had to rely on the power of the Qi family and the Fei family. Not to mention holding people accountable, even the truth could only be revealed Pressed in my heart.
Facts have proved that this was by no means groundless. The Wanjinglou Incident that broke out a few years later was the final result of the confrontation between the two forces.
"At that time, Xingyun knew that she didn't have much time left, and her only hope was to let you survive smoothly. But you have awakened the power of sensing energy. If you continue to stay in the palace, you will definitely attract the attention of the Privy Council." Ning Qing Chao whispered, "Whether it's getting you involved in this war or taking revenge on the imperial concubine's family after you find out the truth, Xingyun doesn't want to see it, so she and I conspired together."
"Do you want to say..."
"The pamphlet Li Duojin gave you was written by your mother on purpose." Ning Qingchao revealed the truth that had been hidden for many years. "It won't cost your life to make you hate me. It's better than taking refuge with the Privy Council." It is better to be an enemy of the family or to be an enemy of the noble family. So you will see... In the end, I ordered the abortion of Concubine Qing's pregnancy, which eventually led to her death from physical weakness. In fact, at that time, your mother had been too deeply eroded by the medicinal powder, and it was impossible for her to be pregnant again. Pregnant."
Ning Wanjun fell into silence for a while.
She subconsciously wanted to refute, but she faintly realized in her heart that what the other party said was true.
He was able to recite the contents of the booklet, proving that he was present when his mother wrote these records. If Ning Qingchao wanted to conceal all this, he could search out the booklet and burn it, or... directly abolish his position as princess, Completely eliminate future troubles. Thinking about it now, it was a small probability event that Eunuch Li could get that booklet and pass it all the way to him.
"It's not like I haven't thought about it. I'll wait until all the turmoil has calmed down before clearing the grievances of Concubine Qing and bringing you back to Shangyuan City." Ning Qingchao let out a long sigh, "But I underestimated the Privy Council too much - I didn't expect that Ning Qianshi would You betrayed me at a critical moment, and there are still Seven Stars behind the Privy Council. Sending you to Jinxia City is the last thing I can do."
Staying away from the royal city also means staying away from disputes.
It's just that fate took a completely different path at this moment. No one could have imagined that the princess who was sent away would eventually become the queen respected by the six countries.
"..." After a long silence, Ning Wanjun spoke again, "I will not forgive you. Even if you are not the messenger, my mother died because of your connivance and greed."
"I know." Ning Qingchao relaxed completely and seemed to have said all this. He no longer had any nostalgia, "If I give up the throne, or warn the imperial concubine and Xiangfei when things start to happen, Xingyun may be able to Can survive. Just do it, send me to see her... I owe her this."
After speaking, he raised his neck slightly, waiting for the long-lost relief.
But after a long time, the pain didn't come.
Ning Qing opened her eyes and saw Ning Wanjun's back walking towards the gate.
"Wait, where are you going!" he asked urgently.
"I made up my mind a long time ago to make you pay the price - now the inheritance rights that the noble concubine desires have become a joke, and you have lost everything you once owned. This is the best punishment." Ning Wanjuntouye Bu replied, "I won't kill you, because by letting you live, you will have time to continue to regret the mistakes you have committed."
At that moment, Ning Qingchao seemed to have aged ten years.
He stumbled for a few steps, but tripped and fell to the ground. The door was quickly closed by the maid, and Ning Wanjun's figure disappeared from his sight.