Imperial Palace, Yongyan Palace.
In the study, Nangong Yang, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, was sitting at the table, reading letters sent from the border.
Li Gui lowered his head and stood aside, serving.
The room was silent except for the slight sound of letters being opened.
Soon, there was a sound of footsteps outside the door, and someone respectfully reported: "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is here."
Upon hearing this, Nangong Yang immediately put away the letter, stood up, and went out to greet him personally, saying, "Go to Yaohua Palace and invite the eldest princess as well. Tell her that I have something to discuss with her."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The footsteps outside the door hurried away.
Soon, footsteps were heard coming from outside.
Li Gui bent down and opened the door.
Nangong Yang stood at the door, looking out with a smile on his face. When he saw the Queen Mother coming in, he hurried over to support her and said, "Mother, it's freezing cold. If you have anything to say, just send someone over to tell me, or let me go over. Why bother coming here in person? If you get sick from the cold, I'll feel really guilty."
The Queen Mother followed him into the house with a complicated look on her face. She said, "The date has been chosen. It will be the sixth day of the first lunar month, three days later. It will be an auspicious day. The Ministry of Rites and other departments have already started preparations. You don't have to worry about other things."
Nangong Yang helped her sit down on the couch with a smile on his face, and said, "Is the date so tight? I'm afraid my sister is not ready yet?"
The Queen Mother gave him a complicated look and said, "If it is resolved sooner, everyone will be relieved. As for Huoyue, I haven't informed her yet, I will go there later."
Nangong Yang smiled and said, "Your Majesty, there is no need to make another trip. I have already asked someone to invite you. It just so happens that I have something to tell my sister."
The Queen Mother frowned slightly and asked, "What is it?"
Nangong Yang squatted down beside her, helped her massage her legs, and said with a smile: "It's just a small matter, mother, don't worry about it."
The Queen Mother stared at him for a while and said, "Your Majesty, I heard that you arrested the former commander of the Jinyiwei and planned to behead him outside the Meridian Gate in three days?"
Nangong Yang sighed and said, "I didn't mean to do that, but he betrayed my trust, and I have to make an example of him. Otherwise, the servants will bully me because I'm young and won't be loyal to me in the future."
The Queen Mother frowned and asked, "How could it be such a coincidence that it happens to be the day of your sister's wedding? Can't it be postponed for a few days?"
Nangong Yang lowered his head and massaged her legs carefully. After a moment of silence, he said, "Mother, I'll tell you the truth. I don't want to kill him. It's just that the Qin family went too far. I doted on them and trusted them very much. What happened in the hall that day? You saw what happened. The son-in-law of the Qin family slapped me hard in the face in front of foreign guests!"
The Queen Mother looked at him and asked, "Did they run away?"
Nangong Yang smiled bitterly and said, "I haven't even said I would punish him yet, but he ran away with his whole family. If he didn't run away, I would have just reprimanded him at most, but I wouldn't have really punished him. I have always valued talents, so how could I have made a big fuss over such a small matter? If he ran away, people would think that I am narrow-minded and can't tolerate him. The Qin family is a meritorious family, and they took the initiative to resign. If the whole family leaves like this, what will the people from other meritorious families think? They will all think that I forced them to do it, hey..."
The Queen Mother frowned and asked, "So what do you want to do?"
Before Nangong Yang could answer, the eunuch's voice suddenly came from outside: "Your Majesty, the eldest princess is here."
Nangong Yang immediately stood up and said, "Please invite my sister in."
After saying that, he went over and opened the door himself, greeting everyone with a smile on his face.
Nangong Huoyue, wearing a fiery red dress, walked in from outside. When she was about to talk to him, she saw the empress dowager was also in the study. She ignored him and went in to pay her respects.
The Queen Mother stood up, came to her, took her hand affectionately and said, "Huoyue, the date has been set, the sixth day of the first lunar month, what do you think?"
Upon hearing this, Nangong Huoyue frowned slightly and said nothing.
The Queen Mother stroked her little hand and said gently, "If you feel that the date is too tight, I will discuss it with them and ask them to find a date later. Anyway, this matter is up to you. You can get married on any day you want."
Nangong Huoyue looked at her and said calmly, "How about getting married in two years?"
As soon as these words came out, the smile on the Queen Mother's face froze, and she said, "Huoyue, since the marriage has been decided and it's the person you chose, you should get it done as soon as possible."
Nangong Huoyue looked at her coldly and said, "Then what's the point of asking my opinion, Queen Mother? You have the final say on when to get married."
The Queen Mother fell silent.
Nangong Yang came over and said with a smile: "Royal sister, the date was discussed by the princes and the Imperial Observatory. It is a very auspicious day. If you get married earlier, mother will have one less day to worry about, and father's spirit in heaven will also feel at ease and relieved."
Nangong Huoyue didn't say anything else.
The room was quiet for a while.
Nangong Yang sighed and said, "Royal sister, I asked you to come here today not just to tell you this. There is another thing that may require your help."
Nangong Huoyue looked at him calmly without asking any questions.
Nangong Yang said bitterly, "Sister, you should know that the former commander of the Royal Guard, Qin Lang, was arrested by me. I have always trusted him and loved him very much. I directly promoted him from the academy to be the commander of the Royal Guard and gave him great power. But he betrayed my trust. Not only did he deceive me, he also killed the people of Zijin Temple and directly betrayed me... Oh, I am really sad."
Nangong Huoyue said calmly: "What do you want me to do for you? Kill him with my own hands?"
Nangong Yang smiled bitterly and said, "You are joking, sister. Even if I really want to kill him, how can I let you do it? What's more, that day is your wedding day. No matter how much I hate him, I can't let you dirty your hands."
After a pause, he sighed again and said earnestly: "Royal sister, I don't really want to kill him. I just want Luo Qing and the Qin family to come back and serve the country well, share my worries, and dispel other people's doubts. Since their family left that day, I have heard a lot of gossip, saying that I can't tolerate people, that I kill the donkey after it has done its work, and that I am vicious and narrow-minded."
"Ah... I really feel wronged. I never planned to do anything to them. On the contrary, I have always wanted to make use of the Qin family. Needless to say, I dote on Qin Lang. I gave him the position of Jinyiwei Commander, and planned to let him hone his skills for a few years and let him serve in the army in the future. And Luo Qing, he is talented, and the Queen Mother and I have seen it. I allow him to enter the palace at will and accompany me to study. When the spring examination comes, with his talent, he will definitely be able to pass the examination and become a Jinshi. I am also prepared to favor him a little in the palace examination and let him become the champion..."
"Who knew they would treat me like this..."
"I sent people to look for them for a long time, but I couldn't find them. Instead, many of my men died... But I still don't blame them. I just hope they can come back safely..."
Having said this, he paused and said sincerely, "Royal sister, you have a good relationship with the Qin family, and you are also a teacher and friend to Luo Qing. Do you know where they are now?"
Without waiting for Nangong Huoyue to answer, he continued, "It doesn't matter if you don't know. Imperial sister can help me find him and spread the news to Luo Qing, asking him to come back. As long as he is willing to come back, I will forgive him for what happened before. As for his elder brother Qin Lang, I will also let him go."
Nangong Huoyue was silent for a moment, and said coldly: "I don't know where they are either."
Nangong Yang nodded and said, "It's okay. My sister will ask someone to help me spread the news. Three days later, it will be my sister's wedding day. I hope Luo Qing can come back and attend my sister's wedding with me to bless her."
Nangong Huoyue looked at him and said, "What if he doesn't come back?"
Nangong Yang sighed and said, "Then I have no choice. Qin Lang betrayed me, so I can only bear the pain and kill him to serve as a warning to others."
Nangong Huoyue asked: "Does it have to be that day?"
Nangong Yang smiled bitterly and said, "My order has been issued and cannot be changed. But don't worry, my sister. I will have someone clean up the place when the time comes, and it will not affect your marriage."
Nangong Huoyue narrowed her eyes, said nothing more, and turned away.
The Queen Mother stood aside, silent.
After the door closed and the footsteps outside gradually faded away, the Queen Mother said with a complicated expression: "Your Majesty, why do you have to do this? She has already compromised and given in. Why not just let her get married?"
Nangong Yang smiled faintly and said, "Mother, my sister is strong-willed and won't care about such a small matter."
The Queen Mother frowned and said, "Luo Qing is the person she values most. You are doing this to make her wedding day miserable. She is your biological sister. She has worked hard to assist you for so many years. Even if she occasionally argues with you, it is for the sake of the country. That day is her lifelong event, and it may only happen once in her life. You can't..."
"Mother."
Nangong Yang interrupted her, still with a gentle smile on his face, and said: "I am now grown up and can distinguish right from wrong. There are some things that I want to make my own decisions. As for this matter, I have already made up my mind, and there is no need for you to say more. It's getting late and it's cold outside. You should go back and have a rest."
The Queen Mother took a look at his expression, said nothing more, sighed, and turned away.
Changsun Wan'er appeared at the door, supported her and walked out.
When the footsteps outside disappeared, a voice with gnashing teeth suddenly murmured in the study: "I just want to disgust her! I want to make those who betray me live a life worse than death!"
Nangong Huoyue returned to the palace and stood in front of the study window for a long time before returning to the bed, sitting cross-legged, and her soul left her body.
at the same time.
In a house by the Yunwu River, a spirit also flew to the roof.