Chu Ning stood in the pavilion, looking at him with complicated eyes, and didn't say a word for a long time.
Although I had known his character early on and had expected his actions that he couldn't help but question, but when he really faced him, he still felt extremely absurd.
"I don't know what the betrayal His Royal Highness thought was? Didn't His Highness ask me to give up the position of Crown Princess? Since I have already left and the Crown Prince has married another, I am afraid that he has no right to interfere in my affairs."
Xiao Yu stood there, and when he heard this, his face became even paler, and his body even shook against the wind.
He has long been aware of the change in their identities, and even in the Taiji Hall just now, countless voices have reminded him of this.
But other people's reminders are one thing, and her own words are another more straightforward and cruel feeling.
What made him even more invisible was that what she said was not wrong at all, and it was indeed he who offered her to give up the position of his wife.
Right now, his heart was numb, and he felt that he didn't want to face all of this at all. He struggled for a moment, and suddenly felt like grabbing a straw in the water, and said angrily: "In the end, Aning, you still blame me, blame me. I abandoned you and married someone else, right? Aning, I told you that there are difficulties in doing all this, can you—can't you be considerate of me? During the past two years, have I stayed with you? Are you okay?"
Referring to the two years of life, Chu Ning's heart flashed with daze and loss.
How have you lived the past two years? Guangsha and Chinese clothing, fragrant cars and BMWs, and delicious delicacies are naturally good.
But she didn't have a comfortable day.
"Prince asked himself, have you been really treating me for the past two years? How sincere are you?" Her eyes were dazed for a moment, and then she slowly walked to the edge of the stairs. Looking at him, he said softly, "You have indeed given me a good life, but didn't you use my identity to set up the illusion of humility and righteousness and daring to take responsibility in front of outsiders? Those courtiers who follow you, except since childhood, How many of Xu Shidu, who is by your side, know your true face?"
Xiao Yu's whole body froze, as if his feet were hurt, his lips trembled weakly, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't know how to say it.
Chu Ning didn't stop, paused, and continued to babble: "I did think that His Highness treated me well, but after a long time, I became more and more reluctant to deceive myself - you take me as your hand. I usually manipulate and fiddle with my tools at will, when have you ever taken into account my thoughts? You treat me like a brother, and you don’t allow me to have joys, sorrows and joys beyond your expectations. Such days, even I almost forget myself. , how did you endure it. You always say that everything you do is for the future, and you will have my share in the future, but my share will still be used by you as a tool and as a It's like a plaything, what do I want it for after that?"
This was the first time she had spoken these words in her heart in front of Xiao Yu's face.
On the other hand, Xiao Yu seemed to have been severely injured, his face was blue and white for a while, his lips twitched, and after a long while he said softly: "You-you actually think so, so you will be with my uncle to get revenge on me. Is it? Aning, such a method is really not suitable for you."
Until this time, he was still looking for other reasons for the current situation, constantly escaping from the wrong things he did.
Chu Ning shook his head calmly: "I followed Your Majesty, not to avenge you, but because Your Majesty treated me with sincerity."
"Sincere?" Xiao Yu seemed to have heard something absurd and unbelievable, "Where did he get his sincerity? In the past few months, is there less of his absurdity? Why do you think he treats you more sincerely than me? ?you-"
Speaking of this, an extremely terrifying guess suddenly appeared in his mind: "What did you say to him?"
What did she do and say to get Xiao Kezhi's favor
"Is it related to me?" His heart tightened, he couldn't help stepping up the steps in three or two steps, clenching her wrist, and asked sharply, "You told him my arrangement, didn't you? "
The sudden pain in the wrist made Chu Ning frown and cried out in a low voice, "Let go—Prince, you think too highly of yourself!"
What he did, without her taking the initiative to reveal it, Xiao Ke had anticipated it a long time ago, and everything was under the control of others, but he had never been aware of his own situation.
She had the urge to tell everything she knew now, and even directly questioned him why after killing her father, he could pretend to be her benefactor and stay with her as if nothing had happened.
But she thought about it and endured it. It would be better to wait for Xiao Kezhi to deal with the rest of the matter before clarifying the situation.
She had a hunch that although Xiao Kezhi always deviated from the classics and did not seem to care about the secular etiquette, he was measured and understood that he could not do whatever he wanted when sitting in the emperor's position, and he would still follow the rules in political affairs.
Especially when dealing with the prince, his own nephew, he will not fall into the trap of others. He must deal with it properly and catch the crime.
She took a deep breath and looked at him coldly, enduring the pain: "Or, do you think others are as selfish as you?"
Xiao Yu's face was slightly distorted, and there was a stern look in his eyes that turned from shame to anger. Not only did he not let go of her hand, but it tightened even more, and his feet were approaching step by step, forcing her to retreat.
"You make it clear, what is going on between you and him?"
Under his approach, Chu Ning retreated into the pavilion step by step, and slowly leaned to the edge of the stone table, becoming unable to retreat.
"Madam!" Seeing this, Cui He became anxious and wanted to come forward to help her.
Chu Ning was about to stop her and tell her to go outside to find someone, but suddenly heard footsteps coming from outside the pavilion, followed by a low whining and chirping sound, getting closer and closer, like a head A burly beast.
She turned her head to look and saw that Wei Mo had suddenly appeared in front of her eyes, his tawny eyes were staring at Xiao Yu's back, and his sharp teeth were not bared, as if he was ready to go.
"Weimore!" She whispered, and when she faced the gray wolf for the first time, she was not afraid, but felt like she had met a savior.
When Xiao Yu heard these two words, his whole body froze, and he turned around subconsciously, facing those terrifying yellow-brown eyes. Immediately in his mind, this ferocious beast had bitten off Hou Tongyi outside the Taiji Hall. The bloody scene on his neck made his hands loose in fright.
Chu Ning took the opportunity to dodge him, retreated to the back of the stone table, and called to the two guards who were taking care of Vimalakirti outside: "Prince is tired, please take him out."
Wei Mo was still staring at Xiao Yu, probably seeing that he had let go and did nothing, but slowly paced past him, stood in front of Chu Ning, and raised his head at her.
Chu Ning hesitated for a moment, then slowly bent down, reached out and touched its head.
Wei Mo's eyes narrowed immediately, and his tail began to sway, resembling a huge dog, and his vicious aura was reduced by most.
It circled around her, and finally leaned against the hem of her skirt, facing Xiao Yu's direction with her, continuing to stare at him, making a chirping sound ready to go.
The two guards outside the pavilion also approached and looked left and right, before bowing to Xiao Yu without hesitation: "This is the back garden of Taiji Palace. Your Highness may not be able to stay alone for a long time. Please leave earlier."
Their words were still respectful, but their tone was somewhat aggressive.
Xiao Yu froze in place, staring at Chu Ning's closeness to the beast with a twisted expression, the panic and suspicion in his heart became more and more uncontrollable. But in front of others, he didn't dare to do anything. After a moment of silence, he had no choice but to turn around and leave.
Chu Ning looked at his distant back, and then slowly relaxed.
"Is the lady alright?" Cui He wanted to go up to check her wrist, but as soon as his eyes touched Vimalakirti, he hesitated and stood where he was, not daring to approach.
"I'm fine." Chu Ning smiled at her reassuringly, then turned to look at the two guards who were looking after Vimalakirti, "There are two of you too."
The two guards looked at each other and hurriedly bowed to say "don't dare".
She smiled and sat down on the stone bench, while letting her weak body rest for a while, she lowered her head and gently stroked Vymo's gray fur, talking to it shyly.
Although it is a beast, it seems to be very spiritual and unexpectedly obedient.
Chuning felt that it was much more lovable and cute than before.
…
In the Baifu Hall, Qi Chenxiang was half-kneeling on her feet and serving tea to the Queen Mother.
Since Empress Dowager Qi was defeated in front of the emperor, her mind was a little slack, and even her body gradually collapsed.
She has been fighting in the palace for decades, and it is not a small blow to end up in such a situation.
The only thing that is gratifying is that Liu Niang's child—the marriage was whatever she wanted, and she didn't marry into the palace.
"Okay," she waved at Qi Chenxiang, who was kneeling, and pulled a hand, "Stop kneeling, get up and sit down. Although you are young, I look at you, but I feel very distressed."
Qi Chenxiang got up from her feet, carefully sat beside her aunt, held her hand and comforted her softly: "Auntie loves Liu Niang like a daughter, Liu Niang knows that it is the right time."
Empress Dowager Qi looked at her calm and filial niece with complicated eyes, and couldn't help but ask again: "Liu Niang, you really don't regret it, don't you blame me?"
Qi Chenxiang took a deep breath and shook her head firmly: "Auntie, Liu Niang doesn't regret it, let alone blame anyone. I had no intention of marrying a saint, and now there's nothing wrong with it, I'm just a little worried about my aunt and father, Mother's situation."
"You can think about it." Empress Dowager Qi patted her niece's hand, raised her head and sighed, "Now that he's still decent, he doesn't really do anything..."
This "he" naturally refers to Xiao Kezhi. At least, she is still the queen mother, and the Qi family is still an aristocratic family. In the future, there will be no obstacles for men to enter office and daughters to marry.
The two aunts and nephews looked at each other silently, the hall was silent, only the smoke from the incense burner lingered quietly.
After a while, a maid came in from outside the hall, standing by the screen and said warmly, "Your Highness, Liu Niangzi, just now there is news from the Hanlin Academy that your Majesty's personal decree has been handed down, saying—we will make Chu Clan the empress."
Empress Dowager Qi was stunned for a moment. Her originally sad mood was disturbed, and she asked subconsciously, "Chu family? Which Chu family?"
Qi Chenxiang frowned and said hesitantly, "Could it be—is it the one in Guizhen View?"
The maid paused, nodded and said, "It was the one who came out of the Eastern Palace and lived in Guizhen Temple. Also, last night, after the sage returned from the prince's wedding ceremony, he went directly to Guizhen Temple to bring Mrs. Picked it up and took it back to the Temple of Nectar..."
The voice fell, and the two aunts and nephews looked at each other, both with complicated expressions, and they didn't know what to think for a while.
Empress Dowager Qi frowned and said: "He, he acted like this, it's really ridiculous." But after thinking about it, he laughed inexplicably, "But somehow, I didn't feel too surprised, this Liulang, There are quite a few appalling things to do..."
Qi Chenxiang also said abruptly, "Yes, it's Mrs. Chu, she's better than the previous married woman, singer and dancer..."
"I'm afraid this will make the prince angry, but he has nowhere to vent his anger." Empress Qi didn't like the prince for many years, and she felt inexplicably relieved when she thought about the anger he might be in. "Compared with Liulang, he is still It’s a little too hot. It seems that people’s fate is determined by heaven…”
Rokuro, probably born with the life of a king.
All she could do was comfort herself.
Qi Chenxiang lowered her head and said nothing.
In addition to being surprised, she also felt a bit of mixed disappointment and dissatisfaction. Even if she didn't want to marry Xiao Kezhi, but I heard that he didn't accept her, and instead chose a Chu family who was in the middle of the family, and even had already married someone, she was a little uncomfortable.
After all, she questioned herself and didn't feel that she was inferior to Chu Ning in any way.
But when she turned to think that Zhao Yu'e, who had also been married before and had a bold and unruly style, was not favored by the emperor, she felt a little better.
Probably this is the fate of people, not necessarily related to status.
At least, compared to Zhao Yu'e, who is selfish and arrogant, and who is bent on stepping on others to climb up, her impression of the Chu family is at least a little better.
Now, this matter has nothing to do with them in the end, the two aunts and nephews tacitly did not say more. Qi Chenxiang only took a few sips of tea and snacks, and then left.