dognovel Chapter 322
Chapter 322
"If you keep crying, you might not be able to show your face at tomorrow's ceremony."
Nalan Jingwen kindly reminded him, and A Nian's cheeks flushed red. He shyly stepped out of her embrace, knowing that he had really crossed the line. He lowered his head, like a child who had made a mistake.
Nalan Jingwen patted his head and casually asked, "Did they do anything to you?"
Ah Nian had never been wary of her, so she told her the truth: "Grand Tutor Xiao had the imperial physician examine my eyes and told me to rest well and prepare for tomorrow's ceremony. Grand Tutor Xiao is very kind to me."
He paused, then said, "Lord Shen..."
Nalan Jingwen's eyes twitched, but he remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
Ah Nian gently grasped her fingertips, as if afraid of upsetting her, and whispered, "Lord Shen said that he was worried I wouldn't be used to things since I just got back, so he invited me to go to the lantern festival after the ceremony."
Nalan Jingwen's brows furrowed slightly. "You agreed?"
Ah Nian quickly shook her head, her little face full of helplessness. "I, I didn't agree. I just couldn't find a reason to refuse, so I could only postpone it until after the ceremony."
Nalan Jingwen's heart sank. He wanted to say something, but looking at A Nian's innocent appearance, he didn't say anything in the end. He just instructed her, "I'm outside the palace and can't stay by your side all the time, but I will send someone to watch over you. If you have any problems that you can't solve, you can ask her to come find me. If you want to see me, you can also tell her, and she will bring you to me. Do you understand?"
"Also, minimize contact with Shen Xi."
Ah Nian nodded obediently, "Okay." Then she held her hand tightly, "Is Sister leaving?"
Nalan Jingwen grasped his hand in return, saying, "Well, there are still some things to do. You should get some rest tonight. The ceremony tomorrow will probably be tiring, but don't worry, I'll be there too."
Ah Nian nodded, his pale lips slightly pursed, looking at her without saying a word.
Seeing his reluctant expression, Nalan Jingwen patted the back of his hand, then let go of his hand, thought for a moment, and then reminded him again, "Eat well."
……
After leaving the palace, Nalan Jingwen headed straight in one direction: Shen Xi's residence. Although her residence looked peaceful and grand, it concealed many different auras, just like the cautious person she was.
Nalan Jingwen couldn't find anyone in her residence and didn't know where she could go so late at night. In order not to be discovered, she didn't linger and quickly returned to the post station. When the spies outside weren't paying attention, she climbed out of the window and went back to her room. Without making any trouble, she went to sleep and waited for the next day.
The ceremony on the second day went surprisingly smoothly. Perhaps it was prepared in advance. Throughout the ceremony, many guards surrounded Anian in a circle. Shen Xi did not make any move and walked through the entire ceremony with a smile on her face, as if she really had no ulterior motives. It was just that she did not want to or had no opportunity.
Throughout the entire ceremony, A-Nian's face had become much paler. Although she couldn't see, she still maintained a smile in front of people at all times. However, when no one was around, she would secretly look in the direction where Nalan Jingwen was.
Nalan Jing heard the opening sequence and her gaze fell on Xiao Taifu, who was standing below with his head bowed. Although her face was calm, her eyes were filled with solemnity. She heard that yesterday Xiao Taifu sent many imperial physicians to examine Anian. They went back and forth, and almost all the imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital were summoned, whether they were senior or young imperial physicians who had just entered the palace.
However, despite the large commotion, rumors circulated that the newly returned prince had an eye ailment, which was why so many imperial physicians were needed to treat him. But Nalan Jingwen knew it was because of Anian's health. It seems that Xiao Jin already knew about Anian's condition, but it's unclear whether Shen Xi knew.
However, it is certain that Shen Xi's people are not in A Nian's palace, otherwise Shen Xi would not have been absent from the mansion last night. Xiao Jin did a pretty good job.
After the ceremony, Nalan Jingwen returned to the post station to change her clothes. Then, she went to the palace with the people sent by the palace to pick her up to attend the banquet. When she saw the people who came to pick her up standing next to the carriage, Nalan Jingwen paused.
When Xiao Congyu saw that Nalan Jing could smell it, he gave her a fawning smile and quickly came forward.
"Your Highness, I have come to escort you to the palace for a banquet."
Nalan Jingwen looked away. "Didn't anyone tell you that smiling like that is ugly?"
Xiao Congyu's smile faded, while Nalan Jingwen's lips curved slightly. After getting into the carriage, Xiao Congyu quickly lifted the curtain.
After Nalan Jingwen got into the carriage, her gaze fell on Xiao Congyu's face. The latter felt a little uneasy under her gaze and asked stiffly, "Your Highness, is there anything else you need?"
With her personality, I don't know why Xiao Jin would assign such an important task to her; she's just too easy to slip up.
"Still not coming up?"
"what?"
Xiao Congyu pointed to himself and asked uncertainly, "Me?"
Nalan Jingwen rubbed his temples. "Didn't you need something from me?"
Xiao Congyu then realized what was happening and quickly got into the carriage, sitting a little further away from her. Nalan Jingwen glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Although Xiao Congyu didn't know how Nalan Jingwen knew, he still carefully asked, "You know everything?"
"do not know."
Xiao Congyu choked, "Then..."
Nalan Jingwen glanced at her, and she felt her whole body stiffen, her hair stand on end. She quickly put on a mournful face and said, "Your Highness, I know you have already helped us a lot, but we really have no other choice. Although Shen Xi is a high-ranking official, she has half of Baiji's troops under her command. Although the other half is in my aunt's hands, if a war really breaks out, it will definitely result in mutual destruction. Even Your Highness will not be able to escape unscathed in the war, let alone the people of Baiji!"
When a country is in turmoil, the people are the first to suffer. With social unrest and war raging, Baiji will only be covered in a sugary shell and easily crushed. To put it bluntly, Baiji may only appear in history books in the future and never exist again.
Xiao Congyu's eyes were red; this was the land where she had grown up, and naturally she didn't want to see that situation.
"We originally thought that after His Highness's return, Shen Xi would have no reason to seize power and usurp the throne. However, yesterday we received a report from our spies that there was unusual activity in Shen Xi's army. Therefore, we suspect that His Highness's return has angered her, so she no longer waits and wants to kill His Highness and seize the throne!"
"Shen Xi is ambitious and ruthless! If she ascends to that position, Bai Ji will probably never see the light of day again."
From then on, Bai Ji would no longer bear the surname Chunyu. What would become of the ministers who had served the Chunyu clan and Bai Ji for generations? They had done so much for Bai Ji; they couldn't be allowed to die a gruesome death!
Nalan Jingwen listened to her with an indifferent expression, her eyes showing no emotion.
"Did Xiao Jin send you to beg me?"
Xiao Congyu's pupils trembled, and he lowered his head. "...Yes."