The room was quiet, and the Ning Wangfei’s distrustful gaze pierced into Fu An’s heart like a silent sword.
She sighed, “Mother Consort, you told me to speak, but you don’t want to listen. What am I to do?”
The Ning Wangfei’s heart stirred, and she wearily gestured for her to continue.
Princess Fu An said, “Mother Consort, the matter has already happened. You shouldn’t think about patching it up. Qionghua’s incident was her own doing first, and then it was the Emperor’s decree. No one can disobey it.
It would be better to find a way to turn it into something more beneficial for you.”
As Princess Fu An spoke, she offered a suggestion.
The Ning Wangfei’s eyes suddenly lit up. She looked at her eldest daughter in surprise.
Indeed, she was worthy of her.
“If only you were born a man.
How could the position of heir, which rightfully belonged to us, have fallen into the hands of Shen Yun, that bastard?”
The Ning Wangfei gnashed her teeth, her heart filled with immense anger.
She hated Shen Yun with all her might.
It was just that she dared not reveal it usually.
Otherwise, she would lose the support of the old Prince of Ning, her only supporter.
However, there were no outsiders around her now, only her daughter and her most trusted servants.
She could no longer hold back.
She wanted to use all sorts of wicked means to curse Shen Yun, to make him and his family suffer misfortune.
It was a pity that verbal attacks were not truly useful.
No matter how vicious her curses were, none of them came true.
No, some did come true, but it seemed they were all fulfilled by her children.
Her most beloved son, her most beloved daughter, and her mother…
Unknowingly, she had already lost so many important people.
She couldn’t help but wonder if this was retribution.
“Mother Consort, while it’s still light, I’ll accompany you to the palace to see Imperial Concubine Li.
She has always been close to you, and Prince Zhou still needs the support of the Ning Prince’s estate for his ascension. She should not refuse you at this time,” Princess Fu An suggested.
The Ning Wangfei’s heated mind wandered in a daze for a long time before she finally regained control.
She looked at her daughter, feeling an indescribable pride and self-satisfaction.
Fortunately, she still had a capable child by her side.
She had not yet lost.
After the Ning Wangfei made a visit to the palace, Su Xiao Qi soon received news that Imperial Concubine Li had persuaded Emperor Yongxing to issue a decree for Princess Qionghua.
She was to be enfeoffed as a princess, married to Chu Le Ge under the guise of a marriage alliance to solidify the peaceful relations between the two countries.
This relationship that could not see the light of day suddenly became normal.
Moreover, it even cast a golden glow upon the Ning Prince’s estate.
“Now the old Prince of Ning is probably satisfied and won’t act against the Ning Wangfei,” Su Xiao Qi said with some regret.
She thought that the Ning Wangfei’s move was indeed brilliant.
Turning a disadvantage into an advantage, very good.
If the Ning Wangfei had always been so intelligent, it would be difficult to deal with.
When Shen Yun returned and told her that this idea was not the Ning Wangfei’s own, but the work of the Princess Fu An by her side.
“Princess Fu An,” Su Xiao Qi whispered the name, feeling a sense of emotion.
As a princess of the Ning Prince’s estate, Princess Fu An, being the eldest daughter, did not have as resounding a title as Princess Qionghua.
She also heard that she was not particularly favored by the Ning Wangfei, but the ones who remained silent were often the most formidable.
Now, all of this clearly demonstrated that.
Shen Yun said, “Smart people are easier to deal with.”
Smart people think more and fear more.
Unlike some foolish people who rush headlong in one direction, regardless of the difficulties ahead, single-mindedly wanting to reach their destination, even unto death; such people are very difficult to deal with.
Su Xiao Qi thought it made sense, “My husband is right, they are too smart, they want more, and they have more concerns.”
Therefore, there was nothing to fear.
However, she solemnly told Shen Yun that no matter the Ning Prince’s estate’s attitude towards her, she would not move into the Ning Prince’s estate.
Shen Yun said directly, “My lady, rest assured, that’s exactly what I was thinking too!”
For him, the Ning Prince’s estate was no longer the Ning Prince’s estate of the past.
Of course, his desire to obtain it had not changed.
But he was unwilling to let Xiao Qi pay any price.
Whether it was worth it or not, he did not want Xiao Qi to suffer any grievances because of the Ning Prince’s estate.
Perhaps in the past, the Ning Prince’s estate could manipulate him at will, but now he would not let them do so.
He had the strength to protect his family from any harm.
Therefore, he would not yield.
“Is it easy to explain to the Ning King?” Su Xiao Qi asked.
The Ning King was not someone to be easily dismissed.
He might be muddled in certain matters, but he never made mistakes in important ones.
Otherwise, the late Emperor would not have trusted him, a king of a different surname, so much.
Shen Yun smiled and said, “The Ning King has no time to think about these things now. He has to investigate what happened in the Hundred Flower Garden.”
If they hadn’t been vigilant enough, the Ning Wangfei would have succeeded in her scheme this time.
Since the other party had failed, he would have to return a grand gift.
What Shen Yun did not tell Su Xiao Qi was that he had already found a lot of evidence of the Ning Wangfei’s involvement in plotting against him.
Including, but not limited to, the poison he had taken as a child, which also caused him to faint when he stayed in enclosed spaces for too long.
On the surface, it didn’t seem like much, just like vertigo caused by a weak constitution.
But in fact, it was not the case.
There were also the various difficulties he encountered in Zhao Family Village in Mianzhou City, which all seemed to be accidents.
But in reality, there was an unseen hand controlling everything behind the scenes.
And that hand was the Ning Wangfei.
Even the assassination they encountered at the foot of Mount Gan Quan when they entered the capital was inseparable from the Ning Wangfei.
Fortunately, they had the Yan Yu Pavilion to help them investigate these matters, otherwise, with the passage of time, even with his current authority, he might not have been able to find them.
He greeted Su Xiao Qi, saying he had to go out for a while.
He was rushing to expose all the collected evidence.
To let the Ning King have a good look at what kind of person his consort truly was.
Su Xiao Qi knew he was always very busy. She reminded him to be careful and let him go.
She was also expecting a guest shortly.
As soon as Shen Yun left, Su Xiao Qi’s guest arrived.
She was brought by Du Yiyi.
Du Yiyi always had unrestricted access to the Shen residence.
The person followed her and entered the backyard without any hindrance.
“Xiao Qi!” Hearing Du Yiyi’s voice.
Su Xiao Qi looked up. She didn’t see Du Yiyi’s face, but unexpectedly saw – herself.
That’s right, the face in front of her looked exactly like her own.
Fair-skinned, with soft features, willow brows, peach blossom eyes, a Qiong nose, and cherry lips.
No, this was not her.
The woman in front of her had red-rimmed eyes, her vision blurred with tears. Tears hung on her cheeks, about to fall, possessing an indescribable beauty and a sense of intimacy.
Su Xiao Qi was stunned, staring blankly at the beautiful middle-aged woman before her.
She was wearing a dark purple, peony-embroidered cross-collar top, paired with a matching colored long skirt, the hem of which was adorned with large golden peonies. She looked noble and elegant.
“Madam, you…” Su Xiao Qi wanted to ask who she was.
But she saw the beautiful woman suddenly open her arms and rush towards her.
Before Su Xiao Qi could react, she was pulled into her embrace.
“Xuan’er!” the beautiful woman choked out a name.
Su Xiao Qi felt somewhat dazed. She gently pushed the woman away and softly denied,
“Um, Madam, I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else. My name is Su Xiao Qi!”