PNB Chapter 56 Those who are not my allies deserve to be executed.
Chapter 56 Those who are not my allies deserve to be executed.
......
Inside the Crown Prince's palace, Ning Zhi was flipping through a book, casually asking, "Any progress on the matter I asked you to investigate?"
Lu Fang, standing to the side, bowed and said, "Your Highness, after seeing Xiao Hengzhi talking to a man at Changchun Pavilion that day, I have recently sent someone to keep an eye on that man. The day before yesterday, he went to arrest One-Eyed Zhang, and today I saw him go to the Jiang residence."
Taking advantage of the horse's unpreparedness, his subordinates led it away. Upon closer inspection, they discovered damage to the horse's knee and blackish-gray nails in its hooves; it was indeed a warhorse.
Ning Zhi raised his eyes and pondered, "So it really was Xiao Heng who sent him to steal Jiang Mian's horse."
"But..." Lu Fang asked, puzzled, "Why would Xiao Hengzhi do this?"
"Human hearts are unpredictable. Take One-Eyed Zhang, for example. He has followed me for many years. If I hadn't asked you to keep an eye on that person this time, I wouldn't have known that One-Eyed Zhang was secretly working for the Wen family."
Lu Fang nodded and then asked, "Your Highness, what should be done with the horse?"
Ning Zhi lightly patted the book: "Find a conspicuous place to sell it, and say the seller's surname is Xiao."
Lu Fang immediately understood and cupped his hands in greeting: "I will take care of it immediately."
"and many more."
As Lu Fang turned around, Ning Zhi suddenly asked, "Have you found out Xiao Hengzhi's background? What was his origin before he was taken in by the Jiang family?"
Lu Fang shook his head: "My subordinates have sent people to investigate, but there is no news yet."
Ning Zhi narrowed his eyes: "A person always leaves a trace when they are alive. He couldn't have appeared out of thin air. Continue the investigation."
"Yes."
Lu Fang took his leave.
He hadn't been gone long.
A maidservant came to report: "Your Highness, the Empress and Miss Chi Yu have arrived. Shall we invite them in?"
Ning Zhi was organizing the books. After a long silence, he said with a hint of helplessness, "Please."
His expression was ordinary, and his demeanor gentle. The maidservant retreated in response, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Yesterday, the Empress also brought Chi Yu over, ostensibly to deliver snacks, but in reality, to have Chi Yu offer her affections and linger by her side.
He looked the same as always, perfectly attentive and without any sign of abnormality.
But after everyone left, he punished all the gatekeepers and ordered that from now on anyone entering the Crown Prince's palace must announce their presence.
But the Empress never needed to announce her arrival before...
The servants didn't know why he was angry, but they privately guessed that it must be related to Miss Chi Yu.
Chi Yu, the Empress's niece and the eldest daughter of the Chi family, is gentle, dignified, and possesses both talent and beauty.
His mother came from the prestigious Pei family, whose members were mostly civil officials.
Many members of his paternal clan held positions in the Six Ministries and had close personal relationships with the imperial family.
His father, Chi Boshan, was the Minister of Personnel. He was a low-key and reserved man who was skilled in planning and was highly regarded by the emperor.
The Pei family's influence among civil officials, coupled with Chi Boshan's power in the Ministry of Personnel, could both help the Crown Prince ascend the throne. A marriage alliance would be ideal.
Therefore, Chi Yu was personally chosen by the Empress as the Crown Princess.
Ning Zhi was initially quite satisfied with this arrangement.
He knew very well that his marriage was never based on affection; every step was calculated and weighed.
A marriage alliance with the Chi family would be ideal.
But lately I've been feeling increasingly frustrated, as if my original rhythm has been disrupted, yet I don't know where the disruption started.
As he pondered this, he walked to the pavilion and winding corridor, where he saw the Empress leading Chi Yu to sit at a table in the distance.
Ning Zhi approached, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty and Sister Chi Yu."
Chi Yu quickly stood up and bowed gently, saying, "Yu'er greets her cousin."
Ning Zhi nodded slightly, looked at the Empress, and said calmly, "Mother Empress has been coming frequently lately. If you come next time, please inform me in advance so that I can make preparations."
The Empress was not his biological mother, so there was some distance between them. She knew the unspoken meaning behind Ning Zhi's words: he didn't want her to come.
But it doesn't matter, she can just pretend she doesn't understand.
Then she smiled and said, "Why do you need to prepare anything? Yu'er is so thoughtful; she made quite a few pastries herself. Please have a taste."
She smiled and had the palace servants serve her newly made tea and snacks.
Ning Zhi glanced at it and smiled faintly: "You're so thoughtful, little sister."
Chi Yu's eyes curved slightly as she asked gently, "If you like it, cousin, I'll make more next time."
Ning Zhi nodded slightly.
He behaved politely but remained calm, yet he didn't taste a single bite.
When the Empress saw that this approach was ineffective, she suggested, "The chrysanthemums in the palace garden are in full bloom. Why don't you let Yu'er accompany you to admire them and relax?"
After she finished speaking, she stood up, took Chi Yu's hand and placed it in Ning Zhi's hand, and said earnestly, "You two have played together since you were little, but Yu'er has become estranged since she didn't come to the palace often. You must treat her well."
Ning Zhi chuckled and bowed, saying, "Your subject will certainly take care of my cousin."
He said some nice things, but under the guise of bowing, he subtly let go of Chi Yu's hand.
A hint of disappointment flashed across Chi Yu's face, but it was only for a moment before he smiled again: "I haven't been to Chrysanthemum Garden yet, please lead the way, cousin."
Ning Zhi looked at her expectant gaze, hesitated for a moment, and gave a soft reply as if in resignation.
But as soon as he turned around and took a step, Lu Fang rushed over, carrying a birdcage in his hand.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress, Your Highness the Crown Prince, and Miss Chi Yu." Lu Fang bowed respectfully.
"What's the rush?" Ning Zhi asked.
"Your Highness, the Void Bird has returned with a message; it was the one that was delivered to Miss Jiang."
Ning Zhi's eyes lit up, and with a smile, he hurriedly rummaged under the bird's belly feathers and quickly found a piece of letter paper.
However, those few lines of text gradually made his smile fade.
The Empress asked, "Miss Jiang? Is she the daughter of Commander Jiang?"
Ning Zhi put away the letter, her face remaining calm, and did not reply.
The Empress thought for a moment and realized that there weren't many people with the surname Jiang in the capital, and the only one who was truly prominent was Jiang Xun.
Jiang Xun has two daughters. Since the illegitimate daughter married into the Xie Marquis's household, it would be impossible for her to communicate with the Crown Prince. Therefore, this person must be the legitimate daughter, Jiang Mian.
The Empress scoffed inwardly. She hadn't attended the banquet she was invited to last time, and she hadn't expected that the Crown Prince already knew her.
Just as he was about to say something to Ning Zhi, he heard light footsteps outside the palace gate.
Turning around, I saw Eunuch Yuan, who was serving the Emperor in front of him.
"This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress, Your Highness the Crown Prince, and Miss Chi."
"The Crown Prince's palace is quite lively today. Eunuch Yuan, what brings you here?" the Empress asked.
"This servant has come to deliver a message to His Highness the Crown Prince: His Majesty requests your presence. Please come in."
Ning Zhi frowned. Yesterday, the political discussion had focused on the matter of sealing Yu Pass. Now that he was being summoned, it was likely because they wanted to ask him if he had any candidates for the expedition.
He clenched the letter in his hand, turned around and said, "Mother, cousin, I must take my leave now. If you wish to admire the chrysanthemums, I will invite you another day."
He turned around and, without waiting for Chi Yu's reply, strode towards the palace gate.
After he walked away, a hint of resentment appeared in Chi Yu's eyes.
He took the Empress's hand and asked, "Aunt, who is the Jiang family girl? My cousin actually gave her such a precious Xumi bird."
The Empress slowly said, "It should be Jiang Xun's legitimate daughter, Jiang Wan. I am also very surprised that she knows the Crown Prince."
“Jiang Mian…” Chi Yu murmured softly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
......
Ning Zhi left the Crown Prince's Palace and quickly entered the Xuanzheng Hall.
It must have been just after the morning court session, and the emperor was still wearing his yellow robe, with a hint of fatigue showing between his brows.
Inside the palace, incense burners burned softly, wisps of smoke rising gently. The emperor dismissed everyone, leaving only the emperor and his minister in the empty palace.
"My son has met my father."
The emperor slightly raised his hand and said in a low, gentle voice, "Rise."
Ning Zhi stood up straight, hands at his sides, in attendance.
The emperor spoke slowly and deliberately: "The enemy is rampant at Fengyu Pass, and General Zhao is holding firm and it is difficult to attack. I need to send someone to help. Can you think of a suitable candidate?"
Ning Zhi guessed that the emperor wanted to use Feng Yuguan as a tool to get rid of Jiang Xun. After all, the Jiang family had been generals for generations and had a high prestige in the army. There were even rumors that the Jiang family's password was greater than the military tally.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he thought—
Since Jiang Xun refused to submit to him, now was the perfect opportunity to make sure he never returned.
Those who are not part of our faction deserve to be executed.
But Jiang Mian's letter came to mind.
Her pen was gentle and her words were earnest, expressing her wish that her father could leave the war and return home.
Ning Zhi's fingertips curled up inside her sleeve, a slight hesitation in her eyes.
He seemed to be pondering how to handle this matter, while other generals were also in charge at court...
Seeing that he did not answer for a long time, the emperor raised his eyes and said again, "I am asking you a question."
Ning Zhi clenched his fist, took a deep breath, and said in a low voice, "In my heart, I have a suitable candidate..."