usatvline Chapter 289 Lingnan
Chapter 289 Lingnan
On the third day after Feng Yucai met Shen Chuning, the eldest prince, leading a group of family members and guards, set out on the journey back to Tanzhou in a grand manner.
However, among the people traveling with the eldest prince, the only one missing was his concubine Feng.
Because of her health, she was left in Beijing to recuperate and protect her pregnancy.
The next morning after the eldest prince left, news suddenly came from the residence of Lord Feng, the Minister of War, claiming that Lord Feng was seriously ill and unable to handle official business, so he handed over all the affairs at hand to others.
After hearing this, Shen Chuning couldn't help but sigh softly: "It seems that Lord Feng has guessed that Xiao Yuanqi is going to make a move next. He doesn't want the entire Feng family to take such a risk."
Bi Rui, who was standing nearby concentrating on helping Shen Chuning grind ink, looked up and said with a worried look on her face, "But if we do this, wouldn't that be the same as offending the Crown Prince? How will Concubine Feng return to the Prince's Mansion in the future?"
Shen Chuning shook her head slightly, her eyes penetrating as she explained, "Lord Feng's move was brilliant. Before Xiao Yuanqi could ask for help, he preemptively handed over all matters, citing illness as an excuse. This way, he completely eliminated the possibility of Xiao Yuanqi asking for help. If the eldest prince succeeds this time, then the Feng family will have done a great service by taking care of his pregnant concubine and unborn child. If the eldest prince fails, then naturally, there's no need to worry about offending him."
Hearing this, Birui nodded as if she understood, and then asked curiously: "Miss, since it has come to this, shouldn't we do something? We can't just sit there and do nothing, right?"
The sky was gloomy, with dark clouds gathering, and a heavy rain was about to pour down. At this moment, the atmosphere in the house was also solemn and depressing.
"It's going to rain, and my mother is going to get married. These aren't things that can be easily changed." Shen Chuning sighed softly, a hint of helplessness and worry in her eyes. "Xiao Yuanqi has had this idea for a long time, so how can we easily change it? What's more, all of this is just hearsay and has no basis in fact. Who can I talk to? If I tell His Majesty, not only will I be accused of sowing discord between father and son, but I might even be killed. So, let's take care of our own business first."
Shen Chuning was thinking that in his previous life, even with the help of Ji Anbang from the Beijing suburban camp, Xiao Yuanqi still couldn't accomplish anything.
In this life, the people in the camp outside the capital have been replaced, the north has also been prepared in advance, and he has seen the fake defense map. He doesn't think that Xiao Yuanqi can cause any big trouble.
Thinking of this, Shen Chuning paused for a moment, then instructed, "Let's stop the business in the Huguang area first. Send a letter to the Yun family and the Mo family so that they can prepare."
Before she finished speaking, she picked up the letter she had just written and placed on the table, blew on it gently, and after the ink dried, she handed it to Birui who was standing beside her.
She instructed, "Take this letter and give it to Xuanying. Have her deliver it to the Northland as soon as possible. Also, send Ning Shutong's apprentice along as well. Although he may be slightly inferior to Ning Shu, he is still a capable person."
"Yes, miss, don't worry, I will arrange it right away." Birui responded, took the letter, turned around and was about to walk out.
Shen Chuning seemed to have suddenly remembered something important and hurriedly shouted, "Wait!"
Upon hearing the voice, Birui stopped immediately, turned around and looked at Shen Chuning silently, but did not answer.
Shen Chuning frowned slightly and asked with concern, "Have you asked Ning Shutong to see Jiang Ping?"
Facing Shen Chuning's question, Birui remained silent and just nodded slightly in response.
Seeing Birui's reaction, Shen Chuning's heart sank suddenly. An ominous premonition suddenly surged in her mind. She couldn't help but ask, "Not optimistic?"
Birui bit her lips tightly, lowered her head slightly, and said slowly in a voice as low as a mosquito: "Doctor Ning said that Lord Jiang was forced to drink too many drugs before, so I'm afraid... I'm afraid he will never be able to have sex again..."
When she said this, Birui blushed.
Upon hearing this news, Shen Chuning's face was filled with disbelief. "Even Ning Shutong can't be cured?"
Birui nodded gently, her expression somewhat gloomy, and then explained, "Doctor Ning said that the drugs given to Lord Jiang were too toxic and the dosage was too high. Even if he could barely have sex after treatment, it would be difficult for him to have children in the future."
After a brief pause, Shen Chuning asked solemnly, "Does anyone else know about this?"
Birui shook her head vigorously and quickly replied, "After all, this is Master Jiang's personal and private matter, so it has not been made known to others. The reason I told you this is because Master Jiang said he didn't want me to be burdened by this matter, and he specifically asked me to apologize to you on his behalf, as a sign of disappointment for your kindness and expectations."
Shen Chuning pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "Actually, this isn't a disappointment to me. I just thought he was a decent person, and he treated you with sincerity, so I wanted to bring you two together. Now that this has happened, what are your plans?"
Birui took a deep breath, as if she had made a great decision. She raised her head and replied with a firm gaze, "Lord Jiang intends to request to be transferred to a distant place, and His Majesty has already agreed to his request. I have been thinking that when you no longer need me here, I will go and find him."
"Do you know what it means to go find him?" Shen Chuning asked Birui in front of him with a serious expression.
Birui lowered her head slightly and replied softly, "I know, but she never looked down on me because of my background, so I naturally wouldn't mind him being ill. Besides, Doctor Ning hasn't made any final decisions."
Shen Chuning sighed secretly in her heart, hoping that Ning Shutong didn't say anything final, just to leave them hope and not let them suffer too much of a blow.
Then, she changed the subject and asked, "How are the managers I asked you to lead now?"
The maid quickly responded, "My lady, they are all capable of handling matters on their own. Currently, I am merely responsible for relaying messages from above. They are already very adept at their duties. The only major matter concerning the Hengfu Bank is that I personally contact Cui Shi, without using anyone else."
After hearing this report, Shen Chuning couldn't help but sigh softly and said, "That's great. Bring them all here tomorrow so I can see them. As for Cui Shi, I can't see him, so I'll let Qi Xia handle it. When Jiang Ping arrives for his appointment, you can go with him."
As soon as the words fell, tears in Birui's eyes burst out like a dam breaking, and she choked and shouted, "Miss..."
Seeing this, Shen Chuning smiled slightly and said softly, "Don't cry, don't cry. You're already over twenty. I didn't want to marry you off to those servants, so I've delayed you until now. Now, you've finally met someone you share the same feelings with. How can I bear to continue to delay your lifelong happiness?"
Birui knelt on her knees and kowtowed respectfully to Shen Chuning, thanking her repeatedly.
Her shoulders were trembling slightly, and big tears kept sliding down her face, dripping onto the ground, forming a small puddle.
Seeing this, Shen Chuning quickly stretched out her hands to help Birui up and comforted her softly.
Then she asked, "Has Jiang Ping decided where to go?"
Birui shook her head slightly and replied, "His Majesty allowed Lord Jiang to choose his own place, but he hopes that you, young lady, can help him choose."
Shen Chuning pondered secretly. The Zhou family now occupies the north, Shandong is her father's sphere of influence, and as for the northwest, there are still the people left by Feng Yucai...
After thinking for a moment, she said, "Why not go to Lingnan?"
The habit she had developed over the past decade made Birui always obey Shen Chuning's words. She didn't even ask for the reason, and nodded in agreement without hesitation.
However, Shen Chuning thought again and felt that Lingnan was too far away. She was afraid that Jiang Ping might not be willing to go there. So she once again instructed Birui, "Don't force it. Everything should be based on Jiang Ping's own wishes. If he doesn't want to go to Lingnan, don't force him. I will arrange for someone else to go there."
Hearing this, Birui quickly raised her hand to wipe away the remaining tears on her cheeks and said firmly, "Miss, don't worry! If Master Jiang doesn't agree, I will tie him up and take him to Lingnan. Now, I must go and give the letter you wrote to Xuanying first."
After that, she walked quickly towards the door.
Looking at Birui's figure gradually disappearing from sight, Shen Chuning couldn't help but fall into deep worry.
She pondered in her heart, now that Xiao Yuanqi had dared to collude with the northern barbarians, she wondered if the Zhou family could successfully escape this disaster...
Speaking of collusion, a light bulb suddenly lit up in her mind, and she remembered what her fifth brother said to Feng Yucai, that one cannot have light for three days.
The word "Hao" means brightness, and Xiao Yuanlang is the third child.
What’s more coincidental is that King Hao was guarding the northwest, and his military camp was not far from Xiao Yuanlang’s fiefdom.