C237

Empress Dowager Wei took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed the anger in her heart. She said coldly, "Did King Rui ask you to do this?"

Princess Pingyang stared at the reflection on the golden brick. Her thoughts raced, "It has nothing to do with Prince Rui. It was my own idea." She thought about it again and again, but in the end, she didn't speak of Shen Xijun. She was very clear about Empress Dowager Wei's intentions, and other than the few close ones, the rest were nothing in her eyes. And no exception!

It was true that Empress Dowager Wei doted heavily on Shen Xijun, but that was all. Once Shen Xijun crossed the line in her heart, she would unhesitatingly sacrifice Shen Xijun, just like how Wei Wenbin did before.

Wei Wenbin's death made it clear to her that only his parents would ever love their children. Perhaps the situation wasn't as bad as she thought, but no matter what, she would not risk Shen Xijun's life because that was the meat that had fallen from her body.

The palace was as still as still water. It was the best time of the year for spring to be shining outside the window and the grass to grow and birds to fly. Princess Pingyang felt like she was in the middle of winter as her entire body trembled; even though she and Empress Dowager Wei were sisters, there was still a connection between them – the monarch!

"Your idea?" Empress Dowager Wei's eyes were filled with suspicion, clearly not believing her words.

"Yes sir!" Although she was scared, Princess Pingyang agreed without hesitation.

Spring light seeped in from outside the long window, shining on Empress Dowager Wei's left cheek. "Then tell me why you had such an idea and committed such a heinous crime!"

Princess Pingyang slowly raised her head and met Empress Dowager Wei's cold and furious gaze. She said with tears in her eyes, "Chenqie knows that His Majesty trusts His Highness, which is why he chose the prince as commander-in-chief when the Qi Kingdom is in danger. But … His Majesty had forgotten that the prince was already in his fifties, no longer the young and strong Prince Pingyang who had once been the late emperor. The empress dowager had also just said that no one was spared by the passing of time, the prince … "I'm getting old."

Princess Pingyang's words were half true and half false. Although the most fundamental reason for this matter was Shen Xijun, she was indeed worried about the Pingyang King leaving the battlefield.

Empress Dowager Wei disapprovingly replied, "He's old enough to set his eyes on the tree for a thousand miles. Besides, the Pingyang King has only just reached fifty, he's not seventy or eighty."

"Yes, His Highness is only fifty this year, but the battle to the north and south caused His Highness to be injured all over. However, his personality is stubborn, and he would never shout out a single word of pain in front of others." Princess Pingyang was getting more and more upset as she spoke. She said tearfully, "Since a few years ago, every rainy day, the king would have felt pain and swelling all over his body. When it was heavy, it was difficult to even walk, but even so, he still forced himself to go to court and train his troops, but he still went on guard. Everyone thought that he was strong and healthy; whenever Chenqie saw him gritting his teeth and enduring the pain, she would …" The heart is as sharp as a knife. "

During this period of time, the Prince's joints have been hurting slightly. In the event that the Prince's illness worsens during the war, it will inevitably be detrimental to our army. However, His Majesty has made up his mind, so the concubines do not dare to refuse. With that, she bent down and kowtowed once more, her voice filled with fear. "Everything was my idea. If the empress dowager wants to punish me, then I'll punish her. Don't vent your anger on me, Prince."

Empress Dowager Wei's eyes were slightly closed, making it impossible for anyone to see what she was thinking. After a long time, a voice as cold as snow sounded in the palace. "This matter will be treated as you saying it's okay. Why recommend King Rui?"

After Prince Pingyang's illness, Princess Pingyang had come to the Palace of Ning Shougao to recommend Dongfang Shou to Empress Dowager Wei.

Princess Pingyang wiped sher tears and choked with sobs, "There are not many suitable candidates for the military generals who fought alongside the late emperor, the old ones and the sick ones. King Rui defeated Dong Ling a few years ago and he is the most suitable candidate among the young generation, so he is the most suitable candidate. Besides the king, he is married to Xijun. He can be considered a member of the Wei family. The empress dowager and the king can trust him!"

"Relax?" Empress Dowager Wei laughed coldly again and again. In her eyes, nothing could be more ridiculous than these two words.

Princess Pingyang raised her head and probed, "Empress Dowager, did something happen?"

She'd been suspicious ever since. Why did Empress Dowager Wei suddenly know that the Pingyang King was feigning sickness and deceiving him? She'd mentioned Dongfang Shou several more times, and every time she'd mentioned him was filled with deep suspicions.

She knew that Empress Dowager Wei wasn't truly pampering this bastard wholeheartedly, but she'd always looked alright on the surface. How could there suddenly be such a great change?

Empress Dowager Wei closed her eyes. Her voice was as cold as winter, when the thick layer of ice on the lake's surface. "Back then, This Dowager shouldn't have softened her heart and agreed to take care of Jun and marry him. Otherwise, there would have been today's disaster."

"Empress Dowager …" Princess Pingyang wanted to ask more, but Empress Dowager Wei cut her off. "When it's your turn to know, you'll naturally know. Rise."

"Many thanks, empress dowager." Princess Pingyang swallowed the words that came out of her mouth and propped herself up on her sore knees.

Empress Dowager Wei got up and walked to the long window, looking out at the beautiful spring scenery. "King Rui will be leading the troops out tomorrow. When that happens, you'll be able to stay in the Pingyang Mansion for a while." She didn't wait for Princess Pingyang to say anything. She said, "Just do as I say. Don't ask too much. Also, without my permission, I won't let her go back to the House of Rui, unless …" She turned her head to the side, stared at Princess Pingyang and said word by word, "You don't want this daughter!"

The cold tone from Empress Dowager Wei's words sent a shiver down Princess Pingyang's spine. She hastened to say, "This concubine will remember Empress Dowager's orders."

Empress Dowager Wei nodded before retracting her gaze. "All right, you can go back now."

"Chenqie will take her leave." Just as Princess Consort Pingyang was about to leave the main hall, Empress Dowager Wei's cold voice rang in her ear. "This one won't argue with you for mother's sake. If there's a next time, even if it's you, this one won't let you off lightly."

"Chenqie understands!" Princess Pingyang quickly agreed. She barely managed to get out of the palace before collapsing on the floor.

"Princess!" Chasing Spring couldn't help her by himself, so he could only let her sit limply on the ground. Fortunately, at the moment, no one else passed by.

Chun Chun wiped the cold sweat that continuously poured out of her forehead like slurry, and asked nervously, "My consort, how is it? Is it important?"

"I'm fine, just …" "He's a bit weak." Princess Pingyang looked down at her shaking hands. Her palms were covered with sweat too.

After recovering her strength a little, Princess Pingyang used Chun's help to stand up and walk to a pavilion nearby to rest.

Chun Chun frowned and asked, puzzled, "Princess, how do you think the empress dowager found out about the matter with the prince? Could it be that someone in our residence leaked the secret? "

"She doesn't know." Princess Pingyang tightly clasped her hands, but even so, she still couldn't stop her hands from trembling.