Inside the Imperial Study.
The lights gradually dimmed.
Chief Steward Hu conscientiously stepped forward to add oil to the lamps.
“Cough, cough, cough…”
“Your Majesty, it’s already midnight.”
“Mm.”
Emperor Feng coughed twice.
He stacked the approved memorials.
Chief Steward Hu looked at Emperor Feng, his eyes filled with sorrow.
Emperor Feng was not the legitimate successor.
The Former Crown Prince committed a grave error and was demoted to a commoner.
The late emperor actually had another candidate in mind.
It was Prince Ning who guaranteed Emperor Feng with his life, allowing him to ascend the throne.
Since his ascension, Emperor Feng had toiled diligently, seemingly wishing to accomplish great deeds to prove himself. He personally handled documents in the Imperial Study every day, never resting until all memorials were approved.
“Your Majesty, your health is paramount!”
“It’s an old ailment.”
Emperor Feng’s expression was indifferent.
He had suffered from a lung ailment since childhood, but he had never coughed in front of the late emperor. After his ascension, the imperial physicians in the palace treated him daily. Unfortunately, it was an illness brought on by overwork and difficult to cure completely.
“Alas…”
Chief Steward Hu sighed from the side.
Emperor Feng was extremely stubborn.
Besides Ning Que, who could persuade him?
“Heh, things will be easier from now on.” Emperor Feng raised a gentle smile and softly said, “My imperial brother has already inherited his princely title, and in the future, he can become my aid. In the past two years, Prince Qi has grown quite wealthy.”
“He controls the three counties of Linzi, Jiaodong, and Langya County, and with the profits from sea salt, his family wealth amounts to tens of millions. A few years ago, he also took over the Jinyang fiefdom and didn’t hesitate to plant spies. Chief Steward Hu, order the Shadow Guards to keep an eye on Prince Qi. Prince Qi will not easily let go of Jinyang, this fertile land.”
“Understood!”
The Shadow Guards!
The most mysterious organization in Great Feng!
Established and nurtured by Emperor Feng himself.
All chosen were orphans of fallen soldiers.
They received Emperor Feng’s guidance and upbringing from a young age.
Therefore, they only obeyed Emperor Feng’s commands.
Many people had never even heard of them.
However, most of the Shadow Guards were stationed in various regions.
They were Emperor Feng’s eyes and ears.
No matter what happened, Emperor Feng would know.
“Your Majesty, shall we choose a concubine for tonight?”
“Dismissed.”
Emperor Feng waved his hand coldly.
Although there were many beautiful women in the harem, he rarely stayed overnight.
All his thoughts were on state affairs.
Chief Steward Hu followed behind, sighing inwardly.
Emperor Feng had been on the throne for many years, but he did not have many children.
The Empress Dowager would probably be anxious again if she knew.
…
Prince Ning’s Manor.
The heavy vermilion gate slowly opened.
Maids stood on both sides, waiting respectfully.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
“You may rise.”
Ning Que held the ancestral tablet, his expression cold.
The fat steward stepped forward, raising his hand and saying, “Your Highness, the Madam is still at the medicinal lodge today and has not returned. I sent someone to invite her, but she demanded that the Young Master use an eight-bearer sedan chair to bring her back.”
“Hmph!”
Ning Que let out a heavy snort.
The maids on both sides were startled.
They knew the Young Master was about to get angry.
They feared he would blame them for their inefficiency.
“Uncle Fu.”
“Your Highness, please command.”
“From now on, there’s no need to invite her again.” Ning Que turned around and said coldly, “Oh, and pack up all her belongings and throw them out. My Prince Ning’s Manor no longer has a Madam Lin Xianhong!”
“Yes… huh?!”
Uncle Fu was stunned.
He looked at Ning Que in shock.
At this moment, he felt that he was so unfamiliar!
Was this still the Young Master he knew?
One must know that Ning Que had always doted on Lin Xianhong.
No matter what Lin Xianhong requested, Ning Que would fulfill it.
If she threw a small tantrum, Ning Que would also coax her.
“Your Highness… are you going to divorce the Madam?”
“Divorce? Is she even worthy?”
“I am divorcing her!”
Ning Que flicked his sleeve coldly.
He now only felt disgust for Lin Xianhong.
He had to take all of those things back!
And then crush Lin Xianhong’s pride to the ground!
“Divorce?!”
The maids also looked astonished.
What exactly was going on?
“This old servant understands.”
Uncle Fu let out a long sigh of relief.
Looking at the resolute Ning Que, his eyes reddened.
He had always looked down on Lin Xianhong.
But this was a marriage arranged by the Princess Consort.
He watched how Ning Que tried to please Lin Xianhong.
He also knew how much Ning Que had suffered these past few years.
To consider her feelings, many things were kept hidden.
Later, even Emperor Feng couldn’t stand it.
He specifically gave him forbidden medicine from the palace.
That night, Ning Que was actually also drugged.
He was unaware of it.
However, Lin Xianhong thought Ning Que was shameless. She secretly instructed servants to drug her and then took advantage of her. Ning Que was worried that this matter would escalate and anger Emperor Feng, so to protect Lin Xianhong, he could only bear the blame!
Ning Que walked to the courtyard.
The peach tree swayed in the wind.
He had personally planted this tree.
Just because Lin Xianhong liked peach blossoms.
She even said that seeing peach blossoms reminded her of being at home.
But Ning Que only later found out that there were no peach blossoms in the Lin residence at all. Lin Xianhong liked peach blossoms purely because she had met Gu Yuan under a peach blossom tree.
“Uncle Fu.”
“What are your Highness’s orders?”
“Cut down this peach tree.”
“Yes!”
Uncle Fu nodded in agreement.
Looking at Ning Que’s resolute demeanor, he was incredibly excited.
The spirited Young Master of the White Horse of yesteryear had returned!
“Your Highness should have done this long ago.”
“She is simply not worthy of Your Highness!”
Qingfeng bit her red lips lightly, her eyes red as she said, “Without Your Highness, the Lin family would have been gone long ago. She was kneeling in front of the manor back then. If not for the Princess Consort’s instructions, who would have paid attention to her? In the past two years, Your Highness has helped the Lin family so much, but she…”
“Say no more.”
“Just consider my sincerity of these past few years to have been fed to dogs.”
“Yes…”
Mingyue, who was beside her, gave her a meaningful look.
She and Qingfeng were twin sisters.
Both were sold into a brothel as prostitutes.
Ning Que, seeing their pitiful state, redeemed them and brought them back to the manor. Although they were servants, it was still better than being in a brothel. Ning Que treated them extremely well, never skimping on their three meals a day. They felt nothing but gratitude towards Ning Que and knew how good he was!
“Uncle Fu, prepare a list.”
“Write down all the previous betrothal gifts and dowry, then send them to the Lin residence.” Ning Que sat upright in the study, instructing, “Isn’t Lin Xianhong always proud and disdainful of money? Now, I will let her know what it means to be unable to move an inch without money. All her pride is built on money!”
“Yes!”
Uncle Fu raised his hand in acknowledgment.
To marry Lin Xianhong, Prince Ning’s Manor had spent a considerable amount. This marriage was also meant to bring good fortune and fulfill the Princess Consort’s wish. So, the three letters and six rites were not few, and they were all given in abundance.
But the Lin family had an incident at that time and had no money to prepare a dowry. Ning Que did not make things difficult for them; instead, he prepared another dowry for them. On the day of the wedding, there were ten miles of red decorations… countless people, out of respect for Prince Ning’s Manor, voluntarily added to the dowry.
Now that Ning Que had decided to divorce her, these things naturally had to be taken back!
“I have already informed His Majesty of my wish.”
“In a few days, I will inherit the princely title.”
“Your Highness… are you serious?”
“Mm.” Ning Que nodded gently, “However, to inherit the princely title, I still need to achieve some political accomplishments. A few days ago, Jinyang suffered a locust plague, affecting tens of thousands of victims. If I want to reclaim the fiefdom, I still need to resolve this locust plague.”
“Ah?”
Uncle Fu couldn’t help but be stunned.
This locust plague was not simple!
Wasn’t Emperor Feng deliberately making things difficult for him?