Your Highness, has he stopped today?

That child should have been Shi Ningcheng's eldest son, but after Xiao Lingyuan got married, she was depressed every day, and six months later, that child was gone.

In the 21st year of Jingping, the nine sons seized the throne.Shi Ningcheng asked Xiao Xiangneng to help him, and promised that after succeeding to the throne, Xiao Lingyuan must be the queen of the palace.

Although Shi Ning Sheng was not the best candidate for the Lord of the Eastern Palace, Xiao Hong still did this for his daughter.

In the first year of Cheng'an, Xiao Lingyuan was canonized as a queen.In the second year of Cheng'an, Xiao Lingyuan became pregnant again, and died within two months after giving birth.In the same year, Shi Ningcheng recruited many daughters, and the most favored one among them was named Shu Concubine, and was promoted to Concubine Shu half a year later.

As a queen, Xiao Lingyuan has never had any intention of competing for favor.Shi Ning Cheng wanted to play harmoniously with her, and raise eyebrows, but ever since Xiao Lingyuan's child died, she had long been weary of the world, and Shi Ning Cheng came to Chengqian Hall less and less frequently.

After three years in Cheng'an, Xiao Lingyuan finally became pregnant again, but unfortunately it was a girl.Shi Ningcheng meant to confer the title of Princess Su Ning.

In the sixth year of Cheng'an, Concubine Shu became pregnant, and after giving birth to the prince, she was promoted to Concubine Shu, and she was Shi Yunjue's biological mother.

The Empress of the Central Palace has no children, and there are many discussions in the court.Xiao Hong quelled the rumors one by one with thunderous means.At that time, Shi Ningcheng felt that it might not be a good thing for Xiao Lingyuan to give birth to a prince.

His throne was obtained through the Xiao family, if Xiao Lingyuan gave birth to a son, would the country of Chu be named Shi or Xiao in the future?

However, what he didn't expect was that Xiao Lingyuan was pregnant.

Xiao Hong sent the guards and maids of the Xiao Mansion to Chengqian Hall to take care of Xiao Lingyuan personally, and the maids tried the food before serving it to Xiao Lingyuan.Even the food sent by Qianqing Palace is the same.

Only then did Ning Cheng know that the child Xiao Lingyuan could never be born.

Shi Ningcheng never found an opportunity to act, and before he knew it, it was the day of labor.Shi Ningcheng insisted on sending the imperial doctors to deliver the baby, but the secret order received by those imperial doctors was that the child should not be allowed to be born alive.

In the delivery room, the maid, the midwife, and the imperial doctor were in a mess. The maid had no time to test the medicine, and a bowl of soup and medicine should have killed the child. However, Xiao Lingyuan lost two sons in a row. The child survived.

The price she paid was that Xiao Lingyuan had a massive hemorrhage after giving birth, and the doctors were helpless.

dead.

For some reason, Lu Zheyu suddenly flinched in his heart.He frowned and looked at the person in his arms, and saw that his eyes were calm, except that his face was slightly tired due to fever, and there was no difference from the past.

"That child is Your Highness?" Lu Zheyu's voice was slightly hoarse.

Shi Yunjing hummed inaudibly, but he was still very calm, as if this matter had nothing to do with him.

The dead branches of the fire were almost burned, and the light of the fire dimmed a little, reflecting in Shi Yunjing's eyes.Lu Zheyu wanted to see some emotions through those eyes, but in the end he couldn't see anything.

Shi Ningcheng buried Xiao Lingyuan in the imperial mausoleum according to the regulations of the empress, and never made a new empress to show his respect for Empress Wende.But everyone knows that Empress Wende has passed away, and Concubine Shu has the highest status in the harem. Concubine Shu is in charge of the harem and works as a queen, but she doesn't have a status.Concubine Shugui also put in a lot of superficial effort, and she never coveted the queen's position on the surface.

When she was young, Shi Yunjing was really clever, usually the prince entered the Yinghua Palace at the age of six, but Shi Yunjing went there at the age of four.It's just that although he is very good at reading, he really doesn't like reading.The specific manifestation is that he was late for class and fell asleep, and did not do his homework. Every morning, he was coaxed by the eunuchs of Mingluan Hall to get up and carry him into Yinghua Hall, and then catch up on sleep in class.

Four or five years old happened to be the age of growth, and she didn't get enough sleep every day to attend class, which made the young Shi Yunjing very sad.

However, despite this, he was still the student with the best grades and the most impressive to the gentlemen.Over time, the gentlemen also got used to him being late for bed every day.

Hearing this, Lu Zheyu frowned a little: "In the future, His Highness will need to write homework for you, just ask the minister to do it."

Shi Yunjing smiled tiredly: "It's your blessing to be able to do homework for this king."

Lu Zheyu changed the subject: "Did Your Majesty ever kill you?"

"He has settled down a lot, because he really can't find a chance to make a move."

It wasn't just the guards of the Xiao residence who protected him well.Empress Wende has passed away, leaving only such a son-in-law, who will definitely inherit the great line in the future. With such a noble status, how many pairs of eyes are staring at him in the court, and how will Emperor Cheng'an make a move.

Days passed, Shi Yunjing gradually grew up, Xiao Xiang knew that Emperor Cheng'an was afraid of the power of the Xiao family, so he took the initiative to hand over the power of prime minister and no longer participated in the government affairs.The Xiao family only left Xiao Hanxu's military power to protect the Chu royal family's country.

It's just that what the Xiao family didn't expect was that even so, they still couldn't dispel Emperor Cheng'an's doubts.Shi Yunjing was ordered to meet Chen Guo's proton, but along the way, he encountered an assassin.

Xiang Xiang sent people to investigate secretly, but the few remaining survivors were sent to Dali Temple, and there was no way to find out, so there is no evidence to prove that it was the work of Emperor Cheng'an.Just like when Xiao Lingyuan disappeared, there was no evidence at all to prove that it was the doctor sent by Emperor Cheng'an to do it.If Shi Yunyao, who was only five years old, hadn't secretly overheard that the chief eunuch of Chengqian Palace rewarded the imperial doctors involved that day and sent them all out of the palace, the truth of this matter would never be known. Can't get to the bottom of it.

Xiao Hanxu once looked for those imperial doctors who were dismissed, but what he expected was that all those imperial doctors were killed on the way back to their hometown. As for who did it, he didn't need to think about it, but unfortunately, there was no evidence.

Just as if Xiao Lingyuan's death was caused by Shi Ningcheng, there is no evidence for this matter either.

After the story was finished, Shi Yunjing still looked the same as before, as if he was telling a fabricated story.The bonfire gradually extinguished, leaving only a pile of ashes with residual warmth.There was a faint light coming from the entrance of the cave, and Lu Zheyu just realized that this story had been told all night.

"I still have one thing I don't understand."

"You said."

"Where is Prince Lan now?" Lu Zheyu asked.

In the 20th year of Jingping, Shi Ningyan was named Prince Lan.

In the eighth year of Cheng'an, which was also the year when Xiao Lingyuan died, Shi Ningyan was sent to the border to guard the border, died for his country the next year, and never returned to Xingcheng.

"The bones have never been found." Shi Yunjing said lightly. "Shi Ningyan has never married a concubine in his life, not even a concubine. It's a pity that Lan Wang's line has been cut off like this."

Lu Zheyu was silent for a long time, and let out a breath: "What are your plans from now on, Your Highness?"

Shi Yunjing glanced at him, and finally there was emotion on his face: "You want to inquire about this king again?"

Lu Zheyu smiled wryly: "I escaped this time, and I don't know when His Majesty will attack His Highness again. Didn't His Highness make a plan earlier?"

"Why don't you give me some advice and tell me what I should do?"

Lu Zheyu originally thought that Shi Yunjing would start looking for evidence of Xiao Lingyuan's death that year, or seize the position of the East Palace, obtain the Ninth Five-Year Honor, and return the old man's innocence.But he remembered that Shi Yunjing once told him that he had no interest in the East Palace position.

He really couldn't understand him.

Lu Zheyu pondered for a moment: "I'm just reading with you. I'm afraid I can't help you with your highness's grand plans."

Shi Yunjing snorted: "You only have this ambition? Could it be that you only help me with my homework?" He moved out of Lu Zheyu's arms, leaned against the stone wall and stopped looking at him. "I can't count on it at all."

Lu Zheyu really has nothing to do with him now: "Your Highness said that he is not interested in the East Palace position at all, so what else can I do?"

Shi Yunjing turned her head and glanced at him: "What's the point of being a prince?"

Lu Zheyu was startled: "Then His Highness means..."

Shi Yunjing smiled but said, "If you want to be the emperor, then be the emperor."

"Your Highness wants..." Lu Zheyu didn't say the word "usurp the throne".

"Do you think Shi Ningcheng will be willing to make me the crown prince?" Shi Yunjing raised her eyebrows.

Lu Zheyu couldn't help but suspect that the cynicism of this 16-year-old child was all an illusion.Judging the situation and scheming, he has his own future in mind.Perhaps, he underestimated him.

Shi Yunjing leaned forward, with a hint of cunning in her eyes: "You said before that you are willing to do the best for me."

Lu Zheyu looked at the face so close, and the corners of his lips twitched: "Your Highness won't let the minister help you usurp the throne, will you?"

Shi Yunjing blinked and pretended to be innocent: "If I am in power, you will be the number one hero. At that time, whether you want to stay in Chu State as an official or return to Chen State, you can do it. Isn't that good? ?”

Lu Zheyu couldn't stand his look, so he simply turned his eyes away: "This is a big matter, has your Highness discussed it with... the general?"

Shi Yunjing knew that he was talking about Xiao Hanxu, and shook his head: "Now that Shi Ningcheng guards against the Xiao family like he is against thieves, the Xiao family may not be able to help me."

Lu Zheyu smiled helplessly. "Then why does His Highness think that the minister can help?"

Shi Yunjing tilted her head and thought for a while, and seemed to think that what he said was very reasonable. "That's true. But besides you, is there any trustworthy person beside me?"

Lu Zheyu was slightly taken aback.Except for the Xiao family and his elder sister, Princess Su Ning, he really doesn't seem to have anyone to trust.He lost his mother and concubine since he was a child, and his biological father regarded him as a threat. In the final analysis, he was just a 16-year-old child.

He also remembered that Shi Yunjing once asked him if he could trust him, maybe he really lacked a trustworthy person by his side.

Lu Zheyu suddenly didn't know how to respond to him.He could obviously pretend to agree to him, gain his trust, and use him, but for some reason, he didn't want to deceive him.

Lu Zheyu let out a sigh of relief, it was the first time he was in such a difficult situation after coming to Chu State for such a long time.He turned his head to look at Shi Yunjing, but saw that the veil on his forehead had been thrown somewhere.Lu Zheyu raised his hand and tried the temperature on his forehead with the back of his hand. Although it was still slightly hot, it had dropped a lot.

"It's not as hot as before, how does Your Highness feel now?"

"My king always recovers quickly from illness." Shi Yunjing glanced at him, then returned to the topic just now. "Don't change the subject, answer me, would you like to help me?"

[The author has something to say: Take a look at the timeline:

In the 19th year of Emperor Jingping, Xiao Lingyuan was 16 years old

In the 21st year of Jingping, the nine sons seized the throne (the same year that Emperor Cheng'an ascended the throne)

Yunyao was born in the third year of Cheng'an

Yun Jing was born in the eighth year of Cheng'an

In the 23rd year of Cheng'an (the first year of Chen Guochongde), Yun Jing was 16 years old, and Lu Zheyu]