PDLP Chapter 182 Help
Chapter 182 Help
The two returned to the main hall.
Shen Meizhuang handed her a cup of tea and asked with concern, "Are you okay?"
An Lingrong smiled faintly: "It's okay! The scenery outside is beautiful. Concubine Duan and I met too late, so we talked for a long time!"
Concubine Duan also smiled and said, "Ms. Wen is an interesting person. If there is a chance in the future, I would like to chat with you a few more times!"
"Your Majesty, thank you for your praise!" An Lingrong said, then looked at Nian Shilan and said, "We can help you, but there is one condition."
Nian Shilan was shocked, a glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes, and she quickly took two steps forward and asked, "What are the conditions?"
An Lingrong removed the pouch from her waist, pulled out a light brown pill, and said, "Given our current feud, only one of you or Nian Gengyao can survive. This is the Seven-Day Heartbreak Pill. If you take it, your intestines will rupture and you will die within seven days. If you take it, we will then discuss how to save your brother!"
Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang stared at An Lingrong's actions in amazement. How could they not know that Rong'er was carrying poison? Seven Days Heartbreak Powder? It sounded outrageous.
Nian Shilan was only one step away from her. She stepped forward to take it and swallowed it immediately. Her whole action was smooth and there was no hesitation at all.
Qi Yuebin was about to step forward to stop her, but Nian Shilan had already retreated back to her side.
Qi Yuebin hurriedly went to pick her mouth, and seeing that she had already swallowed the medicine, his eyes immediately turned red, and he shouted angrily: "You are not trustworthy, Wanpin..."
"Shut up!" An Lingrong stood up and shouted, grabbing the teacup and smashing it hard at Qi Yuebin's feet. Her tone was as cold as a ghost demanding his life: "If you say another word, Nian Gengyao will die!"
Looking at An Lingrong's crazy expression, Qi Yuebin calmed down a little and gradually came back to his senses.
The people in the palace were stunned by the sudden change before their eyes! It was the first time that Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang saw An Lingrong get angry.
Zhen Huan keenly heard her name and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
An Lingrong glared at Qi Yuebin, her eyes blazing with fire. Seeing that she had stopped talking, she shifted her gaze to Zhen Huan, and the ferocious look on her face turned into a sweet smile: "It's okay, sister! The Queen was just praising you to me, right, Concubine Duan!"
An Lingrong uttered the last few words through gritted teeth.
Qi Yuebin forced a smile and said, "Yes, I have to thank you, Sister Wan, for today. When we are free in the future, we must visit each other often!"
Zhen Huan was a little unconvinced.
On the other side, Shen Meizhuang was also paying attention to An Lingrong's expression. She saw that her hands hanging by her side were still trembling slightly. She was very angry, so the matter must not be that simple.
But both knew that this was not the time to ask questions.
Shen Meizhuang stood up, took An Lingrong's hand and patted it. Only then did An Lingrong withdraw her gaze from Qi Yuebin.
Nian Shilan also stood beside Qi Yuebin and said softly: "Sister Yue, thank you. As long as my brother is okay, nothing else matters!"
Only then did they sit down again and discuss Nian Gengyao's matter.
Although they had agreed to help Nian Gengyao in the morning, that was because of the national interest, which was very different from the feeling of being forced to do so at the moment.
An Lingrong turned her gaze to Zhen Huan and picked up a cup of tea to drink.
Zhen Huan received the signal and spoke first, outlining the plan they had already discussed. "Nian Gengyao's crimes are all well-founded and justified. It's almost impossible to make a fuss about them. If you want the emperor to let him go, you must first hand over your military power. Can you convince your brother? If you can't do this, there's no point in discussing anything else!"
This was what the Emperor feared most. Ever since the campaign began in the northwest, military expenses had been suffocating the Emperor. Previously, to fight the war, the Emperor had no other choice but to have the entire court, including the imperial harem, tighten their belts for two years. Now that the northwest had been victorious, the Emperor had repeatedly suggested, explicitly or implicitly, that troops be reduced, but Nian Gengyao had always been unwilling to do so. If Nian Gengyao's military power were removed, the Emperor would be much more relieved.
Nian Shilan said anxiously: "Yes, I can find my sister-in-law, my brother listens to my sister-in-law!"
"Simply surrendering military power is not enough. Have Nian Gengyao resign from all his positions due to illness. If the emperor does not agree, resign three or four times until the emperor agrees."
In order to show his love and respect for his meritorious officials, the emperor would certainly not let Nian Gengyao resign. After all, they were "an example of the mutual understanding between the emperor and his ministers throughout the ages." If Nian Gengyao insisted, he would go along with it. This would make the relationship between the emperor and his minister seem appropriate, and prevent others from saying that the emperor was mean and ungrateful!
"Is this okay?"
"Of course not!" Zhen Huan continued, "And Nian Fu and Nian Xing. Nian Fu will be seriously injured and will never be able to lift a sword or ride a horse again. As for Nian Xing, send him to the palace to serve as the emperor's personal guard. And I heard that Nian Fu has an eight-year-old son who is very much loved by Nian Gengyao. Let him be the prince's study companion!"
This is equivalent to handing the lives of two generations of the Nian family into the hands of the emperor.
Nian Shilan's eyes became brighter and brighter, and she nodded continuously: "Okay, okay, I'll remember that!"
Qi Yuebin was listening nearby, and when he saw that Zhen Huan hadn't continued, he asked, "Isn't this enough?"
An Lingrong scoffed, "Of course not! Nian Gengyao's crimes are numerous and have already incurred public wrath. Without a single great achievement, even if the Emperor wants to let him go, the court officials won't agree."
"Great achievement, what great achievement? There is no war to fight in the northwest now!" Nian Shilan was very anxious when he saw that the hope he had just had was extinguished again.
An Lingrong said calmly, "Prince Dun, you let Nian Gengyao kill Prince Dun. That's a great achievement!"
She was angry and her words were a little unpleasant to the ear.
"The Emperor is now wary of Prince Dun. If Nian Gengyao could join forces with the Emperor to eliminate this great threat, the Emperor would be greatly pleased." Zhen Huan lowered her voice again, "It would be best to let Nian Gengyao personally deal with Prince Dun. That way, he could take the opportunity to apologize and resign from all his positions, which would be a logical and logical move."
Nian Shilan understood what she meant.
The Emperor demoted the Eighth and Ninth Princes to commoners and imprisoned them in the Imperial Clan Court, earning them the reputation of "discordant brothers." However, Prince Dun was of exceptionally noble birth, and if the Emperor had rashly executed him, it would have undoubtedly caused a great uproar within the court. Sending Nian Gengyao to intervene resolved the Emperor's concerns.
In this way, the emperor has solved the problems of Prince Dun and Nian Gengyao. With Nian Fu and Nian's eldest grandson taken to the palace as hostages, he should be able to rest assured and spare Nian Gengyao's life!
Nian Shilan stood up and bowed solemnly. "Thank you very much! I have let you down for everything that happened in the past. I will give you an explanation after this matter is settled."
Qi Yuebin also stood up and said, "I will remember this favor. If you need me in the future, I will definitely not refuse."
An Lingrong ignored her promise and just stared at her. When Qi Yuebin nodded at her, she stopped looking at the two of them and turned to go to the corridor.