"Big news? What big news?"
It wasn't Ye Shengxiao who spoke with great interest, but Madam Yan, who, unable to stand the oppressive atmosphere between her husband and King Wucheng, had secretly come over.
"Mother, why are you joining in the fun?
No!
With such a major event happening back then, how could Mother not know about it?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Yan raised her hand and rapped her son soundly on the head:
"That's what I should be asking you!
When Mother wasn't even pregnant with you, where did you hear this news? You're talking as if it's the absolute truth!"
"Mother, your son also heard it from Uncle Yan Liang."
Uncle Yan Liang was his father's attendant and page. According to Uncle Yan Liang, his father had picked up Yan Liang from a group of beggar children, kept him by his side, and bestowed upon him the name Yan Liang.
Therefore, Uncle Yan Liang had been by his father's side for much longer than his mother.
When his parents were being affectionate, they would hand him over to Uncle Yan Liang, who had been promoted to steward of the Zhennan Royal Mansion, to be looked after.
To coax the young him to sleep, Uncle Yan Liang would tell him old stories from the capital.
However, each time he listened, he became more and more energetic, causing Uncle Yan Liang to unconsciously tell him much more.
"Something happened to the Zhennan Royal Mansion. I don't know how Uncle Yan Liang and the others are doing.
Although your father comforted me not to worry, how can I not be at ease when I haven't received any news from the Zhennan Royal Mansion?"
After sighing, Madam Yan did not forget to continue the previous topic:
"Oh yes, Hao'er, you just said something big happened at Sister Nalan's wedding?"
"Oh, it was like this.
On the day the Empress Dowager got married, the divine doctor Bai Yichen actually appeared in the back residence of the Nalan family!
He told the Empress Dowager that if she was willing, he could take her away."
?!!!
Madam Yan, who had overheard the juicy gossip, grabbed Yan Tinghao's wrist and asked excitedly, "Hao'er, is what you're saying true?
Did Brother Bai really do that?!
What was the result?"
Yan Tinghao, who was gritting his teeth from the grip, gestured to his mother, who seemed not very bright, to let go quickly. Then, he pouted and said,
"Of course, the Empress Dowager refused the divine doctor Bai Yichen's offer. Otherwise, where would your cousin come from?"
"That's true.
However, this is such a secret that even I am hearing it for the first time. How did Yan Liang know about it?"
"Uncle Yan Liang didn't say, but at that time, not many people knew about it. However, the late Emperor was precisely one of them.
Whether it was because he was worried about having no one to treat him or for some other reason.
In short, the late Emperor not only did not punish the divine doctor Bai Yichen but instead arranged a marriage between him and the frail Eldest Princess.
Although the late Emperor had no genuine feelings for the Empress Dowager and merely used her, the existence of the divine doctor Bai Yichen became a thorn in the late Emperor's heart."
While the Yan family mother and son's gossip spirits were burning intensely, Lin Qingge had already made a decision.
It was absolutely impossible to let the tiger return to the mountain.
After all, given King Wucheng's cunning, it was highly probable that he would order an attack the moment he was released.
Therefore, it was decided to maintain the original verdict and keep him.
However, not long after, Master Long, the master of Wolong Manor, walked in with an anxious expression.
"This is bad, a lot of officers and soldiers have suddenly broken in!"
Lin Qingge glanced at Master Long with a strange expression. Officers and soldiers had already rushed to the front of the main hall, surrounding the entire hall three layers inside and three layers outside.
"Tsk, that was quick."
Lin Qingge said suspiciously, and Leng Ningyue had already blocked in front of her.
Immediately after, a middle-aged man in armor strode in.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Yan Tinghao, who had been gossiping with his mother, was the first to greet him:
"Uncle Qi? Why are you here?"
As Yan Tinghao took two steps forward, he was pulled back by his mother.
"Hao'er, wait a moment."
"Mother, Uncle Qi is here to save us!"
Yan Tinghao wanted to continue forward, but his mother's strength was too great, and he couldn't break free.
Just as he was about to ask his father for help, the newcomer suddenly knelt on one knee and cupped his fist, saying,
"Your subordinate, Qi Huanquan, pays his respects to His Highness!"
"Uncle Qi, my father is over there. You're kneeling in the wrong direction!"
As soon as Yan Tinghao finished speaking, he was hit squarely on the back of the head again.
"My foolish Hao'er, haven't you realized by now?
The Uncle Qi you're talking about is in league with King Wucheng!"
This time, Madam Yan no longer called King Wucheng 'Aze'.
Busy scolding her son, she didn't notice the fleeting shadow of sadness in King Wucheng's eyes upon hearing her change of address.
Meanwhile, Yan Tinghao rubbed his slightly aching back of the head and complained in a low voice,
"With your strength and your way of hitting, even my master's intelligent brain would be made stupid. And that's considering I'm not that intelligent to begin with.
Pah, pah, pah! Master is so delicate; he can't withstand your slaps, which are fiercer than those of a ferocious tiger."
"Hao'er, what are you mumbling about?"
"Nothing, Mother. Your son just doesn't understand what Uncle Qi is up to."
"What is he up to?"
Madam Yan sneered,
"Isn't it obvious that he betrayed our Zhennan Royal Mansion and colluded with King Wucheng?"
But Yan Tinghao looked at her in disbelief:
"Mother, isn't Uncle Qi your father's confidant?"
"So what if he's your maternal grandfather's confidant?
Your father said that in this day and age, it's hard to paint a tiger's skin and bone; it's hard to know a person's heart.
Those who appear most harmless are often the most dangerous, for a barking dog doesn't bite, and a biting dog doesn't show its teeth."
"Mother, then, in that case, aren't we in a very dangerous situation right now?"
Madam Yan, unsure whether to be happy that her son had finally realized or worried that he had taken too long to react, hadn't yet had time to speak when she heard her son say decisively,
"No, Master is in danger. I must go and protect Master!"
Madam Yan: ...
On the other side.
Master Yan looked coldly at the person who had knelt before King Wucheng and said in a deep voice,
"Qi Huanquan, it's you?"
"Master Yan, we are on opposing sides. Qi can only apologize."
"Hmph, 'opposing sides.'
Qi Huanquan, for these years you have been lurking in the Zhennan Royal Mansion, embezzling military funds behind your father-in-law, the old Zhennan King, and my back, and instigating subordinate generals to claim military merits with the heads of civilians.
One by one, do you think a mere apology can dismiss all of this? Aren't you afraid that the wronged souls will come to claim your life at night?"
After listening to Master Yan's stern words, Lin Qingge also realized.
"The culprit who condoned Pang Ji's village massacre and used the heads of male villagers to falsely claim military merits is him?"
"Yes, Master~
As far as your student knows, General Qi Huanquan had no contact with Pang Ji in the past, but all indications now show that Pang Ji committed heinous crimes under this person's instruction and connivance.
This shows how deep his schemes run~"
Perhaps feeling that the atmosphere was too tense, Hua Jinrong tucked his folding fan at his waist, took out a handful of sunflower seeds from his sleeve, and kindly offered half to his master.
Lin Qingge, who took them along, said:
???
...
!!!