#126 - Royal secrets

"Young Master Wei, please sit."

Unlike the sickly Prince Shun, who was only interested in poetry, Ning Qingyu seemed to have completely changed.

Although he still had a smile on his face, his every move exuded the composure and majesty of a superior.

Wei Changtian took a deep breath and sat down in the empty seat, looked around at Shao Ying'an and the others, and finally stared directly at Ning Qingyu and asked:

"Your Highness, I wonder why you have asked me to come here today?"

"Young Master Wei, this Prince will certainly remember your life-saving grace."

Wei Changtian said with a smile that was not a smile: "However, I did not expect to meet again in this Prince's residence."

"Hahaha, Young Master Wei is highly intelligent, I'm afraid you have already guessed why they are here."

"I can't guess."

Wei Changtian stared at Ning Qingyu and said: "Please be frank, Your Highness."

...

Ning Qingyu paused slightly, the smile on his face slowly faded, and his expression gradually became serious.

"Young Master Wei, to this day I will not hide it from you, the assassin that day... should have been sent by the Emperor."

"So what?"

Wei Changtian's tone did not change at all: "What does this have to do with me?"

"This..."

Ning Qingyu asked subconsciously: "Aren't you surprised?"

"Surprised? A little, indeed."

Wei Changtian shook his head: "But I am more surprised that Your Highness would tell me this."

"Since this matter involves Young Master Wei, this Prince believes you deserve to know the truth."

"Thank you for your candor, Your Highness."

Wei Changtian cupped his fist in salute and stood up directly: "I already know now, if Your Highness has nothing else, I will take my leave."

...

Sandalwood incense lingered, and it was silent.

For a time, everyone's eyes were focused on Wei Changtian, but the latter did not care at all and actually turned to leave.

The secret room was not large, and in less than three breaths, he had already reached the door.

Just as Wei Changtian raised his hand to push the door open, Ning Qingyu's slightly hurried voice suddenly came from behind.

"Young Master Wei, please stay!"

After an incense stick's time, Ning Qingyu roughly recounted his grievances with Ning Yongnian.

This matter had been going on for a long time, or rather, the two had been at odds since childhood.

After all, the struggle for the throne was not a child's play, and for anyone who had the opportunity to sit on the dragon throne in the future, "brotherly love" was something that simply did not exist.

Moreover, the two were relatively high in the order of "inheriting the great cause", and naturally, they were at the center of the storm of open and secret struggles.

You disgust me once, I plot against you once... The back-and-forth confrontation between the two lasted for many years, and it was always considered evenly matched.

It was not until Ning Qingyu was fifteen years old and Ning Yongnian was seventeen years old that the situation suddenly underwent a one-sided change.

That year, the then Minister of Rites suddenly died of a sudden illness, and in less than a month, the General of the West Suppression was also killed by bandits during a sweep of bandits.

These two events were full of many doubts, and at the same time, they completely shattered Ning Qingyu's possibility of "contending for the throne."

Because the Minister of Rites was the brother of his birth mother, and the General of the West Suppression was also an important force supporting him.

"It must have been done by Ning Yongnian."

This was what Ning Qingyu said to Wei Changtian, as for what the truth was, it was unknown.

Anyway, from then on, Ning Qingyu endured and lived cautiously, acting and speaking carefully in everything, until Ning Yongnian successfully ascended the throne without leaving any handle.

Such concession ultimately saved his life, but although it was inconvenient for Ning Yongnian to act openly, there were many underhanded methods.

Ning Qingyu had actually had several assassination attempts, but the one a few days ago was just bigger.

"Young Master Wei, that's how it is."

...

After listening to this somewhat clichéd "royal secret history", Wei Changtian actually only believed half of it in his heart.

However, one thing was certain—

Ning Qingyu and Ning Yongnian both wanted each other dead, and it was inconvenient for them to act openly.

"Your Highness."

After thinking for a while, Wei Changtian finally spoke: "Forgive me for speaking frankly, but I don't think you can defeat the Emperor."

"I have never thought of defeating him."

Ning Qingyu was not annoyed, but shook his head bitterly: "I just want to live."

"Is that so?"

Wei Changtian looked at Shao Ying'an and the others who had not said a word until now, and said calmly: "I think Your Highness's plan is probably not that simple."

...

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

Ning Qingyu hesitated for a long time, finally sighed and said softly: "Young Master Wei, I really can't swallow this breath, this stuffy air that has been in my heart for decades."

"But I also know that there is no possibility of pulling Ning Yongnian down from the dragon throne, but if it is just a place to stay... I still want to try."

"Your Highness wants this Shu Province?"

"Yes."

...

Good fellow, with you like this, if I were Ning Yongnian, I would definitely kill you.

Wei Changtian complained in his heart, but continued to ask calmly: "Your Highness wants me to help you rebel?"

"It can't be called rebellion."

Ning Qingyu smiled: "I am already a Prince, and a state as a fief is justifiable."

"Then..."

Wei Changtian took a sip of tea and asked: "What benefits do I get?"

"Young Master Wei, rest assured."

Ning Qingyu's smile grew even wider: "If this matter succeeds, I will definitely ensure that you have endless wealth and glory."

"The Wei family has plenty of money."

Wei Changtian shook his head: "I already have endless wealth and glory."

Ning Qingyu said again: "Then what about official titles and promotions?"

"That's possible."

Wei Changtian's lips curled up slightly: "However, I want to go to the capital to be a court official, can Your Highness make that decision?"

...

Ning Qingyu's expression froze, and he realized that he really did not have enough chips.

Others who joined him had their own motives, either for power or for profit, but Wei Changtian obviously did not look down on these things.

"Young Master Wei..."

He suddenly gritted his teeth and offered another condition.

"I see that you seem to have a good impression of my youngest daughter, if you are willing to help me, I will agree to let you marry whoever you want."

"Even... marrying three is not impossible!"

What the hell? Marry three???

Wei Changtian almost spat out a mouthful of tea.

Three sisters serving one husband?

If I agree to this, wouldn't I be able to immediately realize the yy plot in some "classic films" from my previous life?

It's just a pity, marrying is impossible.

The reason I wanted to marry Ning Qingyu's daughter was to enjoy the shade under the big tree, using the power of the royal family to deter the Liu family.

But now that Ning Qingyu and Ning Yongnian are in this situation, if I marry his daughter again, let alone the Liu family, I guess even Ning Yongnian will kill me.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness..."

Forcibly swallowing the tea, Wei Changtian shook his head: "Compared to your daughter, I still think my life is more important."

"Young Master Wei!"

Having been rejected three times in a row, Ning Qingyu became a little anxious: "The fact that you saved me that day will definitely not be concealed, and if it reaches Ning Yongnian's ears..."

"Your Highness!"

Wei Changtian suddenly interrupted in a deep voice: "Are you implying that I made a mistake in saving you?!"

"Young Master Wei, don't misunderstand, I just..."

"No need to say anymore!"

Wei Changtian stood up again with a snap: "Your Highness, I will treat today's matter as a passing breeze, and forget it as soon as I leave this door."

"What the Emperor does is his business, if he really attacks me because I saved you, then I will retaliate, but it has nothing to do with you, Your Highness."

"That's all I have to say, I'll take my leave!"

After saying that, Wei Changtian turned and walked towards the door under the stunned gazes of everyone, but after taking two steps, he turned back and looked at Ning Qingyu and added.

"Your Highness, let me say one more thing that perhaps I shouldn't say."

"There's nothing wrong with being a Prince who only knows how to write poetry, at least it's better than being a dead soul under the knife."

I hope we can all live long and share the beauty of the moon, even thousands of miles apart.

I wish you all a happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

Note: I went out for the holiday today, so there is only one chapter.