Duke Jing's younger sister

Chapter 195 Palace Night Deep

The night is thick as ink.

It was so deep that it seemed to swallow up the entire palace.

The sound of clappers rang twice in the silent palace, and Han Yunning, accompanied by her maidservants, slowly walked towards the imperial study.

The maid was holding a tray with a bowl of warm pear and white fungus soup on it.

After the announcement, Han Yunning personally carried the tray into the imperial study.

After returning from the palace last time, the third prince was so talkative that he went to Emperor Hongyang to complain.

Although Emperor Hongyang didn't say anything, he hadn't summoned her for many days.

She still wanted to use Emperor Hongyang as a sharp weapon to attack Jiang Li, but she couldn't be rejected at this time.

In the imperial study, gold-painted copper lamps are scattered like branches on trees.

Several candles flickered, lighting up the hall as bright as day.

"His Majesty?"

Han Yunning moved to the side of Emperor Hongyang and said softly,

"I personally made this snow pear and white fungus soup to moisten the lungs and throat. Would you like to take a break and have a taste?"

Emperor Hongyang lowered his head to read the memorial without even raising it. He said calmly, "Leave it there."

Han Yunning gently put down the porcelain Gu and said coquettishly,

"Your Majesty, I was just watching the excitement for a while on my way to visit my relatives. Why do you have to make a fuss with me?"

Emperor Hongyang slowly raised his head, his eyes as deep as a pool of water, and looked sideways at her.

"Although I am old, my eyes are not blind and my heart is not blind. You have targeted the daughter of the Jiang family several times. Isn't it because of Shen Beiqi?"

"Your Majesty, those are just rumors from outside, how can you believe them?"

She hurriedly explained, "I didn't target her. Reporting to the police requires punishment. This is the traditional rule. I didn't do anything."

Emperor Hongyang snorted coldly, unwilling to get entangled with her any further.

He never expected that the woman who took the initiative to climb onto his bed would be sincere to him.

If they didn't have other requests, they wouldn't come to him.

But she shouldn't have made this matter known to everyone and made him a laughing stock.

A hint of murderous intent flashed in Emperor Hongyang's eyes.

Han Yunning's eyes moved, she smiled and said,

"Your Majesty, I have good news to tell you."

"Go ahead."

Emperor Hongyang closed the memorial in front of him and opened another one.

"I am... pregnant."

Han Yunning spoke slowly, with a calm look in his eyes, as if he was talking about something very ordinary.

He paused while taking the letter.

Emperor Hongyang looked at her in disbelief, and his gaze dropped down to her abdomen.

"Is this true?"

"If your majesty does not believe it, you can call the imperial physician for a diagnosis."

Han Yunning was calm and composed, as if everything was under control.

"I have been feeling unwell these past few days. I have waited for Your Majesty for a long time, but you have not come to visit me yet. I am really sad."

"Someone is coming——"

"Your Majesty, the servant is here."

After Liu Quan went to the northern border, his apprentice Liu Chang took over the position of serving in the imperial court.

"Go and call the imperial physician quickly." Emperor Hongyang waved his hand.

"Yes——" Liu Chang stepped back with his back bent.

After the imperial physician left, Emperor Hongyang's expression was no longer as grim as before.

When he looked at Han Yunning, his eyes were no longer as cold as an arrow.

Han Yunning's face was as rosy as a spring flower, and she smiled slightly, allowing Emperor Hongyang to gently stroke her belly.

"Your Majesty, are you still angry with me?" Han Yunning asked softly.

"Now that you are pregnant with my son, you are a meritorious official of Southern Wu. I will promote you to a higher position."

Emperor Hongyang summoned Liu Chang and ordered loudly, "Send an order to the six palaces, and promote Concubine Ning to Consort Ning."

Liu Chang stepped back in response.

"Your Majesty, I feel that Liu Chang is not as thoughtful as his master, Eunuch Liu. Why not let Eunuch Liu return to the palace as soon as possible?"

Taking advantage of Emperor Hongyang's good mood, Han Yunning changed the subject.

"Oh, right, that day I was watching the excitement at Jingzhao Yin's place, and I saw that the Third Prince was very nervous about Miss Jiang. Could it be that...the two of them were secretly..."

Since ancient times, emperors have been suspicious.

Although Emperor Hongyang valued Shen Beiqi, he was also wary of him.

Shen Beiqi was neutral and had no close contacts with the Crown Prince or the Second Prince.

Therefore, Emperor Hongyang confidently handed over the military power of the northern border to him, and also put the Guard Bureau under his control.

However, Han Yunning's words seemed to be referring to a love affair between a man and a woman.

In fact, it was a hint to Shen Beiqi, who might have defected to the Third Prince's camp.

Although he appeared to be loyal to the emperor, he secretly aimed his arrow at Emperor Hongyang.

Emperor Hongyang's expression suddenly turned gloomy, and he asked in a deep voice,

"You mean, that day Wencong's going to Jingzhao Yin was not accidental, but intentional?"

"Did the Third Prince tell you this?"

Seeing that Emperor Hongyang had taken the bait, Han Yunning immediately went with the flow and said,

"As far as I know, it was Miss Jiang's maid who personally asked the Third Prince to rescue her."

"You didn't see it. The Third Prince was furious at the time and was extremely nervous about Miss Jiang. If the Third Prince didn't already have a princess, I would have almost thought that the Third Prince wanted to marry Miss Jiang."

Emperor Hongyang's eyes became increasingly darker.

Shen Beiqi once asked him to marry the daughter of the Jiang family, and the Third Prince had never had anything to do with Jiang Li, so why would he help him?

Emperor Hongyang thought to himself that the relationship between them was by no means as simple as the love between a man and a woman.

Perhaps, Shen Beiqi had already been involved in the party struggle, but pretended to be neutral in front of him.

And the person he wants to support, could it be Xiao Wencong?

Now Shen Beiqi is on a military expedition and is not in Jiangdu City.

As a person with common interests, it is understandable that Xiao Wencong came forward to protect his sweetheart.

What a good Shen Beiqi! Not only did he repeatedly disobey his orders and keep his troops in place, he also openly defied the emperor's authority.

Just like those mediocre people, he was caught up in the power struggle.

The more Emperor Hongyang thought about it, the angrier he became. A fishy-sweet taste came out of his throat, but he forced it back.

At this time, Han Yunning seized the opportunity and brought up the previous matter again.

But this time, she changed her strategy.

He no longer recommended the prince to marry Jiang Li, but instead adopted a strategy of making a feint to the east and attacking in the west.

"Your Majesty, why don't you marry Miss Jiang to the third prince as a concubine? This will create a good story." Han Yunning said softly, holding Emperor Hongyang's fingers.

Emperor Hongyang raised his hand and pinched her jaw, but he did not use too much force out of consideration for the baby in her belly.

"My beloved, do you know what kind of women I hate the most?"

Han Yunning blinked her eyes. Relying on the child in her belly, she felt confident and said, "I don't know."

Emperor Hongyang came closer to her, his eyes unclear and his emotions could not be seen.

"I hate women who are too smart. Today, considering that you are pregnant, I will forgive you this time. If it happens again..."

Emperor Hongyang did not continue speaking, but the profound meaning was self-evident.

Han Yunning smiled softly, "That depends on your Majesty's willingness."