“It seems the Empress Dowager is quite fond of you…” The siblings were unaware that their joint visit to the palace had stirred up such a storm. As they left the palace and boarded the carriage together, Ning Wang, observing Wan Qing beside him and recalling his grandmother’s reaction, smiled gently and said to her,
“Yes, I didn’t expect it either. Perhaps it’s as they say—blood ties are undeniable. Brother Ning Wang, do you think the Emperor might also be involved in our mother’s death, along with Imperial Preceptor Ye and the Empress?”
Seeing her brother’s rare relaxed smile, Wan Qing nodded sincerely, moved by the elderly woman’s reaction during their visit. Reflecting on their shared connection, she couldn’t help but sigh. Noticing Ning Wang’s quiet agreement, she suddenly turned to him with a bold suspicion.
“The Emperor?” Her guess made Ning Wang pause, slightly puzzled by her reasoning.
“It’s just a thought. Think about it—Grandmother mentioned that after Mother’s death, the Emperor remained filial, but she also said he no longer visited her daily as before. Their interactions became mere formalities, leaving her with no one to confide in. And from my investigations, the Emperor treated you well initially, but after your leg healed, he only gave you a nominal position with no real authority. Doesn’t this seem suspicious?”
Wan Qing elaborated on her suspicions, though they were based on subtle, easily overlooked details. She couldn’t shake the feeling that their father was somehow connected to their mother’s death. Otherwise, how could the Empress, then merely a low-ranking consort, have dared to harm their mother? It didn’t add up.
Ning Wang remained expressionless, his lips pressed tightly together, revealing nothing.
“Maybe I’m overthinking it. Take blood ties, for example—Grandmother and I had never met, yet she genuinely adores me despite only knowing me through my resemblance to Mother. That’s the power of kinship. Of course, I haven’t met the Emperor, so I can’t say. But you know him well—do you feel that familial bond when you’re with him?”
Seeing her brother lost in thought, Wan Qing patiently continued, trying to make sense of human relationships through the lens of kinship. She then gently asked for his perspective.
“Father was indeed kind to me before, but after my injury, he grew distant. Though he still feigned concern, I sensed his withdrawal. Perhaps years of trials have convinced him that Prince Xiu is more suited for the throne, and he’s begun favoring him instead…”
Though confused by his sister’s theory, Ning Wang followed her lead, reflecting on the changes over the years. After a pause, he met her gaze, masking his unease with excuses about the Emperor’s growing preference for Prince Xiu.
“Don’t look so downcast! Maybe I’m just overanalyzing. Perhaps it’s as you said—Father believes Prince Xiu is more suitable. But Prince Xiu is the Empress’s son. Has Father forgotten his love for Mother so quickly, abandoning her child for a new favorite? I’ve never met this Prince Xiu, but he can’t possibly compare to you, right?”
Regretting her bluntness as her brother’s expression darkened, Wan Qing quickly tried to console him. Though his reasoning held some weight, she couldn’t hide her disdain for the Emperor’s fickleness in matters of the heart.
“Prince Xiu hasn’t achieved much in governance, but Father and the Empress dote on him, especially the Empress’s family, who’ve united to groom him…”
Ning Wang’s voice trailed off, his gaze fixed on the carriage curtain with visible disappointment.
“So what if they groom him? With someone like Sun Fengyu under the Empress’s thumb, what can the Sun family truly accomplish? You’re not giving up already, are you? If so, I refuse to have such a weak-willed brother. You still have me, Linglong Pavilion, the Song and Wang families—to all of us, you’re our hope.”
Fired up at the thought of their mother’s killers thriving in the palace while her brother faced exclusion, Wan Qing challenged him, her eyes blazing with determination.
“Only you would dare scold me like this,” Ning Wang chuckled, his gloom lifting slightly. “Don’t worry—since I’ve decided to step forward, I won’t back down. I won’t let the Sun family rise unchecked. If I did, I’d fail not only myself but also you. I won’t let them tarnish my brilliant and capable sister.”
His words, both teasing and earnest, reassured Wan Qing.
“Good! With us united, we’ll uncover the truth about Mother’s death. Anyone who stands in our way will regret it. What are you looking at?”
Relieved by her brother’s resolve, Wan Qing pumped her fist with determination. Noticing Ning Wang’s sudden focus on the slightly parted carriage curtain, she followed his gaze curiously.
“Prince Ji’s heir is ahead. It seems he’s waiting for us.”
Ning Wang withdrew and calmly informed her.
“Why fear him? We’ve done nothing wrong. Is he here to cause trouble? Qingfeng, keep moving forward.”
Wan Qing scoffed, unimpressed by the arrogant man, and instructed the coachman to proceed.
“You reckless girl,” Ning Wang shook his head in amusement. As the carriage approached the waiting figure, Qingfeng reined in the horses. Ning Wang lifted the curtain and addressed Leng Mingye coolly.
“Prince Ning, Lady Mu, what a pleasant surprise. Though your boldness is rather alarming. Given Lady Mu’s engagement to the Sun family, isn’t it reckless to parade her openly in your carriage with the curtains drawn? Or do you not care about offending the Suns?”
Leng Mingye stepped forward, his tone a mix of mockery and reproach as he eyed Wan Qing, who pointedly ignored him, her lovely face set in indifference.
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