flstandardbreds Chapter 154: Can't Be Emotional
Chapter 154: Can't Be Emotional
Empress Dowager Jiang waited quietly for Jiang Lige to pack the letter, then ordered someone to send it out, and then she slowly walked in.
"You dare to do this right after recovering from a serious illness. It's obvious that you don't want to live anymore."
When Jiang Lige heard this, he knew that Empress Dowager Jiang was holding back her anger. He did not try to argue, but after sending his attendants away, he knelt down decisively.
"Parents who love their children will plan for them in the long run. Li Ge knows all about how well Grandaunt treats her, but Grandaunt... Xiao Xingrong and I are only friends, not lovers. If we force ourselves together, we won't be happy."
Empress Dowager Jiang was stunned when she heard this, but she quickly figured it out. Jiang Lige was so smart that he would naturally notice the strangeness of the past few days.
"That's right. Xiao Xingrong entered Funing Palace with my tacit consent, and I also kept the proposal a secret. Ning Yunxiao is a good boy, but he won't live long. Rather than leaving you heartbroken for him in a few months, it's better to end it sooner rather than later."
Jiang Lige's eyes widened in surprise, "Grandma, Lige is a princess who is married to a foreign country."
"So what if you're a princess married into a foreign alliance?" Empress Dowager Jiang retorted harshly. "For so many years, the friendship between our two countries has sacrificed the happiness of countless princesses married into a foreign alliance! I had no choice back then, and I wasted years in the harem before I could have the good life I have today. You're the child I've watched grow up. I'm willing to do my best to give you a chance to choose. After all, the emperor has no children, so it doesn't matter who the princess marries."
"Great aunt..."
Jiang Lige had never thought that Empress Dowager Jiang, who had always put the interests of the country and the nation first, would now say such words. He didn't know whether to be moved or what to do. He stammered and then fell speechless.
Seeing Jiang Lige like this, Queen Mother Jiang suddenly softened her expression, helped her up from the ground, and touched her head lovingly.
"Although the Xiao family isn't considered a prominent family, no matter who ascends the throne in the future, Empress Xiao will be the Grand Empress Dowager. Xiao Xingrong himself has some abilities and may become a powerful official in the future. Furthermore, Xiao Xingrong is deeply in love with you. If you are willing, Xiao Xingrong would be a good match for you."
"But grandma, Li Ge doesn't want to."
Queen Mother Jiang was not surprised by Jiang Lige's choice. She just sighed and said, "Well, the wedding date has been postponed anyway. There is plenty of time for you to think about it."
Jiang Lige bowed and saluted to thank Empress Dowager Jiang, "Thank you, great-aunt."
"Get up." Empress Dowager Jiang gave Jiang Lige a light hand and couldn't help asking, "Lige, do you know what the taboos of a marriage alliance are?"
Jiang Lige shook his head in confusion, "Lige doesn't know."
"The biggest taboo for a princess' marriage is not to fall in love."
Empress Dowager Jiang said this with a sigh, patted Jiang Lige's shoulder gently, and turned to leave the library.
Emotional?
Is she to Ning Yunxiao?
Jiang Lige frowned and rejected the idea instantly. Instead of thinking about these things, he might as well investigate the Night Rakshasa!
Compared to the peaceful days that Jiang Lige spent in the library, the recent situation in Sheng Ling's court can almost be described as earth-shaking.
No one knows what has recently provoked the usually gentle Emperor Shengwu, and his handling of state affairs has been drastic.
The last time there was a traitor in the bandit suppression team, it was finally found out that it was Luo Chenglou who was causing the trouble. Traitors in the army will naturally end up with their entire family being executed.
Under severe torture, Luo Chenglou gave out some insignificant names in order to reduce his punishment, including Ning Yunxiao's "old friend".
It is said that Wang Zhuangke was punished for Ning Yunxiao's matter and held a grudge against him, so he placed several spies around Ning Yunxiao to help Luo Chenglou.
Emperor Shengwu was furious and ordered the execution of Wang Zhuangke's family. Several of his brothers from the Wang family were also stripped of their official positions due to their joint responsibility.
At this point, the era when the Wang family had absolute control over the Five Cities Military Department was completely over.
It wasn't just these few families who were unlucky. Lord Guo from the Hanlin Academy, who had supported Luo Chenglou all the way to his position, and several families who were close to Luo Chenglou were also convicted and punished.
As a result, there were many new faces in Sheng Ling's court, including Ning Luyang, who had just been named King Xu.
After all, the imperial court was in need of people, and Ning Yunxiao, a member of the royal family, had no choice but to be loyal to the country.
But Emperor Shengwu still felt annoyed by him, so he only arranged an eighth-rank position in the Imperial College to save his face.
At the same time, Emperor Shengwu also announced a major news -
Emperor Shengwu will choose a capable crown prince from among the royal family members.
The crown prince, the foundation of the country that the ministers have been thinking about, is about to step onto the stage of power in Sheng Ling.
Even Jiang Lige, who lived in a remote corner, heard of such bombshell news.
While Song Yue was dancing and vividly describing the rumors about the succession, Jiang Lige was flipping through a book called "Miscellaneous Essays of All Nations", which recorded the rise and fall of all countries, big and small, from ancient times to the present.
Among them, the Chi tribe was mentioned.
It is rumored that the Chi tribe has lived in the deep mountains and jungles for generations. The tribe members worship Gu, and the person with the most advanced Gu poison technique is respected as the high priest.
The reason why the Chi tribe worships poison is closely related to their living environment. There are many ants and insects in the deep mountains, and medicine and poison are inseparable. The rise of the art of poison changed the fate of the Chi tribe who were tortured by illness.
The Chi tribe's poisons are ever-changing, often crafted from insects, beasts, venomous snakes, and herbs. These poisons are categorized into two main types: "gu" and "du." Gu techniques are only practiced by the high priests of each generation, while the art of poisoning is practiced by countless individuals, from those who save lives to those who harm.
For many years thereafter, the Chi tribe became famous for its superb poison techniques.
It’s a pity that water can carry a boat but can also capsize it. The Chi tribe rose to prominence due to poison and was also defeated by it.
According to legend, the final destruction of the Chi tribe was due to its high priest providing poison to Prince Poxiao, helping Prince Poxiao to usurp the throne.
After the prince became emperor, the first thing he did was to put the blame of murdering the previous king on the Chi tribe, and then he led his army to attack the Chi tribe.
At this point, the entire Chi clan was destroyed.
When Jiang Lige saw this, his view was blocked by a post that Song Yue stuffed in his hand.
"The emperor is going to hold a Spring and Autumn Banquet tomorrow, and it seems that he will announce the candidate for the crown prince."
In his previous life, when the Southern Chu Kingdom was destroyed, Emperor Shengwu did not appoint a crown prince, but in this life, he did it much earlier.
Therefore, Jiang Lige did not have much thought about the issue of Emperor Shengwu appointing a crown prince, but the position of the crown prince was related to the fate of Nanchu. After thinking about it, Jiang Lige decided to go out and inquire. Instead of asking others, it would be better to go to Ning Yunxiao to get first-hand information.
He just nodded and said "I understand", then picked up a few books and went to Ning Yunxiao.
When Jiang Lige entered the yard, Ning Yunxiao was painting with his sleeves rolled up. He was painting a scene of autumn with forests dyed in all colors. Seeing the figure rushing in, the corners of his lips curled up slightly, and with a turn of his brush, a bold red was added to the painting.
Isn’t that exactly what Jiang Lige looks like?