Chapter 103: Interested in Seizing the Throne?

The Nan Dynasty envoys were as anxious as ants on a hot pan these days.

For every extra day they spent in Yong Kingdom, Nan Dynasty might lose another inch of its territory.

The Western Zhou Dynasty’s cavalry was too powerful, their Nan Dynasty army was no match for them.

However, neither the Regent nor the Princess seemed inclined to pay them any attention, and the promised marriage alliance was no longer being honored.

They had realized that this was a trick.

Whether it was to deceive Ling Fengyang or Han Rong, they now had no other choice but to try and persuade the Princess.

From beginning to end, neither Minister Ji and other civil officials nor General Yang and other military officers showed any concern for Ling Fengyang, who was imprisoned. They hadn’t even asked about him.

Princess Pingyao was almost certain that the Nan Dynasty envoys truly didn’t care about Ling Fengyang’s fate.

Although he had once gained the trust of the Nan Dynasty Emperor, a single defeat that resulted in the loss of 80,000 troops was enough to make the Nan Dynasty officials completely lose faith in him. Some even suspected that he had done it on purpose, impeaching him for having ulterior motives and a sinister agenda in infiltrating Nan Dynasty.

Perhaps the Nan Dynasty Emperor had something to hold over him, which was why he hadn’t punished him after that disastrous defeat but instead gave him a chance to redeem himself.

However, whether this was as the Nan Dynasty Emperor had anticipated or a surprise to everyone, Ling Fengyang was imprisoned as a serious criminal upon his return to Yong Kingdom—a result that the Nan Dynasty envoys might have been happy to see, so none of them objected, nor did anyone speak up to plead for him.

Princess Pingyao was no longer particularly interested in the truth.

After leaving the palace, she rode directly to the Regent’s residence and was led to the Golden Courtyard, where she saw Shen Ning sitting in the courtyard boiling medicine, while Han Rong, wearing sixty catties of heavy shackles, lay on the ground like a dog, obviously having just endured some suffering.

Princess Pingyao stopped and watched the scene from a distance, noticing that Shen Ning had managed to imbue the act of boiling medicine with the leisurely feel of brewing tea.

And Han Rong, lying on the ground, was no longer the brave and loyal marquis of Nan Dynasty, but rather resembled an ant that could be crushed at any moment. This contrast reminded Princess Pingyao of what Ji Jin had said: “Birth is not something one can decide either. Does Elder Sister believe that she is equal to the common people?”

At this moment, she felt that whether it was the common people or the powerful and noble, when the country was prosperous and strong, everyone’s life was good.

Once the country was destroyed and the family lost, the situation of the nobility was even worse than that of ordinary citizens.

Therefore, heaven was fair, giving a person glory, they had to bear the corresponding responsibility. Whether it was the country or the family, the weak and useless would eventually be trampled underfoot.

Princess Pingyao walked over with the leisure of a stroll in a courtyard, lazily looking at Han Rong, who was in great pain, not overlooking the blood on his forehead or the bloody marks on his limbs from the shackles.

“Aunt.” Pingyao walked to Shen Ning’s side. “Are you interrogating a prisoner?”

Shen Ning looked up, “What brings you here?”

“I, the Princess, have plenty of free time. I can wander around anytime, anywhere.” Princess Pingyao sat down on the stool brought by a servant. “What have you found out?”

Shen Ning said, “I’m asking about the deployment of troops at the Nan Dynasty border, but he hasn’t said anything yet.”

Troop deployment?

Princess Pingyao raised an eyebrow, “Have Uncle and Aunt really decided to lead troops to attack Nan Dynasty?”

“Ji Yucang has this idea, and I agree.” Shen Ning did not reveal her identity, so she spoke with some reservation. “Since Nan Dynasty is doomed to fall, it’s better for two countries to divide it than for one to swallow it whole. This way, Yong Kingdom and the Western Zhou Dynasty can remain evenly matched in the future, rather than becoming prey in the eyes of others.”

Princess Pingyao nodded and turned to look at Han Rong, “Has he said anything?”

“No.” The corner of Shen Ning’s mouth lifted slightly. “He says he doesn’t know, and I don’t quite believe him, so I’ve decided to interrogate him thoroughly.”

In fact, Marquis Han Rong, the loyal and brave, truly did not know the border defense. Shen Ning wasn’t really asking him.

She was more aware of the situation at the Nan Dynasty border than Han Rong, and even if the troop arrangements frequently changed, Shen Ning could still make a general judgment.

Interrogating Han Rong was a pretense, the real intention was to find an excuse to torment him.

“I…” Han Rong struggled to lift his head, the blood at the corner of his mouth and the bruises around his eyes were particularly vivid, pain distorting his features, “I don’t know, I really don’t know…”

“Shi Qin.” Shen Ning’s voice was nonchalant, as if she didn’t care what he said, “Continue beating him.”

“Yes.” Shi Qin took the whip and lashed him again.

Han Rong was whipped to the point where he curled up on the ground, holding his head and screaming in agony.

Shen Ning stirred the medicinal soup on the stove unhurriedly, her expression indifferent and merciless, but her actions carried a hint of contentment.

At this moment, Shen Ning had let go of her hatred for Han Rong.

Without love, where does hatred come from?

There was only enmity.

Since there was enmity, revenge was natural, so Han Rong’s ultimate fate would be death, but before dying, he should also suffer a good deal of torment, that would be fair.

Although Princess Pingyao could guess some unusual information, she was not good at reading minds, nor was she the worm in Shen Ning’s belly, so she wasn’t completely clear on Shen Ning’s thoughts.

Looking at Han Rong, covered in blood, she thought of Ling Fengyang, who was imprisoned.

If the loyal and brave marquis had never been on the battlefield and didn’t know the border troop deployment, what about Ling Fengyang?

Did he know more about this aspect?

He had, after all, spent three years in Nan Dynasty.

But then again, given Nan Dynasty’s current military strength, even without a defense map, it would be easy to defeat them.

Princess Pingyao’s gaze fell on the medicine cauldron in front of Shen Ning, “Aunt, who is this medicinal soup for?”

“Ji Yucang.” Shen Ning’s voice was faint. “His poison can be cured this month.”

Princess Pingyao’s expression changed, “Uncle’s poison can be cured?”

Shen Ning hummed in agreement, “Although it’s quite troublesome, it can indeed be cured.”

Princess Pingyao fell silent for a moment, feeling that she should perhaps learn more about Ji Yucang’s thoughts, “Is Uncle interested in seizing the throne?”

“No.” Shen Ning frowned slightly. “He’s not interested in the throne.”

“Why?”

“Because I have other things to do.” Ji Yucang walked into the courtyard from outside, his posture upright, his demeanor extraordinary. “Discussing seizing of the throne so brazenly under the bright sky is too audacious.”

Princess Pingyao stood up, turned to look at Ji Yucang, and said lazily, “This Princess has done more than one audacious thing. What’s a few casual words?”