Xia Anhai was taken aback for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh. "I never thought that one day, Rong Heng would be outwitted by someone."
Shi Ning'an joined in the laughter.
Rong Sui glanced at the chessboard with his fingers. "Cousin, it's your turn."
Xia Anhai didn't dare to be distracted any longer and stared intently at the chessboard.
Shi Ning'an went on to say, "However, in that case, Cousin Zeng did something wrong. Then, didn't Fourth Cousin's investigation end in failure?"
Xia Anhai replied vaguely, "It seems there was still a result. You're a girl from the inner courtyard, cousin. You don't need to worry about such things."
Shi Ning'an pouted unhappily. "Who said I don't need to worry? Are all the affairs in the world only meant for you men to know?"
Xia Anhai was stunned. He wanted to explain something, but was pulled back to focus on the chessboard by Rong Sui.
A few days later, it was the Empress Dowager's birthday. All the officials in the capital with titles or those above the fourth rank had to bring their families to the palace to congratulate her.
The official position of the director of the Ministry of Personnel was originally of the fifth rank. However, although Shi Yongtang held the position of director, his official rank was the fourth rank. So, he was also on the list of invitees to enter the palace this time. But different from before when they had a front - row seat, the Shi family was now seated in the last row.
Moreover, according to the order, the Shi family had to get up in the middle of the night, enter the palace before dawn, and wait outside the palace early.
When the Rong family arrived, Shi Yongtang and his son had already been waiting at the palace gate for a long time.
Shi Ning'an took a quick look and didn't see the old lady or Shi Qingmei. This was normal. It was said that the old lady was in poor health, and Shi Qingmei had lost her reputation at the New Year's Eve palace banquet. No matter what, Shi Yongtang didn't dare to bring her out in public again.
While she was looking at them, they were also looking at her. Shi Yongtang was expressionless, as if he didn't recognize her at all, while Shi Jingyuan's face was filled with deep hatred.
Rong Heng changed his position and stood beside Shi Ning'an to block Shi Yongtang and Shi Jingyuan's view of her.
Shi Ning'an raised her eyebrows and smiled. "Thank you, cousin."
Rong Heng whispered, "Don't be afraid, cousin. As long as I'm here, they won't dare to do anything to you."
Shi Ning'an lowered her eyebrows and smiled. She was never afraid. No matter how venomous Shi Jingyuan's gaze was, it was only on the surface. He was even inferior to Shi Qingmei. And Shi Yongtang was not to be feared either. Given Shi Yongtang's current situation, the Dong family would never openly support the Shi family.
However, the faction of the Third Prince hidden in the background couldn't be ignored.
Shi Ning'an took a deep breath. The First Prince was in power, and the Third Prince was secretly plotting. The Crown Prince was really struggling. No wonder Rong Sui was so cautious in everything, afraid of making a wrong move that would lead the entire Rong family to destruction.
After entering the main hall, some officials came to chat with Rong Jian and the others. Since it was not time for the banquet yet, Princess Zhaoming led her family towards the area for female guests.
Madam Dong was the first to see Princess Zhaoming. Madam Dong smiled amiably and waved her hand. "Your Highness, you've finally come. The Grand Princess was just talking about you."
Princess Zhaoming also put on a smile and nodded, then walked towards the Grand Princess.
Madam Dong looked behind her and then smiled again. "Hey, Mrs. Rong doesn't seem to be in good spirits. Her face is pale. Is there something bothering you?"
Mrs. Shao cheered up and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Madam Dong. My son has caught a cold recently. I've been worried about him day and night and haven't had a good rest."
Madam Dong gave her a meaningful look, chuckled, and didn't bring up the topic again.
In a short moment, it seemed as if the women had engaged in a confrontation, but also as if everything was calm.
Shi Ning'an didn't say a word. She walked to Mrs. Shao's side, reached out her hand from her wide sleeve, and gently held Mrs. Shao's hand in a soothing gesture.
Mrs. Shao also returned a smiling face to show that she was fine.
Not long after, Shi Ning'an saw Rong Sui standing not far away. He was in charge of the imperial city's defense today, so it was normal for him not to attend the banquet and to patrol around with the imperial guards.
But Shi Ning'an still sensed something was wrong. She whispered to Mrs. Shao and then lifted her skirt and walked towards where Rong Sui was standing.
Rong Sui lowered his voice. "Eat and drink less today. Stay by my mother's side all the time. My mother knows martial arts. You'll be safe with her."
Shi Ning'an's heart skipped a beat. She asked, "What's going on?"
A soldier beside Rong Sui waved his hand, indicating that Rong Sui should hurry up. He simply said, "Wei Hongmiao is here. Be careful."
Shi Ning'an returned to Mrs. Shao's side. Her eyes narrowed slightly. Wei Hongmiao had made a comeback so soon? The Third Prince really had great capabilities. She wondered what method he had used to hide it from the entire Rong family and the Crown Prince's people.
Moreover, Rong Sui was always cautious. He even risked being scolded to come here to find her, which showed that Wei Hongmiao must have come with a well - thought - out plan this time.
Shi Ning'an suddenly remembered Shi Yongtang's expressionless face just now. That's right. No matter how calm Shi Yongtang was, he couldn't be completely oblivious. She had been staring at Shi Yongtang just now and indeed saw that he showed no emotional fluctuations.
So, did he also know that Wei Hongmiao was coming for her today?
Fortunately, Mrs. Xia was usually a bit lively, but she behaved properly in the main hall. She followed Princess Zhaoming's lead in everything. After Shi Ning'an whispered Rong Sui's message to Mrs. Xia, Mrs. Xia tightly held Shi Ning'an's hand and wouldn't let her be alone.
When it was time to take their seats, Shi Ning'an saw Wei Hongmiao again. Different from his former high - spirited self, Wei Hongmiao's whole face was filled with gloom. When he saw Shi Ning'an, he even put his hand on his neck and made a gesture of strangulation.
Rong Heng had sharp eyes. Anger welled up all over him. If it weren't for the fact that they were in the main hall, he really would have stepped forward to teach Wei Hongmiao a lesson.
"Who is that person?"
Shi Ning'an whispered, "Wei Hongmiao, the eldest son of the Wei family."
Rong Heng had heard that Wei Hongmiao had wanted to marry Shi Ning'an, and he also knew about the past when Madam Wei and Miss Wei had spoken ill of Shi Ning'an. He had no good impression of Wei Hongmiao at all. So he simply said coldly, "Don't worry, cousin. After the banquet, I'll definitely compete with him."
Shi Ning'an shook her head. "Cousin is a well - known young general. Competing with such a person will only make people think you're bullying him."
Rong Heng thought about it and realized it made sense. He couldn't help but scoff. "You're right. Such a person isn't worth my trouble."
Shi Ning'an secretly sized up the Wei family. Master Wei still looked as timid and incompetent as ever. Madam Wei didn't come, but Wei Xia did. She covered her face with a veil to hide the red spots on her neck. From this look, she actually looked more gentle and charming than before. And beside the Wei family, there was another man sitting. He had high eyebrows and deep eyes, looking heroic and quite different from the people in the capital.
"Who is that person?"
Rong Heng was also puzzled. "If you haven't seen him before, how would I know?"
It was Rong Jian who frowned and thought for a while, then suddenly said, "That man doesn't look like a person from the Great Zhou. He seems to be from the Northern Qi."
Rong Heng quickly asked, "Northern Qi?"
Northern Qi was a vassal state of the Great Zhou. A few years ago, it had become more ambitious and launched some attacks. But the Great Zhou was powerful, and Northern Qi was no match. Later, a princess was sent over and became Concubine He in the palace. However, as a gift from a defeated country, after the emperor conferred the title of Concubine He, he soon forgot about her.
Rong Feichi asked curiously, "I heard that during the New Year, there was another war in Northern Qi. General Zhou seemed to have sent a letter to the capital asking for help."
General Zhou was stationed in the north. But different from Wuyun, the attacks from Northern Qi had always been like small skirmishes and could be resisted by the power of one prefecture. Now that General Zhou had sent a letter asking for help, it showed that this war was unusual.
Rong Jian nodded. "Yes. At that time, I even wanted to submit a memorial for you. But the emperor only said that he had sent troops. I guessed it was the doing of the Dong family, so I didn't bother to compete with them."
Hearing this, Shi Ning'an's heart was also in turmoil. Compared with the previous life, it was seven years earlier.
The invasion of Northern Qi in the previous life had happened seven years later, and Wei Hongmiao had obtained the military power of the Zhou family because of that battle. But at that time, General Zhou was old and had no successor, and the Wei family had already regained the marquis title. That was why Wei Hongmiao had easily obtained the military power of the Zhou family. Now General Zhou was not old yet, and Wei Hongmiao was an outcast in the court. It shouldn't be so smooth for him.
Shi Ning'an stared intently at the man beside Wei Hongmiao. Her heart was pounding. She had never seen this man before. Why did this Northern Qi man come with Wei Hongmiao?
Just as she was deep in thought, the emperor, the Empress Dowager, accompanied by the imperial concubine and Concubine Zhao entered the main hall. Everyone stood up and saluted. After they took their seats and signaled everyone to rise, everyone sat down in turn.
Princess Zhaoming whispered an explanation. "She's been promoted. Now she's Imperial Concubine Zhao."
Shi Ning'an was even more surprised. Imperial Concubine Zhao? But this time, looking at Imperial Concubine Zhao, although she still looked cold, there was a bit more amorous look in her eyes, giving a feeling of charming eyes.
The opening speech was, as usual, extremely magnificent. The emperor was very amiable today. Most of the high - ranking officials in the hall were questioned, and everyone looked flattered.
When it came to the Wei family, the emperor paused and asked, "Is this Prince Yu of Northern Qi?"
The man stood up and walked to the middle of the hall. Instead of performing the great kneeling ceremony on both knees, he knelt on one knee and put his right hand on his right shoulder, performing a strange ceremony. "Long live the emperor. I am indeed Prince Yu of Northern Qi."
Hearing this deep male voice, Shi Ning'an couldn't help but widen her eyes. She didn't recognize this person, but she had heard his voice before. It was before Northern Qi suddenly launched an attack on the Great Zhou with great momentum in the previous life. This person had appeared in the study of the Wei family in the capital.
That day, she was on her way back to the mansion from the Rong family. Her grandfather had directly told her that the Rong family would no longer exist and asked her to adopt Rong Han. At that time, Rong Han was already ten years old and was never close to her. Of course, she refused. Finally, she came up with the idea of using a substitute, pretending to be pregnant and making the fetus in Mrs. Shao's belly her own.
Actually, at that time, she also had her own selfish motives. She had been married for seven years without getting pregnant, and her mother - in - law was quite dissatisfied with her because of this. And Shi Qingmei had given birth to a son. She had seen how much Wei Hongmiao doted on that child. She thought she had no hope of getting pregnant and hoped to win back her mother - in - law's and Wei Hongmiao's hearts with Mrs. Shao's child.
So that night, she didn't hesitate to put aside her dignity as the mistress, dressed up, and carried a cup of tea, imitating Shi Qingmei's way, and went to Wei Hongmiao's study.
It was also that night that she heard this deep voice in the study. Although he was speaking the official language of the Great Zhou, his accent was different from others, and it was unforgettable at first hearing.
Shi Ning'an felt a chill all over her body, and a strange feeling welled up in her heart. Was it possible that Wei Hongmiao, no, the Third Prince had colluded with Northern Qi long ago? Maybe the so - called fierce invasion of Northern Qi was all fake. They were using the well - being of the common people to exchange for the status they wanted!