The Evil Emperor's Favorite: The Sickly and Poisonous Concubine Goes Crazy

"Is your arm injured? Is it serious? Are there any other parts of your body injured?" Su Jingchen looked at Su Jingning nervously.

"No, it's just a minor wound on my arm. Don't worry, brother. It has been bandaged. It will heal in two days." Su Jingning replied.

"No, we have to let the court doctor take a look later. Let's go to Songhuayuan first. Everyone is waiting there."

\"How come even grandma was alarmed? Then let's walk faster." Su Jingning paused and walked quickly towards Songhuayuan.

"Prince Chen was assassinated in Qingfo Temple, several young ladies from official families were injured, and you are missing too. How could grandma not know about it? Xiaowan is still crying now, saying that if she hadn't gone to see the wishing tree, you wouldn't have disappeared." Su Jingchen walked behind Su Jingning and said to her.

Outside Songhua Courtyard, the old steward of the Zhenguo Mansion, Lao Xu, saw them and hurried over to greet them.

"The second young lady is back! Great, everyone is waiting for you inside. Come in quickly."

"Uncle Xu." Su Jingning and Su Jingchen nodded at him and went in.

Madam Su was sitting in the hall, the Duke of Zhenguo was standing aside with a frown, the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo was walking around anxiously, the second and third wives were also there. Su Luoting and Su Luoshu were coaxing Su Luowan who was crying with red eyes.

Su Luowan was the first to see Su Jingning, and she rushed towards her and hugged Su Jingning, "Second sister! Wuuuuuu, you're back. Qingfo Mountain is too scary. We couldn't find you. You scared me to death."

"Ning'er!"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Su Jingning coming back and looking fine.

"I'm fine, be good and don't cry." Su Jingning gently wiped the tears from the corners of Su Luowan's eyes and coaxed her softly.

"Really?" Su Luo looked at Su Jingning again that night, and noticed the injury she hid in her sleeves with her sharp eyes, and started crying again.

"Second sister! You are injured, wuwuwu, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have dragged my sisters to see that broken peach tree." Su Luowan blamed herself.

Her shout startled the Su family again. The old lady immediately sent for the palace doctor.

"I'm fine, it's just a minor injury. I'll be fine in two days. Grandma, there's no need to call the court doctor." Su Jingning hurriedly stopped her.

"It's really okay. Besides, I have bandaged it in Princess Xuanhe's Wutong Villa, so you don't have to worry. Wan'er, be good and don't cry. Second sister is fine." Su Jingning raised her arms, trying to prove to them that she was fine, and then coaxed Su Luowan softly.

"I'm glad you're back. Let the court doctor take a look later so that we can feel more at ease. Weren't you in Qingfo Temple? Why did you come back in Princess Xuanhe's carriage?" asked the Duke of Zhenguo.

"I was originally going to see Master Huihai, but I ran into a group of assassins who were trying to assassinate Princess Xuanhe in the back mountain. The princess didn't have enough guards around her, so I rescued her. However, I was accidentally cut by the knife, so I went down the mountain with Princess Xuanhe and went to Wutong Villa to heal my wounds. The princess then sent a car to take me back." Su Jingning didn't mention Gu Yan'an, not because she didn't trust the Su family, but because Gu Yan'an was too dangerous and she didn't want the Su family to have anything to do with him.

"The eldest princess is also in Qingfo Temple? No wonder His Majesty was furious and ordered a thorough investigation of the matter," the Duke of Zhenguo understood that His Majesty was very fond of his widowed sister.

"What happened today was too dangerous. Don't be so reckless in the future. He was a reckless assassin." The Duke of Zhenguo looked at his daughter's pale face and reprimanded her lightly.

"I understand, Dad." Su Jingning nodded obediently.

"Okay, everyone has been worried sick today. Now that Ning'er is back, everyone should go back and rest." The old lady spoke up when she saw that everyone was a little tired.

"Old Xu, go ask the court doctor to check on Ning'er." He then instructed Butler Xu.

Su Jingning returned to his own courtyard and was pulled by Madam Su to see the court doctor for his wound. Madam Su was shocked and frightened when she saw the wound. She scolded Su Jingning with a sullen face before letting him go.

Imperial Palace of Beiyang

Prince Beiyang and Gu Yan'an are in the Northern Frontier all year round and seldom return to Beijing, so there are only the elderly Lin An and his family and a few servants looking after the palace.

Lin An is a veteran of the Beiyang Army. After he was injured, he was arranged by the King of Beiyang to look after the Beiyang Palace in the imperial capital.

Gu Yan'an suddenly returned home, and Lin An thought he had seen it wrong.

"Your Highness! Why are you back? Why didn't you send anyone to inform me so that I could make preparations?" Lin An hurried to meet him.

"I was in a hurry along the way and didn't have time to pass on the message." Gu Yan'an nodded to Lin An and walked into the mansion as he spoke.

"Your Highness, it's time for dinner. I'll send someone to bring you some food." Lin An asked hurriedly.

"No need, Old Lin, you should take a rest." Gu Yan'an refused and took Mo You back to his own courtyard.

As soon as he returned to the room, Gu Yan'an took out the medicine box and took out two white jade bottles from it.

He was about to hand it to Mo You, but as if he thought of something, he took his hand back.

"Master, Mo Feng sent a message that someone spent 100,000 taels of gold to buy your life in Yesha Pavilion. Most of the masters of Yesha Pavilion have come to Da Zhou and want to take your life." Mo You lowered his head and reported to Gu Yan'an.

Gu Yan'an put the medicine on the table and sat down.

"Oh, you want my life for a hundred thousand taels."

"Masters from the Night Killing Pavilion? Since they have come to the Great Zhou, there is no need to let them go back. There is no need to keep the Night Killing Pavilion." Gu Yan'an's voice was low and flat, his eyes were as cold as a pond, and he was full of murderous intent.

"Yes, I will make arrangements now."

Mo You retreated respectfully. He felt that his master was a little angry.

Early the next morning, guests came to the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion.

"Madam Qiu, what is this?" Su Jingning asked as she looked at the hall filled with all kinds of gifts, including jewelry, calligraphy and paintings, and a dazzling array of other gifts.

"The princess was frightened yesterday and didn't have time to thank Miss Su. She sent me over with some gifts this morning to express her gratitude." Nanny Qiu said with a smile to Su Jingning.

Su Jingning was shocked. What happened yesterday was just a show. Why would Princess Xuanhe suddenly send so many gifts?

"Madam Qiu, Jingning didn't help much, so I can't accept this gift." Su Jingning declined.

"Miss Su, please accept it with confidence. Our eldest princess likes you very much. She said that she hopes you can come to Wutong Villa more often to chat with her in the future. These can be considered as a gift for Miss Su." Nanny Qiu comforted Su Jingning and asked her to accept the gift.

"Then Jingning will respectfully obey your order. Aunt Qiu would like to thank the princess on Jingning's behalf." Having said that, Su Jingning had no choice but to accept the gift. She thought that she would have a chance to return the gift to Gu Yan'an later.

Nanny Qiu nodded with satisfaction. The second young lady of the Su family was stunningly beautiful, dignified and elegant. She was a perfect match for Master Gu. No wonder the eldest princess liked her. It was a pity that she was just a little weak.

After seeing off Aunt Qiu, Duke Zhenguo and Su Jingchen just came back from court. Looking at the gifts in the hall, Duke Zhenguo asked a question, and when he heard that they were sent by Princess Xuanhe, he didn't ask any more questions and went to the study.

Su Jingning felt that the Duke of Zhenguo was worried, so he stopped Su Jingchen who was about to leave and chased after him:

"Brother, what's wrong with Dad? What did he say at the court meeting today?"

Su Jingchen hesitated for a while and said:

"Nothing much, it's just that at the court today, His Majesty demoted Marquis Weiyuan to Earl Weiyuan and reprimanded Prime Minister Liu."

"Why? Could it be that the assassination of Prince Chen yesterday has something to do with them?" Su Jingning asked.

"No, it's because the prince of Beiyang Palace, Gu Yan'an, has returned to the capital. Marquis Weiyuan reported to the king of Beiyang that the Beiyang Palace had its own army and that the king of Beiyang had not returned to the capital for five years, ignoring the emperor's authority. He wanted Your Majesty to punish the Beiyang Palace and take away the king's military power. Prime Minister Lin also echoed a few words. Unexpectedly, Your Majesty was furious and said that the king of Beiyang had devoted himself to the country and protected the border of the Great Zhou. Unexpectedly, this was met with suspicion and impeachment from his colleagues. Your Majesty immediately appointed the prince of Beiyang as the second-rank imperial general, shutting up those civil officials."

Su Jingning frowned. No wonder his father looked a little absent-minded.

"They have implicated the King of Beiyang, so they are also implicating my Zhenguo Mansion. Second and Third Uncles have won a great victory over Xiliang this time, and they will surely be promoted after returning to the capital. The Su family is full of talented generals and has been favored for a hundred years, but they have always remained neutral and never participated in party disputes. Those people are probably very jealous now, and want to remind Your Majesty to be wary of the Su family and reduce their power."

"Yes, now the court is divided into two factions, the Crown Prince and the Prince of Chen. Both parties want to win over my father, but he has rejected them many times, which is considered to be an offense to them. Now that Second Uncle and Third Uncle have returned after making contributions, I'm afraid that the Su family will be stared at by countless eyes." Su Jingchen frowned, very worried.

"A big tree attracts the wind. Even though my father has been with Your Majesty since he was young and Your Majesty trusts him, if too many people do not want the best for the Su family, Your Majesty will not be able to protect the Su family. So my second and third uncles cannot and must not accept this military achievement." Su Jingning lowered his head and looked at Chenxin Lake in the distance, his voice was cold and calm.

"What should we do? His Majesty will definitely reward the Su family this time." Su Jingchen frowned, feeling annoyed.

"I can't ask for the title, but I can ask for the reward. As long as no one in the Su family can be promoted this time, and only ask Your Majesty for some gold, silver and treasures, then there will be fewer eyes on the Su family." Su Jingning said softly.

"But despite this, the Su family still controls a large number of troops, and I'm afraid that someone will still be able to find something to hold against them." Su Jingchen had thought about this.

"After Xiliang's great defeat this time, I'm afraid they won't have the strength to fight again within two years, and the western border will be much more peaceful. Second uncle, third uncle, and my brothers haven't been home for a long time, so we can let them stay in the capital for a few more days this time." Su Jingning looked at Su Jingchen seriously, his almond-shaped eyes bright.

"What do you want to do?" Su Jingchen asked with an idea in his mind.

"Hand over the Su family's military power in the western border, and we will weaken the Su family's military strength ourselves. In this way, the Su family's strength will be greatly reduced, and it will no longer be the target of those people." Su Jingning's voice was light but firm.

She could only hand over the military power for two years, because she knew that two years later, Xiliang would train a group of wolf trainers who could control wolves into battle and become famous in one battle. Her third uncle and the fifth and sixth brothers fought desperately to protect the border of the Great Zhou, but her third uncle died in the battle, and the fifth and sixth brothers were seriously injured and their lives were in danger. They were finally rescued.

Handing over the military power might help save her third uncle and her two brothers.

Su Jingchen's brows relaxed and he smiled at Su Jingning.

"Handing over the military power of the Western Territory means handing over two-thirds of the Su family's military power. But apart from the Su family, no one else knows that the soldiers in the Northern Territory are the Su family's personal soldiers. They are the elite division of the Su family army. One division can stop thousands of troops. Ning'er, you are really smart!"

"Of course, brother, don't you see where my master came from?" Su Jingning raised his chin, looking somewhat proud.

Su Jingchen looked at his sister lovingly, feeling proud. Although his sister seemed frail and sickly, no one in the Su family could compare to her in terms of strategy.

She is the last disciple of Master Mo Linyuan. Mo Linyuan cultivates talented scholars and martial artists for the world outside the four kingdoms. She is a place that students of both literature and martial arts from all over the world flock to. However, Mo Linyuan has strict conditions for accepting disciples, and very few people can become disciples of Mo Linyuan's outer sect.

But if they return after completing their studies, which student would not be a world-famous genius? For example, the young national teacher of Nanyue, You Baishu, the general of Beiyan, Shan Luohan, and the fifth princess of the current emperor, Mu Xi, are all outer disciples of Mo Linyuan. But none of them are as good as Ning'er, who is the personal disciple of Master Mo Linyuan, and her seniority is much higher than those people. Unfortunately, Ning'er doesn't like to show off. Only she, her father, and Mo know about this in the Su family. Even her mother doesn't know about it.