Yi Xin as a concubine

There were only mother and son in the room. Seeing his mother rubbing her neck, Ning Pei immediately walked over and massaged her neck lightly, while his mouth was not idle either.

"Mother, that's an optimistic idea. The Crown Princess and my brother have been making small moves recently. If they really let them take the throne... My Eighth Aunt is a famous figure in their eyes. It's better to be safe than sorry!"

Xi Huang'er couldn't help but sigh deeply when she heard that. She pulled her son's hand weakly and asked him to sit down.

"If we don't think positively, what else can we do? The three of us, mother and son, have no foundation and have been struggling these years. Mother really can't think of a good solution."

"What did Grandfather say?"

Ning Pei sat down with the help of his mother, his eyes shining, and asked slowly.

"During this period of time, I have been confined and taking care of your father. The situation in the palace is unclear now. How dare I move rashly?"

Xin Huang'er sighed again.

"Then I will go out of the palace in the next two days to visit my grandfather and tell them about my eighth aunt's news. If my grandfather and his family have any plans, we can cooperate with them."

The young boy, who is about fifteen or sixteen years old, has already shown a calm demeanor and is becoming more and more organized in his work. It is obvious that he has been well brought up.

"Would it be a bad idea to go out at this time?"

Although I am also worried about the safety of my eighth sister, I still have some bias towards her compared to my own children. But this is also human nature.

"I am a bastard grandson of the emperor, and I usually keep a low profile. At this moment, all eyes are on my fifth uncle and my second brother. Who would pay attention to what I am doing? Mother, don't worry!"

The speaker may not have intended it, but the listener may have taken it to heart. After Xin Huang'er heard her son's slightly self-deprecating words, she became interested and asked.

"Pei'er, you... do you want that position?"

"Mother, please stop talking nonsense. Be careful, there are ears on the other side of the wall." Ning Pei stood up and walked towards the door. He opened it carefully and stuck his head out to look outside. His servant Dazhong and his mother's maid Xier were standing far away in the corridor guarding. Only then did he feel at ease and went back into the house.

Xin Huang'er felt distressed by the boy's caution. The complicated environment made the child more mature and stable. At such a young age, he no longer had the mind to play and fight. Instead, he was cautious in everything and did not dare to make any mistakes, for fear of not being able to protect her and Yuan'er.

Seeing the tears about to fall in his mother's eyes, Ning Pei walked over and hugged his mother gently.

"Mother, I don't want to. I don't think I have the ability to take over this mess and to ensure that the people have enough food and drink."

"Mother, this time when I went hiking, I saw many refugees who were ragged and skinny. Their eyes were empty and dull, like soulless beings. Their companions died in front of them, but they didn't show much expression. The blood couldn't inspire them at all. Even when the butcher's knife of death was right in front of them, they didn't scream in fear because they had no strength. Perhaps death is a relief for them."

"How could this be?" Xin Huang'er covered her mouth in shock.

"Yes, I didn't believe it before. One time, when I was drinking tea with my second uncle, he asked me to tell him about the things happening outside Shengjing City. He told me some of it, and I realized that the land under the rule of our Ning family was already riddled with problems. There were droughts, floods, and plagues, and the people were starving and homeless."

"He said that outside Shengjing City, there were refugees gathering. Many small villages were empty. Large tracts of land were uncultivated. It was a wasteland."

"Mother, what my second uncle told me was many times more serious than what I said. I didn't believe a word of it at the time."

"Mother, I can't believe it!"

The young boy's tender face finally revealed the fear and guilt that befitted his age. His eyes, which were usually firm and steady, were now filled with confusion.

"Mother, my Ning royal family has been stationed in the imperial city for only a dozen years, and the world is already in ruins. Do we have to replace it with another monarch who only knows how to fight for power and enjoy pleasure, and let the people continue to suffer?"

"Mother, what guilt have the people committed?"

"Pei'er, you are just a child. This has nothing to do with you. Why should you blame yourself?" Xin Huang'er hugged her son, who rarely looked confused and helpless, tightly into her arms and patted his back to comfort him.

"Mother, I'm afraid. I'm afraid too! My last name is Ning too. I'm really afraid that one day the people will stop waiting to die and gather together to rise up in resistance, then rush into the palace. My last name is Ning, and I deserve to die. But what will mother and sister do then?"

"The Ning family was once a clan of heroes. I just can't understand why they have become the biggest and sharpest butcher knife in this land!"

"Mother, for a moment I thought about taking your place, but after thinking for a long time, I realized that I couldn't think of any effective way to govern the world. I couldn't feed the people, or give them a house to live in, or clothes to wear. So what use was there for that cold chair?"

"My son has such a broad mind and righteousness, which makes him better than your uncles and brothers."

"Mother, it's not enough. Now people in various places have risen up, and all the kind-hearted people have responded. Several large forces have been formed. The banners they raise are all to overthrow the rule of the Ning family and save the people from dire straits."

"The Ning Dynasty is now in a precarious situation, and the edifice is about to collapse. But look at what my grandfather is doing? What are my uncles doing? And what is my self-righteous legitimate brother doing?"

"Apart from fighting for power and profit, have they ever had a heart to save the world? In this world, in this court, do you still think that a kind heart can soothe the restless hearts of the world, and a passionate heart can quench the world's grief and indignation?"

Xin Huang'er was frightened by her son's possessed look. She stretched out her hands but didn't know how to comfort such a sad and helpless child.

I couldn't help but wonder if all the conscience of the Ning family was placed on my son alone.

It took Ning Pei a long time to come back to his senses. The boy's eyes were red. Once the emotions that had been pent up in his heart were released, he seemed to have lost all his strength and sat in the chair decadently and sluggishly.

"Pei'er, don't scare Mother. None of this is your fault. Just stop thinking about it, okay?"

Xin Huang'er hugged her son and leaned his head against her chest, trying to use her body temperature to soothe the boy's frightened heart.

This night was a bit long.

The young boy sought comfort in his mother's arms, while Ning Ye, also a young boy, was planning with his equally ambitious mother how to plot against his disabled father.

"Mother, no matter what, I must present the stone to you."

"Don't worry, son. He is a waste now. If he still monopolizes the credit and refuses to let go, the Duanmu family will not agree."

The mother and son smiled at each other, their similar brows and eyes revealing the same cold calculation.

At the same time, in the Imperial Concubine's bedroom, the Fifth Prince's face, which still had some baby fat, was filled with a lazy and comfortable smile.

"My Queen Mother, you are too impatient."

"No, my son, can't you see what the situation is now? Everyone is jumping up and down, eager to take their positions immediately, but you are the one who is so slow."

Noble Consort Xie was dressed in an elegant dress with delicate hairpins and rings on her head, and she took care of herself meticulously. Even at night, when her son was the only one in the room, she never forgot to maintain her noble and elegant demeanor.

“Mother, you look so anxious. A bad mentality can easily cause wrinkles.” The fifth prince exerted a little force with his hands and pressed his anxious mother down to sit down.

When Imperial Noble Consort Xie heard that she would get wrinkles, she was very worried and immediately took a deep breath to calm herself down. She also raised her hand and tightened her eyes and brows, as if that would make the wrinkles go away.

The fifth prince sneered in his heart but smiled on his face.

"Mother, it's not that I'm not anxious, but I can't be anxious. You know my father best and what he hates the most. He indulges in women every day because he's afraid that others will say he's old. Now he's been stimulated in Mingjue Temple and is at his most sensitive. Any action at this time will be considered a challenge to his authority, so not moving is the best action."

Noble Consort Xie was not a stupid woman, otherwise she would not have been honored and favored for so many years. She quickly figured out the reason and a charming smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.

"My son is really smart. From tomorrow on, I will concentrate on serving your good father. Let him see that only we are sincere to him."

"Then I will thank you here, mother."