Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

The alliance of the four countries is successful, and the world situation is about to undergo tremendous changes.

After learning of such a major event, the Jinyiwei did not dare to neglect it and immediately sent the matter to the State of Chu by carrier pigeon.

At this time, Chu Ning was accompanying Shen Wanying.

As the spring rain slanted across the corner tower of the imperial city, Chu Ning's black carriage was rolling over the bluestone slabs of Suzaku Street.

The scale armor of the eight white horse cavalrymen shone coldly in the twilight. The sound of their iron boots, which they tried to make quietly, still startled the crows on the dead branches beside the road and made them fly up.

"Your Majesty, there is a mass grave ahead."

Zhao Yu's hand that was about to lift the curtain paused, and the jade cicada pendant hanging on the hook of the golden curtain made a slight clinking sound.

Chu Ning turned his head to look at Shen Wanying who was curled up in the corner. The twin lotus embroidered with silver thread on her moon-white skirt had long since lost its luster. The silver hairpin in her hair was crooked, revealing a few strands of dry black hair.

As the wheels rolled over the gravel, Shen Wanying suddenly trembled violently.

She tightly grasped the broken fish-shaped jade pendant around her waist - that was the only relic left by Shen Zhengqing.

Chu Ning took off the black fox cloak and was about to put it on her, but stopped when it touched her thin shoulders.

Chu Ning's Adam's apple moved, and he finally folded the cloak on the brocade mat between the two of them.

The weeds at the mass grave were knee-high. When Shen Wanying staggered toward the new grave, the pearls on her embroidered shoes that were covered in mud suddenly fell off.

The tombstone was made of rough bluestone, and the three characters "Shen Zhengqing" carved with a knife were still tinged with dark red, like blood splashed on it.

"Zhengqing, you are so confused!"

Shen Wanying's nails dug deeply into the cracks on the stele, and the jade bracelet on her wrist hit the bluestone and broke into two pieces.

"I clearly told you that as long as you follow His Highness's arrangements, you will definitely have a bright future..."

She suddenly grabbed a handful of soil and threw it at the tombstone, and the fine sand mixed with tears formed grooves on her face.

"Why did you collude with the remnants of the Zhao Kingdom? Why did you assassinate the son of a senior official in the court?"

"You brought this upon yourself!"

The spring breeze blew up the ashes of paper money, and Chu Ning silently looked at the crazy back.

He really wanted to step forward and persuade her, but he didn't know how.

After all, it was he who captured Shen Zhengqing personally.

It was also with his permission that Shen Zhengqing was killed by Dugu Xin and others.

"You said you would follow my arrangements, is this the arrangement you followed?"

Shen Wanying suddenly laughed sadly, ripped off the jade pendant from her waist and smashed it into the grave. "Now you have turned into a pile of yellow earth. You are gone!"

The sound of breaking jade startled the crows roosting on the old tree. She collapsed in the mud, her moon-white skirt soaked in the dark red blood mud.

Chu Ning's palm suddenly touched her trembling back, but the warm hand made Shen Wanying shiver.

"The man is dead, and his faults are over. You don't have to be so sad for him."

Just at this moment, the setting sun penetrated the clouds, illuminating Shen Wanying's tear-stained face.

As dusk fell, the palace lanterns lit up one after another. Shen Wanying looked at the winding dragon-like shadows of the lanterns and suddenly reached out and touched the cold tombstone:

"Go in peace. May you be born into an ordinary family in your next life, away from disputes."

After saying this, she turned around and left resolutely.

She understood that Chu Ning was already risking offending the ministers by collecting Shen Zhengqing's body.

She would no longer have any other luxuries, and would not come here to worship again in the future, so as not to cause trouble for Chu Ning.

On the way back to the palace, Chu Ning looked at the rising stars outside the window and suddenly said, "If you think this place is not suitable, I can order someone to bury him in a Feng Shui treasure land."

But Shen Wanying shook her head repeatedly when she heard this: "No need, this is the path he chose, and the end is what he deserves."

After she finished speaking, she reached out and hugged Chu Ning's arm, and said softly: "I'm tired, go back and rest."

Chu Ning nodded slightly, signaling the carriage to speed back.

An hour later, in the back hall of the East Palace.

The air in the hall was filled with incense. Chu Ning looked at Shen Wanying sleeping soundly on the bed and breathed a sigh of relief.

The biggest threat hiding around me has finally been eliminated.

In fact, he always knew what Shen Zhengqing was doing, but he just had no evidence.

In that case, even if Shen Wanying was told, she would not believe it, and might even tell Shen Zhengqing, thus alerting the enemy.

So, he kept waiting.

Wait for Shen Zhengqing to take the initiative and wait for the other party to show his true colors.

Now that Shen Zhengqing has been dealt with, he no longer has to worry about anyone threatening Shen Wanying's safety.

Shen Wanying also understood this after hearing what Shen Zhengqing said, so she didn't dwell on it too much.

Visiting the graves to pay respects is just an expression of affection as a family member.

From now on, Shen Wanying will not go there again.

Because that would cause dissatisfaction among Dugu Xin and others.

While Chu Ning was deep in thought, Zhao Yu's voice suddenly came from outside the palace: "Your Highness, Lord Jia wants to see you. He said he has something urgent to report."

Chu Ning frowned and turned to look at the sky outside the palace.

When he realized it was already the hour of Xu, he said in a deep voice, "I will be there right away."

It must be no small matter for Jia Yu to come and report in the middle of the night.

A quarter of an hour later, Chu Ning arrived at the main hall.

"See His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Jia Yu's face was solemn, and he saluted: "The alliance of the four countries was successful. The Tang Dynasty agreed to send 50,000 troops to help Wei defend the country!"

As he spoke, he handed over the message he had received.

Chu Ning's face changed slightly when he heard this. He quickly walked to Jia Yu, snatched the letter with his right hand, and looked at it carefully.

At this moment, the lights in the hall flickered, illuminating Chu Ning's changeable face, making him look a little more sinister.

After a long while, Chu Ning finally put down the letter in his hand and said coldly: "It seems that we still underestimated Li Shiming!"

"I thought he would not send troops to help, but would just sit back and reap the benefits. In this way, our dynasty can first conquer Jin and Wei."

"But now he is willing to send troops to assist Wei, which means we have no choice but to change our plan."

"According to the original plan, I was going to launch an attack on Jin and Wei at the same time to gain the upper hand!"

"But now that these two dynasties have the assistance of the Tang Dynasty's troops, it is difficult for our army to exert its miraculous effect if it wants to fight on two fronts."

Plans were disrupted.

If he followed the original plan, he would have taken over Jin and Wei at the same time within a year.

But once the Tang Dynasty intervenes, the plan of fighting on two fronts will definitely not work.

The combat effectiveness of the Tang army is not inferior to that of the Qin army. It is not easy to defeat the enemy.

Seeing that Jin and Wei each had a large number of soldiers and horses, if they went to war at the same time, they would have to face an army of more than 400,000 at the same time!

Even though the State of Chu is now powerful, it is still difficult to win against so many troops at once.

Thinking of this, Chu Ning made a prompt decision: "Immediately send someone to monitor the movements of the Tang army and see how many of them will assist the Wei Kingdom."

"Also, let Feng Anguo report the situation of the warships. I want to take down Wei first!"

"Since the world's situation has changed, I will also change my original plan and take down the Jin State with thunderbolts first!"

"I will make arrangements for tomorrow's morning court."