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

After the morning court session, Chu Ning returned to the Yangxin Palace with heavy steps.

Last night's bloody fight and the verbal battles in the court had exhausted him both physically and mentally.

When he pushed open the door of the hall, a light scent of sandalwood wafted in his face, slightly soothing his tense nerves.

"Your Majesty is back?" A gentle voice came from the inner room.

Queen Shen Wanying walked up to him with a bowl of lotus seed soup in her hand.

She was wearing a lavender palace dress today, with her hair simply tied up in a bun and only a white jade hairpin in her hair, looking dignified and elegant.

"I heard you didn't come home all night, and I thought you must be hungry, so I made some lotus seed soup for you. Please enjoy it while it's hot."

She handed the celadon bowl to Chu Ning, and her fingertips accidentally touched the back of his hand, which was as warm and cool as jade.

Chu Ning took the bowl and felt the warmth from the bowl wall with his fingertips. He looked down and saw that the lotus seed soup was cooked to the right thickness with a few wolfberries floating on top. It was obvious that a lot of thought had gone into it.

His heart warmed, and he smiled and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Queen."

After saying that, he raised his head and drank it all in one gulp.

The sweet fragrance of the lotus seed soup melts in your mouth, and the warm soup slides down your throat, dispelling the chill of the night.

"Drink slowly," Shen Wanying frowned slightly when she saw him drinking eagerly. "If it's not enough, I'll have someone bring another bowl."

Chu Ning put down the empty bowl and laughed out loud, "No need, this bowl is enough."

He wiped the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief and suddenly changed the subject: "The Queen came to see me at this hour, surely it's about the Emperor Emeritus?"

He knew Shen Wanying's personality too well. If there was nothing wrong, she would hardly take the initiative to look for him.

Since he came to me on his own initiative, it must be about the matter of the retired emperor.

Upon hearing this, Shen Wanying sighed.

When she woke up this morning, she heard a commotion in the palace. She went to the side hall to check and found that it was the imprisoned emperor.

At that moment, she had mixed feelings - she was relieved that her husband was safe, but also saddened by the situation of father and son killing each other.

"Your Majesty," she said, choosing her words carefully, "After all, the Emperor Retired was once the Emperor of Chu. Now that you have captured him, have you considered how to deal with the discussions within the court and the public?"

What she was most worried about was that if this matter got out, it would affect Chu Ning's reputation and even shake the country's foundation.

This matter is of great importance. As the Queen of Chu, she naturally cannot stay out of it.

Chu Ning knew her concerns and stepped forward to hold her slightly cold hands. He said softly, "I have ordered Deng Hongwen to send him to the imperial mausoleum. He is not allowed to return to the capital in this lifetime."

His thumb gently stroked the back of her hand, both soothing and reassuring.

Shen Wanying's expression changed slightly. "I'm afraid this move will be criticized. Has Your Majesty really thought it through?"

Sending the retired emperor to the imperial mausoleum is a disguised form of house arrest!

As the saying goes, rumors are scary. Once the news gets out, it will be very disadvantageous to Chu Ning.

"The crimes he committed are enough to warrant ten beheadings."

Chu Ning's expression was stern, and a cold light flashed in his eyes: "I have done my utmost to be kind by not killing him."

This time, he had the intention to kill, but in the end, because of their father-son relationship, he chose not to kill the other party.

Seeing her husband's determination, Shen Wanying sighed softly, "Since that's the case, I'd like to take the Vice Queen and our two children to see the Retired Emperor off."

She raised her eyes to look at Chu Ning, with pleading in her eyes: "After all...he was our father!"

Chu Ning was silent for a moment, and finally nodded: "I will go with you."

He turned to the eunuchs standing outside and ordered, "Go and invite the Vice Empress, Princess Xiuning, and the First Prince over."

Soon, Wu Zhao came to the front of the palace, holding the five-year-old Chu Tian and the eight-year-old Wu Xiuning.

Wu Zhao specially changed into a plain dress today and wore only a silver hairpin in her hair, which made her look particularly solemn.

The two children seemed to sense the solemnity of the atmosphere and stood aside obediently, not daring to play around.

It was a chilly March day. When the group arrived at the palace gate, a cold wind blew fine snowflakes in their faces.

Shen Wanying subconsciously pulled Chu Tian's cloak closer, and Wu Zhao also brought Wu Xiuning to her side.

Outside the palace gate, a simple carriage was parked quietly, surrounded by solemn imperial guards.

Minister of Rites Deng Hongwen was directing the guards to carry the luggage. When he saw the emperor arriving, he hurried forward to pay his respects.

Inside the carriage, Chu Huai heard the noise and suddenly opened the curtain.

When he saw Chu Ning and his group, a complicated look flashed in his eyes, and then he sneered:

"Why, come and see me make fun of you?"

Chu Ning shook his head: "I am here to see you off for the last time."

His voice was terrifyingly calm. "Once you return to the imperial mausoleum, you will never be allowed to return to the capital. After a hundred years, I will personally bury you."

These words were like a sharp blade, piercing Chu Huai's face and turning pale.

Just as the atmosphere was tense, Shen Wanying spoke softly, "Grand Emperor, the imperial mausoleum is located deep in the mountains. I have prepared some warm clothes for you."

She signaled her maid to present a package containing thick mink fur and cotton clothes.

Wu Zhao also stepped forward and said, "I have prepared some medicinal herbs for health preservation. I hope Your Majesty takes care of himself."

She handed over an exquisite sandalwood box containing precious medicinal herbs such as ginseng and Ganoderma lucidum.

The most touching thing is the two children.

Wu Xiuning took Chu Tian's hand and walked to the carriage with a food box in his hand: "Grandpa Emperor, this is the cake that my brother Tian'er and I prepared for you."

The food box is neatly filled with sweet-scented osmanthus cake, almond cake and other snacks, which are the children's favorite foods.

Chu Huai looked at the two innocent children, and his cold expression finally relaxed.

He reached out to take the food box, his voice a little hoarse: "Good children, the future of Chu depends on you."

After saying that, he looked at Chu Ning deeply, suddenly lowered the curtain, and said coldly: "Let's go!"

Deng Hongwen looked at Chu Ning, and after getting his approval, he announced loudly: "Let's go!"

The convoy slowly drove out of the palace gate, making a dull sound as it rolled over the bluestone road.

Chu Ning stood there, looking at the carriage moving further and further away, feeling mixed emotions.

Shen Wanying gently held his hand and found that his palm was cold.

"Go back to the palace."

Chu Ning finally said, and when he turned around, a raindrop fell on his eyelashes and disappeared in an instant.

Chu Tian raised his little face and asked innocently, "Father, when will Grandpa Taishanghuang come back?"

Chu Ning squatted down, gathered his son's cloak, and said softly, "When spring comes and the flowers bloom, Grandpa will come back to see you."

This lie made Shen Wanying and Wu Zhao turn their heads away at the same time.

Chu Tian nodded ignorantly, pointed to the sky and said: "When the snow stops, spring will come!"

Chu Ning stood up, looked at the gray sky, and murmured, "Yes, the snow will stop eventually."

The group slowly walked back to the palace gate, leaving behind only the tracks of the departing carriage, which were soon covered by freshly fallen snow, as if nothing had happened.

Only the flags on the palace walls fluttered in the cold wind, witnessing the moment of power change in this dynasty.