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

While Jia Yu and Han Xing were discussing, Chu Ning also received news from the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

In the Chu State Imperial Palace, inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Chu Ning sat alone at the desk, holding a scroll of bamboo slips in his hands, but he was unable to turn a page for a long time.

The flickering candlelight cast his slender figure on the wall, making him look particularly lonely.

Tomorrow is the day of the emperor's funeral, and the entire palace is shrouded in solemnity.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard outside the hall.

Zhao Yu walked in quickly, holding a secret letter and knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty, the Jinyiwei has an urgent message!"

Chu Ning put down the bamboo slips, took the secret letter and quickly read it.

Under the candlelight, his face grew increasingly gloomy, and finally he slammed the secret letter on the table:

"What a jerk Liu Che! How dare he team up with the Tang Dynasty to take advantage of the situation!"

Zhao Yu lowered his head and dared not speak.

The hall was silent for a moment, with only a few sparks from the candlelight occasionally popping up.

Chu Ning stood up, walked to the window and pushed it open.

The night wind, mixed with drizzle, blew in, bringing a chill. In the distance, the lights of the imperial palace appeared hazy and distant in the rain.

"Is Chu Kuang stationed in the east?" Chu Ning suddenly spoke in a cold voice.

"Your Majesty, that's right."

Zhao Yu asked carefully, "Should we send Lord Jia and General Ma Chao to assist?"

Chu Ning snorted coldly, and tapped the window frame lightly with his slender fingers: "My Thirteenth Brother won't listen to anyone except me."

He turned to look at Zhao Yu, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes: "It's better to let Jia Yu go. With him around, I can feel more at ease."

Zhao Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "Your Majesty is wise."

"Preach my will."

Chu Ning walked back to the desk, picked up his pen and dipped it in ink. "Order Han Xing to take full responsibility for the defense of the western front. Jia Yu will immediately go to the eastern front. In addition..."

He paused, his brushstrokes smearing across the paper. "Mobilize the White Horse Cavalry and be ready to reinforce the front lines."

"Yes!" Zhao Yu bowed and accepted the order.

Chu Ning put down his pen and looked out the window at the rainy night. "After the funeral tomorrow, I will personally hunt down the late emperor's assassin."

His voice grew colder and colder, until he practically squeezed out his words through his teeth: "Since the Han and Tang dynasties have openly joined forces, don't blame me for being rude!"

A flash of lightning streaked across the night sky, instantly illuminating Chu Ning's stern face.

Thunder rolled in, as if the heavens were responding to the young emperor's anger.

Zhao Yu couldn't help but shudder and whispered, "Your Majesty, it's getting late. The funeral will be held tomorrow."

"I know." Chu Ning waved his hand: "You can leave first."

Zhao Yu bowed and left the Yangxin Palace, closing the door gently.

Inside the hall, Chu Ning stood alone in front of the map, his finger slowly sliding across the territories of the Han and Tang dynasties, a dangerous light flashing in his eyes.

The rain is getting heavier.

The sound of rain outside the palace gradually subsided, but the sound of water dripping from the eaves became clearer and clearer, like the sound of a night watch in the silent night.

Chu Ning stood in front of the window, looking at the halo of palace lanterns in the distance that was blurred in the rain and fog, with a lot of thoughts in his mind.

The flickering candlelight on the table stretched his lonely figure very long, swaying slightly on the bluestone floor.

Suddenly, there was a sound of light footsteps behind me, accompanied by the sound of jingling bells.

The footsteps were deliberately made very light, as if afraid of disturbing his thoughts.

Chu Ning turned around and saw Queen Shen Wanying coming slowly from the side hall, holding a celadon bowl in her hand, with wisps of steam still coming out of the bowl.

"Your Majesty, it's so late, I'm sure you're tired."

Shen Wanying's voice was as gentle as water, and was particularly clear in the silent hall.

She was wearing a plain palace dress today, with only a white jade hairpin in her hair, which made her look particularly simple.

Tomorrow is the day of the late emperor's funeral, and she is dressed in a way that is both solemn and decent.

Chu Ning's eyes fell on the celadon bowl in her hand. In the bowl was a thick lotus seed soup. A few plump lotus seeds floated on the surface, emitting a faint fragrance.

He nodded slightly and took it. "This was made by the Queen herself, right?"

Although it was a question, the tone was very affirmative.

Shen Wanying nodded, two small dimples appearing at the corners of her eyes. "I heard that Your Majesty was still in the Yangxin Palace so late, and I was worried that you would be hungry, so I went to the imperial kitchen to make lotus seed soup."

Her fingers were long and white, and her nails were trimmed neatly and roundly, but at this moment, her fingertips were slightly red, obviously from the heat when she was busy in the kitchen just now.

Chu Ning lowered his head and took a few sips. The temperature of the lotus seed soup was just right, neither hot nor cold, and the sweetness was just right for his taste.

He looked up at Shen Wanying and found that there was a faint blue tint in her eyes. It was obvious that she had not had a good rest in the past few days.

At this moment, Shen Wanying took out a written list from her sleeve and presented it with both hands: "This is the list of names for tomorrow's funeral. Because there are too many people in the palace, it has been divided into three groups."

Her voice was soft, but every word was clear. "The first group is the royal family and ministers, the second group is the concubines and female officials in the harem, and the third group is the palace maids and guards."

Chu Ning put down the lotus seed soup and took the memorial.

The paper felt slightly cool to the touch, and the handwriting on it was neat and beautiful, obviously written by Shen Wanying herself.

He casually glanced through it and noticed that every detail was arranged in an orderly manner, even everyone's position was clearly marked.

"Just follow what's on here."

Chu Ning closed the memorial, his voice filled with fatigue: "You and Wu Zhao have worked hard these past few days. Go to bed early tonight."

Shen Wanying was slightly startled when she heard this, and frowned slightly: "Your Majesty, won't you rest?"

Her eyes fell on Chu Ning's face and she noticed that the shadows under his eyes were darker than in the past few days.

Chu Ning shook his head, turned around and looked out the window again: "I can't sleep."

His voice was so soft that it almost disappeared in the night wind.

The hall was silent for a moment, with only the occasional crackle of the candlelight.

Shen Wanying looked at her husband's tall but lonely back, and a pang of sadness welled up in her heart.

She understood Chu Ning's complicated feelings at the moment - the late emperor was his father after all. Although there were so many grievances between them, and although the late emperor once wanted to kill him, how could the blood-related family ties be so easily severed?

Thinking of this, Shen Wanying stepped forward and gently pulled Chu Ning's arm.

Her movements were gentle, but with a firmness that brooked no refusal: "I will accompany you."

Chu Ning turned to look at her. Under the candlelight, Shen Wanying's eyes flashed with determination.

He reached out and held her slightly cold hand: "Queen, you should go and rest. It's a long way to the imperial mausoleum, and I'm worried that you won't be able to handle it."

"Do not."

Shen Wanying's voice was soft but firm. This was the first time she had so clearly disobeyed Chu Ning's wishes.

"If Your Majesty doesn't go to rest, I won't go either." Her fingers tightened slightly, and a warm touch came from her fingertips.

Chu Ning looked at his wife's determined eyes, and a soft spot in his heart was gently touched.

He knew Shen Wanying's character. She was usually gentle and never argued with anyone, but once she made up her mind, nothing could change it.

The gleam in her eyes at this moment reminded him of the scene when they first met many years ago - at that time, she also seemed weak but had a strong heart.

"Okay." Chu Ning finally compromised and put down the memorial in his hand: "I will go with you."

A faint smile bloomed on Shen Wanying's face, like the first bloom of a nightshade.

She turned and walked towards the palace gate, and ordered the palace maids guarding outside to prepare hot water and clean pajamas.

Chu Ning looked at her busy figure, and the depression in his heart seemed to ease a little.

Outside the hall, the last drop of rain fell from the eaves, making a crisp sound.

The night wind blew through the crabapple tree in the courtyard, bringing a rustling sound, as if it was singing softly for this sleepless night.