The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

"He passed away." Although Duan Qingning already had a guess in her mind, when she heard Ruan Yuhu say it, her mood was still extremely depressed.

The reason why Duan Qingning is able to live until now is all thanks to Xuanwu's protection and care over the years.

But before she could repay the favor, Xuanwu was gone, and she had one more regret in her heart.

"Growing old, sickness and death are all normal in life. Although I can't repay his kindness, he still has his family. It would be the same if I repay his kindness to them."

Ruan Yuhu knew very well how Duan Qingning felt at this moment. She had experienced too many such regrets.

"I hope you won't tell anyone else what I've said today, especially not Chao Yun. I owe her too much. I just want to be by her side for the rest of my life. I don't dare to have any other extravagant hopes."

Chaoyun is now Duan Qingning's only relative, so she is bound to worry about gains and losses and think about the consequences.

Ruan Yuhu nodded and said, "Okay, I promise you."

"The imperial physician will come soon to treat your eyes. Being able to see is better than being blind."

"You've found your daughter after so much trouble. You should definitely see what she looks like. Don't let yourself have any regrets."

"You will be with Chaoyun from now on, and we will never be separated again."

"Since I have already promised you to avenge you, I will never break my promise to you."

"I'll have Qian Wanhe delivered to you in two days. You can do whatever you want with him."

"Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you that the Qian family has fallen. It was done by the Queen's second brother, Shen Tingzhi, the second son of the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion."

"As for Nanchu, you won't have to wait too long. When the time comes, both Duan Zhengwen and Chao Heran will deliver it to you."

"My request is not much. You can make poison, and I need to use the poison you make to deal with the people in Nanchu."

"Our cooperation is mutually beneficial. Once this is settled, I'll set you free and you can take Chaoyun with you to wherever you want to go."

Nanchu is originally a place full of miasma, and most of the people there are proficient in making poisons. If you don't have something that can subdue them, it will be difficult to defeat them.

Ruan Yuhu was very clear about this. After all, in that battle, if Yun Li had not bribed the then national teacher of Nanchu and used him to poison the people of Nanchu, Yun Li would have had no chance of winning.

It is an indisputable fact that only by using the method of giving someone a taste of their own medicine can we fight against and defeat Nan Chu.

"Okay, no problem. Once Chaoyun's condition stabilizes, I will begin preparations. I will definitely not let you and the Queen down."

After so many years of pain and torture, Duan Qingning no longer had any regard for family and country.

All she thinks about now is how to take revenge. Nanchu is no longer her home.

After leaving Chaoyun's residence and returning to her own residence, Ruan Yuhu felt a little heavy-hearted. Duan Qingning's experience made her recall those past events that pierced her heart.

Seeing that Ruan Yuhu was in a bad mood, Ju Ruo didn't dare to ask any more questions, but just stayed by her side silently.

When Shen Tianjiao finished handling government affairs, it was already time for lunch.

Before Shen Tianjiao started to eat, she heard Chunchao report that Juruo had just sent someone to ask Shen Tianjiao to come over when she finished her government affairs.

It is said that Ruan Yuhu has been in a bad mood since he came back from Duan Qingning, and has been sitting in a daze without saying a word.

Shen Tianjiao turned around and ordered, "Let's go to Qinghe Garden."

Throughout the journey, Shen Tianjiao's heart was never at peace. After all, Ruan Yuhu was not an ordinary woman. She would never let her mood be affected by some insignificant little things.

Anything that can affect Ruan Yuhu's mood and influence her emotions must not be a trivial matter.

When Ruan Yuhu saw Shen Tianjiao coming, she was a little surprised why Shen Tianjiao came suddenly.

But then she understood. It must be that Ju Ruo saw her like this and was worried, so she called Shen Tianjiao over.

This Ju Ruo, now we have a hold on her vital point, and her courage is growing bigger and bigger.

Ruan Yuhu turned around and glared at Ju Ruo, but Ju Ruo pretended not to see anything and kept her head down without saying a word.

"What's wrong with Auntie? Why are you in a bad mood all of a sudden?"

Shen Tianjiao looked at Ruan Yuhu and asked straight to the point. Given their current relationship, there was really no need to be polite.

Ruan Yuhu may not tell others about Duan Qingning's affairs, but Shen Tianjiao must know.

Ruan Yuhu waved her hand, and all the people serving her and Shen Tianjiao went down.

When only Shen Tianjiao and Ruan Yuhu were left in the room, Ruan Yuhu told her everything about Duan Qingning.

After hearing this, Shen Tianjiao couldn't help but sigh. She didn't expect that Duan Qingning had such a painful story.

What she didn't expect was that Chao Yun was actually Duan Qingning's daughter.

This made Shen Tianjiao sigh that things in this world are really unpredictable.

Shen Tianjiao was also very glad at this time that she did not take Chao Yun's life but kept her. Otherwise, not to mention that her father and elder brother would be beyond saving, she would also lose Duan Qingning, the powerful assist.

"Both mother and daughter are pitiful people. The mother suffered misfortune because of her beauty, and the daughter became what she is today because of her miserable life experience."

Shen Tianjiao couldn't help but sigh at the experiences of Duan Qingning and Chao Yun, mother and daughter. They should have been pampered flowers in the boudoir, but in the end, they suffered all the pain in the world because of human greed and evil.

"Yes, but now that they can be reunited as mother and daughter, it can be considered a happy ending after all the hardships."

"Duan Qingning has already agreed to assist us. With her help, it won't be difficult for you to conquer Nanchu in the future."

"Although Nanchu is a small and remote country, it has never stopped harassing Yunli since its founding."

"Instead of letting it constantly stir up trouble and harass us, it would be better to subdue it and make it a part of Yunli, so that it will behave itself from now on and not be able to cause any trouble."

"Although not everyone in Southern Chu is an expert in making poisons, when they fight against other nations, poison is the most common way they use it to win."

"Many years ago, when we fought against them, we suffered heavy losses in this regard. Many soldiers died not on the battlefield, but from the poison they administered."

"If it weren't for the then-leader Yan Yun, who saw the situation was out of control and came up with a dirty trick, bribing their imperial teacher with a large amount of beauties and money."

"If we allow their national master to cooperate with us from the inside and outside to turn defeat into victory, I'm afraid our Yunli country will be in jeopardy."

Although Nguyen Ngoc Hu did not go to the battlefield at that time to witness the cruelty of the war in person, all the urgent reports sent back from the border were handled by Nguyen Ngoc Hu.

Ruan Yuhu still can't forget the panic, fear and helplessness revealed in the urgent reports sent back by Yan Yun. She still remembers it.

It was also thanks to the fact that at that time, the late emperor knew that the situation in Southern Chu was critical and was afraid that something might happen if the Marquis of Zhenbei went there, so he resisted the advice of those court officials and resolutely refused to allow the Marquis of Zhenbei to go to Southern Chu.

Instead, he chose Yan Yun, who had retired at home, and asked him to lead the troops to war.

Otherwise, with the integrity of the Marquis of Zhenbei, he would only choose to confront those people from Nanchu head-on, and would never listen to others' advice to bribe the national teacher of Nanchu with beauties and money to make him work with him from inside and outside.

Shen Tianjiao couldn't help but sigh. Nan Chu was indeed a tough nut to crack. Although there hadn't been any major disputes between the two countries in recent years, there were constant minor frictions, which was enough to cause a headache.

"Aunt, go talk to Duan Qingning about Chao Yun's master, Lady Yu."

"The people we sent to Nanchu have not yet reported back any news. I will never feel at ease until I find out the details of this Lady Yu."

"Duan Qingning was born in Nanchu, maybe she knows something about this Jade Lady."

"Madam Yu is Chao Yun's master. I'm sure Duan Qingning is also very interested in her. Maybe he can find out something from her."

Neither Yu Niangzi nor Liu Mei was as lucky as Chao Yun. They were both imprisoned in the prison for a short time and died before anyone could get anything out of them.

Once the two of them died, the clue was gone. Without the clue, it would be very difficult to investigate this matter.

"Okay, I'll go talk to Duan Qingning some other day."

"Jiaojiao, don't worry about this. There is no such thing as an impenetrable wall in this world. If you take your time, you will be able to find out the truth."

Ruan Yuhu knew that although Shen Tianjiao didn't say it these days, she was very anxious and angry about Nan Chu's matter.

"Yeah, okay." Shen Tianjiao didn't know what was wrong with her. She always had an indescribable feeling in her heart about Nan Chu.

I always feel like there is some big conspiracy waiting for me.

"Duan Qingning doesn't want to tell Chaoyun her true identity, so let her be. After all, they will have a lot of time to spend together in the future, so let them solve this matter themselves."

"I have already promised Duan Qingning that I will send Qian Wanhe to her in two days for her to deal with."

"So I think we should let Duan Qingning and Chao Yun move to a quieter place."

"I don't want her to deal with Qian Wanhe in Yuxiu Palace. I'd feel sick if that kind of person's blood were to flow in Yuxiu Palace."

"Also, giving them a quiet environment will help them recover from their illnesses and injuries."

Although Ruan Yuhu was not a soft-hearted person, she still could not accept the fact that Duan Qingning killed someone in Yuxiu Palace, especially when that person was Qian Wanhe.

To survive in this harem, killing is sometimes a means of self-protection.

However, Ruan Yuhu did not want the Yuxiu Palace to be tainted with blood.

"No problem, aunt, you can handle this kind of thing."

Shen Tianjiao is busy dealing with government affairs all day long, so how can she have the time to take care of such things?

"Also, Duan Qingning said she can make medicine to prolong Li Zhaohui's life, and we can get the medicine in three days. As long as Li Zhaohui is safe within these three days, then our plan can proceed smoothly."

Of course, Ruan Yuhu knew what Shen Tianjiao cared about most, so he brought it up at the end.

As expected, as soon as Ruan Yuhu said this, Shen Tianjiao's eyes lit up. She looked up at Ruan Yuhu and asked, "Is this true?"

"Yes, it's absolutely true. It couldn't be more true."

Ruan Yuhu smiled and looked at Shen Tianjiao and said, "Now you don't have to worry about anything. Just plan your strategy and think about how to defeat Li Zhaohui."

"Leave the rest to me so you don't have to worry about anything."

"Well, thank you for your hard work, aunt." A big stone in her heart fell to the ground. Shen Tianjiao was in a good mood and felt a lot more relaxed.

"Spring tide sets the table."

When people are in a good mood, their appetite will naturally come. Shen Tianjiao now feels that she can eat a whole cow.

"Yes." Chunchao received the order outside and immediately took action.

Seeing Shen Tianjiao's happy expression, Ruan Yuhu felt happy too.

"Hasn't that girl Qiong Niang come back yet?"

"Oh, he hasn't come back yet. Maybe we have to wait another two days."

"Mrs. Wang's health is not good to begin with. She needs to be more careful, especially during this period of fluctuating weather."

"I heard from Doctor Zhang that this is asthma caused by cold. The condition can be serious or minor, it depends on how you take care of it."

"As a daughter, Qiong Niang is naturally better at taking care of than others, so I let her stay and wait until Madam Wang's illness is completely cured before letting her come back."

Ever since Madam Wang fell ill this time, Shen Tianjiao asked Qiong Niang to leave the palace to take care of her.

Although Shen Tianjiao is in need of someone right now, filial piety cannot wait, so Qiong Niang has not been in the palace for some time, but has been taking care of her mother in the First-class Building.

"Du, Jiaojiao, you still need to train some more people around you."

"There will definitely be more and more things to deal with in the future. It will be very difficult without some capable people around me."

Ruan Yuhu knows best the difficulty of having no one around to help.

Therefore, she didn't want Shen Tianjiao to go through the difficulties she had experienced again.

"Yes, it's true that these few girls are not enough for me. A few days ago, Chunchao returned to the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion, and Xia He was the only one left by my side. It really made her very hard."

Shen Tianjiao looked up at Ruan Yuhu and said, "Aunt, how about you pick some people to train so that you can use them when needed in the future?"

"Okay, leave this to me. I'll select and train the people myself."

Ruan Yuhu agreed immediately and did not reject Shen Tianjiao's proposal.

Her life is indeed a bit boring now, and finding something to do can change her mood.

In the past, Ruan Yuhu only had revenge in her mind, but now, in addition to revenge, she also has concerns.