NFBE Chapter 337
Chapter 337
A-Nian struggled incessantly, trying to leave the embrace he had once relied on and cherished so much. Tears streamed down his face as he tried his best to suppress his trembling. He kept pushing Nalan Jingwen away with his hands, sobbing uncontrollably.
"don't want……"
"Please... let me go..."
"I want to go back to the palace...I want to go back to the palace..."
He pleaded softly, his hoarse voice only able to utter broken syllables. Tears soaked his clothes, and he gagged painfully, his expression pained and fragile.
Nalan Jingwen had never seen him so resistant before, so he could only let him go as he wished. He stumbled to his feet and fled the place, falling down and getting up again and again, repeatedly, but he wouldn't let anyone get close.
Nalan Jingwen stood there watching his disheveled figure, then glanced away as if unable to bear it any longer, and said to a corner, "Send His Highness back to the palace safely."
A ripple appeared in the air before returning to calm. Xiao Congyu rushed to her side, looking at her in a panic, and said, "Your Highness, why...why did Your Highness suddenly come here?"
Nalan Jingwen gave her a deep look but didn't say anything. Xiao Congyu didn't understand what her look meant, but she knew she had done something wrong.
Tomorrow is the coronation ceremony, but this happened today. She knows how important His Highness's adoptive parents are to him. If His Highness is unwilling to ascend the throne because of this, or if something happens to him, she will be guilty even if she dies a thousand times.
Nalan Jingwen followed and watched as the servants safely escorted the man back to the palace. Anian pushed away the palace attendants who tried to help him and staggered into the hall. His steps were unsteady and he was about to fall. Nalan Jingwen instinctively tried to catch him, but another hand was faster than her.
Nalan Jingwen's face darkened as she watched Shen Xi carefully support Anian and ask in a low voice. Anian couldn't speak a complete sentence and could only weep silently. Her body was almost limp against Shen Xi's body, unable to support her, and she let Shen Xi help her back to the palace. Nalan Jingwen stood outside the palace, her dark and deep eyes seeming to contain a storm. As she watched the two figures gradually disappear from sight, her aura was extremely oppressive, making people afraid to approach.
His hands, clasped tightly behind his back, were clenched into fists. His expression was cold and stern, and a chill permeated his entire body.
She took two steps forward, but was blocked by someone.
"Your Highness, His Highness says he won't see anyone."
The palace maids lowered their heads tremblingly, not daring to look at Nalan Jingwen.
Nalan Jingwen glanced at the tightly closed palace doors, then looked at the palace servants in front of him, his eyes sharp and piercing.
"How could Shen Xi possibly get in?!"
The palace servant kept his head down and said with a forced smile, "Please forgive me, Your Highness, but His Highness just gave the order that no one is allowed to enter."
"Including you."
For the first time in her life, Nalan Jingwen was turned away at the door. However, she was only angry that A-Nian had someone else by his side, but she felt more pity for him. He could have asked her for help. Even if he didn't have to please Shen Xi, she would still help him secure his throne and not let anyone threaten his position.
She would help him unconditionally without asking for anything in return, as long as he asked.
Moreover, she had always intended to plan everything for him.
Nalan Jingwen stood at the palace gate for a long time, and when Shen Xi came out and saw her, she was obviously stunned for a moment, then walked towards her with a smile.
"Does Your Highness have business at the palace?"
Nalan Jingwen did not want to see her, so he did not reply and remained indifferent.
Seeing that she was not angry, Shen Xi glanced at the closed palace door as if by chance and said leisurely, "His Highness is asleep now. If Your Highness wants to see His Highness, I'm afraid you can only wait until after the coronation ceremony tomorrow."
Nalan Jingwen's almost provocative words finally made him look at her. He slightly lifted his eyelids, and contrary to his calm expression, two ice flowers condensed in his dark pupils, shrouded in a lonely flame.
"And why has Lord Shen entered the palace?"
Shen Xi shrugged. "I am a subject, and Your Highness is the ruler. Isn't it perfectly normal for a subject and ruler to meet? Besides, tomorrow is the coronation ceremony. I am merely going to the palace to discuss matters related to tomorrow with Your Highness."
It is grand and dignified, yet somehow flawless.
Nalan Jing looked at her and slowly said, "Lord Shen still hasn't given me an explanation for the assassination attempt last time. Judging from Lord Shen's appearance, he probably already found out who did it, right?"
"I have already reported this matter to my elder sister, who is furious. She has ordered me to find out who did it, otherwise it would be a great loss if this matter affects the friendly relations between our two countries. Lord Shen, don't you agree?"
Shen Xi's face stiffened. "Of course, but this matter is really complicated, and the mastermind behind it is even more cunning. Please wait two more days, Your Highness. I will definitely give you an explanation then!"
"Lord Shen had better keep his word, otherwise if my elder sister gets angry, what happens next is not something I can control."
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty."
After finishing her sentence, Shen Xi hurriedly left. With Feng Tian putting pressure on her, she had to give Nalan Jingwen an explanation, even if it meant dragging someone out as a scapegoat. In any case, someone had to die to appease the anger of the king.
Even though Nalan Jingwen had the upper hand verbally, she wasn't happy at all, and was still firmly blocked from entering.
Her brows furrowed. "He still refuses to see me?"
The palace attendant nodded, "Your Highness, please return."
If things were as they were before, how could this small door possibly stop her? But she knew that Ah Nian didn't want to see her now, didn't want her to see him in such a disheveled state, and was also angry with her.
Nalan Jingwen finally relented and said to the palace servant, "Tell His Highness that I will help him and that he need not worry."
Although the palace servants did not understand the meaning behind the words, they still reported the truth. Nalan Jingwen took a deep look at the palace gate, and finally turned and left.
After leaving the palace, she took Aman to the Xiao residence and made a deal with Xiao Jin, asking her to hand over her 100,000 troops. Xiao Jin did not understand why Nalan Jingwen would suddenly interfere in matters concerning the court, but now she was bedridden, her cloudy eyes looking at the woman in front of her.
Nalan Jingwen stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at her.
As if suddenly realizing something, Xiao Jin finally struggled to get up, her legs trembling slightly, and knelt on the ground, as if resigning herself to fate.
With palms facing up and half a military tally in each hand, he slowly bowed down, banging his head on the ground.
"This old minister is willing to hand over the military tally in exchange for eternal peace and tranquility for Baiji!"
After Nalan Jingwen tucked the military tally into her sleeve, she was about to leave when Xiao Jin called her back. Nalan Jingwen turned around.
Xiao Jin's weathered face was covered with wrinkles, but his eyes shone with light.
"Your Highness is still too young to shoulder such a great responsibility. However, due to my personal selfishness, Your Highness has been forced to bear everything. I hope Your Highness can lend a helping hand and treat Your Highness well!"
Your Highness could have stayed here and lived a free and unrestrained life instead of being confined to the palace, surrounded by wolves and tigers, praying for tomorrow's sun.
She felt guilty.
Xiao Jin was already old, and everything had left her physically and mentally exhausted. But in order to prevent Bai Ji from falling into the hands of thieves, she still struggled to hold on, because she knew that if she fell, her subordinates would lose their backbone. Shen Xi was an ambitious and ruthless person, and she would not let them go.
So she dared not collapse, and dragged her body through this ordeal until now, waiting for her prince to return.
Fortunately, His Highness will be ascending the throne tomorrow, and with Feng Tian's help, she can rest assured.