bestfiction Chapter 298: Prosperity, as you wish
Chapter 298: Prosperity, as you wish
As soon as he finished speaking, the person had already left the teahouse. The man in tight clothes threw the silver reward on the tea table, called out "Your Highness" and hurriedly followed.
That’s right, this person is none other than Sheng Ling’s current Crown Prince, Ning Yunxiao.
When we left the teahouse, it was already dark outside.
Thousands of lights, stretching for miles, reflect a bustling scene.
The cries of vendors, the laughter of passers-by, and the sounds of stringed instruments coming from distant restaurants together weave a picture of a bustling market.
Ning Yunxiao stood in the center of the market map, on the city wall, leaning on the railing.
The world is noisy and bustling, but he is alone, wandering among the crowd, like a wandering ghost, wandering on the edge of reality and memory.
From the day Jiang Lige left, he was left with only endless loneliness.
He has become accustomed to days like this.
Over the past three years, Ning Yunxiao has heard countless versions of this story.
When he first started listening to stories, the storytellers always passed over "Princess Zhaohua Jiang". He remembered what Jiang Lige said when she left, and felt sorry for her, so he corrected the storytellers over and over again without getting tired of it.
"She's not Princess Jiang of Nanchu Zhaohua. Her name is Jiang Lige. There's no other like her in the world. Jiang, Li, Ge."
A person who occupies such an important position in his heart should not be described in just a few words.
Later, no one referred to her as "Jiang" anymore. Everyone knew that Princess Zhaohua's maiden name was Jiang Lige, and everyone said:
"Princess Zhaohua of Nanchu is a heroine. She is the best girl in the world."
Whenever Ning Yunxiao heard such words, he would smile knowingly with a sense of pride.
After laughing, an endless feeling of suffocation suddenly rushed over him, and the pain swallowed him up completely in an instant.
Perhaps because they had noticed this, the name "Jiang Lige" had become a taboo word in the palace. Everyone tacitly kept silent about it to avoid touching on the master's sad memories.
But he preferred this feeling. In the three years since Jiang Lige left, he felt neither sad nor happy, like a living dead.
Only when he thought of her would there be the slightest ripple in his heart, so Ning Yunxiao often went to the teahouse to listen to stories when he had free time.
Only the heartache when he heard her name occasionally made him feel that he was still alive.
While he was thinking, Gu Fan had already caught up with him. Although he was married now, his personality was still as irritable as before. When he saw Ning Yunxiao, he couldn't help complaining.
"Your Highness, you walked too fast and didn't even wait for me!"
Well, in the past, Gu Fan probably wouldn't have dared to speak to him like this. After Jiang Lige left, Ning Yunxiao felt more and more that warmth in the world was precious, and he became more tolerant towards the people around him, which fostered the tempers of these confidants.
But Ning Yunxiao seemed to be in a bad mood today, and he didn't let Gu Fan go, but mercilessly poured a basin of cold water on him.
"The Ministry of War is in need of manpower for recent reforms, and even this little bit of physical strength is not enough. I think you are suitable to go to the Ministry of War to gain some experience."
Gu Fan waved his hand quickly. A few years ago, Ning Yunxiao had been completely absorbed in defeating Po Xiao, rarely spending any time in the capital. Ning Mingwu, the Little Ping Prince, had leveraged the influence left by the old Ping Prince and, in alliance with General Weiyuan, seized control of the Ministry of War. With the help of the military commanders, he was able to stay in the capital.
When Ning Yunxiao returned victoriously, King Xiaoping not only did not restrain himself, but instead vigorously cultivated his power.
By now, the power of King Xiaoping had grown even stronger, and there were even rumors in the court and the country that "the Crown Prince and King Xiaoping were equally powerful."
Ning Yunxiao originally thought that Prince Xiaoping was just a clown, until a few days ago, on the anniversary of Jiang Lige's death...
Prince Xiaoping sent a beautiful concubine to the Eastern Palace. Judging from her appearance, she bore an 80% resemblance to Princess Zhaohua. He euphemistically gave her the name "a gift to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, as a token of consolation."
This time, King Xiaoping finally touched Ning Yunxiao's sore spot.
"You don't know what's good for you!" Ning Yunxiao said, "It seems that Prince Xiaoping has been living too comfortably these years. If that's the case, I should settle accounts with him."
Just like that, the beautiful woman turned into a corpse and was thrown outside Prince Ping's mansion.
The battle between the Eastern Palace and Prince Ping's Mansion began.
Rectifying the Ministry of War is Ning Yunxiao's first move against King Xiaoping, and it will also be a difficult battle.
Songyue had just given birth to a child, and it was a critical time. Gufan was now completely immersed in the joy of becoming a father for the first time, and just wanted to stay away from this kind of battle.
Therefore, Gu Fan immediately clasped his hands together, begged for mercy honestly, and then immediately changed the subject.
"Your Highness, I was wrong! Oh, yes, today when I was leaving the East Palace, I happened to meet Deng Sijiu. He asked me to deliver a note to Your Highness, and I almost forgot about it."
As he said this, he offered it with both hands.
Ning Yunxiao took the post casually, unfolded it, and his tense face finally relaxed a little.
"Go and tell Deng Sijiu in person that I will not be absent from their wedding."
"Yes!" Gu Fan answered loudly, and without delay, he turned around and went to pass on the message.
Once Gu Fan left, Ning Yunxiao was left alone standing on the city wall.
Deng Sijiu has now become a mainstay among the military generals in the court. After so many years of quarrels with Zheng Baoyao, the marriage is finally on the agenda.
After Gufan and Songyue got married, they now have a child and their life is so happy that it is beyond words.
Feng Quan also married Shi Daizhi a year ago. Now, one of them is the director of the Imperial Hospital, and the other is a female official in charge of the inner court's internal affairs. Anyone who sees them would say that they are evenly matched.
Fu Longzhou is doing well now. She passed the imperial examination and became the first female official in Shengling. Her official career is bright.
Yu Linglong is also very good. She persisted in turning Chang'an Fang into the number one treasure house in the capital. Now Chang'an Fang is making a fortune every day. Even the most prominent figures have to queue up in an orderly manner and ask Manager Yu for help.
Even the lights within these ten miles are much brighter than before.
Look, everything is getting better now.
This... maybe this is the prosperous era that Jiang Lige longed to see?
At this moment, under the city wall, three or five children came running and lit fireworks. The next moment, brilliant lights bloomed in the night sky, like a dream, illuminating every bright smiling face.
Ning Yunxiao also looked over. The fireworks were beautiful and the laughter was pleasant to the ears, but he didn't know why, but as he watched, his eyes became wet.
Then he said, "Ari, this prosperous world is finally as you wished. Everything is good in this prosperous world, except... you are missing."
Yes, he still shines brightly in the world, and he brings fairness to the world, but no one can return his Jiang Lige to him.
When Ye Jiayun found Ning Yunxiao on the city wall, this was what she saw of him.