The seductive princess is no longer being pursued; the aloof prime minister is facing a crematorium.

Chapter 298 Extra Chapter: Si Ning: Growing Old in Jiangnan

That year, it rained for days on end in Jiangnan, and the sky was covered with dark clouds.

The Si family of Jiangnan held a position equivalent to that of imperial merchants, but there were always some ungrateful individuals who dared to try and break a rock with an egg, or to shake a tree like a mayfly.

That day, a few fools abducted me from the street, saying they wanted to teach that Si Beihuan family head—my father—a lesson.

They were incredibly stupid. They timed it perfectly, and before they even reached this street, their heads would be chopped off by the Si family's guards.

They didn't even get to walk the whole street.

But the one who came to my rescue was not a member of the Si family's secret guards.

"Mr. Si Ning of the Si family in Jiangnan is so handsome!"

I looked up and followed the sound.

—After several days of overcast and rainy weather, the sun finally came out.

The Si family was powerful and had a good relationship with the late emperor, which made the current emperor, Jiang Huayan, wary of them.

My father did not want to get involved in court affairs, so I never had the idea of ​​becoming an official.

My father said that Jiangnan is good enough for me to live out my days.

When Your Highness saved me, I stayed at the Si family's residence for some time.

I have heard of Princess Zhaoming's past. It is said that she was banished from the capital for pleading for Prince Ruiyang, who had attempted a rebellion.

Everyone says that Princess Zhaoming has committed many evils and done all sorts of bad things, but in my opinion, His Highness is just a little bit unruly.

--That's fine.

I have a heart condition.

The doctors in the Si family, to put it bluntly, were no less skilled than the imperial physicians.

In addition, the Si family had some ancestral property, which allowed them to survive on some rare medicinal herbs, and I lived to the age of twenty.

But on that day, when the doctor came to take my pulse again, he looked at my face and kept sighing.

"Young master, you are not blessed."

He only said this one sentence.

The father thought the doctor's words were unlucky and asked him to leave.

But I clearly saw that when he turned around, the corners of his eyes were red.

I coughed a few more times and smiled as I comforted him, "Father, I'm not dead yet, you're crying too soon."

Then my father was about to scold me again.

Late at night, I sat in the courtyard, wide awake.

Am I afraid of dying?
I think I should be afraid.

It wasn't because my father told me that I'm the only one left in the Si family.

But I always think that if I can live this life healthily and freely, it should be considered a worthwhile journey.

That night, His Highness climbed over the courtyard wall and sat high on the red walls and green tiles.

The bright moonlight veiled her in a light gauze.

"Si Ning, come with me to the capital."

I looked up and gazed at her again.

Your Highness is amazing. In the few days she's been in Jiangnan, every time she speaks, she manages to capture my attention.

She smiled, her eyes crinkling, and raised an eyebrow at me.

I smiled and didn't ask her how she overcame all the obstacles and servants to get here. I just asked her, "Wasn't Your Highness demoted to Baiyujing?"

How do I get back to Beijing?
She raised her eyebrows and said, "Si Ning, no one can stop me from going wherever I want."

She paused for a moment, then said, "When we go to the capital, I will find that medical sage to cure your heart ailment."

I laughed: "Your Highness, no one can cure my heart ailment."

"Si Ning, your word doesn't count," she said arrogantly and ostentatiously, then pointed to herself with her thumb, "My word counts."

I've forgotten exactly what we talked about that night.

All I remember is that, with the moon hanging low over the treetops, I looked at her and said "Okay." My father, of course, disagreed.

My health is poor. If I recuperate in Jiangnan, I can live a few more days. But if I travel a long distance to Chang'an, my life or death will be uncertain.

"Don't believe that Princess Zhaoming's nonsense! With her unruly nature, let alone whether she can find someone to cure you, who knows if she has ulterior motives and wants to use you to blackmail our Si family!"

I looked at my father and said, "But Father, I want to try."

"Nonsense! I think you've been bewitched by her sweet talk!"

for a long time.

She knelt before him.

I smiled and kowtowed to him, saying, "Father, I believe her."

I learned from the book that the prosperity of Chang'an was different from that of Jiangnan. Jiangnan was more gentle, while the capital city was more powerful.

Clothing from all nations, gold shops winding and turning, markets lined with pearls and jewels, bells ringing and delicacies served in cauldrons.

I want to see that kind of scenery with my own eyes in this lifetime.

His Highness received the imperial decree and left ahead of time.

My father came to see me off before I left.

He sighed, but said helplessly, "You accepted her invitation without any ulterior motives?"

I laughed and said, "Father, what are you thinking about?"

The father shook his head again: "I heard that the Grand Secretary Pei Du in the capital was once her sweetheart. She even killed an official of the court for him."

The smile on my face froze.

She narrowed her eyes, but still managed a slight smile: "Father also said that was in the past."

There must have been selfish motives involved.

I rarely think about this matter, and I deliberately conceal that so-called "selfish motive".

I am a rootless wanderer with no future patients, so it is really inappropriate for me to talk about these things.

Her Highness told me that she wanted to overturn the verdict against Prince Ruiyang.

I said, "Then let's turn it over."

The Si family of Jiangnan still holds some influence in the capital.

I don't mind being Your Highness's support, or even her stepping stone.

I don't know how much longer I have to live, but if what I'm doing can help Your Highness, then I'll consider it useful.

So, at the palace banquet that day, I took a sip of wine and smiled as I looked at the upright and virtuous Grand Secretary.

"Is that so? But Her Highness told me that Jiangnan is a very nice place, and if given the chance, she would like to spend the rest of her life there."

I admit that there was a hint of boasting in my words.

The Grand Secretary, who could remain calm and speak eloquently in front of more than a dozen officials, turned cold and stern because of this one sentence.

—That's really interesting.

Everyone says that Princess Zhaoming has done all sorts of bad things and committed all sorts of evil deeds, but in my opinion, Her Highness is quite oblivious when it comes to matters of the heart.

Later, His Highness and he were married in Baiyujing.

I brought nearly half of the Si family's wealth as a congratulatory gift to her.

His Highness refused and insisted on returning it.

I simply smiled and said, "Your Highness, this is Father's wish."

According to the rules of the Si family in Jiangnan, the head of the family and the mistress each manage half of the family property.

—This was actually the father's selfish motive.

That's also my personal reason.

"Your Highness, I hope you are doing very well."

—She ultimately did not live out her days in Jiangnan.

Thus, it took away many, many years of sunny days from Jiangnan.