good season

However, this trip to Liang did not disappoint Zhao Sheng.

He finally got a considerable sum of money as he wished, but the person who gave him the money was completely beyond his expectations.

The person who gave him the money was not Zhao Tingxuan, but the dying Zhao Tinghan.

Just one day before they were about to leave Liang, the Prince of Liang's Palace held a farewell banquet for them. From Zhao Sheng and Deputy Envoy Yin to the accompanying eunuchs and guards, everyone was given a vegetarian seal.

The Prince of Liang’s Mansion had not yet come out of mourning, so they used a plain envelope, not a red one.

These vegetarian seals were not given out privately, but were placed on trays and brought out openly.

Zhao Sheng took a glance and saw that the seals of him and Deputy Envoy Yin were square, which should have contained silver bills. The same was true for the five imperial doctors, but their thickness was only half that of theirs. The seals of the others had small bumps, which were either silver ingots or gold beans.

The Liang Palace was quite generous in its response.

In the middle of the banquet, Zhao Sheng went to the toilet, opened the envelope and counted it. There were eight silver notes of one hundred taels each, which amounted to a total of eight hundred taels of silver.

I think the amount of money given to Deputy Envoy Yin was also about the same.

Although it was less than he expected, it was not a wasted trip.

The palace was in mourning, so the banquet was just a real meal, without any music, singing or dancing. Crown Prince Zhao Tinghan did not attend, and although Second Young Master Zhao Tingxuan came, he only exchanged a few polite words, and the banquet soon ended.

Back in the guest room, Zhao Sheng was about to undress when his long-time attendant came in and told him that Crown Prince Zhao Tinghan had sent someone to invite him.

Zhao Sheng was stunned. Zhao Tinghan invited him?
The person who came was a handsome young man. Zhao Sheng had seen him before. He was the servant of Zhao Tinghan, named Denghua.

The lantern lights led Zhao Sheng to Changchun Palace.

Along the way, Zhao Sheng saw Zhao Tinghan several times, and felt that Zhao Tinghan's condition was getting worse and worse. He was once worried that Zhao Tinghan would die on the way. Later, he asked several imperial physicians, who repeatedly assured him that Prince Liang would be brought back to Liang alive. Only then did he feel relieved.

The imperial physicians in the palace may not be able to cure diseases, but they do have the ability to save lives.

However, this was the first time Zhao Sheng saw Zhao Tinghan since he returned to the palace.

Compared to the last time they met, Zhao Tinghan was still pale and thin, but there was light in his eyes, and even his face had the radiance of a 19-year-old young man.

Zhao Sheng was stunned. Is this a last gasp of life?

"Uncle Shengcong, you are here, please sit down."

Zhao Sheng's ancestors were cousins of Taizu, and the lineage of King Liang was a descendant of Taizu. In terms of seniority, Zhao Sheng and King Liang were of the same generation, so Zhao Tinghan called him his cousin.

Zhao Sheng hurriedly stepped forward, held Zhao Tinghan's hand, and sat down in front of the couch: "My dear nephew, I see that you look much better. It seems that you still have someone to support at home."

"I'm grateful for my uncle's protection along the way. Cough, cough, cough." Zhao Tinghan coughed violently, and an unhealthy flush appeared on his fair cheeks.

Zhao Sheng sighed silently in his heart. He was not wrong. Zhao Tinghan was just having a last burst of energy.

Denghua stepped forward, patted him on the back and handed him water. After a long while, Zhao Tinghan regained his composure. He smiled apologetically at Zhao Sheng and said, "Don't be afraid, uncle. Although my nephew is weak, he won't die anytime soon. I will live to see the day when I inherit the throne."

Zhao Sheng's heart skipped a beat. What did this sickly guy mean by saying such things to him at this time?
Zhao Tinghan said to Denghua, "Go and get the gift I prepared for my uncle."

Zhao Sheng's eyes lit up. What did that mean? What gift?
The gift had actually been prepared long ago. Denghua turned around and took a box from the high table. Zhao Tinghan signaled Denghua to open the box.

Zhao Sheng's eyes were glued to Denghua's hand as he watched Denghua open the box, which contained two copies of fish scale books!

Zhao Tinghan smiled and said, "Uncle, although these two shops are not big, they are located in good locations and have been in business for many years. Their business is still good. I hope Uncle will not despise them."

Deng Hua held two books of fish scales in front of Zhao Sheng. Zhao Sheng tried to refuse, but still took them involuntarily. He flipped through them casually and was shocked.

As a native of Beijing, he knew these two shops. Although the shops were not big, as Zhao Tinghan said, they were located in areas where every inch of land was valuable, and they were both time-honored brands. Let's put it this way, Zhao Sheng is 36 years old this year, and these two shops have existed since he can remember.

His heart was pounding. He never dreamed that these two shops were not only bought by Zhao Tinghan, but also given to him.

There are too many rich and powerful people in the capital, but there are also many people like Zhao Sheng who only have a noble surname. In the royal family camp, at least more than half are like this.

For a wealthy family like the Baoqing Marquis's Mansion, these two prosperous shops were just a gamble for his son. After all, the Baoqing Marquis's son had lost the entire street.

But for Zhao Sheng, these two prosperous shops were enough to allow his family of four generations to live without having to fret over the consequences and go to the pawnshop every now and then.

Zhao Sheng was dizzy and didn't know how he got back to the guest room. In the middle of the night, he woke up from his dream and took out the two fish scale books. The fish scale books were real, and the two shops were also real.

Zhao Tinghan's clear eyes appeared in front of his eyes, and he said to himself: "We are all from the same family. It doesn't matter who gets the throne. It won't be my turn anyway. If that kid can really survive, it's not bad."

The next day, Deputy Envoy Yin and Zhao Sheng and his party set out for the capital, and Zhao Tinghan also left the Liang Palace and moved to the royal tomb three days after they left Liang.

For the next nine months, Zhao Tinghan would live in the royal mausoleum to mourn for his father.

Although officials from the palace and Liang had written to advise that the prince would not blame him even if he stayed in the palace to mourn as he was ill, Zhao Tinghan insisted on coming to the royal mausoleum to mourn.

Although the royal tomb is not a thatched cottage, the living conditions are not much better and cannot be compared with the royal palace.

It would be fine if he was a healthy person, but Zhao Tinghan is already at the end of his life. If he leaves, he will probably have to stay with King Liang and never come back.

The news quickly spread among the people. For a while, the whole Liang area was talking about this matter. No matter whether they were officials or common people, they all praised the prince for being so filial. The prince was so filial!
The three siblings sent Zhao Tinghan to the royal tomb, paid homage to their father, and then returned to the palace.

As soon as he returned to the palace, Zhao Tingxuan suggested that everyone go to Suining Palace today to have dinner with his mother.

Ever since the fight in Suining Palace that day, Zhao Yunnuan and Zhao Shiqing never set foot in Suining Palace again.

Zhao Tingxuan was worried. He didn't want to see such a situation. A family is a family. There is no conflict that cannot be resolved.

Zhao Yunnuan and Zhao Shiqing didn't want to go, but Zhao Tingxuan was about to cry, so the two sisters were speechless and had to go. Unexpectedly, when they went, Nie turned her face away.

Because Nie suddenly asked Zhao Yunnuan to hand over his personal guards.

Zhao Yunnuan was startled: "If it was Big Brother who wanted to take back the Guards, I would definitely hand them over, but Big Brother didn't say anything now, so I will take care of them temporarily for Big Brother."

Nie said earnestly, "A Nuan, you are already nineteen years old. Look around, how can you not get married at the age of nineteen? According to the rules of our ancestors, if you are still unmarried within a year, you have to wait three years before you can talk about marriage. Think about it, how old will you be by then?

Mother is doing this for your own good. You should hand over the royal guards to your second brother, and take some time to get to know each other and settle the marriage as soon as possible. That way, your father will be able to rest assured in his grave.

I am your mother. I carried you for ten months and gave birth to you with great difficulty. How could I harm you?"

Zhao Yunnuan looked at Nie and suddenly spoke, "Mother, although according to the rules of our ancestors, we children can get married within a year, but there are also priorities. Mother, I am afraid you have forgotten the emperor's decree. The emperor's decree is for my eldest brother to get married within a year. In other words, the most urgent thing now is not me, but my eldest brother. My eldest brother must get married according to the decree. Mother, what you need to arrange now is not my marriage, but my eldest brother's."

Nie was stunned for a moment, then blurted out, "He doesn't have much time left, what's the point of getting married?"

Zhao Yunnuan sneered: "Mother, if my elder brother and I were not twins from the same mother, I would almost doubt whether my elder brother is your biological son. Otherwise, how can a mother hope that her son will die early?"

"What did you say?" As if someone had suddenly hit her sore spot, Nie was furious and pointed at Zhao Yunnuan's nose. "Is this something a daughter can say to her own mother? Zhao Yunnuan, where are the rules and precepts for women that you learned?"

Zhao Yunnuan said in a cold voice: "Mother, it's better not to mention the female rules. Otherwise, I'm afraid you won't be able to live in Suining Palace anymore."

Nie was confused. What did Zhao Yunnuan mean? Was he saying that she had violated the rules for women and was not worthy of being a princess, or the wife of the King of Liang?
Yes, the reason why she could live in Suining Palace was not because she was the daughter of the Nie family, nor because she was the biological mother of Zhao Tinghan and Zhao Tingxuan, but because she was the wife of King Liang and the Princess of Liang.

Zhao Yunnuan said this to warn her with the death of King Liang.

After all, Zhao Yunnuan still believed that the death of King Liang had something to do with her.

But it was clearly Nie Qionghua who had Prince Liang killed, so what does it have to do with her?
Nie cried so hard that she almost fainted. Zhao Tingxuan was so anxious that he was at a loss what to do. He could only say, "Sister, mother is already very sad. Please don't make her sad anymore."

Zhao Yunnuan snorted coldly: "Really? Your own son is so seriously ill, but you don't seem to be that sad."

Zhao Tingxuan: "Why do you say that, elder sister? Don't you know that my mother's illness these days is all because of my elder brother?"

Zhao Yunnuan stood up and said to Zhao Shiqing, "Qingqing, let's go."

Zhao Shiqing stood up and was about to follow Zhao Yunnuan. Seeing this, Zhao Tingxuan hurriedly asked, "Qingqing, do you want to make mother angry too?"

Zhao Shiqing stopped and was hesitating whether to say a few polite words when she heard Nie's hoarse voice: "Get her out, this unlucky star, she robbed Aying of her life span, she is a witch, your father was killed by her, and your eldest brother's illness is also because of her, get her out, get her out of the palace!"

Nie's sudden accusation was like a thunderclap, and the three siblings were all stunned.

They all knew that Nie was not close to Zhao Shiqing, but they never thought that one day, Nie would say such a thing.

Zhao Yunnuan subconsciously reached out to cover Zhao Shiqing's ears, but it was too late. Every word and sentence that Nie said fell clearly into Zhao Shiqing's ears.

Zhao Shiqing broke free from her sister's embrace. She looked at Nie in disbelief: "Mother, you said I stole Aying's life span? You said I was the one who killed my father?"

Nie opened her tearful eyes, like a delicate flower swaying in the wind and rain, but the words she spoke were as sharp as knives, cold and ruthless.

"Yes, it's you. You are a goblin. You were born a goblin. I regret not asking the Heavenly Master to capture you!"

She then said to Zhao Yunnuan and Zhao Tingxuan, "It's her. It's all because of her. If it weren't for her, Aying wouldn't have died, and neither would your father! Zhao Yunnuan, don't you always protect her? This is the person you protect. You claim to be smart, but do you know that the sister you have always protected is actually a goblin? One day, you will be killed by her like Aying!"

Zhao Yunnuan hugged Zhao Shiqing and said, "Qingqing, don't listen to her nonsense. The death of Aying and the king has nothing to do with you. They were both killed by Nie Qionghua."

Zhao Tingxuan was so anxious that he said to Nie: "Mother, please stop talking. Qingqing has nothing to do with these things. She is still a child."

Nie pointed at Zhao Shiqing and said, "She is a child? She ordered those mice to bite your second aunt to death, and she is going to bite me to death. She is a demon, a demon! Get her out of the palace. I don't have this daughter. Get her out!"

Zhao Shiqing's face became paler and paler. Zhao Yunnuan wanted to pull her out, but she stood still. She looked at Nie and said word by word, "Mother, this is the last time I will call you like this. From now on, you and I have nothing to do with each other. Even if you die, I will not wear mourning for you!"

After saying that, Zhao Shiqing turned around and strode out of Suining Palace.

That night, Zhao Yunnuan stayed by her side the whole time, but Zhao Shiqing acted as if nothing had happened and said to Zhao Yunnuan, "Sister, don't worry. I'm not acting on impulse. I've already planned to bring my eldest brother back and then go back to Baihe Mountain. Besides, I only said that I don't recognize her as my mother, but I didn't say that I don't recognize my father, brothers and sisters. I'm still me, and I'm still your beautiful and lovely little sister."

Zhao Yunnuan's eyes were filled with tears. She patted Zhao Shiqing's face and said, "Well, the palace is going to be in chaos for a while. It's better for you to go back to Baihe Mountain."

The next day, Zhao Shiqing said goodbye to her sister and second brother and left the palace.

As soon as she left the palace, Zhao Yunnuan announced to the public that Princess Liang was seriously ill and would not see any guests from that day on.

In fact, Nie had been suffering from various illnesses these days, both serious and minor. All the women in Liangdu had received the news. Unless they were close to Nie, they would not come to the mansion to ask for a visit at this time.

However, now that the Prince of Liang's Mansion has officially informed the female members of each family, it is thought-provoking.

When Zhao Tinghan came back that day, Zhao Tingxuan did not go out of the city to greet him. This matter had already been widely circulated in private. Although the Liang Wang Mansion seemed calm on the surface, there were turbulent circumstances inside, which could not be concealed.

Now that the Liang Palace has released the news that Princess Liang is ill, it is actually sending a signal that Princess Liang cannot meet guests.

Then everyone knows what the current situation of Prince Liang’s Mansion is.

Either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind prevails over the east wind. The one who cannot meet the guests is Princess Liang, so who else could be prevailed?

At the same time, Wang Ling was not peaceful. Officials came every few days.

Zhao Tinghan was in mourning order, but that did not mean he would be isolated from the world for these nine months. The emperor had to review memorials while in mourning, let alone the crown prince.

Now that the King of Liang is gone, he is the lord of Liang. Even if he does not succeed to the throne, he can still exercise royal power in the name of the crown prince.

So Zhao Tinghan was not idle on his sickbed. He was very busy. (End of this chapter)