After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 204 Selfishness is the most unsettling.

"I used to think that I would be content just to keep you, but later I wanted to win your heart, and then I was afraid that one day you would be able to spread your wings and fly away."

"It's like a kite that you can't pull back no matter how tightly you pull the string."

Pei Yanzhi's lips curled into a mocking smile as he bent down and placed his hand on her hair.

"So it's a swamp that once you get in, you can never get out."

"It binds me, pulls me down, and makes me step by step into the abyss, to do wrong things."

He didn't tell Xiang Ning that, in fact, when Lu Jiang learned of Xiang Ning's identity, he wanted to come and find her.

In that instant, Pei Yanzhi's thought was that he didn't want Xiang Ning to be unhappy.

Unfortunately, those who have never experienced love are not born with the ability to love.

No one taught him this, so he thought that forcing her to stay was love.

He feels at ease when she's by his side.

"Aren't you also wondering why Lu Yongkang, who already holds immense power as the Prince of Qing, still dares to defy public opinion and stage a coup?"

Pei Yanzhi withdrew his hand and sat down in front of Xiang Ning.

Hearing his question, Xiang Ning nodded.

They all knew that people are never satisfied, and that Lu Yongkang did this because he wanted to become emperor.

Xiang Ning was worried about how she would answer if Pei Yanzhi asked her about love and romance.

Unexpectedly, he changed the subject quickly, which prevented Xiang Ning from feeling embarrassed.

"Because the late emperor actually wanted to kill him before he died."

Pei Yanzhi slowly began to recount this royal secret.

"The late emperor worked diligently to govern the country, and under his rule, Daqing displayed the splendor of a golden age."

Pei Yanzhi paused, a complex look flashing in his eyes, and continued.

"However, Lu Yongkang was ambitious. He secretly cultivated his own power, intending to seize the throne. The late emperor was so wise, how could he not have noticed his wolfish ambitions?"

"That's why Lu Yongkang's power was completely eradicated during that period."

Knowing that the late emperor had discovered his intentions, Lu Yongkang pretended to be a carefree prince.

Later, the late emperor fell seriously ill, but he had few children, and only His Majesty the present was the most suitable successor.

However, the emperor was young, so the late emperor allowed the empress dowager to rule from behind a screen and appointed a group of loyal ministers to assist in governing.

Prince Qing, still harboring treacherous intentions, naturally harbored disloyal thoughts upon seeing the emperor's youth.

The missing silver was used to amass wealth through water conservancy projects, and he cultivated cronies in Tingzhou, among other things.

When Empress Dowager Feng learned of this, she ordered Pei Yanzhi to investigate secretly. Although some silver was recovered, most of it had already been spent by Prince Qing.

Empress Dowager Feng exerted pressure in the court, while Pei Yanzhi relentlessly pursued them.

With attacks from both sides, it was only a matter of time before Prince Qing rebelled.

Therefore, Empress Dowager Feng and Pei Yanzhi conspired to have Pei Yanzhi go to Tingzhou under the pretext of disobeying the imperial decree.

The claim that the young emperor was seriously ill was, of course, a lie, but it fooled Lu Yongkang, and that's how this happened.

Rather than letting him take his time, it's better to push him hard and then beat him when he's down.

However, they underestimated Lu Yongkang's strength; he was indeed a very difficult opponent.

"He just felt that if he couldn't sit on the throne, then sooner or later he would die at the hands of the Empress Dowager and His Majesty."

"But in fact, the Empress Dowager never intended to kill him. Although the late emperor was ruthless, he killed many of his own brothers when he ascended the throne in his early years. He had some compassion for the only surviving Prince Qing."

Even the most cold-hearted emperor yearns for the brotherly love and respect of ordinary people.

But being in the imperial family, one is most heartless; how can one allow others to snore beside one's bed?

Countless people were watching, and even more people wanted the emperor dead.

Just as Lu Yongkang had thought, if he didn't take action, sooner or later he would be the one to die.

Selfishness is the greatest source of regret. No matter what it is, once selfishness takes hold, it's like a deeply rooted tree that can never be uprooted.

"Will this battle be easy?"

After hearing Pei Yanzhi's explanation, Xiang Ning asked a question.

Pei Yanzhi chuckled: "I suppose Heaven will lend a hand."

"It's getting windy, it'll rain tomorrow, so don't go out."

He stretched out his hand, and the wind brushed past his fingertips, stirring up an inexplicable loneliness.

Xiang Ning parted her lips, the words "Take care" pressed against the corner of her mouth, falling silently.

The following morning, Pei Yanzhi and Duan Zhuo set off together and took away Lu Jiamin, who had been locked in the woodshed for many days.

She was disheveled and looked utterly wretched, a far cry from her former glory as a princess.

He was somewhat timid and hesitant when he saw people, and dared not speak.

I wonder if Lu Yongkang still recognizes her now that she's in this state.

The second son stayed behind to guard the mountain stronghold, responsible for protecting the elderly, weak, women and children left behind.

When Xiang Ning got up, Pei Yanzhi and Duan Zhuo had already left.

As he said last night, it started to drizzle outside.

She stood under the eaves, watching the spring rain.

"Get up so early?"

Wen Caifu walked over from a distance, with green branches behind her acting as an umbrella.

"Miss Wen, what brings you here?"

Xiang Ning looked at Wen Caifu, who had rushed over in the rain, with some surprise. But then she saw Wen Caifu walk over and have Lüzhi put away her umbrella.

"I thought you'd be bored here all alone, so I came to keep you company."

Hearing this, Xiang Ning couldn't help but feel grateful for Wen Caifu's thoughtfulness.

However, she did notice that Wen Caifu seemed to be more lively than before.

I thought she would be much more reserved in this mountain village.

"Don't worry, Duan Zhuo had already sent people to survey the terrain around Shangjing before Lord Pei arrived. This battle won't last long."

Wen Caifu noticed a faint sadness in Xiang Ning's eyes and assumed she was worried about Pei Yanzhi, so she spoke up to comfort her.

Xiang Ning didn't say much. She was just wondering if Pei Yanzhi's words about borrowing the power of heaven last night meant this sudden rain.

Pei Yanzhi and Duan Zhuo led their troops, galloping through the rain, their horses' hooves splashing up layers of water.

Lu Jiamin was placed in the middle of the group. She huddled in the carriage, looking out at the gloomy sky through the window, feeling a mix of emotions.

She was once a high-ranking princess, but now she is a prisoner. The twist of fate has left her somewhat dazed.

When they arrived at the location where Lu Yongkang had set up an ambush, the rain became even more torrential.

Pei Yanzhi looked at the misty valley ahead, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.

He turned to look at Duan Zhuo, and the two exchanged a glance, understanding each other perfectly.

"Proceed according to plan." Pei Yanzhi shouted in a low voice, and the soldiers quickly dispersed, flanking the enemy from different directions.

When the enemy troops lying in ambush on both sides of the valley saw them enter the encirclement, they immediately launched an attack.

In an instant, shouts of battle and the clash of weapons mingled together, and rain mixed with blood flowed across the ground.

Pei Yanzhi brandished his long sword with agile movements, and wherever he went, enemies fell one after another.

Duan Zhuo was not to be outdone, and led a group of men in a fierce battle with the enemy.

Lu Yongkang had not led troops into battle for a long time, not to mention that Duan Zhuo had received personal instruction from his father.

This battle, aided by the rain, saw Lu Yongkang's men suffer a series of defeats.

(End of this chapter)