Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 289 Understanding Current Affairs

Si Buping's words made it very clear that Ning Qingyang entered the Zichen Palace and climbed into the dragon's bed that night.

But Yan Ciwan still harbored doubts.

She knew her mother's character very well. Her mother seemed weak but was actually very principled. She was a typical example of someone who was gentle on the outside but strong on the inside. Her mother would never be entangled with other men after getting married.

Yan Ciwan questioned, "Even if what you said is true, it doesn't mean that the woman who entered the Zichen Palace that night was my mother."

"Only the Sage knows who the woman was that night, since he was the one involved."

As Si Buping finished speaking, he turned slightly to the side and looked back at the brightly lit main hall, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.

Yan Ciwan's expression was grim: "There must be some misunderstanding here!"

Si Buping withdrew his gaze, his eyes filled with a deeper meaning: "Why are you so insistent on finding out the truth? If I were you, I would accept the current outcome as it is."

Yan Ciwan frowned: "What do you mean?"

Si Buping bent down and approached her, speaking in an almost inaudible whisper.

"Although the Emperor now has three thousand beauties in his harem, he still can't forget your mother. That's the nature of men; the more unattainable something is, the more they can't let go of it. You and your mother look somewhat alike. The Emperor must have had the thought of taking you into his harem the moment he saw you. The reason he deliberately kept you in the harem for three days was not to give the Dali Temple three days to find out the truth, but to let the Inner Guard find out your identity and background within three days. If I hadn't gone to the palace tonight and told the Emperor about the unusual date of your birth, you would have received the imperial decree to make you a concubine tomorrow morning."

Yan Ciwan had sensed before that the emperor's attitude towards her was strange, and she suspected that he was using her as a substitute. Now, Si Buping's words confirmed her guess.

The thought of almost being forced to sleep with a middle-aged man made her feel extremely uncomfortable.

After Si Buping straightened up, he noticed the disgust on her face and whispered a reminder.

"Control your expression. This is the palace, and there may be eyes around you that you can't see."

When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Yan Ciwan controlled her expression and tried her best to act more naturally.

Si Buping continued walking forward, saying, "Regardless of the truth of what happened back then, becoming the illegitimate daughter of a saint is the best way out for you now. You are a smart person and should understand the importance of being pragmatic."

Yan Ciwan slowly took a step. She understood Si Buping's meaning. Although being born out of wedlock was not honorable, it was her best protection. No matter how heartless the emperor was, he would not lay a hand on his own daughter.

She asked, "Did the sage specifically send you back so that you could persuade me?"

The two had reached the steps in front of the West Annex Hall. Qiu Shuang was waiting outside. When she saw that Yan Ciwan was not only safe and sound, but also escorted by a Grand Secretary, her expression immediately became as colorful as if a palette of paint had been spilled.

"Some things are better left unsaid; you can keep them to yourself."

After saying this, Si Buping turned and left.

Yan Ciwan pushed open the door and entered the west wing hall. Qiu Shuang hesitated for a moment, but finally followed him in.

At this moment, Qiu Shuang was completely confused. She had clearly reported Ning Ci's attempt to escape from the Immortal Abode Palace to the Sage, so why didn't the Sage punish Ning Ci?
Yan Ciwan sat down on the edge of the bed, intending to undress and go to bed, when she looked up and saw Qiu Shuang standing not far away, staring straight at her.

Exhausted from dealing with the emperor, Yan Ciwan had no mood to argue with Qiu Shuang and said bluntly, "You are not needed here. You can leave."

Qiu Shuang pursed her lips: "The Sage ordered me to take care of you every step of the way, and I must follow his orders."

"up to you."

Yan Ciwan took off her outer clothes, let her hair down, lowered the bed curtains, and then fell asleep.

She needed to get a good night's sleep to be well-rested so she would have the energy to continue dealing with the emperor tomorrow. Qiu Shuang stood there stiffly for a long time, and when she realized that Ning Ci was really asleep, she was furious. How could Ning Ci have completely ignored her, a perfectly healthy person like herself!

Standing at the back, her back and legs ached and she couldn't hold on any longer, so she quietly moved to a chair next to her and sat down.

She spent the night huddled in the chair like that.

The next morning, Yan Ciwan got up, dressed, and combed her hair. She asked Qiu Shuang a question.

"Where's the hot water and breakfast? Why haven't they been delivered yet?"

Because she hadn't slept well the night before, Qiu Shuang looked terrible. The more she looked at Yan Ciwan, the angrier she became. This person had clearly made a mistake, so why could he order her around so confidently?!
Seeing that no one responded, Yan Ciwan turned to look at Qiu Shuang, who was glaring at her angrily. She asked again, "Didn't you hear me?"

Qiu Shuang took a deep breath and silently told herself to stay calm. As long as the Sage didn't agree to let her leave, she would have to continue serving Ning Ci.

She forced a smile: "I heard you. I'll go and urge someone to bring hot water and breakfast right away. Please wait a moment."

After saying that, she turned around and walked out quickly.

A short while later, Qiushuang returned, carrying a full basin of hot water.

After putting down the hot water, she turned around and walked out. A row of eunuchs were waiting outside the hall; they were the ones responsible for delivering breakfast that day.

Qiu Shuang took the food box from one of them, turned around and walked back. When she was almost at the entrance of the West Annex Hall, she slowed down, lowered her eyes, and looked at the food box in her hand.

Last night, Ning Ci deliberately turned the tables on her, displaying a petty and despicable face. This morning, Ning Ci's arrogant and domineering manner towards her kept flashing through Qiu Shuang's mind, causing her anger to surge.

Although she couldn't retaliate openly, she could secretly make Ning Ci suffer a little.

Thinking of this, Qiu Shuang looked around and, seeing that no one was paying attention to her, she carried the food box around to the back of the west wing, quietly opened the food box, and spat twice into the food inside.

"Aren't you going to eat? Make sure you eat a lot later!"

Qiu Shuang sneered, then closed the food box and returned to the West Annex as if nothing had happened.

However, when she entered the house, she found it completely empty.

She put down the food box and searched around the west wing, only to find that the water for washing her face had already been used, but she couldn't find Ning Ci anywhere.

Did Ning Ci sneak out again?!
Qiu Shuang's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately ran outside. She planned to first notify the Jinwu Guards on duty nearby and ask them to help find the person. If they couldn't find him, she would report the matter to the Emperor and ask him to severely punish Ning Ci!

But she hadn't run far when Song Qing called her back.

Where are you rushing off to?

Qiu Shuang quickly said, "Madam Ning is missing. I need to notify the Imperial Guards to search for her."

Upon hearing this, Song Qing laughed: "I was just about to tell you about this. Just now, Lady Ning went to pay her respects to the Imperial Concubine, and the Imperial Concubine invited her to have breakfast with her. Lady Ning asked me to inform you."

Qiu Shuang frowned: "But she was just urging me to hurry up and serve breakfast."

"It's just breakfast, you can eat it for her."

After saying this, Song Qing turned and left, leaving Qiu Shuang standing there in a dilemma.