If not for all the facts pointing to the truth, even Xiao Yan would have doubted whether he was wrong. However, what he had experienced over the years made him realize that nothing in this world is impossible.
Especially these things happened in the royal family.
Xiao Yan thought of the past, a hint of coldness flashed across his eyes, and he said to Tang Ning: "Right now, we can't be sure which one of them it is, but if we really want to know, there is a way."
"Brother, are you talking about aunt?" Tang Ning's lips turned pale.
Xiao Yan nodded: "Your aunt has been married to Prince Cheng's mansion for many years. In the eyes of everyone, she and Prince Cheng are in love, but after many years of marriage, she only gave birth to Xie Yin, one child."
"There were rumors that your aunt was in poor health, but now that she is pregnant, it means that she is fine. It is very likely that someone has done something to her since she has not been pregnant for many years."
That person couldn't tolerate the fact that Prince Cheng had another child, and had been suppressing Princess Cheng for many years. Now that Princess Cheng was pregnant again, Prince Cheng was begging her to go back, so he would definitely make a big show of it. If that person was really extreme, he might not stop taking action...
Xiao Yan paused when he thought of this: A second offspring?
wrong.
If that person was really so paranoid and would do something secretly, how could she tolerate Princess Cheng giving birth to Xie Yin...
This thought flashed through his mind, but it left a mark. Xiao Yan frowned and took note of it but did not mention it rashly. He just said, "If she attacks Princess Chen, we will definitely catch her tail."
Tang Ning hesitated: "But the Lu family just had an accident. If that person is really Queen Lu, how dare she cause trouble again..."
"It's because something happened to the Lu family that she wanted to take action."
Seeing Tang Ning confused, Xiao Yan said coldly, "Lu Zhao was imprisoned, Lu Chongyuan was under house arrest, and the Lu family suffered one blow after another. In the final analysis, it all stems from you and me. The Lu family will have a hard time recovering from the grain tax case. If the Lu family suffers a heavy blow, Queen Lu and the Fourth Prince will also be implicated. At this time, nothing can save the situation better than taking an unconventional approach."
"Let me ask you, if something bad happens to Princess Cheng at this time, like what happened to her and Gu Helian back then, she would be framed and accused of having an affair with Gu Helian for many years and being caught in bed with him. Some would even suspect that the child in her belly is Gu Helian's illegitimate offspring."
"The Prince's Mansion is using this as a threat, will you back down?"
Song Tangning's expression changed drastically: "I..."
Xiao Yan looked at her and said, "In order to protect Princess Cheng, you will not only retreat, but also beg me to let the Lu family go in exchange for Princess Cheng's peace."
"If I am cruel and ignore you, you and Princess Cheng will bear all the bad reputation. But if I protect you, I will retreat step by step, and let the Lu family take advantage of my weakness to turn the tables."
Song Tangning's hands were shaking, and she wanted to say that she wouldn't, but when the words came to her lips, she couldn't say a word.
Her only blood relative is her aunt, and she didn't even know how she died in her previous life. She feels guilty and just wants her aunt to be safe.
If what Xiao Yan said really happened, and her aunt was framed and unable to escape, and if the Prince Cheng's Mansion and the Lu family used this as a threat, she would not be able to watch her aunt die.
Seeing her pale face, Xiao Yan sighed softly: "Empress Lu knows how to make you soft-hearted."
The little girl had been controlled by the Lu family for many years. Perhaps no one knew better than Queen Lu how to deal with her. She only cared about one or two people.
If you catch one, you have the girl's lifeline.
Song Tangning subconsciously grabbed his sleeve: "Brother, they will harm my aunt..."
"Gu Helian suffered a setback once before, so he won't be stupid enough to let them harm him in the same way again."
"But Queen Lu, if she really wants to do something, can't we expose her in advance..."
"There is no evidence."
Xiao Yan looked at her fingers hooked around his sleeves, lowered his eyes and whispered, "This matter has only been our speculation from beginning to end. We still cannot prove who is having an affair with Prince Cheng. Even if it is Lu, she will not leave any evidence to threaten her, and Prince Cheng will not be stupid enough to give someone up and send himself to death."
She had an affair with her brother's sister-in-law, who is the current queen, and she kept Emperor An in the dark for many years. Once it is discovered, there will be enough heads to be chopped off in Prince Cheng's mansion.
Even if King Chen died, he would not reveal a word.
Whether it's for herself, the Fourth Prince, or the thousands of people in the Lu family, Queen Lu will never let anyone get hold of anything against her.
Xiao Yan patted Song Tangning's hand gently: "It is a pleasant surprise to find out that there is such a person in secret. Don't worry about other things."
Seeing her pale face, he said:
"Have you forgotten what I taught you before? You should plan carefully before you act. No matter what you encounter, don't panic. As long as you have a goal and plan slowly, you will be able to peel off the skin on them. And it is they who are anxious right now, not us."
He breathed softly, trying his best to calm the girl in front of him.
"If it's Princess Huan, she will be exposed if she dares to act without permission. If it's Queen Lu, she once relied on the Lu family to gain dignity, but now the Lu family has become a cage that she can't escape from."
"The Lu family is in deep trouble. She is more anxious than anyone else. No matter what she wants to do, her ultimate goal is you and me."
Song Tangning tilted her head slightly and looked at Xiao Yan, feeling the continuous warmth coming from his hands. She seemed to be infected by his calmness, and her originally panicked heart calmed down little by little as he spoke.
She reached out and held Xiao Yan's fingertips: "Brother..."
"Don't be afraid." Xiao Yan said in a clear voice: "I'm here."
Tang Ning felt at ease, grasped his fingertips and whispered, "I'm not afraid."
My brother is here.
She is not afraid.
…
The sound of wind and rain grew stronger, the rain hitting the car window made a rustling sound, and the hexagonal bell hanging next to the car swayed in the wind.
When Xijue Tower was about to close, they saw the carriage from the Governor's Mansion approaching. Xiao Yan had come here several times before to buy snacks, and everyone in the building already recognized the carriage driver.
Jinyun had just walked over with an umbrella when the shopkeeper came to greet him from afar.
"Commander Jin, is the Governor here to buy snacks for Miss Song again? Is it the same as before today? Or do you want something else?"
Jinyun smiled and said, "My girl won't eat cake today."
The governor's mouth is sweet enough, I will get tired of it if I eat any more.
He glanced at the unmoved curtain over there, and found it hard to imagine that his master's tongue, which was as toxic as a knife, could one day become as sweet as honey, and his words would make people choke to hear them.
I don't know whether the little girl succeeded in coaxing him or not, but his ears were numb anyway.
Jinyun said to the shopkeeper, "Pack some gifts for people and take a nice food box. My master and his daughter are going to visit friends."
"What kind of friend?" the shopkeeper asked casually. He originally wanted to know whether it was a man or a woman so that he could prepare something to send.
Unexpectedly, Jinyun held the umbrella handle and replied: "An honest man who has been fooled."
The shopkeeper: "…"
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