inspire-indiana Chapter 123 Paying Homage to the Empress
Chapter 123 Paying Homage to the Empress
Seeing Jiang Ningwan dressed today, which was completely different from the one she wore on the battlefield, Qin Beihuang felt a little dazed. When the Queen Mother reminded him, Qin Beihuang quickly stood up and said, "My nephew was distracted for a moment. Please don't blame me, uncle!"
Qin Shuangchi nodded slightly, "No need to be so polite."
Qin Beihuang was about to sit back in his chair when Jiang Ningwan suddenly raised the corner of her lips and said, "General Qin suddenly became my nephew. I'm really not used to it."
The Queen Mother reminded her, "You haven't said hello to your Imperial Aunt yet."
Qin Beihuang's heart tightened. He faced Jiang Ningwan and gritted his teeth, mumbling a few words: "Greetings to the Imperial Aunt."
In the blink of an eye, Jiang Ningwan became his imperial aunt.
In the past, this status would not have been enough to suppress him, but now Jiang Ningwan has made great contributions and has been valued by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. The status of this elder has suddenly become a mountain pressing down on him.
The Queen Mother took Jiang Ningwan's hand and said, "You went to war on your wedding day. I guess you two didn't even drink the wedding wine?"
Jiang Ningwan and Qin Shuangchi looked at each other and shook their heads.
"This is unlucky." The Queen Mother quickly called out, "Wind Chan."
Soon, Feng Chan came forward with the wedding wine, the gourd ladle was split into two and connected with a red rope.
"This wedding wine symbolizes the union of two, husband and wife becoming one, sharing joys and sorrows. Today, you will drink the wedding wine here with me to remember the promise you made in this life."
The Queen Mother had a kind face and was full of smiles, and she sincerely hoped that they could live in harmony and happiness.
Although it was a bit embarrassing to drink the wedding wine in such an occasion, neither of them wanted to refuse the Queen Mother's kindness.
Qin Shuangchi moved closer in his wheelchair, but it was still not very convenient.
Jiang Ningwan leaned closer and drank the wedding wine. The hair on her temples moved slightly, brushing against Qin Shuangchi's cheek, making his ears suddenly red.
After drinking the wedding wine, both of them felt a little embarrassed.
Seeing the two people's shy appearance, the Queen Mother was very happy. "Sixteen, Ning Wan was named General Lingwei this time. What do you think?"
Qin Beihuang was feeling uneasy and just wanted to leave, but he came today to ask the Queen Mother to forgive Qingheng, otherwise, with Qingheng's current reputation, what would his future be like.
He couldn't just leave like that until the Queen Mother agreed.
"I will not delay her. Whether she continues to fight on the battlefield or does something else is entirely up to her."
Hearing this, Jiang Ningwan looked at him gratefully.
The Queen Mother also nodded with great satisfaction.
It seems that they are a match made in heaven.
Jiang Ningwan had finally made a name for herself, but she couldn't be trapped in the mansion and ruin her own future.
At this time, Qin Beihuang frowned and couldn't help but speak: "The emperor's uncle has difficulty walking, and the emperor's aunt has already made great contributions. Why go to the battlefield and take risks again? Taking care of the emperor's uncle is the top priority."
What's the matter with him?
Just as Jiang Ningwan was about to speak, a cold voice spoke first: "I am not useless and do not need anyone to take care of me."
Just one sentence left Qin Beihuang speechless.
The Queen Mother looked at them with a penetrating gaze.
"I have something to say to Sixteen, you guys go out first."
Jiang Ningwan and Qin Beihuang got up and left.
When only the Queen Mother and Qin Shuangchi were left in the room, the Queen Mother spoke earnestly, "Sixteen, I am a close friend of your biological mother. I treat you like my own son."
"So there are some things I will just say directly."
"Although Ning Wan is a second-time bride, she was once Bei Huang's wife. Now that she has made military achievements, she may go a higher and farther in the future than you. You must not harbor any resentment towards her."
"Many men can't stand seeing women in higher positions than themselves. Take Bei Huang, for example. Even after breaking up with Ning Wan, he still can't stand seeing Ning Wan climb up the social ladder."
"You must never have such thoughts."
Qin Shuangchi smiled after hearing this, and looked at the bright figure outside the gate with only admiration in his eyes, "Don't worry, mother, as long as it is what she wants to do, I will help her even if the sky falls."
……
In the courtyard, Jiang Ningwan was leisurely admiring the flowers and sitting down at the stone table to eat snacks.
Suddenly Qin Beihuang came over and sat down opposite her.
Qin Beihuang slowly poured a cup of tea. "Are you still planning to go to the battlefield? You've married the emperor's uncle, shouldn't you take good care of him? You're not a qualified wife."
Jiang Ningwan's expression was cold and indifferent. "I wasn't born to be someone's wife."
Hearing this, Qin Beihuang was slightly stunned. What was she hinting at?
Jiang Ningwan took care of his household affairs for two years.
Could it be that she still misses herself?
"Do you really have to compete with Qingheng?"
The inexplicable words made Jiang Ningwan frown. Looking at Qin Beihuang's eyes, she suddenly felt a little nauseous.
"I want to fight with her, but what I'm fighting for is never you, but power."
Qin Beihuang said with a serious expression, "You just want to prove that you are not inferior to Qing Heng and make me regret it."
"I can tell you clearly that I never regret marrying Qingheng. No matter if she is a general or an ordinary woman, I only love her."
Jiang Ningwan smiled contemptuously.
"Every step I take is to avoid regret."
"And you, are not that important."
"Don't think too highly of yourself."
Not only does she have to compete with Lu Qingheng, she also has to compete with Qin Beihuang and Lu Lingsong.
Qin Beihuang suddenly clenched his palms and was about to speak when Qin Shuangchi slowly came out of the room.
"Ning Wan."
The gentle voice coming from the warm breeze was something Jiang Ningwan had never heard before. For a moment, she was a little dazed and doubted her ears.
"The Queen Mother is resting, let's go back."
"Okay." Jiang Ningwan smiled, stood up, and walked forward, pushing the wheelchair out of Shouchun Palace.
Qin Beihuang watched the two figures walking away, and he couldn't describe the feeling in his heart, only that it felt a little dazzling.
The woman he once despised now holds an official position equal to his and has married his sixteenth uncle, becoming his aunt.
Nothing was as he had imagined.
……
After leaving the palace, Jiang Ningwan was in no hurry to return home. "The weather is perfect today. I want to go for a walk along the moat. Your Highness, would you like to join me?"
"Okay." Qin Shuangchi agreed happily.
When they arrived at the moat, Jiang Ningwan observed the water level and the bridge along the way.
I remember that in my previous life, during the rainy season, a bridge collapsed and seven or eight people were injured or killed.
I don't know which bridge it is.
Since you remember it, you might as well reinforce it in advance to avoid casualties.
"What are you looking at?" Qin Shuangchi noticed that something was wrong with her.
"Your Highness, there's a lot of rain in spring and summer. Do you think the water level in the moat has risen a bit? I've had nightmares the past two days. I dreamed that the bridge collapsed and several people died. I feel a little uneasy."
Hearing this, Qin Shuangchi seemed to be thinking about it. "The bridge construction department of this moat inspects and reinforces it every year, so there shouldn't be any problems."
"But since you had a nightmare, it might be a warning. Tomorrow at court, submit a memorial and ask the emperor to send the Ministry of Works to inspect it."
"it is good."
The two of them walked along the moat to bask in the sun, and indeed found a wooden bridge that looked unstable. The ropes were badly worn and showed signs of breaking.
The next morning, Jiang Ningwan reported the matter to the emperor.
The emperor was a little surprised when he heard this. "You actually mentioned the bridge over the moat?"
"Yesterday, Lu Qingheng hurried into the palace and said that he found the bridge over the moat to be unstable. He has sent people to check it out today."
"You two are quite in tune with each other."