Chapter 53: The Harem Sends an SOS 3

  Luo Tian, Imperial Palace, Royal Study Room.

  You Xiang informed Nan Gong Yu of the events that had transpired earlier, and he hesitated, saying: "Your Majesty, is Nalan Xianyu really your good friend? At the time, it was the princess who personally guaranteed it, and this old minister only...".

  Nangong Jin said calmly, "The Right Prime Minister doesn't have to worry, he didn't do anything harmful to the Luo Tian Empire, did he? Moreover, he also helped me eliminate the Left Party, only merit and no fault. It's just that the Empress Dowager believed in the slander of a treacherous person."

  The old minister nodded in agreement. "I also think that Nalan Gongzi is not that kind of person, if he wants to plot something, with his abilities, why would he need to go to such great lengths..."

  Looking at Nan Gong Jin's slightly cold face, the Right Minister knew that his words were somewhat inappropriate and immediately lowered his head without speaking again.

  Nangong Jin looked at the folded paper in his hand and said to the several generals of the Kwantung Army below: "You can rest assured, I have said that Feng Xi and Yu Xi are the same. This policy has been verified by Feng Xi's seal, so naturally, I will acknowledge it."

  Since the Empress Dowager had Nalan Xiangruan locked up in the Heavenly Prison and issued a wanted notice for Nalan Xianyu, the Guandong Army has been getting restless again. They are afraid that the promises made by Nalan Xianyu before will not be honored now that Nan Gongyin is back, isn't he going to stir up old troubles?

  You Xiang also had such concerns, he feared Nan Gong Jin would suspect him of colluding with Ling Yun. Nan Gong Jin looked at their worried expressions and sighed inwardly. This was the first time he had explained and comforted them in such detail and seriousness.

  Several generals of the Kwantung Army breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and the right minister also felt relieved in his heart.

  At this time, the door of the imperial study was pushed open. Without thinking, it was clear that only Nangong Yan could enter so presumptuously. The Right Chancellor and several generals retreated with a bow.

  Nangong Jin was flipping through the recently accumulated documents, when Nangong Yan approached him and snatched the official document from his hand. Her face showed a look of grievance. Nangong Jin knew what she had come to say, which was to ask him to demote Nalan Xinnuo to the Cold Palace. If it were in the past, he would have agreed without hesitation. This time, if he didn't agree, it would only make her more resentful towards Nalan Xinnuo.

  Most importantly, he also didn't know how to say it, how to tell her that he had fallen in love with Nalan Xiangxue without hurting her. And how to tell her that this so-called Huangfu Xiangxue was actually Nalan Xiangxue?

  It seems impossible to speak the truth without hurting her, but also can't let Xī Nuò use the Huáng Fǔ family's identity for the rest of her life.

  Thinking of this, Nangong Jin furrowed his brow in some annoyance.

  Nangong Yan saw Nangong Jin frowning and restrained her own aggrieved expression, gently tugging on Nangong Jin's sleeve.

  "Brother Wang... why won't you talk to me at all."

  Nangong Jin raised his head, smiled slightly and said: "How's your injury? Why don't you rest properly?"

  Nangong Yan looked at Nangong Jin and smiled, happily burrowing into his arms, hooking her neck around his and said pitifully: "Wang brother, I was so scared when you weren't here, luckily I met Xishuo..."

  Mentioning Xi Nu also meant mentioning the painful part, and Nan Gong Yan became visibly distressed. "He told me you were in danger, at that time I was so scared, I didn't know what to do, I was afraid you would never come back..."

  As she spoke, she buried her head in Nangong Jin's shoulder and burst into tears. Nangong Jin patted her back like an older brother or a father, holding her gently. "It's my fault for putting you and the empress dowager in such a dangerous situation."

  Although he is the supreme emperor of Luotian Continent, he rarely refers to himself as 'I', only doing so when facing his subordinates and having to observe the etiquette between ruler and subject.

  In front of people he likes and doesn't need to be on guard against, he still refers to himself as 'I' just like before.

  Nangong Yan shook her head vigorously. "It's not Brother Wang's fault, it's my fault, I didn't know that Brother Wang had so many troubles every day and was troubled by them every day, so..."

  As she spoke, she raised her head and said very seriously: "Brother Wang, can you help me find someone?"

  Nangong Jin thought she had come to talk about Nalan Xinnuo, but in fact, she did come to talk about Nalan Xinnuo. However, what she said was not what he had expected. Unexpectedly, she was so infatuated with Nalan Xinnuo that she didn't care that he had married another woman, which made him feel a little uncomfortable...

  "Who is it?" Nangong Jinming asked knowingly.

  "Nalan Xizuo..." Nangong Yan lowered her head, her cheeks slightly red. "I really like him a lot, this lifetime, I won't marry anyone else, even if it's to marry into the Yun Clouds!"

  Nangong Jin was a bit short of breath, what's going on? How did it come to this point? In the past, she would rather die than leave his side, and wouldn't allow any woman to even think about taking away his affection for her.

  What's going on now? Would rather have nothing than marry Nalan Xixi?!

  Nangong Jin was a bit sulky, he was very jealous, and didn't know which side to take!

  "He's dead!" Nangong Jin said without thinking, throwing down a sentence.

  "What...?" Nangong Yan raised her head in disbelief, with tears glistening in her eyes.

  Although I knew she would be sad about it, only by saying that the person was dead could she give up her heart; otherwise, even if he didn't help find him, she would still try every means to find him.

  If she were to find out the truth without any preparation, I don't know what would happen.

  "He's already dead, this time at Qilin Mountain, killed by the Qiang people." said Nangong Jin calmly.

  "Wang brother...... you!" Nangong Yan stood up, slowly backing away, looking at Nangong Jin's calmness with incredulity, shaking his head non-stop. "He did so much for you, how could you just watch him die?! And yet, you're speaking so calmly... Wang brother, the Wang brother I know is one who values loyalty and would never let his own people die at the hands of the enemy!"

  "Nangong Yan became more and more agitated. 'You've changed, Wang brother! You've changed! Ever since you brought that what's-her-name Huangfu Xizhao back, you've changed. In the past, whenever you came back, you'd always come to see me first, and care about me and protect me. Now, you're actually so heartless and unrighteous!'"

  Nangong Jin couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time, looking at Nangong Yan's excited expression. He worriedly said: "Yan'er, don't get angry, you're still injured, it's my fault, I didn't protect your beloved Xi Nu well. In the future, Brother Wang will find a better husband for you than him, okay?"

  "No!" Nan Gongyan almost cried out in pain. "I don't want anyone except Xi Nuo! You didn't save him, you killed him! I won't care about you anymore, or your Huangfu Xi Nuo, what right does she have to be called Xi Nuo? She's not worthy, I'll go kill her!"

  After speaking, she turned around and ran out crying. Leaving Nan Gong Jin alone to support his forehead in a pile of messy memorials...

  News of Nan Gongyan's falling out with Nan Gongyin over Huangfu Xie's promise quickly spread throughout the harem, and the concubines flocked to Nan Gongyan's palace to comfort her, in reality, to curry favor with her.

  Now Nan Gong Jin's mind is clearer than ever, he likes Nalan Xianyu and the position of Empress will definitely be given to Nalan Xianyu, only a difference in rank. Once Nalan Xianyu becomes the Empress, they will also be in danger.

  In this palace, the only one who can contend with Nan Gong Jin without being put to death, dare to kill the Empress without being punished, and in short, can cover the sky with one hand in the harem is Nan Gong Yan.

  Nangong Yan, however, was not in the mood to care about them at that time. She couldn't accept the news of Nalan Xinnuo's death. She didn't believe that Nalan Xinnuo would die so easily, but Nangong Jin had never lied to her before.

  He said he's dead, then he must be dead.

  But why did he have to die... She had finally found someone, aside from her brother, who was the strongest in the world and whom she truly liked and mustered up the courage to like, so why did he have to die?

  The princesses looked at Nan Gongyan, who was crying bitterly, and were also helpless. Suddenly, Nan Gongyan stood up and angrily said: "It's her, it's her who killed Xi Nuo, it's her!!"

  "Yes, yes, it's her! It's her!" Several concubines who hadn't yet grasped the situation hastily responded.

  But what can she do? Can't just go up and end her with one knife, right? It's obvious that brother really likes that woman, otherwise why would he use the Jade Dragon Scepter to welcome her? If I were to end her with one knife, I'm afraid it would really make brother angry.

  Looking at Nan Gong Yan's hesitation, a noble consort beside her said: "Your Highness, I have an idea!"

  "What's going on?" Nangong Yan raised her eyes.

  "That Huangfu Xizhao is the master of the Huangfu family, and among many vassal states, it's also considered to be a state with some prestige. If we let her enter the palace on the first day and lose favor, and then apply pressure, she will surely not be able to bear it and retreat!"

  "Fall out of favor on the first day? What does it mean?" Nan Gong Yan didn't understand.

  At this time, the noble consort pulled out an ordinary concubine from behind and said: "Tonight, we will let Xi'er serve the king, when she sees the king loving another woman, won't she be heartbroken?"

  Nangong Yan disdainfully turned her face away. "Do you think my brother Wang would look at her with favor?"

  Suddenly, she turned around and looked at her. "You mean..."

  The imperial concubine smiled and nodded, as if saying: "Otherwise, how could I have chosen her?"

  Her intention was to drug Nan Gong Jin, and the only one who could do it was Nan Gong Yan. Moreover, under the effect of the drug, Nan Gong Jin would inevitably become even more irrational, whoever was with him would be doomed to die, so she chose Xi Er instead.

  Na Xi'er seems to be just a daughter of a wealthy family, in the palace she has no backing and can only serve as a substitute for death.

  Nangong Yan hesitated for a moment. At this time, the imperial concubine continued: "The princess can also go find Nalan Imperial Concubine, Nalan Imperial Concubine was also formally married to the emperor with a grand ceremony of 'golden house and hidden beauty', and the empress dowager originally liked Nalan Imperial Concubine very much. Now, the only one who can restrain that Huangfu Xizhao is Nalan Imperial Concubine!"

  "Where is she now?!" As soon as Nalan Yanran was mentioned, Nan Gongyan suddenly came to her senses. She had long wanted to save Nalan Yanran, but due to her injuries, she hadn't been able to take any action.

  "Ever since Nalan Gongzi's east window incident, she was thrown into the heavenly prison by the Empress Dowager!"