The wicked imperial concubine is courting death again; the comments section teaches her how to win w

Qi Wenyuan nodded. With his elder brother accompanying him, he felt more at ease.

The gatekeeper had already prepared the carriage, and Qi Shubai accompanied Ning Nishang out the door.

In fact, Qi Shubai never liked Xie Jingyu. Outsiders praised Prince Gong as gentle and refined, but Qi Shubai always felt that there was more to him than met the eye.

Unfortunately, her silly younger sister had plunged headfirst into the hole, and she couldn't be pulled out.

Fortunately, after two years in the palace, she wasn't completely foolish anymore, and the last time I saw her, her feelings for Prince Gong had faded.

Qi Shubai believed it was a sign from his ancestors.

However, his cousin was even more naive than his own silly younger sister, so Qi Shubai naturally had to take extra care of her.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, Qi Shubai whispered, "I'll wait for you in the private room. If anything happens, just call out to me."

"Thank you, Third Cousin." With her family by her side, Ning Nishang felt a little more at ease.

When Ning Nishang went in, Xie Jingyu was already sitting inside.

"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Gong." She curtsied respectfully.

"Miss Ning, please have a seat." Xie Jingyu smiled warmly, like a gentle breeze, and personally poured her a cup of tea. "This is a new tea from Quzhou this year, Miss Ning, please have a taste."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

One cannot hit a smiling face; Prince Gong's gentle demeanor made it easy for people to lower their guard.

Although Ning Nishang harbored doubts, she sat down as instructed. "May I ask, Your Highness, is your invitation today related to Tangtang?"

"It has nothing to do with Tang'er. This is because..." Xie Jingyu paused, "I heard that Miss Ning's parents were killed by bandits from Qingfeng Mountain on their way back home, and her only younger brother is also missing?"

The death of her parents has always been the deepest scar in Ning Nishang's heart.

Caught off guard by the sudden re-emphasis, her fingertips twitched sharply.

Even after so many years, Ning Nishang still can't forget it...

My father was the second-highest scorer in the imperial examination in the seventeenth year of the Kangfeng reign, and was assigned to serve as the magistrate of Yuning County. In just five years, he achieved remarkable political achievements and was highly praised by the people. He was then promoted to the rank of prefectural governor, a fifth-rank official.

Not long after I took office in Hengzhou, I heard that my grandmother had fallen ill. Her illness was severe and she might not have much time left.

The father was deeply grieved and immediately decided to return to his hometown to visit his father.

Ning Nishang was supposed to accompany her parents, but she caught a cold and was delirious with fever, making it inconvenient for her to travel far. So, her parents set off with her younger brother.

Ning Nishang originally planned to visit her grandmother after she recovered from her illness, but not long after, news of the deaths of her parents and younger brother was sent back to her.

It is said that they encountered bandits on Qingfeng Mountain and were unfortunately...

Ning's father was, after all, a fifth-rank prefect, an official appointed by the imperial court. Yet, he was killed by bandits in broad daylight within the territory of Daqian. The imperial court was furious and dispatched troops to suppress the bandits and ordered a thorough investigation.

The reason was quickly found out: when Ning's father was serving in Yuning, he was upright and incorruptible, which offended the local powerful families.

They colluded with mountain bandits, determined to kill the Ning family.

Ning Nishang was only eight years old at the time, and she had to face the tragedy of her family being destroyed and her people dying. It was as if the sky had fallen.

Although the government later suppressed the bandits and provided compensation after the incident, for Ning Nishang, her parents were gone forever.

She has no home anymore.

It was her aunt, Ning Wanrong, who came from Shengjing and took her back to the Grand Tutor's residence.

Ning Nishang will always remember this kindness and will never forget that tragedy.

She gripped the handkerchief tightly, her knuckles turning white. "What does Your Highness wish to say?"

"Miss Ning, please don't misunderstand. I didn't mean to bring this up. However," Xie Jingyu said apologetically, picking up a brocade box from the side, "I also serve as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War. A few days ago, when the Ministry of War was sorting through old files, we discovered that among the items seized during the bandit suppression, there might be some belongings of Miss Ning's late father."

Parents' belongings?

Years ago, her parents and younger brother were killed by bandits, and their bodies were burned to ashes. Ning Nishang could only gather her clothes and erect a cenotaph.

Upon hearing that there were still belongings, she was completely stunned.

Trembling, she opened the brocade box that Xie Jingyu handed her.

There wasn't anything valuable inside, just a jade pendant with the name "Ning Yuanzheng" engraved on it; it belonged to her younger brother.

Each member of their family has one of these jade pendants, which were carved by their father himself.

Ning Nishang's is still hanging around her neck.

There were also silver lockets, copper coins, faded wolf-hair brushes... These things carried Ning Nishang's childhood memories, as if taking her back to the past, and tears welled up instantly.

Ning Nishang burst into tears.

Xie Jingyu's eyes flashed with interest, seemingly enjoying her loss of composure, but in an instant, his expression turned to one of deep emotion and pity. "She is gone now, Miss Ning, please accept my deepest condolences."

"I have come today not only to return the lost items, but also to tell Miss Ning some good news—"

"Your brother might still be alive."

Ning Nishang looked up abruptly, "What?!"

……

When I walked out of the private room, Qi Shubai was already waiting outside.

Seeing that Ning Nishang's eyes were red and she looked like she had been crying, his expression changed, and he pulled Ning Nishang behind him.

"Your Highness, what do you mean by this?"

Ning Nishang wiped her eyes and quickly explained, "Third cousin, you've misunderstood. Today, His Highness Prince Gong was returning my late father's belongings; he didn't make things difficult for me."

Qi Shubai's expression softened, but his gaze toward Xie Jingyu remained scrutinizing.

Would he really be that kind?

It was getting late, so after saying goodbye, the two boarded the carriage.

Ning Nishang held the brocade box tightly.

After her parents passed away, she thought she had no close relatives left in the world. She never expected that her younger brother might still be alive, and suddenly she felt a faint spark ignite in her heart.

Prince Gong said he would help her continue searching for her brother. Ning Nishang was moved to tears, but a strange feeling suddenly flashed through her mind.

Why would Tangtang say that Prince Gong was not a good person...?

Whom should she believe?

……

Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, Zhao Yan approached and asked, "Your Highness, why are you so concerned about Miss Ning, and even sent someone to investigate her family affairs?"

Xie Jingyu said casually, "What do you think?"

Zhao Yan frowned. "Forgive my bluntness, but I'm afraid Miss Ning is not up to the position of Princess Consort of Prince Gong."

Ning Nishang is currently living in the Grand Tutor's mansion, and is known to the outside world as his adopted daughter, but everyone knows that her parents are dead and she has no backing whatsoever.

Let alone Ning Nishang, an orphan, even Qi Yitang's family background would make her think twice before becoming the principal wife of a prince.

As for why he could become a Noble Consort, Zhao Yan thought that His Majesty was blinded by love and lust.

Their prince is destined for great things; he absolutely cannot be obsessed with women.

"Of course I will not marry her." Xie Jingyu's lips curled into a playful smile.

His principal wife must come from a prominent family, so that she can help him seize the throne.

"But it's just for fun," he said, twirling his fingers as if savoring something, "it's quite interesting."