Chapter 119 Why the Change
The red walls and green tiles are majestic and solemn.
After nightfall, the Di Sheng Palace was still brightly lit.
Gu Mengzhen summoned them to discuss the matter.
The ministers seated under the dragon throne were Fang Zhixuan and Ning Fengzhe.
After sending his attendants away, Gu Mengzhen first asked Fang Zhixuan.
"Earlier, I asked you to negotiate for an in-law relationship. How was the result?"
Fang Zhixuan lowered his eyes, humbly and submissively, and responded respectfully.
"Reporting to my brother, Duke Ningguo is leaning towards Prince Li because of the political situation in the past year, and it is not easy to persuade him."
"Madam Ning and Prince Chen may appear to be in harmony but they are not, so perhaps there is a chance for us to take advantage of this."
"My brother's plan to use Ning Yunxi to gain the trust of the third son-in-law Ning Xuanfeng has achieved some results."
"In my opinion, Madam Ning loves her son dearly, so it is most appropriate for the third son-in-law to persuade him."
Ning Fengzhe knew his identity and understood the meaning of his words. Then a hint of disdain appeared on the corner of his mouth.
Gu Mengzhen was content and looked at Fang Zhixuan with a smile.
"How easy is it to plot against the three Ning girls?"
"My dear brother, you have to move forward despite the difficulties. It is really hard work. Even if there is no result, I can understand."
After saying that, he turned his head and asked Ning Fengzhe.
"How's the progress in persuading the three Ning girls to return?"
Ning Fengzhe lowered his head solemnly, without losing any proper courtesy.
"Reporting to Father, this is absolutely impossible."
"In my opinion, this will cause endless troubles. The best strategy is to eradicate it as soon as possible."
Fang Zhixuan raised objections and took the opportunity to sow discord.
"If we eradicate her, who will cure my brother's old illness?"
"Should we ask King Dijin for help instead?"
"Fengzhe said it lightly, but he didn't consider his brother's pain at all. Is this the filial piety of a son?"
Gu Mengzhen frowned slightly.
Ning Fengzhe saw this and hurried to explain.
"Your Majesty, I understand clearly. It's not that I am lazy or unwilling to persuade you. I have tried my best, but Ning Yunxi is unmoved."
"There is really no other way, so I am here to make a suggestion, asking Your Majesty to eliminate this trouble forever."
Fang Zhixuan raised one eyebrow and spoke softly.
"Did you really put so much thought into it?"
"Everyone in the world knows that you and Ning Yunxi get along well with each other. You have never had any arguments in the past twenty years."
"Before, Ning Yunxi submitted to my brother because she followed you."
"How could she betray you when you are here?"
Ning Fengzhe was angry and unwilling to show weakness.
"Why did she betray? Uncle Huang knows best, doesn't he?"
Fang Zhixuan denied it as a matter of course.
"how you said that?"
"She and I have no relationship at all, and we have almost no contact. But you, we lived under the same roof, spent every day together, and grew up together with her."
"I am an outsider, how can I understand her as well as you do?"
Ning Fengzhe stared indifferently, his eyes as sharp as knives.
"Is the Emperor's uncle really an outsider?"
"Who is secretly protecting Ning Yunxi in the letter plan?"
Gu Mengzhen's eyebrows were filled with suspicion, and his dragon eyes were deep.
"What do you mean by this?"
Since Ning Fengzhe knew the truth, he naturally exposed it.
He stood up from his seat and knelt on his knees.
"Your Majesty, I already know that your uncle and Ning Yunxi are uncle and nephew!"
"This is about the conspiracy of Fang Renshu and his brother, and it also involves the safety of my father. Therefore, I will report it in advance before I can find out everything."
"I have already informed you in my early years that Ning Yunxi was an adopted daughter and her background is unknown."
"Now we know that she is Fang Renshu's daughter who has been missing for many years."
"Earlier, mother searched for evidence and found all the evidence, enough to prove that the emperor's uncle is Fang Zhixuan."
"Father, don't you think that he and Ning Yunxi are somewhat similar?"
"On the contrary, the person who claimed to be Fang Zhixuan did not resemble Fang Renshu or Ning Yunxi at all."
"Is the letter plan deliberately given by my mother, or is it secretly obstructed by the emperor's uncle?"
"Father, you are a wise and blessed person. I don't know what's going on."
"The extermination of the Fang clan was a crime they deserved. However, for Ning Yunxi, it was an irreconcilable hatred that they could not forgive."
"Her personality suddenly changed drastically, and she completely refused to listen to my words, precisely because she learned about her past."
"So, even if I work hard and get my lips parched, it will be in vain."
Gu Mengzhen heard the key point and immediately became suspicious.
"Are you really involved in this scheme to pass off fakes as real?"
"Were you really in the side hall at that time?"
"Or did you hear all this from Mu Rong?"
"I have already given an oral order that this matter must not be spread outside. How dare she disobey?"
Ning Fengzhe quickly found an excuse.
"I did not participate, and my mother did not say much."
"The reason I know this is because I am concerned about my father's safety, so I overheard my mother talking to herself."
Gu Mengzhen believed it for the time being and changed the subject.
"As you said, there is something fishy."
"But I have confirmed your uncle's scar. How could he be Fang Zhixuan?"
"Could it be that Fang Zhixuan also has a scar in the same place?"
"Isn't this too much of a coincidence?"
Fang Zhixuan also stood up, bowed solemnly and performed a great ceremony.
"I think Fengzhe's words are contradictory. Please think about it carefully, my brother."
"After the fire in Prince Chen's Mansion, my brother ordered Fengzhe to persuade Ning Yunxi."
"According to Fengzhe, Ning Yunxi knew her past and betrayed her, and she completely refused to listen to his advice."
"But after that, she pleaded for Madam Ning, which caused a rift between her and Prince Dijin, and almost cost her her life. How should she explain this?"
"Hasn't she already betrayed?"
"It is well known that Ning Yunxi values her family the most. This shows that even if she switched sides with Prince Di Jin, she still values the Ning family. If so, how could she not listen to Feng Zhe's advice?"
"Also, Fang Renshu's daughter is even more nonsense."
"The Fang family was exterminated, and Madam Ning participated in it, offering advice and suggestions, and leading by example. If she is really the daughter of Fang Renshu, why would she be willing to risk her life to save him?"
Gu Mengzhen listened quietly and thought carefully, then nodded solemnly.
"It makes sense."
"I really can't remember what Fang Renshu looks like."
"But Ning Yunxi and you do look somewhat alike."
Fang Zhixuan's eyes were calm, without a trace of ripples.
“There are countless people in the world who look alike, but they are not similar people, because they are all related.”
"Please forgive me, my royal brother. I am forced to do something and I have to advise you!"
"This minister has a reasonable suspicion that Ning Yunxi has betrayed us and there is something else going on."
"On the surface, it seems that she turned to King Dijin because she had parted ways with King Lichen. The actual reason is most likely that Fengzhe turned against her and told her that she was not allowed to continue assisting her brother!"
"I will analyze the basis of this in detail. Please listen to it, my Royal Brother."
"It's a scheme to pass off fake things as real. Madam Ning seems to be helping Prince Di Jin and arranging informants to lurk around the emperor. In fact, she is taking advantage of Prince Di Jin's plan to seize the wealth of the Zhuang Mansion."
"Mrs. Ning's actual allegiance is still with Prince Chen."
"She received some completely false information and thought that half of the national treasury was secretly stored in the manor, so she tried to annex it."
"To plot against the national treasury is undoubtedly to go against my brother the Emperor."
"As everyone knows, the relationship between Fengzhe and his son has always been harmonious, and Concubine Yi has adopted Prince Chen as her adopted son."
"Also, it was Fengzhe who suggested that I leave the capital to seek medical advice. Isn't that luring the tiger away from the mountain? It is not difficult to imagine that he must be involved in the plot to steal the national treasury."
"I boldly speculate that Prince Chen and Ning Yunxi are in harmony and have not yet separated. The pretense of separation is just a means to gain the trust of Prince Dijin."
"They are brothers and sisters, each on one side. Ning Yunxi is waiting for an opportunity to assassinate Prince Di Jin, while Fengzhe is responsible for dealing with the emperor."
"Prince Li left the capital because of an old matter and has not yet returned. Once the political situation is settled and the eldest son Prince Li is no longer around, it will be natural for the second son Prince Chen to succeed to the throne."
"The doctor I found happens to be related to Xinglin Hall. Doesn't your Majesty find it strange?"
"Using the name of Prince Di Jin, he plotted to murder my brother, and made Prince Di Jin bear the stigma of being treacherous, and lose the support of the people. In the end, who will be the one to reap the benefits?"
"Fengzhe usually hides his cleverness and keeps to himself, but in reality he is extremely intelligent and resourceful. My brother knows this."
"Whether his plan is enough to shake up the court, I am ignorant and don't know. Your Majesty will make the decision!"