Yuqiongyin

A few days later, Wei Ke and his entourage arrived at Kunning Palace as promised.

In the courtyard of Kunning Palace, several beautiful peonies swayed gently in the breeze, with crystal dewdrops hanging on the petals. The sunlight sprinkled on them, sparkling with charming brilliance.

The hall is filled with luxury and solemnity. The green smoke rising from the incense burner is like a thread, permeating the air and exuding a faint fragrance.

Xie Chenning had been waiting for a long time. She sat in the main seat, wearing a palace dress embroidered with intricate patterns, a head of dazzling pearls and jade, and her eyes revealed a bit of laziness.

Watching Wei Ming slowly walking into the palace, his figure did not seem small in this magnificent palace.

He bowed his head slightly and said respectfully, "Hello, Queen. Wei Ming is late."

Hearing the voice, Xie Chenning slowly raised his eyes, looked at the visitor with a sharp gaze, and said straight to the point: "Since the prince has figured it out, then he naturally knows why I called you here today."

Wei Ming had actually guessed it in his mind, but he still smiled and replied, "I guess there must be something important to discuss, otherwise he wouldn't have dismissed everyone."

Xie Chenning smiled gently, with a hint of admiration in his eyes.

"Your Highness is indeed extremely intelligent. This throne should have belonged to you, right?"

The initiative is always firmly in Xie Chenning's hands, and it is not certain whether the person standing in front of her has the courage to accept this challenge.

Wei Ke was not surprised that Xie Chenning would ask this. Now the Xie family seemed to have helped Wei Ming secure the throne, but Wei Ming had always been unwilling to give him the position of a prince.

It's simply that he thinks Xie Feisi's achievements are greater than his master's. If he is given the title of prince, he will be second only to the emperor.

Although there was harmony on the surface, there were actually undercurrents.

Soon after Wei Ming ascended the throne, he wanted to eradicate the Xie family, but he was unable to win over his own forces.

I hate him, but I have to rely on him.

At this time, there were a few clear bird calls coming from outside the window, and the curtains in the palace fluttered gently in the breeze, as if they were also looking forward to Wei Ke's answer.

"It is natural for the Crown Prince to inherit the throne. What do you think, Queen?"

Xie Chenning looked at the gentle and calm man in front of him and smiled.

She was not the original owner and could only search for everything about the former Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace from her hazy memories.

Before the late emperor fell seriously ill, this prince was the most popular candidate to inherit the throne. How could such a person be so inactive in the imperial garden?

Now, when Xie Chenning saw the ambition that Wei Ke had revealed to him, he couldn't help but think of the idiom "sleeping on firewood and tasting gall".

The same is true for this prince. He looks gentle and harmless, but he is just putting on that face for others to see. I'm afraid he has too much to ask for.

Thinking of this, Xie Chenning's impression of the prince changed subtly, and she began to re-examine the man in front of her.

Xie Chenning restrained the smile on her face, and her eyes became serious. She stared closely into Wei Lu's eyes, and there was a hint of seriousness in her cold voice.

"This is natural and legitimate. If I can help His Highness ascend to that position..."

A hint of surprise flashed across Wei Ke's eyes. He didn't expect Xie Chenning to express his intentions so directly.

He asked calmly, "What does the Queen want?"

At this moment, Xie Chenning didn't want anything in particular, but she also understood that she needed to make plans for the future development of the Xie Mansion.

She hopes that the Xie family will be safe and prosperous, and she also hopes that she can live freely.

As for who will sit on the throne in the end, she doesn't care, but she absolutely cannot let Wei Ming sit in this position again.

"Can I trust the safety and stability of the Xie Mansion to you?" Xie Chenning's voice was firm and powerful.

"Of course. Then, is this just the Queen's personal wish, or the attitude of the entire Xie Mansion?"

Xie Chenning raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a confident smile, "What do you think, Your Highness?"

Wei Ke stared into Xie Chenning's eyes, and finally, he said softly: "I understand, I will definitely not let the Queen down."

Xie Chenning nodded slightly and began to ask the prince some questions about state affairs and military affairs.

After getting a satisfactory answer, Xie Chenning began to re-examine the man in front of him. Wei Ke was no longer just a tool to be used, and he began to truly appreciate him.

There was more tenderness and less calculation in her eyes.

At this moment, a ray of sunlight just happened to shine on Xie Chenning's face, making her skin look even whiter and more delicate. There seemed to be flowing light in her eyes, and a faint smile on the corners of her mouth.

Wei Ke was slightly stunned when he saw her face, and then he smiled modestly.

"Your Majesty, I am just doing my best."

*

At the same time, the palace maid in the imperial study reported that the Queen Mother had summoned him.

Wei Ming then remembered that his mother had gone to the Huguo Temple some time ago and happened to come back today.

Then Ni'er should be back for the time being. Thinking of this, he hurriedly took a group of eunuchs to the Cining Palace where the Queen Mother was.

There is no luxury in the Cining Palace, but instead an air of elegance is everywhere.

The layout here is simple yet elegant, as if revealing the owner's indifferent mood.

The air is filled with the pleasant scent of sandalwood, which makes people feel relaxed and happy.

The current Queen Mother sat in the center of the palace. Her hair was not covered with pearls and jade, but she was wearing plain and simple clothes.

Her face was dignified and beautiful, and the years did not seem to have left many traces on her face. Especially her curved eyebrows, which always had a faint smile, gave people a gentle and kind feeling.

However, all this is just superficial.

Despite her gentle and kind appearance, the Queen Mother is actually a snake at heart with a rosy face.

Behind that gentle smile, there is a cold and ruthless heart.

She is good at disguising herself and hiding her true emotions deeply. She knows how to use her appearance and temperament to confuse others, making people mistakenly think that she is a kind and amiable person.

In the vortex of court struggles, the Queen Mother had long learned how to get what she wanted and consolidate her position through various means.

Her inner world is full of schemes and calculations, and her desire for power drives her to pursue it by any means necessary, so she can sit in her current position.

"My son is here. Come, come to my side."

The Queen Mother smiled and waved at Wei Ming, motioning him to sit next to her.

"Mother." Wei Ming still bowed to her.

The palace maids and eunuchs in the hall had already tactfully left the hall, leaving the space for the mother and son. Wei Ming frowned, with a look of deep dissatisfaction on his face.

The Queen Mother took a sip of tea and whispered softly, "Are you too impatient?"

But the chill in it still made Wei Ming a little frightened.