Da Xuan, Zhan Garden.

The bright moon hangs high in the sky, and the stars hang low over all things.

Cui Shenghe stood in front of Zhao Zhi, took a deep breath, and then slowly unveiled the human skin mask that concealed his true appearance.

Zhao Zhi's gaze fell on the face in front of her that was strikingly similar to her own.

In an instant, her eyes welled up with tears, and her nose stung with emotion.

"Brother," she murmured softly, her voice choked with barely suppressed sobs, as she slowly opened her arms and embraced him tightly.

Cui Shenghe's hand hovered in the air for a moment, as if hesitating, before finally slowly encircling Zhao Zhi.

He said softly, "Zhizhi, it's time for this face to see the light of day again."

Beside him, Cui Jiu was already sobbing uncontrollably.

He witnessed Cui Shenghe's forbearance and perseverance over the past ten years and knew how much courage and determination it took for him to get to this point.

Cui Shenghe was indeed the former crown prince personally appointed by Emperor Yunling of the previous dynasty, and also the son of the infamous empress Cui Jiao, who was condemned by the people of Yun Dynasty.

They say that Yun Shu's infatuation with his sister-in-law led to his brother's poisoning and the decline of the Yun Dynasty.

But what wrong has the woman done amidst all this endless accusations and abuse?

“Brother, beauty is innocent, but drowning people die by their own hand,” Zhao Zhi murmured. “This is not your fault.”

Cui Shenghe took a deep breath and released Zhao Zhi.

His gaze instantly hardened and hardened. "Zhizhi, I will reclaim everything that belongs to me. If one day you tire of life in Da Xuan, your brother will take you to Yun Chao. If you aspire to become the Empress of Yun Chao, I will gladly relinquish the throne!"

Zhao Zhi hurriedly covered his mouth with her hand, a hint of mischief and reproach flashing in her eyes.

“Brother, what nonsense are you talking about! Being an emperor is no joke. I don’t want to be bound by those formalities and trivial matters of the court. I just want to live freely and happily every day.”

Cui Shenghe's words were sharp and to the point, hitting the nail on the head: "Zhizhi, although your brother hopes that you can be as free as the wind and live a life without restraint."

But have you ever considered why the Empress Dowager favors you so much? From a young age, you've been exposed to the art of rulership, and after your brother reunited with you, he poured his heart and soul into teaching you how to handle state affairs, day and night. Behind all this, have you noticed—”

A flicker of panic crossed Zhao Zhi's eyes. She quickly interrupted Cui Shenghe, "Brother, please stop talking! I don't want to hear it! I don't want to hear it!"

Cui Shenghe sighed and said, "Alright, Zhizhi. But some things can't be avoided by simply running away. Okay, that's enough. I'll leave Da Xuan two months before your wedding. After you get married, I'll take you to Yun Chao."

Zhao Zhi nodded.

Due to the urgency of the situation, the two head maids from Kangning Palace, Aunt Lanru and Aunt Fenghong, were assigned to the Princess's side to teach her the wedding ceremony and assist with the wedding arrangements.

Since the princess's residence has not yet been completed, the eldest princess will temporarily reside in Prince Rui's residence after the marriage.

In the days that followed, Zhao Zhi lived like a spinning top.

During the day, she learns elaborate wedding ceremonies.

In the evenings, she would study government affairs with Zhao Yi. Despite being exhausted, she persevered, trying her best to understand the complex memorials and government decisions.

In just two or three months, she was able to imitate Zhao Yi's handwriting, and those flamboyant strokes became quite similar under her pen.

To make it easier for Zhao Zhi to study government affairs, a desk was specially added to the Imperial Study.

In front of Zhao Yi lay stacks of memorials piled high, while Zhao Zhi's desk was similarly filled with various memorials and classic texts.

The two sat side by side, often working late into the night without realizing it.

The night was as still as water, and the only sounds in the quiet Imperial Study were the scratching of the pen on the paper and the occasional turning of the pages.

And in this long night, the first person to give in will surely be Zhao Zhi.

Because of her pregnancy, she often fell asleep without realizing it.

Whenever this happened, Zhao Yi would gently pick her up with a mix of heartache and helplessness, and let her rest on the dragon bed in the inner room of the imperial study.

Looking at the sleeping Zhao Zhi, Zhao Yi felt a mix of emotions.

He was pleased with her growth and progress, but also felt sorry for the pressure and exhaustion she endured.

But this is the destiny of those born into royalty—an innate and inescapable responsibility.

Although Zhao Zhi verbally evaded the issue, her actions demonstrated the responsibilities and mission of the royal family.

"What a stubborn girl with a soft heart!" Zhao Yi remarked.

He knew that Zhao Zhi had a long way to go, and she needed to work harder and be more resilient to keep going.

But he also believed that under his care and guidance, Zhao Zhi would surely become an outstanding ruler.

Meanwhile, in the Yun Dynasty, the unexpected return of the former Crown Prince Yun Li was like a bombshell dropped into the court, instantly igniting the flames of conflict between the two factions.

One faction of ministers still fondly remembers the time when Yunling was emperor.

At that time, under his rule, the Yun Dynasty was powerful and prosperous, and the people lived in peace and contentment.

They firmly believed that if it weren't for the treacherous Yun Shu's secret poisoning, the late emperor would not have died young, and the Yun Dynasty would never have fallen into such a state of decline.

Therefore, they firmly believed that the late Crown Prince Yun Li, as Yun Ling's biological son, had been influenced by his father since childhood and would surely inherit his father's will and revitalize the Yun Dynasty.

However, another group of ministers held a different view.

Although they acknowledged Yun Li's royal bloodline, they could not ignore his background—he was the son of the infamous Empress Cui Jiao.

In their view, it was Cui Jiao's seductive charm that led to the murder of the late Emperor Yunling and plunged the Yun Dynasty into turmoil.

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