Chapter 203 Is this really true?

Chu Yuening originally thought that something big must have happened outside that concerned her, which was why her brother was so nervous and kept a close watch on her, forbidding her from going out.

But Shen Qingci's reaction was so natural; the disdain and contempt on her face towards Liu Wenyuan and Emperor Yongming were unmistakable.

In addition, she remembered that when her brother left, he had indeed said that he was going out on business and asked his sister-in-law to stay here and talk to her for a while before coming back to pick her up.

Her conviction began to waver again.

Could it be... that what Shen Qingci said was true?

Chu Yuening seemed to be deep in thought. She looked at Shen Qingci, her voice carrying a hint of envy that she herself was unaware of: "Brother truly... values ​​his sister-in-law more than his own life."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci smiled and said in a seemingly reproachful tone, "I'm a grown-up, but he always treats me like a child."

She sighed, a hint of helplessness in her voice: "I bear a deep-seated hatred, and he probably... is afraid that I'll act recklessly in my eagerness for revenge."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yuening quickly advised, "The dead are dead, and the living need to live well. Revenge should not be rushed. It should only be done after ensuring that you can live well."

Shen Qingci nodded. She turned her head and looked at Tuantuan, who was running around the yard giggling while pulling the rabbit lantern. A gentle smile unconsciously spread across her lips.

Then, she turned back to look at Chu Yuening, a complex emotion flashing in her clear phoenix eyes: "And you? Do you... hate it?"

"The Emperor," her voice suddenly turned cold, "He possesses the entire empire and enjoys all the power and wealth that the throne brings him. Yet he doesn't think of using these to protect his people."

"On the contrary, when war came, they pushed a defenseless and weak woman out to be sent to an enemy country thousands of miles away for a marriage alliance."

"Back then, everyone could probably imagine what your future would be like. But... no one cared."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yuening smiled. In that smile, there was not a trace of resentment, only a calm indifference that came from seeing through the ways of the world.

“Of course I hate it,” she said calmly. “But everyone tells me that I am supported by the people, that I am a royal princess. I was born to… protect the peace of the people.”

She turned to look at Shen Qingci, a genuine gratitude suddenly flashing in her eyes: "Speaking of which, I am... quite grateful to General Shen. At that time, among all the civil and military officials, only he stood up to oppose it, and even... volunteered to lead the troops into battle."

“But,” her voice carried a hint of helplessness, “the late emperor… refused to comply, refusing to grant him troops or the authority to mobilize them.”

Shen Qingci remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "My father objected, probably because we all felt that the emperor was the one who should truly be responsible for the country and the people of the Great Zhou, not... for the happiness of a woman."

"If the emperor cannot protect the integrity of the Great Zhou territory, nor can he protect the peaceful and prosperous lives of the people of the Great Zhou, then he is... incompetent."

Her gaze fell once again on the small figure not far away, her voice filled with pity: "Tuantuan is so cute, how could anyone... bear to hurt her?"

She asked softly, "She...shouldn't remember, right?"

Chu Yuening shook her head, a hint of pain flashing in her eyes: "Tuantuan has been quite happy during her time in the capital and hasn't shown any unusual behavior."

"But sometimes when I'm sleeping at night, I might still dream about it. I might suddenly wake up crying and shouting, 'Mommy, run!' or 'Don't hit me!'"

Shen Qingci felt a deep, intense pain welling up in her heart.

She remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "Before, after I found out that Huo Yunzhan had betrayed me, after I decided to abort the child, and after I learned that Huo Yunzhan might also be related to the massacre of the Shen family, I told myself again and again that the reason I ended up in such a miserable state was because... I wasn't strong enough."

"I need to become stronger so that I can protect myself, protect the people I care about, and crush those who have bullied me!"

She turned her head and looked at Chu Yuening, her clear phoenix eyes filled with an unprecedented determination: "We... must all strive to become stronger, for the sake of the people we want to protect."

Chu Yuening's eyes flickered slightly, as if she had been touched by her words.

She stared at the small figure not far away for a long, long time before slowly and heavily nodding.

“What my sister-in-law said is absolutely right.”

Just then, the familiar sound of a wheelchair came from the courtyard gate.

Shen Qingci stood up: "It should be Chu Jichen who has returned."

She gave Chu Yuening a gentle smile: "We're all being watched very closely these days. I get quite bored spending all day in the courtyard. If the princess finds it boring, she can... come and play with me."

Chu Yuening agreed, and then saw Chu Jichen indeed maneuvering his wheelchair and slowly entering from outside the door.

Shen Qingci stepped forward and followed Chu Jichen into the carriage.

As soon as he got into the car, Chu Jichen immediately asked with concern, "How did it go? How did the persuasion go?"

"I've said everything I needed to say." Shen Qingci shook her head. "The rest is up to her to figure out. We need to give her some time."

After finishing discussing Chu Yuening's matter, Shen Qingci finally steered the conversation back on track.

She slowly raised her head, her clear phoenix eyes fixed on Chu Jichen in the dim carriage, and asked with a half-smile, "Your Highness, there is something I don't understand."

"Why... did Chu Yuening say that you've liked me for a long time?"

"Could it even be traced back to... before her marriage alliance?"

An extremely unnatural expression flashed across Chu Jichen's face.

His grip on the wheelchair armrest tightened almost imperceptibly, and he asked with a somewhat unfocused look, "Why...why did you suddenly start talking about this?"

Shen Qingci narrowed her eyes, taking in his subtle reactions.

Could it be... that this really happened?

She was filled with doubt: "But I remember that I... didn't know the prince before, right?"

Chu Jichen's eyes flashed, and he turned his head to meet her probing gaze. He only coughed lightly and said, "Qingqing doesn't know me, but I do... know Qingqing."

He didn't seem to want to dwell on the topic, and changed the subject, his voice carrying a deliberate understatement: "It's nothing important, Qingqing doesn't need to worry about it."

Hearing him say this, Shen Qingci became even more puzzled and increasingly eager to find out the truth.