Why didn't he leave a eunuch behind to listen to the news from Kunning Palace and then come back to report?

Fortunately, Xilong Pavilion is not too far from Kunning Palace; two quarters of an hour is enough for a round trip.

So, when the Crown Prince had seven or eight more memorials to his name, Eunuch Feng returned, covered in sweat.

"Your Highness, the Third Princess has cried herself to sleep. The Princess is personally overseeing the arrangements, with the staff of Kunning Palace keeping vigil and burning paper money for the Empress!"

"I heard that some eunuchs didn't know the rules and shouted a few times, and were even slapped by the princess. Now everyone is obeying orders and the funeral is being handled in an orderly manner."

The prince raised his hand, picked up the teacup, took a sip, covered the corner of his mouth that was turning up, and finally replied, "I know, you can rest now."

Eunuch Feng breathed a sigh of relief and quickly called the eunuchs forward to help their master wash up and change clothes.

After finishing his work, he left a young eunuch to keep watch for the night before leaving the room.

A night breeze blew, and his soaked clothes made him shiver.

Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger.

I always saw Manager Yi as glamorous, but now I realize how dangerous things are behind that glamour.

Is it too late for him to regret it now?

He still wanted to be the deputy chief steward, where he could get the benefits without having to be at the forefront and risk losing his head at any moment...

The night gradually deepened and then thinned, finally being completely driven away by the pale light of dawn in the eastern sky, restoring life to the world.

The third princess awoke from her deep sleep and stared at the unfamiliar bed curtains for a long while before she came to her senses.

She slowly turned her head and saw the figure sleeping soundly by the table, and tears streamed down her face.

The person she loved deeply deceived and treated her perfunctorily, but in private, he was a friend who was devoted to her.

How could she not be sad and angry about this? Naturally, it wasn't something that could be completely resolved with just a few words.

But she couldn't bear to part with her only friend.

So she chose to forgive.

At that moment, she was incredibly grateful that she had made the right choice.

In her most desperate and heartbroken moment, someone rushed to her side in the dead of night.

Tears flowed silently, blurring the image before my eyes...

The third princess cried for a long time, and her heart became more and more clear.

She slowly got up, wiped away her tears, and walked barefoot to the door.

In the courtyard, the eunuchs and palace maids who had kept watch all night were sleeping soundly, leaning against the pillars.

Inside the main hall, the ice outside the coffin melted, and water droplets fell little by little, forming small bubbles that slowly overflowed, passed through the threshold, and slid down the steps, like long tear tracks.

The flames in the copper basin before the coffin had died down, leaving only half a basin of ashes drifting in the morning breeze, cold and lonely...

When the empress of a country passed away, there were no mourning rites, no noble ladies weeping at her grave, no officials offering sacrifices, and no chanting of sutras to pray for her soul's salvation.

She is the only useless daughter, the daughter who only knows how to cry, the daughter who lives at the mercy of others, the daughter who has no power or influence!

If she had power, her father wouldn't have ignored her words, her mother wouldn't be left to rot so miserably, and the person she loved wouldn't have so casually deceived and mistreated her...

Jiayin took a short nap and woke up rubbing her sore neck. She was startled by the figure in front of the door.

She quickly dragged her numb legs over and asked, "Princess, when did you wake up? Are you hungry? I'll have Shuiyun get you some..."

Unexpectedly, the third princess turned her head and smiled at her, then gently took her hand.

"Jiayin, don't worry, I'm fine! In fact... I'm perfectly fine, absolutely fine!"

Jiayin felt uneasy at her laughter and instinctively hugged her. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"No." The Third Princess hugged her back, resting her head on her shoulder, her voice soft and gentle.

"Jiayin, what do you think if I said I wanted to marry Lu Zong?"

Jiayin paused for a moment. Although she didn't understand what the Third Princess was thinking, she still replied, "If we only consider family background, he is indeed a good candidate for marriage."

The Lu family members are not in the capital, so no one will disturb your married life. Moreover, the Lu heir is the only legitimate son, and any child you bear will be a direct descendant of the Lu family. But…”

"No need to say anything more, this is enough." The Third Princess released Jiayin and stood beside her at the door, her smile hollow.

"This is enough, it's all I want. I know what you're trying to say, but that's not important."

"How many couples in this world get married because they love each other? It's all about mutual exploitation. If others can do it, why can't I?"

Jiayin felt a chill run down her spine. She knew clearly that the Third Princess seemed to have grown and changed a lot overnight, but this growth and change didn't seem to bring any joy...

At this moment, Shuiyun brought over the tray.

On the tray were freshly cooked millet porridge, a plate of vegetarian dumplings, and two small dishes of appetizers.

Seeing that her mistress looked unwell, she said, "Princess, why don't you have breakfast with the princess?"

Jiayin was about to speak when the Third Princess interrupted, "Put the food inside, but your mistress isn't eating, so we'll take you back now."

Jiayin immediately objected, "No, I have nothing to do at home, I'll stay here with you for a few more days."

“No need,” the Third Princess shook her head. “You’re so smart, you can’t possibly not guess Father’s plans, can you? My mother’s funeral will probably not begin for another ten days or so. Perhaps my father has other arrangements, and it will be delayed even longer.”

“As her daughter, I’ll just have to endure it with you, so you don’t have to suffer with me. Besides, my mother wasn’t good to you when she was alive. I’m already very grateful that you put aside your past grievances and kept her peaceful for one night.”

As for the future... let me walk my own path!

Jiayin gripped her hand tightly, her unease growing stronger...

When the sun finally broke through the clouds and jumped above the horizon, the entire Kunning Palace was fully awakened.

Before the eunuch guarding the gate could even rub the sleep from the corner of his eye, he saw the Third Princess personally escorting Princess Kangle to the gate. He was terrified and was about to step forward to stop her.

"Princess, the Emperor has decreed that you are only allowed to enter, not leave..."

The third princess glared, her expression turning extremely cold and fierce, and shouted, "How dare you! When did it become your place to interfere in my affairs!"

"This servant dares not!" The eunuch quickly knelt down and kowtowed. The Third Princess gestured for Caiyun and the others to push open the door, then gave Jiayin a hard shove, signaling her to leave quickly.

Jiayin had no choice but to take Shuiling and Shuiyun out the door, which immediately closed behind them.

Jiayin subconsciously took a step forward, instinctively wanting to pull the Third Princess out.

Kunning Palace is no longer Kunning Palace; it is the hell where the Third Princess buried herself!

The third princess stood inside the door, smiling and shaking her head at her, until the door closed completely, obscuring her pale face...

Shuiyun and Shuiling didn't know why the Third Princess had sent their master out of the palace, but the Third Princess wouldn't harm their master. Besides, being cooped up inside, guarding a dead person, was really not a good thing. Of course, they should stay away from her if they could!

The two practically dragged their master along, rushing towards the palace gates. Taking advantage of the lively discussion in the court about appointing the crown prince, they left the palace directly!

Two updates today!