Chapter 6 Is it too late to escape the past?

After seeing off the Duke and Duchess Cheng, one of them returned to his study, while the other went to his bedchamber. Mu Jin followed behind Shen Yujiao, her heart pounding: Everything was fine just now, so why is it not right now? Could something have gone wrong during their farewell?

"Mujin," just as she was thinking, she heard Shen Yujiao call out. Mujin immediately stepped forward, bowed and nodded, "Please keep the bracelet that Brother Zhiju gave me safe and sound, and don't let it get bumped or damaged."

"yes."

Seeing Mu Jin carefully put the bracelet away, Shen Yujiao's thoughts drifted again. Why was He Zhiju also in the Great Xia Dynasty? Had he also transmigrated? But how did he end up in the Northern Frontier? What went wrong?

She wanted to ask Mu Jin a few questions, but she was worried about giving herself away. She thought that it would be better if Cui would send He Zhiju's family letter over. Once she got the letter, she would know whether this Miss Shen's brother was her Zhiju brother. After all, no matter where you are, a person's handwriting will never change.

So, ever since the Duke and Duchess of Cheng left, Shen Yujiao had been looking in the direction of the East Palace gate. She sent two or three eunuchs out, but they were still not at ease, so she sent Mu Jin out as well. Finally, at dusk, she saw a eunuch return with a letter.

Uncle, Aunt, and my sister Yujiao: I heard at the Northern Frontier Camp that the Emperor has bestowed a marriage upon me, and I know that the Crown Prince will be married next year...

Shen Yujiao opened the letter and quickly scanned it. It was just an ordinary family letter. What she expected was that this "Zhiju" had a very good relationship with Miss Shen. Hearing that her younger sister was getting married, he was indeed very concerned, just as Cui had said. However, what was different from what she had hoped for was the handwriting on the letter—it had nothing to do with He Zhiju.

She quickly read the letter, then placed it on the table with some disappointment, staring blankly at the bold handwriting.

He Zhiju's handwriting, though sharp, was restrained, just like him—straight and elegant. Back in her school days, she had done terribly in humanities subjects, and it was He Zhiju who provided her with his notes, allowing her to study systematically and methodically. Later, her top ranking in humanities was inseparable from the help of those notes. Therefore, she was extremely familiar with He Zhiju's handwriting.

As her fingertips traced the letter, Shen Yujiao murmured, "If it's not Brother Zhiju, then who could it be? And why...why would he be Miss Shen's brother?"

"You dared to accept someone's bracelet without even knowing who they are."

The sudden sound startled Shen Yujiao. She reflexively turned around and, seeing who it was, angrily said, "When did you come in? Besides, who let you in?"

Jiang Chen lifted the hem of his robe and sat opposite Shen Yujiao, smiling provocatively: "Have you forgotten who I am now? In this Eastern Palace, I can go wherever I want?"

"Jiang Chen! You've really gotten a bit cocky after transmigrating, haven't you? Your Highness the Crown Prince, huh?" Shen Yujiao was amused by his words and stood up to leave: "Fine, you stay here, I'm leaving, okay?"

"He Zhiju is the only son of the He family, a military family. His ancestors and father all died on the battlefield when he was young. His mother entrusted her young son to the Shen family, a family friend. He Zhiju grew up in the Shen family from a young age."

Shen Yujiao stopped halfway through her walk, stood there for a moment, and then asked dryly, "And then?"

Jiang Chen didn't turn around to look at her. He poured himself a glass of water, moistened his throat, and drank without saying a word. Seeing him like this, Shen Yujiao rolled her eyes, then sat back down opposite him and poured water into each of his glasses, placing them in front of him.

Upon seeing her return, Jiang Chen pointed to the name on the letter and continued, "Miss Shen's given name is Yu Jiao. She is also the only daughter of the Shen family in this generation. Unlike other aristocratic families, the Shen family has never been allowed to take concubines since their ancestors. Therefore, Miss Shen has no other brothers or sisters since childhood. She only has a brother-sister relationship with her older brother He, with whom she grew up."

"He Zhiju grew up in the Shen family until he was fifteen years old. That year, his grandfather's old subordinates came to pay their respects. Later, he followed that person into the army. After many twists and turns, he went north all the way to the northern frontier. Now he serves as a captain of heavy cavalry in the northern frontier army and is in charge of the Flying Tiger Battalion."

After speaking, Jiang Chen picked up the teacup in front of him and drank it all in one gulp. Seeing Shen Yujiao staring at him suspiciously, he raised an eyebrow and asked, "What? Is there anything else you want to know?"

How did you know?

"What? How do I know?"

"How did you find out about He Zhiju in the Shen family so quickly? Even I only found out this afternoon after meeting Miss Shen's mother. Don't play dumb—"

“I asked Hibiscus.”

He answered quickly and frankly. Shen Yujiao remained silent for a long time after hearing this, then suddenly seemed to have discovered something extraordinary.

"Why didn't I think of that before? Right, if we ask ourselves questions, we're bound to give ourselves away, but if we ask the other way around, won't no one notice anything amiss?"

Seeing her bright, sparkling eyes, Jiang Chen blinked, and after a moment's hesitation, nodded.

Overjoyed at receiving approval, Shen Yujiao had long forgotten about the ongoing cold war between the two of them. When Jiang Chen saw her like this, he was taken aback at first, then lowered his head slightly, a smile he could not hide on his lips.

“Alright, go back to your study and call that little eunuch next to you over.” Shen Yujiao said, shoving Jiang Chen as she spoke.

Jiang Chen, who had just returned to his bedchamber from the study and was now being "sent back" to the study, asked: "Now?"

"right!"

Zhu Yu had served the Crown Prince for over ten years without ever making a major mistake. No matter which palace master asked him a question, he never hesitated and could give an answer that would not harm the Crown Prince's interests in the blink of an eye. Yet, all his skills had backfired today.

In the study, the Crown Prince instructed him: "The Crown Princess is newly married to me and is very concerned about me. She wants you to come over and ask her questions. Whatever they are, just answer truthfully."

In a side hall of the main courtyard, the Crown Princess asked him, "Does the Crown Prince have any hidden illness?"

Zhu Yu's lips twitched slightly as she smiled and replied, "In response to the Crown Princess, of course not."

Before he came, the Crown Prince reminded him: "I value the Crown Princess very much. You should treat her as you would treat me. You must not neglect her and do not always speak in my favor."

Upon arrival, the Crown Princess smiled and asked, "Have you spoken ill of me in your study these past two days?"

Zhu Yu was at her wit's end: "No, of course not."

Shen Yujiao: "Hmm?"

Zhu Yu: "Ah...ah?"

When he came out of the side hall, a cold wind blew through the corridor, and Zhu Yu felt a chill run down his spine. He looked at the snow that had melted in the sun and seemed to see his own fate. Who knows, maybe tomorrow his life will also be like this snow, disappearing silently.

That night, as soon as Jiang Chen entered the bedroom, Shen Yujiao dragged him to the bed. Then, the bright red bed curtains were drawn down one by one, and Jiang Chen stood frozen on the edge of the bed in astonishment.

With her view blocked by the bed curtains, Mu Jin quickly withdrew from the bedroom. Standing at the doorway, she took several deep breaths of the cold air and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to forget all of her young mistress's earlier unrestrained actions.

It seems she was overthinking it. The Crown Prince and their young lady have a pretty good relationship. At least, the young lady seems to like the Crown Prince more than she imagined. Yes, she was overthinking it.

Inside the bed curtains, Shen Yujiao saw Jiang Chen sitting there blankly, and reached out to tug at his clothes and shook him several times: "Why are you acting like a fool? Hurry up and tell me! What did you find out?"

Jiang Chen reached out and straightened his collar, which she had pulled open, and said somewhat awkwardly, "Chen Jiaojiao, when will you ever act like a lady in front of me? When you act like this, people will think you're a female bandit."

"Jiang Xiaochen!" Shen Yujiao slapped him again. "What are you pretending for? I haven't complained about your unserious behavior in front of me, and you're picking on me? Tell me!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen pursed his lips, but still truthfully recounted all the "information" he had learned from Mu Jin. After he finished speaking, he listened to Shen Yujiao recount everything she had learned from Zhu Yu that day.

After exchanging information, the two had figured out each other's basic family situations.

Not only did the original owner share the same name as them, but even their birth dates and times matched perfectly. Furthermore, both of the original owner's parents were alive. Miss Shen was an only child, and Crown Prince Chen had an older brother, Crown Prince Yu, who died young. Crown Prince Chen inherited his brother's position as Crown Prince and was granted the title of Eastern Palace Prince. It is said that because Crown Prince Chen had an extremely close relationship with his brother since childhood, he became indifferent and rarely showed any emotions after his brother's death.

As for the original owners' ways of doing things, there was nothing particularly unique about them. Both of them grew up according to the standard path of a prince from a royal family and a noble lady from a prestigious family. However, after their conversation, Shen Yujiao and Jiang Chen both fell into deep thought.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has been taught by a great scholar since childhood, and later studied under the tutors of two emperors for several years. He is not only knowledgeable in astronomy and geography and full of learning, but also well-versed in the laws of the Great Xia Dynasty. He is virtuous and talented, a pillar of our dynasty, and the Crown Prince of the Great Xia Dynasty."

"Her Highness the Crown Princess was well-versed in poetry and literature, skilled in playing the zither and painting, and her embroidery skills were inherited from the Su family. She was praised by countless noble families for her virtuous and dignified demeanor and was the most outstanding young lady among the prominent families in Jiangnan."

After a long silence, the two looked up and met each other's eyes. They both saw the words "unfit for the task" in each other's eyes. Jiang Chen shook his head helplessly, opened his arms and leaned back, falling into a sea of ​​red brocade, his face full of despair.

Seeing him like this, Shen Yujiao couldn't help but sigh. Thinking of the cold war of the past few days, she hesitated for a long time before finally saying, "I know it's not easy staying here, but going back... we're not ready right now—"

“Alright,” Jiang Chen reached out and pulled her, and Shen Yujiao fell down next to him. Looking at the bright red bed curtains, she heard Jiang Chen say, “I know you want to solve the current predicament first. That day… I was too impatient.”

He turned his head to look at Shen Yujiao, the light in his eyes dimming slightly, but a smile still lingered on his lips: "I thought that seeing you would make everything alright."

When Shen Yujiao met his gaze, her mind went blank for a moment. When she came to her senses, she quickly turned her head away and continued looking at the ceiling. After lying there for a while, when she spoke again, her tone was filled with an unprecedented joy since coming to the Great Xia Dynasty:

"No, you're right. As long as we're together, everything will be fine. So what if he's the Crown Prince? So what if he's the Crown Princess of the Great Xia Dynasty? It's not like we're going through fire and water. We can even study for the college entrance exam. What's this!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen chuckled and said, "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure!" Shen Yu's eyes shone brightly. "Give me a month, and before you go to court after the New Year, I will definitely be able to train a qualified crown prince!"

Jiang Chen's smile gradually disappeared, and he moved a little to the side behind him. He suddenly felt that living in the study wasn't such a bad thing after all.