As the music ended, the crisp sound of the pearl curtain striking against the door rang out. Shen Jiao looked up and saw Ji Yan enter.

She called out "Your Majesty" and jogged over.

"Watch your step." Ji Yan caught her, and casually curled his lips, saying, "Why do you feel weak and limp all over when you get close to me, hmm?"

Shen Jiao pretended not to understand his teasing, "Didn't we agree to leave the palace after playing this piece? Let's go, let's go."

She had been so engrossed in studying that she almost regarded the palace as a closed-off school, and going out to keep watch was like taking a short week's break, which she looked forward to.

"So eager, do you not like staying in the palace?" Ji Yan's gaze turned slightly cold, and her tone became strange.

Whether she liked staying in the palace or not was a question Shen Jiao had never considered. Perhaps because the tyrant did not abide by the rules and left the palace at will, in her eyes, it was just a larger and more magnificent mansion.

Ji Yan stared intently at her and asked again, "Don't you like staying in the palace?"

Meeting his gaze, Shen Jiao strangely sensed a hint of grievance and helplessness. She shook her head: "I can't say whether I like it or not. To me, this place is no different from Langya Pass or the imperial palace. It's just a place to stay. As the saying goes, 'A woman follows her husband wherever he goes.' Since His Majesty is here, I'll reluctantly like it here..."

She spoke with reason and evidence, rambling on and on like a little nun chanting scriptures. Ji Yan chuckled and said, "Stop, I understand."

"Really?" Shen Jiao looked him up and down.

"Really." Ji Yan lowered her eyes and carefully untangled the messy hamster hair ornament.

"Let's go, I'll take you to see a play."

"Let's go! Hey! Ji Yan, don't walk so fast, wait for me to put on my shoes."

"Come quickly, catch up with me, and I'll carry you on my back."

Beneath the silent palace walls, amidst the swaying petals in the wind, two figures stand in serene tranquility.

There was a beautiful young woman with crescent-shaped eyes and eyebrows. A young man carried her on his back, letting her casually pluck a flower from a branch and tuck it into her hair.

"Naughty," he laughed.

...

The atmosphere in the Marquis Anbo's mansion in the royal city was very somber; even the flowers and trees that were about to bloom with dew looked droopy.

Inside the courtyard, a neat row of people knelt down. Shen Yu glanced at Wang Fu's expression, then looked at Marquis Anbo.

"My lord! For the sake of me calling you father for over ten years, please let me go. I'm only sixteen. Can you really bear to watch your precious child, whom you've spoiled since childhood, die because of someone else's mistake?!"

Now he doesn't even call me "father" anymore. Anbo Hou, you ...

"What do you mean by other people's faults? That brat is clearly family with us." Shen Qingfeng curled his lip in disdain and muttered under his breath.

Madam Shen was so angry at Shen Yu’s selfish words that she could hardly breathe and nearly fell over.

"Get out of here! Get out of here! Consider all these years the Marquis of Anbo's mansion has been raising a stray dog ​​that can't be fed!"

"I will leave naturally. I ask Eunuch Wang to give the Marquis of Anbo some time to write a letter of severance." Now that the pretense of friendship has been broken, Shen Yu has no intention of pretending to please the Shen family anymore.

With the Four Flowers Banquet approaching, she is about to rise to prominence. Even without the protection of the Marquis of Anbo's mansion, she can still make a name for herself on her own.

She had thought it over carefully. Even if the Marquis of Anbo's family didn't have their entire clan executed, it would still end in a miserable defeat. It's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. It would be best to sever ties with such a fallen noble family as soon as possible.

So that I won't become dependent on her in the future, sucking her blood and gnawing on her flesh!

Where in the world is there such a good thing?

Wang Fu remained silent throughout, observing the situation quietly.

If it weren't for the fact that he had to sing along in this play, he would have pulled up a chair, cracked some melon seeds, crossed his legs, and watched the show.

I wonder if His Majesty and the young lady have arrived yet?

Don't miss out on this great show, or you'll regret it!

When Marquis Anbo saw his daughter, whom he had doted on since childhood, so resolute and ruthless, his heart sank, as if a sharp blade had ripped out his heart, and he was in so much pain that he could not breathe.

Unable to bear her husband's indecisiveness, Qin frowned and took it upon herself to have someone fetch some paper money and hand it to him.

"Write it or not? If not, I'll write it?"

Marquis Anbo trembled under his daughter-in-law's glare, but finally nodded heavily.

He seemed to age ten years in an instant, and said firmly, "Enough! Enough! Enough! From now on, Chenyu and I, and the Marquis of Anbo, shall go our separate ways and have nothing to do with each other anymore."

With a stroke of the pen, he wrote a letter of severance.

Upon receiving this, Shen Yu beamed with joy and breathed a sigh of relief.

She stood up impatiently and smiled at Wang Fu, "Eunuch Wang, this is an imperial edict from the Marquis of Anbo's mansion. It has nothing to do with me. Can I leave now?"

Wang Fu, his previous smiling demeanor gone, now wore a forced smile and said, "You have no connection with the Marquis of Anbo's mansion now. How dare a mere commoner try to bargain with me? How dare you be so disrespectful! Kneel down."

Shen Yu's face stiffened; he never expected that Wang Fu, that lackey, would pull such a stunt.

She gritted her teeth. So what if she was a commoner now?

As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn.

After the Four Flowers Banquet, her status and position will definitely surpass those of the Shen family!

At that time, it's hard to say who will be superior and who will be inferior.

"Now that the old Marquis has settled his family affairs, let's proceed with the imperial edict," Wang Fu said slowly, unfolding the bright yellow imperial decree.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Shen Jiao, the eldest daughter of Marquis Anbo, is a woman of both virtue and talent, a noble lady from a distinguished family. Born with exceptional beauty and grace, she possesses a gentle and intelligent demeanor, virtuous character, and prudent conduct. She has established a fine reputation within the imperial harem. Her noble character, intelligent nature, and exemplary upbringing have earned her the title of Empress Anxian of the Central Palace, and she is granted the residence of Haoyue Palace. This is the imperial decree!"

"Wow, I never knew Your Majesty was like this. I didn't know I was so powerful in your eyes." Shen Jiao peeked through the crack in the door.

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