Chapter 148 The Angry Princess and the Rough General 3

After breakfast, Cha Jiu asked the servants to prepare a carriage, and prepared to go to the palace with Shen Beizhan to meet Emperor Xie En.

Shen Beizhan changed into a robe with silver embroidery and tiger pattern, tied a white jade leather belt with gold flower pattern around his waist, tied his hair with a gilt crown, had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, and looked very energetic.

He strode towards me with long boots, his eyebrows were sharp and his eyes were bright, he looked imposing, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, coming towards me with a sharp aura.

It's that full beard that makes him look a little... unruly.

Cha Jiu said: "Why don't you shave your beard?"

Shen Beizhan raised his eyebrows: "Why do men have to shave their beards? This is not normal."

In the frontier areas, thick beards and tanned skin are considered beautiful for men.

They were nothing like the young masters in the capital, with delicate skin and tender flesh, who were particular about beautiful faces and fragrant clothes. Whenever he passed by, he would sneeze several times at the smell of the men's clothes.

A beard can also cover up the fragrance.

Shen Beizhan stared at Cha Jiu warily, fearing that she would act like a princess, and forced him to shave his beard.

However, Cha Jiu only mentioned it briefly and did not continue.

Shen Beizhan breathed a sigh of relief and followed her into the carriage.

Shen Beizhan didn't sleep well last night because there was someone around him. Today, when he got on the carriage, he leaned against a corner with his arms folded across his chest and fell asleep.

Chenxiang and Qingdai looked at each other, the former pouted in dissatisfaction and the latter looked helpless.

Only Cha Jiu remained calm. She propped her cheek with one hand and flipped through a storybook to relieve her boredom.

The carriage arrived outside the palace gate.

Shen Beizhan jumped off the carriage, but did not leave immediately. Instead, he raised his strong arms and motioned for Cha Jiu to help him down.

Cha Jiu was surprised by his attentiveness.

Shen Beizhan looked at her expression, pursed his lips, and said unhappily: "I just don't care, but I'm not rude. Men help women, husbands help wives, I understand all of this."

Cha Jiu smiled, her pretty face was like a slowly blooming camellia, making people feel untouchable yet yearning for her.

Shen Beizhan felt the slender and soft hand she held on his arm. It was delicate and tender, softer than all the precious satins he had ever used.

His face, hidden under his beard, turned red again.

Sure enough, there are benefits to having a beard.

After Cha Jiu came down, Shen Beizhan coughed lightly, got on the tall horse led by the eunuch, and galloped away along the corridor inside the palace gate.

The palace is vast and a round trip takes a long time, so the emperor allowed Shen Beizhan to travel on horseback.

Since the founding of the dynasty, Shen Beizhan is the only one who has ever had such an honor.

Shen Beizhan has to meet the emperor to thank him, and Cha Jiu also has to go to the queen's palace for a gathering.

Although they had only met a few days ago, the queen couldn't help but tear up when she saw her precious daughter.

"Ah Yuan, I'm sorry for wronging you."

She held Cha Jiu in her arms, patted her shoulders like she did when she was a child, and spoke soothingly to her in a soft voice.

The queen had only two children, one was the crown prince and the other was Princess Cha Jiu, so she loved this little daughter especially.

When the emperor first proposed to marry Cha Jiu to Shen Beizhan, the queen was extremely reluctant.

The Shen family has indeed worked hard and made great contributions, but Shen Beizhan has been poisoned and is destined to be childless. If Cha Jiu marries him, how can she have a future?

Even if you have a lot of wealth and honor while you are alive, after you die you will have no bloodline to continue in the world, and you will have to endure the gossip and ridicule of others behind your back...

Whenever the queen thought of this, she felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife.

Cha Jiu's youthful and delicate face had not yet lost its childishness, but she had already spoken seriously and meaningfully:

"I eat the emperor's food and bear his worries. I am not only my father's daughter, but also his subject. I should share his worries. Besides, it is not a bad thing for me to marry into the Shen family. Rumors about me are everywhere in the capital, which damages the reputation of the royal family. Now that I am married, it will be better for those who speculate to stop."

The Queen said: "You are talking about those rumors that slandered you for using your power as a princess to entangle Song Heng."

"That's right." Cha Jiu knew that these rumors were actually spread secretly by Song Heng himself.

On the one hand, he lured the princess into fall, and on the other hand, he pretended to be a noble widower.

It's really disgusting.

The Queen hesitated: "Ayuan, tell me honestly whether you really have feelings for Song Heng."

Cha Jiu said frankly: "It existed before, but it's gone now. Now that I'm married to another man, if the general doesn't let me down, there will only be one person in my heart for the rest of my life."

The Queen sighed, "That's a good thing. Although Song Heng is talented and has a promising future, he only cares about his late wife and the daughter she left behind. Even if you marry him as a princess, you'll probably end up in trouble."

Cha Jiu chuckled, seeing clearly: "Song Heng will not marry the princess."

What Song Heng wants most is power and status, and his sweetheart.

He was not like Shen Beizhan, who had military merits and the glory of his ancestors. Therefore, if he married the princess, he would be destined to never rise to a high position in the court.

Therefore, Song Heng could only continue to rely on his father-in-law, the prime minister. He dared not remarry or take concubines. He just pretended to be affectionate. However, the prime minister, who loved his daughter dearly, felt that he was affectionate and had good character, so he always supported him in the officialdom.

The Queen was also a smart person. With just a few hints from Cha Jiu, she quickly figured out the situation and began to dislike Song Heng.

The mother and daughter talked in private for a long time. Seeing that it was getting late, the empress was willing to let Cha Jiu leave the palace.

…

Seeing the mild sunlight and gentle breeze, Cha Jiu waved his sedan chair back and walked leisurely along the corridor at the palace gate.

Chenxiang and Qingdai followed quietly behind.

"Your Highness." A clear male voice sounded like the collision of beautiful jades, elegant and gentle.

Chenxiang Qingdai saluted: "Sir Song."

Song Heng nodded in return, looking humble and dignified. Even when facing servants who were lower in status than him, he was not rude or neglectful.

Coupled with his unparalleled handsome appearance, how could the noble ladies in the capital not be moved and fall into his trap unwillingly?

I'm afraid that even if he offered me poisoned honey and asked me to eat it, I would do it without hesitation.

However.

The beauty trap is useless to Cha Jiu.

She used to smile with pure joy, but when facing Song Heng, she said calmly: "Something's up."

Song Heng was somewhat surprised by her indifference.

But he soon realized that no matter who it was, marrying a crude warrior who had no chance of having children would make them feel bad.

The more times like this, the more Song Heng wants to use his kindness to comfort the princess's heart, and use his gentlemanly demeanor to push Shen Beizhan into the mud, so that the princess can continue to serve him.

"Your Highness...did you sleep well last night?" Song Heng had a smile on his lips, but a hint of sadness on his brow.

This seemingly simple concern actually contained his loneliness for her breaking the promise yesterday and his sadness for her wedding night.

Cha Jiu raised his eyebrows: "It's none of your business whether I sleep well or not. Just take care of the incense and spirit tablet of your deceased wife."

Song Heng was choked by these words, and the smile on his face became a little stiff.

He thought Cha Jiu was jealous, so he softened his voice: "Your Highness, can I have a word with you?"

He wanted to get rid of Chenxiang and Qingdai.

A burst of rapid horse hoof sounds came from afar. A tall and strong horse was reined in beside Cha Jiu and Song Heng, and it raised its front hooves and neighed towards the sky.

Shen Beizhan sat steadily on the horse, holding the reins with one hand, looking down from above and gazing coldly at this "perfect match".