Chapter 62 Birthday Gift: The Crown Princess Regent

The capital appears calm on the surface, but in reality everyone has their own agenda.

Min Shian dealt with a group of restless Xie family members with thundering means, and then she completely relaxed, covered herself with the silk quilt she had not seen for a long time, and slept soundly.

When she opened her eyes again, her head felt dizzy and she had no idea what year it was.

"Master, another batch of gifts has been delivered today. Would you like to take a look?"

Min Shian came to his senses and was surprised to find that another birthday was approaching.

"No need, just put it in the warehouse." She waved her hand and replied in a calm voice, a little tired.

Three days later is the 26th day of the seventh lunar month. [1]

It was also her seventeenth birthday.

The gifts given by others were nothing more than some gold and silver objects, nothing new, so in most cases she would not even look at them and would have them thrown into the storeroom to collect dust.

She has always only cared about the gifts from her mother, Tinglan and a few others.

The ambiguous kiss flashed through Min Shian's mind, and his fingertips curled up unconsciously, but returned to normal in an instant.

This year, there was one more gift she cared about.

Of course, it's much more than just a gift.

He is also a person who sends gifts.

She was actually avoiding Song Yanxuan on purpose. She was exhausted all day in Suiyang, and the newly sprouted feelings in her heart were put aside.

As luck would have it, another maid came to report, and outside the door she shouted, "Master, Lord Song wants to see you."

Although he said he wanted to see someone, the person was actually already waiting outside the door.

Min Shi'an raised an eyebrow. What magical power did Song Yanxuan possess? How could he appear just as I was thinking of him?

She took him to the study, and they looked at each other in silence all the way.

Until the moment she closed the study door, she turned around and bumped into Chenxiang.

She raised her eyes to look at Song Yanxuan, pushed his shoulder, and whispered, "Are you going to pinch me again?"

"no."

After he finished speaking, Song Yanxuan's fingers moved slightly, stroking the back of her neck. She subconsciously shrank her neck, but Song Yanxuan pulled her hard and completely fell into his arms.

"Shi An, can I kiss you?"

Min Shian's mind went blank, but her body reacted first. Her arms wrapped around his muscular waist, and then her chin was lifted by cold fingers, and a kiss fell.

Unlike her light kiss at that time, Song Yanxuan's kiss was extremely aggressive, like a hunter tearing off a harmless disguise, and she was the prey being targeted, passively enduring everything.

She half closed her eyes, lost in it, and for a moment she even forgot to breathe.

"Shi An, I have prepared a great gift for you."

She gasped for air, taking in the warm breath rapidly, and in her ears, she heard Song Yanxuan continue to speak in a hazy state.

"You'll know tomorrow."

It took Min Shi'an a while to fully wake up. The scent of agarwood lingered on her nose. She coughed lightly, met Song Yanxuan's smiling eyes, and said, "Birthday gift?"

"Um."

Her eyelashes trembled slightly as she stared at him and said, "Song Yanxuan."

Song Sheng curled his lips and responded, "What's wrong?"

"You kissed me, so you have to take responsibility and marry me." Min Shian said frankly without any hesitation.

Song Sheng chuckled and said in a hoarse voice, "Wasn't it Your Highness who provoked me first?"

Without waiting for her to object, he continued in a gentle voice, "Your Highness."

"When you get what you want, I'll wait for you to marry me."

Min Shian was stunned. He didn't expect him to say that.

She had never concealed her ambitions in front of Song Yanxuan, or rather, no one could hide anything in front of him. It didn't surprise her that he knew what she wanted.

"Song Yanxuan, what about you?"

Her question made no sense, but Song Yanxuan understood it.

"Your Highness, I will satisfy you with everything you desire."

"Whether it's the throne or the ministers, they should all belong to Your Highness."

"Shi An, just go for it."

His eyes were gentle and firm, like an elder coaxing a younger one, and his tone was a bit encouraging and a bit bewitching.

Min Shian's eyes were slightly red. She knew how difficult this road was. Song Yanxuan could make such a promise. She was not a heartless person, so how could she not be moved?

But she also warned herself in her heart that love is illusory and full of unknowns, only power is real, and she must ascend to that supreme position.

The two chatted for a while, and after seeing Song Yanxuan off, Min Shian went to Xianyang Palace.

Coincidentally, Min Shile and Yu Linglong were there too.

"An'er, you've lost weight." Xie Zhuangwan was no longer as worried about her feat of leaving Beijing as she was the first time. Her eyes were slightly red, but there was more relief in her eyes.

Yu Linglong and Min Shile gathered around chattering, instantly breaking the sad and solemn atmosphere.

"Royal sister, Royal sister, you are finally back. Linglong and I were so worried about you that we lost our appetite and looked so haggard!"

Min Shian glanced at him and said bluntly, "I see that your face is rosy and your clothes are fitting you better. Linglong has really made you more auspicious."

Yu Linglong giggled, bumped into the bewildered Min Shile, and teased, "You silly boy, do you really think your sister is praising you?"

Min Shile's face immediately fell, but no one paid any attention to him.

Min Shian's hand was held tightly by Xie Zhuangwan. The mother and daughter looked at each other, and Xie Zhuangwan could see her difference.

"An'er, you and that kid from the Song family..." Xie Zhuangwan paused, then continued, "Or have you fallen in love with someone else's kid?"

Min Shian was stunned, coughed lightly, and said, "Mother, how did you know that your daughter has a favorite boy?"

"Eyes."

"Eyes?"

Xie Zhuangwan tapped her forehead with her fingers and slowly explained, "In the past, your eyes were filled with a desire to break free from the constraints of rules."

"Now, I have become more attached to the secular world."

Min Shian was silent for a moment after hearing this, and suddenly he understood why literati were divided into the graceful and unrestrained schools.

People like her mother should belong to the celestial immortal sect.

"Mother, could you please speak something we can understand? Why do you talk like immortals talking, so confusing?" Min Shile squeezed forward, revealing his furry head and complained.

Before Xie Zhuangwan could reprimand him, Yu Linglong quickly grabbed his ear and apologized as they walked away, "Mother, please chat with my sister. I'll take Shi Le and leave first!"

"Go ahead."

Xie Zhuangwan smiled helplessly, shook her head, and sighed as she looked at the two playful figures from behind, "When will this silly child truly grow up?"

"Maybe it requires a suitable opportunity." Min Shian responded softly.

"Let's not talk about that silly kid anymore. Come on, An'er, tell your mother and the Queen how you feel about your trip to the south of the Yangtze River. What did you gain?"

Min Shian has always been the type to report good news but not bad news. She omitted some details and gave a general account of the experience. When she talked about how Song Yanxuan had been injured repeatedly, her speech speed unconsciously quickened.

She talked for about a quarter of an hour, and after she finished speaking, she held the teacup in her hand and drank one cup after another.

I don’t know if he was really thirsty or just trying to cover up his restless heart.

Xie Zhuangwan saw through it but didn't say anything. She smiled faintly and told her that the birthday party was ready and she just needed to dress up and attend. Then she let her go back home to rest.

"Then I'll take my leave."

Min Shian strode away. Her mother's mention of the birthday banquet just now reminded her of the grand gift Song Yanxuan had mentioned. She couldn't help but look forward to tomorrow's arrival.

As soon as the sedan chair landed, Chuntao's voice was heard outside. Chuntao, who was usually reserved, couldn't suppress her joy at this moment. She said, "Master, it's a letter from Madam Song."

Min Shian quickly jumped off the sedan chair, took the letter, and opened it as she walked. She flipped through the short page of letter over and over again as if she couldn't get enough of it.

This is a letter from Shi An.

When I learned that you and your brother were doing disaster relief work, the work was almost over. I immediately felt guilty and hated myself for blaming others and the world, to the point that I didn't even know whether the two people closest to me were going to the flood.

I used to read your letters late into the night, feeling so much emotion in my heart that I wanted to put it into words but I didn't know where to start. My poor words couldn't express how much I missed you, so I could only write down whatever came to my mind.

Everything is fine with me. The two babies in my arms are full of energy. But as the months go by, I feel more and more overwhelmed by many things. Fortunately, my house has everything I need, so I can live my life as usual and enjoy myself under the moonlight.

The mountains are high and the roads are long, I can no longer see you, every time I think of this I feel extremely sad, when I pick up the pen, all my thoughts are about the scenes of you and I being together since childhood, they are all vivid in my mind, I still dare not forget them.

The auspicious day is approaching, and I wish you another year older. I will send someone to deliver the letter first as quickly as possible, and the birthday gift will arrive soon. I hope you don’t blame me for missing the time. I will have no regrets in this life as long as I can know and interact with you.

I only wish you peace and everything goes well in the future.

By the way, Shi'an, I dreamed of Yuan Ge again yesterday.

Song Tinglan stayed.

Min Shian sat at the desk, frowned and read the letter from beginning to end again. The initial joy was thrown out of her mind. The more she read the letter, the more she felt something was wrong.

Although the content was ordinary, she felt heartbroken after reading it.

It happened that Song Tinglan was about to give birth, so she hurriedly replied to the letter and sent Chuntao to Beifeng with a midwife for her.

"Xiao Tao, please take good care of Tinglan. She is pregnant, so you must be extra careful. If anything unexpected happens, remember to put Tinglan's safety first."

Min Shian handed the letter to Chuntao and continued to remind her worriedly, "Remember, Tinglan's safety should be the first priority."

Chun Tao nodded and said, "I will follow my master's orders."

The master did not say it explicitly, but Chuntao had followed the master for so long that she naturally understood it at the first time. What that sentence meant was that the child could be abandoned when necessary, but Mrs. Song's life must be guaranteed.

Min Shian fell asleep with a heavy heart. She frowned tightly and couldn't sleep well even in her dreams.

Before dawn, she was woken up by Song Yanxuan.

Min Shian rubbed her eyebrows, and there were dark circles under her eyes. There was a buzzing in her ears, so she couldn't hear clearly what the person in front of her was saying.

"What?"

Song Sheng brewed a cup of cold tea for her, placed it in front of her, and replied in a gentle voice: "I have been away from the capital for a while, and some people are not very well behaved. I would like to trouble Your Highness to take care of it for me. I am very grateful."

Min Shian picked up the cold tea, her sleepy face reflected on the water. She took a sip, then put the cup down and asked in surprise, "Song Yanxuan, are you still asleep?"

"Not to mention that I have no right to help you solve your problems, even if you want to kill someone, it's just a matter of moving your fingers. Why bother to embarrass me?"

"If you come to disturb my peaceful sleep just for this matter, Song Yanxuan, I will not forgive you."

Song Sheng chuckled, stood up and walked around behind her, pressing his slender fingers on her temples, neither too light nor too heavy.

He leaned over to her ear and whispered, "Your Highness, please follow me into the palace later."

Min Shian didn't know what he was up to and wanted to refuse, but then she thought, they had just expressed their feelings to each other yesterday, and it would be too cruel to reject him now.

She said helplessly, "Okay, okay, I'll go with you."

Three quarters of an hour later.

Min Shian looked at the imperial edict in front of her, and her mind instantly cleared up. She widened her eyes and paused for a long moment before whispering, "Song Yanxuan, you're crazy!"

"How can we play with the affairs of state when it comes to matters of the nation?!"

Written on the bright yellow imperial edict was:

By the Will of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims:

I am in poor health and have no power over state affairs. The third princess, Princess Yongkang, is both talented and virtuous, kind, filial, intelligent, knowledgeable about governance, and experienced in government affairs, and has long been trusted by the people.

I now order Princess Yongkang to act as regent in her capacity as the Crown Princess, to be in charge of the internal and external affairs of Dajin, and to personally govern the country on my behalf. The Crown Princess's orders are my own, and no official shall disobey them.

Written by the emperor in August of the autumn of the 38th year of Tianchong.

Even the handwriting on the imperial edict, although it was so realistic that it was indistinguishable from the real thing, she knew Song Yanhao's handwriting too well. After a closer look, she could tell that it was the handwriting he imitated from her cowardly father.

This guy is so arrogant.

"Your Highness, isn't this what you expected?"

Min Shian fell silent.

She was conflicted. Yes, this was indeed one step closer to her goal, but was such an easy way to achieve it really what she expected?

She had anticipated that she would gradually climb up the ladder, gradually gaining control of power, and when she had all the power and no one could shake her position, she would naturally take that position.

But what does it mean now?

Song Sheng saw all the changes in her expression.

Song Sheng put his arm around her waist and said slowly, "My Highness, what are you thinking about?"

"I'm just providing you with an opportunity."

His voice lowered, and he said gently and persuadingly, "Whether you can make further progress depends on your Highness's ability."

"Your Highness, a good leader will never let others see his true thoughts."

"My dear, your thoughts are so easy to guess."

Min Shian's face tightened upon hearing this. He stood on tiptoe, curled his fingers, and tapped his forehead lightly. He said in a flat voice, "That's just you."

"No one else is as capable as you, able to see through my thoughts at a glance."

She coughed lightly and asked awkwardly, "I understand. Do you have a list of those restless people you just mentioned? How do you want me to deal with them?"

Song Sheng, who was praised, smiled and said softly, "It's up to you, Your Highness."

"As for who they are, Your Highness will have to observe for yourself."

Min Shian couldn't help but chuckle. She stretched out her voice and complained half-heartedly, "Some people are so strict, they won't reveal anything."

"Go ahead, Shi An."

*

After the eunuch read out the imperial edict, everyone was shocked.

But the Recorder of the Secretariat, who was standing at the head, remained indifferent, and none of the military and civil officials dared to speak first. As a result, no one in the huge hall dared to speak.

Min Shian glanced around calmly. The advantage of being in a high position was revealed at this moment. Even the slightest movement of everyone was visible in her eyes.

She raised her chin slightly, her eyes calm. She did not deliberately put on airs, but the moment she put on the yellow robe, her whole body was filled with royal majesty.

"Everyone, don't be too formal. Just follow the usual procedures for attending court today."

The crowd, not knowing what was going on, still didn't dare to speak.

Song Sheng was determined to train her, so he also watched from the sidelines, standing at the front with his head down, as if everything happening around him had nothing to do with him.

Min Shian was not in a hurry. Her expression remained unchanged, but her voice deepened slightly, and with a hint of displeasure, she said, "If you have nothing to report, then I will withdraw from the court."

Since Song Yanxuan said that some people are restless, this court session will definitely not be too peaceful.

She dared to say that she would withdraw from the court. On the one hand, she was indeed not in a hurry. On the other hand, she wanted to let everyone know that she was not a puppet that could be easily manipulated.

As expected, someone soon couldn't hold back and stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, I have a memorial to make."

"Permitted."

Min Shian remained calm on the surface, but was very surprised in her heart. She really didn't expect that the person who came forward first was actually an "acquaintance".