Chapter 110 I am the one who relies on

When the sun was half setting, Shi Jianli woke up from her sleep. When she opened her eyes, she saw Qiao Ruoying sitting beside the bed. Upon closer inspection, she saw that her eyes were a little swollen.

"Aunt." Shi Jianli called her.

"Hey, Li'er is awake. How do you feel? Are you thirsty?" Qiao Ruoying stroked her hair and asked with concern.

Lanxing went to fetch a glass of water.

"Yeah." Shi Jianli was lying down. She supported herself with her elbows and sat up. The injury on her back affected her, and she frowned slightly.

Yuan Yuhe heard the sound and came over to help her. "Be careful, the doctor said your wound is very deep, you can't make any big movements."

"Thank you, auntie."

Qiao Ruoying passed the water to her lips and said, "Take a sip."

Shi Jianli held the cup by herself, lowered her head and took two sips of warm water.

After she put the cup down, Yuan Yuhe asked, "What happened? Why did you come back injured?"

The sight of him covered in blood was truly terrifying.

Shi Jianli pursed her lips. "It was the Fifth Princess. She picked up my arrow and used it to shoot Princess Kangning's horse. For some reason, Princess Kangning fell asleep on horseback, and her horse was frightened by the arrow and rushed towards the mountain wall."

"If something happens to Princess Kangning, even if I'm innocent, I'll be implicated if the emperor is furious."

"My arrow was at the scene, so I'm afraid I can't defend myself. I saved Princess Kangning from her frightened horse, but we both fell off our horses, and we were injured when we hit a sharp rock as we tumbled down."

"When her plan failed, the Fifth Princess knew she would have trouble escaping after Princess Kangning woke up, so she instigated her companion to ride his horse, intending to trample Princess Kangning and me to death. Fortunately, my eldest cousin and the Ji and Yu Princes arrived in time."

Qiao Ruoying and Yuan Yuhe gasped.

"What a vicious heart!"

"Don't worry, Auntie. Princess Kangning will not let the Fifth Princess have an easy time."

Qiao Ruoying wanted to curse, but swallowed it back. She touched her pale face and said, "Fortunately, no vital parts were hurt. I'll give you some nourishment when you get back."

"Okay." There were waves of dull pain in her back. Shi Jianli leaned on her shoulder, rubbed her head against her shoulder, and her brows were tired.

Yuan Yuhe's maid, Jinzhi, carefully lifted the curtain and came in, bowing and saying, "Madam, Second Madam, Princess Kangning has arrived and wants to know if Miss Li is awake."

Shi Jianli sat up straight and said, "Princess, please come in."

Princess Kangning came in, and several people bowed, "No need to be so polite."

She waved her hand and supported Shi Jianli who was about to bend down, "Shi Yaoyao, sit back on the bed. Your face is so pale. I'll have someone send you some blood tonic after we return to the palace. It's all my fault that you got into trouble."

"Thank you, Princess. You are so kind." Shi Jianli glanced at her right hand. There was a very obvious circle of marks from being strangled, and her arm was swollen. "Princess, does your hand hurt?"

"You are still worried about me even though you are in this condition. Compared with your injury, my hand is nothing. I heard from Yu Heming that you were injured because you saved me, so I want to thank you." Princess Kangning pressed her to sit on the bed.

"Gong Pingting was sentenced to death, and her father was dismissed from his official position. Zhou Peiyi was deposed from her position as princess by my father, and Concubine Jiang was demoted to a talented woman and banished to the cold palace. Zhou Peiyi was demoted to a commoner and kept company with her in the cold palace."

"Zhou Peiyi was caned ten times before I woke up, and later on she was caned fifteen more times. Now she is almost a cripple." The caning was very strong. Zhou Peiyi was spoiled and could not bear ten sticks. Twenty-five sticks in total took half of her life.

"Later, when I forced her to ask why she was targeting you, she said it was because she couldn't stand the fact that an orphan like you was engaged to Mingzhao, and she couldn't stand the fact that you were living such a good life."

Qiao Ruoying and Yuan Yuhe were speechless for a moment after hearing this.

Princess Kangning frowned as she spoke, "Zhou Peiyi is truly inexplicably evil. She always wants to compare herself with others and be the best in everything."

She really didn't understand. Even though Zhou Peiyi wasn't born of a legitimate wife, she had an identity and status that others couldn't reach since she was born. What on earth was she dissatisfied with? It was okay to be jealous of her, but now she was jealous of Shi Yaoyao's good marriage.

When Shi Jianli heard this, he smiled sarcastically in his heart.

A princess who was born noble was jealous of her more noble sister and herself who was of lower status. She blamed herself for not getting all the benefits and blamed others for not having the good things that belonged to them.

He is simply ungrateful and greedy.

An orphan? Why did Shi Jianli become an orphan? Zhou Peiyi probably didn't know why her father died.

He worked tirelessly for the people of Duzhou and for the accumulated problems left behind by the Chiang Kai-shek gang.

If her father had not died, with her father's ability, her family background would not be low.

Princess Kangning saw her pale face, sighed, and patted her head. "Shi Yaoyao, take good care of your injuries. It's almost time for dinner, so I won't stay any longer."

Shi Yaoyao was injured while saving her. She needs to talk to her father and give her more compensation.

"I'm sorry I can't send the princess off." Shi Jianli looked at Xianyue.

Xianyue stepped forward and said, "I'll take you out."

"Why be so polite?" Princess Kangning waved her hand. "You stay and take care of Shi Yaoyao. I know the way back."

Shortly after Princess Kangning left, a corner of the tent curtain was lifted, and then a head popped in and met Shi Jianli's eyes.

Yuan Yuhe was helpless, "Lin'er, what are you doing here, snooping around and sneaking around like that?"

"See if Sister Li is awake." Ming Yuelin came in after pulling aside the curtain and walked in front of Shi Jianli. "Sister Li, how do you feel now?"

She was a little depressed. Every time Sister Li got into trouble, she was not there at the first moment. This time, she was ordered away by the Fifth Princess. After pretending to obey her for a while, she came back to see the bloody scene.

Mingyue Si followed her in.

"Not bad." Shi Jianli replied.

Less than half an hour later, an imperial edict arrived outside the tent.

"Your humble servant Yuan and my family are here to obey your orders." Yuan Yuhe and Qiao Ruoying exchanged a glance, walked out of the tent, and knelt down in greeting.

Shi Jianli heard the sound and wanted to get out of bed, so Lanxing and Xianyue went to help her.

The head eunuch flicked his whisk, a kind smile plastered across his beardless white face as he spoke loudly into the tent, "The Emperor has said that Miss Shi is injured, so there's no need for formalities. She can just sit in the tent."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consideration."

The head eunuch shook the imperial edict and read it out: "Today, Heaven protects us. The Emperor decrees: Wen Shanzhengzhi, the orphan of Shi Jienan, and Shi Jianli, are benevolent, courageous, kind, and resourceful. They rescued the princess from danger and are hereby granted the title of Princess Wu Zhao. Duzhou is fortunate to have Lord Shi Shi, but he has passed away. The people petition that the orphan be treated well. An iron certificate, a five-story mansion on Zhuque Street, a set of princess court robes, and three boxes of pearls are granted... This is decreed."

Shi Jianli clenched her hands slightly, her eyes reddened, "Wu Zhao thanks the emperor, long live the emperor."

Zheng Zhiqing was a second-rank honorary official awarded posthumously to her father after his death, and Wenshan was his posthumous title.

The chief eunuch closed the imperial edict and handed it to Qiao Ruoying, "Second Madam Ming, you are the princess's aunt. You will give this imperial edict to the princess."

"Okay, thank you, eunuch." Qiao Ruoying accepted the imperial edict and glanced at Chuntao again, "You have worked hard, eunuch."

Chun Tao handed a purse to the eunuch, who took it with a smile, "Then I will have a happy occasion. Congratulations to the Madam and the Princess. The Emperor said that he will have the Ministry of Works install the plaque for the Princess's Mansion soon, and the Princess can visit the mansion anytime."

Although this princess doesn't enjoy a fief, this red seal and iron certificate is something to behold. The princess's title was granted because she saved the princess, a title she and the empress repeatedly requested. The iron certificate belonged to the late Lord Shi. Duzhou has been plagued by chaos and incurable problems since the Jiang family took over, and Lord Shi's achievement is truly remarkable.

In addition, this summer, Duzhou was hit by heavy rains again. The flood control project led by Lord Shi alleviated the disaster. The new governor of Duzhou and the people of Duzhou could not help but remember Lord Shi and wrote a letter of praise to the emperor.

After the eunuch left, Qiao Ruoying, Yuan Yuhe and others entered the tent, and Qiao Ruoying handed the imperial edict to Shi Jianli.

Yuan Yuhe patted her shoulder gently and said, "Li'er will be able to rely on herself in the future. This can be considered a blessing in disguise."

Shi Jianli pursed her lips slightly and smiled.

There was a banquet later, so Qiao Ruoying and the others talked to her for a while before leaving.

Shi Jianli put the imperial edict away, rubbed the gold certificate, and his eyes deepened slightly.

She saved Princess Kangning, but the one targeting her was the Fifth Princess. This imperial edict was both a reward and a comfort.

The Golden Book and Iron Certificate is also known as the Golden Medal of Immunity from Death or the Golden Medal for Requesting an Imperial Order.

It is also her way out.

Father, after you are gone, I can still rely on your protection.

Mingzhao came in from outside and when he lifted the curtain, he saw the indecipherable expression on her face and felt inexplicably panicked.

Having Tianfeng hand the food boxes to Lanxing and Xianyue, Mingzhao lowered his head as he walked through the tent door and called out to her, "Yaoyao."