Chapter 86 Maid, I'll Take Care of Everything

The warm sunlight shines on the front door of the mansion, the dew is almost drying, and there is still a hint of coolness in the air.

The guards of the Shen Mansion have quietly deployed their forces. There are few people in the courtyard, and there is a sense of solemnity.

Shen Yunchao was wearing a dark suit with a long sword hanging from his waist. The scabbard was dark and solid, emitting a cold light.

He had a calm expression, sharp eyes and eyebrows, and his usual fierce aura emanated from him, but there was a hint of imperceptible coldness between his brows.

Shen Xingwan, Prime Minister Shen, Madam Shen, and Princess Guang'an stood together in the courtyard to see them off.

Unlike the grand farewell last time, this farewell was extremely low-key, with only close confidants from the palace accompanying him. Even armored guards were not used, for fear of attracting the attention of the court.

Prime Minister Shen stood by the door, looking at the son he had raised. Although his expression was calm, he could not hide the worry in his eyes.

He took a step forward, put his hand on his shoulder, and spoke in a serious tone.

"Yun Chao, the situation in the army is complicated. You must be careful when you go there."

"Even if you have this list, there may still be hidden agents around you that have not been discovered yet. You must not act carelessly."

Shen Yunchao took a deep breath and nodded solemnly: "Son understands."

Prime Minister Shen was very pleased to see that he looked determined. In the end, he just sighed and said in a deep voice, "Go, think twice before doing anything."

Madam Shen stood aside, clutching the handkerchief tightly, full of reluctance.

She knew that her son had always been proud and had fought on the battlefield for many years. How could he have ever been afraid of danger?

But she is a mother after all. Even though he is a great general with great military achievements, in her eyes, he is still the little boy who stumbled and learned to wield a sword.

A mother worries about her son even when he is far away. How could she bear to let her son, who she had finally found, take risks again?

"Mother..."

Seeing the tears in her eyes, Shen Yunchao felt a little sad and called out softly.

Madam Shen sniffed, raised her hand and touched his shoulder, staring at him without blinking, and finally said in a trembling voice: “Go, do what you should do, mother won’t stop you.”

As she spoke, she couldn't help but blushing and choking, "Please... take good care of yourself."

Shen Yunchao raised his hand, covered her hand, and gently held it.

"Don't worry, mother."

Mrs. Shen finally couldn't hold back her tears and shed them. Shen Xingwan immediately stepped forward to support her and comforted her softly.

She looked up at Shen Yunchao, her eyes full of light. Although her tone was gentle, it was very serious: "Brother, be careful when you go to the army. If there is any change, be sure to send a message back in time."

Shen Yunchao raised his hand and rubbed the top of her head, smiling slightly: "Don't worry, it's not that easy to take my life."

There was still worry in Shen Xingwan's eyes, but she knew her brother's temper, so she didn't say anything more, but just nodded slightly.

Shen Yunchao's eyes swept across everyone and finally fell on Princess Guang'an.

She was wearing a plain dress and a gold-embroidered gauze gown. She stood under the corridor, looking at him quietly with deep eyes, as if she had thousands of words to say.

Although she didn't say anything, her bright eyes clearly reflected her reluctance.

Shen Yunchao looked at her, moved his feet slightly, and finally stepped forward and walked straight to her side.

The two stood opposite each other, staring at each other.

Princess Guang'an tightened her fingers slightly at her side, pursed her lips for a long time, and finally said softly: "After this farewell, when will we meet again?"

Shen Yunchao was silent for a moment, then slowly reached out his hand and grasped her wrist. His force was not strong, but firm.

His eyes were deep, as if he wanted to engrave the figure in front of him into his heart.

"Wait until I come back."

Princess Guang'an moved her fingertips slightly, lowered her eyelashes and said softly: "Okay."

Shen Yunchao looked at her, pursed his thin lips, and suddenly took a step forward and hugged her tightly in his arms.

Princess Guang'an was startled for a moment, her body stiffened, then she slowly relaxed, put her arms around his waist, leaned lightly on his chest, and felt his strong heartbeat.

There was silence all around except for the breeze that blew by, picking up the petals in the courtyard, which swirled down and scattered on the bluestone slabs.

After a long time, Shen Yunchao slowly loosened his arms, took a step back, and looked at her deeply, his eyes full of tenderness and reluctance.

He finally turned around and strode resolutely out of the mansion gate.

Madam Shen's eyes were filled with tears, but Prime Minister Shen supported her calmly.

Princess Guang'an stood there quietly, looking at his receding back, her fingers slightly clenched, and she didn't say another word in the end.

It was not until Shen Yunchao's figure disappeared outside the mansion gate that Princess Guang'an lowered her eyes and slowly closed her palms, as if she wanted to grasp the remaining warmth, but in the end there was nothing.

The wind blew, flowers fell all over the garden, leaving behind a quiet place.

Shen Xingwan slowly turned around and his eyes fell on Princess Guang'an.

She was seen staring blankly in the direction of the mansion gate, her eyes filled with tears. She tried her best to hold back her emotions, but ultimately failed to control her emotions, and tears silently slid down her snow-white cheeks.

She pursed her lips and clenched her sleeves tightly with her fingers, her knuckles turning white, as if only in this way could she avoid losing her composure in front of everyone.

Madam Shen looked at her with pity in her heart, and gently reached out and patted the back of her hand, “Good child, he will come back eventually.”

Princess Guang'an lowered her eyes and her eyelashes trembled slightly.

She took a slow breath, "I know...but..."

Madam Shen sighed softly, but in the end she said nothing more, and just held her hand quietly.

When Shen Xingwan saw this situation, she felt a little sad. She knew that Princess Guang'an's worries went far beyond this.

When Shen Yunchao went there, the situation in the army was unstable and full of crises. Although she was a princess with a noble status, she was still a woman in the deep palace and could not share his worries personally. The only thing she could do was to wait, hope and worry about him.

Shen Xingwan also understood that feeling of powerlessness.

She pondered for a moment, then slowly walked forward, took her hand, and tried to divert her attention, "Princess, do you... want to meet the Empress Defei?"

When Princess Guang'an heard this, she was startled and her eyelashes trembled slightly, as if her deepest thoughts in her heart were touched.

She raised her eyes slightly and looked at Shen Xingwan, her eyes full of desire and hesitation.

"Of course I do..."

She bit her lower lip gently, speaking in a very low voice, as if afraid of being heard, with some hesitation, "It's just that the situation in the palace is complicated now. If I rashly go to see my mother, it will inevitably attract attention. If I implicate you..."

Shen Xingwan smiled slightly, her clear eyes glittering with cunning: "Then I won't go as a princess."

Princess Guang'an was slightly startled, apparently not yet reacting.

Shen Xingwan held her hand tightly and said, "You can pretend to be a maid and enter the palace with me."

“No.”

Princess Guang'an's eyes changed slightly.

She was eager to see her mother, but she knew better that her every move would be seen by those who had ulterior motives. If she was not careful, it would implicate her mother and the Shen family.

Shen Xingwan held her hand tightly, patted the back of her hand soothingly, and whispered: "The prince was assassinated yesterday. Now the palace is in a state of panic and undercurrents. Everyone is worried about their own safety. Who would care about a little maid?"

Princess Guang'an's heart was slightly moved. If she was just an inconspicuous little maid, she could enter the palace quietly without disturbing anyone...

She hesitated for a long time, and finally nodded, "Okay."

Seeing her agree, Shen Xingwan smiled and said, "Well, let's go ahead and change your clothes."

Princess Guang'an nodded and walked back to the backyard to change her clothes.

Shen Xingwan ordered Feiyun to prepare an inconspicuous carriage, and then picked out an ordinary maid's uniform from the mansion and personally delivered it to Princess Guang'an.

When everything was ready, Shen Xingwan couldn't help but smile as she looked at Princess Guang'an, who was disguised as a maid.

The princess, who was once so graceful and elegant, now wore the most ordinary plain dress with narrow sleeves, took off her gold ornaments, and combed her hair into the simplest style.

If you don't look closely, she is indeed no different from an ordinary maid.

Shen Xingwan looked at it carefully and nodded with satisfaction: "This way it won't attract attention."

Princess Guang'an tugged at her sleeves uncomfortably, obviously still a little worried.

Shen Xingwan looked at her and said softly, "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."

Shen Xingwan has always been decisive and once he makes a decision, he will never drag his feet.

She asked Feiyun to accompany her, and the three of them entered the palace in a low profile and went to Changchun Palace to visit Empress Defei.

Princess Guang'an was dressed in plain maid's clothes and without any makeup. She had lost her former splendor and looked thinner and weaker.

She was born into a royal family and was used to a life of luxury. Even if she tried to lower her posture, her innate noble aura was still hard to conceal.

Even though she lowered her eyebrows and eyes, her every move still revealed her elegant and refined temperament.

Shen Xingwan was well prepared and along the way specifically reminded her not to be too restrained and not to avoid other people's gazes.

A real maid would usually walk hurriedly and quietly follow her master, and would not easily reveal too much emotion. If she deliberately avoided others, it would easily attract attention.

Princess Guang'an nodded, took a deep breath, tried hard to suppress her uneasiness, followed Shen Xingwan, and walked side by side with Feiyun.

The three of them walked along the palace road with steady steps. It was so quiet around them that one could almost hear the sound of the wind blowing through the palace walls.

It was afternoon, and golden sunlight poured down from the high walls, falling on the bluestone slabs, casting mottled light and shadows.

The palace walls in the distance are majestic and solemn, with high eaves, and the vermilion gate of Changchun Palace can be seen.

As she got closer to Changchun Palace, Princess Guang'an's heart beat faster and faster.

She curled her fingers slightly, her nails almost digging into her palms.

She grew up in the deep palace and knew only too well the coldness and ruthlessness in the palace.

My mother was alone in the empty palace, and the palace maids serving her were all sent by the Queen Mother, so she was restricted in every way.

She didn't know whether her mother was safe and sound, nor did she know whether she could really meet her mother as she wished when she entered the palace this time.

Just as she was in a state of confusion, a group of palace maids suddenly came towards her, each carrying a food box and walking briskly, obviously returning from the imperial kitchen to get food.

Shen Xingwan's eyes moved slightly, but he kept walking. He lowered his voice and said, "Don't panic. Do as I said before."

Princess Guang'an immediately held her breath, lowered her eyelids, and tried her best to hide herself behind Shen Xingwan and Feiyun, as if she was just an ordinary maid, not showing any abnormality.

The two teams passed each other on the palace road.

The subtle sound of porcelain bowls colliding in the food box came to her ears, and Princess Guang'an's tense body trembled slightly unconsciously, and the fingers clenched in her sleeves clenched even more tightly.

Only after the palace maids had passed did she let out a sigh of relief.

However, what she did not notice was that just as the little palace maids were about to turn the corner of the palace, one of them suddenly stopped, paused for a moment, turned back quietly, and cast a cold gaze on her back.

Those were a pair of cunning and sinister eyes, filled with a hint of doubt and deep thought, as if they had smelled something unusual.

The little palace maid frowned slightly, with a strange look in her eyes.

She didn't make any sound, but just stood at the corner of the palace road, staring at Princess Guang'an's back from afar.

Her companion noticed that she had stopped walking, turned around and urged her, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up, or you will be in trouble if you delay the Empress's time."

The little palace maid slightly withdrew her gaze, concealing the strange look in her eyes, pursed her lips, and slowly followed in the footsteps of her companions.