When Qingyao returned, Xiao Ji had just left.

Under the bright light of the luminous pearl,

Qingyao, clutching the small bundle, stared thoughtfully at her princess's slightly swollen lips, then her eyes darted around the study.

Unable to find him, the little girl closed her eyes, then opened them again, finally suppressing her heartache as she looked at Shang Changge with a death-defying resolve and asked:

"Princess, was Mi Chan here just now?"

A question mark appeared on Shang Changge's beautiful face, which was still flushed. What the heck?

Why would the little girl stare at her mouth and think of Mi Chan? What does that have to do with...?

...

Shang Changge understood.

With a twitch at the corner of his mouth, he explained, "It wasn't her."

Qingyao's eyes widened in shock, her voice rising a octave:

"There's someone else?! Who, which maid?"

Shang Changge: "...It's Xiao Ji."

Qingyao: "Xiao..." Qingyao's voice trailed off, and it took her a long, long time to blink before she finally realized what was happening and slowly said...

"Great-General?"

Shang Changge: "Yeah."

Mentioning Xiao Ji reminded Shang Changge of the deep and fierce kiss the man had just given her.

She licked her lips, which were slowly healing, her beautiful eyes sparkling. The experience was pleasant; she liked it.

"Oh, right."

Shang Changge looked at the bulging little bundle in Qingyao's arms and said:

"We don't need to go on a long voyage for now. Hide this away and take it out when you need it later."

Qingyao nodded blankly.

He left, clutching his small bundle, and only came to his senses after walking quite a distance, though his thoughts remained a jumbled mess.

A cool evening breeze blew through the corridor. Qingyao shook her not-so-bright head.

He hugged the small bundle in his arms tightly, as if he had made up his mind, and muttered to himself:

"Never mind, as long as the princess didn't kiss Mi Chan or any other maid, that's fine!"

The next day, the morning light was brilliant.

The imperial decree for the marriage was issued early in the morning; Shang Changge had no idea what kind of bloody storm had swept through the court in the meantime.

All she knew was that she had been woken up from her sleep, and she wasn't in a very good mood.

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."

He squinted his sleepy eyes as he accepted the imperial edict, his voice languid and somewhat perfunctory.

It was not Li Fuhai who read the imperial edict, but Shang Changze. Feeling guilty, Shang Changze stepped forward and helped Shang Changge up.

"Sister, get up quickly."

Since everyone present was one of our own, it was very convenient to talk and chat.

Shang Changze: "Sister, I'm sorry."

Shang Changge understood what Shang Changze meant and waved her hand dismissively: "It's nothing serious."

Anyway, she just happened to be craving Xiao Ji, so she could openly take advantage of him from now on.

etc,

After kneeling and receiving the imperial decree, Shang Changge became much more sober. He opened the decree and read it.

After raising an eyebrow upon seeing that the wedding date was set for the end of October next year, it seems the old emperor is planning to delay as long as possible.

Keep in mind that more than a year has passed in between, and a lot can happen in that time.

Putting everything else aside,

At least getting rid of this troublesome eldest princess is more than enough.

Shang Changze certainly understood Emperor Mingde's intention in setting the wedding date for next year, but he was currently concerned about something else:

"Sister, are you really willing to marry the Great General?"

Xiao Ji and his maternal grandfather had not been informed beforehand of the imperial decree granting them this marriage; it was only revealed this morning in court.

Xiao Ji proposed to his elder sister in front of all the civil and military officials, and his maternal grandfather immediately stepped forward with a group of people to agree.

In that case

He had no choice at all; if he opposed this marriage, what would become of his maternal grandfather and Xiao Ji?

How will he face the officials who have always stood behind him and chosen to support him as the crown prince?

Shang Changge comforted his beautiful younger brother, who was like an older brother to him, saying that he didn't need to feel guilty.

No, she's not the kind of person who doesn't expect anything in return.

Shang Changge stretched out her hand and hooked it around Shang Changze's shoulder, whispering something to the handsome younger brother behind the backs of everyone else present:

"The matter is settled, so there's no need to dwell on it anymore. Just remember to repay your elder sister when you rule the world in the future."

She ran away last night with Qingyao and a small bundle, without saying a word, but she accepted Xiao Ji's suggestion to stay.

Now that the marriage is settled, it wouldn't be unreasonable for her to ask for some reward after her younger brother successfully ascends the throne and becomes emperor, would it?

Shang Changge thought it was not excessive and was quite reasonable.