Why should she be so fixated on Ga Shangrui and the old emperor? She could have easily started by targeting the people around them.

There's a saying that goes, "Pick the softest persimmon."

The old emperor was just picking on her, this pushover; a beautiful younger brother is hard to kill.

It's not easy to kill a cheap maternal grandfather and a cheap empress dowager, and it's even harder to kill General Xiao Ji.

Because she's so bloodthirsty, people target her.

She's so stupid!

To immediately challenge the big boss and confront Shang Rui, who is protected by the big boss, is incredibly stupid!

The people around the old emperor and Shang Rui—no, it's more accurate to say they were his protectors—were more like his wings.

These two individuals have the support of the Yun family and ministers and officials who form a faction similar to the Yun family.

There were also the princes and princesses who chose to side with Shang Rui, and even the women who helped Shang Rui rise to power.

These people don't necessarily have to be killed; they can be persuaded and won over with incentives.

They even instigated discord, causing them to fight each other. As for the Emperor's Shadow...

The Imperial Shadows are essentially assassins, rigorously trained and possessing absolute loyalty to the emperor.

There's no possibility of complete rebellion; if you're lucky enough to encounter one, of course you should kill them if possible.

Shang Changge understood!

He closed his eyes, leaned against the carriage wall, and slapped his forehead several times, speechless with his own stupidity.

Seeing this, Qingyao and Michan exchanged glances, no longer trying to hide their closeness, and asked in unison:

"Princess, what's wrong? Did you hurt yourself somewhere and are you feeling unwell?"

Shang Changge glanced at the two sitting so close together, feeling like something was off, yet also like nothing was.

However, she wasn't in the mood to delve into what exactly was wrong between the two of them, and sighed softly:

"Head injury."

Otherwise, why would someone be so stupid as to specifically seek out the strong and confront them head-on?

When Qingyao and Michan heard that the princess had suffered a brain injury, they were alarmed and opened their mouths to ask for her concern again, but Shang Changge waved them off.

Shang Changge: "I'm fine. I just need some peace and quiet."

Mi Chan has always been well-behaved, and she's keeping quiet now, but she still can't help but whisper to Qing Yao:

"Qingyao, who is Jingjing?"

Qingyao: ……

Qingyao stared at Michan's face, then at Michan's head, and finally uttered a sentence that was difficult to express:

"Let's go back and have the doctor take another look."

She didn't know if the princess had injured her brain, but Mi Chan was definitely injured.

Mi Chan took Qing Yao's concern as her own, blushed, her heart pounded, and she clung to Qing Yao even more affectionately, trying to get closer to her.

"Sister Qingyao, look, my arm is injured. I'm afraid it will be inconvenient for me in many ways for a long time to come."

"May I move in with you? I promise..."

Qingyao recalled that misguided dream she still couldn't forget, and without a second thought, she refused:

"no!"

Mi Chan pouted, seeing Qing Yao's cold profile, afraid that if she continued, she would really anger the little girl and scare her away.

She could only sniffle with a wronged expression, then lean her head weakly against Qingyao's shoulder, looking extremely frail.

Mi Chan's figure was perfectly voluptuous and supple, and she smelled wonderful.

Completely different from Qingyao's lean physique due to years of martial arts training, and from the fact that she doesn't exude any extra aura in order to easily conceal herself.

Qingyao felt extremely uncomfortable, especially when Michan kept fidgeting.

Qingyao felt an urge to jump off the carriage and run away, and her body became increasingly stiff.

Shang Changge: "?"

Shang Changge didn't know when she opened her eyes, nor when she started noticing the strange interaction between the two.

The vague feeling that something was amiss was slowly beginning to form a guess, and finally...

Shang Changge chose to pretend she hadn't seen it, silently withdrew her scrutinizing gaze, and closed her eyes again to feign sleep.

This kind of thing

She has neither the interest nor the reason to interfere.

Although Qingyao is young, she is an adult with independent thinking.

Moreover, Qingyao's martial arts skills far surpass those of Michan, so she doesn't need to worry about Qingyao suffering a loss.

Yes,

Between Qingyao and Michan, Shang Changge naturally values ​​Qingyao, this absolutely loyal little girl, more.

After a cup of tea,

The carriage stopped in front of the princess's residence. Qingyao got off first to help Shang Changge down.

But then he discovered that Mi Chan, who had been leaning on him the whole way, had fainted at some point, and his expression immediately changed:

"Miss Mi Chan, Miss Mi Chan?"

No one answered. Qingyao looked at Shang Changge and asked, "Princess, what should we do?"

Shang Changge: ...

Shang Changge wasn't sure if Mi Chan was truly dizzy or faking it, so after careful consideration, he said:

"You, carry her off the carriage and take her to see a doctor?"

Worried that Qingyao might be unwilling but wouldn't dare disobey due to his orders, he added:

"Of course, if you don't want to carry me, someone else can carry me."

Qingyao hesitated for a moment, then picked up Michan and got off the carriage.

However, he didn't leave. After getting off the carriage, his princess carry of Mi Chan became a one-handed carry.

Then, as usual, he stood by the carriage and reached out to help Shang Changge down.

Shang Changge: ...

Actually, there's no need to be so considerate and thoughtful.

Not long after Shang Changge returned to the manor, Xiao Ji arrived. Just then, Qingyao returned from Mingxuan Palace to report on Mi Chan's situation.

Mi Chan is fine, she just fainted from the pain.

Shang Changge expressed her understanding, after all, every time she got injured, she would put on a cold and aloof facade.

He winced and cursed in pain, then turned to Xiao Ji to inquire about his purpose:

"General Xiao, is there something you need?"

Xiao Ji is fine; he came to apologize.

He tentatively pulled her into his arms, and seeing that Shang Changge didn't struggle, he didn't want to let go. His tall and imposing frame relaxed.

His handsome, rugged face was buried in the woman's shoulder and neck, and his apology was still those two words:

"Feel sorry."

Shang Changge realized that Xiao Ji seemed to be very bad at apologizing.

Indeed, a general who commands respect even from the old emperor doesn't usually need to apologize to anyone.

Shang Changge wasn't petty; she sighed and patted the man's head.

"Alright, I forgive you."

Only after Qingyao led everyone else out of the hall did Shang Changge emerge from Xiao Ji's arms.

He pulled up a chair and sat down, then looked at Xiao Ji and asked what he wanted to ask:

"What was General Xiao's purpose in asking me that question at the teahouse? Was he afraid that I might do something that would implicate you?"

Xiao Ji: "No."

Xiao Ji knelt down on one knee before Shang Changge, taking her hand firmly in his large, warm hand and intertwining their fingers.

With his brows furrowed and eyes downcast, he looked like a wolf king abandoned by his mate, exuding a sense of dejection.

"I do not wish to offer empty excuses. Whatever the princess wishes to do the day after tomorrow, I will not hinder her."

I only hope the princess will be mindful of her safety and not let herself get hurt. Just now, I returned to my residence and mobilized a unit of elite assassins.

The day after tomorrow, they will hide in the shadows and follow the princess. They will appear if the princess is in danger.

Since the emperor had entrusted him with the security of the hunting grounds, he was to stay by the emperor's side that very day.

Although Zhuihun could disguise himself as him, he was ultimately no match for him in stature.

Normally, wearing shoes with raised soles while sitting in the study won't raise any suspicion, but moving around can easily reveal the truth.

...

...

Silence fell over the main hall of the princess's residence, where guests were received.

After a while,

Shang Changge sighed, pulled Xiao Ji up from the ground, and stood up from his chair himself.

Two hands reached under Xiao Ji's waist and wrapped around him, their faces pressed against the man's:

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have disbelieved you."

Ultimately, their relationship lacked a gradual process, which meant it was missing out on a lot.

As for her, she has always weighed the pros and cons with Xiao Ji and has never given him her true feelings.

Xiao Ji's proud figure paused, then he hugged the little rascal in his arms even tighter, his hoarse voice regaining some of its composure:

"I thought you didn't want me anymore."

That sentence is so hurtful.