Shen Hanshan couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for Zhao Zhi.
Zhao Zhi looked at Zhao Zhi, and a faint, relieved smile slowly appeared on her lips.
Her reaction was exactly what he expected.
“Zhizhi, you don’t need to answer me in a hurry. I also know that your current dual identity is putting you in a difficult position.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhi was startled. Zhao Yi was implying that he already knew that the newly appointed Princess Anping of Yun Dynasty, Yun Li's younger sister—Yun He—was her.
She lowered her eyes, unsurprised.
Zhao Yi knew that the new emperor of the Yun Dynasty, Yun Li, was also his brother.
She raised her head, her clear gaze meeting Zhao Yi's eyes, and smiled gently, "Royal brother, you are all my brothers, and you all want to protect me. However, one is in front and the other is behind. I am truly flattered."
Zhao Yi didn't say anything more, but glanced at Zhao Zhi thoughtfully and suggested, "Keep this imperial edict with you for now. It will remain valid indefinitely. By the way, Zhizhi, you grew up in Da Xuan, and Lord Zhao has lived there for most of his life. If you live in Yun Dynasty for a long time, you might not be able to adapt to the climate. Why don't you return to your fiefdom of Chaoyang County after you finish your confinement? Your princess residence should be completed in the next few days."
Having just refused the imperial decree, Zhao Zhi feared that if she now refused to return to her fiefdom, Zhao Yi might do something detrimental to the peace between the two countries in a fit of anger. Therefore, she had no choice but to agree for the time being.
Shen Hanshan saw Zhao Yi off on her behalf.
His tone carried a hint of displeasure: "Zhizhi is currently in her postpartum confinement period. My mother-in-law says that a woman should avoid worrying and emotional distress during this time. I don't think you've come today to deliver a gift, but rather to give Zhizhi an ultimatum, reminding her that she should return to Daxuan!"
Zhao Yi chuckled twice and teased him, "Shen Hanshan, now that you know Zhao Zhi is Zhao Chunhua, you're acting all high and mighty, aren't you?"
Shen Hanshan paused in his steps.
It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned these things, because the mere thought of those past events made him grit his teeth in hatred. He pressed his tongue against his back teeth, suppressing his anger, and muttered, "It's all my fault for being so stupid, being completely fooled without even realizing it!"
Zhao Yi burst into laughter. After a moment, he stopped laughing and whispered a few words in Shen Hanshan's ear.
Shen Hanshan's expression changed slightly.
He frowned, unwilling to believe that Zhao Zhi was hiding something from him.
After spending this time together, he thought the two of them were inseparable and deeply in love.
Naturally, there should be no secrets to hide.
Especially since it's such a big deal.
Therefore, when Zhao Yi mentioned Zhao Zhi's "dual identity," he was not referring to her identity as the Princess of Da Xuan and the daughter of the former Grand Secretary Zhao Shouzhen, but rather to her dual identities as the two princesses, Zhao Chunhua and Yun He.
"Hanshan, once you are a general of my Great Xuan, you will always be a general of my Great Xuan. But if Zhizhi decides to be Princess Anping in the Yun Dynasty, are you also willing to be an ordinary man behind her?"
Seeing that Shen Hanshan's emotions were fluctuating, Zhao Yi continued to deliver the finishing blow.
"Moreover, you are certainly not the only man. I've heard some rumors that Yun Li has recently been having his chief eunuch secretly observe the birth dates and times of eligible unmarried men, as well as the marriages of newly promoted young talents in the Yun Dynasty. Han Shan, Yun Li only has one sister, Zhao Zhi. So, who do you think he's arranging a marriage for? Do you think he might try to have Zhao Zhi depose her husband and reinstate him?"
After speaking, Zhao Yi subtly observed Shen Hanshan's expression.
Seeing the sinister look in his eyes, Zhao Yi patted the other man's shoulder with satisfaction, a hint of barely perceptible triumph in his voice, and slowly said, "Consider my suggestion."
Shen Hanshan stared at him in a daze. Zhao Yi was in a great mood and told him not to see him off any further. He strode out of the house with Li An.
Shen Hanshan, lost in thought, returned to Zhao Zhi's room with unsteady steps.
Zhao Shouzhen had already returned to his room. Zhao Zhi was leaning against the soft pillows, resting with her eyes closed. The yellow silk imperial edict was casually tossed aside by her.
Hearing footsteps, Zhao Zhi suddenly opened her eyes and looked at Shen Hanshan.
"They've left?"
Shen Hanshan nodded. He pulled up a chair and sat opposite her, instead of sitting on her outside as usual, holding her hand, and speaking gently.
Seeing that his expression was off, Zhao Zhi assumed he was worried about what Zhao Yi had said earlier, so she comforted him, "Shen Hanshan, don't listen to what my brother said. He's just trying to scare me. He doesn't want me to stay in Yun Dynasty."
Shen Hanshan remained silent, his eyes seemingly veiled in mist. He felt that he had never truly known the real Zhao Zhi.
She is Zhao Zhi, the legitimate daughter of Zhao Shouzhen, the former chief minister of the Great Xuan Dynasty, and Zhao Chunhua, the younger sister of Emperor Zhao Yi of the Great Xuan Dynasty. Now, she is also Yun He, the younger sister of Yun Li, the new emperor of the Yun Dynasty.
The woman before me has many identities.
He was once certain that he was her husband, but now even that unique identity is uncertain.
Shen Hanshan felt very flustered.
I felt even more panicked than when I encountered enemy attacks on the battlefield before.
When attacked by the enemy, you either die or are wounded, but those injuries are physical.
However, if Zhao Zhi had another man in her heart, it would make him wish he were dead.
After a long while, Shen Hanshan slowly raised his head, stared intently at Zhao Zhi, and asked for her opinion: "Zhizhi, do you want to stay in Yunchao, or do you want to come back to Daxuan with me?"
He emphasized the words "with me" with particular force. In this way, he was subtly reminding Zhao Zhi that he cared about him.
He really hoped that she could go back to Daxuan with him.
In Da Xuan, she can still be her glamorous princess, and he is confident that he can be her only man.
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