Shangguan Shu did not sleep all night, staring at the little baby on the bed. All night long, he checked her breathing from time to time. Her breathing was shallow, but never stopped. If it were not for the imperial physician's diagnosis, she really seemed to be asleep.
Shangguan Shu had a rough guess in his mind. He thought that when a mortal died, his soul would return to the underworld, but if Yue'er was really such a powerful person, the underworld might not be able to take her.
So... she must have been put to sleep.
Maybe he could ask Hengbi how to wake her up.
Shangguan Shu stood up and tucked the corner of the quilt for the little guy.
There was a commotion outside the door, and soon the door opened. Yu Xi ran in in a panic. When she saw Shangguan Shu, she knelt down and cried, "Sir, something bad has happened. The eldest lady is... gone."
"What?" Shangguan Shu turned around and looked at him in disbelief.
Yu Xi burst into tears.
A few hours later, Shangguan Shu walked out of Shangguan Qingwan's yard with an expressionless face.
"Keep an eye on the young lady's body. Without my order, no one is allowed to reveal any news of her death, not even those in the Duke's Mansion."
"Go to the Princess's residence and inform them that the eldest and young ladies will stay at the Duke's residence for a few days, so that the Princess can rest assured."
"……yes!"
Shangguan Shu said nothing more, but walked to the study alone and locked himself in.
It rained at night. In the early morning, the morning sun, wrapped in moisture, spread over the earth. The servants had already swept away the broken leaves and branches in the yard, and the door of the study opened quietly.
Shangguan Shu walked out slowly.
The scattered sunlight shone on his robe, dispelling some of the gloom.
A secret guard suddenly appeared and asked, "Master, what are your orders?"
"Release Zhao Yao and Zhao Zihua."
The secret guard was puzzled, but never questioned it and just followed the order and left.
In the dark cell, Zhao Yao couldn't believe that Shangguan Shu actually let her go!
The system betrayed her, flattered Shangguan Shu, and gained freedom. Now it has long disappeared. Otherwise, she really wants to tell it that Shangguan Shu has feelings for her and he doesn't want her to die!
Although her body had been torn apart, Zhao Yao's mood was brighter than the sun. She suddenly felt a little hopeful. Since Shangguan Shu had feelings for her, she still had a chance.
She escaped death this time and is destined to achieve nirvana!
Zhao Zihua was held in solitary confinement, but she did not suffer much. After being released and seeing Zhao Yao, she cried and complained about why her father treated her like this. Zhao Yao comforted her, saying that her father was just confused and he would wake up soon, and by then, the two of them, mother and daughter, would still be his treasures.
However, Zhao Zihua is old and not so easily deceived. She can no longer accept Zhao Yao's "big pie". She asks, when will daddy wake up and when will they no longer have to beg for food and live a hard life?
Zhao Yao's brows darkened and she couldn't answer.
Although the mother and daughter were free, Zhao Yao was unable to walk and Zhao Bing was dead. Not only were they left unattended, it was even difficult for them to leave the prison. In the end, Zhao Zihua grabbed Zhao Yao's arm and dragged her away.
Before long, Zhao Yao's back was rubbed until it was bleeding.
Sometimes, living is also a torture.
Perhaps it was true that misfortune would be followed by good fortune. The mother and daughter were wrapped in straw mats, begging in the street when they met Qian Chengluo.
The study room of Prince Ding's Mansion.
Zhao Xi stood in front of the desk, holding a pen and writing. As he finished writing, he said calmly, "Since the emperor doesn't want to see you, you come to me every day to bother me."
As Zhao Xi spoke, he glanced at Zhao Ying, who was sitting at the octagonal table, looking at the portrait carefully. Zhao Ying did not even raise her head when she heard the voice, and she seemed to be very busy indeed.
"I just sat here quietly, eating your fruit and drinking your tea, without making any sound."
Zhao Xi reluctantly withdrew his gaze, his tone gradually softening, "I know you are worried about the Queen Mother. I have my own plans, and they will not harm the Queen Mother. You can rest assured."
There are very few people like them who openly put their hatred on the line in their fight.
"I'm relieved. It's precisely because I'm relieved, knowing that you, my brother, are being honest with me and that you still care about our mother even though you have a grudge against me, that I can sit here with such peace of mind and choose a princess for you."
Zhao Ying suddenly tutted, picked out a portrait, looked at Zhao Xi, and said with a smile, "Look at this one. This is the third daughter of the Duke of Su's mansion. She's eighteen years old, beautiful and elegant, with a graceful demeanor. Her talent, beauty, character, and family background are all first-rate. Although you're more than ten years older than her, it doesn't matter. There are many cases of older husbands marrying younger wives in the royal family."
Zhao Xi frowned, feeling a little irritated. Unable to bear the warning in Zhao Ying's eyes, he glanced at her and said in a broken voice, "This frail-looking woman has a short lifespan and isn't destined for longevity. I'm afraid she'll be finished before they even get married."
Zhao Ying: ...
Zhao Ying glanced at the pile of portraits on the table and frowned, "Brother, with your status, no one would dare to send their sick daughter here..."
Zhao Xi continued writing, "Keep picking."
Zhao Ying drooped her face for a moment, then her eyes lit up and stretched out another one. "This, this, this is one of the most beautiful women in the capital. More importantly, she must have a good physique. I've seen her. Her little face is white with a rosy glow. Her mother said that when she was a child, she could eat a whole pork elbow in one meal! The only daughter of the Gongding Marquisate..."
Zhao Ying looked at Zhao Xi and said sternly, "Not only can she survive until they get married, she might even survive until you die!"
Zhao Xi: ...
Zhao Xi curled his lips and chuckled, saying, "Your life is too tough, no!"
Zhao Ying took a deep breath and clenched her fists. After a long pause, she suppressed her anger and said earnestly, "These past few days, you've been shown all the best princes and noble ladies in the capital, and you've been picking one or the other... You're a prince, a high-ranking official, and you're more likely to inherit the throne. How can you not get married and have children?"
“It’s your responsibility!”
Zhao Xi glanced up at her, then called out, "Come, serve the princess some cooling tea."
Zhao Ying was so angry that she laughed.
She said in a deep voice, "Zhao Xi, who here isn't better than Qi Dong? Do you really want to hang yourself on a tree? I know she has special feelings for you, but as your sister, I hope you can learn to make choices."
Zhao Xi was suddenly startled, and a hint of confusion flashed across his eyes.
He actually... hadn't thought of Yuan'er for a long time...
Zhao Xi felt a bit guilty. His brows furrowed slightly as he said coldly, "So you want another woman to replace Yuan'er in my heart so that I can forget her death and the hatred?"
Zhao Ying couldn't stand it any longer. He slammed the table and stood up, his eyes blazing with fire. "Right!"
Zhao Xi sneered and said softly, "You're dreaming."
"Princess, cooling tea..."
Zhao Ying glanced at the timid little maid, but ultimately did not take his anger out on her. Instead, he just sat down in frustration, with red eyes and a stubborn look on his face.
The atmosphere remained tense for a long while. Zhao Xi felt an inexplicable urge to laugh. He put down his pen, walked over to Zhao Ying, and gently lifted her chin with his long finger. He looked at her stubborn and angry face with a teasing and contemptuous look, "Are you scared already?"
"Aren't you usually very courageous?"
"We'd only just met a few times when you took advantage of me at the palace gate and tried to intimidate me. Oh, and you even had someone slap me... Zhao Ying, if you have no guilt in your heart, what are you afraid of?"
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