Chapter 96 Don't let the square path trap you.
Sitting in the carriage on the way back to the East Palace, Shen Yujiao's mood was very complicated. The accessories around her waist jingled with the movement of the carriage. After her thoughts were interrupted time and time again, she took them off with some irritation. Mu Jin took them from her hands and carefully put them in her arms.
Shen Yujiao leaned back slightly against the car wall. When she closed her eyes, she saw Jiang Yu's dark eyes looking at her. Although the two were far apart, she could clearly see the intense emotions in those eyes.
She felt a little guilty.
The departure of Prince Huan from the capital to the north was only the first step in Jiang Chen's plan. After Jiang Yu left the capital, Prince Huan's faction would face far more than just the predicament of being leaderless, yet the person in question trusted her completely.
Although Shen Yujiao was not Shen Yujiao, she still felt an indescribable unease, and she couldn't even tell whether the feeling came from her or Shen Yujiao.
Shen Yujiao slowly raised her hand and placed it on her heart. The suffocating feeling made it hard for her to breathe. Jiang Yu's love was a shackle to her.
"Your Highness," Mu Jin had been watching her closely. Seeing her clutching her chest, her brows furrowed, and her breathing rapid, she quickly poured her a glass of water and then cracked open the carriage window. "Your Highness, are you feeling any better?"
The cold air rushed straight into her nostrils, and the sudden chill made Shen Yujiao shiver involuntarily, but it did clear her mind considerably. She nodded slightly: "After returning to the manor, have Consort Chu come to me."
"yes."
As soon as Chu Rou entered the room, she saw the Crown Princess leaning against the chaise longue. She looked weak and her brows were slightly furrowed. She looked extremely uncomfortable. Mu Jin stood behind her, rubbing her temples, while Mu Nan knelt beside her, gently massaging her tiger's mouth.
Seeing this, Chu Rou's first words were full of worry: "What's wrong, Your Highness?"
Upon hearing the sound, Shen Yu opened her eyes leisurely, shook her head, and waved her hand to dismiss the people around her: "It's nothing, I've just been out in the wind on the city wall for a while."
"Given the current situation, Your Highness should take care of your health."
Upon hearing Chu Rou's words, Shen Yujiao's expression immediately froze.
The storm is brewing, and with King Huan's expedition underway, the tension in the capital has reached a point of extreme unease. Even the stray dogs on the streets are unlikely to linger in any one place for long.
"That's why I called you here today."
Shen Yujiao raised her eyes to look at Chu Rou, her expression quite solemn: "With the departure of Prince Huan from the capital, our plan will soon continue, step by step, link by link. If nothing unexpected happens, the He family will be able to clear their name."
Hearing Shen Yujiao's words, Chu Rou clenched her hands involuntarily.
"Regarding your and your brother's matter... the Crown Prince and I are fairly familiar with it. Your brother lost both parents at a young age, and over the years, he has mostly devoted himself to the He and Shen families, always putting his own affairs last. But if this matter can be resolved..."
“A-Rou,” Shen Yujiao reached out to take her hand, her voice softening, “The Crown Prince and I hope that neither you nor your brother will be trapped.”
Do not be limited by your status, do not be bound by etiquette, and do not let unfounded obstacles go against your own heart.
"Leave these square palace walls. Go to the frontier, the grasslands, or the Jiangnan region with your brother... Even if you want to stay in the capital, it's not impossible. There are countless ways out; it just depends on whether you dare to take them."
This is practically an explicit statement.
At this moment, Chu Rou was in a state of utter confusion. She was trying her best to control her trembling hands. Countless thoughts flashed through her mind, and she couldn't believe that the Crown Princess would point her to such a path.
Chu Rou was never alone; she had the Chu family behind her, and naturally, she cared deeply for her grandfather. Although the Chu family was a prominent and influential family with strict social norms, and the family placed a heavy burden on her, there were also relatives among them who genuinely cared for her, as well as elders from the Ministry of Works...
Her parents were a loving couple, and their only worry before they passed away was probably their only daughter. The uncles and elders in the Ministry of Works had all accepted her father's request to entrust her with their care. Over the years, although she did not have her parents by her side, she never lacked the love and care from her elders.
The more she thought about it, the more she realized that the more she hesitated, the clearer her mind became. Because she wanted to do it, she was worried about causing trouble for those around her.
She has grown up following the rules and regulations since childhood, never making any mistakes. It can be said that everything she has done to get to where she is today is for her grandfather's expectations and her family's hopes. But when a path is presented to her entirely, she can clearly feel the yearning clamoring in her blood.
Perhaps Chu Rou never truly convinced herself to be a docile noblewoman, or rather... deep in her heart, Chu Rou always reserved a corner for her younger self.
Seeing that she remained silent, Shen Yujiao tentatively asked, "A-Rou?"
"Your Highness, it is too early to say."
Without outright rejecting, but also without agreeing with Shen Yujiao's suggestion, Chu Rou gradually calmed down after a fierce internal struggle.
“Before things are accomplished, everything is subject to change. Moreover, this matter concerns not only the Chu family and the Crown Prince, but also the Shen family. Right now... I cannot make any decision.”
He Zhiju's surname is indeed He, but in the eyes of outsiders, he is regarded as a descendant of the Shen family of Jiangnan. Moreover, he grew up in the Duke of Cheng's mansion, which makes him even more different from the collateral branches of the Shen family.
This isn't just a matter between two people; it's a matter that affects everything. Chu Rou admitted that she didn't have the confidence to consider this matter at the moment.
“Then let her stay sick for now,” Shen Yujiao smiled at her. “No matter what lies ahead, whether the outcome is good or bad, let’s just announce to the outside world that Liangdi is sick.”
In Xiajing, it's far too easy to make someone disappear, even a noble person. Dying from illness is the best way to escape, and recovery is something the Crown Prince should be able to do. They should always prepare a way out for Chu Rou in advance.
“Alright,” Chu Rou understood the Crown Princess’s intention and readily agreed, but then she changed the subject: “But if Consort Chu were to fall ill, would Your Highness consider having an additional personal maid by your side?”
Shen Yujiao's smile froze.
“Your Highness understands the meaning of what you say. However, the situation is currently chaotic. It is not enough for Your Highness to be out and about with only Mulan by your side.”
Mu Jin and Mu Nan are both close maids to the Crown Princess. Although Mu Jin is a trusted confidante who accompanied the Crown Princess, she is not very familiar with the intricacies of the powerful families in the capital. In case of emergencies, she can only rely on the Crown Princess to adapt to the situation.
As for Mu Nan, needless to say, she was only promoted after the Crown Princess married into the Eastern Palace. Although she understood the palace rules, she didn't have much chemistry with her master.
Normally, it wouldn't be a problem; the Crown Princess's movements were limited to the Kunyi Palace and the East Palace, along with attending banquets and interacting with the wives and daughters of officials. But from now on...
The two stared at each other for a long time, their unspoken words unspoken. Shen Yujiao shook her head and smiled helplessly, giving in first: "Then you should give yourself a name."
“Alright, then I’ll have to think about it carefully,” Chu Rou smiled. “Peach blossoms are beautiful and gardenias are fragrant, but these are not very suitable to accompany Your Highness. How about we call it Mu Tan?”
"Wooden sandalwood..." Shen Yujiao pondered for a moment, then nodded, "That's your style. I'll have Steward Lian come over tomorrow. You can start preparing in the next few days."
Chu Rou suppressed her smile, stood up, and respectfully curtsied to Chen Yujiao: "Yes."
"There is one more thing. Since you plan to stay by my side from now on, you should pay more attention to the people on Princess Huan's side. Although we eliminated that spy this time, we don't know who else outsiders have been planted in the Eastern Palace. In the past, the Crown Prince didn't have the energy to investigate these people, which gave them the opportunity to take advantage of the situation."
"Princess Huan's plan will ultimately fail, and she will surely be unwilling to accept it. Your Highness should be more careful than I am."
Shen Yujiao turned her head and glanced at Chu Rou's worried expression, then shook her head and smiled without caring at all. This time, the Duke of Cheng and his wife brought her a group of Shen family secret guards when they came to the capital. In addition, there were people from the Eastern Palace who were already protecting her in the shadows. Now, Shen Yujiao was not worried about anyone attacking her when she went out.
This is only in secret. If Princess Huan dares to fight her openly, she has nothing to fear. She is not the real Shen Yujiao. She has practiced dancing and martial arts since childhood. After training with Jiang Chen for a few days, she feels that her physique has improved a lot. Although she cannot compare with the strength of an adult man, she is more than capable of suppressing a Liu Shi.
“Your Highness,” Chu Rou saw through her thoughts at a glance and shook her head slightly, “The Prince’s mansion is no different from the palace. Never underestimate the methods of women in the inner palace.”
"You mean... Princess Huan is using underhanded tactics?"
When Shen Yujiao asked her question, Chu Rou did not give any answer, but her non-denial attitude still gave Shen Yujiao an answer.
It's a bit funny, really. My grandfather was worried that she would be mistreated by the Empress after marrying into the Eastern Palace, so he asked my aunt to find a palace maid to teach her. Besides the formal etiquette, she was taught some palace intrigue and underhanded tactics, partly for her own protection and partly for the Chu family.
Looking back now, the knowledge and skills she learned in advance were not only not used on the Crown Princess, but she is now sitting here advising the Crown Princess on how to deal with others.
“There’s one more thing,” the Crown Princess’s voice pulled Chu Rou back to reality—“How is Qi Zheng doing these days?”
"It's alright..." Chu Rou's mood calmed down considerably when Qi Zheng was mentioned.
Another military report came from the northern frontier. This news, while not exactly common knowledge in the capital, was not something that could be kept secret. Qi Zheng had always been particularly concerned about the northern frontier, and ever since he heard that the Northern Barbarians had invaded again, he had been depressed all day long.
Today, King Huan went on a campaign, and this child locked himself in his study early in the morning and hasn't come out once since.
"General Qi is still missing. A few days ago, His Highness received news that... General Qi was very likely captured by the Northern Di. The Northern Di army has never had such a meticulous troop deployment. The general's cunning is one aspect, but the possibility of their own military tactics cannot be ruled out on the other hand."
Chu Rou's brows furrowed more and more as she listened. Having grown up in the heart of power in the capital, she probably knew more about these generals than even the Crown Princess. She knew that General Qi was one of the few remaining members of the He family army, and there were not many people left who would work for the He family.
"General Qi was originally General He's right-hand general, serving as one of General He's right-hand men. After the He family's downfall, all their remaining resources were given to General Qi. If something were to happen to General Qi..."
The Xia army is in grave danger. Not to mention the entire Xia army, at least the northern border will no longer be as impregnable as it once was.
He Zhiju would probably find it hard to accept.
Qi Zheng could not bear it either.
As the two were talking, a young eunuch came from outside the door to report: "Your Highness, the Crown Princess, General Yunqi requests an audience. His Highness the Crown Prince has not yet returned to his residence. Even the head steward sent me to ask if His Highness should receive him?"
Shen Yujiao subconsciously turned to look at Chu Rou. The two exchanged a glance, and then she said loudly, "Lead the general to the front hall. I will be there shortly."
"Go back and calm Qi Zheng down first. If he finds out that his brother has come, he will definitely be restless."
"yes."
After giving Chu Rou her instructions, Shen Yujiao didn't linger any longer. She turned around and went into the inner room to change. She no longer needed to wear this outfit when she returned to the East Palace. Naturally, Mu Jin also put her matching ornaments aside. Shen Yujiao sat in front of the dressing table, staring at the multi-beaded string of beads in a daze.
The palace is bustling with activity right now, so He Zhiju must have something important to discuss with us.
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