Little Swallow was momentarily stunned. She had received so much information all at once and was still processing it. Then, suddenly learning that she was leaving the palace and returning to her old life, Little Swallow felt she needed to think things through carefully.
Seeing that Xiao Yanzi was deep in thought, Ziwei quietly left, not wanting to disturb her, so that she would have enough time and space to think things through.
But she still hoped that Xiao Yanzi could leave the palace. After all, Xiao Yanzi was no longer a princess, and she was about to marry Er Kang, so she couldn't protect her anymore. This palace was full of unseen knives, and everywhere there were ruthless killers.
Ziwei longed for Xiaoyanzi to leave the palace and live a happy and carefree life like before, without having to live in constant fear.
After Ziwei left, Xiaoyanzi sat blankly by Ziwei's bedside, gazing out the window in a daze.
When Ziwei arrived at the entrance of Shufangzhai, as expected, she was stopped by the guards again. Ziwei frowned and scolded, "I am still Princess Ziwei. I have important matters to discuss with Father Emperor. You can either let me go or go and inform Father Emperor."
The guards at the door looked at each other, unsure of what to do. After all, this was indeed the Emperor's nominal adopted daughter. Although the Emperor had imprisoned this princess in Shufangzhai, he had never neglected her needs for food, clothing, and daily necessities.
The guards were unsure whether to let the princess leave or not. Judging from the emperor's attitude, he clearly still cared for the princess and was afraid that she might take revenge on them later if she gained the emperor's favor.
In this palace, they were essentially at the very bottom of society; for the nobles, killing them was as easy as killing an ant.
In the end, the guard decided to take a gamble and gave a wink to the other guard. The two of them moved their swords away in perfect unison.
Ziwei was very satisfied with this, and even Jin Suo, who was serving behind her, straightened her back. She felt that at the beginning, these guards had been making excuses to stop them, but now they were just watching them come out.
"What if we just let him go like this? What if the Emperor blames us later?" The guard beside him was still somewhat worried, his face full of concern. After all, there was a precedent set before.
"There's nothing we can do about it, let's leave it to fate. We can't just forcibly stop this princess, can we? If something happens, that's when we'll be in trouble." The guard sighed helplessly. "As for her going out, just say she insists on going out and we can't stop her no matter what."
The two guards exchanged a glance, both seeing in each other's eyes the certainty that the two had decided to take a gamble.
Ziwei breathed in the fresh air outside, like a bird released from its cage, walking happily along the passageway, her joy visibly evident.
Unfortunately, the Empress hadn't planned to come out after the snow, but when she heard Yongqi say that the plum blossoms in the plum garden were in bloom, she thought of going out to pick a few branches to put in her own palace and replace the ones in Yongqi's palace.
This child probably really takes after him; he likes to put flowers and such in his palace.
The Empress was discussing with Rong Momo which flower was the prettiest when they bumped into Ziwei.
When Ziwei first met the Empress, she was still a little terrified, like a mouse seeing a cat, fearing that the Empress would immediately order her to return to Shufangzhai.
Ziwei bowed respectfully, her heart still pounding. To her surprise, the Empress didn't even glance at her and dismissed her without a second thought.
Then, she went with Rong Mama to the plum garden to see the plum blossoms. Ziwei's heart gradually calmed down. Jin Suo was also worried. "Miss, thankfully the Empress didn't let us go back to Shufangzhai." Jin Suo breathed a sigh of relief as she watched the Empress's departing figure and muttered to herself.
"Alright, stop talking. We need to hurry to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to see Father Emperor." Ziwei raised her hand to stop Jin Suo's mutterings. No matter what, discussing the Empress in the palace was a serious crime. Upon hearing this, Jin Suo immediately stopped talking.
Looking at the jubilant Empress, Rong Momo felt genuinely grateful that Princess Yong'an was good at comforting the Empress.
The Empress is no longer angry with them. She has come to terms with things and seems to have returned to being a young woman waiting to be married. Rong Momo felt this most deeply, as she had always served the Empress.
It's said that an old servant is half a master, but she was like family to the Empress. Regardless of the Empress's final fate, Rong Momo was destined to be the one who accompanied her throughout her life.
“Your Majesty, this flower is beautiful. Let’s pick it and put it in the Twelfth Prince’s room. It will look fresh.” Rong Mama said, pointing to a plum blossom bud on the tree, her thoughts returning to her own.
"Then pick that branch, and send some more of the rest to Cining Palace. An'an's maid also likes plum blossoms." The Empress said with a charming smile, while the palace maids beside her busied themselves with their work.
This is another beautiful scene~
*
Hall of Mental Cultivation
Li Yu was outside worrying. The Emperor had read several memorials today and was sulking inside. No one could help; whatever the concubines sent, the Emperor dismissed. The gifts from the concubines were all eaten by the Emperor's servants.
They wanted to find the princess to persuade the emperor, but unfortunately, she left the palace early this morning to return to her residence. Now, they can't even find anyone to advise the emperor.
The Emperor is making trouble for himself and others; he's already smashed ten teacups in one go. His old back is almost giving way, and Li Yu, holding a whisk in one hand, is constantly pounding his lower back with his right.
"Li Yu, Li Yu!" With a call from inside, Li Yu quickly forced a smile and walked inside.
Then, he poured another pot of tea for the Emperor. The eunuch outside the door, seeing Li Yu come out, hurriedly offered him a chair and fetched a whisk for his master.
"Master, what's wrong with His Majesty today? He's smashed so many teacups." The little eunuch, with a keen eye, took the things Li Yu handed him and asked with a fawning expression.
Li Yu pulled out one eye and glanced at the little eunuch. "Don't ask questions you shouldn't. These are all political matters. This is not something you or I can inquire about."
Li Yu had just managed to rest for a while when he watched helplessly as a huge problem approached. At first, he thought he was seeing things, so he rubbed his eyes frantically to make sure that it was indeed Princess Ziwei at the door.
Li Yu cried out, "Heaven is going to kill me! What kind of day is this? Why does all this trouble have to come my way?"
The Emperor is already angry, and if he sees Princess Ziwei, won't he be even angrier?
Li Yu hurriedly took the whisk from the eunuch's hand and ran forward, "Princess, what brings you here?"
It was just a normal question, but it sounded so grating to Ziwei's ears.
"What, is it that I can't come to Father Emperor's Hall of Mental Cultivation now?" Ziwei's eyes reddened slightly as she spoke, as if she had been humiliated.
Li Yu: Hey, if I had known this would happen, I should have let Xiao Luzi do it.
Xiao Luzi: You can't be this rip-off.
Before I could even ask a question, she was already in tears. But I'm just a nobody, how could I possibly empathize? I'd better save those tears for the Emperor; at least that would do some good.
"No, no, it's just that His Majesty was very angry today. If you wish to see His Majesty, Your Highness, this servant will inform him." Li Yu could only bow respectfully again, while cursing inwardly.
They had thought this Princess Ziwei would be perceptive, but it turned out she was a blockhead. If others heard Li Yu's words, they naturally wouldn't dare to bother her anymore.
After all, the emperor is angry right now, and he won't listen to anything I say here, so why bother coming?
But Ziwei was the exception; she stubbornly waited there for Li Yu to go in and report. Ziwei simply refused to believe in superstition.
Li Yu sighed helplessly and turned to leave. There was no way to save Princess Ziwei, no matter how hard he tried. He hoped that later, the Emperor would vent his anger on Princess Ziwei and stop torturing them.
The Emperor was furious as he looked at the endless stream of empty greetings. He had already told them repeatedly not to send any more of these useless greetings. He was fine and ate well every day, so there was no need for them to come and ask about him every day.
The emperor was already furious. He took a sip of tea, which was still scalding hot, and just then he saw Li Yu slowly walking over. The emperor immediately launched into a tirade of abuse.
Li Yu pouted, feeling wronged. Before she could even say anything, the barrage of criticism had already fallen on her.
Having vented his anger, the Emperor felt much better, both physically and mentally, and then patiently asked, "What's wrong?"
Li Yu took a deep breath and then said, "Princess Ziwei is waiting outside the palace to request an audience, saying that she has important matters to discuss with Your Majesty."
The Emperor paused, turning his head in disbelief to stare at Li Yu. "You're saying Ziwei is outside the palace? Didn't I order people to keep a close watch on Shufangzhai? Who neglected their duty and let her out?" The Emperor felt a rush of blood to his head, and his mind went blank.
Li Yu disregarded everything else and hurriedly stepped forward to support the Emperor, saying repeatedly, "Oh, Your Majesty, please don't be angry. This servant will investigate this matter thoroughly in a moment."
The Emperor finally came to his senses. "Let her in. I want to see what important matter she has to say." After saying that, the Emperor looked at the pile of memorials and lost all interest in reviewing them. He simply tossed the memorial of greetings aside with a wave of his hand.
Frustrated, he rubbed his temples. He really should have listened to the Empress and properly taught them these manners. Now, they couldn't even pick up on the hidden meaning in Li Yu's words. The Emperor didn't believe it; when Ziwei first arrived, Li Yu hadn't told her he was angry.
Even so, she still sent Li Yu to inform her, which shows that she didn't take the matter to heart at all.
While Ziwei was outside, she heard the Emperor throwing things and scolding Li Yu. For a moment, she hesitated, unsure whether she should go in.
But seeing Li Yu come out smiling and welcome her inside, even though Ziwei was extremely uneasy, she had no choice but to go, as there was a knife to her throat.
Jin Suo was also frightened by the Emperor's roar and obediently waited outside the hall. After all, her mistress was the Emperor's biological daughter, while she wasn't, and she didn't have many lives left to be frightened by the Emperor.
Li Yu glanced at the girl named Jin Suo, but seeing her cunning and shrewd appearance, she seemed rather mean-spirited than when she first entered the palace.
Li Yu finally got a break and walked to the side to rest her feet. Looking up at the sky, she felt as if the weather was about to change again.
Jin Suo stood idly outside the hall. After all, she wasn't familiar with the palace maids and eunuchs of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and there was no one to talk to. Even if she took the initiative to speak to them, whether they would pay attention to her was another matter entirely. This caused Jin Suo a great sense of disappointment.
Ziwei walked in cautiously, and then bowed to the Emperor with a heart full of trepidation.
The Emperor told Ziwei to get up, and then stared at her face, wondering how Yuhe could have raised such a daughter.
Was it that Yuhe hadn't taught her well, or was she just this kind of person to begin with, or perhaps she had been corrupted by the people in the palace? The Emperor dared not think about it, nor did he want to.
"I heard from Li Yu that you have important business with me. What key do you have? Tell me." The Emperor spoke calmly, looking down at his daughter who had already disappointed him.
Ziwei knelt down again. Her kneeling caused the Emperor's brows, which had just relaxed, to furrow again, and at the same time, a bad premonition rose in his heart.
Sure enough, as soon as Ziwei spoke, the Emperor felt his blood rushing to his head.
"You said you wanted me to betroth you to Fu Erkang as soon as possible?" The Emperor said through gritted teeth, his face full of disappointment.
Seeing the Emperor so angry, Ziwei whispered, "Yes."
The Emperor, enraged, slammed his eyes shut, wishing his daughter would simply disappear from his sight. Was she so desperate to get married? Had she abandoned all semblance of feminine dignity? Even if she wanted to be betrothed quickly, it should be Fu Erkang who made the suggestion, not her, a mere young woman.
"Then what day do you think is fast enough?" The Emperor was now utterly disappointed in her and just wanted to marry this daughter off as soon as possible. He never wanted to see her again, so he asked in a desperate and reckless manner.
Ziwei looked up at her father in disbelief, then wiped away her tears sadly. She hadn't expected that her father wouldn't stop her. If it were Anke kneeling here today, her father would probably have already tried to dissuade her.
Anke: ? Don't ask, I won't do what you did.
Ziwei had also made up her mind. She gritted her teeth and said firmly and loudly, "Your subject wants to marry Erkang before the Spring Festival."
The Emperor only wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible, and he didn't care when she wanted to get married. He simply waved his hand calmly and said, "Then I will ask the Imperial Observatory to calculate an auspicious day so that you can get married before the Spring Festival."
The Emperor is now heartbroken and completely disillusioned. Yuhe's mourning period is not even over, and his only daughter with Yuhe is already so eager to get married.
As Ziwei walked out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, she still couldn't believe that the matter had been resolved so perfectly. After she came to her senses, a faint sadness and a moment of joy welled up in her heart.
She was worried that her father, the Emperor, didn't care about her affairs at all, but she was overjoyed that the matter was completely resolved and that she was finally going to marry Erkang. Their hardships had finally come to an end.
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