Ziwei couldn't believe it; even Jinsuo, who had always been by her side, was leaving her. Feeling betrayed, Ziwei shook her head and refused, "It's impossible, Jinsuo. You've been in the palace for so long; you know the rules. Since you've been sent for a political marriage, you definitely need a close maid by your side. You're the only one I have now, aren't you?"
Upon hearing this, Jin Suo felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave. In a panic, she ran to the palace gate, pounding on it and shouting, "I don't want to go to the High Domain! I don't want to go to the High Domain! This servant wants to see the Emperor!"
But the guards outside the door seemed to be petrified, ignoring and not responding, just doing their jobs.
Ziwei watched Jin Suo's actions and curled her lips in a mocking smile. Although she also couldn't accept her impending marriage to a distant land for political reasons, the imperial decree had been issued, and there was no room for negotiation. Therefore, Jin Suo's actions were a complete waste of time. No one would pay her any attention.
After Ziwei figured things out, she took the imperial edict and returned to her room. She sat blankly in front of the dressing mirror, looking at herself in the mirror. Ziwei cried and laughed at the same time, and in the end, she jumped from one cage to another.
Jin Suo still didn't want to give up. She was now secretly hating herself. Why hadn't she been learning properly when Xiao Yanzi was teaching them martial arts? Otherwise, wouldn't she have been able to climb over the wall and escape by now?
No matter how much she regretted it, it was no use; Little Swallow wasn't here. Jin Suo looked at the high palace walls. To avoid being put in a passive position and to avoid being married off to a high region, she had no choice but to try her best and slowly moved the stone bench over.
They added another stool on top, and Jin Suo clung to the palace wall, trying to climb over and get out. But how easy was that? Back then, she couldn't even climb over a mountain. Later, she lived a life of luxury in the Fu family, and when she arrived in the palace, her mistress was her own daughter. Jin Suo had been pampered for a while, so climbing over a wall was naturally fraught with difficulties for her.
Moreover, the stool below had started to move, wobbling and becoming very unstable. Jin Suo had no choice but to give up for the time being and get down.
Seeing how shaky the stone bench looked, Jin Suo hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at the stone table beside her. Jin Suo gritted her teeth and took a thick rope from what used to be Xiao Yanzi's room.
She tied one end of the rope to the stone table and the other end to herself, intending to drag the stone table over.
No matter how hard she tried, the stone table wouldn't budge. After half a day, she had exhausted herself, her face and body covered in sweat.
Jin Suo tidied herself up and ran to the young lady's room, hoping that Ziwei would escape with her.
But Ziwei only glanced at her indifferently and said, "It's no use. Don't waste your energy. The Emperor's decree has already been issued. Even if I escape, where can I go? I'll be caught by the guards no matter where I go." Ziwei said to herself with self-pity.
Jin Suo gritted her teeth and clenched her hands. "Then, Miss, please have pity on me and let me leave the palace. I really don't want to marry into the Gao Yu region. I accompanied you from Jinan to the capital. I have done my part, even if I haven't done anything meritorious. If you could just tell the Emperor that you don't want me as your dowry, I would be free." Jin Suo's voice was tinged with sobs.
She truly didn't want to marry into such a poor, remote place. Although she didn't know what Gao Yu's situation was like, the Qing Dynasty was ultimately her native land. "Miss, please don't blame me for being heartless. If you were to marry into this capital city, Jin Suo would follow you for life without complaint."
“But Jin Suo, don’t forget, you were sold to our family under a contract of life and death. Now I don’t even have anyone to take care of me anymore, are you going to leave me too?” Ziwei started crying again as she spoke, as if she had been abandoned by the whole world.
Upon hearing this, Jin Suo collapsed to the ground. Yes, she had only been sold into the Xia family as a maid by a death contract. How could she possibly say that she wanted to leave the palace and get married?
"Then, Miss, you should plead with the Emperor again. He will surely spare you from a distant marriage for the sake of the Lady." Jin Suo was still unaware of what had happened that day. Ever since the guards had placed her under house arrest again at Shufangzhai, she had truly never left the palace. She was completely blind to what was happening in the palace.
The other palace maids and eunuchs were also reassigned to other palaces, so even if she wanted to ask others for help, she couldn't do so now.
"I originally wanted to assassinate Father Emperor to avenge Erkang, but I didn't expect to fall into Princess Yong'an's trap again, and in the end, I failed. How could Father Emperor possibly leave behind a daughter who wanted to assassinate him?" Ziwei laughed as she spoke, but tears involuntarily slid down her cheeks.
Jin Suo was completely hopeless, staring blankly out the window. She was now completely cut off from all options and had no choice but to follow Ziwei down this dark path.
*
"Qing'er heard that the Imperial Observatory has already set a date for you two." Upon hearing the news, Xinrong rushed over to congratulate Qing'er.
"Yes, you're quite well-informed," Qing'er teased Xinrong with a smile. "Did someone tell you?"
One sentence made Xinrong blush with embarrassment. "What are you talking about? Even if we don't know now, we'll find out eventually when the Emperor issues an edict in a few days."
Xinrong patted her flushed face. "By the way, where's An'an? Weren't you supposed to get married together? Why isn't An'an at Cining Palace right now?" Xinrong looked around as if trying to change the subject.
“An’an is currently at the Prince’s residence. I heard that this matter was proposed by An’an’s father. I’m afraid the Prince’s residence has already begun preparations in full swing.” As Qing’er spoke, her eyes reddened.
Yes, if Qing'er's father and mother were still alive, she would probably have returned to the Prince's Mansion by now, becoming a substitute bride. She wouldn't be stuck in the Cining Palace like she is now.
Xinrong realized she had said the wrong thing and quickly slapped her mouth. "Qing...Qing'er, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things. But it's okay. The Empress Dowager loves you so much, she will definitely send you off to your wedding herself."
Upon hearing this, Qing'er quickly waved her hand. In fact, she knew that the Empress Dowager treated her very well, so she didn't feel wronged and didn't have any excessive demands. However, seeing An'an, she couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
"You're right, girl. Of course I'll see Qing'er off on her wedding day." The old lady's voice suddenly came from the doorway.
Qing'er quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and stood up to greet them, with Xinrong following closely behind.
"Your Majesty, why have you come here? If you want to see me, just have the maids come and let me know, and I'll come over." Qing'er said worriedly, afraid that the Empress Dowager would catch a cold in this freezing weather.
"You're being too cautious. I have so many people following me, and they're not just sitting around doing nothing. Besides, I'm carrying a heater with me, so how could I get cold?" The Empress Dowager said this, but the smile in her eyes betrayed her true feelings.
"Qing'er, although you no longer have your father and mother, and no brothers or sisters, the Empress Dowager will give you this beaded string. This string of beads was given to me by my mother, and now I am giving it to you so that it may bless you with a peaceful and smooth life." The Empress Dowager took the brocade box that had been with her for many years from the hands of the palace maid behind her.
Having served the Empress Dowager for so long, Qing'er naturally knew how precious the contents of this brocade box were. She immediately knelt on the ground and repeatedly said that she could not accept it.
The Empress Dowager, however, looked heartbroken. "If you can't accept this, who can? Besides you, I don't know who else to give this string of beads to. Good child, get up quickly. As long as you and General Ji live happily together and come to the palace to see me from time to time, I will be content." The Empress Dowager called to the people around her and quickly helped Qing'er up.
Xinrong also chimed in, "Qing'er, you've been with the Empress Dowager for so long, and in her heart, you and An'an are equally important. You're both her granddaughters. Giving you this beaded necklace is a token of her affection, so please don't refuse." Xinrong spoke earnestly, and the Empress Dowager nodded in agreement.
Seeing that they had said so, Qing'er had no choice but to accept it. Xinrong, seeing that they seemed to have something to talk about, left the room for the Empress Dowager and Qing'er.
That day, the Empress Dowager sat in Qing'er's room for a long time, and did not leave until it was time for dinner.
An'an is currently confined to the Prince's mansion to learn embroidery, so as a princess, she doesn't need to do these things herself. However, An'an feels that this is a major event in her life, and it would be more meaningful for her to do it herself.
These days she's been busy making her wedding dress, and only after starting did she realize how intricate the craftsmanship is. It's this work that's keeping Anke so busy that she's forgotten to go to the palace lately.
Just as Anke remembered, Gao Yu's envoy arrived in the Qing Dynasty.
Left with no other choice, the Emperor had to hold another banquet to welcome their envoys. After all, although the winter banquet a few days ago hadn't cost much, it was still a considerable expense.
"Uncle, what is it that worries you?" As soon as An Ke arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he saw the Emperor sitting on the dragon throne with a frown.
Upon hearing An Ke's voice, the Emperor's brow immediately relaxed. "Your father told me that you've been making your wedding dress at the Prince's residence these past few days. What brings you to the palace now?"
Looking at his niece whom he had raised with his own hands, the Emperor felt a sense of pride, like a daughter who had finally come of age. He thought his niece hated embroidery the most, yet she was willing to put so much effort into something related to him. But no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't shake off a feeling of unease.
That was too easy on Fu Ertai. I should have dealt with him before my brother returned. I thought my brother would seriously consider Fu Ertai's abilities, but it was all bark and no bite. He's utterly useless!
"Of course I wanted to see my uncle and grandmother. What, does my uncle not welcome An'an?" An'an pouted as she spoke, as if she would turn around and leave if the emperor said he didn't welcome her.
"You're all about to start a family, yet you still have such a childish temper." The Emperor said with a smile as he spoke to Anke, but his eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.
After all, I watched her grow up, from such a tiny little bean to the graceful young woman she is now. Before long, she will probably become a wife and a mother.
"So what? Isn't it all because you and Grandmother spoiled her?" An Ke said, then sat down on the dragon throne on her own, took the Emperor's arm by herself, and rested her head on the Emperor's shoulder.
An Ke knew that the Emperor would likely grow impatient looking at the envoy from the high region. Thinking of Ziwei and her mother, Xia Yuhe, he might also feel a pang of guilt. It was at this moment that An Ke specially came to check on the Emperor's condition and, incidentally, to comfort his heartbroken father.
"You're the most mischievous one, but Fu'ertai is relatively well-behaved. Well, let's see how he performs first. In a few years, I will bestow upon you the title of Princess Protector of the Nation. Even if I am gone and cannot protect you, the Emperor will still treat you well." The Emperor stroked An Ke's hair, making plans for An Ke's future life.
An Ke was truly shocked. She had always known that the Emperor doted on her, the kind of doting affection an elder would show to a junior. But she never expected that the Emperor had already planned out arrangements for her even after his death.
"I know why you came back. Don't worry, I can handle it now, I'm fine." The Emperor patted An Ke on the shoulder and smiled kindly.
An Ke suddenly felt a lump in her throat and almost burst into tears. "Uncle, what are you saying? An An believes everything you say. You will live forever, Uncle." Taking advantage of the moment she lowered her head, An Ke quickly rubbed her nose.
"Alright, then Uncle, live as long as you can and protect our peace." The Emperor didn't say much more. "Judging from your hurried arrival, you haven't had breakfast yet. Li Yu, go to the imperial kitchen and fetch some snacks."
Before An Ke could say anything, Li Yu readily agreed and cheerfully left.
"I happen to be a little hungry myself, so you can stay here and have breakfast with me." The Emperor, fearing that An Ke might say something, cut her off directly. "And there just happens to be a whole bunch of memorials that are giving me a headache, so you can help me review them."
"Here, that small pile is yours." The Emperor specially selected those memorials of greeting and placed them in front of An Ke, who only needed to write "read" on them.
Fortunately, Anke was also an excellent imitator of handwriting, a fact that the Emperor had already noticed.
An Ke had no choice but to dutifully review the memorials. After breakfast, the Emperor instructed her to visit the Empress Dowager at Cining Palace, and that the banquet would be held in the afternoon.
As soon as she arrived at Cining Palace, she saw Qing'er and Xinrong already waiting for her at the entrance.
"As soon as Qing'er heard that An'an was going to the palace, she woke me up early this morning. The Empress Dowager is also waiting inside," Xinrong chattered on the side.
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