Jin Suo followed Ziwei with a blank expression, completely lost about the future.
Even a princess is like this, so what kind of life must a servant like her have in this remote high-level royal palace? She is now beginning to resent Xiao Yanzi for breaking up with Ziwei when Ziwei was about to marry into the high-level kingdom.
But in the end, no one gave her the answers to everything she wanted to know.
Ziwei, her eyes vacant, quietly walked back to her room. Looking at the decorated bridal chamber, she felt a sense of utter humiliation, as if a slap had landed squarely on her face.
Ziwei began to feel fear and dread for the future, and even started to feel a little regretful. Why hadn't she obediently followed her father's arrangements? Otherwise, she would be in the capital now, able to return to the palace whenever she wanted.
Thinking of this, a tear rolled down Ziwei's cheek, but no matter how unwilling she was, it was no use; there was no going back.
Meanwhile, the palace maid sent by the High Domain King was waiting outside. The maid remained calm and waited respectfully.
After Jin Suo told Ziwei what had happened, Ziwei wiped away her tears, sighed, and then let the maid in. The maid, upon entering, kept her eyes downcast and didn't look around. "I suppose the Princess Consort has rested well. The King is waiting for you and the Prince to serve tea in the main hall."
Jin Suo almost wanted to ask her, "Don't you know who your own prince is? Why did you come all the way here looking for your prince?"
Ziwei's face paled for a moment, and just as she was about to say something to decline, the prince walked in. "Alright, I understand. I will go with the princess to have tea with my father later. You may leave now."
The palace maid, having received her instructions, naturally left. Ziwei, looking at the somewhat sinister-looking man before her, felt a momentary sense of fear.
The prince walked up to her, circled her once, and then spoke sarcastically, "The Qing Dynasty is wrong. Isn't it said that Princess Heshuo is incomparably beautiful? In my opinion, she is not as beautiful as my concubine."
Ziwei opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say. The prince just felt it was meaningless. "I heard that you were already betrothed in the Qing Dynasty, but your husband rebelled on the very day? Are you a jinx to your husband?"
At the mention of Erkang, Ziwei's eyes instantly reddened. If Erkang were still alive, she would never have married so far away. Nor would she have suffered such humiliation at the hands of the prince of Gaoyu. Thinking of this, her hands clenched tightly.
"Don't put on that act, lest others think I, the prince, have humiliated you. I don't like you, so you'd better behave yourself. Otherwise, this isn't your Great Qing." The prince added a verbal threat, "You'd better change into our High Domain's attire and pay your respects to the king as soon as possible." After saying that, the prince left, as if staying here would be an eyesore.
Looking at the clothes already laid out on the bed, Ziwei was suddenly reminded of Hanxiang. Back then, she had mocked Hanxiang for being spineless, but now Hanxiang was also about to wear the clothes of a foreign tribe. She was unwilling, but she had no choice.
Jin Suo helped Ziwei get dressed and then led her out. The prince was waiting in the courtyard. After seeing her dressed, he merely nodded slightly and strode away without even turning back to wait for her.
When Ziwei arrived at the main hall to meet King Gaoyu, he had a kind and amiable expression on his face. He even told her to let him know if she needed anything, and he would try his best to meet her needs.
*
Qing Dynasty
The day finally arrived for Anke to return to her parents' home. Anke got up early, and Ertai had already prepared gifts.
The two were newlyweds, and they walked out of the mansion hand in hand.
Princess Consort Rui was waiting at the door early in the morning, and she reminded Prince Rui that he should return early after court today.
Upon hearing the guard's report at the door, the princess could no longer suppress her longing and hurried over. Seeing Anke already stepping over the threshold, the princess went straight to greet her.
"Why did An'an come back so early? Were you cold on the way?" The princess asked with concern, then turned to look at Ertai beside her.
Although Ertai's hands were full of gifts, he hurriedly greeted the princess. The princess also politely replied, "Oh, you're all good children. Come on in, come on in."
Hongmei, who was standing beside the princess, said, "Knowing that the princess and her consort were coming today, the princess had the charcoal fire lit early on. She was worried that the princess would get cold on the way."
The princess glanced at it and scolded, "She's always so quick to speak. Mother also wanted to watch the rewards in this hall, so she lit the charcoal fire. Isn't this just perfect?"
An Ke naturally knew how the princess was feeling, and reached out to hold the princess's hand, saying, "Mother is still the best."
Just then, a soft cough came from the doorway. "Oh, is it only Mother who is well, and Father who is not?" It turned out that Prince Rui, who had just finished court, was handing his cloak to a servant beside him.
Prince Rui walked in, and the princess took out a handkerchief to pat the snow off his body. Then she glared at him and said, "Stand back a bit, so you don't pass the cold on to An'an."
"It's alright, Mother, what's the big deal?" Anke was happy to enjoy the warmth of family life.
After Prince Rui's body warmed up, he pulled his son-in-law into the study for a conversation between father-in-law and son-in-law. The Princess then pulled Anke aside and asked her how Ertai had treated her these past few days.
"Everything is fine, he always goes along with me." Anke said, lowering her head shyly.
"That's good. But if he treats you badly, don't hold back. Hit him if you have to, and act like a princess." For the first time, the princess put aside her gentle and demure side and told her daughter that she must not suffer any grievances after getting married.
“An’an knows everything.” An Ke smiled and rested her head on the princess’s shoulder, and the princess patted An Ke’s back in return.
It wasn't until lunchtime that the father-in-law and son-in-law came out of the study.
Anke quietly pulled Ertai aside and asked in a low voice, "What did my father say to you? Why did you two talk in the study for so long?"
Ertai gently stroked Anke's soft hair, his eyes filled with tenderness. "It's nothing. Father just told me to treat you better, otherwise he'll come to the manor with a big knife to chop me up and settle accounts with me."
An Ke frowned slightly, feeling that something was off about her strength, but seeing Ertai's sincere expression, she could only put aside her doubts.
Ertai secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Just now in the study, the prince made him swear that he would try his best not to let An'an get pregnant within the year. He also told him some examples of the Princess Consort Rui back then. Ertai was terrified when he heard this, and he quickly agreed.
The family sat together and happily finished their lunch. Afterwards, Ertai followed Anke to her boudoir and rested for a while in Anke's room. They were supposed to return to the mansion after lunch, but Ertai thought about how happy Anke was to return home today, so he waited until after dinner before taking a carriage and leisurely returning home.
When the princess saw Prince Rui return, she glanced at him, and the prince quickly sat down next to her. The princess pinched the flesh on his waist and asked, "What did you say to Ertai at noon? Don't tell me you told him to take good care of An'an. You might be able to fool An'an with that, but you'd better save your breath to fool me."
The princess hated it most when the prince kept things from her. Seeing the prince's lying gestures today, the princess immediately realized that he was hiding something from her.
Prince Rui knew he couldn't hide it from the Princess, so he sighed and told her the truth. The Princess was silent for a long time before speaking, "But keeping it from An'an like this isn't a good solution. What will An'an think then?"
"Then we must make sure An'an recovers well this year. Back then, she was with the Empress Dowager on Mount Wutai, running around in the snow every day. She might have already caught a chill. How can I be at ease if she doesn't take good care of herself?" The prince said, somewhat regretful as he recalled the past. If he had known this would happen, he should have taken An'an with him back then.
The couple remained silent all night.
The same was true for Qing'er. General Ji's parents were kind and gentle people. In particular, after learning about Qing'er's background, General Ji's mother loved Qing'er even more and wished she could give her all the good things she had.
Since their wedding two days ago, anything precious has been brought to the young couple. Even when they go out shopping and find something nice, they have their maids bring it back to give to the young mistress.
On the day of their return to the palace, Ji Chu accompanied Qing'er to Cining Palace. The Empress Dowager also had a private conversation with Qing'er. The smile on Qing'er's face revealed that she was doing well in the Ji family, which put the Empress Dowager at ease.
As they neared their return to the palace, Xinrong rushed over again, pulled Qing'er aside, and said a few words, while Ji Chu waited for her with a mournful expression.
After getting into the carriage, Ji Chu took Qing'er's hand and said, "I knew long ago that my wife was clever and witty and was the most loved by the people in the palace. I didn't expect that in just one day, I would hardly have been able to hold my wife's hand."
"Xinrong only asked me when An'an would return to the palace, just one sentence, do you have to be so sour?" Qing'er covered her handkerchief and laughed, and Ji Chu laughed along with her.
Then, as if she had just thought of something, Qing'er said, "I have to go to the Fu residence tomorrow. It just so happens that you have some time off, so let's go together tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Ji Chu's face instantly fell. Seriously? Again? He'd barely seen his wife all day, and tomorrow he'd be seeing Princess Yong'an. Their relationship was already good; did that mean he wouldn't see her at all tomorrow?
But then he thought of Fu'ertai, who also wouldn't be able to see Princess Yong'an tomorrow, and he felt they were both in the same boat. Oh well, since Qing'er wanted to go anyway, he might as well go with her.
"Princess, Princess Qing and General Ji have arrived." An Ke was enjoying the scenery with Ertai in the pavilion in the back garden when Xingxing arrived, carrying an umbrella and braving the snow.
"Oh, Qing'er is here?" An Ke's eyes lit up instantly. "Then please come in quickly." She pushed Ertai, who was holding her, aside.
Ertai looked at Anke with resentment, while inwardly cursing Ji Chu. What was this kid doing running around everywhere after his marriage? Disturbing their sweet moment, how utterly immoral!
No matter how much Fu Ertai gritting his teeth in resentment, the two of them were still led to the pavilion. As soon as Qing'er arrived at the pavilion, she was enveloped in warmth and subconsciously squinted her eyes and rubbed her hands together.
Ji Chu was very perceptive. He removed Qing'er's cloak and then respectfully greeted Princess Yong'an. After all, Qing'er and Princess Yong'an had a relationship, but he did not, and besides, he was an outsider.
An Ke felt a surge of joy upon seeing Qing'er, but the two people standing beside her seemed a bit of an eyesore. She gave Ertai a wink, and Ertai looked back with a pitiful expression, but An Ke kept staring at him. Ertai had no choice but to give in and helplessly led Ji Chu towards the front yard.
"Why did you decide to come see me today? The roads are slippery in this snowy weather, aren't you cold?" Although An Ke said this, her body language betrayed her, and she poured Qing'er a cup of hot tea.
Qing'er held the warm flower tea in her hands, took a sip, and felt very comfortable. "It's all because of Xinrong. She said she wanted to see you, and I already agreed. Of course I had to come and find you."
"Speaking of which, it's been three or four days since I've seen Xinrong, and I do miss her a little." Anke looked at Qing'er in front of her; in fact, she also missed Qing'er a bit.
However, she was also somewhat relieved that she had come; otherwise, Qing'er would probably have followed her to Dali by now.
"Is there something on my face?" Qing'er noticed that An'an was staring at her in a daze, so she unconsciously touched her face.
An Ke snapped out of her daze and teased, "It seems General Ji is quite good; he's made you a bit plumper." Sure enough, it was An Ke who immediately hit Qing'er's shy spot.
"Aren't you the same? I heard your laughter as soon as I entered the pavilion." Under Ji Chu's influence, Qing'er can now force herself to make a few jokes.
The two then chatted about their experiences over the past few days in the pavilion. An Ke was genuinely happy for Qing'er, who would never again be as far away from the capital and the Empress Dowager as she was in the drama.
What Anke didn't know was that Ji Chu and Fu Ertai in the front yard were staring at each other, and the atmosphere had reached freezing point.
"It's really remarkable that you two can still go out in such cold weather," Ertai said sarcastically.
"That just shows how close Qing'er and the princess are. This incident also kicked you out," Ji Chu retorted casually.
But Ertai couldn't do anything to Ji Chu. He could only absentmindedly entertain him from the sidelines.
After finally waiting for them to leave the mansion, Ertai heard Anke say that he would be going to the palace the next day, and he felt dizzy and his vision went black.
That evening, Ertai asked Anke for today's reward and tomorrow's payment. They burned more than half a candle that night.
The next day, Anke got up angrily, clutching her back. When she saw the person who was all smiles, she couldn't contain her anger and grabbed a pillow to throw at him.
Ertai knew it was his fault, so he touched the tip of his nose and gently coaxed Anke.
Seeing that it was getting late, An Ke had no choice but to spare him for the time being and took Ertai to the palace.
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