Everyone then began preparing for tomorrow's important event. No one complained anymore, since the Emperor hadn't mentioned anything. They only needed to keep things superficial and not damage the Qing Dynasty's reputation. This was much simpler than the marriage of Princess Yong'an and Princess Qing.
*
Post station
"Has the prince not been found yet?" The elderly Master Gao stood in the cold, howling courtyard, his expression sorrowful.
If they offended a noble person in the Qing Dynasty palace, and the prince and his companions were not protected, how could they face the king in the High Domain?
The atmosphere was very somber, and no one spoke a word.
Just then, the prince returned alone, beaming with joy. Lord Gao immediately rushed to greet him, "Your Highness, where have you been? Why didn't you bring a guard?" Lord Gao asked in a flustered manner.
The prince was in a good mood, so he didn't take Gao's reprimand to heart. Instead, he comforted Gao, saying, "What could possibly happen to me in this palace? What guards do I need?"
Seeing that the prince was still acting so unreliably, everyone sighed helplessly in their hearts, but in the end, the prince was safe and sound, so they could rest assured.
Unexpectedly, the prince announced some shocking news that left them dizzy: "We'll be able to return to the Highlands tomorrow. Everyone, start packing now." With that, he prepared to leave.
Unfortunately, they were stopped by the quick-witted Lord Gao. "What do you mean by that, Your Highness? Did you offend the Emperor by encountering someone? Why are you sending us back to the High Domain so soon?" Not only Lord Gao was puzzled, but the envoys were also going through a lot of thoughts.
"What are you thinking? I just happened to run into the princess I'm going to marry, and I also happened to be at the Emperor's Hall of Mental Cultivation. The Emperor just happened to say that tomorrow is an auspicious day, and he told us to set off back to the High Domain as soon as possible." It was already quite remarkable that the prince was able to patiently finish explaining all this to them. After the prince finished speaking, he turned around and left without looking back.
However, the ministers present did not think so.
"Lord Gao, in your opinion, what exactly is going on with this matter?"
"Yes, didn't the Qing Dynasty say they would only let us marry the princess on the fifteenth of the first lunar month? Why is it so early? Is there some kind of trick?"
"We don't know for now, but since the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty has said so, we naturally have to leave tomorrow." Lord Gao looked up at the sky. "Let's make plans as soon as possible." After saying this, Lord Gao's already not straight back seemed to bend even more.
The ministers were helpless. Since Lord Gao had said so, what could they say? Naturally, they returned to their rooms and began packing their luggage.
*
Shufangzhai
Since the imperial decree was issued that day, Ziwei and Jinsuo have been completely quiet. They can't even leave Shufangzhai now, they can't do anything, and they can't find out anything. Naturally, they don't know that they are about to depart for the High Domain tomorrow.
"Miss, please have some tea. Your lips are starting to chapped." Since giving up hope, Jin Suo has started following Ziwei again, after all, her contract of marriage is in Ziwei's hands, and she will be Ziwei's servant for life.
"Just leave it there for now. There are only the two of us in Shufangzhai, why bother with all this?" Ziwei looked at the snow scene outside, and a wave of sadness washed over her. She sighed and said.
Jin Suo could only sit obediently beside Ziwei, which was a reflection of their situation during this period. They couldn't leave the palace, and no one else could come in. The only people they could talk to were the two of them.
Since Erkang's death, Ziwei has become even more taciturn. Jinsuo didn't know what to say to Ziwei, and the two of them mostly sat in silence like this.
Just then, the door of Shufangzhai suddenly opened.
Jin Suo was so excited that she stood up from her chair, almost knocking it over. She grabbed Ziwei's hand and said excitedly, "Miss, I knew the Emperor wouldn't bear to let you marry someone so far away." Jin Suo was almost in tears. After all, if Ziwei didn't have to go, then she wouldn't have to suffer with her.
Compared to Jin Suo's excitement, Zi Wei's reaction was rather calm. After all, Zi Wei herself knew that once the imperial edict was issued, there was no room for reversal, so how could it be that the emperor would go back on his word?
Moreover, she had been sitting for quite a while, and Ziwei had to rely on Jinsuo to help her stand up.
As the old woman walked into the desolate Shufangzhai, she was somewhat incredulous. Just a few months ago, Shufangzhai was a place filled with laughter and joy. How could it have become so desolate and dilapidated?
"This servant is Wang Mama, the etiquette instructor. I have come here specifically to teach the princess the etiquette for her wedding day." As Wang Mama said this, Jin Suo almost fell to the ground.
Jin Suo stared wide-eyed in disbelief. She never imagined that the Emperor could be so heartless as to abandon his wife and only daughter in a remote high region.
"Isn't the wedding still a while away? Why are you in such a hurry, Granny?" Ziwei said in a hoarse voice, with a hint of sarcasm in her tone. Could it be that she was afraid that Ziwei would run away again?
Now, Shufangzhai is practically impregnable. She doesn't even have any martial arts skills, so how could she possibly escape from this heavily guarded place? Are they so eager to marry her off?
"Princess, you don't know yet, do you? The prince and envoy from Gaoyu who came to marry you have already arrived. Tomorrow is your auspicious day, so naturally you can only learn these etiquettes today." Granny Wang said with a smile, but little did she know that in Ziwei's eyes and ears, her words were like demonic chants.
"What? The envoy from this high region has arrived so early?" Jin Suo screamed in disbelief, attracting several glances from Granny Wang.
"Princess, let's begin now. Besides you, your personal maid will also be learning," said Granny Wang with a smile. "After all, we're no longer in our Great Qing Dynasty, and we can't afford to disgrace it. What do you say, Princess?"
What could Ziwei say? Her lips trembled as she leaned on Jin Suo for help to stand up, and then she earnestly followed Granny Wang to learn etiquette.
"The princess's etiquette is already acceptable, but Jin Suo's etiquette is still not good enough. However, it is still barely acceptable. In any case, there won't be any major trouble tomorrow. I hope the princess will teach her well when we arrive in the High Domain." Granny Wang picked on Jin Suo, because in Granny Wang's eyes, she really couldn't stand Jin Suo's behavior.
However, these matters weren't her place to speak or teach. What was there to teach? The princess had her own masters above her. She was merely there to teach the princess etiquette, and incidentally give the princess a little pointer. If the princess responded well, she would naturally appreciate the old woman's good intentions when she reached the higher realms. If the princess didn't respond well, it wouldn't be a big deal for the old woman.
"I wonder if I can go out of this Shufangzhai today and take a good stroll, as a farewell to the palace?" Ziwei looked up at the sky, trying her best to keep the tears from sliding down her cheeks.
Granny Wang said curtly, "I hope the princess will not make things difficult for me. I am only here to teach the princess etiquette. These matters are absolutely not my responsibility."
Ziwei didn't insist. She had known this would be the outcome. Then, she changed the subject and said, "Could you please ask Granny to go to Baoyue Tower? I have something I want to say to Xiaoyanzi. I'm afraid I won't be able to rest easy after seeing her when I get into the sedan chair tomorrow."
This was Ziwei's way of directly threatening the nanny, essentially telling her that if she couldn't see Xiaoyanzi, she definitely wouldn't do what they said tomorrow.
But the old nanny wasn't stupid; this wasn't a matter she, a mere servant, could decide. After hesitating for a moment, she carefully considered her words and said, "How about this, I'll go back and consult the Emperor, and then I'll bring the message to the princess. Please forgive me, Princess."
Ziwei didn't say anything more this time and kindly let Granny Wang go.
Jin Suo was terrified, fearing that she would be going to the High Realm with Ziwei the next day, with no way to turn back. Hearing Ziwei say this, she thought that Ziwei was going to send Xiao Yanzi to the High Realm in her place, and immediately burst into tears of joy, crawling on her knees to Ziwei's side.
"Miss Jin Suo knows that you love Jin Suo the most. You sent Xiao Yanzi here so that she can accompany you to the High Domain tomorrow, right?" Jin Suo was lost in her own thoughts and didn't see Ziwei's probing gaze at all.
Ziwei didn't say anything, but just waited quietly for Xiaoyanzi to arrive.
Granny Wang went to Cining Palace first and told Princess Yong'an.
An Ke, holding her cup, didn't even look up as her teasing voice rang out, "Oh, she wants to see Xiao Yanzi? Fine, let them meet before they part. They were good friends before, after all. Now that one is getting married, shouldn't the other go and see her off?"
"Yes, this servant will take care of it right away." After receiving An Ke's reply, Granny Wang quickly turned and left.
It wasn't that Granny Wang didn't want to tell the Emperor about this, but rather that the Emperor had already given Princess Yong'an all the decision-making power over this matter, and whatever Princess Yong'an said was law.
"Let Xingxing send Yueying along to listen," Anke instructed Xingxing after watching Wang Mama walk away.
"It's the princess." Xingxing took small steps out, and returned after telling Yueying. "Princess, what do you think Princess Heshuo wants to do?"
"Who knows?"
*
"The Heshuo Princess of Shufangzhai wants to see Xiaoyanzi?" Consort Xiang stood up in shock. She had already learned about the important and trivial matters of their sworn brotherhood from Xiaoyanzi.
Hanxiang strongly disagreed with Ziwei's approach of only caring about love and not at all about the friendship between them.
Now, when I hear that Ziwei wants to see Xiaoyanzi one last time before she gets married, my first reaction is to refuse on Xiaoyanzi's behalf. I wonder what that princess is up to?
Unexpectedly, Xiao Yanzi overheard them from outside the door. Xiao Yanzi walked in calmly, bowed to Granny Wang, and said, "Since she has something to say to me, then I will go."
"But..." Hanxiang walked over quickly, still hesitant as she held Xiaoyanzi's hand.
“Your Majesty, there’s no need to worry. There are some things I’d like to ask her about, and it’s not good to keep this to myself. Besides, didn’t she say that if I don’t go, she’ll probably keep thinking about it even when she gets into the sedan chair tomorrow?” Xiao Yanzi squeezed Hanxiang’s hand, her eyes full of determination.
"Alright then, if she makes things difficult for you, you can always come back to Baoyue Tower. You are no longer a member of Shufangzhai." Seeing Xiaoyanzi's resolute words, Hanxiang naturally didn't say anything more.
After watching Xiao Yanzi walk away, Hanxiang could only kneel on the prayer mat and pray for the Hui people and Xiao Yanzi.
Seeing that Shufangzhai had fallen into such a state of disrepair in just a short time, Xiaoyanzi felt a surge of sadness. After all, this was the place she had lived since entering the palace, and she still had some feelings for it.
Pushing open the heavy door, Ziwei sat smiling on the swing. It was as if they hadn't experienced those things in between, as if they had returned to the carefree days in the tenement. They were still best friends, still able to talk about anything.
"You've come. I've been waiting for you here." Ziwei sat on the swing and swayed back and forth.
"You've already said that to the nanny. If I don't come to see you, what will you do if you refuse to get into the sedan chair tomorrow?" Xiao Yanzi stood calmly to the side.
Ziwei chuckled softly, "This swing doesn't go very high at all, not even a third as high as you did the other day." Then she stared straight at Xiaoyanzi.
Xiao Yanzi walked straight behind Ziwei and gave her a push.
"I'm getting married tomorrow, do you know that?" Ziwei's voice came from high above.
Xiao Yanzi paused in her hand as she was pushing Ziwei. "I know, congratulations."
"Why do you say that? Gaoyu is far away from Daqing. Who knows when we will meet again?" Ziwei stopped Xiaoyanzi from pushing her away. "In the end, I am the one who has wronged you. I should tell you that the day was the day your own brother was beheaded and displayed to the public."
Ziwei stood up straight without turning around, perhaps because she could never turn back. From the moment Xiaoyanzi entered the Cold Palace, or rather, from the moment Erkang died, a natural chasm existed between them, one that neither of them could cross.
At first, Ziwei couldn't accept it, but now that Xiao Jian is standing in the middle, Xiao Yanzi might not be able to accept it.
"You came to me just to say this?" Xiao Yanzi didn't walk up to Ziwei, but spoke from behind her.
"Of course, it's not just about saying these things. Since An Ke told you that Xiao Jian is your own brother, why don't you hate her? After all, she was the one who plotted and set a trap for your brother. Are you really so at ease with yourself now? When did the fiery Little Swallow become so ruthless?" Before leaving, Ziwei had some realizations, but not many, and still wanted to stir things up.
"I can't explain it, but I don't blame her. Brother doesn't blame her either. You should get into the sedan chair properly tomorrow." After saying that, Xiao Yanzi took a step back and gave Ziwei a proper bow. "This servant congratulates Princess Heshuo on her wedding." After saying that, Xiao Yanzi left without looking back, leaving Ziwei alone in the spot, laughing sadly.
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