Chapter 91 Fourth Update
At noon, Zhuang Wan received a message from Li Bo, saying that Lord Cheng agreed and would leave the palace at 10:00 p.m. tonight to buy some wine.
She was surprised: "Why leave the palace at 11 pm? It will be dark by then."
The messenger was an unfamiliar eunuch. He said respectfully, "Miss Zhuang, you may not know that this batch of wine is a tribute from the emperor. It must be opened at night, otherwise it will affect the taste."
"Oh," Zhuang Wan, not knowing much about wine, thought it might just be a gimmick for the imperial tribute. Don't those in high positions appreciate things with such fanciful details? So he gave him some small change and said, "Thank you, young man. Go back and tell them I'll be there on time tonight at 10:00 p.m."
After seeing the eunuch off, Zhuang Wan suddenly felt relieved. She could finally leave.
She didn't go to see Pei Xingju these two days, and Pei Xingju didn't care about her. It seemed that he had accepted the fact that she left.
This was the best option. He accepted it, so he wouldn't have to send anyone to hunt her down. By the time he regained his memory, she would have already safely escaped to Jiangnan.
As if freedom was waving to her, Zhuang Wan saw hope and felt happy. She immediately went back to the house and started packing her luggage.
Her things had actually been packed long ago, including two sets of clothes and a few banknotes. Besides the clothes Pei Xingju had given her, which were still unopened in the box, she had also placed the jade pendant he had given her on the table.
This piece of jade is worth a fortune. I wanted to take it away at first, but now it’s not easy to take more.
After packing up these, she went to the table to write some letters. The first was to Jiang Baohe, signed "Sister Baohe." Then she wrote a second letter to Princess Wu Jing. It didn't say much, just some farewell words.
The last letter was left for Qiu Tan.
Qiu Tan was a stubborn girl, and Zhuang Wan had never told her about her plan. She had only thought she'd had an argument with Pei Xingju, unaware of her impending departure. If she found this letter tomorrow, she'd be devastated.
But Zhuang Wan had to leave no matter what. Life was fleeting, all was passing, and all good things must come to an end. She was going to escape, so she had no choice but to leave.
By the time we finished, it was almost noon. I heard the ladies' polo match had concluded.
.
In this women's polo match, Princess Wu Jing won the championship without a doubt.
Polo is a recent aristocratic pastime that has been introduced to the capital. It was initially popular among men, but later became popular among women. Therefore, it's only been in the last two years that ladies have been learning horseback riding. While some are skilled at polo, they pale in comparison to the Lu people, who have been riding horses since childhood.
Princess Wu Jing was frequently sought after due to her superb riding skills and agile polo posture. Of course, there was also some element of the lady's willingness to give way to others.
After all, someone secretly got some information that the emperor would grant Princess Wu Jing a marriage at this polo match. For this reason, others tactfully refrained from competing with Princess Wu Jing.
At this moment, Princess Wu Jing was riding on a horse, swinging the horse's handle and looking proudly at Chen Yi on the high platform.
After a while, the eunuch came over and said, "Princess Wu Jing, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager invite you to come forward and listen to their performance."
Princess Wu Jing was delighted: "What does your emperor want to reward me?"
"Oh, the reward is the grace of the emperor, how can we, the little ones, know about it?"
"Go on!" Princess Wu Jing threw the horse pole to him, "I'll go over now."
After going up to the stands, Princess Wu Jing saluted the emperor and the empress dowager with the Dazhao etiquette, and when she looked up, she winked at Shen Yi in what she thought was a secret.
Others saw it and looked at Shen Yi with subtle expressions.
Chen Yi was puzzled: "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Huh? You don't know?"
"Know what?"
"The Emperor wants to grant Princess Wu Jing a marriage."
Shen Yi nodded: "I know, what does it have to do with me?"
However, after the Queen Mother finished praising Princess Wu Jing, she turned to the Emperor and asked, "Princess Lu is intelligent and brave. I like her and would like to keep her in the capital. Is that okay with you, Your Majesty?"
Everyone understood this tacitly and waited quietly for the marriage to be arranged.
The Emperor followed the Empress Dowager's lead and asked Princess Wu Jing, "Princess, are you willing to stay in Dazhao's capital?"
Princess Wu Jing nodded: "I like it here, of course I am willing."
The Queen Mother smiled and said, "I think Princess Wujing is not young anymore. It would be better if the Emperor arranged a marriage for her so that she can stay here with peace of mind. A marriage between Lu and Da Zhao would be a good omen for the two countries."
The emperor then turned to the Prince of Lu and asked, "What does Prince Wenle think?"
The prince had come with his sister to propose marriage, so he was naturally delighted. He stood up and bowed, "It's up to the Emperor to decide."
So, naturally, the emperor asked Princess Wu Jing: "My eldest son, Da Zhao, has thousands of outstanding and eloquent men. I wonder if Princess Wu Jing has any that she likes. If you tell me, I will grant you a marriage."
Wu Jing was delighted and didn't hesitate. She raised her hand and pointed, saying coquettishly, "This princess likes him. Can you please appoint him as my consort?"
The person being pointed at, Chen Yi, widened his eyes and stiffened his body.
"Your Majesty..." He wanted to stand up and refuse, but was held down by someone.
Pei Xingju arrived at the stands at some point and whispered a warning, "Don't be impulsive."
Shen Yi's blood rushed to his chest, and his mind went blank. Everyone around him was laughing, including Princess Wu Jing. He turned around and looked towards the arena in panic and desolation.
There, Jiang Baohe was also looking at him.
After a long time, his lips moved, and he finally sat down in despair.
"Master Shen?" someone called out to him, "The Emperor is asking you a question."
Chen Yi looked as if he had been drenched by rain, his mind wandering and his body frozen in thought, his fists clenched tightly in his sleeves.
The Queen Mother said, "Look, Master Shen is so happy that he's silly."
After that, everyone laughed.
Princess Wu Jing also smiled shyly.
.
Lunch was approaching and everyone left their seats, and the people around Liyin Lake also gradually dispersed.
Chen Yi walked ahead angrily, and when he passed a deserted place, he kicked a tree beside the road.
The branches shook and many leaves fell.
Pei Xingju stepped forward and said, "Today, no matter who Princess Wu Jing points to, no one can refuse."
"I know." Shen Yi nodded: "I just don't understand."
"What do you not understand?"
"Princess Wu Jing is going to marry you, isn't she? Why did she choose me? Why me?"
“I don’t even want to…”
"Ji Xiu, be careful with your words!" Pei Xingju advised, "This is the Emperor's order. If you disobey, not only will you ruin the Emperor's plan, but you will also be in trouble."
How could Shen Yi not know this? It was precisely because he knew this that he felt despair. If he disobeyed the order today, his career would be over. Not only would he suffer, but Pei Xingju would also suffer.
"But I don't want to marry Princess Wu Jing. I...I already have someone I love."
Pei Xingju was surprised and was about to ask him when Princess Wu Jing came over.
"Chen Yi, wait for me."
Pei Xingju turned his head and glanced at him, then patted Chen Yi helplessly: "I'll go first."
Soon, Wu Jing caught up and complained, "You're walking so fast, why didn't you wait for me? Chen Yi, where are you going? Have you eaten yet? I'll go with you."
Shen Yi stared at her intently.
Seeing him like this, the smile on Wu Jing's face slowly froze: "What's wrong? Are you unhappy about our arranged marriage?"
"Why me?" Chen Yi asked, paused, and suddenly roared: "Why me? Why do you have to marry me?"
Wu Jing was so frightened by him that her face turned pale and she shrank subconsciously.
Like a child at a loss after making a mistake, she forced a smile: "Chen Yi, you...are you unhappy? You clearly..."
He was clearly watching her happily from the podium during the competition, why did he change now?
Something warm blurred her eyes, and she wiped them hard: "I thought you liked mine too."
"Which eye of yours saw that I like you? Have you asked me? You're a princess, you're amazing. You're born high and mighty, you don't care about other people's wishes, even when it comes to your lifelong affairs, you only care about your own mood. But have you ever considered that I don't want to marry you at all?"
Princess Wu Jing stood there in a daze, tears welling up in her eyes and falling down.
Chen Yi paused, remained silent for a while, then turned and left.
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