"Princess, look carefully, you're walking with your arms and legs moving in unison!"
Murong You was feeling a little dizzy at this moment.
Her mind was filled with thoughts of how fair the Empress's skin was, how long and curled her eyelashes were, how straight her nose was, and how soft and plump her lips were... Suddenly, when she heard the maid's reminder, she was stunned as if struck by lightning.
Murong You froze for a long time before asking incredulously, "What did you say! I was just walking with my arms and legs moving in unison?!"
The maid was somewhat frightened, but still nodded and said, "Yes, yes."
Murong You felt a tightness in her chest and shortness of breath, as if she couldn't breathe properly. Her voice rose involuntarily: "Say it again! Say it again! I really did walk back with my hands and feet touching!"
The Ninth Princess had a fiery temper, and this state terrified her maid. She knelt down with a thud and shook her head frantically, saying, "Princess, please calm down! Princess, please calm down! I was wrong! No, no! Princess, you didn't move your arms and legs together! I was blind! I saw it wrong!"
"Tell me the truth, and I won't blame you." Murong You knew her own temper, so she softened her tone a little.
The maid forced herself to say, "Yes."
"It's all over, it's all over." Murong You covered her face.
The maid thought the Ninth Princess was embarrassed because she was worried about being seen, so she comforted her, "Princess, don't be sad. I think the road you came by is very secluded. No one should have seen you. Even if they did, no one would dare to gossip. You are the most noble Ninth Princess of Liang!"
Murong You was completely devastated.
driven to distraction.
She wasn't afraid of being seen by others.
Who do they think they are, to dare mock her, the dignified Ninth Princess of Liang!
She was clearly worried, worried about being seen by the Empress!
Waaaaah... It's all over, Murong You wanted to cry but had no tears.
She finally had a chance to see the Empress's face clearly, how could she make such a basic mistake!
That's so embarrassing.
It's all Fifth Brother's fault!
Oh no, no, no, it's all Shenyu's fault!
Finding a scapegoat made Murong You feel a little better, but what good was feeling a little better? Her first impression of him was already ruined.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She angrily ordered her maid, "Go! Go and tie up that Shen Yu who seduced Fifth Brother!"
...
Shen Jiao had no idea what the tyrant was up to; after their parting at noon, he didn't reappear until the painting competition was over.
"Your Majesty, I just ran into Eunuch Wang Fu. He said His Majesty is not in the palace today and, fearing you might be bored, he suggested you stay at the Gu family's residence for the night."
Shen Jiao forgot to take her cloak, so Xi An went back to get it, only to bring back this unexpected news.
"Not in the palace?" Shen Jiao frowned slightly. "Then where did they go?"
Xi'an shook her head: "Eunuch Wang didn't say."
Shen Jiao said, "Alright, what else did he say?"
Xi'an blurted out, "He didn't say anything."
Shen Jiao: "..."
Since that's the case, going to the Gu family's house is a good option. Madam Gu specially reserved a courtyard for her, which I heard was renovated, but she's never stayed there.
"Let's go then." Shen Jiao adjusted her cloak, turned around, and prepared to get into the carriage.
Just then, a carriage slowly approached and, coincidentally, stopped not far away. The driver jumped down and knelt down to pay his respects to Shen Jiao without saying a word.
"Your Majesty, I am a servant of the Gu family, and I have come here on behalf of my master and mistress to escort Your Majesty to the Gu residence."
Upon hearing this, Shen Jiao looked at him and asked, "Where is the young master?"
"Young master has something to attend to and must take his leave first," the servant replied respectfully and formally.
Neither humble nor arrogant.
Shen Jiao first glanced at the carriage behind the servant, then stared intently at the burly men on both sides of the carriage. Each of them was strong and robust, numbering about twenty, and all were armed with broadswords, looking quite fierce.
Seeing this, the servant explained, "These are all guards of the Gu family. The master and mistress were worried about the lady's safety, so they specially ordered them to protect her."
"I see, then I'll trouble you." Shen Jiao narrowed her eyes slightly, a smile appearing on her face as she boarded the Gu family's carriage.
The servant hurriedly replied, "No, no, it's all my duty."
After Xi'an got on, the servant thoughtfully said, "Your Highness, please sit tight," before the carriage started moving.
Gradually fading into the distance.
The carriage moved at a considerable speed, yet it was remarkably stable, without the slightest bump.
Xi'an had always looked down on this carriage, which was all show and no substance, but because of the relationship between the Gu family and the Empress, she was afraid that saying it would displease Shen Jiao. So, after racking her brains, she could only praise, "The coachman is good."
Shen Jiao was taking a nap with her eyes closed when she heard this. She opened her eyes and replied with a smile, "Indeed, it's quite good."
The wheels creaked and groaned. Remembering something, Xi'an asked softly, "Your Majesty, there is something I don't understand."
"Ask whatever you want."
Perhaps afraid of being overheard and losing face for her master, Xi'an whispered even more softly, "Why are we sitting on the floor of the carriage for no reason?"
Yes, the master and servant did not sit on the cushions, but sat directly on the ground using their cloaks.
However, it wasn't like this from the beginning. At first, Shen Jiao sat on the cushion and leaned against it for quite a while.
Xi'an herself didn't care, but her mistress was the Empress, the mother of the nation, how could she be so humiliated!
Shen Jiao said, "Save my life."
Xi'an was confused: "Save your life?"
Is there any danger to my life if I go to the Gu residence?
Thinking of this, the carriage suddenly stopped.
Xi An instinctively reached out to support Shen Jiao, and was about to shout when a flash of silver light suddenly appeared, so dazzling that she involuntarily closed her eyes.
When I opened my eyes again, I saw two gleaming swords stuck in the main seat and the side seat, respectively.
Xi'an broke out in a cold sweat; the Empress should have been sitting there...
She opened her mouth to curse, but Shen Jiao quickly covered her mouth, signaling her to be quiet.
Several gruff voices could be heard outside at the same time.
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