Chapter 132: Entering the Palace 4 Winter has arrived, can spring be far behind? ...
Under the gazes of countless eyes, Chunlan pushed Zhang Xiuhua slowly towards the city wall.
The crowd automatically moved aside to allow their ram-horn cart to pass.
They are all cowards, but at this moment, they are willing to risk their lives for their lady.
The ram-horn carriage passed through countless common people, numerous court officials and ladies of honor, and finally arrived at the open space in the center of the Meridian Gate. Facing the emperor who was high above on the city wall, the wheels stopped steadily.
Although Su He was kneeling on the ground at that time, he was turning his head to look at them.
At first she was happy, after all, her aunt had woken up, but later she became worried, as she didn't know why they suddenly appeared in such a dangerous place and at such a critical moment.
When the rickshaw stopped, she looked at Chunlan and Zhang Xiuhua in confusion: "Why... are you here too?"
Chunlan's eyes were filled with tears, but she kept a smile on her face: "Let's help the princess."
The shout that pierced the sky just now was made by her.
She heard the noise from afar and was really anxious.
Zhang Xiuhua also stood up from the rickshaw and agreed firmly, "Yes, we are here to help the princess." She extended an arm toward Chunlan, "Hurry, help me down."
She had been unconscious in bed for too long, and when she woke up, her arms and legs were weak. In addition, it was difficult to rent a horse-drawn carriage during the New Year, so she had to find a temporary rickshaw to ride in.
Chunlan immediately reached out to help, and Fang Yichen, who was standing nearby, also lent a hand. Then they helped Zhang Xiuhua down from the cart and helped her kneel next to Su He and Xie Wuhen.
Su He whispered to stop them: "You can't help in the current situation, so please don't get involved."
Then he said, "Aunt, what are you doing kneeling here? Please retreat quickly into the crowd."
But Zhang Xiuhua knelt firmly and refused to listen to any advice.
Even Chunlan knelt beside Zhang Xiuhua.
At this time, Bai Jinan on the city wall said in a cold voice: "Who is this person?"
Although Zhang Xiuhua's arms and legs were weak, her voice was confident. "Your Majesty, I am the princess's maidservant, named Zhang Xiuhua. The woman next to me is also the princess's maidservant, named Chunlan."
Bai Jinan asked, "Do you have any physical evidence that can prove the princess's identity?"
Zhang Xiuhua replied firmly, "Yes, I do."
Su He was a little worried and called out "Auntie" softly.
Even Xie Wuhen whispered a reminder: "Don't speak nonsense in such occasions, otherwise you will be killed."
Zhang Xiuhua said solemnly, "Don't worry, my lord. I dare not speak nonsense."
Then she solemnly replied to the emperor on the city wall: "I came here today specifically to deliver this evidence."
Bai Jinan warned in a deep voice: "Can you tell me the consequences of deceiving the emperor?"
Zhang Xiuhua replied, "I have never intended to deceive you." She pulled a jade pendant from her breast pocket and carefully held it in her palm. "This jade pendant was entrusted to me by Empress Duofu on the eve of her death. She told me it was a gift from the princess's biological father and asked me to keep it safe for her."
Su He was shocked when he heard that.
Even Xie Wuhen was a little bit unbelievable.
She called out "Auntie" again.
Tears welled up in Zhang Xiuhua's eyes as she choked back her tears and apologized, "Princess, please don't blame me for keeping this a secret. Empress Duofu has repeatedly instructed me not to disclose this to you unless absolutely necessary, to avoid fatal consequences. I had no choice but to do so."
When talking about her mother, Su He couldn't help but tear up. She choked for a moment and said, "Thank you for your hard work, auntie."
Zhang Xiuhua shook her head: "This servant is not tired, this servant just feels sorry for the princess."
Bai Jinan on the tower spoke again: "In other words, the jade pendant in your hand was given to you by me?"
Zhang Xiuhua replied: "Yes, it is the emperor's jade pendant."
Bai Jinan asked again, "What's your proof?"
Zhang Xiuhua said in a resounding voice, "On the back of the jade pendant, the emperor's seal is clearly printed."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone around breathed a sigh of relief.
This woman must be a princess who has fallen into poverty. After all, who in the entire Liang State would dare to forge a seal? Even if they had the courage, they wouldn't have the ability to do so!
But Bai Jinan still tried to make things difficult for him: "How could you, a servant living in the backyard, recognize my seal?"
Zhang Xiuhua replied, "It was Empress Duofu who told this to me personally."
In fact, she had no idea that Su Xueer was the Goddess of Fortune.
All of this was just what Chunlan told her after she woke up. She even realized the seal on the back of the jade pendant only after Zhao Fu personally confirmed that it was the emperor's seal.
She only knew that the jade pendant came from the palace, but she never expected it to be from the emperor himself.
Bai Jinan said, "So that's how it is." Then he said nothing more.
Second Prince Zhao Bo had reached the limit of his patience. This old man was acting on his own initiative and stirring up trouble out of nothing. It was truly despicable. He ordered in a deep voice, "Since that's the case, then present the jade pendant for us to see. If it's truly your father's, you can acknowledge the princess today. This would be a happy occasion."
Bai Jinan gritted his teeth secretly and said, "Your Highness is right. Then please present the jade pendant."
Upon hearing this, Xie Wuhen stood up, took the jade pendant from Zhang Xiuhua's hand, and personally delivered it to the city wall.
He was hesitant to let someone else deliver it. What if the package was swapped along the way?
After climbing up the city wall, he did not immediately present the jade pendant to the emperor, but first presented it to the empress and then to Concubine Shu. After the two of them confirmed that the back of the jade pendant was undoubtedly the jade seal, he presented it to the emperor in the sedan chair through the curtain.
He saw the emperor stretch out his right hand to take the jade pendant.
And what he chopped off happened to be Bai Jinan's left arm.
Bai Jinan used his remaining hand to reach through the curtain to grasp the jade pendant, then quickly retracted it.
The fingers of that hand appeared older and rougher than those of the real emperor.
Bai Jinan said, "Yes, this is indeed the jade pendant I gave to Duofu. It seems that the princess's identity is confirmed."
The queen immediately stepped forward to congratulate the emperor.
Concubine Shu gave her a sidelong glance of disdain and pretended to congratulate the emperor. Finally, she turned and announced to the crowd below: "The emperor has confirmed the princess's identity. You may now welcome her back to the palace immediately."
Everyone downstairs knelt down and congratulated in unison: "Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations, Princess."
The sounds of congratulations were wrapped in the cold wind and were overwhelming like a tsunami.
Amidst the rising and falling noises, Su He turned her head to look at Zhang Xiuhua and Chunlan. Only she and they knew how difficult this journey had been.
Fortunately, she has never been defeated!
Fortunately, she finally overcame all the difficulties.
Bai Jinan in the sedan chair also clenched his only remaining right hand.
Only he himself knows how difficult this journey has been.
But even if he fails again and again, he will never give up.
——He will never give anyone the chance to ruin his plan.
Midwinter has arrived, can spring be far behind?
After the recognition of relatives is completed, the next step is the dance performance at the grand court assembly.
As soon as the dancers from the music troupe entered the stage, the emperor left early on the pretext of feeling unwell.
The empress wanted to see the emperor off, but was rejected by the emperor. In the end, it was the concubine Shu who stayed by the emperor's side.
On the way back to the palace, Bai Jinan looked at Concubine Shu through the curtain and reminded her, "More people in the palace means more eyes. My beloved concubine, why don't you arrange for the princess to live outside the palace as soon as possible?"
Concubine Shu said nonchalantly, "She's just a princess. Your Majesty, why worry so much? Besides, it's impossible to build a princess's mansion in the short term. It's better to let her live in the palace for now."
Bai Jinan had no way to refute and kept his mouth shut.
At this time, outside the Meridian Gate, the eunuchs and maids who were welcoming the princess back to the palace were standing in two rows, waiting for Su He.
Everything happened so quickly that it was somewhat unexpected.
Zhang Xiuhua even asked the leading eunuch, "Sir, could you please allow us to go back and get some clean clothes?"
The eunuch was quite young and his name was Chen Ying.
Chen Ying replied respectfully, "Don't worry, Madam. The Imperial Household Department will take care of all your food, clothing, and other necessities. You don't need to make any extra preparations."
Zhang Xiuhua nodded helplessly.
Su He also took the opportunity to say "Thank you, father-in-law".
Chen Ying immediately bowed his head and said, "Princess, I am sorry for the humiliation."
Xie Wuhen avoided the numerous palace servants and pulled Su He to a corner away from others. He stuffed the jade pendant engraved with the seal into her hand and said, "Return it to its original owner."
He even got the jade pendant back for her!
Su He was overwhelmed with emotions. He took the jade pendant and said, "Thank you, sir."
He said in a low voice, "Now is not the time to express my gratitude. I still have a few things to tell the princess."
She could only put the jade pendant back into her sleeve pocket: "If you have something to say, please feel free to tell me."
He said: "There are Bai Jinan, Concubine Shu, and the Queen in the palace. Princess, you must be careful about everything after entering the palace."
Su He replied: "Don't worry, sir, I know what I'm doing."
Xie Wuhen then took out a map and stuffed it into her hand: "This is a map of the locations of the palace halls. It will be convenient for you to check it out when the time comes."
He added, "Every morning, scatter corn kernels outside the window of your palace. I will send out carrier pigeons to find you so that I can keep in touch with you at all times."
Then he took out a few signal flares from his sleeve pocket and said: "If you encounter danger, please sound the signal flares inside. I will rush to the palace to rescue you immediately."
He had clearly planned everything for her, but there was a hint of melancholy between his brows.
Su He was grateful: "Thank you for your concern, sir."
But his tone was cold and hard: "Princess, you are a noble person. I am just doing my duty."
She glanced at him, seeing that he was acting in a businesslike manner, and murmured, "Since you are only fulfilling your duties as a minister, then next time... don't gamble your official position and wealth. After all... you have an elderly mother and younger siblings to take care of..."
He lowered his eyes and was silent for a moment.
After a moment, he replied coldly, "Princess, there's no need to be moved. This is all within my planning."
Su He paused: "What is the master planning?"
He replied, "When the princess decided to publicly acknowledge her kinship, I anticipated that the worst-case scenario would be Bai Jin'an taking her life. However, if I offered my official position and my entire fortune as collateral damage, Bai Jin'an would certainly not dare to take the princess' life, nor would he dare to deprive me of my official position. After all, with so many people watching, he must consider the dignity and prestige of the royal family."
Su He asked back: "What if he dares?"
He said firmly, "There's no such thing as a miracle. Bai Jinan has Concubine Shu behind him. Even if Concubine Shu is considering the Second Prince, she won't disregard the reputation of the royal family."
This man is fragile and sensitive in relationships, but decisive and ruthless in other matters, and he can calculate people's hearts to the point of being completely certain.
She took a deep breath and said, "No matter what, I have to thank you for protecting me today."
He didn't even respond to her words: "I have explained everything that needs to be explained. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave first." After he said that, he turned and left.
After taking a few steps, he saw Fang Yicheng coming towards him.
The two looked at each other and then passed each other.
Fang Yicheng walked to Su He's side and said, "Miss, Auntie and Chunlan are waiting. It's time for us to go to the palace."
Su He replied "Okay", turned around and walked into the Meridian Gate with a group of palace servants.
In the carriage at the corner of the street, Xie Wuhen was lifting the curtain and looking at her back from afar.
The figure was thin and gaunt, like a willow swaying in the wind. It grew farther and smaller little by little, and disappeared on the endless palace road.
Wu Sheng asked, "Boss, are you... worried about the princess?"
He answered irrelevantly and said sadly, "Go back home."
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