Chapter 002

When Jiashan died, the new emperor had already established a stable foundation, and it had been nearly two years since Emperor Zhanghe passed away.

Come to think of it, she hasn't seen her father for a long time.

Among all the princes and princesses, Jiashan looked most like Emperor Zhanghe. No wonder Jiashan was the most beloved by the emperor.

Princesses who lost their mothers were usually adopted by other childless concubines or raised in pairs. But Jiashan lived alone in Fengyang Pavilion, and she could treat her own home as her own.

Her father treated her so well, but after he passed away, she did something that was not right for him.

Jiashan's eyebrows knitted together, and her steps slowed down slightly. She couldn't help but raise her hand and carefully touch her belly through her clothes.

Her mind seemed to reappear, the words she heard before being stabbed through the heart by Zhan Shaoying - "Why don't you want to keep him?"

That's easy to say! How can she stay?

Jiashan wiped his lipstick and raised his lips slightly, creating an almost mocking angle.

"His Highness is here."

Chen Gong, who was guarding in front of the Qianqing Palace, saw Jiashan approaching from a distance and hurried forward to greet him.

Chen Gong was an old man who was used to working for my father. He was currently serving as the eunuch in the Imperial Household Department and was considered the best among the eunuchs.

He has always been kind to Jiashan.

But Jiashan had heard people say that Chen Gong secretly received bribes from many ministers and actually had countless mansions and fertile fields outside the palace. For this reason, although Jiashan treated Chen Gong with courtesy on the surface, he looked down on him in his heart.

After Emperor Zhanghe passed away, Chen Gong resolutely resigned from everything in the palace and asked to serve in front of the former emperor's mausoleum. Jiashan then realized his loyalty and felt deeply guilty.

Now, looking at Chen Gong with a smile on his face, Jiashan also smiled from the bottom of his heart and said, "Mr. Chen is a good policeman."

Chen Gong hurriedly said, "Your Highness, please forgive me."

He said, "Your Majesty has just finished discussing matters with a few ministers, and is now reading memorials in the east room."

After a pause, Chen Gong couldn't help showing a bit of joy on his face: "I heard that the rankings of this palace examination have been announced."

Jiashan was stunned at first before he realized Chen Gong's intention.

In the palace examination in the 14th year of Zhanghe, Jiashan's cousin Pei Yuantang also participated in it as an adopted son.

But Jiashan had lived two lives, so he naturally knew that his cousin was very successful and had passed the imperial examination.

It would be bad to reject Chen Gong's kindness, so she smiled and said, "Since the father-in-law said so, I guess my cousin from the Pei family must have passed the imperial examination and got a good grade, right?"

Chen Gong also said in high spirits: "I really want to be the informant for the princess. However, for such a happy event, it would be better for His Majesty to tell you in person."

Jiashan knew that he would not tell her, at most he would just give her a heads up in advance, but she still said, "My father-in-law is deliberately keeping me hanging."

Chen Gong said with a smile: "With Mr. Pei's talent, why should the princess worry?"

Jiashan pursed his lips and smiled, and said loudly: "Then I will borrow your good words, father-in-law."

After she thanked Chen Gong, she stepped into the door of the east wing of the Qianqing Palace.

Perhaps it was because I was homesick, so I walked slower and slower each step in Jiashan.

Eight years...

What did my father look like eight years ago in my memory?

Even Nanny Zheng looks younger, so father should be even more energetic.

Jiashan walked step by step. She looked at Zhang Hedi who was sitting on the kang with a complicated expression. Her eyes became hot and she had to hold back her tears with great difficulty.

"Father——"

There was a tremor in Jiashan's voice that he had not expected.

She tried to remain calm and bent down hard.

After taking a few long breaths, Jiashan tried hard to find the innocence and cunning that he should have had when he spoke to his father.

She opened her mouth with difficulty, trying to cover up her sorrow with a crisp tone: "Father clearly saw me coming in, but he pretended not to know. I understand now, you probably hate me and don't want to bother with Jiashan anymore."

Zhang Hedi smiled.

He got off the kang and helped Jiashan up with his own hands: "You have a sharp tongue. I was just distracted for a moment, and you caught me with it."

"Come, I will show you what distracts me. Otherwise you will get hold of it and keep nagging at me."

Emperor Zhang He spread a piece of paper in front of Jiashan, but Jiashan's eyes were not on the paper.

She is only fifteen years old this year and is not even as tall as her father's shoulders.

At the age of fifteen, Jiashan had never looked at Emperor Zhang He's face so carefully.

In the two years after her father's death, Jiashan often recalled his appearance after his illness. She remembered that half of his hair had turned white, and the fine lines on his forehead and the cracked corners of his mouth showed that he was no longer young.

Although still kind, she is nowhere near as young and vigorous as she is now.

Jiashan tried hard to hold back the urge to cry.

But Emperor Zhang He asked in surprise: "Why, you are not happy?"

Jiashan shook her head hurriedly. She heard herself say, "No, how dare I not be happy."

Emperor Zhanghe then smiled and said, "I think so too."

On that piece of paper was the final ranking of this year's Golden Palace Examination, and the name of Jiashan's cousin Pei Yuantang was circled in red, with two words underneath his name: Runner-up.

"Yuan Tang has been a smart kid since he was young, and he deserves the second place." Emperor Zhang He said, "It's a pity that he is too young. If I were not afraid that he could not convince the public, I would really like to appoint him the first place."

The emperor's voice was vivid in her ears. As she listened, Jiashan slowly opened her mouth. She smiled and said, "My cousin has always been very ambitious. If the emperor chooses him as the top scholar, it would be a disaster rather than a blessing. In my opinion, the second place is more suitable."

"You and I think exactly the same thing."

Emperor Zhanghe couldn't help but look at Jiashan with a more loving look in his eyes.

He smiled slightly and tapped the table lightly with his index finger wearing the jade ring.

Emperor Zhanghe frowned and said, "Your cousin is a good candidate for marriage, but unfortunately most of the scholars are pedantic. I am afraid that if you marry him, you will be bound by the secular world and will feel uncomfortable."

Jiashan's expression changed drastically.

I didn't expect that my father would bring up my marriage so suddenly.

What's worse is that she has forgotten whether her father has taken a fancy to Zhan Shaoying at this time?

Jiashan had an idea of ​​burning his boats in his mind.

She looked at Emperor Zhanghe silently. After a while, Jiashan lowered her eyes and said softly, "Father, I don't want to get married so early."

"Nonsense."

As expected, when Emperor Zhang He heard her say this, even though he had always been accommodating to her, his face changed color at this moment.

Jiashan had never said this before, but Emperor Zhanghe found it strange. He looked at her suspiciously and asked, "Is it because you have fallen in love with someone but dare not tell me, so you want to retreat and ask me to agree to your request?"

No one knows a son better than his father. This method is indeed what Jiashan would use.

Jiashan felt warm and amused that her father understood her so well. She said, "I didn't know. It turns out that in the eyes of your father, I am such a calculating person."

"I thought if I liked someone I could just tell you."

Emperor Zhang He's expression eased a little, but he refused to walk down the stairs.

Jiashan was silent for a moment, knowing that now that the matter had been brought up, he had to act quickly. If he waited until his father made up his mind, that would be a disaster.

She lowered her voice on her own initiative: "Recently, I have occasionally dreamed of my mother."

Emperor Zhang He's face was slightly gloomy, as if a hint of sadness flashed across his eyes.

His fingers were placed on the rim of the teacup, motionless.

Jiashan was calm and collected. She opened her mouth and said calmly, "My mother asked me if I was going to get married."

"She said that she had saved several dowries for me from Madam Zheng, all of which were passed down to her by my grandmother. She said that my father had given me a lot of love, and her love should not be less."

Jiashan slightly curved her almond-shaped eyes and looked into the distance, as if she was truly immersed in such a dream.

"My mother also said that after I married out of the palace, my father would be truly alone. Unfortunately, she passed away early and was not able to accompany you for the rest of your life."

Jiashan lowered his head and his voice became softer and softer.

Zhang Hedi's expression seemed normal at first, but when he was halfway through, he slowly turned his head away and no longer looked into Jiashan's eyes.

He put one hand on his forehead, as if listening carefully. After Jiashan finished speaking, he said "hmm".

"Did your mother really say that?" asked Emperor Zhang He.

Jiashan said: "Yes."

Zhang Hedi was still smiling, but his lips were cracked from not having drunk tea for so long.

Jiashan couldn't bear it and personally served tea to them.

Emperor Zhang He took the teacup and stroked the lid slowly: "I don't want you to get married so early."

"only--"

Emperor Zhanghe glanced at Jiashan. He looked at his daughter's clear and flawless eyes, suddenly slammed the teacup and said in a sharp voice: "But I didn't expect that you would use such means to deceive me!"

"You know, this is deceiving the king!"

Zhang Hedi raised his eyebrows, and his voice was cold, like snow in winter, full of chill.

Jiashan's face changed drastically. She suddenly felt something go wrong. Before she could think about what went wrong, she heard Zhang Hedi coldly say, "Kneel down."

Jiashan pursed her lips, said nothing, and knelt on the ground as she was told.

"I have taken a fancy to the eldest grandson of Duke Anguo, Zhan Shaoying." Emperor Zhanghe looked at Jiashan calmly, "He is two years older than you, a son of a noble family, handsome, and still unmarried."

Emperor Zhanghe stopped looking at Jiashan and his eyes fell on the broken tea dregs on the ground. He said in a cold tone: "Just wait for the Ministry of Rites to pick a good day."

Jiashan was kneeling on the ground, but his back was still straight.

Her eyebrows were long and her eyes were fixed in the direction of the feet.

"Father, I don't want to do this." Jiashan opened his mouth and spoke clearly, enunciating each word.

Zhang Hedi looked at her and asked in a deep voice, "Why?"

"Zhan Shaoying is not worthy of me!"

Perhaps because she had been holding it in for too long, Jiashan raised her head, her eyes slightly red.

She was born with a white complexion, and from this angle, she looked a bit like the late empress, who also had curved eyebrows, small lips, and a greasy nose.

Jiashan's eyes were raised, with an innate sense of pride. Her eyes flickered unwillingly: "Father, do you really want me to marry an embroidered pillow and live a carefree life?"

"Nonsense," Emperor Zhanghe said, "I just appointed Zhan Shaoying to work in the Tongzhengsi, so why is there any talk of an embroidered pillow?"

"If a man can't even protect the woman he loves, he is nothing but an embroidered pillow." Jiashan raised the corners of his mouth and smiled.

It seemed that some hazy images related to her previous life flashed through her mind, but Jiashan was unwilling to recall them carefully.

Her emotions gradually calmed down, and she lowered her voice to explain: "I heard that Duke Anguo knew that the emperor wanted to let Zhan Shaoying marry, so he quietly dealt with all the concubines in his room."

"One of them is pregnant."

Jiashan smiled and said softly, "Although I agree with the Duke of An's approach, I am also disappointed that Zhan Shaoying did not pay any attention to it."

"I don't want to marry such a heartless person."

"Even if I want to get married, I don't want to marry him."

Jiashan lowered her eyes. Her voice sounded particularly real in the empty room.

Emperor Zhanghe sighed silently when he saw Jiashan's firm attitude.

He ordered Jiashan: "Get up."

Jiashan stood up as he was told, but did not dare to say much. He just stood in front of Emperor Zhanghe politely.

Emperor Zhanghe asked: "Are you right?"

"I dare not deceive my father," said Jiashan.

Zhang Hedi's gaze stayed on her for a moment.

He remembered that everyone in the palace said that the eldest princess' eyes were most like his majesty's. Chen Gong, who had served him for many years, even said with a smile more than once: "I think the eldest princess's temperament is not like the queen's, but more like your majesty. No wonder you favor the princess."

In fact, they, mother and daughter, have the same arrogance and uninhibitedness.

Jiashan was still standing there with his head lowered and his eyes submissive. Emperor Zhanghe pressed his temples gently and said, "If this is true, I will just pretend that I have never had the intention of marrying into the Anguo Mansion."

"Since you are unwilling to marry Zhan Shaoying, I will find someone else for you."

Jiashan nodded excitedly.

After the previous lie was exposed, this was the best outcome.

She looked at her father hesitantly, her expression darkening, "Regarding the dream of the Queen Mother, although I did lie to you, there are a few words that are true."

She lowered her attitude and said softly, "Jiashan can't bear to leave you."

Zhang Hedi hummed, and his expression gradually softened.

Jiashan was able to read the situation, so he immediately pressed the issue, "I have something else I would like to ask of you, Father."

Zhang Hedi looked at her and motioned for her to speak if she had anything to say.

Jiashan smiled and said, "If in the future, your father has chosen a new candidate for the prince consort, could you please let me know in advance so that I can take a look at the candidate myself?"

"You are used to ordering me around." Emperor Zhang He snorted.

Jiashan went forward and massaged his shoulders in a flattering manner.

He then said helplessly, "I have spoiled you."

After hearing this, Jiashan finally smiled with joy, and instantly she was like a bright pearl, illuminating the whole room.

By the time Jiashan left the Qianqing Palace, the sun was already setting outside.

The setting sun was scorching, the sun was still clear and warm, and there was an occasional breeze bringing with it heat waves.

Jiashan vaguely saw a familiar figure at the gate of the Qianqing Palace through the light of the setting sun.

The man was wearing a black flying fish suit, with a slim waist and long legs. His body lines did not lose color under the iron armor, but instead made him look fierce and graceful. He stood out from the crowd, with a particularly handsome demeanor.

Jiashan suddenly had an idea and asked Suyu who came with her, "Do you know which Jinwu Guard is on duty today?"

Su Yu thought for a moment and replied, "I heard that it was the commander-in-chief, and Lord Zhan was on duty in person."

Jiashan's eyes lit up when he heard this: "Hmm."