The next day, as they approached the summer palace, the Seventh Princess went to the Imperial Concubine's carriage early to pay her respects and found her worrying about how to arrange accommodations for everyone.
Murong Yan asked, "Your Majesty arranged the residences for the concubines, princes, and princesses before leaving the palace. Are you currently worried about where the two fairies will stay?"
The Imperial Concubine said, "That's right. We can't neglect the two fairies, but it would be taboo to ask others to change the location."
Murong Yan then suggested, "Since the two fairies prefer quiet, why don't we arrange for them to stay at Qingju Garden in the back mountain?"
A maidservant who had come from the summer palace, standing next to the Imperial Concubine, said, "Seventh Princess, Qingju Garden has been uninhabited for a long time. I'm afraid it might offend the two fairies."
"Just clean it up, replace the furniture and furnishings, and decorate it nicely. The two fairies don't even want to wear gold, silver, or silk, so they probably wouldn't like a residence that's too luxurious or flashy."
The Imperial Concubine nodded. "Yan'er is right. Let's arrange it that way."
Qingju Garden is quite far from the Emperor's residence, so the Consort was naturally very willing to let the two of them stay there.
Moreover, it was the Seventh Princess who suggested that the two fairies stay at Qingju Garden, so she had a reason to explain when His Majesty asked.
He immediately ordered people to clean up Qingju Garden.
After leaving the Imperial Concubine's place, Murong Yan specifically asked Jinse to go to Qingju Garden to oversee the servants' preparations and arrangements, instructing them to be meticulous and prevent anyone from over-interpreting the Imperial Concubine's intentions and making things worse.
After checking in that night, everyone was indeed very happy.
Because of his connection with the Imperial Concubine, Zhang Tian has been promoted to a fourth-rank Imperial Bodyguard with a sword, and he commands a squad of Imperial Guards responsible for guarding and patrolling the western part of the Summer Palace.
Coincidentally, Murong Yan's residence was within his patrol area.
Every day, Zhang Tian would "coincidentally" patrol outside the palace where Murong Yan lived, catching a glimpse of her back from afar, whenever Murong Yan went out to pay her respects to the Imperial Concubine and the Emperor.
Murong Yan went about her daily routine as usual, seemingly unaware that someone was silently watching her from behind.
Early that morning, a torrential downpour occurred outside, and the emperor exempted all the princesses and princes from paying their respects.
Murong Yan stood by the window, watching the raindrops falling outside, and said, "Jinse, bring the picture album I've been making these past few days. Let's go to Qingju Garden."
"Master, it's raining heavily outside, and the roads are slippery and difficult to walk on. Let's wait until the rain stops before we go."
“No, right now,” Murong Yan insisted.
Jinse had no choice but to have the picture album packed up, carefully wrapped in oilcloth, and placed in a wooden box. She had a eunuch carry it behind her while she held an umbrella for Murong Yan and walked in front.
After leaving the courtyard, Murong Yan stood under the eaves and waited for a while.
The rain gradually intensified.
"Master, let's wait until the rain subsides before we leave," Jinse advised.
Murong Yan shook her head, her smile slightly bitter, and took the umbrella from Jinse, saying, "You guys wait until the rain stops and then send the picture album over. I'll go for a walk in the rain by myself."
"Master, this won't do..."
Murong Yan, however, had already opened her umbrella and stepped into the rain.
The wind was strong outside, and her petite figure, holding a paper umbrella, looked especially endearing in the rain.
The rain soaked her shoes and socks and dirtied her white skirt, but she seemed not to notice and walked faster and faster in the rain.
There was no one on the palace road of the summer palace. Even the guards on duty had gone to find a place to take shelter from the rain.
With such heavy rain, not to mention the nobles in the palace, even the palace maids and eunuchs were too lazy to go out, and no one saw them abandoning their posts.
At this moment, she was all alone in this world.
Murong Yan was like a canary that had flown out of its cage, running freely in the rain.
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew, knocking the paper umbrella from her hand.
Murong Yan stopped, letting the torrential rain drench her body and face, leaving her drenched and disheveled, but she felt a sense of relief.
She closed her eyes, tilted her head back to the sky, and let the rain wash over her, as if that would wash away the things she hated about her.
She also wanted to be an ordinary woman, to be pampered in her mother's lap, and to dream of marrying a perfect husband in the future!
But she can't!
Murong Yan knew that from the moment she stepped out of the Cold Palace, she could no longer live as a human being.
This palace is full of man-eating demons. Only by becoming an even more wicked and ruthless demon, and selling everything she has as a bargaining chip, can she survive to the end and have the last laugh.
My own marriage is just one of the heavier chips among countless others...
The rain that was hitting her face stopped, but the sound of rain around her didn't quiet down. Murong Yan suddenly opened her eyes and saw the paper umbrella she had thrown away.
She turned her head and met a pair of gentle eyes.
"Your Highness's injuries have not yet healed, and you have been caught in the rain. If you catch a cold, it will harm Your Highness and those who truly care for you."
Murong Yan met his gaze. Her eyes, as if washed by rain, were dark and bright, shimmering with a captivating watery light.
"Is there anyone in this world who will truly love and care for me?"
Her voice was very soft, as if she were talking to herself.
"Of course, there are: Miss Jinse and Miss Chunxing who serve His Highness, and Eunuch Wu..."
He recited the names of all the trusted servants around Murong Yan, and suddenly a smile bloomed on Murong Yan's lips.
The smile was so beautiful that Zhang Tian was stunned. When she came to her senses, she saw the woman fall straight down.
Zhang Tian caught Murong Yan before she fell to the ground.
"Seventh Princess! Seventh Princess!"
Zhang Tian shook her body, and seeing that she didn't react, she raised her hand to touch her forehead and found that it was already hot.
At that moment, Zhang Tian disregarded the proper separation between men and women. He scooped Murong Yan up in his arms and ran towards her residence.
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