Chapter 161
The smoke in the incense burner gradually dissipated, resembling a small patch of light mist.
In the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Jiaoyu and Yingning reached an agreement.
Watching her figure leap out of the window, disappearing from Jiaohe Tower.
Jiaoyu sat back down at her dressing table, her snow-white fingertips gently stroking the mirror, and her pale lips uttered, "She's quite an interesting person."
*
Behind her was a bustling and decadent place with willows and smoke.
Looking ahead through her phoenix eyes, she saw an endless expanse of stars hanging over the imperial city.
"Master, why did you help Jiaoyu...?" 0067 recalled the jade-like figure who was as shrouded in mist and snow just now, and was somewhat puzzled by his master's actions.
Jiaoyu's identity is unknown, yet she has a strange relationship with the Third Prince.
No matter how I think about it, this person seems very suspicious.
But then he saw his master pacing through the deep alley, his phoenix eyes filled with a dark and meaningful gaze:
“Little Seven, Jiao Yu is now at his wit’s end trying to escape the Third Prince’s control.”
“I gave him a straw; if he can get out of the mud, he can.”
"If I can't climb out, I have no choice but to give up."
Yingning recalled this person's character. He was a ruthless person who would fight for a chance to survive even under humiliation. Even now, relying on the Third Prince was a way to survive, but he was unwilling to be a parasitic vine trampled into filth.
Such a person, given the opportunity, could escape their predicament...
He'll probably be the next Yan Qizhen, right?
A look of anticipation appeared in her dark eyes, and she even smiled:
"Perhaps this person will stir up a bloody storm in the future."
Moreover, this person, Jiao Yu, is probably related to Yan Qizhen, and indeed deserves our attention.
*
"Your Highness, would you like to have a meal?" the servant at the door asked in a low voice.
The servant also found it strange today. A few hours ago, after the Fourth Prince hurriedly returned to the mansion, he immediately ordered the servants to bathe and change his clothes.
In broad daylight, Your Highness wishes to take a bath?
But then the servant thought again, "Isn't today... the day I'm supposed to have tea with the Princess of the Western Regions?"
He felt that his prince was acting strangely, but he couldn't quite put his finger on why.
......
Behind the jade screen, a figure of ethereal beauty was immersed in the cool water.
The crimson aura surrounding him had dissipated considerably by now.
But the misty, rain-like look in her eyes could never be recaptured.
Yan Qizhen suddenly raised his hand, his gaze unconsciously drifting to his wrist, his mind suddenly recalling the fair, white wrist where he had left a kiss mark.
Greed permeated her body with the color of fragmented petals.
Yan Qizhen's throat tightened as he thought of this.
I felt that intense heat all over my body again, and something seemed to be rising from within me.
He actually...
How could they do such a thing?
As Yan Qizhen lowered his arm, a splash of water rose up, and the shimmering surface of the water blurred the reflection of a heavily painted face.
He closed his eyes, hesitant to look.
*
"Royal sister." Bai Chuning ran over as soon as he saw Ying Ning. The young man wore a yellow belted martial arts robe and his black hair was tied into a high ponytail.
"Someone from the palace has come," he whispered close to Yingning's ear.
The two went to the front hall and saw Granny Yang standing there, dressed in an elaborate dark red palace robe. Upon seeing them, she immediately performed a standard palace salute.
Granny Yang was a servant of the Empress.
"This servant greets the two noble ladies, and pays respects to Her Highness the Princess and His Highness the Prince," said Granny Yang, bowing softly.
"No need for formalities, Granny. Is there something you need for my visit today?" Yingning helped Granny Yang up.
At the birthday banquet in Qinyuan Palace that day, Granny Yang was not by the Empress's side. Although she had never met this princess from the Western Regions, she had heard a few stories about the princess's heroic figure in repelling the assassins at the banquet.
Today, I took a closer look at Yingning.
She was amazed at just one glance.
Princess Zhaoning from the Western Regions was indeed exceptionally beautiful. Yang Mama had served the Empress for many years and had seen all kinds of beauties in the harem, but this was the first time she had ever seen a princess from the Western Regions with such a striking appearance.
Princess Zhaoning's demeanor was full of natural charm.
Beneath the vermilion gemstone headband lay a strikingly beautiful face, with deep, unfathomable phoenix eyes.
With just one glance, Granny Yang knew who was the true leader between her and the prince from the Western Regions.
"This servant has come today to invite Princess Zhaoning to the palace to meet with Her Majesty the Empress."
“These days, Her Majesty has been praising the princess for stepping forward at the birthday banquet. Today, she found some free time and sent me to invite Her Highness the princess.”
"Does Your Highness have time today?" Granny Yang nodded.
*
Phoenix Palace.
Empress Sun, seated at the head of the table, said with great enthusiasm, "Zhaoning, I didn't even have a chance to speak with you during the royal hunt a few days ago."
"Come, come to my side."
"Hunting is always a busy affair, Your Majesty must also take good care of your health," Yingning replied to the Empress with a smile as she sat down beside the main seat.
"This royal hunt was entirely in the Regent's responsibility, but I managed to steal a moment of leisure," Empress Sun said, stroking the gold-threaded celadon nail guards.
"However, I heard that the Regent rested for a few days after the hunt, he must have been exhausted."
"Chao Ji has always been able to relieve Your Majesty's worries."
"I also greatly admire him."
Yingning pretended not to know and said, "It seems that the Regent and His Majesty were indeed very close when they were young. When Zhaoning was in the Western Regions, he heard that the Regent and His Majesty had a deep brotherly relationship."
"After hearing what Your Highness said today, Zhao Ning has truly come to understand it."
"With a regent like the Prince Regent on the left and right, Your Majesty must have fewer worries," Yingning said tentatively.
Empress Sun seemed unaware of the affair between the Emperor and Yan Chaoji, and genuinely believed that the two were brothers.
"I am quite surprised as well, so many years..."
......
Empress Sun pulled Yingning aside and chatted about some of the "interesting stories between the Regent and the Emperor," then exchanged a few casual words, and finally gently patted her hand.
"Zhaoning, I heard that your younger brother has recently fallen ill. Should I arrange for an imperial physician to go and examine him?" Empress Sun changed the subject, her gaze involuntarily sweeping over the palace attendants behind Yingning.
They seemed somewhat wary.
The attendant had a sharp and somewhat fierce look in his eyes, and unlike the other attendants, he did not leave the hall, presumably because he needed to stay inside to carry out his master's instructions.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. A-Chu is now perfectly fine." Ying Ning withdrew her gaze and realized that today's trip to the palace was not Empress Sun's idea.
In this palace, there are those who can interfere with the Empress's decisions.
Presumably, there is only one person left.
It seems... the emperor has become suspicious of him.
Today, she used Empress Sun's name to invite me to the palace, but her real intention was to inquire about the events that occurred at the hunting grounds that day...
The emperor wanted to know if the veiled woman beside Yan Chaoji was for him.
...
"That's good." Empress Sun exchanged a glance with the tall, imposing attendant, and then continued.
“Zhao Ning left in a hurry that day, and I thought something had happened to the prince.”
"Being healthy is the best thing."
"If there is any need, there is no need to stand on ceremony with me," Empress Sun said with concern, although she did not know why the Emperor had asked her to invite Bai Yingning to the palace today to inquire about the hunting day.
But since Empress Sun asked, it was because she genuinely cared.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Ah Chu will surely be delighted to know of Your Majesty's concern," Ying Ning replied with a faint smile in her phoenix eyes.
For a time, the conversation in Fengyi Palace was quite harmonious.
Just then, a man in a deep purple eagle robe strode in, his nonchalant voice following: "What is Mother doing?"
"Your subject was just stopped outside the palace."
"Xu'er, why did you barge in like that?"
Empress Sun was anxious. She had thought that since she had invited Bai Yingning to the palace today, she would have someone inform Yan Jingxu. However, she did not expect him to barge in so rudely.
“When the Empress Dowager’s people came to the palace to invite me, I thought that the Empress Dowager was in a bad mood today, so I wanted to come and make the Empress Dowager laugh. But who would have thought that I would be stopped outside the palace.”
His voice was slightly unruly, but it didn't annoy anyone.
Yan Jingxu, despite being the son of the Empress, was not arrogant and always had a half-smile on his face.
"So I left Yang Mama and the others behind and came in." After bowing, the Sixth Prince Yan Jingxu finally saw the people beside his mother.
"Princess Zhaoning, it's been a long time." Yan Jingxu's eyes lit up instantly when he saw Yingning dressed in Western Region Chinese attire.
"Sixth Prince, it has indeed been a long time since we last met," Ying Ning nodded in response.
Empress Sun was delighted to see this.
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