Chapter 107 The Abandoned Eldest Daughter Makes a Comeback (31 chapters)
Bihe hesitated for a moment, then said, "Do you wish to tell His Majesty what Her Majesty the Empress just said to you?"
"No need."
Whether she says it or not, Xiao Yuheng will know that the Empress came today, and that the Empress did not do anything to her and was very restrained in her words, so there is no need for her to do anything unnecessary.
"Yes, young lady."
"Let's go back to the Moon Palace."
Looking at the riotous flowers, Shen Yunzhen suddenly lost interest.
Shen Yunzhen led Bihe and her entourage slowly out of the Imperial Garden and walked along the palace road toward Lanyue Palace.
The autumn sun shone on the palace walls, casting a golden glow. A gentle breeze blew, bringing a few fallen leaves, creating an atmosphere of extraordinary tranquility.
However, this tranquility did not last long.
Just as they turned the corner of a palace wall, a figure suddenly rushed out from around the bend and blocked their path.
The palace servants were startled and instinctively surrounded Shen Yunzhen, with Bihe also standing tightly in front of her.
"Guards! There are thorns..."
"Shut up, it's me."
The person in front shouted sharply, and everyone looked closely before realizing that the person was none other than the Third Prince.
He was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, tall and slender with exquisite features. He stood in the middle of the road, his gaze fixed intently on Shen Yunzhen in the crowd, his eyes filled with a long-suppressed passion and longing.
The palace servants quickly bowed.
"This servant greets the Third Prince. May Your Highness be well."
Xiao Chengze waved his hand: "You may all leave now. I have something to say to Yun... and Miss Shen."
The palace servants looked at each other, but made no move.
Bihe understood Xiao Chengze's thoughts and stood in front of Shen Yunzhen, watching Xiao Chengze warily.
"Third Prince, what are you doing here?"
Xiao Chengze ignored Bihe, his gaze still fixed on Shen Yunzhen, his expression infatuated.
"Miss Chen, it's been a long time."
Shen Yunzhen looked at him with some surprise, "Long time no see."
Xiao Chengze suppressed the urge to rush forward recklessly. "Miss Chen, I'd like to talk to you privately, is that alright?"
Shen Yunzhen nodded slightly and instructed, "You may all leave now."
Once the palace servants had left, Xiao Chengze could no longer contain his anxiety and strode towards Shen Yunzhen, asking, "Yunzhen, are you alright?"
Seeing the person he had been longing for so close, the longing that had been suppressed for so long burst forth, and Xiao Chengze's eyes reddened slightly, but he tried his best to suppress it.
Shen Yunzhen casually replied, "It's alright."
"That's good, that's good..."
Xiao Chengze's voice was a little choked up.
Shen Yunzhen asked curiously, "What have you been doing these past few days?"
If he hadn't suddenly appeared, Shen Yunzhen would have completely forgotten about him.
I chose to talk to him to find out what he'd been up to these past few days, what he'd done, and whether it might have caused things to veer off course from the original storyline.
Upon hearing Shen Yunzhen's question, Xiao Chengze's expression immediately turned ugly.
He has done nothing and can do nothing these days; he is like a caged beast, confined to his residence, with every move restricted.
After he returned to the palace and refused the marriage arranged for him by his mother, he was trapped in the palace and could not leave. Later, his range of activities became smaller and smaller, and eventually he could only be confined to one place of residence.
At first, he thought it was just his mother's punishment, since he had disobeyed her arrangements. Feeling guilty, he obediently followed her instructions.
By chance, he learned that this was actually his father's doing. Before he could even wonder, his mother came to tell him that Yunzhen had been brought into the palace.
Xiao Chengze suddenly realized that his father had met Yun Zhen at some point, had developed feelings for her, and had even brought her into the palace.
That old man, what gives him the right!
He is no match for Yunzhen.
Upon learning the truth, Xiao Chengze was filled with hatred and anxiety, and was furious beyond control.
However, due to his deliberate indulgence over the years, he has no power in the palace and his mother does not help him, so he cannot get to Yunzhen's side immediately.
He could only suppress his anxiety and wait for the right opportunity.
Only today did he finally find the opportunity to escape.
Xiao Chengze twitched the corner of his lips: "My father said my knowledge was too poor, so he kept me in the palace to study. I have been studying with my teacher all this time."
He ultimately did not reveal what Xiao Yuheng had done.
It wasn't that he wanted to glorify Xiao Yuheng's actions; he simply... didn't want to expose his incompetence and weakness in front of Shen Yunzhen.
Perhaps his mother was right. As a member of the royal family, he should strive and fight to strengthen himself.
Only in this way can one gain a foothold and have a voice; otherwise, one will be nothing more than a fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of others.
Just like him and Xiao Chengxu, Xiao Chengxu can still walk freely, and perhaps he still has a chance to see Yun Zhen.
Even... after his father's death, he could still have Yunzhen back.
But he is confined to a corner, both now and in the future.
Xiao Chengze found it completely unacceptable.
At that moment, a fierce fighting spirit ignited in his heart.
Shen Yunzhen asked, "So you've been in the palace all these days?"
As for studying, Shen Yunzhen didn't believe it at all, but the claim that it took place in the palace was probably true.
Shen Yunzhen guessed that Xiao Yuheng must have done something, and Xiao Chengze was just trying to make himself look good by saying that.
Xiao Chengze nodded slightly, unwilling to say more.
His gaze was fixed on Shen Yunzhen. After hesitating for a moment, he finally asked with a hint of trepidation, "Yunzhen, did Father... do anything to you?"
In recent days, he had tried every means to find out how his father treated Yunzhen, and also learned that he had not granted Yunzhen a title.
Thus, a glimmer of hope quietly rose in Xiao Chengze's heart.
Perhaps the Emperor had not done anything inappropriate to Yunzhen, nor had he harmed her in the slightest. She remained as safe and sound as ever.
Shen Yunzhen was slightly taken aback, then smiled faintly, "No, he didn't do anything to me."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengze breathed a slight sigh of relief, but the worry in his eyes did not completely disappear.
He glanced at the palace servants in the distance, moved a little closer, and whispered, "Then... Yunzhen, have you ever thought about leaving here? If you're willing, I can find a way to take you away."
Shen Yunzhen looked up at Xiao Chengze and saw that his gaze was intense and his expression was full of determination.
Deep within those eyes lay a glimmer of light that seemed familiar yet had never appeared before in Xiao Chengze's eyes.
— That was a burning desire for power and a resolute determination to obtain it.
Shen Yunzhen narrowed her eyes slightly, and said calmly, "If I were to leave, what do you plan to do?"
“My mother has been managing things in this palace for many years and has accumulated some useful people. Furthermore, my ancestral family can also allocate some manpower…”
As he finished speaking, his voice unconsciously lowered, and a hint of shame appeared on his face.
Because of his laziness and avoidance, he now has no power at all and can only rely on his mother and maternal family.
Shen Yunzhen looked at him quietly, her eyes filled with scrutiny.
After a long silence, he finally asked, "And then? What do you plan to do after you take me out of the palace?"
Upon hearing Shen Yunzhen's question, a hint of joy flashed in Xiao Chengze's eyes, and he quickly revealed his plans.
“I have several secluded houses in the suburbs of the capital, which even my father doesn’t know about. You will live in one of them, and he won’t be able to find you. As for me… my father only has three princes, so he won’t do anything to me.”
"In addition, I will also contact my mother and maternal grandparents' families to secretly develop my own power. The Crown Prince and my elder brother are fighting fiercely. As long as I can seize the opportunity when they are both weakened, I may be able to succeed. So Yunzhen, don't worry, I will not let you live in anonymity forever. After it is done, I will do whatever you want and will never let you suffer any grievances."
Xiao Chengxu smiled, his face full of anticipation and longing.
Shen Yunzhen asked bluntly, "Your mother and maternal grandfather have a lot of influence?"
Xiao Chengze paused for a moment, then shook his head.
Over the years, his mother and maternal grandparents had been trying to compete for power, but because he didn't cooperate, they hadn't developed any real influence. In addition, the crown prince was exceptionally talented, while he acted like a spoiled brat, so there were almost no ministers in the court who stood by him.
Xiao Chengze was silent for a moment, then said firmly, "Yunzhen, my mother and maternal grandparents' families are not very powerful, but that doesn't mean I have no chance. My identity is the best selling point, and I will soon build up my own power."
Born into the royal family, Xiao Chengze knew very well that there was never a shortage of opportunists in the world. Therefore, it was not difficult for him to develop his power; the difficulty lay in how to overthrow the powerful figures above him.
He looked intently at Shen Yunzhen, "Yunzhen, I have to walk this path. I don't want to be like before, watching helplessly as the people I care about fall into danger, nor do I want to be a pawn to be manipulated. I want to fight for myself and for you!"
A hint of surprise flashed in Shen Yunzhen's eyes.
Unexpectedly, the male lead was more ambitious and responsible than she had imagined, and he seemed to know a lot about the Game of Thrones.
It's just unclear why he would heavily rely on someone like Shen Zhengde in the original text, and why he would delegate most of his power to him.
Unfortunately, the original story is written from Shen Yunshu's perspective, with very little description of the previous dynasty, and the story ends after Shen Yunshu gives birth to a son, so it's unclear how it develops afterward.
Shen Yunzhen looked at him, "Are you really sure you can succeed?"
Looking at his beloved so close to him, Xiao Chengze wanted to admit it without hesitation, but he also knew very well that his chances of winning were slim.
He could still fight for a slim chance, but if he didn't, he wouldn't even be able to see Yunzhen again. How could he accept that?
Xiao Chengze ultimately only said, "I will do my best."
Shen Yunzhen herself has always enjoyed a comfortable life and many conveniences without lifting a finger, but she will never look down on those who work hard and struggle.
On the contrary, she greatly admired this kind of person, but at this moment she had to pour cold water on Xiao Chengze and dissuade him from his idea.
Otherwise, who knows if he, who is blessed with the protagonist's luck, will cause the plot to take a turn and return to its original trajectory.
After all, sometimes, the protagonist's halo is just that unreasonable.
Shen Yunzhen said calmly, "Some things are beyond your control. The situation in the court is complex, with various forces deeply entrenched. How can you interfere on a whim? Moreover, with Xiao Yuheng in charge, it won't be easy for you to stand out. The struggle between Xiao Chengxu and the Third Prince may not go as you wish. If you act rashly, you will not only harm yourself but may also implicate your mother and maternal family."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengze's face turned ashen.
He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to refute, but didn't know where to begin. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to give up.
Shen Yunzhen was more precious to him than his own life; she was a treasure he was willing to give up everything, even his life, to protect.
Shen Yunzhen glanced at him and softened her tone slightly: "So there's nothing wrong with maintaining the status quo. Right now, you are still Xiao Yuheng's son, and he won't mistreat you. After Xiao Chengxu ascends the throne, you will also be a high-ranking prince, and your mother and maternal grandparents' family will be able to survive."
Xiao Chengze realized that Yun Zhen did not approve of his actions.
But... he really didn't want to give her up...
Xiao Chengze's face was filled with a turbulent mix of emotions, including confusion, hesitation, and resentment, but these were ultimately replaced by a resolute determination.
“My mother and maternal grandfather wanted me to compete for it. If I succeed, they will naturally enjoy unparalleled honor; if I unfortunately fail, they should accept it calmly. This is our common choice, and we should be prepared to bear the consequences regardless of success or failure.”
Shen Yunzhen frowned slightly: "What you said does make some sense, but have you thought about it? Once you embark on the path of vying for power, there is no turning back. Those speculators will not easily bet their chips on you when the situation is unclear. If you are not careful, they will turn to others like reeds in the wind, or even bite you back."
Moreover, you've only seen the surface of the power struggle between Xiao Chengxu and the First Prince. The forces behind them are deeply entrenched and have been cultivated for many years; you can't catch up to them in a short time. You want to reap the benefits without lifting a finger, but it's more likely they'll sense your intentions and choose to join forces to eliminate you first.
Shen Yunzhen's voice was soft, yet every word struck Xiao Chengze's heart like a hammer blow.
Xiao Chengze's hands clenched unconsciously as he struggled intensely with a conflict between his burning love for Shen Yunzhen and the harsh reality brought about by her calm and rational analysis.
He knew that Shen Yunzhen's words were true, but giving up the struggle for power meant giving up the possibility of being with her. He could only watch helplessly as she, like him, was trapped in a remote place, where even seeing each other was a luxury. How could he bear to do that?
But he also clearly understood that Yunzhen opposed his power struggle, which made him think of Xiao Chengxu.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed in Xiao Chengze's mind.
Could it be that even at this point, Yun Zhen is still thinking about that shameless scoundrel Xiao Chengxu?
Didn't he keep saying he loved Yunzhen? Why did he let the Emperor see her? Why did he let the Emperor bring her into the palace? Why has he remained completely unresponsive, letting Yunzhen stay in the palace all this time?
Thinking of Xiao Chengxu's heartless behavior, and then thinking of Yun Zhen still considering his feelings, Xiao Chengze felt as if his heart had been split in two, and he was in great pain.
Since Xiao Chengxu has abandoned Yunzhen for power, then let him have it!
Thinking of this, Xiao Chengze smiled, his smile revealing ease, and a sweet feeling spreading from the bottom of his heart.
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