Along with her, some concubines and courtesans who were allowed to leave the palace also left. These concubines and courtesans had all been carefully investigated and found to be without fault. They were all given severance pay. As they walked out of the side gate, they looked at Zhao Shu from afar, unsure whether to be grateful or resentful.
A woman, alone and helpless, once she left the palace, she had no idea where to go. In this vast world, where could she find refuge?
But they dared not utter a single complaint, nor could they muster even the slightest resistance. Such was the nature of this era: those in high positions could easily control the fate of countless people.
Zhao Shu glanced at them as well. Letting them leave the manor was already her biggest concession. For those who weren't allowed to leave, their nightmare had only just begun.
"Princess." Just as she was lost in thought, she heard someone calling her. Zhao Shu looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the old physician Peng, accompanied only by a young apprentice, was hurrying toward her. His goatee twitched as he walked.
Zhao Shu laughed and said, "Is Elder Peng here to say goodbye? Have you finished developing the prescription?"
"I've got a clue. I plan to go to Guanzhou with the princess. Does the princess intend to leave me in the capital?" The old physician Peng's eyes darted around. He couldn't stay in the capital, because if he stayed, he wouldn't be able to get the prescription from the young princess. So he was determined to go with her.
Zhao Shu thought for a moment. The shop still had to be opened, otherwise how would the people of this large mansion be fed? Since the old imperial physician was going to great lengths to go with her, it wouldn't hurt to bring him along. After all, the imperial decree given by the Empress Dowager was for the old imperial physician Peng to assist her in researching prescriptions, so going there wouldn't be considered disregarding the laws of the court.
Thinking of this, he nodded and said, "Then thank you for your hard work, Physician Peng."
Physician Peng breathed a sigh of relief; at least he didn't have to wait in the capital anymore.
When the Empress Dowager left the capital, the Emperor, Empress, concubines, princes, nobles, members of the imperial family, and civil and military officials saw her off. They accompanied her for ten miles outside the capital before stopping. Zhao Shu stood beside the Empress Dowager, and Emperor Mingde gently touched her head. "A-Jun, take good care of your grandmother and don't upset her again," he instructed her worriedly.
"Ah Jun obeys, and will take good care of the Empress Dowager. Please rest assured, Uncle Emperor, Ah Jun will never misbehave again." Zhao Shu respectfully kowtowed to Emperor Mingde.
Emperor Mingde looked at Zhihai kneeling behind Zhao Shu and felt complicated. As an emperor, he had conquered many people, but he had never made Zhihai submit to him. In fact, it was nothing to give someone to Ajun, but Zhihai was different.
Although Zhihai is no longer a threat, he still couldn't help but think of how Zhihai had swept away the obstacles that stood in their way like Mount Tai, just like a demon from hell. He admired and feared this man from the bottom of his heart.
"Rise." The words that were on the tip of Emperor Mingde's tongue were not spoken. The matter of the Crown Prince was perhaps a blow to her as well, as she had always been close to him.
Zhao Shu stood up and stood respectfully beside the Empress Dowager. The Empress took off her phoenix bracelet and put it on Zhao Shu's wrist. "Your aunt has prepared delicious food for you in the capital and is waiting for you to come back."
The Empress felt somewhat guilty towards Zhao Shu. She still remembered the day Zhao Shu brought her double-skin milk. Of all the people in the palace, only this niece, whom she was usually somewhat jealous of, still remembered her.
As the old saying goes, "Even after a thousand miles of farewell, we must eventually part ways." Sun Liu bid farewell to his parents, his eyes red as he walked to Zhao Shu's side. His pretty little face was pale, but his nose was red from crying, making him look extremely comical.
After saying goodbye, the Empress Dowager had already made all the preparations in the palace. After inviting Zhao Shu to get into the carriage, she issued an order to depart. The moment the carriage started moving, everyone except the Emperor knelt down. Zhao Shu lifted the curtain and glanced at the crowd. There were so many people. Her gaze swept over Zhao Bi, Zi Rou, Consort De, Consort Shu, and finally landed on Wei Tingsi, who was accompanying and protecting her.
Beside him was Huo Baichuan. One was dressed in military uniform, expressionless, like a thousand-year-old iceberg, while the other was dressed in white like a cloud, always with a sunny smile on his face. Even when dust was flying around on horseback, it couldn't stop his eloquent talk.
Zhao Shu and Sun Yun rode in the same carriage. Apart from Green Luo and Sun Yun's little maid Ban Shu, the two were about the same age and quickly took a liking to each other. They sat together and occasionally whispered to each other, such as how good my young lady is to me and how my princess never scolds or beats me.
Sun Yun moved closer to Zhao Shu and looked at the two people outside with her. She whispered in her ear, "Why does your Mr. Huo talk so much?"
"Please watch your words. It's not my Mr. Huo. As for why Mr. Huo talks so much, it's probably because he has two tongues." Zhao Shu lowered the curtain in annoyance, determined not to let Sun Yun open it again.
Unable to persuade Zhao Shu otherwise, she glared at her angrily, "You're so stingy."
After saying that, he couldn't help but chat with Zhao Shu out of boredom, "Do you think Lord Wei will only escort us to Guanzhou and then return to the capital, or will he stay with us in Guanzhou the whole time?"
Zhao Shu rolled her eyes at her, "Lord Wei is an important official of the court. Do you think he would retire in Guanzhou with us?"
"I don't like hearing that. What do you mean by 'retirement'?" Sun Yun pretended to tickle Zhao Shu, who quickly surrendered, pulling Green Ivy over and placing it between her and Sun Yun.
Green Ivy defended herself fiercely like a mother hen protecting her chicks, preventing Sun Liu from succeeding. The two dared not make too much noise in the car, so they laughed in low voices, and the sorrow of parting earlier dissipated considerably.
Unlike Zhao Shu's joyful atmosphere, the Xiaoxiang Courtyard of the Yongwang Mansion was as cold as the dead of winter. Consort Zhang stared intently at the little maid kneeling in front of her and shouted, "Guards, pull out the tongues of these two sluts!"
"Please spare us, Consort Zhang! Please spare us, Consort Zhang! Every word we said is true!" The two maids kept kowtowing, and blood quickly seeped from their foreheads, but Consort Zhang's face was dark and she showed no mercy.
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