When Huo Danlan returned to the Huo residence, Zhao Shu and Sun Yun naturally saw her off. It wasn't far from Fengxin Palace to the palace gate; it only took half an hour to walk there. Along the way, Sun Yun bickered with Huo Guxian. However, no matter how much Sun Yun teased him, Huo Guxian remained an honest man. His eyes were extremely upright and mature, as if he were surrounded by righteousness, which made people unable to help but laugh.
After the group left Fengxin Palace, the Empress Dowager sighed, "In the end, there's just no way to deal with these little ones."
Granny Zhong placed a newly replaced heater on her hand and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, you are only making a lot of noise but not doing much good because you feel sorry for the Prince and the Princess. It's not that you can't do anything about them. They are all still too young and inexperienced, and you still need to keep an eye on them and help them out."
"You always know how to say the nicest things to flatter me." The Empress Dowager took the hand warmer and held it in her hands, her smile fading. She asked, "Have you sent anyone to do the things I asked you to do?"
"Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant has sent someone." As she spoke, Granny Zhong brewed a pot of warm tea and placed it on the high table.
"Yes, go and summon Zhihai to me." The Empress Dowager said, then leaned back wearily in her chair, her voice very soft.
Meanwhile, the crowd that had been spared by the Empress Dowager's empty threats were now noisily making their way out of the palace.
"Xian'er, the moon rises over the sea, what four characters does that represent? Can you guess what they are?" Seeing that he couldn't make Huo Guxian laugh, Sun Yun changed the subject and made him guess a riddle, blinking his beautiful eyes at Huo Guxian.
Although Huo Guxian was young, he was extremely intelligent. He listened and said in a serious tone, "The sky and water are one color."
"Hey, if you don't give your sister any face, she's going to get angry." Sun Yun pretended to be unhappy and snorted a few times.
Huo Guxian looked puzzled, raising his adorable little face, and asked, "Why is Sister Sun angry? I've answered that." His face was full of question marks. Zhao Shu looked at his cute expression and thought, 'With such low emotional intelligence, how will you ever get a wife if you choose freely?' But in this world where looks matter, being good-looking is the key.
As expected, Sun Yun forgave Huo Guxian with great remorse, but still racked his brains to come up with the most difficult riddle for Huo Guxian to guess in order to express his dissatisfaction. After thinking for a while, he said, "There are many people who want to live forever and be as old as the heavens. So let me ask you, what is the secret to longevity?"
Huo Guxian frowned and began to think hard. Seeing him racking his brains, Huo Danlan shook her head and looked at Zhao Shu. After thinking for a moment, she finally spoke her mind, "Ajun, if you can give the Imperial Uncle a quick death, then do so." She originally wanted to take Hao Zekai to the Huo residence and lock him up, but she knew that Zhao Shu would definitely refuse, and it would be troublesome no matter where she put him.
I really hate those people who stand on a moral high ground and think that everyone else is virtuous because of their own arrogance.
If it weren't for the fear that Zhao Shu would be criticized at such a young age, even though the Crown Prince had nothing to do with her, she wouldn't have let Hao Zekai off the hook. But gossip is a fearsome thing. Although everyone and the news were kept under wraps, and those who knew about this matter would never leak it out, she couldn't afford to gamble.
Zhao Shu nodded and gave a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Auntie, I know what I'm doing."
Huo Danlan's eyes were full of heartache, and she secretly regretted that she had been too hasty. She reached out and touched Zhao Shu's head, "Our Ganluo, Auntie can rest assured."
"Yes, Gan Luo doesn't need your aunt to worry about her. You're all alone at the Huo residence, so please be careful. Ah Jun will come to see you in a few days. Remember not to forget the medicinal meal."
As they spoke, they arrived at the palace gate. The Huo family's carriage was parked at the gate. Huo Danlan was helped into the carriage, but Huo Guxian still hadn't figured out the answer, so he asked Sun Yun, "Sister Sun, is this a riddle?"
“It’s a riddle. It’s okay if you can’t figure it out. Just ask your sister, and she’ll tell you.” Sun Yun’s mischievousness kicked in, and she winked slyly at Huo Guxian.
Upon hearing her words, Huo Guxian turned to the driver and instructed, "Uncle Hua, this time we'll take the pontoon bridge. I feel the suspension bridge is too shaky."
Sun Yun: ...
Huo Danlan watched the two clowns from inside the carriage and couldn't help but laugh. She waved to Zhao Shu outside the carriage, and the coachman, Uncle Hua, whipped his horse and slowly drove away.
As soon as the carriage left the palace gate, they saw several people walking from Zuoda Street. Zhao Shu and Sun Yun exchanged a glance, too lazy to pay attention, and turned to go back. They had many things to deal with, and who had time to waste on pointless arguments?
Unexpectedly, after taking only two steps, she heard, "Little sister A-Jun, why are you hiding when you see your older sister?"
The words were spoken by Zhao Wanqing. Relying on her somewhat sweet and cute temperament, she spoke without any sense of propriety or respect. Dodge? How ridiculous.
Zhao Shu turned around and looked at the group of people who were walking towards her. In addition to Zhao Wanqing, Zhao Wanshi, and Zhao Wanru, there was another woman who was about the same age as the three of them.
Behind them was the fifteenth young master, Zhao Lihui, who was very politely greeting Zhao Shu and Sun Yun.
"Greetings, Princess. Miss Sun is very polite." He called out in a loud voice, which was extremely pleasant to hear. He was also handsome and dashing, and his scholar's robe made him look very scholarly.
After he bowed, Zhao Wanshi and the others glared at him resentfully, but Zhao Lihui ignored them. Only after receiving no response did the three of them reluctantly bow.
Zhao Shu glanced at the group, her gaze settling on the woman whose name she did not know. She was different from Zhao Wanshi and the other two, whose temperaments were quite different. However, she seemed to possess the qualities of all three, making her extremely outstanding. Her appearance was also first-rate, but she was still somewhat inferior to Sun Yun.
Seeing Zhao Shu's gaze fall on her, Zhao Wanyue stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Wanyue greets the Princess. I caught a chill a few days ago and was afraid of passing on my illness to the Princess, so I didn't come to pay my respects. Please forgive me." With that, she took out a delicate little box from her wide sleeve, walked to Zhao Shu, and respectfully handed it over. "It's just a small token of my appreciation. Please don't find it offensive, Princess."
His attitude was very respectful, his head was bowed, and his posture was very humble. Compared with Zhao Wanshi and the others, the difference was like heaven and earth.
Zhao Shu remained silent. How foolish to refuse a gift? It was worth at least some silver. She gestured for Sheng Xia to put the gifts away, and without saying a word, she and Sun Yun headed towards the palace.
The group exchanged bewildered glances. Zhao Shu's arrogant demeanor was simply outrageous. Zhao Wanqing was the first to lose her temper and raised her voice, "Sister Jun, won't you invite us sisters to sit down? You received Sister Yue's gift, you should at least reciprocate, shouldn't you?"
As soon as she said it, she regretted it, but it was too late. Zhao Wanru and Zhao Wanshi scolded her in unison, "How could Sister Ajun be such a petty person? Don't wrong Sister Ajun."
Zhao Wanru chimed in, "Qing'er, don't talk nonsense. Sister Ajun is a princess conferred by imperial decree of our dynasty. How could she be what you're speculating about? Right, Sister Yue?" After she finished speaking, she turned to ask Zhao Wanyue, her smile seemingly genuine.
It turned out that these people were divided into factions. Zhao Shu watched them like it was a show, still not saying a word. Since she didn't speak, Sun Yun was even less likely to speak. In front of people she didn't like, she was usually so aloof that it was unacceptable.
Zhao Wanyue remained calm as she gracefully walked up to Zhao Shu, wearing a dignified and proper smile, and said, "Sister Ajun, may I give you a hug?"
Zhao Shu was quite curious to see what tricks she would play, and nodded with interest.
All eyes were on Zhao Wanyue, eagerly anticipating her next move.
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