Zhao Shu chuckled. Before the two returned to the capital, they were in Guanzhou. She only caught a glimpse of Wei Tingsi from afar and did not speak to him. He seemed to be particularly busy these years. She occasionally heard Li Zhuo mention that he had been traveling around all these years to build up his army of a million men.
She didn't understand military training or the intricacies of the military, but she knew that Wei Caitao had entered the court as an official and become a minister of state, yet he had always opposed her. She could understand the hardships involved to some extent.
Wei Tingsi, whose face was as cold as ice, couldn't help but smile when he saw her laughing so freely.
Zhao Shu's features were exquisite and full of spirit. She didn't have Sun Yun's dignified beauty, nor Hao Guifei's charming allure, but she was captivating. In his eyes, Zhao Shu's features were just right, her figure was just right, and her eyes were just right. Especially when she smiled, it was like a warm, refreshing, and clean spring breeze. Her bright eyes and white teeth made her look radiant.
When Chu Chun and the others saw him smile, they blushed and exchanged glances. General Wei was even more handsome than before, and his smile was as beautiful as the princess's.
In their hearts, Zhao Shu was the most beautiful woman in the world, even more so than Sun Yun.
"What are you two grinning about?" Huo Baichuan's voice rang out at an inopportune moment. Zhao Shu looked past Wei Tingsi and saw Huo Baichuan and the Crown Prince walking over from the other side. He was dressed in a black bamboo white robe, while the Crown Prince was dressed in a four-clawed python robe. The two were about the same height, but Huo Baichuan's lips always had a half-smile, while the Crown Prince was much more aloof.
Wei Tingsi turned around, his smile long gone, replaced by his cold demeanor. He cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, Brother Huo."
"Crown Prince, are you also leaving the palace?" Zhao Shu asked suspiciously. Today was Emperor Mingde's birthday, and it didn't seem appropriate for the Crown Prince to leave the palace.
The Crown Prince glanced at the green peony in Xiao Guozi's arms, then turned and said, "My father ordered me to bring a pot of wine to Mr. Luo. He has been wronged today." After saying that, he turned and gestured for Zhao Shu to look at the tribute wine that Xiao Fuzi was holding behind him.
Xiao Yingzi died five years ago, and Xiao Fuzi is his new chief eunuch.
"The young princess was truly impressive today! Tsk tsk, so eloquent, every word a gem, leaving Hanlin Academician Rong speechless. I admire her, I admire her so much! Compared to the young princess, we scholars shouldn't even bother living, we're truly ashamed." He said with a hint of sarcasm, clearly disapproving of Zhao Shu's verbal battle with the 'ministers' in front of the entire court. "Does the young princess not know the principle of 'better to break the law than offend the masses'?"
Zhao Shu chuckled lightly. Even if this person cared about others, he wouldn't say nice things. She said, "Sir, oh no, Lord Huo, as a subject, you allowed a fourth-rank Hanlin scholar to be arrogant and rude in court. Didn't you consider that he was so aggressive without my imperial uncle's permission? Where were you then, Lord Huo?"
Huo Baichuan shook his head, sighed helplessly, and finally drew out his words, "You never listen to your elders." He put his hands behind his back, walked past Zhao Shu, and muttered to himself, "You'll suffer for it someday."
After saying this, he turned around and looked at Zhao Shu, saying, "Please give others more trust, little princess. If you are willing to give others more trust, you won't be so scheming."
“When Rong Weide stood up and verbally abused you, and you did not stand up immediately, you have already lost the right to criticize her here. If you did not stand up immediately, then please believe that she can handle it herself.”
Wei Tingsi stood in front of Zhao Shu and Huo Baichuan, coldly saying that from Chu Chun and the others' perspective, it seemed as if Wei Tingsi was about to fight Huo Baichuan. The group immediately felt a pang of anxiety, as Lord Huo was clearly no match for General Wei.
Huo Baichuan burst out laughing, "Brother Wei, does that mean you'd lead your troops to wipe out someone just because they said a few unpleasant things?" He was laughing out of anger, determined to have a verbal battle with Wei Tingsi.
After saying that, he turned and walked away.
Zhao Shu watched his departing figure without saying a word, but thought to herself, "I am not a dodder vine, I want to be a tall tree."
Wei Tingsi narrowed his eyes and decided to find an opportunity to tell Huo Baichuan that he would make him understand that he would not care about others, but if anyone bullied someone he cared about, he would lead his army to destroy him.
“Ah Jun, Lord Huo is just concerned about you. Next time something like this happens, let us handle it, okay?” The Crown Prince wanted to reach out and pat Zhao Shu’s head, but Zhao Shu had already grown up, so he withdrew his hand and turned to Wei Tingsi and said, “I’ll trouble you, General, to escort Ah Jun back to her residence. Lord Huo said that Mr. Luo is at the Xiao residence, and it just so happens that Mr. Huo is also going to the Xiao residence, so I will not escort Ah Jun back to her residence.”
"Ah Jun, be careful on the road. By the way, Miss Sun said she'll come to visit you at your residence tomorrow."
"Go ahead, Your Highness. I will be careful. You should also be careful." The Crown Prince has become much more reserved now, looking like a mountain, impossible to see through.
The two bid farewell to the Crown Prince on the palace road, waving goodbye. The Crown Prince then turned and caught up with Huo Baichuan. The two walked away together, and before their figures disappeared, Huo Baichuan waved goodbye to them with his back turned.
“I should address you as General Wei now,” Zhao Shu said sarcastically, trying to ease the tense atmosphere.
However, Wei Tingsi said, "Once I take command, the princess can call me Marshal. There are already so many generals, I don't like those two words."
Zhao Shu suddenly recalled that in her previous life, Wei Tingsi led the army to quell a rebellion. At that time, he was only in his early twenties and not yet thirty. He was a spirited young marshal and a fearsome killing god.
"Alright." The two smiled at each other and left the palace at a distance that was neither too close nor too far. Zhao Shu got into the carriage, and he rode on horseback, escorting her at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.
Upon returning to the Prince's residence, Wei Tingsi did not enter the house but instead rode away. Green Luo and the others watched his dashing figure disappear into the distance. After returning to Qionghua Courtyard, Zhao Shu, no longer needing them to follow her around, immediately began whispering among themselves.
"General Wei just attacked Lord Huo for the sake of the princess. Lord Huo is so pitiful, a weak scholar, no match for Lord Wei." This was Green Ivy's voice.
Sheng Xia spat, "General Wei actually mocked our princess. He should give her a good beating to vent his anger."
Green Ivy immediately retorted, "No way, Lord Huo is clearly worried about the princess. Besides, Lord Huo is right. The princess is a woman after all, and it's not good for her to argue with court officials. These things should be done by men."
"What are you two gossiping about now? How dare you discuss the Princess's affairs so casually? Shut up right now, lest people find out and say that our Prince's Mansion doesn't know the rules." Chu Chun came over and stopped the two of them.
Wan Dong, who happened to be there to change her shift with Sheng Xia, chimed in, "Does a princess need someone to protect her?"
Summer and Green Ivy looked at each other in bewilderment. Yes, the princess clearly didn't need anyone to protect her. What a headache.
If Zhao Shu knew that the girls thought this way, she would definitely cry foul. Who said she didn't need protection? She wasn't a superhero. She hoped that everyone would join forces to wipe out all the evil spirits!
She still remembers the lyrics "Unity is strength".
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