Chapter 492 Who could have imagined that Young Master Pei would one day become emperor?
Just like what Pei Ji once said, "I will always be with you."
She hadn't figured it out before and didn't think anything of it.
Looking at it now...
She clutched her pounding heart, her vision blurred, and she cried out, "Could it be... could it be that I've always liked Brother Pei Ji too?! How could this be? What about our pure friendship all these years?!"
She was on the verge of tears, covered her face and squatted down, but accidentally knocked over the small wooden box she used to store her gardenia bracelet.
The wooden box fell to the ground with a clatter, scattering the several strings of gardenia bracelets inside.
The oldest of these bracelets is nine years old; it was the first time Pei Ji gave it to her on her sixth birthday.
Over time, the gardenia withered, and the rope that held the flower together became so fragile that it snapped in two when it was thrown, the gardenia fell off, and the rope was exposed.
Contrary to what Sheng Sheng had imagined, she thought it would at most be gold thread, but this rope…
Even after all these years, it still shines brightly. This kind of color is clearly the priceless ice silk!
Upon seeing this strand of ice silk, he immediately realized what it was and quickly tore off the other strands, which were indeed also ice silk.
Sheng Sheng stared blankly at the ice silkworm silk for a while.
Pei Ji had never told her about this ice silkworm silk...
Sheng Sheng recalled what Xie Yunjia had told her that day and gradually fell into deep thought.
...
After that day, Sheng Sheng would often think about every little thing she and Pei Ji had done in the past, and begin to judge what her true feelings were.
Fortunately, she was only temporarily blinded by her own perspective; she wasn't stupid. After being exposed, she suddenly realized the truth.
It turns out that from the very beginning, they were a special person in each other's hearts.
Sheng Sheng didn't read or write those storybooks for nothing. After thinking it through, she quickly accepted her "childhood sweetheart" relationship with Pei Ji.
Counting the days, her birthday is just around the corner. As is customary, Pei Ji usually comes to wish her a happy new year two days before her birthday, so that she can spend the day with her family.
Sheng Sheng couldn't help but feel a little nervous. It was fine before, but now that her inner thoughts had been exposed and she had a new understanding of Pei Ji, how should she face him?
Fortunately, after only a few days of worry, a shocking piece of news arrived, leaving her no time to think about these things.
"What? Did you hear me clearly?"
Sheng Sheng thought in surprise, "What my sister said that day was indeed true. It was a matter of great importance. Many high-ranking officials, including those in the Hanlin Academy, had already received the news that the ninth prince of the Song Kingdom had finally cleansed the court after seven years and would soon become emperor!"
Zijuan nodded repeatedly, confirming again and again, and then handed the secret letter to her: "It is indeed the princess. Such a major event has already spread throughout the capital! This secret letter was sent back a month ago via Zhennan Pass by express courier. His Majesty already knew about this matter, but because the two countries were to exchange envoys to help them resolve their past grievances, the matter was still unresolved before, which is why he did not tell the princess."
"So, the matter has already been settled?"
Sheng Sheng quickly processed the two pieces of news in her mind. First, Pei Ji had actually ascended the throne at least a month ago, but the long distance between the two countries caused the news to spread slowly, and it was only today that the people of the capital knew about it.
Secondly, Xie Yunchuan already knew about this matter, indicating that the two had maintained contact and that after Pei Ji ascended the throne, he immediately sought to promote the establishment of friendly diplomatic relations between the two countries to ensure that the people of the two countries could live in peace and never go to war again.
These two things were more exciting than the last, and Sheng Sheng felt a little excited. Then, prompted by Zijuan, he quickly opened the secret letter.
This secret letter contained only two short paragraphs, yet it encapsulated Pei Ji's arduous and persistent years.
"At that time, the Song Dynasty was in decline, various vassal states were vying for power, and the common people were displaced. Pei Ji was a man of great talent and commanded a sharp army. He first quelled the bandits in the eastern prefecture, then broke the alliance in the western border, and was invincible wherever he went."
After several years, he quelled internal strife, punished rebellious parties, and swept away warlords who sought to establish their own independent regimes. The court and the people were won over, and all admired his virtue. He then ascended the throne in Zhengyang Palace, established the national title, changed the era name and system, and issued edicts of benevolence to the world. All under heaven submitted, and the state of Yu was transformed from hostility to peace.
After watching it, Sheng Sheng couldn't help but shed tears.
She had always believed that Pei Ji could do it, but when she saw with her own eyes the years of hardship described in just a few words, she couldn't help but tear up.
While Sheng Sheng was still staring blankly at the two paragraphs, Zi Juan and Huang Ying had already started discussing them amongst themselves.
"My God, if this had happened ten years ago, who would have thought that Young Master Pei would one day become emperor?"
Huang Ying wholeheartedly agreed: "Yes, our princess really has good taste. I still remember that day was the first time the princess went outside for some fresh air after recuperating for half a month. Unexpectedly, she met Young Master Pei and even became friends with him!"
"Yes, yes!" Zijuan was overjoyed. "Fortunately, our princess is kind-hearted and has helped Young Master Pei a lot. If Young Master Pei had encountered some bad people back then, wouldn't his first act now that he's the king be to settle scores? Thank goodness, the princess and Young Master Pei are childhood sweethearts, and now the states of Song and Yu have reconciled!"
"Oh dear, who can argue with that? It's just that Young Master Pei's status is different now. Will he still have time to celebrate our princess's birthday?"
"Yes."
When the two of them got to this point, they fell silent in unison and turned to look at Sheng Sheng.
She blinked, feeling inexplicably guilty: "W-what's wrong?"
Zijuan and Huangying crossed their arms, exchanged a glance, and continued speaking.
“Yes, Young Master Pei’s feelings for our princess are quite special. I think he will come. He has come all these years, hasn’t he? The things he did before ascending the throne must have been no less than the things he did after ascending the throne. How come he could come before becoming the ruler of Song, but not after?
Huang Ying, however, was worried: "What you said makes sense. We know Young Master Pei quite well. It's true that Young Master Pei has feelings for the princess, but now that he's the ruler of a country, who can guarantee that he doesn't have feelings for other women as well?"
"Huh? Really? Our Emperor has only ever had the Empress for so many years."
"Of course he would!" Huang Ying analyzed to Zi Juan with exasperation, "Think about it, can Young Master Pei be compared to our Emperor? When our Emperor was still a prince, he was highly regarded by the retired Emperor and was respected by all the officials. The harem was also harmonious. Young Master Pei, on the other hand, made his way up all by himself. We are so far away, we can't know many details. How do you know he won't promise to marry a lady from a certain family in order to gain the support of a court official? Aren't there many cases of using marriage to gain cooperation?"
Zijuan was convinced: "That seems to be true."
The two exchanged a thoughtful glance, then turned to look at Sheng Sheng in unison, and sighed simultaneously.
Sheng Sheng: "..."
Well, there's no need to say that to my face.
but……
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