Li Zhaole gets sleepy easily now; she was almost asleep when Anxiang and Granny Zhang returned.
Wan'er and I went outside. I'll ask Anxiang in a bit. She's been disguised in the palace for years, so she might know something.
"Your Highness, was Princess Chequ really here to reminisce?"
Even Wan'er didn't believe this excuse, so I had to say that she wanted to take me back to Chequ, and luckily we ran fast. Wan'er was furious when she heard this, saying that the people of Chequ were all bandits who didn't do anything worthwhile.
I smiled and comforted her from the side, and it took her a while to finally smile. Wan'er saved me and Yu'er in Linyang back then, so she's practically a benefactor to me. I don't know when I can openly tell her the truth.
There are many spies in the palace, and many secrets must be kept hidden even if it is very difficult, because they are related to the entire Ji family.
As darkness fell, Anxiang finally came out, and I hurriedly invited her inside to talk.
"Madam, I heard that Princess Cailu arrived this morning. She's been so lazy lately that she needs someone by her side. I can't even get away from her."
She's being too kind; I'm not a useless person.
"It's nothing." I told her what Li Zhaole had said today, and Anxiang frowned more and more as she listened.
“I was with the princess all day. She didn’t go out after returning from the East Palace. Could it be that I’m mistaken?”
This time I was dumbfounded. Li Zhaole couldn't possibly be hallucinating or sleepwalking. Although she's simple-minded, she still remembers the dates perfectly.
"That's exactly what she said today, there's no mistake."
They're calling Anxiang's name outside. She told me to wait for news while she went to investigate.
I told her to wait, as I was going to see Li Zhaole anyway, since he was now her "father" in name only, and I should go and see him.
Li Zhaole was indeed exhausted; she glanced at me, then closed her eyes again.
What has she been doing all day? She looks so tired. When I was pregnant with Yu'er, even when I was being temperamental or sleepy, I wasn't like this.
"Prince Consort." Granny Zhang beckoned me over and handed me a slip of paper.
After I took the note and went back to my room, I saw that it was from Consort Ji inviting me to her palace. Why would she send a note? Shouldn't she have openly sent someone to announce my arrival or come herself?
"Granny~" I stood on the pillar outside and called out in a deliberately soft voice, and Granny Zhang came out.
"Hurry up or not?"
"This is too strange, I'm worried."
"Sister-in-law, don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you."
Now that everyone in the room is busy, he can finally show his true colors. I flicked my sleeve and saw that Wan'er was free. I told her to grab anything, and even if we got caught, we could just say that she was going to deliver a gift to Consort Ji.
On the surface, she and I are aunt and niece. After recovering from a serious illness, it was common for her to come back and visit her aunt.
It's not too late now. If asked, just say that Li Zhaole was always sleepy in the afternoon, and now is the only time she has a chance to go.
Wan'er held up a box of rouge. "My lord, this box of rouge is too ordinary. It's probably not appropriate to give it to the Empress."
It's not like I really want to give it to her; I'm just putting on a show: "It's alright, Your Majesty is magnanimous and won't hold a grudge over such things."
I told her not to worry. As we passed the Imperial Garden, I habitually looked towards the East Palace, wondering how Li Ruowei was doing.
The journey was quiet, and we encountered few guards.
When I arrived safely outside Changle Palace, I was still feeling relieved that everything had gone so smoothly.
"Your Highness, please come in."
The head maid of Chang Le Palace led me in, while Wan'er was kept outside. Honestly, they have to make such a fuss about meeting each other.
"aunt."
Every time I face her, I call her aunt to avoid any confusion. Anyway, she doesn't know, and I'm not ready to acknowledge her as my aunt.
"Ying'er is here. Was the journey safe?"
"It went very smoothly."
"Luckily, I made arrangements in advance. Don't worry, it won't be discovered."
It was definitely her doing; no wonder everything went so smoothly.
"What does my aunt want to see me about?"
She called me here so mysteriously, could something have happened?
Seeing her smiling so happily made my heart pound even harder.
“Ying’er, I know you’ve just recovered from a serious illness, so I specially asked you to come to Chang Le Palace to see me.”
What are you looking at? I already saw him at the Ji residence.
She clapped her hands, and two palace maids brought over a painting. When they opened it, they saw a particularly beautiful person who looked somewhat like Cailu, but not as alluring or captivating.
"Auntie, who is she?"
"She is Princess Caiwei, who is about to marry Marquis Anle. When I heard the Emperor say this today, I was overjoyed and hurriedly asked you to come and see her."
It's true, there really is such a thing. I'm so calm, my husband was betrothed and I can still smile.
When did this happen?
"Ying'er, how can you not be angry? She betrothed him to Marquis Anle."
I was furious, to the extreme, but I hadn't figured out what had happened yet, so of course I had to laugh.
"Auntie, I'm not angry." She just secretly clenched her fists.
Consort Ji told the two maids to put them back, then took my hand and said earnestly, "I know you two have a close relationship, but as you can see, you and he were both born under the imperial power, and there are too many things in life that you can't control. It's best to bury these romantic feelings behind you so that you won't be heartbroken later."
I know she meant well, but this all happened so suddenly. That bastard didn't say a word at the Ji residence. No wonder he wanted me not to return to the palace; besides the direct confrontation with the Crown Prince, this was also a reason.
"Auntie, I know, don't worry."
Seeing that I wasn't too sad, she seemed relieved. "That's good. Anyway, Wan'er is here now. The princess is pregnant, so you can cultivate your relationship."
You're overthinking it. I don't have any feelings to cultivate.
"Ying'er, have the princess take this every day." Consort Ji suddenly took out a bag of powder from her sleeve. I smelled it; the smell was very strange and pungent.
"Auntie, what is this?"
I thought it was just a regular tonic, but Consort Ji's expression immediately changed: "Our Ji family has always been strict in its discipline. She came back pregnant with a bastard child and wants the Ji family to raise someone else's child. That's just wishful thinking."
My hand trembled as I held the medicine; this packet of medicine was definitely not ordinary.
"Auntie, you must have misunderstood something."
"Ying'er, don't hide it from me anymore. I've heard the Empress say it all. They really are a family. The mother is immoral, and the daughter is not innocent either."
How did she know all this? And wasn't she worried about being plotted against by the Empress?
"Auntie, have you been influenced by the rumors? The child in her belly is really mine." If lightning could strike, I would be in heaven by now.
"Alright, stop talking to her. The baby in her belly can't be born. If it is, it will bring shame to the Ji family, regardless of whether she is a princess of the Great Zhao or a member of the royal family."
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