Li Zhaole: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will never let your palace be deserted."
I listened to these two praising each other from the sidelines and decided it was best to stay out of the spotlight.
Sure enough, when I didn't speak, the Empress pretended not to see me and just chatted and laughed with Li Zhaole.
They chatted for a while before finally parting ways. So I stood next to Li Zhaole, bowed, and left.
As soon as Li Zhaole left Zhaoning Palace, she transformed back into her aggressive princess self: "You, stay away from me. Don't wander around in front of me for no reason. It's annoying to see you."
I remained expressionless and replied, "Yes."
Li Zhaole said to Anxiang, "Anxiang, let's go back quickly, or we'll be late." As Anxiang walked past me, she bowed slightly and then walked away with Li Zhaole.
Granny Zhang came over and said, "My lord, the princess is just like a child. Please don't take it to heart. I'll take you back for breakfast."
Seeing that no one was around and the two palace maids were too far away to hear me clearly, I saw this as a good opportunity to win people over: "Granny, you don't need to be so polite in private anymore. You and my wet nurse look very alike. I always feel very close to you whenever I see you."
Granny Zhang was flattered and said, "Your Highness, you're making this old servant feel terrible." I helped her up to put her mind at ease.
Granny Zhang followed beside me knowingly. I took a few steps, then stopped and asked, "Granny, which palace is Consort Ji in? I'm now the imperial consort, so I should go and see her."
Zhang Mama's face showed something unusual: "Prince Consort, listen to my advice. Consort Ji has always had a rift with the Empress. The princess is the Empress's daughter. Now that you are the prince consort, you should plan for your future."
I looked troubled and said, "I know it's inappropriate, but I have a long history with Consort Ji, so it's only right and proper that I pay my respects in person."
Zhang Mama's face showed a hint of admiration: "The Prince Consort is a man of courage, I admire him. However, even if you are going, you should wait until after lunch the next day. After all, you just paid your respects to the Empress recently. If the servants in the palace gossip and spread the word, it may bring trouble upon yourself."
It seems that Granny Zhang is a person of character; this move was the right one: "Thank you for reminding me, Granny. This way."
After returning to Heqing Palace, I ate breakfast alone; Li Zhaole and Anxiang were no longer there.
After I finished my tea, a pretty and well-behaved palace maid came over to tidy up the tea set. I looked at her serious expression and her gentle demeanor and said, "You are indeed very pretty."
The palace maid paused noticeably. "This servant thanks Your Highness for your kind words."
In ancient times, people really addressed each other as "servant" or "maid": "What's your name?"
The palace maid bowed slightly: "This servant is Xiren."
This name is interesting. I thought it was Xiren from Dream of the Red Chamber: "Hidden Fragrance Assaults the Person, you and Hidden Fragrance must have entered the palace together, right?"
Xi Ren blushed and said, "What the prince consort says is very true. An Xiang and I have served the princess together since we were little."
Strange, Anxiang blushed as soon as she saw me this morning, as did several other palace maids. Could it be that the palace maids around Li Zhaole rarely see men? "Xiren, there's something I don't understand. Why do you all blush when you see me?"
Xi Ren's eyes widened in surprise: "Um, Your Highness, we... we live deep within the palace. Only An Xiang sometimes goes out with the princess. We rarely see a man of such extraordinary appearance as Your Highness. Please forgive any rudeness."
I'm speechless. Women in ancient times were so pitiful. They had so few opportunities to see handsome men. They could even swoon over a "pseudo-man" like me. Let them be.
Xiren gratefully took the tea set and left. I was sitting alone and bored, and really wanted to take a walk. If I were in the Ji residence, I could go to the backyard to practice archery and swordsmanship.
I sat for a while longer. Before entering the palace, my father had told me that the emperor had stripped me of my title and assigned me an official position in the Hanlin Academy. It sounded nice on the surface, but in reality, it was taking away my abilities.
However, what great things can a woman like me do? That's why I say that the imperial family is full of cunning and scheming.
Since it's not a very important position, Granny Zhang told me early this morning that the Hanlin Academy sent word that there are important matters to handle in the next two days, and I can only go the day after tomorrow. So now I'm bored out of my mind, and I can't just lie in bed and meditate or play on my phone like I do in modern times.
I spent the whole morning doing nothing, but after noon I couldn't sit still anymore. I'm naturally active and like to go out when I have nothing to do.
I asked Granny Zhang, and she said that Heqing Palace had a backyard. So, I took my Shadow Sword and went to the backyard to practice my swordsmanship. It was just a pity that I didn't bring a bow and arrows, otherwise I could have set up a target to play with.
After practicing swordsmanship all afternoon, I finally felt a bit more relaxed. With such a long road ahead, I need to hone my survival skills. The ancients always loved wielding swords and staffs. For now, I can't go to the border to learn from Ji's father, but I can find a master to guide me.
It wasn't until evening, just after I had finished bathing, that I heard Li Zhaole had returned. I actually hoped she wouldn't come back and would stay outside the palace.
Li Zhaole returned in a rage, and dinner ended unhappily. I was wiping the Shadow Sword in the small room next door when Anxiang knocked on the door and came in.
Anxiang: "Prince Consort, Granny Zhang asked me to invite you to the princess's room to sleep."
I only want to be with Shadow Sword, I don't want to see that bad-tempered woman: "Anxiang, you go back first, I'll be there in a bit."
Anxiang left with a happy expression, but I was in a dilemma. What excuse should I use today?
I hesitated for a while before knocking on the door. At worst, I could just say I was impotent. If I wanted a way out, I didn't care about saving face.
Li Zhaole's loud voice rang out: "I don't want to see you, get out of my way."
I silently vowed to myself, "You must keep your word!"
Granny Zhang pushed open the door and welcomed me in. Li Zhaole got angry and threw the incense burner on the table at Granny Zhang. I quickly tried to block it with my hand. Although the incense burner wasn't big, it was made of bronze, so it still hurt when it hit my hand.
I frowned. Zhang Mama was still in shock and wanted to check her injuries, but I stopped her: "Princess, Zhang Mama has served you for many years. Even if she hasn't done anything great, she has worked hard. She's old now and not as young as she used to be. No matter how angry you are, you can't hit her with a heavy object."
Li Zhao scoffed, "You think you're so kind, you delicate-skinned scholar? General Ji dedicated his life to the Great Zhao Dynasty. I really can't understand how he could have such a frail son like you."
I was torn between provoking her and leaving a bad impression, but for the sake of the future, I decided against it: "Princess, my appearance is a gift from my parents, and I can't change it even if I wanted to."
Li Zhaole hadn't said anything to me yesterday or this morning, and now that she was starting to lose ground, she got up and lay back in bed, throwing off the covers: "Get out of here, I want to sleep."
Zhang Mama glanced at me, and I knew what she meant: she wanted me to stay here, since we were newly married and it wouldn't sound good if word got out.
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