Chapter 46 Chaoyun Kingdom - Chaos Pearl (10) I might as well strangle you...
Li Fuchao's forehead was instantly covered in cold sweat. Although he did not know what had happened between the two, he knew Zhang Qing's character. He knew that Zhang Qing was cunning and had connections everywhere. He might know their secrets. If he really took Shishi away today, it would be to tell everyone that Shishi was an imposter princess and that everything was a deliberate scheme by them.
So be it. If we're exposed, so be it. At worst, a few of us will go and retrieve the Demon-Subduing Sword first, and then we'll have Master and Grandmaster come down the mountain to persuade us. There's always a way when we get there.
He couldn't let Shishi take any more risks.
Li Fuchao took a step forward, and the Mermaid Pearl Formation prepared to attack.
He demanded sternly, "Zhang Qing, are you attempting to rebel against your superiors and murder the Crown Prince?"
Zhang Qing looked innocent. "It was clearly Your Highness who plotted to seize the Chaos Pearl, putting the entire Chaoyun imperial power in danger. How come you're now turning around and accusing us?"
Li Fuchao did not want to argue with him any further, and only said, "I will say it again, give her to me."
“This is your fiancée, you can naturally take her away.” He pushed Shi Xianxue over.
Li Fuchao caught her falling body and carefully held her in his arms. Just as he was about to leave, he heard Zhang Qing say again, "Your Highness, please wait. There is something I would like to ask Your Highness to examine and see if it is real or fake."
A golden-pink light flew down from the sky, and two phoenixes carrying the national letter slowly unfolded to the left and right, revealing a unique national letter to him.
Instead of cold words, Li Fuchao saw a flowing scroll painting, witnessing the entire process of a seed breaking through the soil, sprouting, growing stems and leaves, growing flower buds, and blooming in the darkness.
Unlike the ink-wash portraits in the Emperor's study, this is something like a commemorative stone.
Amidst a fierce storm, the Queen of Xiliang gave birth to a baby girl beneath the statue of the goddess.
The baby girl grew up in the blink of an eye, began to babble and toddle, until the baby fat on her face completely disappeared, and she blossomed into a beautiful young woman.
The book meticulously records every detail of the young girl's every smile and frown.
There was her, with a spoiled and willful expression, calling out "Cherry," as she climbed over the palace walls to sneak out to play among the common people; there were young girls laughing heartily as they galloped across the grasslands on horseback...
Li Fuchao looked at the sleeping girl in his arms in disbelief.
The face of the Western Liang princess in the book about the marriage alliance was exactly the same as that of Shi Xianxue in his arms.
---
Shi Xianxue woke up very quickly this time. The next morning, she woke up to a rustling sound of voices.
Sensing movement on the bed, her voice gradually weakened. As Shi Xianxue struggled to sit up, feeling as if she were still hungover, a slender figure cautiously approached. It was a young palace maid who, upon seeing Shi Xianxue looking at her, quickly lowered her head and said timidly, "Princess, you're awake. This servant will help you with your grooming."
Shi Xianxue looked around curiously, "Where am I?"
"This is Fuqu Palace," the maid replied softly, making a gesture to help her up. "After the princess finishes washing up, she still needs to pay her respects to the Emperor and the Empress. Time is already very tight, and we cannot delay."
Startled by their imposing manner, Shi Xianxue had no choice but to get out of bed and let them do whatever they wanted to her.
However, it must be said that this little palace maid is really skillful. She gathered her hair into a high bun on top of her head, revealing her smooth and full forehead, leaving only the fluffy baby hair at the temples. Her makeup was also very fresh and delicate, with eyebrows like distant mountains, and her eyes were drawn with a black brush to the corners of her eyes, making them brighter and more spirited. She also applied some light-colored rouge to her cheeks, maximizing the advantages of the girl's charming and cute appearance.
Shi Xianxue looked at herself in the bronze mirror, even feeling a little intoxicated.
"Now that I think about it, I really do look like a princess."
Seeing that she was always smiling, the young palace maid became bolder and sincerely praised her, "Of course you are a princess. The Grand Preceptor's plans are flawless and his words are golden. Last night, he announced the marriage alliance to the world, saying that you are the future Crown Princess of Chaoyun."
A letter of peace between the two states?
Wasn't the real letter of peace lost? Could it be the one that Brother Li forged?
Who knew Brother Li was so talented at forgery? No wonder he was so confident.
Shi Xianxue stood up: "Where is His Highness the Crown Prince, Li...?"
The young palace maid lowered her head, about to say something, when a group of palace servants carrying imperial decrees filed in to urge her on. Seeing that she was already dressed, they grabbed her from both sides and dragged her away without saying a word.
Inside Penglai Palace, Shi Xianxue sat nervously in the hall, staring at the marble floor that reflected her image, enduring the scrutiny from several people directly in front of her.
Empress Chaoyun, with her sharp eyes, raised several questions with keen insight.
After Shi Xianxue calmly responded to Li Fuchao's instructions one by one, the hall fell silent again.
Li Fuchao was lost in thought, staring blankly at his reflection in the wine glass.
Zhang Qing sat slightly above and to the side opposite Shi Xianxue, his long legs casually spread to the left and right. His dark blue eyelashes curled into an upturned arc. Noticing Shi Xianxue's gaze, he raised his glass cup and smiled at her from afar.
That eerie sense of familiarity returned.
However, Shi Xianxue did not intend to get close to someone who forced her to use her abilities on their first meeting.
So he gave a forced smile and quickly looked away.
"Princess Huaiyu has had a harrowing journey and must have suffered a lot. The Ghost Festival is just around the corner, and the city will be very lively. Fuchao, why don't you take the princess and have some fun?" the Empress said softly.
The Empress was well-maintained with firm skin, and her emerald green palace dress made her skin look as clear as jade. Her eyebrows and eyes were gentle as water, and she spoke softly. Shi Xianxue had always had a great liking for this kind of gentle and understanding elder.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Shi Xianxue's voice was sweet, and her demeanor was appropriate.
After receiving no response for a long time, the Empress looked in Li Fuchao's direction with a puzzled expression.
After being quietly reminded by the eunuch behind him, Li Fuchao seemed to come back to his senses. He first glanced at Shi Xianxue with an unnatural look before humbly saying, "Yes, Mother."
The emperor was not as easy to talk to as the empress. He was stern and rarely smiled. His eyes were extremely deep black, and his gaze was sharp and piercing. When someone was staring at him, they would always have the illusion that they would be torn apart at any moment.
Looking at the face that was exactly the same as the one in the letter of the marriage alliance, he said after a long time, "The Zhaixing Pavilion has already prepared an auspicious date. After the Ghost Festival, when your third brother returns, I will preside over the wedding for the two of you."
His face was turned toward Li Fuchao, as if making a promise: "A king's word is his bond. Once you are pregnant, I will give you what you desire."
Li Fuchao lowered his eyebrows even further and responded in a deep voice.
Shi Xianxue felt that the two did not seem like father and son, but rather like ruler and subject, being polite but not close.
Two days after returning from Penglai Palace, Shi Xianxue remembered the Empress's instructions and thought that Brother Li should at least make a show of coming. However, she did not see him even once in the two days.
The young palace maid was named Cuicui. Although she was young, she was very clever and eloquent.
Seeing that she always had a furrowed brow, he kindly comforted her, saying, "To welcome the princess, the Lotus Palace has been completely renovated. It is warm in winter and cool in summer, and bright and spacious, which is enough to prove His Majesty's high regard for you. And after the Ghost Festival is your wedding. His Highness the Crown Prince has just come down from the mountain. He has to deal with political affairs and busy with the trivial matters of the wedding. He must not have had time to spare. It is not that he did not intend to come to see the princess."
Shi Xianxue squinted and scrutinized her for a long time, making Cui Cui feel very uncomfortable. Suspecting that she had said something wrong, she was about to apologize when she heard Shi Xianxue inquiring about the two princes.
Cui Cui thought for a moment and replied carefully.
The Second Prince suffered from a chronic illness before he was a month old, and he usually relies on herbal medicine. Now that the weather has turned cold, he has also developed a cough and is staying home unless absolutely necessary. The Third Prince, on the other hand, is the son of the current Consort Liu. He has been studying magic under Zhang Qing since childhood. He not only has a keen understanding of Taoist practices but also possesses a photographic memory and unique insights into his studies, which is why he is deeply favored by the Emperor.
Shi Xianxue, seizing the opportunity, asked, "And what about the Imperial Preceptor? What is his background?"
Cui Cui hesitated for a moment, then immediately said with a respectful expression, "The Imperial Preceptor is peerless and unparalleled in the world. If it weren't for the Imperial Preceptor's painstaking efforts, this imperial city and the divine artifact would have long been corrupted by evil spirits and ceased to exist. How dare a lowly servant like me casually comment on the Imperial Preceptor?"
Shi Xianxue realized that they had almost reached the point of blind worship of that national advisor.
But Cui Cui was indeed right.
The world is indeed in turmoil nowadays. Evil spirits are stirring up trouble, and natural and man-made disasters are rampant. The royal family down the mountain has to rely on the Taoist practitioners on the mountain to consolidate their power, which is why they are constrained in every way.
The Chaoyun Imperial City also possesses the ancient artifact, the Chaos Pearl, which is naturally a coveted prize in the eyes of evil spirits. However, decades ago, Chaoyun produced a powerful national advisor who was able to use his mortal body to activate the Chaos Pearl and set up the Mermaid Pearl Array. This not only isolated Chaoyun from outside prying eyes but also freed it from the constraints of cultivators, allowing it to focus on expanding its territory and achieving great things.
But why did the emperor eventually give in on something so important?
As for the Mermaid Pearl Formation, perhaps Zhang Qing was too confident, allowing an outsider like her to easily discover the location of the Chaos Pearl.
Everything was both reasonable and somewhat strange.
Shi Xianxue was having a headache from thinking about it. Whatever, she would pretend to be pregnant just one month after the wedding and meet up with her sister Qing Shu with the Chaos Pearl.
On the eve of the Ghost Festival, the emperor held a banquet at Penglai Palace, which was attended by the imperial concubines and a few close officials.
Not seeing Zhang Qing, Shi Xianxue consciously sat in the empty seat to Li Fuchao's left.
Li Fuchao glanced at her face, which was flushed by the night wind, and quietly instructed the palace maid beside him to warm a pot of wine.
Shi Xianxue's mind wasn't on this. She was a total beauty enthusiast and thought that all the concubines in the harem were more beautiful than the last, especially Consort Liu. Unlike the Empress, she was stunningly beautiful, with a charming look in her eyes, and it was clear that she was extremely favored.
Seeing her excitedly looking left and right, Li Fuchao placed the warm white lychee wine in front of her: "Shishi, try this white lychee wine, it's sweet and warming to the stomach."
Shi Xianxue nodded, downed her drink in one gulp, smacked her lips, and leaned closer to Li Fuchao, asking, "Why didn't Zhang Qing come?"
Li Fuchao moved away discreetly and replied, "I heard from my father that he has never indulged in wine, women, and pleasures, and he usually doesn't come to such occasions."
You really can't judge a book by its cover.
Seeing that she liked to drink, Cui Cui filled her cup again. Shi Xianxue would drink whatever someone poured for her. The sweetness of the lychee gradually filled her mouth, and she became more and more tipsy. Before long, she had finished the small pot of white lychee wine.
Her head was a little dizzy, but she could still barely control herself. Shi Xianxue opened her eyes and moved closer to Li Fuchao: "Could you talk to your father and tell him to let us get married as soon as possible? Otherwise, if the Third Prince brings back a marriage alliance delegation, won't we be exposed?"
Li Fuchao's lips trembled, and he finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Shishi, are you really...?"
"His Highness the Third Prince has arrived!"
A sharp, high-pitched voice cut through the sounds of string and wind instruments in the hall and reached the ears of everyone present, unlike the others' expressions of joy and Li Fuchao's astonishment.
Shi Xianxue spat out a mouthful of wine.
Third Prince Li Fuxuan?
Why is he back? Did he find Cherry and the others?
No, is her mouth like Cao Cao's? How come it always says the bad things and never the good?
Shi Xianxue looked nervously toward the palace gate, praying that things wouldn't turn out as she feared. She didn't want to be exposed yet, and at the same time, she was secretly relieved that the female lead villain wasn't there, otherwise things would really get interesting.
Just when you think you're sure to get what you fear most, a boy with a high ponytail burst in, followed by several people dressed in Xiliang attire.
Shi Xianxue panicked.
She couldn't recognize the envoy's face, but she remembered Cherry, the close maid who had served Shi Huaiyu since childhood and acted as his accomplice.
She could no longer hear what Li Fuxuan was saying; she only felt a buzzing in her ears and saw several blurry figures moving back and forth.
The envoys had already paid their respects to the emperor. They were led to her by the eunuchs. When they saw her, they were first surprised, then looked at each other excitedly and knelt down to kowtow: "Princess, it really is the princess! Heaven blesses our Western Liang. Your humble servants pay their respects to Princess Huaiyu."
Li Fuxuan had a look of disgust on his face. He was young and hot-blooded and didn't care about the people behind him: "The envoy should open his eyes wide and see clearly whether this is Princess Huaiyu or some imposter named Huaijin or Huaiyin."
As soon as he finished speaking, a cold, stinging sensation came from his neck, as if silently warning him of something. Dizziness and chills came at the same time, and Li Fuxuan's face instantly darkened and he became sullen, no longer saying a word.
A delicate face peeked out from behind him; it was Cherry, whom the emperor had seen in the letter of the marriage alliance.
Compared to the timid and submissive image in the portrait of the princess sent to marry him, Cherry seemed to have matured considerably after this ordeal. Her deep eyes stared intently at Shi Xianxue, a smile playing on her lips: "Princess, this servant has finally found you."
That night, in the Lotus Palace, Cui Cui was kicked out for the first time ever.
She stood outside, disheveled, recalling Cherry Sister's earlier appearance, thinking to herself that neither mistress nor servant was behaving like a mistress.
Inside, Cherry sat casually in a chair, pouring herself tea as if no one else was around. She looked completely at ease, ignoring her mistress who was slightly tipsy from drinking. She picked out some of her favorite snacks from the snack plate.
Shi Xianxue never expected that the white lychee wine would have such a strong aftereffect, and now she's practicing drunken boxing on the spot.
However, she remembered that her status was different now, and fearing that Cherry might notice something amiss, she tried her best to stand up straight, straighten her tongue, and put on the air of a princess.
"Cherry Blossom, I am the princess, I should be sitting, you stand up!"
She posed absolutely no threat, and because she was drunk, she was somewhat limp and seemed to be acting coquettishly.
Cherry ignored him, took a sip of tea, and then tossed it aside with disdain.
"How dare you!" Seeing that her teacup had been thrown away, Shi Xianxue was a little angry. The white lychee wine was still on her lips and teeth. She wanted to step forward and scold her, but her body fell backward uncontrollably.
With a thud, Shi Xianxue slumped down beside the couch, opened her eyes blankly for a moment, and then fell into a deep sleep under the smooth brocade quilt.
Soon, he started snoring softly.
After an unknown amount of time, the person on the chair finally made a move. She took a few steps to her and first gently kicked the calf hanging on the ground with her toe. Seeing that there was still no reaction, she bent down and carried her back to the couch.
As soon as Shi Xianxue touched the bed, she groggily kicked off her shoes, whimpered, and hugged the brocade quilt as she climbed on top of it.
Cherry sat sideways on the edge of the tatami mat, staring blankly at her sleeping face.
The moon rises above the branches, its lonely, cold light silently creeping up to the foot of the bed.
The slender, petite figure reflected on the wall suddenly grew taller, gradually transforming into the appearance of a boy with a high ponytail.
He stared at her for a long time before finally making a move, but instead of leaving, he raised his arms and arrogantly pinched Shi Xianxue's flushed cheeks.
He brazenly pulled it to both sides.
Shi Xianxue murmured uncomfortably in her sleep, and her body began to twist and turn.
The flamingo seemed to sense something and poked its bright red head out from the sleeve, just in time to see the owner of the dog money deliberately increasing the pressure on his hand.
He vented his emotions through gritted teeth.
"I might as well strangle you."
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