Chapter 50 Pushing into the Fire Pit
Shang Zhixing smiled slightly, but the smile did not reach his eyes. "Don't worry about it, Princess. They say marriage is a matter of parents' orders and matchmaker's words. Although my father and mother are gone now, I still have my brother to worry about me. After all, an elder brother is like a father."
The youngest son of the Dali Temple's official was brutal by nature and had beaten his three wives to death.
The eldest grandson of Marquis Huai'en spent his days in brothels and had many concubines.
The second son of Grand Tutor Sun became distorted after breaking his leg last year, and he beat the servants until they were bleeding.
The eldest princess was not introducing a good husband to her at all. She was clearly pushing her into the fire pit and couldn't bear to see her do well.
She is sickly, but she is not ignorant.
The eldest princess covered her lips and smiled, "What are you talking about, Zhaoxi? You are the princess appointed by our father himself, so I have to be more careful with you."
"Your Highness the Princess should pay more attention to Commander Li." Shang Zhixing's smile faded a little.
The couple were playing their own games, and everyone with some connections in the imperial city knew about it.
The eldest princess's face froze. Before she could say anything, she heard a long, sharp voice.
"The Emperor has arrived—"
"The Queen has arrived—"
"The Imperial Concubine has arrived—"
"Her Majesty the Virtuous Consort has arrived—"
…
After several announcements were made, people in the hall knelt down on the ground and shouted "Long live the emperor!"
Shang Zhixing bent slightly and half-knelt to salute.
This was earned for her by her brother's military merits.
He said, my sister, Shang Zhiyan, kneels to heaven and earth above, and to her parents and teachers below, and she won't kneel to anyone else.
He said it and did it.
Shang Zhiyan used his military merits to gain for his sister the status of a princess and the honor of not having to kneel before anyone in the royal family.
The emperor shouted, "Stand up!" and everyone stood up again.
Afterwards, as with any other banquet, the emperor gave his opening remarks, the princes and ministers presented gifts, and then there was some unremarkable singing and dancing.
Shang Zhixing gave a gift that was neither outstanding nor inferior, and left with her maid when the banquet was almost halfway through.
Upon seeing this, Crown Prince Ouyang Zhou at the table said goodbye to the hypocritical princes sitting there, and walked out of the hall a few steps later.
It was a bit chilly in the evening. Shang Zhixing put on the cloak handed to him by his maid Mingyi and walked out of the front palace with two maids.
Looking up at the half-moon in the sky, Shang Zhixing rubbed his temples and felt extremely tired. He couldn't suppress the itch in his throat and couldn't help coughing.
My health hasn't improved after all these years.
Shang Zhixing gave a wry smile.
She was born on the battlefield by her mother, who passed away right after giving birth to her. She was a premature baby and had been weak since childhood.
"Miss, let's go back quickly. The dew is heavy at night." Mingyi said worriedly.
"Um."
To leave the palace, you have to pass by an artificial lake. It was late autumn in September, and the wind blew into the lake, which was sparkling with moonlight.
"Is the princess going to leave the palace?"
There were hurried footsteps.
It’s Crown Prince Ouyang Zhou.
Shang Zhixing turned around, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"I'm about to leave the palace, so why don't you see the princess off?"
Ouyang Zhou raised his right hand slightly, and two tall and strong guards took Mingyi and the other maids away from Shang Zhixing, guarding them and preventing them from getting close.
Shang Zhixing looked at Ouyang Zhou's malicious face and stepped back calmly, "What do you mean, Your Highness?"
"The princess is a gifted person, and I have long admired her. I would like to invite her to the East Palace for a chat."
"Your Highness, what are you talking about? The Crown Princess is still at the table."
"Who cares what she does? Under the moonlight and flowers, doesn't the princess have any thoughts?" Ouyang Zhou approached step by step, his eyes full of brilliance. "If you follow me, I will grant you the position of concubine. When I ascend to the throne, you will be the imperial concubine."
Shang Zhixing's face turned cold, "Zhao Xi is out of her league, Your Highness, please respect yourself!"
"The princess has a bad temper, but I like her." Ouyang Zhou seemed not to see it, with a disgusting smile on his face, and continued to press forward.
Shang Zhixing had already retreated to the edge of the lake. If she took another half step, she would fall into the lake.
Gu Qingyue, who was hiding in the dark, was about to go over when he was restrained in place by a force.
"What's going on?" Seeing that the prince was about to succeed, Yan Zhen's face was anxious and his face turned red with anger.
"This has already happened, and we can't get over it." Song Ningshu looked at it dimly, feeling a slight pain in his heart.
She didn't know why, but ever since she met Princess Zhaoxi, the sense of familiarity had grown stronger and stronger.
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