When Yuan Yao left, Jiang Chengyan personally saw him off.
Along the long palace path, palace servants and imperial guards waited at a distance.
Looking at Yuan Yao, Jiang Chengyan's heart began to ache again.
He suppressed his emotions and said with a stern face, "Yuan Xiaoyao, have you remembered what I said?"
"Mmm!" Yuan Yao nodded: "Don't worry, I'll be careful, nothing will happen!"
Besides, I have bodyguards!
"But you, Your Highness, must also be careful. Never trust others blindly, no matter when or where."
"Mm." Jiang Chengyan nodded.
He beckoned to his personal eunuch and said, "Go and invite the Second Prince here for me."
The young eunuch responded and went in to call Xie Zhi.
Soon, Xie Zhi emerged from the palace gate.
He looked straight ahead and cupped his hands in greeting to Jiang Chengyan: "Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Jiang Chengyan pursed his lips: "Your Majesty, the Qianhua Palace has not been very peaceful these past few days, so I would like to send more Imperial Guards to garrison it."
The Imperial Guards in the palace have all been handed over to you by His Majesty.
Therefore, I would like to request that you personally lead the troops to guard Qianhua Palace, and then withdraw the imperial guards after His Majesty's funeral.
Xie Zhi remained silent.
His gaze swept past Yuan Yao and landed on Yun Chan.
Jiang Chengyan frowned: "Royal brother?"
Xie Zhi withdrew his gaze, licked away the bloody taste with the tip of his tongue, and then said, "Alright, I'll go muster the troops."
Jiang Chengyan cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Then I'll leave it to my elder brother."
"Um."
Xie Zhi nodded slightly and was about to leave.
Yuan Yao frowned and couldn't help but call out to him, "Xie Zhi..."
Xie Zhi paused in his steps.
He clenched his hands, which were hanging by his sides, and exerted a great deal of force to suppress his emotions before turning around: "What's wrong?"
Yuan Yao was slightly taken aback when she met his reddened eyes.
Xie Zhi clenched his fist and looked back at her.
The more you look, the tighter his fists clench and the redder his eyes become.
Yuan Yao felt as if her heart was being squeezed tightly by someone, the pain almost suffocating her.
She... seems to have made a mistake.
She knew perfectly well what Xie Zhi's feelings for her were...
Under these circumstances, how could she possibly agree to Jiang Chengyan's request to let Xie Zhi lead the Imperial Guards to guard Qianhua Palace?
If it were her, and she liked Yun Chan, but Yun Chan liked someone else, could she remain calm and protect Yun Chan?
She can't do it!
So, what gives her the right to be so cruel to Xie Zhi?
She really wanted to slap herself.
She was so preoccupied with worrying about the Ninth Prince that she neglected the feelings of others.
How could she be so selfish?
Yuan Yao took a deep breath and said, "Your Highness, Xie Zhi, please lend me one hundred Imperial Guards."
Xie Zhi still needs to keep vigil for the Emperor, so he doesn't need to personally guard Qianhua Palace...
"Once the Imperial Guards are given to me, I will make my own arrangements."
After saying that, she looked at Xie Zhi's back.
Unexpectedly, Xie Zhi clenched his fist even tighter.
He turned around abruptly, his eyes red-rimmed, his jaw muscles clenched tightly: "Yuan Yao, so this is why you're avoiding me like this?"
Yuan Yao was stunned.
Her mouth was slightly open, her eyes flickering: "Xie Zhi, that's not what I meant..."
“There’s no need for that,” Xie Zhi interrupted her. “The Imperial Guards are under my command; it is my duty to protect the safety of the palace.”
Half an hour later, I led the Imperial Guards to Qianhua Palace.
Don't worry, I won't bother you.
Yuan Yao: "..."
She gritted her teeth, her eyes reddening: "Xie Zhi, does it really have to come to this between us?"
Xie Zhi's eyes reddened, and he almost roared, "Then how far do you want me to go with you?"
His roar subsided, and the entire palace corridor fell silent.
Everyone seemed to hold their breath...
At the palace gate, a young eunuch poked his head out from inside, glanced in this direction, and quickly withdrew.
Yuan Yao was stunned by the shout.
She stared blankly at Xie Zhi.
Suddenly, a figure blocked her way.
Yun Chan said coldly, "Xie Zhi, that's enough."
"Enough is enough?" Xie Zhi's bloodshot eyes shifted slightly, landing on Yun Chan's face, and he coldly mocked, "Yun Chan, the person in this world who is least worthy of saying 'enough is enough' is you!"
We clearly stated that we would compete fairly.
But what about you? What have you done?!
When you were hiding your identity and infiltrating her inner circle, why didn't you stop before it was too late?!
Yun Chan pursed her lips.
Beside him, Jiang Chengyan's face turned cold as he coldly swept his gaze over the palace servants behind him: "Anyone who dares to gossip about what happened today can forget about seeing the sun tomorrow."
The palace servants were trembling with fear and all knelt on the ground.
Yuan Yao clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, trying to remain calm: "Xie Zhi, I have no right to advise you, but I still hope you can live your life well."
If you insist on putting yourself in distress and pain because of me, I... probably won't even dare to be your friend anymore.
"Friends?" Xie Zhi staggered, revealing a mocking yet desperate smile: "Xiao Yao'er, you are so cruel to me."
What I want is to be your friend?
You knew perfectly well, you knew perfectly well... and yet you still said such cruel things to me..."
Instantly, Yuan Yao's eyes became bloodshot.
She bit her lip tightly, and streaks of blood seeped out, bright red and glaring.
Looking at Xie Zhi, she gave a self-deprecating smile: "Cruel? Am I cruel to you?"
Since that's what you think, then believe that for the rest of your life!
Yuan Yao staggered, turned around, raised her sleeve, and forcefully wiped her eyes.
Yun Chan reached out to help her.
Yuan Yao raised her hand: "Don't touch me, and don't follow me..."
Yun Chan paused, taken aback.
Yuan Yao looked up at the azure sky, chuckled self-deprecatingly, and walked away.
Jiang Chengyan, who had been silent all along, couldn't help but speak up: "Yuan Xiaoyao!"
However, Yuan Yao did not respond to her.
She raised her hands, wiped her eyes and face haphazardly, and walked alone down the long palace path.
Jing'er exclaimed in surprise, "Princess, wait for me!"
However, upon hearing her voice, Yuan Yao immediately lifted her skirt and ran forward.
The wind, like a knife, swept across her face.
The cool touch made her feel a little better.
After running for an unknown amount of time, Yuan Yao finally stopped, panting heavily, and leaned against the cold palace wall.
She pressed her aching abdomen and said in a hoarse voice, "Remnant Wind."
Po Yue said coldly, "He's not here."
Yuan Yao: "..."
In a hoarse voice, she said, "Po Yue, I'm thirsty."
A water bag embroidered with a rough crescent moon was handed to her.
Yuan Yao took the water bag and drank several mouthfuls of water before her throat felt much better.
She looked at Poyue: "Besides you, is there anyone else?"
Po Yue shook his head.
Yuan Yao breathed a sigh of relief.
She straightened her back and smoothed the hem of her skirt: "Poyue, come with me to the Imperial Garden."
"Okay." Po Yue put away the water bag.
The Imperial Garden is right behind the wall.
Po Yue caught Yuan Yao, and with a leap and bound, they scaled the high wall and landed in the chrysanthemum garden.
Yuan Yao pointed to a cluster of snow-white chrysanthemums: "I want the biggest one."
Po Yue bent down, plucked the largest white chrysanthemum, and handed it to Yuan Yao.
After Yuan Yao accepted the flowers, she looked up at Po Yue and asked, "Do you like me?"
Broken Moon: "?"
Po Yue coldly replied, "What do you think?"
Yuan Yao pursed her lips: "Then do you want to marry me?"
Broken Moon: "???"
Beneath the black mist, Po Yue's pupils widened in shock.
It took him a long time to come to his senses: "Are you out of your mind? Go get treated if you're sick!"
"Hahaha..." Yuan Yao laughed out loud.
Po Yue: "..."
He stared coldly at Yuan Yao and said speechlessly, "When we get back, I'll have your uncle treat you!"
Yuan Yao laughed until tears welled up in her eyes.
As she finished laughing, she wiped her red eyes and looked at Po Yue: "It's good that you don't want to marry me, you scared me to death."
If you share Xie Zhi's thoughts, I will fire you immediately!
Po Yue: "..."
Po Yue coldly replied, "What are you thinking? I just want to be your father."
Yuan Yao: "???"
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