Chapter 222 Lord Shen, do you believe in past lives?
Today's events were too sudden, and they were like a wake-up call for Dou Wenyi.
She couldn't help but think the worst. The people Pei Siyan left her were more than enough to protect the Eastern Palace, but she didn't want Consort Zhang and Pei Shuyue to become victims of the power struggle within the imperial court.
Dou Wenyi asked stubbornly, "If Lord Shen had the chance, would he want to make a change?"
Shen Yanzhou's expression changed slightly, and he instantly understood her deeper meaning. Just now, she had been speaking well of Pei Siyan, and this sentence was clearly an olive branch extended to him.
More and more things led him to a new understanding of what a 'benevolent ruler' truly is, and even to question it.
For over twenty years, the Confucian classics had taught him to be loyal to the emperor and serve the country. But once he made a choice that went against his beliefs…
His later life will surely be tainted with infamy, and what will become of him then...?
"I don't quite understand what you mean."
After a long silence, Shen Yanzhou suppressed the bitterness in his chest and could only pretend to be confused.
Dou Wenyi recalled her previous life, how upright he was, yet he was burdened with the infamous title of "Jade-Faced Yama". How much of his ideals and ambitions were realized?
Without further ado, she looked around and lowered her voice, "Lord Shen, you should have already noticed that I can sometimes glimpse the secrets of heaven, such as the earth dragon rising up in Huazhou, the cold winter and food shortage in Tianning City, and that Du Siren is a spy from the Northern Barbarians..."
Shen Yanzhou's pupils dilated suddenly. He had noticed her unusual behavior, but he never expected her to be so candid!
No wonder she reminded Shen Lishu not to marry Dou Mingxiu and tried her best to save his father's life.
So, she joined hands with Pei Siyan to help him overcome various difficulties because he was the one destined by fate.
"Lord Shen, do you believe in past lives? In my past life, you saved me several times!"
Shen Yanzhou was utterly shocked.
He suppressed his bitterness and self-mockery. So, was she only kind to him out of gratitude, and after leaving such a deep impression on his life, did she resolutely choose someone else?
He had even fantasized that she had once been deeply in love with him!
If Pei Siyan hadn't interfered, would their ending have been different?
A piercing pain surged through Shen Yanzhou's heart, and he felt utterly absurd. She had never shown him her true feelings; he had been the one constantly speculating…
Suppressing his impulse to overstep his bounds, Shen Yanzhou's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. "Your Highness, you shouldn't have told me these secrets."
Dou Wenyi smiled wryly and advised, "In this life, you have helped me many times. You are someone I will always respect. I sincerely hope that you can meet a wise ruler who truly appreciates you. You are so talented, you should not continue to be buried in the Imperial City Guard."
The eldest princess instigated Cheng to make this scene not to target Consort Zhang and Pei Shuyue, but to embarrass the crown prince.
This move will inadvertently send a signal to the court officials that even if Pei Siyan wins the battle, he will still be deposed!
If we allow Emperor Muzong and the eldest princess to put their personal desires above the imperial power and the state, and allow them to continue to ruin the Great Zhou Dynasty, we will only repeat the mistakes of the previous era. The country will be destroyed, and how many people will be displaced and their families destroyed?
She hoped that Shen Yanzhou would make the right choice.
Shen Yanzhou's eyes were filled with turbulent emotions as he suppressed the throbbing in his heart. How could he not feel her sincerity? Was he an utterly wicked person in his previous life? Otherwise, why would she come to remind him?
What kind of person was I in my previous life?
"To others, you are the King of Hell with a jade-faced face; to me, trapped in the mire, you are the bright moon hanging high in the sky..."
Snowflakes fluttered down, and a beautiful figure landed on the sandalwood crane jade screen.
Inside the clean room, steam rose gently. After preparing hot water for the princess's bath, the guard Qin Shuo saw her leaning against the wooden tub wall, lost in thought for a while. He then rolled up his sleeves, squatted down, and began to massage her shoulders with just the right amount of pressure.
"Your Highness, is something troubling you?"
Qin Shuo's hot breath brushed against her ear, and the princess slowly opened her eyes, gently shaking her head. "Everyone has worries."
The water rippled gently, revealing the princess's flawless skin and exquisite curves.
Qin Shuo stood up and brought a cup of plum wine to her lips, his voice low and deep, "Your Highness is busy with many affairs of state, managing the Chamber of Commerce in an orderly manner. Your ability to make money is far superior to those incompetent officials in the Ministry of Revenue... Today is New Year's Day, Your Highness should not trouble yourself any further. Why don't you take a bath and I will help you rest?"
The eldest princess took a casual sip. "The Prince Xian is truly useless. He fought two battles, and I heard that his main force lost nearly 20,000 men. If things continue like this, the internal strife will end soon."
The guard's eyelids twitched. "Is Your Highness worried that the Crown Prince's fame is too great, and that his return will force His Majesty to abdicate?"
"His Majesty is more worried than I am!" The princess curled her red lips, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes.
She merely used a small trick, and Emperor Muzong seized the opportunity to slap Consort Zhang. The most ridiculous part was that news of the Crown Prince and Zhang Chengxian's great victory was forcibly suppressed by him within the military.
This is so much fun!
The princess rose from the bathtub, her bare feet stepping onto the cotton cloth. Water droplets streamed down her body, and a guard gently wiped her with a clean cotton cloth.
"Your Highness, it's just that Prince Duan is ungrateful. You've hinted at it several times, but he's pretending not to understand. With his weakness, it won't be easy for him to compete with the Crown Prince..."
A hint of mockery flashed in the princess's eyes; the weaker a person was, the easier it was for her to control them.
The Great Zhou Dynasty still needs Pei Siyan to completely suppress the Wise King. If he continues to hold military power, we must be wary of him. Therefore, the timing of the attack is extremely important.
Pei Siyan was blindly arrogant and offended the interests of too many people. Every cause has its effect, and he only has himself to blame.
Qin Shuo picked up the nightgown he had prepared and draped it over her body. His rough fingertips brushed against her fair skin, making her feel a ticklish sensation.
The princess raised her hand and stroked the man's slender waist. She really liked the man's tall and strong body, especially his first-class skills in bed.
"Don't wear it, it'll be a hassle to take it off later."
Qin Shuo did as he was told, picked up the blanket from the side and wrapped it around her body. He then suddenly lifted her up and pressed her onto the bed.
The crimson curtains swayed gently, and soon, soft rustling sounds came from the bed...
On New Year's Day, according to custom, the Ministry of Rites and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices presided over the sacrificial ceremony. His Highness the Crown Prince was required to personally go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to worship his ancestors. However, Pei Siyan was away fighting a war, so he had to ask Prince Duan to perform the ancestral worship ceremony on his behalf.
This move naturally aroused dissatisfaction among many officials who supported the crown prince, but they were powerless to do anything about it given the current situation.
The details of the dispute between Pei Shuyue and Wei Siyuan were eventually brought to Emperor Muzong's desk.
The emperor looked at Shen Yanzhou, his brows furrowed, "Yunzhi, you still care about such trivial matters?"
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