Chapter 50 He will never let her down.
The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.
Emperor Gan Ning frowned. Just as he finished listening to the report from the secret guard, Eunuch De Yuan entered and bowed, reporting, "Your Majesty, Princess Mingyue has returned and is waiting outside the palace. Would you like to see her?"
Emperor Gan Ning's furrowed brows relaxed slightly. "Mingyue is back. Let her in!"
"yes."
Grandpa Deyuan went out.
Before long, another person appeared behind him. She was dressed elegantly, her face was unadorned, and her back was slender and supple, as if she would fall to the ground like a willow branch if the wind blew.
Shen Panyan stepped forward, bowed, and said in a soft, gentle voice, "Mingyue greets Father Emperor. May Father Emperor enjoy good health, longevity, and all the best."
"Get up!" Emperor Gan Ning frowned as he looked at her body, which was much thinner than before, and sighed, "You suffered these past few days."
Shen Panyan stood up, a small smile curving her lips, and shook her head, "With Father's concern, Mingyue is not suffering."
Looking at his daughter, who was as thin as a kitten and more timid than a rabbit, Emperor Gan Ning dared not be too stern, for fear of frightening her.
He gestured for Deyuan to bring over a stool: "Sit down."
"Thank you, Father." Shen Panyan sat down gently.
Emperor Gan Ning looked at her and spoke of something he had already decided long ago, “Mingyue, you have now come of age and no longer need to live in the palace. I have had a mansion renovated for you in the capital as your princess residence. The furnishings inside were completed a few days ago. Today, you shall move into the princess residence.”
Shen Panyan looked up in surprise, "Father, Mingyue is not married yet, so she should be living in the palace..."
Emperor Gan Ning: "It's alright."
"Regarding the matter of the imperial son-in-law, I already have someone in mind..."
The prince consort?! Shen Panyan's delicate brows furrowed.
Didn't Father Emperor never interfere in her affairs before? Why is he suddenly meddling in her marriage?
She doesn't want to get married so soon.
Shen Panyan secretly clenched the hem of her clothes, but on the surface she was gentle and obedient. "I wonder which young master Father has chosen for Mingyue? May Mingyue take a look?"
Emperor Gan Ning laughed, "Speaking of which, you've met this person before. He's Zhao Yun from the General of the State's Mansion, he..."
"He's no good!!" Shen Panyan's heart skipped a beat, and she refused without thinking.
Zhao Yun absolutely cannot.
The smile on Emperor Gan Ning's face faded, and his voice remained unreadable, "Why?"
Shen Panyan rose and knelt down, “Your Majesty, Zhao Yun and Cheng Le are in love. Your son does not wish to interfere in their relationship. I hope Your Majesty will understand.”
"Mutual affection?" Emperor Gan Ning frowned in confusion; he had never heard of such a thing.
The General's Mansion has never liked Chengle, and with Consort Hui's incident, Chengle's personality has become even more unpleasant. If they were to bestow a marriage upon Chengle and Zhao Yun, it would probably not be a marriage alliance, but rather a feud.
There are some things that even an emperor cannot go too far with.
"Is what you're saying true?"
Shen Panyan lowered her head, placed her hands on her knees, and looked obedient. "Father, this is of course true."
After saying this, she recounted "entirely" what she had overheard at the opera house when she secretly returned to the capital. Of course, Zhao Yun's coercion and Cheng Le's threats were transformed into mutual affection in her version of events.
She disliked Zhao Yun, and even more so the Zhenguo General's Mansion. Cheng Le already liked him, so she should accept the marriage herself.
After listening, Emperor Gan Ning fell into deep thought. "If that's the case, then let's drop this matter."
"You have a gentle nature. I originally thought that since the General's Mansion has a small population, if you marry into it, you won't be taken advantage of openly or secretly. You can just live your own life. Since Zhao Yun and Cheng Le are already in love, I will choose a new consort for you."
"You can get up now."
Shen Panyan rose respectfully, "Thank you, Father Emperor."
Emperor Gan Ning: "In a few days, Princess Zhaohe will be holding a Spring Festival banquet. At that time, the young men from noble families in the capital will all attend the banquet. Mingyue, you should go too. See if there is any man you like. If there is one you fancy, your father will make the decision for you."
Is this a case of not interfering in her marriage and letting her choose for herself?
Suppressing her surprise, Shen Panyan said gently, "Thank you, Father."
After this matter was explained, Emperor Gan Ning asked about the important matter: "What urgent matter has brought you to see me?"
His daughter always avoided him and would never come to see him unless it was for important business.
Shen Panyan stood up. "Mingyue does indeed have something she would like to ask Father for help with."
Emperor Gan Ning asked in surprise, "Oh? What is it?"
Shen Panyan lowered her head, seemingly embarrassed to bring it up. Her expression was hesitant and conflicted, and her fair cheeks gradually flushed red. Emperor Gan Ning's gaze fell on her, somewhat curious, but he did not urge her and waited for her to speak slowly.
After a long pause, Shen Panyan finally made up her mind, her voice hoarse and hesitant, "It's like this, Father, Mingyue's allowance has always been in Mother's hands. Now that Mingyue is grown up, she... she's quite strapped for cash..." She seemed unable to speak, "Even... even the clothes Mingyue is wearing are still the style from two years ago. Mingyue, Mingyue wants to ask Father to increase Mingyue's monthly allowance..."
Having said that, she seemed too ashamed to face Emperor Gan Ning any longer. She bit her lip, lowered her head, and twisted her embroidered handkerchief tightly in her hands.
Emperor Gan Ning's expression grew increasingly grim.
He had long known that the Empress was two-faced towards Mingyue... but he didn't know that the Empress even controlled the princess's fiefdom. For so many years, seeing Mingyue's excellent clothes and food, he had always assumed that the fiefdom was in Mingyue's own hands...
Empress, the Jiang family... Emperor Gan Ning suppressed his anger, "I know about this matter. You may go back now. In a couple of days, I will have the Empress return your fiefdom."
Shen Panyan looked up, seemingly very happy, but she tried her best to restrain herself, and two small dimples appeared on her lips. "Then Mingyue thanks Father Emperor."
"Mingyue takes her leave!"
Go!
Watching Shen Panyan's joyful figure gradually disappear into the imperial study, Emperor Gan Ning could no longer contain himself. He slammed his hand on the table, and De Yuan below hurriedly knelt down, trembling with fear, "Your Majesty, please calm down!"
Emperor Gan Ning: "Calm down, how can I calm down? I thought the Empress just disliked Mingyue's weak nature, but I never imagined that as the mother of the nation, she would even control the princess's fiefdom. Next time, will she still show favoritism and rule the country, holding the entire world in her hands?"
Eunuch Deyuan felt a cold sweat break out on his back upon hearing this.
How could a mere servant dare to agree with His Majesty's words?
After venting his anger, Emperor Gan Ning finally stood up and said coldly, "Prepare the carriage for Kunning Palace!"
"Yes!" Eunuch Deyuan quickly stood up and ordered people to prepare the imperial carriage.
After Shen Panyan left the Imperial Study, her timid expression gradually faded.
She had no one to rely on, and if she wanted to win people's hearts and make them loyal to work for her, money was essential.
Human hearts are fickle; only self-interest can win them over. This is the lesson that Qiu Shuang, Mu Ying, and the dozens of palace servants who betrayed her learned from her.
However, her monthly allowance was too small, and she didn't have enough money to win people's hearts, so she had to take back the fiefdom.
However, she could not bring this up with the Empress herself, since she was the Empress's adopted daughter, and besides, the Empress would never agree to it.
Therefore, only Father Emperor can do this.
She had assumed that her father didn't care about her... which was why she was dressed so plainly and looked so unwell today.
Perhaps she had misunderstood; just as Lin Xiao said, her father truly cared about her.
For some reason, he was extremely cold towards her for the first ten years or so, and never inquired about anything other than academic matters.
After trying to figure out the reason no matter how hard she tried, Shen Panyan gave up on thinking about it.
As long as her father is on her side, then for her, this is already half the battle won.
*
The Secret Guard Camp is not located inside the capital, but on its outskirts.
Watching the procession escorting His Highness into the capital, Lin Xiao stood there for a long time. It wasn't until dusk fell and the heavy city gates began to close that he seemed to come back to his senses. With a silent expression, he turned around and headed towards the Dark Guard Camp.
Shadow usually follows the emperor and rarely stays in the Dark Guard Camp. At present, there are not many people in the Dark Guard Camp.
Anjiu's return was like a drop of water falling into the ocean, without causing the slightest ripple.
Lin Xiao returned to his room and opened the wooden box that His Highness had given him.
A snap.
A very beautiful dagger came into view, and it felt cold to the touch.
The dagger is short, entirely gold-black, with black as the base and intricate gold patterns surrounding it in layers. It is exquisitely crafted and is by no means an ordinary item; it is made of top-quality refined iron.
As the scabbard was removed, the blade reflected a warm light in the candlelight, softening the coldness and leaving it serene and aloof.
He once gave His Highness a dagger, and now, His Highness has given him a dagger in return.
Lin Xiao's gaze fell on the blade, his eyes growing increasingly silent.
His fingertips landed on the blade, tracing it lightly. The blade was sharp, and before he knew it, a string of beads of blood appeared.
Lin Xiao seemed oblivious, wiping away the blood droplets bit by bit with a clean silk cloth until the blade was crystal clear and white before stopping and sheathing the dagger.
Beneath the dagger lay several light silver notes, totaling one thousand taels.
Lin Xiao silently put away the dagger and silver notes.
He understood what His Highness meant.
Your Highness doesn't actually need to bribe him with silver notes.
He will never let her down.
He will become the most useful dagger in her hands.
*
That night, the princess's residence was brightly lit, just like daytime.
Shen Panyan sat by the window, gazing at the bright crescent moon in the night sky. The evening breeze gently caressed her face, and her hair swayed lightly.
The moonlight was cool as water, and the chill of spring had not yet faded, leaving a slight coolness.
Lin Xiao has probably already opened the wooden box and seen what she gave him!
He was a good person, and she didn't want to let him down. Rather than letting him continue down the wrong path, she wanted him to see clearly what kind of person he was as soon as possible.
People's hearts are fickle. She liked Lin Xiao very much, but the repeated betrayals made her unable to trust anyone around her anymore.
From the day she returned to Beijing, everything began to change.
She could no longer allow herself to be as naive as before. She could cry, she could be weak, but the humiliation of almost being insulted, the panic of being schemed against, and the truth of her birth mother's death had already made her as frightened as a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow, burning out all her tears.
She never intended for him to die.
She hoped he could survive and live well until the day she fulfilled her promise and went on to do what he wanted to do.
She was destined never to reciprocate his feelings.
As Shen Panyan stretched out her hand and watched the cool moonlight flow away from her pale fingertips, casting a dark shadow, she finally couldn't help but shed tears.
She had once read a line in a book—"The most ruthless are those in the imperial family"—and she was still unconvinced. She was kind to everyone around her; when had she ever been ruthless?
That's just a small minority, why generalize and condemn the whole group?
And now, she finally understands.
It turns out that the most ruthless are those in the imperial family.
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Author's note: This phase shouldn't be too long; it's just a transitional phase. After that, Lin Xiao will return to Ming Yue's side and become her bodyguard!
Why are my clicks constantly dropping? Did I mess up the writing? But I followed the outline! [Crying emoji]
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