36 You are the princess
"You just wait!"
"She really said that?"
“That’s right. Although the princess grew up in the countryside, she has the blood of the Empress and His Majesty flowing in her veins. She has the same temperament as the Empress. She sees things clearly compared to the seemingly shrewd but actually narrow-minded and selfish Second Princess. She is much smarter than the Ninth Princess, who is a fool who is easily manipulated and does not even realize it.”
Lu Ao told the Empress what she had seen and heard that day. As the Empress's wet nurse, she had also held the little princess before.
At that time, the world was in chaos, and His Majesty was involved in the conflict, his future uncertain. She left her master's house and returned to the countryside with her family to avoid disaster.
Later, her family all died in the war, and she went back to the Empress. By then, the princess had already been lost.
When Lu Ao recalled the princess's composure and dignified demeanor when facing the second and ninth princesses today, she couldn't help but sigh, "I never expected the princess to speak fluent Mandarin and be so eloquent. Today, she even silenced the second princess when she was targeting Princess Jiaolu."
Empress Zhang thought of the man brought by Sima Xiuyuan. Judging from what he said, this Mr. Li Shi was also an extraordinary person. It seemed that her daughter would also have a strange encounter.
"I never expected her to amount to anything. As long as she doesn't resent me, I, as her mother, will naturally ensure her a life of wealth, honor, and peace. I never imagined she would have such insight."
Lu Ao smiled, "Your Majesty and the Princess are mother and daughter. Back then... Your Majesty was forced to do it. There is no resentment between mother and daughter. How could the Princess blame you?"
Empress Zhang sat behind a table piled high with bamboo slips, her expression showing no relief despite Lu Ao's words.
She then asked, "Did she mention me?"
Grandma Lu gently shook her head, "No, after all, the princess's identity hasn't been made public yet..."
"That's enough." Empress Zhang waved her hand. "The marriage alliance has been arranged. In three days, let her and her adoptive father enter the palace."
“That’s wonderful. Princess, you’ve finally found happiness after all your hardships. Today, I saw you and you are indeed as Marquis Qu Zhou said, with a round face and a blessed appearance. However, you’ve been working in the fields all year round and have some sunburn. You’ll need to take good care of yourself when you return to the palace.”
Lu was happy for the princess's return to the palace, and also happy that the Empress was finally reunited with her daughter.
These past years have not been easy for the Empress. Externally, she has to help the Emperor manage state affairs and control the court officials; internally, she has to be wary of Consort Guo, a favored concubine with ulterior motives, and defend the Crown Prince's position.
With the empire newly established and everything in need of rebuilding, even a powerful family like the Sima clan, which even the Prince of Yan couldn't persuade to join, was moved by the Empress's sincerity and finally agreed to come out of seclusion to help the Emperor.
It wasn't that she looked down on Madam Guo, but rather that a woman like her, who relied on her looks to please men, dared to covet the position of Empress. In that case, the position of Empress was far too worthless.
She had no idea how much blood and blisters Her Majesty had shed on her journey to this point! It wasn't something that could be achieved simply through physical appearance!
"By the way, I heard that the Guo family recently wanted to send their heir to the army for training."
"That's true. Some time ago, Madam Guo was pestering His Majesty for this very reason. But her nephew is a notorious playboy in the capital. What can he possibly accomplish in the army?" Aunt Lu thought dismissively.
The Empress's eyes darkened, and she sneered, "Since Guo Yuan is so eager for her nephew to serve the country, how can I not grant her wish?"
At Shanglin Garden, the Second Princess left with a pale face.
"Princess, let's go quickly," the Ninth Princess's maid advised.
The Ninth Princess turned back angrily to look at Qi Gu, pointing at her and saying, "You just wait!"
He let out a loud "humph!" before leaving.
After the two women left, Li Qiao felt guilty and didn't dare to look up at Qi Gu. She was too ashamed to face Qi Gu, so Hong Shu and Hong Yu helped her up and were about to leave.
Unexpectedly, just as they turned to leave, "Stop!" came Li Qigu's voice from behind.
Li Qiao paused, and Hong Yu, seeing her mistress's unusual expression, thought that the princess must know the woman behind her.
Today, the words of the Second Princess and the Ninth Princess gave Hongyu some vague guesses. However, as a servant, no matter what, her and Hongshu's future fate would be tied to this Princess Jiaolu.
Qi Gu carried a hoe and walked ahead of Li Qiao. This scene was just like back in Li Family Village.
"This humble woman wishes to speak with Princess Jiaolu alone for a few moments. I wonder if the princess would do me the honor?"
Li Qiao recalled the day she requested an audience with Madam Guo, but Madam Guo refused to see her. Just as she was about to leave, the Second Princess called out to her.
Throughout the entire palace, everyone knew of the Second Princess's noble status. She was beautiful and graceful, unlike the burly Emperor. She had been well-read since childhood, had a kind personality, and was renowned for her virtue in the palace.
That day, she couldn't see Madam Guo, but when she saw her second younger sister return from outside the Pixiang Palace, she thought that her second younger sister could help her. Unexpectedly, the second princess mocked her.
"Big sister, please wait!"
Outside the Pixiang Palace, the Second Princess called out to her. Thinking she was saved, she grabbed the princess's hand and said, "Sister, may I see Madam Guo? I have something to discuss with her."
To everyone's surprise, the usually friendly second princess disgustedly shook off her hand, her slender white hands lightly brushing against the sleeve that the second princess had just grabbed, as if she were something dirty.
"Elder sister?" Her smiling face vanished. "Who do you think you are, the eldest princess? I am the eldest princess in this palace. Without you, the title of eldest princess would be mine!"
Seeing the Second Princess's changed expression, Li Qiao finally understood that Madam Guo would not help her. They probably all knew that she was not the Empress's biological daughter at all.
Yes, how could the Empress's own daughter be sent to the Xiongnu for a marriage alliance?
"I...I don't know what my second sister is talking about!"
"Hehehe, I was just kidding, big sister. Tomorrow, my ninth sister and I are going to Shanglin Garden for a visit."
Li Qiao's heart was in turmoil, but she knew that the Second Princess and Madam Guo and her daughter would not help her. She finally understood that they would only laugh at her and would never help her.
"I...I won't go."
The second princess suddenly said affectionately, "Big sister, are you angry with me for not going, or do you resent the Emperor and Empress's decree?"
Once the second princess said that, she had no choice but to go.
Upon arriving at Shanglin Garden, she realized it was a trick specifically designed to target her. She couldn't ride a horse, but the Ninth Princess said, "Elder sister, you're going to marry into the Xiongnu in the future. If you can't even ride a horse, won't you be laughed to death by those Xiongnu people?"
The tall, powerful horse snorted and kicked up dust in front of her. Under the amused gazes of the Second Princess and the Ninth Princess, she could only muster her courage and mount the horse.
After she finally managed to mount the horse, it wouldn't listen to her. The Ninth Princess swung her whip and lashed the horse's rump, causing it to lose control and rush off the horse field.
Behind them were the Ninth Princess, laughing heartily, and the Second Princess, leisurely riding her horse.
She didn't know what they said behind her, only that when the imperial eunuch couldn't stand it anymore and rescued her, she returned.
The Ninth Princess looked at her with a smile of triumph over her mischief, as well as contempt and malice.
She looked at the second princess. She knew that the second princess must have said something to her. Did they all know that she was not the empress's biological daughter?
Facing these real princesses, she already lacked confidence. Upon arriving in the capital and seeing these princesses and princes who had been pampered since childhood, each with an extraordinary air about them, she felt even more inferior and gloomy in comparison.
Qi Gu looked at the hoe and circled around Li Qiao. "Li Qiao, Li Qiao, it's only been two months. You were so full of vigor back then, vowing to become a princess no matter what. How come now that you've actually been made a princess, you've lost that ambition? This palace is truly a den of thieves."
Li Qiao looked up at Qi Gu, who seemed unchanged yet also drastically different. "Li Qi Gu, stop making sarcastic remarks. Don't you know why I'm like this?"
"Ha, are you going to blame me?"
Li Qiao didn't want to lose face in front of Qi Gu. She didn't know why, but she could endure the humiliation brought by the Second Princess and the Ninth Princess. However, she didn't want to be so embarrassed in front of Qi Gu.
She raised her head and straightened her chest. "Li Qigu, I will not apologize to you."
"Tch~ Who cares about your apology?"
Qi Gu put down her hoe, startling Li Qiao so much that she took a step back. "Li Qiao, you and I have never been enemies. On the contrary, I am very grateful to you. If it weren't for you, I might have been the one sent to marry a foreign ruler."
For some reason, Li Qiao sensed a deep sadness in her tone.
Li Qiao gave a bitter smile, "Back then, I stole your jade pendant and came to this capital, thinking that I would live a life of wealth and glory from then on. Who knew that everyone in this palace was so shrewd? I was nothing in front of them!"
"Li Qiao, you may have misunderstood. You didn't steal that jade pendant. It was something I didn't want, and you just happened to find it."
"It wasn't just a coincidence." Li Qiao recalled what happened back then. She never expected that her momentary greed would lead her to this state. Now, even if she didn't want to be a princess, she was destined to be one.
“I didn’t find the jade pendant by chance. You threw it into the river years ago, and I happened to see it. Later, when you left, I went to the river, retrieved the jade pendant, and kept it for myself.”
"I see. I was wondering what a coincidence it was. I thought the river had washed the jade pendant ashore and you had picked it up."
Qi Gu gently stepped forward, patted Li Qiao's shoulder, and said solemnly, "Li Qiao, you are truly born to be a princess."
“You must be laughing at me in your heart right now,” Li Qiao said.
Qi Gu pursed her lips. "I never mocked you in my heart." Qi Gu added, "I always mocked you openly."
Upon hearing this, Li Qiao revealed a long-lost, relaxed smile, just like back in Li Family Village. Li Qigu was still the same Li Qigu as before.
"Anyway, I've been punished. I'll be married off to a distant place for political reasons soon." Li Qiao sighed.
"Li Qiao, are you a princess?" Qi Gu asked.
Two months ago, Li Qiao answered Qi Gu firmly and without hesitation that she was a princess, but now she says, "I'm not a princess at all." After entering this palace surrounded by walls, she realized that whether someone is a princess or not is never determined by a jade pendant.
"You are a princess!" Qi Gu stared into Li Qiao's eyes with her dark eyes. "You are the Jiao Lu Princess personally bestowed by the Emperor and Empress. No matter what others say or speculate, the imperial decree is real, and the Empress has never denied that you are her child."
As she spoke, her expression turned serious. "Why do you feel inferior? No matter how noble the Second Princess and the Ninth Princess are, they don't have titles yet. You are a princess personally appointed by the Emperor, representing the Great Jin Dynasty to go on a marriage alliance. Your status is no lower than that of the princesses who are born to enjoy the worship of the people. Your contributions are incomparable to theirs. So what if you are arrogant? You are about to go on a marriage alliance. What are you afraid of from Consort Guo, the Second Princess, or the Ninth Princess?"
Li Qiao could no longer hold back her tears. She rested her head on Qi Gu's shoulder, punched her arm, and cried out, "Waaah, you damned Qi Gu, you won, you are the princess."
[Author's Note]
Li Qiao: Li Qigu, you've come to laugh at me, haven't you?
Qi Gu: I'm here to back you up, firing the first shot in the Great Jin Dynasty's women's support for each other [sunglasses]
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