Chapter 98 Choosing a Master: Luan and Princess Feng Chengying.
The moment the words "This Palace" were uttered, everyone was astonished.
Who in the world does not know that the current emperor has no son? The only people in the world who can call themselves "this palace" are those inside the Changming Palace, which is surrounded by towering walls. Who outside the palace would dare to call themselves this?
Cheng Ying's smile was cold and didn't reach her eyes, making her delicate face seem unapproachable and noble. Her eyebrows were slightly raised, and her expression was full of disdain.
"Ten years have passed, have you forgotten me, cousin?"
Upon hearing this, Princess Fangfei's breath hitched. "Cheng Ying, Cheng Ying, you...you are Luan He?"
"Princess Luanhe!" someone exclaimed in surprise, then immediately covered their mouth upon realizing their rudeness.
The current emperor has no sons, only one daughter, whose given name is Chengying and whose title is Luanhe.
Princess Luanhe was raised in the inner palace until she was six years old. Due to her premature birth and weak constitution, she rarely appeared in public. After she turned six, she was sent out of the capital to recuperate. She has not returned to the capital in recent years, and almost no one in the capital has seen her.
A woman's status rises with her husband after marriage. Even if she comes from a general's family, her husband's official rank is not high. Ten years ago, Shen Linlang had no chance to enter the palace, so she naturally did not know what Princess Luanhe looked like.
Shocked, she subconsciously looked at Shen Qinglu. Shen Qinglu's pupils were like black jade lying in water, calm and clear, leading her to guess that her daughter must know the truth.
When Shen Qinglu looked back at her, she received an affirmative answer from those calm eyes.
This Lord Cheng is none other than Princess Luanhe!
Not only did a princess of a nation disguise herself as a man, but she also became a commander of the Divine Martial Guard at a young age. How unbelievable and shocking!
For a moment, everyone looked at Cheng Ying.
The boy was dressed in the uniform of the Divine Martial Guard and had an androgynous face. If he were a man, he would have a gentle and feminine air, and if he were a girl, he would have a heroic air.
He let everyone look him over, a half-smile on his face.
Then his cold smile vanished, and he asked Princess Fangfei with a hint of amusement, "It's kind of you that my cousin finally remembered me. Now, can you tell me who your subject is?"
This statement undoubtedly acknowledges one's identity.
In other words, she was none other than Princess Luanhe, Feng Chengying.
Princess Fangfei was shocked, her eyes filled with astonishment and doubt.
The last time the two cousins met was ten years ago, on Princess Luanhe's sixth birthday. The older cousin, who was nearly a year older, accompanied her parents to the palace to deliver birthday gifts.
At the time, six-year-old Feng Chengying had just recovered from rubella and her face was covered by a veil, so she couldn't even see her face clearly, let alone remember it, but she dared not doubt it now.
Because throughout the world, especially in Donglin City, no one dares to impersonate His Majesty's only son!
As the only daughter of the current emperor, even though her birth mother was of low status, she herself was frail and had never appeared in public for many years, this cousin's existence was firmly remembered by the world, possessing the highest and only honor in the world.
Who is the subject?
The answer doesn't need to be told.
She curtsied and bowed.
"This humble woman greets Your Highness the Princess."
Everyone followed closely behind, including Shen Linlang and her daughter Shen Qinglu, Mu Lin and Yu Jingliang.
Yu Jingliang was completely stunned, staring in disbelief at the person who had been with him almost every day for the past two years. He never imagined that she would not only transform into a young woman, but also a princess of the current dynasty.
He turned his head blankly and murmured to Mu Lin, "Did you already know?"
Mu Lin was just as shocked as him, but because she was more composed, she didn't show it like he did. "I don't know."
Feng Chengying has been presenting himself as a distant relative of the Mu family for years, and even the heir Mu Lin is unaware of this. Therefore, it is highly likely that apart from the Marquis Mu Wei, no one else in the Mu family knows this secret.
"That's alright." He patted his chest, still in shock, feeling slightly relieved. "I treat him like a brother. If he had kept this from only me, I wouldn't consider him a brother anymore."
After saying that, I felt it wasn't quite right.
Can they still be brothers?
Not only can we not be brothers, but we probably can't even be colleagues or friends.
He felt a strange sense of loss. Suddenly, he met Cheng Ying's gaze and subconsciously grinned. After laughing, he realized something was wrong and immediately became respectful.
Feng Chengying lowered her eyes, not telling everyone to rise, but instead walking past Princess Fangfei to Zhuang Lanyi. "What did you say about me earlier? Arrogant and rude, disrespectful, and even called me lowly, huh?"
Zhuang Lanyi dared not look up, her body trembling uncontrollably.
She never imagined that the lowly commander she had looked down upon would actually be a princess of the court. The thought of her previous rudeness made her lose her temper.
Her gaze fell on Feng Chengying's waist, and when Feng Chengying's hand touched the hilt of his sword, she turned pale with fright. "This humble woman deserves to die, Your Highness, spare my life..."
Jiang Xinyue, who was closest to her, was trembling even more violently. Her gaunt face was frighteningly pale, and even her heavy makeup seemed unable to withstand it, with powder falling off as the makeup flaked off.
Feng Chengying glanced at them coldly for a moment, then casually turned to look at Princess Fangfei, "At yesterday's spring outing, Ali wasn't unwell, but was poisoned. In a moment of panic, I had no choice but to knock her unconscious."
"What?!" Princess Fangfei exclaimed in shock. "Your Highness means... Miss Shen is poisoned?"
"I can be your witness."
If a princess takes the initiative to testify, how can the parties involved not step forward?
Shen Qinglu appeared weak and was gradually unable to support herself. She held onto the table with one hand and recounted her feelings and reactions after realizing something was wrong. Her trembling voice revealed obvious lingering fear.
Princess Fangfei frowned. "But I remember you didn't eat any snacks or drink any tea. How did you get poisoned?"
Shen Linlang spoke up at the right moment, telling them the method of administering the epilepsy poison to people.
"...First plant the seed, then bring out the poison, without anyone knowing. The person who poisoned me is truly wicked. They not only want to ruin my Ali, but also want to frame the princess."
"So you've figured out how that person poisoned the body?" Princess Fangfei asked.
Shen Qinglu and Shen Linlang both turned their gazes toward Zhuang Lanyi and Jiang Xinyue.
Jiang Xinyue's body was still trembling, her shock tinged with an unconcealable regret. She was shocked that such a vicious poison existed in the world, and regretful that it had been cured.
As she was pondering this, Zhuang Lanyi suddenly pointed at her, "Miss Jiang... could it be you? Yesterday, the floral scent on you was incredibly strong..."
"Miss Zhuang, what did you say?" Her expression changed immediately after she came to her senses. "You're doubting me? It wasn't me...it really wasn't me..."
"You and Miss Chen don't get along and even had a fight. Who else could it be but you?" Zhuang Lanyi said, then moved several steps away from her as if to avoid suspicion.
The girls all looked at her with suspicion.
She was anxious and flustered, waving her hands frantically, "It wasn't me! I have no idea about any woody fragrance or any kind of catalyst. Besides, I only met Miss Shen once yesterday, how could I have had the chance to use a catalyst or poison..."
"I remember now!" Zhuang Lanyi exclaimed. "No wonder you took the initiative to help me send out the invitation and illustrations. You must have been taking the opportunity to set the stage for Miss Chen's invitation."
"Miss Jiang, is it really you?" Princess Fangfei asked with a somber face, but she was secretly relieved. She didn't care who poisoned her; she just wanted to find someone to take her place as soon as possible so that she could completely clear herself of the blame.
Jiang Xinyue's face turned red with anxiety, and she was on the verge of tears.
"It wasn't me, it wasn't me..."
"Whether it's you or not, we can find out by sending someone to search your room," Zhuang Lanyi suggested.
Feng Chengying gave her a meaningful look, then gestured to Mu Lin and Yu Jingliang.
"Take a few men and go to the Jiang family."
Before the two left, Shen Qinglu told them to take the antidote with them.
They were very fast, taking no more than half an hour to arrive and bring all the catalyst and poison.
Jiang Xinyue looked at the rouge she had just bought, her whole body trembling as if it were about to fall apart. She pointed to another bottle of something she didn't recognize, "That's not mine..."
“Miss Jiang, the items were all found in your room. Our colleagues from the Divine Martial Guard, as well as your parents and servants, all witnessed it.”
The two items were presented to Cheng Ying and Princess Fangfei. Princess Fangfei said, "Now that the person who poisoned us has been found, everything is up to Your Highness to decide."
Feng Chengying looked at Shen Qinglu, "Ali, you are the victim, how do you want to deal with this?"
Shen Qinglu's dark eyes were filled with gratitude.
"Your Highness is kind and benevolent, and I am deeply grateful. Miss Jiang is malicious and wants to ruin my reputation and honor, which I naturally hate. However, considering that the Jiang family and the Mu family are related by marriage, and the Mu family and my Shen family are extremely close, I cannot send her to the authorities or take revenge. I only hope that she can experience the pain of the poison and not harm others again in the future."
Even if she didn't care about the monk's feelings, she had to consider the Buddha's feelings. Under the current circumstances, the Shen and Mu families couldn't afford to have any enmity. Besides, she knew in her heart that Jiang Xinyue was just a scapegoat.
It's just a matter of making an example of someone; nobody cares which chicken it is.
Mu Lin clasped his hands in thanks to her for saving face for the Marquis's mansion.
"Don't worry, our Marquis's mansion will keep a close eye on her and make sure she suffers the full pain of the poison."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xinyue, whose body was already trembling like a leaf in the wind, suddenly collapsed to the ground.
*
The farce has come to an end, the play is over, and the audience has dispersed.
After Princess Fangfei and her entourage left, Shen Linlang bowed to Feng Chengying again to express her gratitude.
Feng Chengying told everyone not to stand on ceremony and then gestured for everyone to take their seats.
Although he was still dressed as a man and wore the uniform of the Divine Martial Guard, his innate nobility no longer needed to be hidden and was clearly revealed.
Yu Jingliang scrutinized her for a long time, and seeing that she was chatting and laughing with Shen Qinglu, he suddenly realized something and slapped his forehead, "Did Ali already know all along?"
She smiled without saying a word, and exchanged a smile with Shen Qinglu.
Shen Qinglu did not deny that she knew from the beginning that she was a girl, because when they first met, she was rescued by the girl by hugging her, so she had some idea.
Her identity was revealed to her personally upon entering.
"You little brat, Ali, why didn't you tell me?" Yu Jingliang said, but there was no resentment in his tone. He was even a little ashamed, ashamed of his past discord with her.
“This is Her Highness’s private matter. How could I possibly speak of it without her permission?” Shen Qinglu said with a smile.
Mu Lin also sighed, "Having known you for so long, I never knew you were Princess. It is a great honor for us to work with Your Highness."
It must be said that he is not only more composed than Yu Jingliang, but also better at speaking.
Yu Jingliang thought that it was indeed a great honor to be colleagues with a princess of a country, and couldn't help but scratch his head and chuckle.
Although he was handsome, he was really silly. Not to mention Feng Chengying, even Shen Linlang sighed in her heart.
Shen Linlang respectfully and solemnly invited Feng Chengying to have a meal at her residence, and Feng Chengying did not refuse.
During the meal, Feng Chengying told them to act as before, not to treat her like a princess, and to speak as casually as they had in the past.
"If I had known you were a girl, I wouldn't have targeted you like that back then," Yu Jingliang said with a hint of shame.
Feng Chengying's effeminate face immediately darkened. "So what if I'm a woman? Why should I need you to give way to me?"
"Don't even mention it, I shouldn't have said those unpleasant things to upset you." Yu Jingliang's face turned red as he raised his glass to her. "I apologize for my past mistakes."
When the two clinked glasses, Shen Qinglu raised her teacup to Mu Lin, offering tea in lieu of wine as a gesture of respect.
In such a carefree and leisurely time, to see a face that resembles that of an old friend, one should raise a toast.
Amidst the clinking of glasses, Mu Lin gazed deeply at her, downed his tea in one gulp, and reflected on this moment—perhaps the first, and perhaps the last.
Before the meal was finished, the palace procession arrived.
The lead escort was Mu Miaohua, clad in silver armor and adorned with red feathers, exuding a heroic and dignified air. Leading a group of imperial guards, palace maids, and eunuchs, she shouted, "Welcome Your Highness back to the palace!"
At this moment, the imperial family's dignity is fully revealed, and the difference between ruler and subject is like a chasm, separating colleagues and friends who could previously sit together drinking, eating, and chatting casually.
A faint trace of melancholy lingered between Feng Chengying's delicate brows. She slowly stood up, took Shen Qinglu's hand, and asked, "If I were to invite you to the palace someday, would you be willing?"
Shen Qinglu smiled slightly, "It would be my honor."
"Once you enter the palace, it's like entering a deep sea. There's no freedom in the palace compared to outside. I bet you don't like it." Feng Chengying gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I don't like it either."
That's your home.
The word "home" made Feng Chengying pause for a moment.
Can the deep palace within high walls really be called home?
Those who engage in open and covert struggles and deceitful schemes, not to mention those who are not related by blood, even if they are close relatives, can turn against each other with swords, each move deadly and without mercy.
"Perhaps it won't be like that soon."
Outside the palace, some were already eager to seize power and take the throne.
“Home is home. As long as people are alive, home is home.” A look of confusion appeared in Shen Qing’s dark green eyes. “The rules of this world are really confusing. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been stupid for many years, but I find many principles hard to understand. I just don’t understand why the family business in the hands of the older generation is not passed on to their own flesh and blood, but instead to their nephews?”
Feng Chengying was stunned again, then smiled bitterly, "Who told me I'm a woman?"
"So what if you're a girl? You're still your father's own flesh and blood. Shouldn't it be a matter of course for children to inherit the family business? Everything that belongs to your father should rightfully be yours. If anyone else dares to covet it, then they shouldn't."
Upon hearing Shen Qinglu's words, a look of nostalgia appeared on Feng Chengying's delicate face.
In the brightly lit, silent night of Changming Palace, a young boy, as delicate as a bamboo shoot, led a petite girl through the many palaces and arrived at the Dazhao Hall, where the emperor held court.
The main hall was resplendent in gold and jade, yet it was extremely cold.
The boy pointed to the dragon throne, which symbolized the highest power in the world, and asked the girl, "When you grow up, Ah Ying, would you like to sit there like your father?"
The little girl was puzzled and whispered, "Little Imperial Uncle, can I sit there too? Isn't it said that only men are allowed to sit there?"
"You will be your father's only heir, and everything your father owns will be yours, including that position. If you want, your little uncle is willing to help you."
Without almost any hesitation, the girl replied crisply, "I want to!"
Their voices echoed in the empty hall. Though not loud, they were powerful enough to pierce the clouds and split rocks, striking the heavens and shaking the deaf.
"You're the second person to say something so shocking."
"The first one is...?"
"My little royal uncle."
It was that person!
Shen Qinglu was quite surprised, "So what are you thinking?"
A good bird chooses its tree to perch on, and the best tree to perch on is the phoenix tree.
Their eyes met; one was as clear as black jade, the other like a sword about to be drawn.
Ten years later, the girl from back then has weathered many storms and now possesses abilities that surpass even those of men.
Feng Chengying gazed in the direction of Changming Palace, her eyes filled with unwavering determination. "I think so too."
That would be excellent.
Shen Qinglu lowered her eyelids slightly, seemingly lost in thought.
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