After seeing off the Cheng family, it was already early afternoon (5 PM). Shang Shaoyan went to Shang Yunlan's courtyard to have a meal together.
"Qiao Zhuo is gone?" Shang Yunlan elegantly washed her hands and served Shang Shaoyan a bowl of soup. "Why don't we take advantage of his absence today and go to the outskirts of the city to look at some things?"
Qiao Xiuyu's arrival had both advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are self-evident, but the biggest disadvantage was that it was not as convenient for the brother and sister to do things as before.
"No rush." Shang Shaoyan took a sip of hot soup and sighed comfortably. "The estate we bought is very safe. There are hardly any people walking around that area. If we rush over there, it will only attract attention."
Shang Yunlan hesitated for a moment: "But if we don't go today, we don't know when Qiao Zhuo will leave after he comes back."
Shang Shaoyan smiled and said, "I'm afraid that in a few days, he won't be able to go back to the palace even if he doesn't want to. It's not up to him."
Shang Yunlan suddenly realized: "That's right, the New Year is coming soon, he can't miss the palace banquet."
He paused, then froze: "But we have no choice but to go."
Shang Shaoyan said matter-of-factly, "Go where? You have a heart condition, and you'll definitely have a serious attack and be lying at home. I'll definitely be crying and taking care of you."
Shang Yunlan: "...Grandma, there are still ten days until the New Year, and you've already arranged everything so clearly for me."
After they finished their meal, Shang Yunlan led Shang Shaoyan to the bedroom and took out a piece of paper from a hidden compartment in the desk: "This is the gunpowder formula I found a few days ago. Before Shang Yunlan gave me this library, I racked my brains to come up with a method for steelmaking, intending to give it to you as a birthday present..."
Shang Shaoyan frowned, picked up the recipe, glanced at it briefly, and then threw it into the charcoal brazier: "I don't need this."
Shang Yunlan frowned, somewhat puzzled: "Why not use it? With gunpowder, unifying the world will be much easier for you."
Shang Shaoyan shook his head, his expression serious: "Yes, I feel relieved. But what about the people of the world?"
She paused, then said, "I am self-aware. I know I am not a good person, but I am not willing to hurt my compatriots for the sake of ease. There may be a north-south divide now, but we all know that in the 21st century, the so-called Chen of the South and Zhou of the North are clearly Chinese."
Shang Yunlan remained silent.
Shang Shaoyan walked to the window and looked at the sky where fine snow was falling: "Brother, I know you love me very much, and I know you are doing this for my own good. But since we are going to embark on this path, we can't let so many selfish motives interfere."
A long silence followed.
Shang Yunlan looked at her younger sister standing by the window with a complicated expression, her thoughts momentarily dazed.
He could still remember that in the 21st century, his sister was always idle and lazy, never thinking about the word "struggle"; he deeply loved Shang Shaoyan, the two depended on each other for survival, and he was willing to work hard to climb up for Shang Shaoyan, even if he was covered in wounds.
After arriving here, he was unable to do anything due to his physical condition. His sister was also willing to do what he had done before, to bravely move forward in the chaotic world, amidst the clash of swords and shadows on the battlefield.
He seemed to have always underestimated the lazy Shang Shaoyan from back then.
After a long while, Shang Yunlan finally laughed out loud: "An'an."
Shang Shaoyan turned around, looking somewhat uneasy.
Shang Yunlan looked at her encouragingly, her face gentle: "An'an, I'm so glad you think that way. You... have grown up."
Shang Shaoyan was stunned. It seemed like it had been a long time since she had seen Shang Yunlan praise her so earnestly.
She couldn't help but laugh, her tone affectionate: "Brother, I'll be setting off for Qingcheng Mountain in Shu Prefecture in a few days. I wish you a long and healthy life."
...
Unlike the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, everyone in the already cold and impersonal palace was on edge.
Today is Consort Shu's birthday. As Emperor Chen's most favored concubine, and pregnant with the imperial heir, she should have been celebrated with great fanfare. However, by sheer coincidence, Consort Shu suffered a miscarriage this morning. She was five months pregnant, and it is said that the fetus that was delivered was already formed and could be identified as a prince.
When His Majesty learned of this, he was initially just in a bad mood, but Consort Shu kept crying, saying that someone had harmed her and her son. Emperor Chen actually listened to her and was immediately furious, ordering a thorough investigation of the inner palace.
In fact, everyone felt that Consort Zhao was definitely the one who did it.
Consort Zhao's real name was Li Langhuan. She was the only daughter of the deceased General of the Cavalry. Before entering the palace, she was a skilled warrior like her father. Unfortunately, during a battle with the General of the Cavalry against the Southern Barbarians, her left cheek was slashed, disfiguring her. The once stunningly beautiful woman became a demon-like figure that people avoided at all costs.
The General of the Cavalry also died in that war. At that time, His Majesty, who was still the Third Prince, married Li Langhuan with the rites due to a principal wife in order to build momentum.
The former subordinates of the General of the Cavalry were grateful for the Third Prince's kindness and helped him a lot when he seized the throne, all in the hope that the Third Prince would treat the orphans of martyrs better.
But no one expected that the gentle and refined Third Prince would reveal his true colors after ascending the throne. He not only made Li Langhuan, who should have been the Empress, a Noble Consort, but also killed most of the former generals of the Cavalry.
This is nothing short of a bolt from the blue.
From then on, Consort Zhao hated Emperor Chen and all his children.
Several concubines had already suffered miscarriages due to Consort Zhao's influence, and there were many in the palace who wished Consort Zhao dead. However, Emperor Chen did not know why, and he never touched Consort Zhao.
Therefore, Emperor Chen's order to thoroughly investigate the inner palace presented a difficult problem for everyone.
—Don't you have any self-awareness? This was clearly done by Consort Zhao, and you won't let anyone touch her! If there's a next time, why don't you just order us to find a scapegoat?
As soon as Qiao Xiuyu returned to her residence in the palace, her servant excitedly recounted the whole story.
Qiao Xiuyu listened with great interest, thinking to herself that if she slightly changed the background of the story and told it to Heyang, she would definitely like it.
“Young Master, you have no idea!” In the Northern Zhou, princes who have not yet been granted the title of king are called “Young Master.” “The reaction of Consort Zhao was also strange. She directly drew her sword and rushed to Consort Shu, saying that if Consort Shu really thought that she was the one who did it, she would stab her to death to avenge the dead prince… Poor Consort Shu came from a merchant family and had never seen such a scene before. She was so frightened that she fainted immediately.”
Qiao Xiuyu commented, "This Emperor Chen is truly a scumbag."
The servant sighed, "That's right!"
Qiao Xiuyu shook his head, not wanting to listen any further, and instead asked, "Go to the imperial kitchen and find some delicious and beautiful pastries."
The servant was somewhat shocked upon hearing this. It was true that his young master loved sweets, but he had never asked for desserts before!
However, he quickly realized: "Young master, you're going to give this to Princess Heyang, right?"
For some reason, Qiao Xiuyu felt a little uncomfortable: "Yes, that's right."
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