Chapter 45 Participating in the Selection of the Crown Princess
The Empress spoke cryptically, but Jiang Zhi understood.
Xiao Xuanyou was of noble status as the crown prince. Although the empress did not know why he specifically mentioned rewarding her, she could only offer him material gifts.
If I were to be ungrateful and harbor other thoughts, the Empress would certainly not stand idly by.
"Your Majesty, in governing the palace, is strict and impartial, protecting our dynasty and ensuring peace and prosperity. I admire you deeply and have no other thoughts but to look up to you with reverence. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth." She knelt down respectfully again.
Jiang Zhi felt that the Empress really didn't need to offer her a seat today.
Since she came in, she has knelt and stood up countless times, without even touching the chair.
After hearing her words, the Empress smiled and condescended to help her up.
"Look at you, why do you kneel down so easily? Don't be afraid, you are a meritorious person now, no one dares to make things difficult for you."
Jiang Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that she had passed this hurdle today.
This was not Jiang Zhi's first time entering the palace, nor was it her first time meeting the Empress.
Back in her previous life, after she had given herself to Xiao Xuanyou, the Empress had secretly summoned her once.
However, that memory was not pleasant.
Faced with this woman who had "seduced" the Crown Prince, the Empress was stern and cold, speaking without any mercy. She rebuked her for harboring wicked intentions, attempting to climb the social ladder, and being a seductive vixen who bewitched the Emperor. If she hadn't learned that the woman was already pregnant, the Empress might have simply dragged her out and had her beaten to death, thus eliminating this threat for the Crown Prince.
At that time, she was indignant and really didn't want to get involved with Xiao Xuanyou anymore. After returning to Qifeng Tower, she bribed her maid to secretly get her some abortion medicine, but in the end, she and her unborn child died.
Therefore, compared to their last meeting, the Empress's attitude towards her this time could even be described as kind and approachable.
After leaving Kunning Palace, Jiang Zhi looked up at the sky and couldn't help but exhale a deep breath.
She didn't want to come back to this cage where every step was governed by rules and every word required caution.
"Miss Jiang, please follow me. I will escort you out of the palace." As soon as she came out, a young palace maid came forward to lead the way.
Jiang Zhi nodded and followed her for a while, only to find that the route was different from the one she had taken.
She stopped warily, frowned, and asked, "Where are you taking me? Do you know that falsely conveying the Empress's orders is a capital offense?"
The young palace maid hadn't expected her to discover it so quickly, and simply lowered her head, saying, "Miss Jiang, please follow me, we'll be there soon."
Jiang Zhi stubbornly refused to move.
The two remained locked in a stalemate until Jiang Zhi grew impatient, at which point a helpless sigh came from behind her.
"I knew I couldn't fool you for long. You may leave now." The last sentence was spoken to the palace maid.
The young palace maid, feeling as if she had been granted a pardon, immediately bowed and withdrew.
Jiang Zhi saw Xiao Xuanyou standing with his hands behind his back, his bright yellow court robes making him look naturally noble, which made the surrounding scenery pale in comparison.
Alarm bells rang in her mind, but she had no choice but to bow, "This humble woman greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Before Xiao Xuanyou could speak, she added, "This humble woman is about to leave the palace, so I will not disturb Your Highness any longer. I will take my leave."
He tried to leave after saying that.
But Xiao Xuanyou grabbed her wrist.
Her body was forced close to his, the two of them so close they could feel each other's breath.
Xiao Xuanyou lowered his head, his deep phoenix eyes fixed on her.
"Why is Miss Jiang in such a hurry to leave?"
Jiang Zhi pursed her lips, "May I ask what business Your Highness has?"
Despite her cold attitude, Xiao Xuanyou was not offended. "I haven't asked Miss Jiang yet if she is satisfied with the things I had the Empress Dowager give you?"
Jiang Zhi sighed helplessly.
Although she didn't know what Xiao Xuanyou was thinking, he was, after all, the god of wealth who gave her money, so she had to be respectful.
"This humble woman likes it very much; Your Highness is very kind."
Xiao Xuanyou was extremely familiar with the cicada costume.
In that dream, they were inseparable, their hearts intertwined. With just a glance or a gesture from her, he could easily know her thoughts.
Just like now, she appears respectful and flawless on the surface, but in reality, she is impatient and even resistant.
Unable to bear Chanyi's aloofness towards him, he unconsciously tightened his grip, pulling her closer to him.
It was as if in this way she could completely belong to herself.
"Miss Jiang seems to be very afraid of me, why is that?"
Jiang Zhi struggled but couldn't break free. She could only frown and look up at him, "Does Your Highness think this is in accordance with proper etiquette?"
Although the palace path chosen by Xiao Xuanyou was very secluded and rarely visited, the palace was fraught with danger, and countless eyes were watching from the shadows.
If the Empress finds out that she and Xiao Xuanyou are entangled here, she fears she will never have a peaceful day again.
Xiao Xuanyou curled his lips. "Miss Jiang, there's no need to worry. I've already had this area cleared; no one dares to approach. I just want to know, why are you so resistant to me?"
Jiang Zhi suppressed her momentary impulse.
Why is she resisting him? Is she telling him that she knows she will die in front of him, and therefore has a trauma that prevents her from having any further involvement with him?
She didn't dare to tell the truth after all, and in the end she just made up a story: "Your Highness the Crown Prince has the bearing of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix, and is naturally noble. Although I admire you with all my heart, I am afraid of the majesty of the imperial family. I only dare to admire Your Highness's demeanor from afar. I would even feel that it would be presumptuous and disrespectful to take a step closer. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness."
She was so humble that she was almost touching the ground.
Xiao Xuanyou merely raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I didn't expect Miss Jiang to admire me so much. It truly delights me. To express my appreciation, I've decided to give Miss Jiang an opportunity that others would beg for."
Jiang Zhi instinctively felt it was a trap.
Given his status, no matter how much he resisted, he could only ask respectfully, "What does Your Highness the Crown Prince mean?"
Xiao Xuanyou's gaze was fixed on her, his voice carrying an undeniable authority, "Next month is the day I choose my Crown Princess. Since Miss Jiang is so willing, I cannot bear to disappoint you. Miss Jiang must come to participate in the selection on that day."
Jiang Zhi looked up in shock, abandoning all decorum, and asked him incredulously, "Your Highness, are you joking?"
Given her status, she couldn't possibly become the Crown Princess, let alone a concubine.
Moreover, the candidates for Crown Princess had already been decided in advance, and the Empress had just warned her. If she were to recklessly participate in the selection, wouldn't that be blatantly going against the Empress?
Xiao Xuanyou said calmly, "What's the big deal? I'm just asking you to participate in the selection, not saying I'll choose you as the Crown Princess."
"Did Miss Jiang herself say she admires me, and I was just being merciful by giving you this opportunity? Or was Miss Jiang just lying to me and making fun of me?"
Jiang Zhi dared not admit it. "Your Highness is too kind. Every word I said came from the bottom of my heart. I dared not deceive you."
“That’s right,” Xiao Xuanyou smiled. “I will send the invitation to the Jiang residence. I hope Miss Jiang will attend.”
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