“There’s still an hour before we have to enter the palace to pay our respects to His Majesty and the Empress.”
Feng Che didn’t answer her. He maneuvered his wheelchair toward the outer room.
“Since you’re already awake, get dressed and have some breakfast.”
Gao Zhi stared at the direction he had disappeared in and was momentarily stunned.
On the way to the palace, the two of them shared a carriage. As Gao Zhi watched the scenery outside the window rush past, she suddenly laughed.
“Feng Che, that year when there was heavy snow on Mount Yuelu, you wouldn’t let me ride in your carriage. Back then, did you ever imagine that one day the two of us would actually get married?”
Gao Zhi raised an eyebrow.
Feng Che paused. His expression was difficult to read—perhaps wistful, perhaps simply silent, or perhaps he truly didn’t remember that incident from so many years ago.
“Forget it. You probably don’t remember.”
Gao Zhi stretched comfortably, feeling refreshed in both body and mind.
“It really is good to be alive.”
“You get to see all kinds of strange and unexpected things when you’re alive.”
Feng Che turned his face away, his lips pressed into a straight line, though the corners curled up ever so slightly.
【How could I not remember?】
Gao Zhi froze. Before she could say anything, the carriage came to a stop.
“Master, Princess Consort, we’ve arrived.”
Inside Zichen Palace, Emperor Feng sat at the head of the hall with Empress Zhu.
In the seats below, besides Feng Zhao, there were also Consort Xian, Noble Lady Shen, and the emperor and empress’s daughter, Sixth Princess Feng Yue.
These were all familiar faces Gao Zhi had seen countless times in her previous life.
Especially Feng Yue. She was spoiled and willful, relying on the fact that she was the legitimate daughter of the Eastern Palace to act as though she were above everyone else.
Jiang Tou had her completely wrapped around her finger, and in her previous life, the little princess had often joined Empress Zhu in humiliating Gao Zhi.
“Now that A-Che is married, I can finally rest easy.”
Emperor Feng looked at the well-matched young couple standing before him, clearly pleased.
Feng Yue let out a cold snort.
“If you didn’t sleep well, go find an imperial physician.”
Emperor Feng glanced at his daughter.
“What are you snorting about here?”
“Father, haven’t you heard how the rumors about Imperial Brother and Sister A-Tou have been spreading everywhere lately?”
Feng Yue glared at Gao Zhi unhappily.
“I heard everything from Zhu Wen. It was all Gao Zhi spreading rumors outside…”
“Shut up.”
Feng Zhao turned his face toward her, his gaze so cold that even Feng Yue froze.
“Imperial Brother…”
“Where there is smoke, there is fire.”
Feng Che suddenly spoke, his tone seemingly laced with ice.
“Sixth Princess, you keep calling her Gao Zhi. Do you still remember that I am your cousin?
“Gao Zhi is my lawful wife. Even if you refuse to call her Cousin Sister-in-Law, you should at least respectfully address her as Princess Consort Huai’an.”
Gao Zhi froze for a moment and instinctively looked at the man.
There was not the slightest trace of emotion on his face, yet everyone could sense the anger radiating from him.
Feng Yue hurriedly said, “Cousin, we’re blood relatives. How can you take the side of an outsider?”
“Xiao-Liu.”
Noble Lady Shen frowned and gently reminded her, “Today is specifically to meet your cousin and cousin sister-in-law. It’s better for the family to get along peacefully.”
Hearing this, Gao Zhi quietly nodded toward Noble Lady Shen in greeting.
Noble Lady Shen had given birth to a daughter and a son. Her daughter, Second Princess Feng Rong, was Gao Zhi’s good friend and had also been her classmate at the academy.
Seeing that Feng Yue was about to speak again, Empress Zhu took a deep breath.
“This marriage was bestowed by your father. Xiao-Liu, you must not speak carelessly.”
Nanny Zhu brought over the tea.
“Your Majesty, Your Highness, it is time for the tea ceremony.”
Empress Zhu paused when she accepted the cup of tea Feng Che offered her. Though unwilling, she still drank it all.
“If your parents were still alive, they would surely be delighted to see this scene.”
At the mention of the late Prince Huai’an and his wife, Feng Che finally lifted his eyelids and met Empress Zhu’s gaze.
“Her Majesty’s words aren’t entirely correct.”
Consort Xian smiled.
“His Majesty grew up alongside the late Prince Huai’an and Princess Consort Huai’an. He was the one who bestowed this marriage, and A-Che was practically raised before our eyes. Everyone should be happy for them.”
The darkness in Empress Zhu’s eyes deepened.
Emperor Feng sighed nostalgically.
“Indeed. Looking at A-Che and A-Zhi reminds me of A-Yun and Wen Yu. May the two of you share a relationship as harmonious as theirs.”
“Thinking of the past fills me with many emotions as well.”
Empress Zhu forced a smile. When she met Feng Zhao’s gaze from the side, she had no choice but to swallow the resentment in her chest.
“I misunderstood Princess Consort Huai’an before. You mustn’t hold it against me.”
Gao Zhi took the tea cup from Nanny Zhu and first offered it to Emperor Feng. Then she picked up another cup and walked toward Empress Zhu.
“Her Highness the Empress watched the Prince grow up, so you are also an elder to me. As a junior, I naturally would never hold it against an elder for correcting me.”
Gao Zhi’s words were flawless, leaving Empress Zhu unable to find fault with them. But as she looked at the steaming cup of tea, she did not immediately take it.
Silence filled the hall.
Gao Zhi bent her knees slightly as she presented the tea, keeping both arms extended straight out at face level.
Such a posture was extremely tiring.
Even as a martial artist, Gao Zhi’s arms soon began to ache.
Especially since her period had only just ended, and she had spent the entire previous day wearing a heavy ceremonial dress and phoenix crown. She had woken that morning with aches all over her back and waist.
Now she was being tortured even further.
Feng Zhao frowned when he noticed the tea cup in Gao Zhi’s hands beginning to tremble slightly. He was about to speak, but restrained himself.
He wanted her to realize who was truly worthy of her trust.
Only then would she regret what a terrible choice she had made.
Emperor Feng also noticed that something was wrong. Even though presenting tea was part of the ceremony, there was no need for it to take this long. He was just about to intervene when—
Gao Zhi felt a hand support her lower back, which was beginning to give way.
Immediately afterward, the tea cup was taken from her hands.
“What are you doing, Cousin?”
Seeing that her mother was finally about to accept the tea only for Feng Che to snatch it away, Feng Yue became angry.
“That is Mother’s tea.”
“Is that so?”
Feng Che handed the cup to Shang Lu.
“I saw that the tea had already gone cold, yet Her Majesty showed no intention of drinking it. I thought she had already had her fill.
“But if Her Majesty still wants tea, I can have someone pour her a fresh cup.”
“Cousin, your actions are rather discourteous.”
Feng Zhao spoke up.
Feng Che glanced at him before saying,
“She was exhausted last night.”
The words came so suddenly that Gao Zhi, along with everyone else, was stunned.
The hand at her lower back quietly rubbed twice.
The pressure was steady, the rough calluses on his palm brushing against the woman’s soft waist and causing a faint ticklish sensation.
Such an ordinary massage, paired with what the man had just said, suddenly took on an unmistakably suggestive meaning.
Even Feng Yue, an unmarried young woman, blushed with embarrassment.
A murderous intent surged through Feng Zhao’s eyes.