Xiao Chenghuai restrained his smile and said coldly,
“Laifu, help me change clothes.”
As he spoke, he prepared to stand up, but Jiang Zhaoxue immediately pressed him down.
“What are you joining in for?”
“This prince will accompany you.”
“You accompany me?”
Jiang Zhaoxue looked him up and down.
“You can barely stand. Are you trying to make me perform another wedding ritual to bring you good fortune?”
Xiao Chenghuai: “……”
Jiang Zhaoxue stuffed the remaining jujube paste pastry into her mouth, patted the crumbs off her hands, and casually straightened her skirt.
She lifted her chin toward Granny Cui.
“Let’s go. We’ll receive the imperial decree.”
Granny Cui’s face turned pale with nervousness. She lowered her voice.
“Princess Consort, the person delivering the decree is Eunuch Li from Empress’s side. He is extremely difficult to deal with. You must be careful…”
“Got it, got it. Stop nagging.”
Jiang Zhaoxue strode out confidently. After walking a few steps, she suddenly turned back, picked up the plate of jujube paste pastries from the table, and stuffed it into Yuzao’s hands.
“Keep these for me. I’ll continue eating them when I come back.”
Yuzao hugged the plate and nodded repeatedly.
Leaning against the couch, Xiao Chenghuai watched her energetic figure disappear. The corners of his lips curved slightly, but his expression soon turned serious again.
Empress Lin Zhilan was the biological mother of the Crown Prince.
Back then, when the late emperor entrusted his final wishes, he had handed half of the military command token to Xiao Chenghuai, causing countless people to become jealous.
Over these years, while he had been bedridden with illness, the military token had still not been handed over. The people in the court had all been waiting in line for him to die.
Now that he had recovered, the person in the palace could no longer sit still. However, because of her status and reputation, she had first arranged for the empress to summon him instead.
Xiao Chenghuai lowered his eyes and glanced at his still slightly trembling hand. A trace of coldness flashed through his eyes.
“Laifu.”
“This servant is here.”
“Prepare the carriage. Tomorrow, this prince will not enter the palace. I will wait outside the palace gates.”
Laifu was stunned.
“Your Highness, your health…”
“I won’t die.”
Xiao Chenghuai replied indifferently.
“She said so.”
Laifu: “Understood.”
Front courtyard, main hall.
By the time Jiang Zhaoxue arrived, Eunuch Li had already been waiting impatiently.
He was a man in his forties, with a pale face and no beard. He had a pair of triangular eyes, and whenever he looked at someone, there was always a hint of arrogance in his gaze. Behind him followed four young eunuchs carrying the imperial decree and gift boxes of fine brocade. The display was quite grand.
The moment he saw Jiang Zhaoxue enter, his eyes swept over her from head to toe, and the corner of his mouth curled slightly.
So this was the Princess Consort who had been brought back from the charity burial ground to perform the wedding ritual for good fortune?
She looked fair and clean enough, but unfortunately, she carried herself like a bandit. She had no proper posture when standing and no proper manner when walking. Disgraceful!
“Princess Consort of Jing Prince, receive the decree.”
Eunuch Li deliberately dragged out his voice as he unfolded the imperial decree, putting on an imposing display.
Jiang Zhaoxue did kneel, but her posture was clearly perfunctory. Her knees had barely touched the cushion before she stopped, looking more like she was squatting in a horse stance.
The corner of Eunuch Li’s eye twitched. He could not be bothered to argue with her, so he simply raised his voice and began reading.
The general meaning was:
After hearing that Jing Prince had recovered from his illness, the empress was greatly pleased and therefore summoned the Princess Consort of Jing Prince to enter the palace tomorrow for an audience.
“\…This decree is hereby granted.”
After finishing the reading, Eunuch Li stepped forward and held out the imperial decree. With a smile that did not reach his eyes, he looked at Jiang Zhaoxue.
“Princess Consort, accept the decree.”
Jiang Zhaoxue accepted the imperial decree and stood up, casually flipping through it.
The handwriting was pretty good, and the paper quality was nice too. She could use it to paste the windows later.
Seeing her completely indifferent attitude, Eunuch Li could not help but remind her:
“Princess Consort, Her Majesty the Empress rarely summons noblewomen from outside the palace alone. The fact that she has specially summoned you this time shows how much she values you. When you enter the palace tomorrow, you must prepare properly. Do not bring shame to Jing Prince’s residence.”
“Bring shame?”
Jiang Zhaoxue looked up at him.
“Do I not look respectable enough like this?”
Eunuch Li choked.
Was that what he meant?
Jiang Zhaoxue had already rolled up the imperial decree and stuffed it into her sleeve. She tilted her head and stared at Eunuch Li’s face.
Eunuch Li did not know why, but her gaze made him feel uneasy.
“W-Why is the princess consort looking at me?”
“Reading your face.”
Jiang Zhaoxue shrugged.
“What?”
“I know a little about physiognomy.”
Jiang Zhaoxue raised one finger and waved it in front of him.
“Eunuch, your complexion is red mixed with green, and there are dark lines faintly moving between your brows. It seems you’ll be having bad luck soon!”
Eunuch Li’s expression darkened.
“Princess Consort, please be careful with your words!”
“I’m telling the truth.”
Jiang Zhaoxue looked completely sincere.
“Pay special attention to the northwest direction. Avoid going northwest these days. Otherwise, a disaster involving bloodshed will be impossible to escape.”
Eunuch Li’s face turned green with anger.
He had served the Empress in the palace for more than twenty years. What kind of situations had he not witnessed? Yet no one had ever dared to curse him with a bloody disaster right to his face!
“This servant appreciates the princess consort’s kindness.”
He gritted his teeth and forced out those words before turning around and leaving. He walked so quickly that the young eunuchs behind him almost could not keep up.
When he reached the doorway, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and gave a cold laugh.
“Princess Consort, when you enter the palace tomorrow, please do not use these tricks of wandering fortune-tellers to deceive people again. The honored figures in the palace will not fall for such things.”
Jiang Zhaoxue waved at him with a bright smile.
“Take care, Eunuch. Be careful of the northwest corner!”
Eunuch Li let out a cold snort, flicked his sleeve, and left.
Granny Cui stood to the side, anxiously rubbing her hands.
“Princess Consort, how could you offend Eunuch Li too?! He is a trusted person by the Empress’s side. If he says something bad about you in front of the Empress…”
“He won’t be able to say anything bad soon.”
Jiang Zhaoxue patted her sleeve and turned around to walk back.
“Ah?”
“I already told you, he will suffer a bloody disaster soon.”
Jiang Zhaoxue did not even turn her head.
“By the time he recovers, it’ll be too late.”
Granny Cui opened her mouth, unsure whether she should believe her or not.
This Princess Consort’s words had never failed to come true.
But that was someone from the Empress’s side. Could he really just fall into trouble that easily?
The next morning, before dawn had fully broken, Jiang Zhaoxue was pulled out of bed by Granny Cui.
“Princess Consort! Wake up! You’re entering the palace today! Missing the appointed time would be a great disrespect!”
Jiang Zhaoxue buried herself under the blanket and muttered:
“Let me sleep for another quarter of an hour.”
“No!”
“Half a quarter of an hour?”
“No, absolutely not!”
Jiang Zhaoxue let out a miserable groan and sat up, her hair as messy as a chicken’s nest.
Granny Cui quickly helped her wash up and dress. Layer after layer of ceremonial robes was put onto her.
Jiang Zhaoxue grumbled unhappily,
“These clothes are way too heavy.”
“Rules are rules.”
While tying her sash, Granny Cui continued reminding her,
“After entering the palace, you must perform the proper salute when meeting the Empress. You cannot raise your head to look directly at her. Answer whatever you are asked, and do not say anything you shouldn’t…”
“I know, I know.”
“Also, if the Empress gives you any rewards, you must thank her properly. If she asks about the prince’s illness, say that he has already recovered…”
“Momo.”
Jiang Zhaoxue interrupted her.
“Hmm?”
“You’re more nervous than I am.”
Granny Cui opened her mouth but did not argue. She really was nervous.
She knew better than anyone about the old grudges between the Empress and Jing Prince’s residence.
The Empress summoning Jiang Zhaoxue into the palace might sound like a simple conversation, but in reality, it was a test. Most likely, she would not stop until she had given her a proper display of authority.
Seeing Granny Cui’s face turn pale and then green with worry, Jiang Zhaoxue reached out and patted her shoulder.
“Alright. Your princess consort has seen all kinds of situations. I’ve even slept in mass graves. Do you think I’m afraid of the imperial palace?”
Outside the courtyard, Xiao Chenghuai was already waiting in his wheelchair.
He wore a dark ink-colored cloak, making his already pale face appear even more delicate. However, his eyes were clear and bright, showing no trace of illness.
The moment Jiang Zhaoxue saw him, she frowned.
“You’re going out?”
“I’ll send you to the palace gates.”
Xiao Chenghuai said calmly,
“I’m afraid you’ll offend everyone there and this prince will have to go rescue you.”
Jiang Zhaoxue burst out laughing.
“Then prepare yourself to rescue me. Wherever I go, I’m bound to offend people.”
Xiao Chenghuai looked at her, and something unreadable flashed briefly in his eyes.
“Offending people is not important. Just don’t get yourself into trouble.”
He said,
“Get in the carriage. This prince will send you to the palace gates.”
Jiang Zhaoxue snorted and climbed into the carriage.
This partner of hers was actually quite reliable.
The carriage began moving, its wheels rolling over the blue stone pavement and producing a deep, rumbling sound.
Winter days in Shengjing arrived late. At this moment, the sky had only just begun to brighten with the pale glow of dawn. The shops on both sides of the street had not yet opened, and only the early-rising street vendors were huddled against the cold wind, lighting their stoves.
Jiang Zhaoxue lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and glanced outside.
“Your Highness.”
“Hmm.”
“What grudge does the Empress have against you?”
Xiao Chenghuai was silent for a moment before replying,
“It’s not a grudge against this prince. It’s a grudge against the military command token.”
“She wants it?”
“Everyone does.”
Jiang Zhaoxue nodded and lowered the curtain.
“Then rest assured. Today, she won’t be able to get a single word out of my mouth.”
The corners of Xiao Chenghuai’s lips curved slightly.
“This prince isn’t worried about you keeping secrets. I’m worried you’ll speak too quickly.”
Jiang Zhaoxue kicked him through the carriage curtain.
The carriage stopped in front of the palace gates.
The towering vermilion gates appeared especially imposing in the morning mist. On both sides of the gate stood the imperial guards holding halberds, their expressions emotionless, like two stone statues.
Xiao Chenghuai had no intention of getting out of the carriage. He only spoke from behind the curtain.
“Go. This prince will wait for you.”
Jiang Zhaoxue jumped down from the carriage and glanced back at the inconspicuous blue-curtained carriage.
The curtain by the window was slightly lifted, revealing a pair of deep eyes. She waved toward the gap, then turned around and followed the young eunuch leading the way into the palace.
The vermilion palace gates slowly closed behind her, making a heavy, muffled sound.