Ignorance cannot make the ice crack.

Silence. Pacification. Birds chirping outside the window.

Shin Zuzhou was calmly practicing calligraphy when there was a knock on the door.

The girl put down her brush, straightened her outfit and said:

– Come in

A girl came into the room, dressed in black from head to toe. This girl's name was Xin. Her name was just one hieroglyph. It meant good luck. The hieroglyph was found on her medallion when the girl was left in front of the temple of the rain goddess as a very little girl.

Xing was Shin Zuzhou's bodyguard, and despite her young age – the girl was only sixteen when she became bodyguard – she was adept at almost all types of weapons, could kill a person without delay and always kept secrets, even the most terrible ones. This is what Shin Zuzhou appreciated most about her.

The bodyguard quickly entered the room and immediately informed.

–Your Highness, Official Xia is calling for you.

This old grumbler from the Xia clan led the envoys sent from Northern Bei and irritated Shin Zuzhou with his whole being. But there was no choice. He still had power over her at the moment.

«Tell him I'll be there soon.»

After clearing the notes from the table, Shin Zuzhou began to get dressed.

She had been so restless lately. She was already going crazy. She chased an incomprehensible individual for a month and even lost her temper, using her powers.

«Why did he piss me off so much? It's probably the effects of the poison.»

Shin Zuzhou sighed heavily. She hated losing control of her body and mind. Due to the unstable dark energy in her body, she often lost control, and it brought her a lot of problems every time. She swore to herself that she would never get angry in public again, but she did it again anyway. She was ready to beat herself to death for that

She had no right to screw up. She has always been an example of restraint and awareness. Not every adult could show the kind of maturity that she showed when she was still a baby. Since childhood, she has understood for herself what she wants to achieve in this life and what methods she have to use for it.

Twenty years old. She had been walking to this point for twenty years of her life. So much work has been put in. All of this could not go to the dark. It was impossible to be careless anymore.

Shin Zuzhou adjusted the collar of her clothes as high as possible. Strict dark clothes, not much pronounced makeup, uncomplicated hair.

The girl ran her hands from her ears to the top of her head, smoothing her hair and looked in the mirror.

There were also small wrinkles between her eyebrows. But it was inevitable in her case. She frowned too often.

And yet, this is exactly the image she aspired to and adhered to, no matter what. It's just a pity that he made Shin Zuzhou look forty at thirty.

Smoothing out the wrinkle on her forehead and glancing at her reflection again, the woman smiled slightly.

– I'm afraid my future husband will be confused with my son.

**

Hall. Officials gathered. They sat down at a large table and discussed something loudly.

Shin Zuzhou hated this bunch of old cretins and never gave them even a small smile. She didn't smile at many people in principle. And yet she walked up to this table and greeted the people at it.

– You called me, Official Xia

– Exactly – replied the plump man sitting at the head of the table. – You and I need to have a very serious conversation.

Official Xia's exaggerated stern voice immediately gave the woman a headache.

– You know that the young prince has a mistress

– This princess knows – replied Shin Zuzhou, deliberately emphasizing her title.

The official did not pay attention to this.

– What do you mean!! Are you aware and not doing anything?! – Another man at the table screamed. His squeaky voice echoed through the hall.

– Due to the constant incidents and ignoring the prince, we still cannot set a date for the wedding.

– That's exactly it! We didn't come here to watch for affair.

– I agree, Official Xia. You came here to annoy me.

– Shut your mouth! – Official Xia threatened her.

– A woman should be silent when a man speaks. We are still several generations older than you.

– Exactly-exactly – he squeaky man echoed him

– You know perfectly well that we came to this country because your father doesn't really trust you. You were allowed to marry the future emperor not out of great respect. It's just that our emperor has no other choice.

– But why doesn't he have a choice, you know that, don't you? – One of them sarcastically remarked

«They blame me for the deaths of my brothers and sisters again. Is there nothing else to come up with?»

– I hope you understand that if you can't marry the prince, then there's no way for you to go home. – No one is waiting for you there. So far, the emperor has not gotten rid of you only out of unwillingness to dirty his hands.

– Yes, yes, it's in your best interest to marry the prince.

Shin Zuzhou had no desire to argue with them. She wasn't going to. She was fed up with their moralizing. These so-called officials have always believed that they have the right to point out the future Empress in her place. As soon as she ascended the throne, the first thing she would do would be to slit all their throats and send their stupid heads back to North Bay. So that their families can also admire

– Sure. I understand you, honorable ones – Shin Zuzhou humbly lowered her eyes to the floor – Then I will get rid of his mistress

The men at the table immediately became indignant and began to wail loudly

– An inhuman creature. How can you kill an innocent woman?!

– Why an innocent? This woman is sleeping with my husband

– She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. You yourself are not sorry to deprive the white world of such a treasure?

– Exactly! Just be a little more cunning. You're a woman. You've known so many dirty tricks since you were born.

– Yes. Lure him in somehow

«Control yourself, Shin Zuzhou» – she reassured herself meanwhile –!«You are an adult and educated woman. You shouldn't stoop to their level.»

– Yes, think of something.

– Surely your walking mother taught you something.

Shin Zuzhou's eyes immediately turned bloodshot. Blue veins appeared on the fist clenched with force. Her face remained stony at the same time.

Officials were unsatisfied because of her calmness.

– Yes, my mother taught me a lot. I will definitely listen to you and do everything that is required of me.

– I'm taking my leave now

The official waved his hand indifferently and Shin Zuzhou immediately left the hall.

As she walked to the door, fragments of their speech flew after her.

– This woman doesn't even get hysterical like normal women.

The next day, Shin Zuzhou's bodyguard came in again.

– The Empress is calling you to her. She says you should have breakfast with her and her sons.

– I know. I'm on my way.

Xin looked at her mistress, who was already preparing to leave and froze in shock. She wanted to warn her mistress, but she had no right to say anything to the princess without asking.

Shin Zuzhou wore a thin top that revealed her shoulders and stomach. The full skirt fluttered beautifully on the floor like a fiery flower. The bright red outfit was decorated with numerous cheap gilded ornaments. A deep neckline in the chest area exposed her ample breasts to the public.

Shin Zuzhou pinned a phoenix-shaped hairpin to her hairstyle and cast a sly glance at her bodyguard.

– Tell me. I know you have something to say.

– Your Highness, you will be disgraced if you go out looking like this. And even more so if you show yourself like that to the imperial family.

– Nonsense. This is exactly what my mother taught me, so no one will mind. – Shin Zuzhou winked at Xing and left the room.

The girl didn't know what to do. Her prudent mistress had never done anything so wild. However, she couldn't contradict her, so she just kept silent, praying that nothing would happen to her mistress.

***

– What do you allow yourself!! – Official Xia shouted when Shin Zuzhou appeared at the breakfast

«Great. He's here too.»

– What are you talking about? You ordered me to dress like this. You said this is how I will attract the attention of my cheating husband

The Empress, who was sitting at the table, froze in shock, and then turned a fake disapproving look at the envoy.

– Did you tell the poor girl to dress up like that, Official Xia?

– No-no, Your Highness!! That's not what I said at all.

Shin Zuzhou put her hands to her face and sobbed loudly, saying nothing. The official immediately turned purple with anger.

– Your Highness, it's not like that at all!

At this time, Yang Jinglong, who was also sitting at the table, maintained a deathly silence. He had no desire to participate in this palace drama. The prince tried to attract as little attention to himself as possible. Yang Jinglong hunched slightly over the table and took a small sip of tea.

Seeing the poor girl's condition, the Empress jumped up from her seat and shouted at the envoy, who had turned gray during this time.

– What have you brought the poor girl to! Apologize to her this minute!

– I beg your pardon, Your Highness! – Envoy Xia jumped up on the spot and ran up to the crying girl, begging her forgiveness

–Do you forgive him, dear? – The Empress asked, being as nervous as the envoy himself.

Shin Zuzhou immediately stopped the performance and took her hands off her face, cheerfully looked straight into the eyes of the official.

– I think he lacks sincerity, Your Highness.

– Come on, hurry up! Hurry up and apologize sincerely.

– On your knees – the princess added fuel to the fire

– What?! You're dirty-

The official stopped in mid-sentence. The Empress gave him a stern look.

Mr. Xia had no choice but to accept his fate and sink to the cold floor

– Go change your clothes, my dear. – at this time, the Empress asked – I will deal with everything here. Don't hold a grudge against this old man. He doesn't know what he does.

While the Empress was once again lamenting the failure of another attempt to make friends with the northern princess with her son, Shin Zuzhou returned to her room and finally changed into her usual clothes. She knew that nothing would happen to her because of this prank. The Empress wanted to conclude a peace agreement with her country more than her life, and the old idiot would never be able to go against the Empress herself.

After a while, an official burst into Shin Zuzhou's room, flaming with anger.

– Do you know how many things the Empress told me because of you?! How are you going to be responsible for this!

«I spoiled this old man too much. He mocked me for an unbearably long time.»

– I don't know what you mean. I did everything as you asked, Official Xia.

– You've made a fool of me in front of the whole honest court.

– I'm afraid you could have handled this without my help, Official Xia

The man approached the woman so that she could feel his breath on her face. However, she did not move. She just looked into his eyes and calmly, in her usual manner, threatened:

– You have no influence over me in this country, Official Xia. Get it before it's too late.

Shin Zuzhou lowered her voice and continued:

– Say something about my mother again and you will not be able to do with simple complaints from the Empress

The old man grinned noisily, but did not answer and, stomping loudly, left the room

– Haa

The princess sank down on her bed and covered her face with her hand.

– I was very rash, Xin, wasn't I?

The girl in black, who had been hiding behind the long curtains until now, came out into the center of the room

– Are you so angry because of his words?

— No. I'm just annoyed. Do you remember that I made a promise to myself not to be angry anymore? It is valid from now on.

– I just need to relax a little bit. And everything will be fine again.

Shin Zuzhou went out onto the balcony and stretched out her hand to the sky, whistled. She seemed to be waiting for something, but nothing happened for a couple of minutes. Then she whistled again. Silence again.

– Where did that bugger go again?

– I told him to hunt only within the palace

– Your Highness, I haven't seen your spirit all day. He hasn't been back since this morning.

– What?! Has he ever been away for so long?

– The hunt must have dragged on. I don't think anything could have happened to him.

– No. This time I have a bad feeling. We need to check it out.

– But how were you going to find him, Your Highness?

– A spiritual connection, of course

– I don't understand a bit – Xin hesitated

– Thanks to the spiritual connection, I can roughly guess where he is now.

– Are spirits capable of that? – Xin was surprised – Amazing! I also want a spiritual beast for myself.

– Don't be silly. You'd better go and pack my things. I'll go after him.

– Yes, Your Highness.