Chapter 168 Imperial Princess

At this moment, she was not alone with her two, but in front of the Mingfeng Palace, in front of everyone's eyes, Shen Zhiyi's loud slap could be said to have no intention of saving face for Xiao Shu at all.

She should feel embarrassed.

Even Xiao Shu thought she would feel embarrassed, but there was only a calmness in her heart that "should have been so". She gently raised her hand to support her cheek, and her voice was as faint as smoke: "If we can not be lowly, who wouldn't want to live with dignity? I also have a sentence that I wanted to say to the palace attendant long ago."

Shen Zhiyi looked at her with almost a pitiful gaze.

Xiao Shu, however, did not feel ashamed of herself. When she put down her hand, she opened her palm and glanced at it, and the anger in her eyes disappeared completely. She said, "Since I was very young, I have thought that I could do such a spoiled and capricious princess. You are above all else and do not know the hardships of being a minister or a slave."

Shen Zhiyi didn't speak.

Xiao Shu smiled at her and said, "Come on, Royal Highness Princess."

Emperor Shen Lang and Empress Dowager Xiao have indeed been waiting for a while.

Prince Shen Jie of Linzi is also present.

Perhaps the result of selecting a concubine before the month was not satisfactory. Although he will not get married until next month, his face has become somewhat gloomy and he doesn't look very happy.

===Kunning Section 213===

The palace people first spread the message outside, and Shen Zhiyi walked from outside the palace. Instead of being lively and indulgent as usual, she followed the etiquette of the court and paid her respects.

Xiao Shu came in behind her.

The slightly red palm print on the cheek is not eye-catching but very noticeable.

The emperor, with a drowsy face, sat at a high place and saw clearly at a glance. He raised his eyebrows and glanced at Shen Zhiyi, but a smile appeared on his lips. However, he didn't ask a word, as if he hadn't seen anything and spoke to Shen Zhiyi as usual.

Empress Dowager Xiao occasionally pays attention to a few words.

She just didn't even glance at Xiao Shu.

In the previous dynasty, the wind and clouds were surging, and Xiao Shi was left in a difficult position due to the re investigation of the Ganzhou disaster relief silver case. All kinds of evidence seemed to jump out like her own eyes, which made Empress Dowager Xiao suspect that after leaving her Cining Palace that day, Xiao Shu was granted the title of virtuous consort that night, indicating that she had some dealings with the emperor.

A huge royal family, with people sitting in the Jiji Hall, spoke with care and blessings, but they all seemed grand and insignificant.

The only one with a touch of human touch may be Shen Jie.

Since seeing Shen Zhiyi come in, his eyebrows have been furrowing. He worries about the wind and sand on the road, reminds about the food along the way, and even talks a few times as if he wants to say something. However, looking at the faces of the eldest brother and mother, he still manages to hold back.

He is not the legitimate head of the imperial family. He grew up under the protection of his father, mother, and brother from a young age, and his past usurpation of the throne has nothing to do with him. He does not bear public expectations and thus avoids various disputes, both openly and secretly. On the contrary, he has the qualification to be affectionate.

Keduoqing is also limited by his cowardice.

Shen Zhiyi used to only think that this Wang brother was close and fun. Although he was in the game today, he watched coldly and noticed some things that he had not paid attention to before, and saw some details that he had not seen clearly before.

At the end of the Yi Ying narrative, he invited Xiang Fengshen to recite the imperial edict and bestow the Da Qian Festival symbol for Shen Zhiyi to reconcile the conflicts between the two countries as Princess Da Qian after arriving in the Xiongnu.

After all the formalities, it's already past noon.

Among the wealthy families and nobles in the capital, there were those who befriended Shen Zhiyi, such as the many accompanying students in the former Yangzhi Zhai, or simple minded playmates like the Prince of Pingnan, who came to the palace to see her and traveled with her to the imperial garden.

Although Xiao Shu had been studying with Yang Zhizhai, she did not follow her. She only watched from a distance by the rockery and instructed the palace attendant beside her: "All the guards originally added to Mingfeng Palace have been removed, and they have retreated to the northwest and northeast gates. Without the order of this palace, no one can move without permission. Another person will be sent to carefully monitor. If the second girl from Jiang Shilang's mansion comes, please report to me first."

The palace officials were somewhat confused.

Xiao Shu, however, lowered her gaze and collected all the bright light in her eyes. She no longer glanced at the people in the imperial garden and returned to her own palace.

Jiang Xuening arrived late.

Passing through several palace gates along the way, I only felt that apart from the colorful decorations, there was no difference from every time I entered the palace before. In the previous life, when Shen Zhiyi was ordered to marry, she had already been selected as the Princess of Linzi and stayed in her own mansion waiting for her marriage. Shen Zhiyi hated her for playing tricks on her and was not very close to her. She naturally wished that this annoying little sister-in-law had left early. How could she have come to the palace to see her off? Therefore, it is impossible to compare the difference between the past life and this life.

But there is Zheng Bao in the palace.

Just past two palace gates and before entering the imperial garden, Zheng Bao was seen approaching from the direction of the Qianqing Palace. He passed by and quickly said, "Consort Xian has mobilized the guards, please enter the urn. The substitute has secretly infiltrated the Mingfeng Palace, and Princess Feng will drive out of the palace at the third quarter of the Youzheng reign. The girl must finish her work at the second quarter of the Youzheng reign, so that the princess can dress up as a palace maid and leave the Shunzhen Gate. The girl also requests herself to leave the palace as soon as possible."

The third quarter of the Youzheng period is the auspicious time calculated by the Imperial Academy.

The length of day and night in spring is similar, and the third quarter of the Youzheng period is the beginning of the hidden moon, transitioning from yang to yin.

Jiang Xuening pondered that it was generally like being exiled in the middle of the night at the residence of the Marquis of Yong Yi. There were quite a few criticisms among the people regarding the matter of marriage, and the court was afraid that too many people would cause trouble during the day, so it was difficult to deal with it. Therefore, they made up a grand excuse to reschedule the time to the evening.

She nodded at the words without saying much, and walked over as if nothing had happened.

The palace people led her to the imperial garden.

Shen Zhiyi saw her and casually complained that she came too late.

Jiang Xuening blushed and said, "Then I will punish my daughter to stay and spend more time with the princess.".

When everyone was studying at the Fengchen Hall, they knew that Princess Leyang had a strong preference for Jiang Xuening. With such a large supporting mountain about to leave, Jiang Xuening naturally couldn't bear to part ways. There was nothing suspicious about her pretentious behavior, so it was natural for her to stay and speak for a while. And they arrived early, and they couldn't say anything personal. As the sun set, they both bid farewell and said they would bid farewell to the princess outside the city gate.

When everyone was around, Jiang Xuening could still hold her face tightly and prevent tears from falling.

As soon as the crowd left, she took Shen Zhiyi's hand and let out a mournful cry, "Your Highness."

Late spring has arrived, and there are actually not many flowers left in the imperial garden.

Thick shade covers the ground, and the afterglow slants.

The palace people stood far away, and just now Yan Yan's friends who were still laughing had also dispersed, leaving only a desolate garden.

Shen Zhi was dressed in luxurious attire, with heavy decorations that were somewhat cumbersome, pressing on her head and shoulders, trembling and swaying.

She smiled at Jiang Xuening and said, "Earlier, Su Shangyi said she wanted you to come and put on my makeup for me. So, I said that Ning Ning would cry when she saw me. I thought I had made a mistake when I saw you didn't cry just now, and I didn't expect you to lose any confidence."

The end of the day is already Youzheng.

Jiang Xuening didn't have the heart to take her joke. She couldn't even wipe her tears, so she pulled her up from the pavilion and said, "Your Highness, there isn't much time left. Come with me and go back to Mingfeng Palace first."

Shen Zhiyi was taken aback and said, "What's going on?"

Jiang Xuening looked around and saw a young eunuch probing his head from afar. He guessed it was someone who came to monitor the palace. He sneered inwardly and said decisively, "The matter has been arranged properly. You can come back to Mingfeng Palace with me, change your identity and head, and then leave the palace. The best person will handle the matter of marriage. As long as you can leave the palace safely, the rest will be secure!"

She held Shen Zhiyi's hand and walked forward.

After taking two steps out, I felt a resistance coming from behind. When I turned around, I saw Shen Zhiyi standing in place, looking at her with a puzzled expression.

At that moment, Jiang Xuening's heart suddenly surged.

Shen Zhiyi repeated, "Going out of the palace?"

Jiang Xuening felt her heart suspended in mid air by a fragile string, even her voice trembling. "Yes, Your Highness, don't you remember? I asked you that day," she said

Shen Zhiyi seemed unable to remember.

Before entering the palace, Jiang Xuening had thought about the various situations she would face after entering, whether it was the revelation of the situation or the interception by Xiao Shu, but there was no imagination that could match this moment.

She feels like something went wrong.

That night, Shen Zhiyi's answer was still vivid in her ears. She repeated to her, reminding her, "On my birthday, while drinking in His Highness's palace, I asked His Highness if he could escape far away without going to marry him. His Highness answered me and even said that he hated the imperial family..."

The sky is getting dark.

The palace lamps in the imperial garden are on.

The hustle and bustle of birds and insects in the distance makes the moment even more desolate.

Shen Zhiyi was dazed for a moment, and one palace lamp after another was reflected in her pupils, but it was just a meaningless shadow that could not bring much warmth.

Blink, the cherry blossom under the corner of the eye trembles lightly.

Like a drop of pink tears.

She remembered it all, her heart moved, her eyes turned red, but when she smiled, she felt bitter. She raised her hand and gently stroked Jiang Xuening's slightly cold cheek, tears in her eyes, and said, "Silly Ningning, you all said it was drinking, and those words were all drunken! How can you take it seriously..."

With a loud bang, the string was finally broken by this light and floating sentence. Jiang Xuening's heart, which was hanging high, fell down, hurt, woke up, and became numb.

She could hardly believe what she had heard.

My mind is a chaotic mess.

After reflecting for a while, she couldn't help but take a step back and said, "How could it be? Your Highness clearly doesn't want to go to the Tatar for a wedding. You shouldn't go, nor can you. Since you don't want to go, why do you want to go? I have arranged everything properly. You just need to return to Mingfeng Palace and change it to escape the walls of these four palaces. It's not up to you. Why don't you leave? Why don't you leave?"

Shen Zhiyi never thought that she had taken her drunken words seriously. After suppressing them several times, tears still boiled in her eyes.

Try to look up and not let tears fall.

A sparse tung tree hangs in the corner of the missing moon, and the cold frost shines on her originally pale face, but due to the delicate layer of rouge on her cheeks, she has a strange blush.

The wind blows, wide sleeved hunting.

She thought she shouldn't disappoint Ning Ning. She had put in a lot of effort to prepare and let go of her previous naive and indulgent nature. However, there was something deeper and heavier weighing on her shoulders, sinking into her heart.

At this moment, Jiang Xuening couldn't see her face clearly and couldn't see her gaze.

Only her hoarse voice.

Shen Zhiyi slowly said, "Everyone in the world has the right to escape, but I cannot, and only I cannot."

Jiang Xuening was extremely puzzled.

Shen Zhiyi stood on the stairs, laughing with self deprecation and sadness. The moonlight spread all over her body, adding an indescribable weight: "People often say that eating the wealth and loyalty of a ruler is a matter of loyalty. In fact, the opposite should be said. Eating the ointment of the people is a measure of livelihood. The throne of the emperor and the respect of the royal family are not something that falls from heaven. The world is taxed, the people are forced to work, and they are fed with luxurious clothing and jade. They worship and seek to worship themselves, treating themselves as cattle and horses, and worshipping the imperial family as gods. I am arrogant in the palace, and I don't know much, but you are in the market and grew up in the countryside." Seeing many worries and difficulties, one should know. If a war arises, the country will be a great thief, with no loyalty and good will. How can we win the war? The overthrow of the imperial family is small, and the suffering of the people is great. No matter how corrupt the court may be, I will ultimately be the princess of this empire... "

Jiang Xuening was completely stunned.

She finally had an idea in her heart that she had never had before in her life.

Shen Zhiyi slowly closed her eyes, as if she wanted to suppress the surging emotions in her heart, or let her courage not retreat. She continued, "Ning Ning, I'm not out of any profound righteousness. I'm just afraid, extremely afraid."

Jiang Xuening's throat is blocked and she can't speak.

Shen Zhiyi gazed at her, with a hint of coldness and perseverance that she had never seen before in her eyes: "I'm afraid, afraid to run away when fate comes today, and lose without fighting, becoming a cowardly coward; I'm afraid, afraid to avoid responsibility when it comes, and one day my life will be ruined, and I won't stand up straight in the crying of a baby!"

In the previous life, Jiang Xuening was not sure how Shen Zhiyi went to the Tatars for a marriage. She only knew that the once bright princess had fallen asleep in the coffin.

She never thought of such a possibility——

This once unruly and pampered princess voluntarily went!

In her previous life, she disguised herself as a man, causing Shen Zhiyi to fall in love with her and hate her again; In this life, she came into contact with Shen Zhiyi, claiming it was true love, but in reality, it was more out of seeking benefits and avoiding harm to please.

She wanted to save Shen Zhiyi, just to repay the kindness that the other party had bestowed.

But it wasn't until this moment that I realized how absurd I was, how ridiculous I was, and how much I missed

At this point, Jiang Xuening felt that she should no longer be persistent and demanding, after all, one person's ideas are predetermined, and how can others change them?

But it's either unwilling or unwilling.

Do you want to watch her rush towards that tragic fate without any hindrance?

She took her hand and almost begged, saying, "Don't do this, Your Highness. Whether you're drunk or not, you promised me. I'll take you out of the palace, and I'll take you away!"

Shen Zhiyi's tears streamed down her face and she said, "Let's just assume that's a never-ending luxury wish."

She turned around and left.

I'm afraid if I watch her for a while longer, I'll have to soften my heart and repent.

Jiang Xuening chased after her and finally shouted uncontrollably, "The ambition of the Tartars is nothing more than a delaying strategy. This should not have been the price borne by His Highness! Do you know that your visit may..."

Shen Zhiyi stopped in her tracks.

She dared not say that word, fearing that her words would become true. Looking at her back, she said dejectedly, "Your Highness, the journey back to the country is far away. I'm just afraid that you'll be gone for too long and I won't see you when I miss you."

The flowers in the courtyard have fallen, and the shadows of the trees are mottled.

The precious green plum tree at the corner of the garden has rugged branches, resembling the white bones that have not been collected outside the Yanmen Pass.

But there is a sweet fragrance of gardenia in the air.

Shen Zhiyi turned her back to Jiang Xuening, looked at the missing moon in the ink blue sky, and looked around. After a long time, she finally looked back at her, but didn't say much. She just leaned over and picked up a handful of soft soil under the tree, walking back to her.

Then put this handful of soil into her palm.

It's hard to say whether it's light or heavy.

===Kunning Section 214===

She wanted Jiang Xuening to smile, her eyes shining like stars: "Ning Ning, don't go see me off. One day, when Yan Lin leads the Great Qian Iron Hooves to break through the Yanmen Gate, bring this handful of homeland and welcome me back to my homeland, back to my capital!"

Tears suddenly blurred my vision.

At the second quarter of Youzheng, Shen Zhiyi stopped and walked past the bright palace lamp.

When her figure was almost disappearing, Jiang Xuening stumbled and chased forward a few steps, but in the blink of an eye, he could no longer see anything clearly in the darkness: "Your Highness, I promise you!"

The hoarse voice shattered the darkness.

Your Highness, I promise you——

When the iron hooves break through the Yanmen Gate one day, I will bring this handful of homeland to welcome you back to your homeland and return to your capital!

I promise you.