第九章Chapter IX

第九章

Chapter IX

-، In the Imperial Palace As dawn broke, a new day began in its usual quiet form. Li Xiao woke up to the sound of songbirds and the first rays of the sun that crept through the window. She got out of bed and felt energized in the fresh air that surrounds the place, then headed to the window to overlook the tranquil garden in the courtyard. The view was fresh and relaxed with blooming flowers and pine trees surrounding the place.

Rory walked into the room to wake up her lady. "Your Highness, you woke up early this morning." Li Xiao turned around with a calm smile, "Yes, today looks really beautiful and comfortable. I'm grateful for my life here." She was grateful to be in this life again. Rory was happy that her lady is doing well today.

Rory pointed to the bathroom, "You have to take a shower, and then you're going to wear these clothes." Li Xiao sat down and put her hands in a bowl of golden water. Rory spoke during the event, "Today will be the anniversary of their grandparents to celebrate. You should wear these simple white clothes and we'll arrange your hair for you." Li Xiao was listening to Rory, and after a shower, she dried her hands and moved to change her clothes.

"I know, I'll get ready. You can leave now." Meanwhile, Rory helped her lady wear white clothes. Li Xiao asked, "Has there been anything new in the case? I heard something about it." Rory replied, "Yes, Your Highness, I heard that Secretary Zhou is involved in other matters, so Mr. Ma and General Jin will cooperate to resolve the issue."

Li Xiao was surprised, "This is strange, it is not usually Jin Shen to work with someone else like Mr. Ma. Rory paused for a moment before looking at her lady, "Your Highness, there's another piece of news, the emperor has ordered the recruitment of new guards due to the lack of guards in the capital. New guards will be selected through testing soon."

Li Xiao nodded, reflecting on the news she heard. She understood that recruiting the guard might be in her favor, as she could get close to Jin Shen and look for evidence to prevent the above from happening again. "It will be a really good opportunity to learn more about what happened," Li Xiao thought.

While dressed in white with Rory's help, Li Xiao felt a mixture of anticipation and anxiety about upcoming events. As her equipment was finished, Li Xiao stood up with humility and elegance.

Preparations for the ancestral memory of the palace were in full swing, busy with the preparations for the solemn occasion.

Royal Princess Li Xiao and her entourage were heading towards the ancestral hall.

As she entered the hall, she found herself in front of a huge door made of ornate wood, painted in dark red and decorated with gold carvings that express power and grandeur. The door is flanked by two huge, finely carved columns, telling stories of ancient victories and battles.

As soon as she entered, she contemplated the floor made of shiny marble, which reflects light from candles and oil lamps scattered throughout the hall. Hanging from the high ceiling are sparkling crystal chandeliers, giving the place a special glamour and charm.

At the front of the hall, there was a raised platform made of fine wood, decorated with red silk fabrics. On this platform, there was a majestic altar decorated with garlands of fresh flowers and assorted fruits. In the middle of the altar are statues of ancestors carved in bronze, which appear vivid thanks to the fine details with which they were carved on both sides of the hall, spread white marble columns bearing the high ceiling of the hall decorated with drawings and inscriptions. The walls are covered with colorful murals depicting scenes from the lives and triumphs of the ancestors, making every corner of the hall radiate history and heritage.

In the center of the hall, a long red carpet leads to the altar, and on either side of it sit members of the imperial family and royal concubines on silk cushions, arranged in a way that reflects their status and rank. Everyone sat quietly and respectfully, waiting for the start of the annual ceremony commemorating the ancestors.

After the emperor and the widowed empress were received, the ceremony began as they stood in front of the ancestral podium with reverence and reverence. The ceremony began with the recitation of ancient texts and supplications to the ancestors, wishing them eternal rest. Everyone followed the rituals with precision and respect, sensing the presence of ancestors among them.

weather was full of respect and reverence. The widowed empress sat next to the emperor, with a calm and humble gaze.

After the ceremony was fully over, the entire royal family entered to eat together as part of the tradition, in honor of this blessed day. Everyone sat down and the servants entered regularly, serving simple dishes of food at the tables, such as steamed white rice, fried fish, steamed spinach and cabbage, fresh fruit, as well as manto bread and tea. These simple dishes were presented as a sign of respect and reverence for the souls of former ancestors.

As they ate, Xiao put the chopstick aside to me and humbly looked at the emperor and said, "Brother, mother, I would like to talk about something while everyone and my mother are here."

Everyone, especially her brother and mother, paid attention, and the emperor looked at his sister with open eyes listening to her words. "Of course, dear sister," he replied, while nodding to allow her to talk about what she wished.

In a moment of silence swept through weather, as everyone waited for what she had to say, Li Xiao settled in her seat harmoniously, and then began to speak clearly: "Brother, you know, palace life is full of obligations and responsibilities, and I feel that I need some time for myself, to think and relax."

Her mother was astonished by the proposal, while Li Xiao continued, her eyes meeting her mother's steadily: "I would like to stay in a suburb of the capital, at the ancestral temple of Qing Lin Village for at least a month."

The emperor raised his eyebrows and asked, then looked at the widowed empress: "Mother, what do you think of what Xiao told me about?"

The widowed empress looked closely at Li Xiao and said gently, "My daughter, why this sudden request?"

Li Xiao answered her mother: "I think I need to rest and meditate away from palace life for a while."

Her mother sighed, not wanting to stop her daughter from doing what she wanted: "Honey, I have noticed that you really need to rest, I cannot refuse you, you can only go for one month, after that you come back to us, and I will inform the head of the temple to provide you with what you need."

Xiao smiled at me in gratitude: "Thank you, you won't feel my absence in a month."

Then the emperor said, "If it's what my sister needs, he'll accompany the guards until you arrive to keep you safe."

The emperor's wife said: "Your Highness, keep yourself safe, you must be in good health."

Li Xiao nodded smiling, while the concubine Lin interrupted her with a sharp look and then said, "It seems that Her Highness the Princess knows how to get what she wants with a word, be safe Your Highness."

The empress interrupted her in a gentle tone, trying to calm weather: "Sister Lin, this is no way to talk to Li Xiao."

Li Xiao looked at Concubine Lin with a sideways look and a slight smile: "It's okay, I thank Concubine Lin for worrying about me."

After the day has passed...

**اليوم التالي**

Princess Li Xiao's belongings and carriage had been prepared and she was ready to set off for her destination with Rory. As she walked out of her room to go, the widowed empress came to say goodbye to her daughter. I turned to her with a worried look: "Daughter, I will miss you, take care of yourself, eat and go safely and let us see who wants you why? Tomorrow I bring you the third day."

Xiao smiled at me as she held her mother's hand: "Mom, I'll be fine, don't worry, I'm not going forever, just for a short time, I want to see new things to change my mental state."

There were touches of calm and tenderness from her mother, and then she raised her hand and held her cheek in her daughter's hand: "Well, safety accompanied you dear, oh, your brother didn't come to have a court meeting."

"It's okay, I said goodbye to him yesterday." Li Xiao then went to her carriage with her mother behind her, looking at her with a look of anxiety and sadness. The vehicle drove towards the village of Ching Lin and, since it is on the outskirts of the capital, did not need to reach there until sunset.

After she arrived, the servant told her, "Madam, we have arrived. Do you need to help me get off the wagon?"

Rory reached out to help her lady get off. The head of the temple, servants and assistants were ready to receive the princess. After she descended, her steps moved in front of them, and then they all bowed in joy: "We salute Her Highness the Princess, welcome to our humble place." After that, the president advanced, "Welcome Your Highness, I am the president here, my name is Yong Ling." Li Xiao replied, "Happy to meet you Mr. Yong, there is no need for formalities here, we are not in the palace, consider me one of you, this will make me happy." Mr. Young smiled humbly, "Well Your Highness, You are already part of us now, you have a house prepared for you and you can have anything else, just order them and they will take care of you." "I appreciate your effort, Mr. Young." Afterwards, Rory walked into her residence, where she looked around, "The place is modest but good, and the courtyard is very beautiful." Li Xiao put her face covering aside, "It's really comfortable, it's the right decision." Rory returned to her lady's side asking, "What is the reason, really, madam? Because you're here." Li Xiao began staring at the dark starry sky, making her look beautifully illuminated, "I think I came to look at those stars." She smiled, Rory was desperate, "Madam, you have already become a mysterious person, you don't even share your thoughts with me, but I hope you achieve what you want, because I'm going." Madam had a long and tiring day, you should rest."

"Dear Rory, you grew up and started to understand a lot, go get enough sleep, you are tired too." After Rory went, Xiao Li closed the doors of the room, sitting on her bed, took off her shoes from her feet, then lay down, "It's really comfortable, I'll be able to do a lot without nobody's notice, oh, I remembered, tomorrow is the third day." She started grumbling, "I'll meet Mr. Ma, the, he's annoying, and smart too, until he knew I was a girl, however, it might help me, when I try to join the new guard, he will notice me quickly, so I must To sleep, to start a new day."

**Next day**

- Rory in her lady's room grumbling, holding a piece of paper she found on the table, "What am I going to do? Not a day has passed until her presence, she will bring attention to us, madam, you want to die? Why? You won't get away with me when you come back, you definitely won't get away."

- Li Xiao, dressed in men's clothes and with a hat on her head that hides her face, wanders the streets of the capital, then went to the agreed place to meet Mr. Ma. After she arrived, Mr. Ma found what was waiting for her, so she turned to her, "Greetings, Mr. Ma." Mr. Ma turned to look at her, "Miss Zuhiro, I don't think you're coming, welcome, let's sit first in this café." They sat at one of the tables, and then Xiao took out the money to me and gave it to Mr. Ma, "This is your money, you can check it." ابتسم السيد ما بسخرية، "أنا أثق بكِ، لن I make sure of it." She reached out to take the money, but Li Xiao turned her away, looking at her in amazement, "First of all, I would like to ask you for a favor, Mr. Ma." He was wondering what you were going to ask for, "Talk, I'm listening." She gave him the money and started talking, "I heard about hiring new guards, so I want you to help me with my success, I want to join the guard." Mr. Ma raised his eyebrows in surprise, and spoke in a steady tone, "Why do you need, like you, to be part of the D.C. Guard?" Then she replied, "Mr. Ma, I won't I pose any threat to you, so I want you to help me."

Mr. Ma was touching a cup of tea, looking at her. "So, you're not going to reveal what you want? Well, I know you won't pose any threat against us. However, I am confused. But it's good to owe me, Miss. Well, I'm OK, you're already going to pass the test, count on me." "Thank Mr. Ma," he interrupted, speaking, "But you will act clearly and follow my orders." Xiao hesitated to me for a moment, "Well, I'll do whatever you want."

**Here is the end of Chapter Nine.**

Thank you for reading.