Qingyao’s face was solemn as she gave her instructions. Mochou nodded, but her expression was hesitant.
“If the master asks, what should I say?”
“Tell him the truth. Say the Emperor in the palace is a fake. But tell him not to spread it around. Also, tell him to inform the people of the Zhao family, the officials of the Ministry of the Imperial Stables. They will believe whatever the master says.”
Mochou nodded. Everyone’s heart felt heavy. They truly didn’t know what else would happen next.
Shangguan Hao was not a gentleman, but rather a scoundrel. The most difficult people to deal with in the world were scoundrels, especially capable ones…
The fifth day of November.
It was the day of the princess’s wedding. Early in the morning, Chang Le Palace was surrounded by people, layer upon layer. The Ministry of Rites had sent a group of people to personally oversee the princess’s grand ceremony.
However, the princess refused to let anyone enter the main hall of Chang Le Palace. As the auspicious hour approached, the people outside the hall exchanged worried glances, caught in a dilemma.
The master of ceremonies was contemplating whether to inform the Emperor, but he had heard that the Emperor had been assassinated a couple of days prior. If this matter were to alarm the Emperor, they might incur his wrath, possibly even their own department.
Just then, the voice of a eunuch was heard in the distance: “The Empress has arrived, and the Princess has arrived.”
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the Empress was here, there shouldn’t be any problems. They all knelt down in reverence: “Greetings to the Empress, greetings to Her Highness the Princess.”
“Rise,” Qingyao nodded. Seeing the stalemate before her, she understood. Xingzhu must be unwilling to marry. This little girl’s resolve was truly firm. Qingyao’s eyes deepened as she spoke softly, “Everyone, please rise.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” everyone stood up and respectfully moved aside.
Qingyao looked at the master of ceremonies and casually asked, “Does the princess not wish to marry?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. The auspicious hour is approaching, but the princess still hasn’t prepared anything. What do you suggest we do?”
The master of ceremonies was full of trouble. Qingyao gave a slight smile. “The princess is but a child, newly married, and feeling anxious without anyone to accompany her. I will go in and speak with her for a moment, and everything will be alright soon. Please do not worry, it will not delay the auspicious timing.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The master of ceremonies finally felt at ease. Looking up, he saw a beautiful figure serenely ascending the stone steps and entering the grand hall. The air was filled with a refreshing scent, like that of flowers and grass, exceedingly pleasant.
Qingyao led Xiaoyuer and Mochou and others through the grand hall, heading towards the inner chambers behind.
Before they even entered, they could hear the sound of things being smashed in the inner chambers, one after another. It was impossible to tell how many things had been broken.
As they got closer, they faintly heard Lan Yi’s voice.
“Princess, don’t worry. Didn’t the Empress say she would let you marry Hua Shiqian?”
“But there have been too many things happening in the palace recently. I’m afraid Imperial Sister-in-law might forget. If she forgets, will I really have to marry that Ruan Zimo? I don’t want to!”
Xingzhu’s voice was filled with sorrow, her words choked with sobs. Qingyao sighed. This little girl had so little confidence in her, or perhaps she liked Hua Lige too much and was very worried, fearing things wouldn’t go as planned.
Qingyao moved past the screen, her clear voice ringing out, “Who is it that doesn’t believe me behind my back?”
“Your Majesty?”
Upon hearing the voice, Lan Yi cried out in surprise. In the inner palace, only the Empress could speak with such a cool and clear voice.
Xingzhu, who had been sitting at the dressing table, quickly got up and rushed to the side of the screen. Seeing Qingyao’s figure, tears flowed down her face again. She reached out and hugged Qingyao, “Imperial Sister-in-law, you’ve come. I’m so scared.”
Qingyao turned her small body around and led her to sit down. She extended a hand, and Lan Yi immediately and deftly handed over a scented handkerchief. Qingyao took it and carefully wiped Xingzhu’s tears.
“Look at you, your eyes are all swollen. How can you be a beautiful bride?”
“I don’t want to marry,” Xingzhu took the scented handkerchief from her Imperial Sister-in-law, lowering her head. After a long while, she uttered a soft sound.
Qingyao turned and glanced at the scattered pottery and antiques in the inner chambers. This little girl still possessed the noble ailments of royalty. Only that man, Hua Lige, could tolerate her.
Otherwise, no matter who she married, she would likely suffer. Turning her head, she slowly spoke.
“The rest of you, please withdraw. I have a few words to say to the princess.”
“Yes,” the eunuchs and palace maids of Chang Le Palace, relieved, withdrew and waited outside the palace doors.
In the inner chambers, only her close maids remained. Qingyao reached out and held Xingzhu’s delicate hand. She couldn’t bear to see the little girl unhappy.
She was a respected relative of Liu Zun. If Liu Zun couldn’t handle something, of course, she had to help him handle it well.
“If it’s someone you like, would you still refuse to marry?”
Qingyao spoke softly. Xingzhu was stunned. She looked at Qingyao blankly, wondering what her Imperial Sister-in-law meant. She was a little hesitant, a little disbelieving, her eyes widening like a deer’s, making her look even more pitiable.
Qingyao reached out and pinched her nose. “Don’t worry. Lige will definitely appear today. He will come to hijack the bridal sedan. You can then go out and travel the martial world with peace of mind. When the situation settles down, you can return.”
“Lige, he was captured by the Emperor?”
Xingzhu thought of Lige and wondered how much suffering he had endured.
Qingyao let out a cold laugh. As long as she wanted to, she would always find him. And that man Shangguan Hao was indeed cunning, actually imprisoning Hua Lige in the dungeon of Lin’an Prefecture, trying to deceive her with a smokescreen. She did things without being reckless, so she naturally had to find out clearly.
“Don’t worry. Now, calmly get dressed and ready. Otherwise, if you delay the auspicious hour and attract the Emperor’s attention, it will be troublesome.”
Qingyao warned her. If she continued to make a fuss like this, once the master of ceremonies reported it, that man would come, and it would truly be troublesome. Therefore, she had to be well-behaved and leave the palace as soon as possible.
The Imperial Palace was some distance from the Yongning Marquis’s mansion. By now, Lin Simiao and the others had likely made their move. Therefore, she had to leave the palace as quickly as possible.
Before the news could be reported, if the news reached the Emperor’s ears, she wouldn’t be able to leave.
“Alright, I’ll listen to Imperial Sister-in-law.”
Xingzhu immediately agreed. Qingyao took out a few silver notes from her sleeve and placed them in Xingzhu’s hand.
“I can’t bring anything else, but I can’t leave this behind. Once the situation settles down, Imperial Sister-in-law will arrange for you to return to the capital.”
Qingyao’s solemn tone made Xingzhu suspicious. She raised her delicate eyebrows and softly inquired, “Imperial Sister-in-law, what exactly happened?”
Qingyao looked at her. Thinking of her hatred for the Emperor, she suddenly felt it necessary to make her understand.
Her Imperial Brother had never changed. If he were in the palace, he would definitely be arranging this matter for her with great effort. Qingyao leaned over and whispered something into Xingzhu’s ear.
The little girl’s eyes immediately widened, and she covered her mouth. After a long while, she finally spoke, “Imperial Sister-in-law, you… you say?”
“Alright, hurry and get dressed.”
Qingyao clapped her hands to comfort her. “Your Imperial Brother is very well. This is what he asked me to do. He hopes you will be happier. Everything here will be fine.”