The imperial palace was buffeted by a cold north wind. After leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Grand Princess headed straight for the palace gates.
There, she saw Ji Chenggang, clad in a python robe and with a Xiu Chun Dao at his side.
"Lord Ji," the Grand Princess said, bowing gently as she met his gaze.
Ji Chenggang grew flustered, wanting to reach out and help her, but he hesitated due to etiquette.
He could only anxiously shift his body to avoid the Grand Princess's bow.
Seeing his anxious demeanor and his instantly flushed face, the Grand Princess couldn't help but cover her mouth and smile.
Then, she got into the carriage as she pleased.
Just as Ji Chenggang was about to speak and ask her to stay, she suddenly lifted the curtain and said, "Lord Ji, it's cold. If you have something to say, speak to me in the carriage."
Ji Chenggang's heart tightened. "But, Your Highness, this is not appropriate."
The Grand Princess raised an eyebrow, her voice suddenly rising, "What is not appropriate?"
Ji Chenggang feared that people would see him lingering at the palace gates for too long.
So, he hitched up his robe and got into the carriage with lightning speed.
Seeing the Grand Princess seated by the carriage door, he quickly sat opposite her, doing his best to keep a distance.
The Grand Princess was displeased and spat, "Ji Chenggang, what do you mean? Are you looking down on me?"
Ji Chenggang's face turned pale, and he thought to himself: This is a grave misunderstanding. He could not wait to get closer to the Grand Princess, so how could he possibly look down on her?
Alas, he had kept this to himself for decades; he hadn't dared to speak before, and he still didn't dare now.
He could only quietly move forward a couple of steps, getting closer to the Grand Princess.
Only then did the Grand Princess nod with satisfaction and let out a soft "Mm."
"That's better. You had something to say, didn't you? Hurry and tell me."
Ji Chenggang cupped his hands in a salute, his demeanor instantly becoming serious.
The stern-faced Ji Chenggang truly lived up to his title as the Commander of the Imperial Guards.
With his square jaw, sharp features, thick brows, piercing eyes, tightly pressed thin lips, and deep nasolabial folds, he exuded an aura of unapproachability.
After a moment of contemplation, he said, "I heard Your Highness intends to investigate the matter of the Crown Prince's origins."
The Grand Princess replied, "It's not that it's absolutely necessary to investigate, but with His Majesty's current health, I am very worried."
Ji Chenggang lowered his head, his voice softening, "If Your Highness has any matters, you may command me." His attitude made the Grand Princess feel he was very loyal.
However, she did not readily reveal her intentions, merely smiling and saying,
"Lord Ji is personally appointed by His Majesty as the Commander of the Imperial Guards. I am merely a woman of the palace, how could I possibly command you?"
"Your Highness, I..." Ji Chenggang earnestly wanted to defend himself.
But the Grand Princess told him it was too late for everything.
"You are twenty years too late!" the Grand Princess's voice suddenly became mournful.
She suddenly reached out and, without warning, took Ji Chenggang's hand, slowly guiding it to her cheek.
Ji Chenggang recoiled as if he had touched a burning coal and quickly tried to pull away.
Seeing the Grand Princess's slightly narrowed phoenix eyes and her displeased expression, he dared not move and allowed her to guide his hand to her cheek.
From her forehead to the bridge of her nose, and then to her chin...
"Do you see? It's been twenty years. I have grown old and am no longer the carefree, ignorant child of the Yongle Palace.
And you are no longer the dark-faced imperial guard by His Majesty's side."
Ji Chenggang's throat tightened, and a surge of fire seemed to roar within his chest, a furious cry, a scream wanting to break free.
He suppressed it with all his might, but ultimately, he yielded to the Grand Princess's captivating phoenix eyes.
In those eyes, he saw their past: their youth, their vibrant spirits, their carefree gallops on the imperial racecourse outside the capital – how beautiful it was.
But when had they started to drift apart?
Ji Chenggang asked himself. He realized he couldn't recall, but he was certain that he was the one who had faltered.
It was his inaction that led to the Grand Princess marrying Liu Junsheng, that blind scumbag who had wronged her!
He suddenly felt immense guilt towards the person before him. His throat constricted, and the words of apology tumbled out, "Your Highness, I am so sorry..."
The Grand Princess lowered his hand, her voice soft and ethereal, "It's all in the past. I forgave you long ago."
Ji Chenggang, however, felt wounded. His heart shattered like the thin, brittle ice crystals that formed on a water vat in winter, collapsing at the slightest touch.
"Man'er, no, Man'er..."
He choked back a sob, and with a sudden surge of courage, he embraced the Grand Princess.
The Grand Princess rested her head on his sturdy shoulder, the corners of her lips turning upward.
Knowing he had failed her, he decided to help her this time.
The Grand Princess didn't need to say anything; Ji Chenggang knew what needed to be done.
After escorting the Grand Princess back to her residence, he immediately rushed back to the Xi'an Gate, the headquarters of the Imperial Guards, and issued a series of urgent commands.
Meanwhile, the Grand Princess, upon returning to her estate, was not idle. She dispatched her guards to secure the entire Grand Princess's estate.
No one was allowed to enter or leave without her explicit permission.
Granny Xu, with her keen perception, noticed that the Grand Princess was different from her usual self.
She expressed her concern, "Your Highness, what is wrong?"
The Grand Princess's tears immediately fell, and her voice was filled with sorrow, "Granny, His Majesty's health..."
Granny Xu embraced the Grand Princess and comforted her, "Isn't there Madam Shen?"
The Grand Princess murmured almost as if in a trance,
"Yes, there is Little Seven. Little Seven will save His Majesty, won't she?"
What else could Granny Xu say but to agree repeatedly?
At the same time, she reminded the Grand Princess that she could immediately send a letter to the Shen residence to give Madam Shen some time to prepare.
The Grand Princess heartily agreed and went to prepare.
Before nightfall, the letter arrived at the Scholar's Residence.
Su Xiaoqi held the letter and, after reading it, propped her chin in her hand and gazed out at the darkened sky, lost in thought.
It wasn't until Shen Yun returned after his bath that he saw his young lady staring blankly for nearly half an hour. He gently took the letter from her hand and read it before saying,
"My lady, why worry yourself? Since you are summoned, then go."
Su Xiaoqi said, "The imperial palace! Husband, I've never been in my life."
Of course, in her previous life, she had been.
She had visited the Forbidden City of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The imperial figures of that time had all changed, but the grandeur and beauty of the palace walls and pavilions remained unchanged.
Shen Yun knew full well that his wife wasn't afraid of entering the palace; she simply disliked social pleasantries. He deliberately provoked her, "Are you afraid, my lady?"
Su Xiaoqi glared at him. Did he really think she couldn't discern his obvious provocation?
She quickly regained her composure and said, "Hmph, I'm not afraid at all. What is there to fear?
The Emperor is just a person with two eyes, two ears, a mouth, and two nostrils... Mmm."
Su Xiaoqi's words were cut short as Shen Yun's hand covered her mouth.
What a daring young lady she was, daring to utter such words.
"I will accompany you tomorrow," Shen Yun said, worried about her.
If his young lady were to say something amiss before the Emperor, he could still mediate.
Su Xiaoqi blinked her eyes. Regarding Shen Yun's concern, she nodded and took the initiative to stand on tiptoe and kiss him on the corner of his mouth.
Shen Yun was quite pleased, and he now basically understood her routine.
Before Su Xiaoqi could move away, he blocked her path.
"Mmm... Husband."
"Good girl, my lady, don't cry. It will be over soon."