After my father was sent to marry into the princess's household, I became the darling of the en

The same message was delivered directly to Emperor Xiao Chengyu's desk via an urgent official document.

The letter was sent by someone sent by Xiao Mingyue.

The note stated that Rong Jing, the hostage prince of Great Yan, had left the capital without permission and was caught red-handed by her while mingling among the refugees.

Unfortunately, this proton was unlucky; he encountered floods and epidemics, and both of his legs were broken, leaving him completely disabled.

She is now personally escorting the person back to the capital and has requested permission for the Imperial Guard of the Princess's residence to directly guard the person.

With a "smack," Xiao Chengyu slammed the folding book heavily onto the large rosewood table, causing the white jade paperweight on the table to jump.

He leaned back on the dragon throne, his chest heaving violently.

When this brat from Yan was first sent to Dayong, he was still wary of him and kept him under strict guard in the palace.

Later, seeing that the fellow was idle and good-for-nothing all day, indulging in cockfighting and dog-fighting, he gradually lowered his guard.

When he grew up and left the palace to establish his own residence, he heard that besides engaging in some shady businesses to earn some money for drinks, he had no other achievements. So he completely regarded this hostage as a good-for-nothing wastrel.

As long as no one dies in Dayong, the Yan state will have no grounds for complaint.

But now, this good-for-nothing dares to flee privately, and the city defenses of the capital region are as good as non-existent!

What made him feel even more uneasy was Xiao Mingyue.

His elder sister is truly capable.

He went to the southwest to seek medical treatment, but encountered a flood and barely survived.

Not only did they return unharmed, but they also captured the escaped hostage, thus achieving another merit.

His prestige, both within and outside the court, is likely to rise even higher.

Upon realizing this, Xiao Chengyu felt a metallic taste in his throat, and then he began to cough violently.

Zhou Lianhai was so frightened that he quickly stepped forward to pat him on the back, but was pushed away by him.

A pair of slightly cool hands supported his arm at just the right moment.

Tantai Liang appeared beside the emperor at some point, took out a porcelain bottle from his sleeve, poured out a bright red pill, and respectfully offered it to the emperor's lips.

"Your Majesty's excessive thinking is naturally too much for your mortal body to bear."

Tantai Liang's voice was gentle and ethereal, carrying a hint of compassion from someone outside the secular world.

"This illness is your mortal body's way of warning you. If you wish to attain the Great Dao, you should let go of distracting thoughts and devote yourself to cultivation."

Xiao Chengyu swallowed the pill with warm water, and the familiar heat flowed down his throat and into his limbs, miraculously suppressing his cough.

Tantai Liang took the teacup, his tone becoming increasingly gentle, with a hint of probing.

"There are some things that Your Majesty should leave to your ministers and princes to worry about."

"This world certainly belongs to Your Majesty, but it also belongs to all people. You are the Son of Heaven, how can you shoulder all the burdens of mortal life and needlessly jeopardize your destiny as an immortal?"

Xiao Chengyu let out a long breath.

He also wanted to let go, but nowadays, everyone in the court has their own agenda.

If we don't keep a close eye on it, this country will change hands sooner or later.

"Mr. Tantai, you don't understand. There are some things I simply cannot ignore..."

Xiao Chengyu opened his eyes and looked at the golden glazed tiles outside the palace.

"I have no one I can trust by my side, so I have no choice but to devote myself to cultivation and seek immortality in order to protect the Great Yong for a little longer."

Tantai Liang bowed and clasped his hands in greeting: "Your Majesty has devoted yourself to the well-being of the people and is a wise ruler."

Xiao Chengyu sighed again.

Of all the officials in the court, only Tantai Liang truly understood his suffering.

But he didn't see the cold sarcasm flashing in the Fangshi's hidden eyes, which were shrouded in shadow.

……

Three days later, at Changning Post Station, which is only fifty miles from the capital.

"Mother, can I not go?"

Shen Jingque tugged at Xiao Mingyue's sleeve and shook it back and forth.

Xiao Mingyue let her pull, smiling but shaking her head mercilessly, "No."

Seeing the little girl pout, she pulled her close and said solemnly, "That girl from the Xu family ran away from home because of you. Now that we're returning to the capital, if you don't personally come to apologize, do you expect your father and me to lose face and bow our heads for you?"

Shen Jingque silently wailed in her heart.

If General Xu were at home, it would be fine; he's a man forged on the battlefield, straightforward and honest.

But Xu Wanying's stepmother was a mean-spirited and cunning woman who was good at putting on a show.

If I were to go to her door, I might be subjected to her sarcastic and veiled attacks.

Sitting to the side, Shen Yan felt a pang of tenderness when he saw his daughter's pitiful appearance.

"In my opinion, perhaps..."

"Not as good as what?" Xiao Mingyue didn't even lift her eyelids, only glancing at him indifferently, "A doting father spoils his son."

Shen Yan was choked by those words and swallowed the rest of them.

He picked up his teacup and gave Shen Jingque a helpless look.

I'm sorry, my dear daughter, Daddy can't help you either.

Shen Jingque sighed and resignedly lowered her head.

She turned to look outside the post station, where Xu Wanying was squatting on the steps without any regard for her image, holding a blade of grass in her hand and teasing the horses pulling the cart with great interest.

The girl laughed without a care in the world, completely unaware of the storm that awaited her upon returning to the capital.

Well, after all, they are sisters who have been through life and death together. I can't just stand by and watch her go back alone to be punished by her stepmother.

At worst, I'll just prepare more generous gifts myself; you can't refuse someone who's smiling at you.

Just then, a slender figure appeared at the window.

To avoid suspicion, Shen Jingque never managed to find an opportunity to see him.

Rong Jing turned his head to meet her gaze, a faint smile curving his lips.

As he approached, Shen Jingque realized that he had become even thinner than when he left Cangcheng.

Her already angular jawline now exudes an even more sharp and bony look.

He walked towards the pale autumn sun, a faint smile playing on his lips. He was like a thin layer of ice that had just broken on a lake, exuding a kind of unconventional elegance.

Shen Jingque was stunned for a moment.

For the first time, she realized so directly that Rong Jing's appearance was quite striking.

If this face were in her time, she would have been a popular figure at school, at the very least a heartthrob.

She thought Rong Jing had come to talk to her and was about to greet him.

Unexpectedly, Rong Jing walked straight past her and stopped in front of Xiao Mingyue.

"Your Highness, the Eldest Princess," Rong Jing nodded slightly, "we will be entering the capital in half a day. I wonder how Your Highness plans to settle me?"

Xiao Mingyue placed the teacup on the table and raised an eyebrow.

"Since Pavilion Master Rong is putting on an act, I will naturally play the part completely."

"The Divine Machine Battalion will escort you directly back to Lazy Garden and guard it heavily. Without my order, not even a fly can get in."

"Is this arrangement satisfactory, Pavilion Master Rong?"

Rong Jing nodded: "Your Highness's considerations are thorough, and I am naturally satisfied."

As he spoke, he took out a small, wax-sealed bamboo tube from his sleeve and placed it on the table in front of Xiao Mingyue with both hands.

"This is what Your Highness requested. The young woman from Qianyuan Village has now settled down at this address. The place is extremely secluded; Your Highness can visit her at any time after returning to the capital and settling your affairs."

Shen Jingque stood aside, listening to the conversation between the two, and her mind instantly made sense.

No wonder I haven't seen Wenren Du since I left Cangcheng.

That day, my mother said, "This is also part of the cooperation." It turned out that she wanted him to secretly move the three hundred elite women from Qianyuan Village to the vicinity of the capital!

Such a deceptive tactic could not have been accomplished without the cover of Tingfeng Pavilion.

only……

This is tantamount to handing Rong Jing a huge handle. If he turns against her, wouldn't Mother be in great danger?

She was in a daze when she suddenly received a light but firm tap on the forehead.

"Hiss—" Shen Jingque covered her forehead and glared at the culprit.

Rong Jing had retreated to her side at some point, his slender fingers still bent.

He leaned down, his unfathomable eyes fixed on her, his tone tinged with a hint of mockery.

"What are you thinking about? Your eyes are so wide open, do you still suspect that I would scheme against your mother?"

Shen Jingque's secret was exposed, and a blush instantly rose to her cheeks.

She glanced quickly at Xiao Mingyue in the main seat and saw her mother looking at the two of them with a meaningful gaze. Suddenly, she felt her neck burning.

"Who doubted you! You must be the one who's guilty; only a guilty conscience makes you suspicious!"

Shen Jingque retorted angrily, but her heart was in a state of panic.

She raised her hand and, without thinking, flicked Rong Jing's forehead hard.

"Hate!"

Having said that, she ran away in a panic, as if her tail had been set on fire, lifting her skirt and running for her life.

Rong Jing did not dodge, but reached out and touched the spot on his forehead where the girl had just touched.

It felt hot and numb there, like I'd been stung.

He watched the girl's retreating figure in the sunset and sighed softly.

Outside the post station, large swaths of clouds were tinged with crimson.

But he knew that beneath such a magnificent view, a silent storm was brewing.

Can they escape unscathed as before?