Xiao Jin had a very long dream.
In the dream, there was a magnificent palace with glazed tiles extending from the top to the end.
Looking down, there was a table made of interwoven dark purple and pure white materials. The scene was beautiful, like a colorful waterfall.
Everything in front of her unfolded slowly like a scroll, from top to bottom.
She could vaguely see the drifting clouds in the distance and the mist-shrouded horizon.
She heard several sharp cries in her ear, “Third Prince, what are you doing… standing on the roof? This is too dangerous!”
Then Xiao Jin realized that she had probably had a dream about the original owner of the body.
And the perspective she was seeing now should be the memories of the original owner herself.
The girl’s voice was very pleasant, with a hint of childishness in her coldness: “I am watching the mountain from here.”
The people below were anxious like ants on a hot pan.
“My good prince! Don’t stand so high… if anything happens to you later, we won’t be able to bear the responsibility!” they cried out.
The girl laughed out loud and said, “Don’t you know that standing here you can see the mountains far away, and those thin white clouds… Hey, have you climbed up to see the scenery over there? It’s also true that you think staying inside the palace walls is the best.”
The palace people were extremely anxious.
Even though they pleaded with her, the girl remained standing on the roof without any intention of coming down.
At this point, Xiao Jin heard a familiar voice, relaxed but exuding majesty.
“Beyond the palace walls, there are countless more palace walls. After crossing the mountains, there are countless more tall mountains. You are standing on the roof, but have you seen anything beyond the capital city?”
The young girl remained silent for a moment before laughing lightly, “Aunt, I haven’t seen anything beyond the capital city. But I know what you will do when I come down.”
Xiao Shuang looked at the young girl standing on the roof, smiled, and asked, “Oh? Do you really know what this palace wants to do?”
The girl nodded, “You will punish me by making me copy books, one thousand times or more, until I finish, and I will never be allowed to leave the palace.”
“Correct, Jiner is truly clever.”
The girl laughed, “Aunt is too kind.”
Xiao Shuang’s face still had a smile, but her tone became indifferent, “So, Xiao Jin… hurry and come down!”
…
Xiao Jin was awakened by scolding.
Even in her dreams, she had to bear the blame, and she was really innocent.
The first thing she did when she woke up was to confirm where she was.
Xiao Jin’s head was very heavy.
She propped herself up with her hand and found that the fabric underneath was not soft, but very ordinary.
In an instant, she understood that this place must be Su Tan’s medicine shop.
Sure enough, when Xiao Jin looked up, she saw Su Tan feeding the parrot.
Su Tan’s fingers stroked the white parrot’s feathers, picked up a silver spoon to scoop up feed, and didn’t notice that the person lying in bed had already woken up.
“What time is it now?”
When she heard Xiao Jin’s voice, Su Tan’s movements paused slightly, and she looked up.
Seeing the other party’s wrinkled brow, she didn’t know what she remembered, and her words were filled with an extremely rare kindness, “It’s already the hour of the rooster.”
Xiao Jin had just woken up and didn’t immediately realize what time it was. She was still trying to figure it out when the curtain outside was gently lifted, and her attention was drawn to the hand.
Everything that had happened before she fainted suddenly rushed into Xiao Jin’s mind.
Before she fainted, various things flashed in Xiao Jin’s mind.
At this point, the Hehuan Powder on Xiao Jin’s body had been dispelled, but her embarrassment had not dissipated.
Her embarrassment made her expression somewhat unnatural, causing her to glance at the curtain and then lower her gaze, pretending not to have seen anything.
After all, she didn’t know what she had done after fainting.
Unexpectedly, it was not Chu Shao who entered the room, but Old Zhang, the steward who had just been brewing medicine outside.
Seeing Xiao Jin wake up, he was almost in tears and exclaimed, “Your Highness, you’ve been unconscious for so many hours, and now you’ve finally woken up! You really scared me with your fainting spell…”
It was only then that Xiao Jin looked up and glanced at Old Zhang, clearing her throat and asking, “Where is the Princess?”
Old Zhang was stunned, looked around, and muttered to himself in confusion, “Strange, Her Highness the Princess was just here guarding Her Highness…I just went to brew some medicine, how come she’s gone?”
At this moment, Xiao Jin looked at the candle burning inside the room and suddenly remembered that the period between You hour was from seven to nine in the evening?
So she asked Old Zhang, “Since it’s You hour, has Princess Zhao Yang’s birthday banquet already begun?”
Old Zhang laughed and said, “Your Highness is really joking, the palace banquet ended long ago.”
Xiao Jin was silent for a moment and asked again, “So I missed Princess Zhao Yang’s birthday banquet?”
Xiao Jin didn’t expect that she just went to pick someone up and not only got hit but also missed the Princess’s birthday party. Not to mention investigating the Spring Mountain wind case and taking Chu Shao to visit Xiao Shuang as planned.
One mistake led to another, and it was really a mistake at every step.
Old Zhang nodded and explained with a smile, “But Your Highness doesn’t need to worry, I had already sent someone to inform Princess Zhao Yang earlier that you were unwell and unable to attend the birthday banquet, and I also sent the congratulatory gift prepared by the palace to her.”
After hearing the other party’s words, Xiao Jin said indifferently, “When I met with the Princess this morning, I was still full of energy. Now suddenly falling ill at night, do you think the Princess will believe it?”
Su Tan stood by the side, struggling to suppress her laughter.Â
Old Zhang, the steward, was momentarily stunned, but then slapped his forehead and laughed, “The prince is absolutely right. But there’s no need for the prince to worry, because he’s not the only one who didn’t show up. In fact, Fourth Prince…didn’t attend the banquet either.”
Xiao Jin didn’t find it surprising.
After all, she had beaten Fourth Prince so badly that if he still had the face to attend the banquet, she would truly admire him from the bottom of her heart.
After hearing Old Zhang’s words, Xiao Jin suddenly discovered a blind spot, “Wait, did you just say the banquet ended a long time ago?”
Old Zhang replied, “To answer your question, it ended half an hour ago, your highness.”
Xiao Jin fell silent.
Then she lowered her gaze and looked at the bandage wrapped around her arm.
It was wrapped extremely well, and the final knot was also very beautiful. It was exactly the same as the technique Chu Shao had used to bandage her last time.
The banquet was over, but Chu Shao was nowhere to be seen.
This could only mean one thing.
Xiao Jin raised her finger and stroked the bloodstain on the bandage, sighing, “I’m afraid tonight in the capital won’t be peaceful.”
…
Tonight, there was no wind or snow in the capital.
It was said that because two important people were absent from the palace banquet, the party ended on a sour note.
At this time, the servants of the Prince’s Mansion were sitting in the courtyard, discussing the affairs of the nobles in hushed tones under the faint starlight of the sky.
“I heard that at that time, His Majesty was holding a birthday banquet for Princess Zhao Yang in the Linde Hall. He was very pleased to see that the palace banquet was decorated very well. But after seeing the empty seat of the Prince Yan and inquiring about it, his face did not look good.”
One person laughed, “Not only His Majesty was unhappy, but when the eunuch brought the gift and announced that the Prince Yan was ill, the expression on the face of the noble Consort Shu also changed.”
“Nowadays, who doesn’t know that the Prince Yan went to find the Princess Yan(Chu Shao), and even turned back when she arrived at the door of Consort Shu’s palace. The whole palace has already spread the news… If it was just the Prince Yan’s fault, it would be okay, but unfortunately our Prince was also beaten by that crazy Prince Yan and couldn’t attend the banquet. It’s easy to imagine how unhappy His Majesty is.”
“His Majesty’s face has not been hanging on for a day or two. Princess Zhao Yang has great influence, the Crown Prince often interferes in political affairs, and the Prince Yan is also a lawless person. Only our Prince can often show filial piety to His Majesty and share his worries for him.”
Another person looked at the speaker and said with a sneer, “The Fourth Prince is not here, who are you flattering? If it weren’t for the Crown Prince’s attendance at the banquet, I’m afraid His Majesty and Princess Zhao Yang would be angry.”
The person replied, “So what if they are angry! It’s good for them to be angry. This way, His Majesty can know how cruel the Prince Yan is… Our Prince is such a noble person, and if it weren’t for Princess Zhao Yang protecting her, how could the Prince Yan be so arrogant until today…”
The discussion in the courtyard never stopped.
Chu Shao sat on the high wall, initially listening with great interest and a smile on her lips.
But as she listened to the repeated words, she became a little bored.
The starlight was dim, and Chu Shao was dressed in night clothes, blending into the night of the capital.
At this time, she was hidden behind the huge shadow of a tree, and no one paid attention to the slender figure on the wall.
Even if they found out, they probably wouldn’t care.
After all, only Chu Shao was sitting there, and no one else.
Chu Shao didn’t prepare too much either.
She only brought the dagger left by her mother, as well as two bandages she had taken from a drugstore on a whim.
It was very little, but it was enough to repay them.
At this time, Chu Shao sat on the wall, listening to the rustling of the leaves and the sound of the night watchman’s clapper.
The evening breeze brushed her hair, and she gazed at the distant lights.
She counted casually, and there were twelve lanterns in total.
The evening breeze gently moved her black hair as she gazed into the distance at the twelve lanterns lit up.
A group of people carrying lanterns walked towards them, led by a man with a beard who scolded as he walked, “Are you all so bored that you stay in the yard making noise while the night watch is already in effect? Disturbing His Highness’s peaceful sleep, see how you will take responsibility for this!”
The leader berated the servants in the courtyard, and his angry voice echoed louder than the whispers of the servants earlier.
Even so, no one dared to argue with him, because he was in charge of the prince’s household, and going against him would surely have consequences.
Despite this, no one dared to argue with him.
Because the man in front of them was the steward of the prince’s mansion, and going against him would surely result in consequences.
But most importantly, Old Wang, the steward, was also a distant relative of Mu, the consort of the emperor. Even if they had ten thousand grievances in their hearts, they didn’t have the courage to offend the noblewoman in the imperial palace.
Thus, the servants listened obediently with lowered heads and no one dared to speak up.
The night was alluring, and it draped the palaces in the capital city like priceless silk.
The sound of the wooden clapper became more urgent.
One strike after another, it rang several times, indicating that it was almost curfew time.
Chu Shao’s smile remained gentle.
But as she looked at Old Wang, spitting and cursing in the courtyard, the curve of her lips deepened.
Finally, they had arrived.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author’s note: Thank you to the angels who voted for me or provided me with nutrient solution between 2022-02-27 04:00:51 and 2022-02-28 00:00:33~
Translator’s note: Old Wang, here’s a candle for you 🕯ï¸. I told you, never touch her wife. Hehe~~~~
TO BE CONTINUE…
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