Gao Yang

  This Palace

  Two years away from Beijing

  Zhu Man's face turned pale and he collapsed to the ground, "High... High Princess Yang..."

  Upon hearing this, the faces of the people around who were worried about the red-clothed girl changed drastically, and they hastily threw away what was in their hands and knelt down.

  Although they had never seen the appearance of Princess Gaoyang, who in the state of Xiang did not know that Baili Siqing, the only legitimate princess, was the emperor's most beloved? Unlike other married-out princesses, she had the title of "Gaoyang" since birth.

  No wonder I felt a sense of familiarity in her eyebrows and eyes earlier. When I steal another glance at the red-clad girl, she clearly has the former Empress's shadow on her body.

  In an instant, many people began to miss that elegant and peerless queen mother.

  Whenever it is said that "women are not inferior to men", the people of Dayan will immediately think of the former empress. At first, with Your Majesty, they pacified the rebellion of the four vassals and preserved the mountains and rivers of Dayan. In those years, after returning to Beijing from the expedition against the water bandits, she was also dressed in white horse and red clothes, as majestic as the wind.

  As for people's impression of Princess Bai Lixi, they vaguely remembered that this extremely honored princess went to live in the Leishan Palace two years ago. The reason for leaving the capital seemed to be related to the bloody case in the north of the city...

  It wasn't long ago that they had just heard the news, because the coming-of-age ceremony was approaching, this princess would be returning to the capital. But who would have thought that on the first day of her return, they would see the real person, and it would be under such circumstances.

  Whether it's good luck or bad luck.

  "Long live the princess for a thousand years, a thousand years, and ten thousand years!" The congratulatory voices shouting "Wan Sui" suddenly echoed through the streets of the capital.

  Because of the loud voice, they soon startled the guards who were on patrol.

  "What's going on?" The man who was used to showing off his sharp teeth and claws swaggered over.

  At first they didn't see the situation clearly, but looking at the crowd of people and the girl on horseback, thinking back to the news they had received not long ago, they immediately understood the girl's identity.

  As they looked around again, they saw the tattered woman and Zhu Man's ashen face. The guards' arrogant expressions fell, and one by one, they turned pale and called out: "Your Highness?"

  Damn it! How did Zhu Gongzi's actions coincidentally get caught by the princess?!

  Without waiting for the order, someone automatically moved the fainted woman to one side. Then, hanging his head and kneeling down, he begged for forgiveness: "Your humble servants arrived late to save you, causing this shrew to startle the princess's horse. Please forgive us, Your Highness!"

  "You!" Ba Li Si Qing pointed at Zhu Man, who was paralyzed on the ground, with an icy tone, "Strip this person naked and hang him on the city gate, three days later, hand him over to the Supreme Court for punishment!"

  With a flick of her silver whip, she left behind a trail of light dust. "As for the others, go back and tell Lord Zhu that if they are not satisfied, they can go to the Emperor himself to plead their case!"

  ……

  Before the news of what happened on the streets reached the palace, the hustle and bustle of music and dance continued, and the majestic palaces all demonstrated the prosperity and strength of the Daxie Dynasty.

  The air in early spring is exceptionally fresh, and even at noon, the warm sunshine spreads gently to sweep away the cold winter for people. The flowers in the imperial garden also began their early beauty contest like the beauties in the palace.

  The newly appointed concubines gathered together, smiling and chatting, without any signs of discord. They walked hand in hand, sisterly affection deepening as they strolled through the palace walls.

  It was only when passing by a certain palace that the sharp, eunuch-exclusive voice constantly coming from inside shocked the footsteps of the many concubines outside, making them curious and jealous.

  "Right! The jade coral stays there! Don't move it!"

  "The crystal curtain is hung high! The princess has liked sleeping on the bed and looking at these shiny things since she was a child."

  "Has the princess's fish had its water changed today? If one of them dies, none of you will survive!"

  "Oh no! The purple yam cake I ordered from the imperial kitchen a few days ago, why hasn't it been served yet?! Have their heads grown on pigs' bodies?!"

  ……

  The eunuch's official uniform was worn on his body, and the aura of serving the emperor for a long time made Chen Zheng unangrily majestic. Even when he pinched his fingers together in a gesture of elegance, and glared with his small mustache shaped like the Chinese character "eight", no one dared to mock or provoke him.

  He looked at the palace staff inside the temple, who were busy under his orders. People from Lai Mountain came to report that the princess had set off for Beijing two days ago and would return to the palace by dawn tomorrow without any unexpected events.

  It's possible that he can arrive tonight, "Notify our family to be prepared, everyone in the small kitchen must stay up and not a single person is allowed to slack off!"

  The woman standing outside the palace pinched the handkerchief in her hand and said incredulously, "Which master is so precious?"

  The Forbidden City is densely populated, from the emperor to the palace staff, everyone's daily meals are provided by the Imperial Kitchen. Since ancient times, except for the Emperor, Empress Dowager and Crown Prince, no one has ever been known to have the privilege of setting up a private kitchen.

  The Empress Dowager had long since passed away, and Your Majesty has yet to establish a Crown Prince; who could have such great honor?

  They simultaneously raised their heads and looked at the three characters on the gilded plaque of the palace - Bao Yi Palace, only then did they suddenly realize.

  They had long heard that the master of Bao Yi Palace was the emperor's treasure, and even the palace maids who came out could trample a eunuch to death. Before, they didn't believe it, but now the number one red person by the emperor's side personally came to decorate the palace for the little princess, and the honor is evident.

  Ni Mei Ren gritted her teeth, "I've only ever heard of mothers relying on their sons to gain status, but I never thought that even a fish in this palace could become a dragon by relying on its master!"

  On the side, the weak Xihe hurriedly covered her mouth, "Shh! Niece, you can whisper this in front of your sister, but if it reaches the emperor's ears, not even ten Nie families would be enough to kill!" What a brainless thing! Daring to compare everything to a dragon!

  The woman who was still resentful just now suddenly changed her face, "Sister is absolutely right, look at this mouth of mine, it should be beaten! However ——"

  The beautiful woman frowned and said reluctantly: "Why is this little princess so favored?"

  "Who knows! I thought Princess Duan's birth to Princess Rui was already favored, but compared to this Princess Gao Yang, it's like a small trick seeing a big magic!"

  "Alas!" She let out a barely audible sigh, "Perhaps Your Majesty is thinking of old times!" The previous empress had passed away over a decade ago, and many young women in the harem had tried to climb their way up to the throne but failed, not even the Consort Duan who had managed the harem for years...

  The queen and the empress, differ by just one step, yet are separated by heaven!

  Forget it, never mind.

  "Be quick about it, and don't you dare damage anything in the temple, or I'll have your hides!" As the woman walked away, Chen Zheng continued to nag incessantly.

  Although everything went smoothly, it seemed he still overlooked something.

  Looking at the clean and bright floor inside the hall, he suddenly slapped his forehead, "Ah! You, go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to bring that golden silk carpet!"

  Gao Yang's baby has been playing barefoot in the bedroom since childhood! It's still cold today, what if you get frostbite!