C209

A carriage with a verdant canopy and red curtains slowly pulled up outside the Palace of Brilliant Light. Shen Xijun, in careful disguise, helped Ah Zi's hand out of the carriage. The red train of her dress, which fell to the ground, was embroidered with large peonies.

Ah Zi looked towards the palace door and chuckled. "Esteemed wangfei, look, the prince is waiting for you."

Shen Xijun looked over and saw Dongfang Wenshui, dressed in his imperial robes, standing at the entrance to the palace. Immediately, her heart warmed as she went forward and bent her knees to greet him, "Your highness!"

"Princess, please excuse me." Dongfang Yi, who was supporting Shen Xijun, looked behind Shen Xijun and asked in puzzlement, "Why don't we see the Consort Ping?"

Shen Xijun faintly smiled and said, "Originally, we should have come together, but before we left the house, little sister did not want to dirty her dress and dress up. She was afraid that the prince would delay the time to greet mother and mufei, so she let me come first, otherwise …" She asked tentatively, "Shall we wait here for our sister?"

Dongfang Zhi's eyes moved as he said indifferently, "It's the same if we wait for her at Imperial Mother's place. Let's go."

"Yes." Shen Xijun agreed with a smile and walked to the Peace Life Palace side by side. After walking for a while, she said softly, "I heard from Manager Cai that the Qi Kingdom had invaded my southern territory. Is that true?"

Dongfang Shou said worriedly, "That's right. His Majesty received an urgent report yesterday. The Qi Kingdom is invading this country and the situation is very disadvantageous for us. Although there is no further news yet, Yang Guan Valley has most likely been broken. The crisis is much worse than five years ago."

Shen Xijun quietly listened. After he finished speaking, she opened her mouth and said, "Then, Your Highness, do you think that we can win the battle?"

Dongfang Qing spoke without hesitation, "If I had led the troops to fight, I would have had the confidence to win them. But now, His Majesty and the Pingyang King …" The light in his eyes deepened as he impatiently waved his hand. "Don't talk about this matter."

Shen Xijun nodded meekly as she calculated the whole journey back. It seemed like Cai Yuan wasn't lying to her, Dongfang Zhi was indeed trying to lead his troops into war; expelling the Qi army and achieving great military merits was a good thing, but what if … What should she do?

Grand Concubine Chen and Princess Pingyang had arrived first. They were currently accompanying the empress dowager, and upon seeing that they were the only two who had come in, her face was filled with surprise. When she had asked for the reason, the empress dowager fiddled with the petals of the magnolia flower that covered the pavilion's jade-green flower, and said indifferently, "This Dowager even said she was a careful person, but she was so careless."

Madam Chen smiled. "Ping Qing is still young after all. It's hard to avoid her being careless. It's better if you teach her more in the future."

Princess Pingyang took a spoonful of sandalwood from a silver spoon handed over by a palace maid. She coldly said, "I'm afraid that some people will only have ears to listen to, and no matter how much you teach, it's just playing the lute to a cow. You've wasted all your efforts, Grand Concubine."

"Princess is joking." As she spoke, a palace maid came in and said that Zhao Pingqing had arrived. Empress Dowager Wei raised her eyebrows slightly and said indifferently, "Let her in."

"Yes." Not long after the palace maid left, Zhao Pingqing walked in with her head lowered. She kneeled down and said, "Please forgive me, mother!"

Empress Dowager Wei sized her up before her voice was as calm as a mirror. "Do you know that you came late as well?"

Zhao Pingqing quickly bent over and touched the golden bricks with his steps. [Beep! Beep!] Her terrified voice sounded in the palace. "Pingqing knows her sin. Please don't be angry."

Princess Pingyang tapped her red ears and said with a faint smile, "All these years, the clan's marriage arrangements are not rare, but the first time after the wedding to visit Ning Shou Palace to greet someone was late. This is the first time I've seen her, and she is really capable." The matter of Zhao Pingqing getting rid of her and marrying into the Prince Rui's house was still a thorn in her heart. Now that she had made a mistake, how could she not step on it?

Zhao Pingqing ignored Princess Pingyang's mockery and raised her eyes to look at Empress Dowager Wei. She choked with sobs. "Pingqing may not have come late on purpose, but the fault is still the fault. Pingqing is willing to be punished by Imperial Mother!"

Zi Yan, who was kneeling behind her, suddenly kowtowed. She gritted her teeth and said, "Reporting to the empress dowager, coming late today isn't the empress's fault. It's Esteemed wangfei Rui …"

"How dare you!" Zhao Pingqing interrupted her and said with a cold face, "You won't allow me to speak nonsense in front of my Queen Mother. Shut up!"

Zi Yan lowered her head, feeling wronged, not daring to say anything. Shen Xijun's eyes flashed with a strange light. She had already thought of a way to shirk her decision long before she came to the NingShou Palace, so she wasn't afraid of Zi Yan's complaints. She just didn't expect Zhao Pingqing to hide it from her.

Empress Dowager Wei heard the strangeness and frowned. "What's going on?"

Zhao Pingqing hurriedly said, "In reply to mother, your son didn't get stained. Fortunately, sister realized it in time. Otherwise, I might have been late, but I would have been disrespectful in front of mother." As she spoke, she turned to Shen Xijun with a grateful expression and said, "I was in a hurry earlier, so I didn't thank you. I hope elder sister can forgive me."

"Sister, you're too kind." Shen Xijun smiled and thought to herself, "I wonder what this Zhao Pingqing is trying to do that I can't figure out."

Lady Chen glanced at the two and smiled. "Esteemed Empress Dowager, although Consort Ping may have committed a mistake, it's also out of respect and filial piety for Your Majesty. How about you take things lightly?"

"Since you asked for it, I shall do as you say." One by one, the round buddhist beads flew across her fingertips, after circling for half a circle, she slowly said: "Pingqing, I will punish you by going to the buddhist hall to light the lamps for fifty years, are you willing?"

Zhao Pingqing quickly said, "I am willing. Thank you mother. Thank you mother."

Although Shen Xijun felt that the punishment was too light, she tactfully didn't say anything. After Zhao Pingqing returned from counting the lanterns, Empress Dowager Wei gave him a pair of jade-like transvestite collars, while Madam Chen gave him a pair of Seven Treasures hairpin.

But everyone knew that it was as difficult as ascending to the heavens to be in the same heart and soul in this deep courtyard!

After leaving Ning Xi Palace, he went to the Jingfang House for a while. It was already noon when he got back to King Rui's mansion. Cai Yuan had already prepared lunch in the East Flower Hall.

Shen Xijun handed over a carefully crafted Eight Treasures Fish from the kitchen to Dongfang Yi and said with a smile, "I know that you like to eat these Eight Treasures Fish. It was specially made by the kitchen before we left the mansion. Please try it, Your Highness."

Dongfang Wenyi didn't even look at the fish in the bowl. He looked at Zhao Pingqing, who was sitting on the right side, and said, "Pingfei, what is going on this morning?"

Zhao Pingqing didn't expect him to ask this. She was about to say something when Shen Xijun spoke first, "Didn't you already explain it clearly? Why does the king ask again? Isn't it …"

"Did This King ask you a question?" Dongfang Qing's cold gaze swept over her face, causing the latter's heart to tremble, and she couldn't help but stop the words that were coming out of her mouth.

Dongfang Yi looked at Zhao Pingqing's face again. "There are no other people here. Just tell the truth."