roccoschili Chapter 151: Night Visit to the Princess's Inn
Chapter 151: Night Visit to the Princess's Inn
After a moment of silence...
"Tell me, in this world, are there really women who don't love wealth and glory, fine clothes and delicious food, but just like to show up in public and do things that only men do?" Princess Jue Ling suddenly asked, with a barely perceptible hint of sarcasm in her tone.
The maid was slightly stunned, then realized that the princess was thinking about the eldest daughter of the Cen family again.
"Your Highness, I heard that the eldest daughter of the Cen family has been different from ordinary girls since she was young. She likes to teach life skills and discuss state affairs. On the contrary, she knows nothing about needlework and embroidery." The maid answered cautiously, fearing that she would say something wrong and upset the princess.
Princess Jue Ling sneered and slammed her hand on the table, spilling the tea in the cup and wetting her skirt. However, she didn't care at all and said coldly, "Natural? I think she is just pretending to be so attractive! A woman who doesn't study the virtues of a woman in her boudoir but instead goes out to show her face is simply a disgrace to her dignity!"
The maid was so frightened that she fell to her knees, trembling and not daring to speak.
The night was deep, like thick ink splashed across the sky. No stars or moon were visible, only a few dark clouds wandered across the night sky. The trees along the road swayed in the night wind, making a rustling sound, as if whispering something.
Li Dehai hurried along, his heart filled with anxiety. Beads of sweat oozed from his forehead, but he didn't bother to wipe them off. He simply urged the sedan bearers to speed up. Finally, he saw the eaves and brackets of the Princess's Residence in the distance, looming in the night. Li Dehai felt relieved and ordered the sedan bearers to stop.
He stepped down from the sedan chair and looked up at the sky. The sound of the third watch drum echoed in the distance, remarkably clear in the still night. A few lanterns outside the residence flickered faintly in the night breeze, illuminating Li Dehai's anxious face. He adjusted his official uniform, took a deep breath, and calmed his rapid breathing before heading toward the main entrance of the princess's residence.
Li Dehai stopped at the door of the inn, took a deep breath, and reached out to gently knock on the vermilion door.
"Knock, knock, knock," the three knocks on the door sounded particularly clear in the silent night.
After a while, a sleepy voice came from inside the door: "Who is it? It's so late, and you're knocking on the door..."
Li Dehai quickly lowered his voice and said respectfully, "Excuse me, I, your servant Li Dehai, would like to see Her Royal Highness the Princess on an important matter."
When the night watch servant heard Li Dehai's voice, he did not dare to delay and quickly turned around and ran in to report.
Li Dehai stood outside the door, waiting anxiously, looking up at the sky from time to time. The night grew darker, and the wind grew more fierce, making his clothes rustle.
After a long while, the night watchman ran back panting and welcomed Li Dehai in.
Li Dehai walked quickly across the courtyard and arrived at the door of the princess's bedroom. The lights were brightly lit inside, and a few soft coughs could be heard faintly.
Li Dehai straightened his official uniform, took a deep breath, and then gently knocked on the door. "Your Highness, I, your servant Li Dehai, request an audience."
"Come in." Princess Jue Ling's voice sounded a little tired.
Li Dehai pushed the door open and walked in, only to see Princess Jue Ling reclining on a soft couch, covered with a thin blanket, holding a scroll in her hand, flipping through it casually. Hearing Li Dehai's voice, she frowned slightly, and said with a hint of impatience, "It's so late, Eunuch Li, why are you here instead of serving the Emperor?"
"Your Highness, I am here to deliver a letter to you on the orders of the Emperor." Li Dehai said respectfully, pulling out an envelope wrapped in bright yellow brocade from his sleeve and handing it over with both hands.
Princess Jue Ling casually extended her right hand, and her slender fingers gently picked up the bright yellow envelope. It felt slightly cool, a hint of the night's chill. She glanced through it casually, her eyes betraying little interest, as if she were holding not a letter from the Emperor but an insignificant note.
"My royal brother is always like this. He would mobilize a large force for a small matter." Princess Jue Ling dragged out the last syllable of her voice, with a hint of laziness and indifference in her tone.
As she spoke, she casually threw the envelope on the table, making a slight "pop" sound that was particularly clear in the silent bedroom.
"Don't you have anything to say, my royal brother? Can you wait until tomorrow? Why do you have to wait until this hour to disturb my sweet sleep?" Princess Jue Ling frowned slightly, with a hint of displeasure in her tone, but it seemed as if she said it on purpose for Li Dehai to hear.
Upon hearing this, Li Dehai quickly bowed and replied, "Your Highness, the Emperor said that this letter is of great importance and must be reviewed by Your Highness. No mistakes can be made."
"Oh? It's a serious matter?" Princess Jue Ling's tone finally showed a hint of emotion. She sat up straight and looked Li Dehai up and down with interest. "What on earth is it that has made my brother so anxious?"
Li Dehai did not dare to neglect the matter. He quickly thanked her and walked to Princess Jue Ling, presenting the letter with both hands. "Your Highness, this is a letter that the Emperor has ordered me to deliver. Please take a look."
Princess Jue Ling took the letter and examined it carefully. Written in golden ink on the envelope were the words "Jue Ling personally addressed to her"—the words were written with a vigorous and powerful handwriting, unmistakably from her brother, the Emperor. She slowly opened the envelope, pulled out the letter, and unfolded it, discovering it was indeed her brother's own handwriting. In the letter, Chai Zhen first expressed concern for Princess Jue Ling's well-being, his words filled with the affection of a brother for his sister. Then, with a sudden shift in tone, he mentioned Cen Jiexiao.
On the letter, Chai Zhen's handwriting remained as elegant as ever, exuding the majesty of an emperor. However, the content of the letter was in stark contrast to the majesty of the handwriting. In the letter, Chai Zhen earnestly requested Jue Ling to leave the palace, visit Zhaoyin Academy, and meet Cen Jiexiao.
Princess Jue Ling couldn't help but chuckle at this. She dropped the letter onto the table, picked up the teacup beside her, and took a sip. The tea had cooled a little, but the aroma was still rich, lingering between her lips and teeth, but it couldn't dispel the inexplicable irritation in her heart.
"My royal brother is really..." Princess Jue Ling put down the teacup, with a hint of sarcasm in her tone, "For a woman, he can actually do this."
"Your Highness, please be careful with your words! The emperor's love for you is evident to all, so please don't presume to speculate on his intentions!" When Li Dehai heard what Princess Jueling said, he turned pale with fright and quickly knelt on the ground.
Princess Jue Ling looked at Li Dehai, kneeling on the ground, a flicker of impatience in her eyes, but she said nothing more. She knew, of course, that Chai Zhen had always doted on her younger sister; otherwise, he wouldn't have been so reluctant to arrange a marriage for her after she came of age, even allowing her to purchase a house outside the palace and live a semi-free life. Even the charge of treason was merely house arrest.
However, this favor made Princess Jue Ling feel extremely heavy. She was like a canary imprisoned in a golden cage. Although she was a person above others, she could never have true freedom.