Li Xinyue glanced back at them but had no mood to comfort them, for her mind was in a complete mess.
After entering the bedchamber, the door was firmly shut.
The long line of imperial guards coiled around the Mingyue Courtyard like a dragon, layer upon layer.
Li Xinyue sat bare - footed on the Persian carpet, her head bowed as if gazing into an invisible abyss.
The moonlight fell on the windowsill, illuminating half of her body. Her long hair, like a waterfall, fluttered gently in the breeze.
She still hadn't recovered from this sudden set - back.
She couldn't tell whether she resented her father or not.
Understanding his difficult situation was one thing, but being slapped hard by him without even a chance to defend herself was another.
At this moment, the pent - up grievances in her heart almost crushed her.
The room was empty, dark and gloomy, as if isolating her from the mortal world or dragging her into an abyss.
The feeling of being alone and helpless was so familiar that it seemed like she was back on the night when her mother - concubine had an accident and she was thrown into the Cold Palace.
She had hated!
She had hated her father for ordering the death of her mother - concubine.
But after understanding the power struggles and intrigues in the court, she also realized her father's hardships.
He was an emperor supported by the noble families but also a puppet in their hands.
He was trying hard to break free from their control but was always entangled with them.
He had to endure what an ordinary person couldn't and also had to be the kind of emperor the noble families wanted.
He had grand ambitions but had no place to show them.
He was really in a tough situation.
If, just if.
If one day her father could truly take power, there might be a turning point regarding her mother - concubine.
But this was just a hypothesis. After all, her mother - concubine was gone, and that was the truth.
Li Xinyue sighed melancholy and closed her eyes. The sourness and pain in her heart overflowed like a toppled jar, spreading throughout her body.
Suddenly, she seemed to have lost all her strength and slumped to the ground.
The words her imperial grandmother had said before she died came to her mind, "Your grandmother was of humble birth, so it was destined that your path would be difficult. Don't blame your father. If he had a choice, he would rather hide you and your mother away than take your mother - concubine's life.
Grandmother is leaving. Your father will be your only reliance. So I don't want there to be any estrangement between you and your father. Your honor, your status, everything you have depends on your father.
A smart girl should know how to please her elders and be tactful. Child, you still have a long life ahead. If you don't learn to let go, life won't be easy."
"Grandmother."
Li Xinyue stared at the silvery moonlight on the carpet and murmured with her head down.
She understood all the great principles, but she just felt so sad. How could she relieve this feeling?
At this time, the scrolls sent from the south of the Yangtze River had reached Emperor Mingde's hands.
Emperor Mingde looked at the portrait of Princess Yuanyang on the scroll and the poems praising her for capturing the bandit leader. His mood was indescribably complicated.
She was completely tied to the Fu family.
Eunuch Wang carefully brought the calming tea and placed it in front of Emperor Mingde's desk, then carefully stepped back.
Emperor Mingde came back to his senses, sighed and said, "Lord Chu has made great contributions this time. I should reward him. By the way, is he married? How is Princess Rong doing in learning the rules? How many copies of The Admonitions for Women has she written?"
Eunuch Wang bowed and replied, "It is reported that Lord Chu is still single. Under the supervision of the queen and the crown prince, Princess Rong has become much more well - behaved. Her calligraphy has also improved a lot. She seems to have had a complete transformation."
"Good. Then I'll betroth my legitimate princess to this young talent." In this way, he could separate the most powerful noble family from the aristocratic clique.
And with the status of the legitimate son - in - law of the emperor, Chu Junyi could quickly gain a foothold in the court and avoid being ostracized.
Thinking of this, Emperor Mingde wrote the imperial edict of betrothal and handed it to Eunuch Wang to announce.
Eunuch Wang took a few steps, then thought it was not right, turned back and asked awkwardly, "Your Majesty, where does Lord Chu live?"
Emperor Mingde was stunned for a moment and then realized that this number one scholar from a humble family had no residence in the capital. Even if he rented a house, no one knew where it was.
"Forget it. I'll announce it during the court session tomorrow. Leave it here."
"Yes."
Li Xinyue sat on the carpet heart - broken and motionless, as if she was going to sit there forever.
The moonlight gently caressed her shoulders, and the evening breeze blew her hair gently.
"Yuanyang!"
Li Xinyue frowned slightly. She didn't want Chu Junyi to come at this time.
Because at this moment, she just wanted to hide herself so that no one could find her.
"Don't come here."
Chu Junyi stopped in his tracks and silently looked at her. The moonlight surrounded her in a halo.
With her long hair loose and her ankles bare, she was silent, looking like a moon - elf isolated from the world, showing a heartbreaking beauty.
Chu Junyi felt a complex mixture of emotions churning in his chest, and his brows were tightly knitted.
Li Xinyue didn't dare to look up at him because she didn't know how to face him.
Besides not wanting to be disturbed, she didn't want him to see her in such a miserable state.
"You already know everything. Why are you here?"
"I'm here to see my princess."
"I'm no longer a princess."
"In my heart, you are."
"Chu Junyi!"
"Princess, speak louder and call the guards here."
Li Xinyue lowered her head and said nothing.
Chu Junyi's heart was almost broken. He quickly walked up to her, squatted down, and quietly looked at her. After steadying his mind, he stroked her head and said, "What's wrong? Just after promising to be with me, are you so upset about being deposed that you don't want me anymore?"
Li Xinyue, "..."
Chu Junyi hooked his finger and tucked the long hair in front of her eyes behind her ear.
Li Xinyue quickly pulled it out and let it fall in front of her eyes again.
Chu Junyi tucked it behind her ear again.
Li Xinyue was about to grab it back when Chu Junyi caught her hand. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. At the same time, there was a glimmer of tears in his phoenix eyes, and his heart felt like it was being torn by a cat's claws.
Swallowing the bitter feeling with difficulty, he said in his usual non -chalant tone, "This is not bad. The princess doesn't need me to rise to power. Instead, she voluntarily descends to the mortal world. I just need to open my arms to welcome her."
As he said this, he really opened his arms.
Li Xinyue's heart was pounding. Her ear tips were slightly red in the dark, but she was too shy to throw herself into his arms.
Then, he pulled her wrist hard, and she fell forward.
Her heart skipped a beat. Before she could react, she was already lying on his chest. He was lying on the ground on his back, his arms tightly around her. Smelling the fragrance of her hair, he murmured softly with heartache.
She felt as if she was floating in the clouds, dizzy and almost unable to distinguish between reality and fantasy.
"Give me some time. I'll think of a way."
She finally came back to reality and asked, "What way?"
He gently patted her on the bottom and said, "I'm still thinking about it!"
"Chu Junyi, you dare to hit me!"
"Shh! Don't make a noise, don't make a noise!"