The snow fell all night and finally stopped before dawn.
In the inn located at the foot of the palace, Ayao looked at Huan Ci's dark eyes and quickly helped her tidy up.
Huan Ci casually fiddled with the tassels on his belt twice and said softly to A Yao: "No need to be busy, just wear two casual clothes."
Ayao sighed helplessly: "The girl's shoulder injury has never recovered. How can it get better if it continues like this?"
"It doesn't matter, I'll have a good rest when I get back." Huan Ci comforted her, put on his coat and hurried out.
Today she wanted to convince the emperor to send troops in the court, but the people in the court were probably so easy to get along with.
Soon after, a woman galloping on a horse appeared at the door of the inn, just like last night.
Huan Ci ignored the pain coming from his right shoulder and ran all the way to the palace.
Suddenly, a carriage turned around the corner and almost knocked her over.
"Sorry, I'm in a hurry." Huan Ci hurriedly said the next sentence and wanted to leave after steadying his horse.
"Princess Huan?"
The sound coming from the carriage made her immediately pull the reins.
The people in the car opened the curtain and looked out, and Huan Ci could clearly see the people sitting inside.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince?" Huan Ci stared at the familiar person in front of him for a long time, and finally remembered the man's identity.
This person was Zong Zhengche, the prince of the current dynasty. He had lived in Bingzhou for a period of time two years ago due to political affairs, and Huan Ci had some friendship with him.
Zong Zhengche was not Zong Zhengyuan's eldest son, but his nephew. When the late emperor Zong Zhengxun died, Zong Zhengche was still young, so the throne was taken by Zong Zhengyuan.
After all, the title of the emperor was not justified, so Zong Zhengyuan made Zong Zhengyang's eldest son Zong Zhengche the crown prince.
Huan Ci didn't need to think too much, he knew that Zong Zhengche's position would not be smooth sailing.
Zong Zhengyuan was suspicious and selfish, and he would definitely not be willing to let the throne pass to an outsider. Besides, there were several princes close to Zong Zhengche in age, so how could he be willing to give up the crown prince's position to others.
"When did the princess come to Beijing? How come I don't have any news at all?"
"I just arrived last night." Huan Ci explained softly, "Now I am in a hurry to enter the palace, so I want to go first."
"I also want to enter the palace, why don't we come together?" Zong Zhengche chuckled with the corner of his mouth raised.
"Why is Your Majesty outside the palace?" Huan Ci frowned slightly.
"I live outside the palace now." Zong Zhengche said with a smile.
It is really strange that the dignified prince does not live in the East Palace, but lives outside the palace.
Huan Ci resisted the idea of continuing to ask, turned over and walked to the car window to talk to him: "Your Highness is going to attend the morning court?"
"I have been helping supervise the construction of the Orchid Stone Garden recently. I came to the palace today just to ask for money from the Ministry of Household Affairs." Zong Zhengche saw her approaching, and the smile on his face grew a little wider.
Huan Ci pulled the corners of his mouth and smiled bitterly.
Yunzhou was already in dire straits, but Zong Zhengyuan was still interested in building the Royal Garden.
"It's snowy and the road is slippery. Princess, why don't you take my car? It's still early, so there's no need to be in such a hurry." Zong Zhengche invited softly.
Huan Ci nodded in agreement without hesitation.
It was also her first time in the capital. She was unfamiliar with the place and there was no harm in having a few acquaintances.
The inside and outside of the car were like a world of ice and fire. Huan Ci, who was surrounded by warmth, gradually turned around and his face returned to rosy.
"Why did the princess come to the capital?" Zong Zhengche's voice broke the silence in the car.
"The war situation in the northwest is tense, and I'm here to borrow troops from the imperial court." Huan Ci explained.
Zong Zhengyuan gave her a secret edict, and not many people knew about it, but she didn't expect that Zong Zhengche didn't know about it.
"Don't you know, Your Highness?" She stared at Zong Zhengche suspiciously, trying to see the flaws in his face.
The man looked away, reached out and brushed her shoulders twice: "The clothes are all dirty."
Huan Ci then realized that her outer garment had been splashed with sewage at some point, and it was not very noticeable, so she didn't notice it.
"It doesn't matter, it will be done in a moment." She smiled awkwardly and wiped her clothes carefully with a handkerchief.
This matter could be big or small. If Zong Zhengyuan was accused of being disheveled, it would be enough for her to drink.
"Don't worry, he can't see it from so far away."
"Who?" Huan Ci didn't respond for a moment.
"You mean-"
"Yeah." Zong Zhengche's lips raised slightly.
The distance between the two was too close, and the other person was staring at her constantly. Huan Ci felt a blush on his face and looked away in embarrassment.
When she looked back, the man had moved his gaze out the window.
She breathed a sigh of relief quietly.
Although she and Zong Zhengte were old acquaintances, they could only be regarded as acquaintances, but the man's gentleness aroused her wariness.
But a quarter of an hour later, the carriage stopped steadily at the gate of the palace.
Huan Ci rushed out impatiently.
It had snowed all night, and now it was freezing cold. The sudden change in temperature made her shiver and subconsciously stamp her feet.
"Is it cold?" Zong Zhengche calmly got off the carriage, walked up to her and looked at her with concern.
"Not bad." Huan Ci smiled politely, raised his eyes and looked away, and saw Fu Shen passing behind Zong Zhengche.
"Fu Shaoqing." Zong Zhengche followed her gaze and looked back, then suddenly called out to the man.
Fu Shen turned to look at the two of them, his eyes sweeping past Huan Ci.
"The princess should not recognize him. He is Fu Shen, the current young minister of Dali Temple." Zong Zhengche said.
Huan Ci raised the corner of his mouth and said with a fake smile: "I met this gentleman in His Majesty's palace last night."
As soon as these words came out, she noticed that Zong Zhengche's face stiffened for a moment, but he regained his composure in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, Fu Shen had walked up to the two of them. He bowed his hand to Zong Zhengche, completely losing his arrogance from last night.
Huan Ci, who was ignored by him, rolled his eyes in his heart, but with a slight smile on his face, he took the initiative and said: "Fu Shaoqing, I have admired you for a long time!"
"Master Fu, have you met the princess last night?" Zong Zhengche asked.
"Yes." Fu Shen's voice was soft, without any emotion.
The two soon started chatting about the corruption trial of Prime Minister Wei Zhe.
Huan Ci didn't care much about this matter and stood aside boredly observing the two of them.
Judging from the height, the two of them are almost the same, and they are both tall and thin, so they look good standing together.
Although Zong Zhengche was the prince, on the surface he did not look as majestic as a superior, but rather polite. Fu Shen, on the other hand, always had an expressionless face, making people afraid to approach him easily.
Huan Ci curled his lips secretly. Fu Shen was also like this when she first met him. Unfortunately, she was carried away by the beauty and launched an offensive against him after meeting him once.
Although it has been more than three years, Fu Shen is still very good-looking. Especially his fair skin, which really makes Huan Ci envious.
