Chapter 58
On the first day, it was inevitable to feel a bit uncomfortable and nervous. Although preparations had been made beforehand, there was still a lack of understanding about this unfamiliar environment.
The room was very quiet; apart from the sound of turning pages, the only noise was the sound of someone drinking water. Inside, there were six people quietly reviewing official documents.
The area where Shangguan Ye worked was a separate room, isolated except for the lack of a door.
Murong Qiufeng was assigned a seat on the opposite side of Shangguan Ye, carefully examining the official documents. He was worried about making a mistake, so he was so absorbed in his task that he didn’t hear Shangguan Ye calling him several times. It wasn’t until his shoulder was gently tapped that he came back to reality.
When he turned, he saw Shangguan Ye smiling at him. He was suddenly a bit puzzled and nervous. “Is there something wrong?” he instinctively glanced at the official documents on Shangguan Ye’s desk.
Shangguan Ye chuckled softly, “Don’t be so tense. Just treat it like you’re making comments while reading at home. It’s already noon; let’s have lunch first.”
Murong Qiufeng couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, nodding as he packed his things. He stood up and followed Shangguan Ye outside. The others were already waiting; they could only leave to have their meals after Shangguan Ye did.
“Hmm? Aren’t we going back to the Wangfu?” After walking for a while, Murong Qiufeng realized they were not heading toward the palace exit and looked at Shangguan Ye in confusion.
“The meals have already been prepared in the palace. If we go back, it’ll take some time,” Shangguan Ye replied nonchalantly. “I’ll show you the way first; from now on, we can have meals directly in the palace.”
He enjoyed being quietly together with Murong Qiufeng. Walking side by side gave him a strange feeling. All his life, he had been alone. Even at the end, when he was at the top, he was still alone. No one had ever stood beside him like this. Now, he loved this feeling, the feeling of having someone to share his life with, no longer feeling lonely.
Murong Qiufeng was momentarily stunned, then raised an eyebrow in amusement. “Then why did you insist on going back to the Wangfu for meals before? I thought the palace didn’t provide food.”
Shangguan Ye tilted his head and raised an eyebrow at him, chuckling softly, “Because the food at the Wangfu tastes better than that in the palace.” Where you are is where the taste of home is.
Murong Qiufeng was puzzled. Wasn’t the food in the palace said to be the most delicious in the world?
Seeing Murong Qiufeng’s confused and curious expression, Shangguan Ye’s lips curled into a smile, clearly in a good mood.
“Greetings, Your Highness, Lord Murong.”
Shangguan Ye waved his hand, signaling them to leave.
Inside the room was a simple eight-immortal table. There were no delicacies, just four simple dishes, a soup, and two bowls of rice, the dishes were quite light, suitable for Murong Qiufeng’s taste.
They had been eating together for a while, so the two quickly finished lunch in silent understanding. Afterward, Shangguan Ye took Murong Qiufeng to familiarize himself with the layout of the palace, but halfway through, they were interrupted by an unexpected visitor.
“I’ve heard that the princess has a twin brother who looks very similar to her. Now that I see you, it’s indeed true…” Zhao Xiru looked at Murong Qiufeng in surprise. “But your brother is much more pleasing to the eyes than your sister. Can I call you Brother Qiufeng?”
Murong Qiufeng felt a bit embarrassed and nodded as a form of consent.
Shangguan Ye’s expression darkened. “Seventh Princess, if I’m not mistaken, the carriages from Zhao country have already departed.”
“Hehe, Brother Ye, I’m not leaving! Xir is specially staying behind for you. Even the Emperor agreed to it. Oh, and tomorrow, I’m going to move into the Wangfu!” Zhao Xiru smiled sweetly as she held onto Shangguan Ye’s arm like a fox that had stolen something.
Murong Qiufeng instinctively furrowed his brow. It wasn’t that he was bothered by Zhao Xiru, but if she really moved into the Wangfu, the matter of the fake princess would eventually be discovered. Besides, if she moved in, the princess couldn’t always avoid meeting her. If there were no other options, he didn’t want to deal with those bone-cleansing pills either.
Shangguan Ye’s expression also turned grim as he stared coldly at Zhao Xiru, grabbing her wrist and pulling her away. “My patience is limited. Don’t test my endurance. You can act recklessly as you wish, but some thoughts shouldn’t exist.”
“Ow, Brother Ye, you’re hurting Xir!” Zhao Xiru’s face turned pale at Shangguan Ye’s cold demeanor. She was truly frightened, and her wrist was indeed hurting from his grip.
Murong Qiufeng watched as tears formed in Zhao Xiru’s eyes. Although he felt pity, he didn’t step in to stop it, knowing that Shangguan Ye had his own plans.
Shangguan Ye snorted coldly and released her hand. He said coldly, “In Zhao country, you are a princess, but here in Yan country, you are merely a guest. Don’t overstep your bounds. If you behave yourself, I might let you stay in the palace for a few more days. If you can’t get used to the palace, I can send you back to Zhao country immediately.”
“What if I want to find Sister Jun?” Zhao Xiru’s eyes brimmed with tears. She felt wronged but stubbornly didn’t cry. Instead, she lifted her little face like a spoiled child wanting a toy.
Shangguan Ye narrowed his eyes slightly. He leaned closer to her, his hand gently squeezing her neck.
“Ye…” Murong Qiufeng exclaimed in surprise, instinctively calling out.
Shangguan Ye’s cold eyes were fixed on Zhao Xiru. The grip on her neck felt like it could snap at any moment, causing her to widen her eyes in fear and tremble slightly.
“Ye, forget it.” Murong Qiufeng stepped forward and gently shook his head at Shangguan Ye. After all, she was just a child.
Looking at Zhao Xiru, he couldn’t help but think of Murong Qiujun, his sister, who was also in a foreign land. He wondered if she was being bullied.
Shangguan Ye snorted again and released Zhao Xiru, speaking coldly, “If you want to return home safely, you’d better manage yourself. I believe that even if I leave your life in this place, Zhao country won’t dispatch troops over just one princess. If they did, it would fall right into my hands. As a princess, you should manage your words and actions carefully. Be wary that a single mistake could lead to your country being destroyed and your family being wiped out.”
Zhao Xiru’s eyes widened, and she covered her neck, looking at Shangguan Ye in disbelief. Tears finally fell from her eyes like pearls falling off a broken string. “I…I just like you. What’s wrong with liking someone? Why do you treat me this way?”
“That has nothing to do with me. Leave.” Shangguan Ye glanced indifferently at her, then turned to Murong Qiufeng and walked away.
Murong Qiufeng sighed softly. He patted Zhao Xiru’s shoulder and took out a handkerchief, gently wiping her tears. He said softly, “He’s not suitable for you. What you feel for him is merely admiration, not love. Perhaps if you take a step back, you’ll find someone better suited for you. A girl’s tears are precious; don’t waste them lightly.” He pressed the handkerchief into her hands and turned to leave.
Zhao Xiru stood there in a daze, forgetting to cry, still holding the white handkerchief in her hands. She stared in astonishment at Murong Qiufeng’s retreating figure, confusion flashing in her eyes, followed by a moment of realization, then her expression brightened.
Looking down at the white handkerchief in her hand, she bit her lip, suddenly recalling something. A smile crept onto her face. “Murong Qiujun, since you’ve taken my man, then let’s use your brother to make up for it.”
