After a long sleep, Ji Pingxi sat comfortably in the steaming bath, seemingly relaxed but actually attentive as Yu Zhi told her what happened next.
Upon learning that Lady Wei had buried explosives under the hunting grounds, that the Marquis of Yiyang and the Empress Dowager's rebellion had failed, that her father had cleared her grandmother's name, and that she had been granted a fief, the princess hummed comfortably, "Yesterday's events are like yesterday's death; 'Wei Pingxi' is long dead."
She died in her previous life, when Yan Qing cruelly tried to kill her.
She no longer wanted to care about whether those people lived or died.
"From this moment on, I am Ji Pingxi."
The name is still the same, the person is still the same, only the surname has changed, and a brand new life has begun.
Yu Zhi squatted by the pool, beaming with joy: "Congratulations."
"What will you offer as congratulations?" she asked with a malicious smile.
Yu Zhi pretended not to understand and was about to turn her back and run away when she was pulled into a large pool of water.
Water splashed.
Ji Ying, who had rushed over excitedly, was looking forward to seeing her daughter, who was awake and alive, as soon as she stepped through the door. She walked with a brisk pace.
The chief eunuch Yang Ruo smiled at his master's anxious expression. However, when he arrived at the Yu family's residence and opened the door, the Empress told him that her daughter was taking a bath. In that instant, Yang Ruo couldn't bear to see the Emperor's disappointed expression.
What others could not know was that, of the son and daughter, Princess Changyang was the emperor and empress's most cherished treasure.
Crown Prince Ji Qingyou followed a few steps behind His Majesty, entered the room and called out, "Where is my elder sister?!"
Princess Pingxi was having a great time playing in the pool, and instead of forcing anyone to do *that*, she spent the rest of the time being all lovey-dovey and taking full advantage of the situation.
“Not bad.” She cradled that wonderful spot in one hand: “As fragrant and soft as ever.”
Yu Zhi slapped her hand away in embarrassment.
Do you miss me?
She stared intently at the delicate and beautiful woman.
"In no mood."
"lie."
Yu Zhi hesitated for a moment, then turned around and hugged her tightly.
They almost became separated by life and death. How could I not miss them after waiting day after day?
The princess, delighted by the beauty's embrace, smiled gently.
Ever since she met this man, she has never restrained her lust for women.
What's remarkable is that, rather than seeking deeper intimacy, she felt that a hug was enough at this moment.
Perhaps, she could sleep with this beauty for a lifetime and never get tired of her.
She sighed softly, "Zhizhi."
Yu Zhi buried her face in the crook of her neck, her breath slightly ragged: "Hmm?"
"As the tide rises, so too will you become my concubine."
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Chapter 75 Pillow Flower
Only concubines who were elevated by their master's family could be called "noble concubines." Adding the word "noble" before "concubine" meant that they would not be easily abandoned.
Many years ago, it was common practice among aristocratic families to "exchange concubines" or "send concubines." This involved sending a beautiful maid or a woman they had grown tired of to someone they wanted to curry favor with, in order to maintain friendly relations.
After Ji Ying ascended to the position, the status of women in the Great Yan Dynasty was effectively improved. Take the concubine position for example, it was based on mutual consent.
Yu Zhi voluntarily became the concubine of the Fourth Miss, and in an instant, the Fourth Miss became the highly respected Princess Changyang. As a concubine favored by Princess Changyang, she was naturally called a Noble Concubine.
Especially since the princess was unmarried, she was the only woman in the harem.
These past few days, Jinshi and Yinding have been putting in a lot of effort to help Yuzhi recover, hoping that their aunt will rise to great heights and become a phoenix on a parasol tree—a princess!
The fact that she uttered the words "concubine" made Yu Zhi believe that Xi Xi treated her somewhat differently.
From beginning to end, this person did not let anyone bully her, just as she had promised.
Regardless of whether that person was the Empress Dowager, the peerless martial arts master Xuan Yin, or the vicious and ruthless Madam Wei, she protected her well, her care tinged with a hint of favoritism.
Yuzhi could perceive these subtle details that others might not.
She was naturally more sensitive than others, and immediately leaned against her beloved's chest, feeling a premonition that his heart was flying towards her.
As long as you seize the right opportunity, this person won't get away.
Princess Changyang led her beloved concubine out; the two, one ethereal and the other alluring, were both top-tier romantic figures of their time.
The Emperor, who had arrived excitedly, was now waiting dejectedly in the main hall, speaking to the Empress with a slightly aggrieved expression.
The Grand Eunuch Yang Ruo, possessing profound inner strength, greeted the Emperor with a smile before even arriving, saying, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Prince has arrived."
They've arrived?
Ji Ying was eagerly waiting!
His appearance reminded Yan Xiu of her experience when she was pregnant.
After learning that she was pregnant, His Majesty always liked to press his ear against her belly to listen to the sounds inside. Even the baby turning over and kicking in the womb would make him smile all night long.
Those days were a period of happiness and joy that the couple could never forget.
The atmosphere when the father and daughter met was completely different from before.
Princess Changyang composed herself and knelt solemnly, saying, "Your child greets Father and Mother."
Yu Zhi also bowed down, but dared not address him as "Father Emperor" or "Mother Empress," instead respectfully calling him "Your Majesty" and "Your Highness."
Ji Ying personally helped her daughter up.
Yan Xiu then helped Yu Zhi, who was kneeling on the ground, to her feet.
Liu Boyan is blind and cannot see the scene of her family reunion. Although she is happy that her "son-in-law" has found his relatives, she...
After all, they are royalty.
It's one thing for Xi Xi, the fourth young lady of the Marquis's mansion, to get married, but her status is different from before, she has the dignity of a princess. Does this marriage still count?
Her mind was in turmoil, her fingers clutching the hem of her clothes, thinking to herself: There are men in the world who abandon their wives and children when they become successful, but once a woman enters the royal family, will she divorce her husband for the sake of the royal family's reputation?
How can this be allowed?
Not to mention that Xi Xi and Zhi Zhi are deeply in love and have pledged their lives to each other, her daughter is already His Highness's woman. If she were to just abandon her like that, how would Zhi Zhi live her life from now on?
Mothers inevitably worry about their daughters. Ji Rong held her hand, wanting to comfort her, but the blind, beautiful woman brushed her hand away without saying a word.
The two of them had another argument for some reason.
The younger generation has its own difficulties to overcome, and the older generation has its own hurdles to navigate; no one has it easy.
Ji Ying hugged her daughter affectionately, but the usually composed emperor was now in a hurry to bring her back to the palace.
He was the emperor, and no one could go against his will.
Returning to the palace is possible, but there are some things that need to be arranged beforehand.
The Emperor and Empress waited in the courtyard, just waiting for the little princess to come out and get into the imperial carriage to go home.
"mother in law."
Liu Boyan's spirits lifted: "Xi Xi? No, Your Highness..."
"Mother-in-law is joking. Even if Xi Xi becomes a princess, she will still be Xi Xi. That will not change."
She slept for seven days, not knowing how well Yao Chenzi's treatment had gone: "You should rest and recover at home. Once your eyes are better, I will take you to the palace for a checkup."
An ordinary person might never see the splendor of the palace in their entire life, but a blind man is different. His eyes are restored to see the vastness of the world, and he can freely enter any good place, even the imperial palace.
She said this to comfort the woman's heart.
Now she is somewhat infatuated with Yu Zhi and cannot be without her for the time being.
She was going to enter the palace, and Zhizhi had to go with her, otherwise she wouldn't be able to sleep well at night.
Since they had taken someone else's daughter, they had to treat her mother well. Both Wei Pingxi and Ji Pingxi were extremely filial at heart.
She admired Yu Zhi's courage in selling herself to save her mother, so she treated her mother-in-law with the same respect and kindness.
She woke up so suddenly, and left so abruptly. Yu's mother, reluctant to part with her two good children, said with tears welling in her eyes, "Alright, alright, go in peace. I'll come see you when I'm better..."
Yao Chenzi is known as a divine physician, and he has already prepared all the necessary medicines to treat Yu's mother's eye disease.
After taking the medication for a long time, her eyes improved half a month ago. Afraid of telling people too early and giving them false hope, she kept it to herself until now.
She understood the Emperor and Empress's longing for their daughter and their desire to bring her back to the palace. However, Yu's mother, reluctant to part with her daughter and not wanting to turn a perfectly good matter into a tearful affair, waved her hand and said, "Go."
Feeling guilty, Yu Zhi knelt down and kowtowed twice to her.
As she was about to kowtow for the third time, Liu Boyan's voice trembled with heartache: "Filial piety isn't about outward appearances. As long as you're doing well, your mother will be at peace. Get up, get up quickly."
The eldest princess helped her future daughter up, and Yuzhi smiled gratefully at her.
She said what she should have said, and even the things she shouldn't have said, she held back until the blind woman finally managed to grope and grab the hem of her good son-in-law's clothes.
She had something to say, so Ji Pingxi tactfully led her to the inner room.
"Now that you are a prince, you are of royal blood. The emperor and empress dote on you and love you because you are their flesh and blood."
"Zhizhi is also my flesh and blood, the precious child I carried for ten months. I ask for nothing more than that you keep your promise from that day, treat her well, do not humiliate her, and protect her."
"Don't worry, mother-in-law."
Even if I was worried, I could only feel at ease.
Entering the palace is like entering a deep sea, but fortunately, His Majesty favors only the Empress, making the harem quite peaceful. However…
She hesitated and said, "Xi Xi, if you call me mother-in-law, I'll be bold enough to really treat you as my mother-in-law for once. I'll ask you, as a princess, do you know how to find a husband?"
It concerns the face of the imperial family. If she were to marry a prince consort, what would become of her children?
She was full of concerns when the person opposite her let out a soft laugh: "Mother-in-law, to be honest, I like beautiful, timid, weak, charming, and arrogant women. What man in the world can match all of these qualities?"
"Even among women, I only see branches."