Le charme d'une femme puissante se répand à travers le monde

Chapitre 94

"And what about it?" I asked the old man, pointing at the big guy with one finger as I moved.

"I'll follow you, girl."

I stopped talking. Given my disheveled state, I figured I should tidy myself up first. I followed the palace maids leading the way, glancing at the large golden vehicle beside me. Having such a companion brought me some joy.

I was bestowed the title of "Princess Drunken Moon," which isn't an exception, because there's a precedent in Xiu Ruo. For someone like me, born out of wedlock, to be recognized as a member of the royal family, I first need the Holy Spirit Beast's permission. In other words, only those who enter that small castle and emerge alive can rightfully become royalty. Now, not only have I come out alive, but I've also, unprecedentedly, brought that giant beast out with me to communicate with it. It has chosen me alone, and according to precedent, I am the most honored person in Xiu Ruo. Of course, this "most honored" status is second only to the Emperor and Empress. So, although I'm not from the lineage of the old emperor's children, according to Xiu Ruo law, I can be specially granted the title of princess, and to distinguish me, I am a princess with a fiefdom.

My fiefdom is Drunken Moon City. The old man bestowed upon me a city in the east of Xiuzhou, a place said to have fertile soil and beautiful people. My title is named after this fiefdom. I know this is a great favor. Although the old man's daughters are princesses, none of them have fiefdoms. This time, the old man granted me a city not far from the capital, and the material gains are quite considerable. But to be honest, being envied and suddenly placed in the eye of the storm, I would rather not have all of this.

I no longer need to worry about returning to the Prince Hao's mansion. Having been granted the title of princess, I naturally reside in the palace, specifically the Zuiyue Palace, which is closest to the old man's residence. The efficiency of the Xiu Ruo royal family far surpasses that of Tian Qing. Although I was granted the title of princess in Tian Qing, the formal ceremonies for worshipping heaven and recognizing ancestors were delayed due to my subsequent military campaign, and the proper rituals were never completed. In Xiu Ruo, however, about ten days after the decree was issued, coinciding with a so-called auspicious day, these ceremonies were successfully completed under the supervision of Old Man Yun.

Clouds Drunk and the Moon Slightly Sleeping (Revised Edition) Volume Four: A Hidden Sorrow and Resentment Bring Injuries to the Marriage Alliance

Chapter word count: 3844 Update time: 08-12-24 12:55

Hurting and marriage

After nearly a month of living as a princess, besides staying at the Drunken Moon Palace, I would visit the old emperor and empress every day, keeping them company and chatting to pass the time. Compared to middle-aged people like Old Man Yun, I found the elderly to be more endearing and kind. Although I didn't know what the old man was really thinking, at least on the surface, he genuinely seemed to love me, his granddaughter. The empress was the same; every morning she would send someone to call me to have breakfast with her, preventing me from even sleeping in.

The weather was gradually warming, and the air was faintly filled with the scent of spring. After a few light rains, green shoots began to appear on the branches. I stood under the peach trees in the Drunken Moon Palace Garden, and the new green that should have brought joy pierced my heart. Why, for more than two months, had I received no news of the fox? The night wind had never appeared either, as if they had suddenly vanished from my world, leaving no trace except for that Phoenix Orchid Jade Pendant?

"Yaoyao, have you really lived for three hundred years?" I glanced at the big guy next to me, then looked up at the sky.

Yao Yao, Jin Yao Yao, that's the name I gave it. It didn't make a sound, but just lowered its head and rubbed its face against my hand, then stuck out its tongue and licked it.

The sky was overcast, as if it were about to rain, and it seemed that a few raindrops had already begun to fall. Otherwise, why would I feel a slight dampness on my face? I took a deep breath, then sighed deeply, lowered my head, reached out and hugged Yao Yao's big neck, and sighed, "You've locked yourself in your room for so many years. After I leave, you mustn't do this again."

It turned its head and licked my face, then whimpered softly. I buried my face in its long golden fur, then smiled, looked up, released its neck, and patted its head: "Okay, if I leave, I'll take Yaoyao with me."

Yaoyao was the pet of the founding emperor of the Xiuruo Kingdom. It was said to have saved the emperor's life several times, thus being regarded as a sacred and spiritual creature. For over two hundred years since the emperor's death, Yaoyao has remained in the small castle within the Xiuruo Imperial Palace, unwilling to let strangers near or leave its room. Food is delivered to it daily by guards. I've also heard that others have faced similar trials before, with rather tragic ends. I'm naturally skeptical of these rumors. Unless those who went in were like me, lacking martial arts skills, people like Xilan and Yefeng would have returned safely from anywhere.

But since Yaoyao is so sentimental, able to lock herself in her room for over two hundred years, how could the fox just disappear without a trace, abandoning her like that? Besides, he never said he'd let go! So, given the current situation, the fox must have encountered some trouble. And Xilan, returning to Tianqing like this, I wonder how she explained my whereabouts to the Tianqing King.

Just as I was about to turn around and go back to my room, Yao Yao rushed towards the north gate of the garden like an arrow, accompanied by a low growl.

"Yaoyao!" I shouted. Yaoyao must be acting like this because a stranger has come by.

Yao Yao stopped, but still roared angrily at the north gate. I walked over, stroked its golden fur, and soothed it. It calmed down, half-bowed, and stared warily at the north gate with its golden eyes.

"Who's there? Come out!" I shouted coldly toward the north gate. The north gate wasn't a place where palace maids and eunuchs usually came in and out; it was usually locked tightly. Hearing Yao Yao's shout, the guards of Zuiyue Palace immediately surrounded me.

There was no reply, and a moment of silence followed. I said in a deep voice to the group, "You may all step back."

Now only Yaoyao and I were left. I approached the north gate and slowly pulled out a tiny, almost invisible piece of white paper peeking out from the crack in the door. It was a small, plain piece of paper folded into a strip. Unfolded, it contained only four words: Wang Ankexin.

Is Wang An trustworthy? Which Wang An? And who passed the note without even a signature or identification? I'm absolutely certain I've never seen this handwriting before, and in this Xiuruo Palace, who would help me in this way?

I returned to my room full of questions, tore the note to shreds, then gave Yao Yao a bath, and then took a bath myself. Just after I finished dinner, my maid Yan'er reported that the chief eunuch had sent another person to Zuiyue Palace, and was now personally leading the person to request an audience.

I sat listlessly on the soft couch, playing with Yao Yao's long golden fur as I said casually, "Those who should leave will be rewarded, and those who should stay will be brought over for a look."

Before long, I heard soft footsteps approaching. I comforted Yao Yao and looked up to see Wang An!

"Yan'er, you may step back now."

I watched Yan'er take his leave before I stood up. Wang An had already knelt down to pay his respects, and I quickly helped him up, saying hastily, "Please rise, sir."

"Your Highness is too kind to this humble servant. It is my honor to serve you." He rose, but still bowed as he replied.

That night at Wangyue Palace, I was fortunate to escape danger thanks to Wang An's help. I never expected that his last words would come true. It seems that Wang An knew my background back then. The earrings were a gift from Yun Feng, but Old Man Yun's thumb ring has the same pattern as those earrings. I wonder if Wang An is Yun Feng's man or Old Man Yun's man? And what about that note that says "Wang An is trustworthy"?

“Wang An, since that’s the case, I won’t stand on ceremony. But when there are no outsiders, please don’t be too formal. You have done me a favor, so you are different from the others. I hope you understand this.” I didn’t insist anymore. There are rules in the palace, and if I forced him, it would only make things difficult for him.

"Wang An thanks the princess."

"You must have had a tough journey. It's so good to see you. By the way, how's it going out there? Has anything major happened?"

The kingdom was destroyed by the moon, and it was truly fortunate that Wang An was able to escape. Judging from his appearance, he must have just entered the palace. Perhaps he has heard something about what happened outside during this time. Now I finally understand what the life of a real princess is like. It can be described in one sentence: a canary kept in a golden cage. Almost completely isolated from the world, when you look up, you can only see the sky above the palace. Unless a drastic change occurs outside, you can only live in a seemingly peaceful and beautiful illusion forever.

"Princess, I heard that Ye Cang's envoy will arrive at the palace in a few days." He thought for a moment and then replied.

Ye Cang's envoy? I frowned. What would Ye Cang's envoy be doing here at this time?

"Is there anything else?" Actually, what I wanted to hear most was news about the Longyao Kingdom, but I figured Wang An must have come from Wangyue to Xiuruo. If he hadn't heard much about Longyao, that would be a good thing.

"This servant was in a hurry to get on the road and didn't notice anything else."

"Yan'er." I felt a little relieved, so I called the maid in and instructed her, "Take Eunuch Wang away and make proper arrangements. He will serve me from now on."

After the two men withdrew, I sat back on the soft couch and lazed around for a while, pondering what Ye Cang's envoy might want to do at this time. I couldn't figure it out no matter how much I thought about it, until the word "marriage alliance" suddenly popped into my head. I was jolted awake – could it be? Could it be that melodramatic? Oh dear! As for the note, since Wang An had already been brought in, instead of constantly being on guard against him, it was better to leave it there. I believe some things are reciprocal; no one can be 100% certain about people's hearts – I am, and so is the person behind Wang An.

"Yaoyao, let's go inside and rest." I got up and patted Yaoyao's neck. I'm not used to people here serving me personally, so they just stand guard outside. Anyway, with Yaoyao by my side, she'll be alerted the moment any unfamiliar presence gets within a certain distance.

Over the next two days, I carefully observed the people around me and also made a deliberate trip to various palaces, but I couldn't find the person who delivered the note. I knew nothing about his identity or his stance. I also had Wang An investigate Ye Cang's envoy so that we could respond promptly and prevent a tragic situation like a forced marriage from happening.

There was no news from either Fox or Xilan, and my brother Yunfeng was also nowhere to be found. Yefeng had vanished again, and Qinglin was nowhere to be seen either. I pondered this for several nights, unable to sleep soundly. This morning, I woke up with a headache and fever. After having Yan'er dismiss the maid the Empress sent to fetch me for breakfast, I drank some congee and went back to bed. A little while later, two imperial physicians arrived, saying they were acting on the Empress's orders. They examined me thoroughly, sweating profusely, and wrote down a prescription and instructions before returning to report to the Empress. A short while later, countless precious medicinal herbs were brought into my Drunken Moon Palace, all ordered by the Empress to nourish my body. I glanced at the huge pile of things, a dark expression on my face. I thought, "If I eat this as food, it could last me half a month; if I take it as medicine, it'll take a year and a half!"

Around lunchtime, the old man actually came to see me. Hearing that the imperial physician had taken my pulse and said that I had caught a slight chill in the autumn and was not seriously ill, the old man scolded the palace maids and eunuchs a few times, told them to take good care of me, and then hurriedly went back.

I ate plain porridge for three meals a day. As soon as I smelled the two large bowls of medicine that Yan'er brought, I secretly had Wang An find a secluded corner to pour them out.

And so it went, the next day he still didn't accompany the old empress to breakfast. Around noon, I heard that Ye Cang's envoy had arrived at the palace, presenting the old man with several fine white steeds and a pile of Ye Cang's local specialties. Ye Cang's prized horses were renowned throughout the six kingdoms, and the other five coveted them greatly. However, Ye Cang was the most powerful of the six kingdoms, so no matter how much they coveted them, they could only admire them from afar. Therefore, the old man was overjoyed to receive these prized horses and was immediately delighted. I listened to Yan'er recount these events in great detail, and I curled my lip, muttering to myself: "The old man is always smiling; his imperial face is always beaming. Humph."

"Princess...Princess..." Yan'er's voice came from afar.

"What's the matter that you're in such a hurry?" I glanced at Yan'er. This girl sometimes really is like Cui'er, oh dear.