Impératrice douairière Xiaoxuan

Chapitre 117

"Xiao Qi!" Zhan Zhao called out to her.

"Um?"

Zhan Zhao paused. It was not convenient to tell her about the gyrfalcon at this time. Given her personality, she would definitely not be able to hold back and would insist on finding out the truth. The more she knew, the more dangerous it would be for her.

"It's nothing, you should get some rest too," he said softly.

"good."

Mo Yan smiled gently, closed the door for him, and walked away.

Alone in his room, Zhan Zhao stared at the lamplight, lost in thought, remaining motionless for a long time.

Since returning from the Empress Dowager's funeral yesterday, Zhao Yu has been terrified by the cup of camel blood, and has lost his appetite all day, as well as his spirits.

"Princess, please try this osmanthus cake," a maidservant said kindly, serving up the still-steaming cake.

Gently shaking her head, Zhao Yu leaned wearily against the bamboo couch, watching the fish frolicking in the pond. It was truly remarkable how the Liao people, despite being in a desolate land, managed to build such a grand hall here, meticulously replicating the courtyard layout of the Central Plains. If she didn't leave, she could deceive herself into believing she was still in the Song Dynasty and hadn't been married off alone to a distant land.

Even the swing set was complete, truly meticulous. She sighed inwardly: What use is it to have all the things? I am in a foreign country, miserable and bored, how could I possibly have the mind to swing?

Unexpectedly, a cold gaze seemed to be looking at her, filled with undisguised disgust... Zhao Yu suddenly sat up on the bed, startled and shocked. What was wrong with her these past few days? Why did she keep thinking about that extremely annoying person?

Chapter Fifty

"Princess, what's wrong?"

Mo Yan suddenly appeared out of nowhere, peeking at her and almost touching her face.

"Move aside, I'm dizzy..." Zhao Yu said weakly, while waving the maid next to him to leave.

Are you sick?

"without."

"I heard it's because they're afraid of blood, right?"

"..." Zhao Yu looked up at her with annoyance, "You didn't see the blood. If it were you, you might have fainted too."

Mo Yan nodded in agreement: "Definitely. I heard that camel blood is both fishy and dry, and you have to be forced to drink it. It's better to just faint."

Seeing that she looked sincere and didn't seem to look down on him, Zhao Yu gestured for her to sit down.

Instead of sitting on the stone bench by the bamboo couch, Mo Yan sat directly on the swing, popped a piece of osmanthus cake into her mouth, and gazed wistfully at the pond...

"What's wrong? You have something on your mind too?" Zhao Yu asked curiously, rarely seeing her looking so listless.

"It's nothing, just a small matter," Mo Yan said with a perfunctory smile. She had been fiddling with the fabric in the room for a long time, almost wanting to take apart Zhan Zhao's robe to examine it. "Princess, do you know how to sew?"

Zhao Yu glared at her sideways, raising an eyebrow slightly: "Do you think I would?"

"It seems not." Mo Yan scratched her ear and stuffed another piece of osmanthus cake into her mouth. "Princess, is something on your mind?"

"I……"

Zhao Yu hesitated, biting her lip for a while, and realized that apart from Mo Yan, she really couldn't find anyone else to confide in.

Mo Yan tilted her head, quietly waiting for her to continue.

"Do you... still remember that Deputy Privy Councilor of the Southern Court?"

"I remember, he's the guy who competed in archery with Brother Zhan. He always looks like someone owes him 100,000 taels of silver," Mo Yan shrugged.

"Don't you think he seems to particularly loathe... loathe us Song people?" she asked, frowning.

Upon hearing this, Mo Yan nodded indifferently: "That's not surprising. He's Yelü Chongguang's man, so of course he'd dislike us."

"That doesn't just mean they shouldn't be so arrogant!"

Recalling his expressionless face, Zhao Yu couldn't help but feel annoyed. Seeing Mo Yan eating with relish, she also took a piece and took a few bites.

"But if he insists on doing it this way, we have no choice but to let him be."

Mo Yan continued to shrug, swinging back and forth on the swing. She never cared about people who were not involved: "By the way, Princess, when will your grand wedding ceremony with Yelü Hongji be postponed?"

"I don't know either," Zhao Yu suddenly lost her appetite again when she thought about it. She put down the osmanthus cake wearily and sighed softly, "It would be better if it dragged on forever... Stop it, I'm dizzy."

“It’s not good to keep dragging this on.” Mo Yan had no choice but to stop, scratching her ear. She thought to herself that the princess’s matter was a done deal anyway, and even though she sympathized with her, she couldn’t treat state affairs as a joke. As for her marriage to Zhan Zhao, she didn’t know when it would be delayed, which was really worrying.

Zhao Yu glared at her, displeased: "What's your hurry?"

"Of course I'm not in a hurry, I'm worried for you, Princess." Mo Yan said casually without changing her expression, "Get married as soon as possible, so that the Xiao family won't think they have an opportunity to cause trouble."

"You think that just because I've performed such a grand ceremony I'll have a good life? In the end, I'll truly become a thorn in their side."

"..." Mo Yan didn't know what to say, so she remained silent. After thinking for a while, she smiled and said, "Princess, it must be very uncomfortable to be cooped up here every day. How about I accompany you to go shopping?" She thought it would be a good opportunity to help the princess relax and she could also buy a few more feet of cloth.

"What's fun about this place? It can't compare to the capital."

"Although it can't compare to the capital, it's still quite interesting. I've also heard that many Song people run shops here. If you go out for a walk, you can experience the local customs and conditions." Mo Yan found a good excuse for her.

"...Where is Zhan Zhao?"

"Brother Zhan was called away after having breakfast and hasn't returned yet."

Although Zhan Zhao wasn't there, Zhao Yu was somewhat tempted by her words. After thinking for a while, she hesitated and asked, "Can I go out? What if I'm recognized?"

"Why not? Just change your clothes," Mo Yan said matter-of-factly, without thinking too much about it.