In the past, she and the Grand Marshal could eat a whole bowl of rice together, but now she can barely even manage half a bowl.
Xiao Xiu wanted to help her: "Your Highness, how about I heat up some porridge for you? I heard that the Grand Marshal really likes meat porridge, so Your Highness can send some over as well."
Si Xitong had her back to the person, making it impossible to see her expression, but she suddenly froze.
She said, "She likes anything with meat. She's not a picky eater and she especially loves meat. Of all the foods available, she just doesn't like vegetables and fruits."
It's unclear whether the person being described is picky about food. Clearly, in Si Xitong's eyes, she's never been a picky eater.
After Si Xitong finished speaking, she turned around and walked to the sword rack to take down Xixian. Her fair hand caressed the crimson scabbard, and a hint of warmth flashed in her eyes, but she quickly hid it.
She slowly closed her eyes, then opened them again, her beautiful eyes cold and clear, with an unconcealed chill like a blade. She stood with her hands behind her back and said, "Go to the storeroom and prepare a grand gift. In three days, I..."
Si Xitong changed her words: "I will be attending the Duke of Zheng's birthday banquet."
Xiao Xiu was shocked by the cold and noble self-address.
"Your Highness."
Three days later, Xie Lanzhi sat in a luxurious carriage, with a beautiful woman beside her dressed in a pink and white long-sleeved palace robe, the hem of which was embroidered with peonies, the national symbol, giving her a slightly noble air.
She styled her hair in a high bun, her jet-black hair glossy, her makeup exquisite, her lips painted a vibrant red, more beautiful than the setting sun. Only her waist held a sword, just like hers.
No matter how exquisite her makeup, when she carries a sword, she always exudes the aura of a powerful figure who holds the power of life and death.
She looks good in light-colored dresses, and also in dark-colored ones.
She chooses clothes entirely based on her mood.
As Xie Lanzhi saw that they were almost at the Duke of Zheng's mansion, she took out a plate of still warm milk cake from the food drawer and handed it to Si Xitong: "Eat something first to fill your stomach, so you won't feel so uncomfortable if you sit for a long time."
Si Xitong pinched a piece of food with her fingertips and brought it to her lips: "After three days apart, don't you have anything else to say to me?"
Xie Lanzhi opened her mouth and ate the milk cake, and she picked out a piece for her as well. There was no reply. But unexpectedly, when Si Xitong opened her mouth, she also took the milk cake into her mouth along with her finger, and then gently bit it with her teeth, leaving a mark on her fingertip.
Xie Lanzhi paused, trying to pull her hand away, but the woman in front of her bit down harder.
Xie Lanzhi's eyes instantly deepened, revealing a hint of restraint in her desires.
Once the girl relented, she quickly withdrew her fingertips behind her back, tightened them slightly, and said calmly, "Your makeup seems to be more outstanding than usual."
"It would be more accurate to describe me as flamboyant, or perhaps, Lanzhi has never truly known the real me." Si Xitong kept staring at her, his eyes revealing his undisguised observation of her emotions.
Xie Lanzhi never imagined that she would be stared at so intently by her. Not a single emotion could escape her notice.
She had been through similar experiences before, but now Si Xitong had let go of herself in time. She began to show her sharpness and no longer needed to hide it. Her features already possessed the aura of the future autocratic, domineering empress.
The Empress in the original novel is a complex character. Her experiences in just one year made her extremely distrustful of people; according to the original story, she may not have even trusted the Emperor of Xicheng.
She was born to be a master of manipulation; she didn't need to do anything herself, she only needed to persuade others to act on her behalf and achieve her goals.
This is a true leader, not someone who suddenly appears out of nowhere. She can be decisive and ruthless. She is also relentless in achieving her goals, making her an extremely adaptable person.
This is Si Xitong.
She removed Lady Si's canary coat and donned a simple yet powerful sword and a warrior's robe.
Just as she had a trump card in Lan Zhang Palace.
She withdrew her finger, gently pressing the pad of her finger against Si Xitong's full, red lips. A flicker of emotion crossed her eyes as she suppressed the emotions that were about to burst forth. She released Si Xitong and reminded her, "Between the Empress Dowager and the Princess, which one is you, and which one is not you? Do I need to answer that? When the question is no longer a question, what's the difference?"
"Once you draw the bow, there's no turning back."
Having said that, Xie Lanzhi straightened her back.
"Lanzhi is more cunning than I imagined." After swallowing another piece of milk cake, Si Xitong smiled slightly and commented, "I'm most pleased by your honest answers."
No sooner had the words been spoken than the luxurious carriage came to a stop, and the Duke of Zheng's residence arrived.
The Duke of Zheng's mansion was filled with joy, with red silk and lanterns hanging inside and outside the mansion, and a grand banquet was set up on the streets for the common people to enjoy.
Sharing joy with the people, it fully demonstrates a peaceful and prosperous era.
Si Xitong asked, "Does Lanzhi have anything to say to me?"
Xie Lanzhi, holding up the hem of her dress which reached past her knees, was about to step out of the carriage when she heard the little girl's question.
She fell into deep thought, carefully considering her intentions.
Speak? Reply? Answer?
Xie Lanzhi, having figured it out, said without hesitation, "Fu Feng, let me watch the show you've put on."
"What if I disappoint you?" Si Xitong's mood dipped slightly, and she seemed a little flustered.
Thinking of the outcome, Xie Lanzhi suddenly clenched her fist and said, "Even a butterfly can break out of its cocoon."
"If you're just worried about whether I'll be disappointed in you, you might as well not do it in the first place and just wait for me to come."
“I don’t want to sit here and wait to die anymore, just like Father kept pushing me away. Anyone can push me away, but you can’t,” Si Xitong said in a low voice.
As the girl's voice returned, she calmed down and chuckled, "And that's exactly what I was waiting for you to say."
"Lanzhi, winter is almost over, but Lanzhang Palace is still very cold."
“Jianzhang Palace is certainly not cold,” Xie Lanzhi replied.
At the Duke of Zheng's residence, the steward called out loudly, "Marshal Xie has arrived!"
"Her Highness the Princess has arrived!"
Duke Zheng, accompanied by his entire family of over sixty people, came to greet her. Xie Lanzhi's arrival brought even greater honor to the Duke's mansion. Duke Zheng was now the head of the civil officials in Tianjing, and his high regard for him naturally reassured the others to pledge their allegiance to Xie.
"Greetings, Marshal; greetings, Your Highness."
Xie Lanzhi gave a slight gesture of support: "Happy birthday, today is your big day, so there's no need for such formalities."
Duke Zheng said gratefully, "Thank you for your kindness, Marshal."
Then Duke Zheng looked at Si Xitong and saw that she was still wearing the Xixian sword at her waist, which matched the Marshal Ebai sword, highlighting their martial spirit. He thought to himself that the princess used to be well-educated and never wielded swords, but now a year of wandering had changed her.
Si Xitong nodded in acknowledgment: "Duke Zheng, I wish the old sage a long and prosperous life, as boundless as the Eastern Sea and as bright as the sun and moon."
"Thank you for your congratulations, Your Highness. This old minister will surely live to be a hundred years old," said the Duke of Zheng, bowing respectfully. His words carried a hidden meaning.
When Xie Lanzhi and Si Xitong entered the mansion, countless eyes were focused on the two of them.
The Xie family also sent younger members to the birthday banquet.
Xie Lanzhi and Si Xitong sat in the seats of honor, while the peach-shaped table in the middle was for the God of Longevity.
The birthday banquet was very lively. The Zheng State Duke's mansion invited a theatrical troupe to perform "The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea to Celebrate the Birthday," as well as various acrobatic performances from all over the country. The gift-giving and singing added to the festive atmosphere.
Xie Lanzhi took a sip of the milky white rice wine from her wine cup, and the little girl beside her also skillfully picked up her wine cup, ready to drink it all in one gulp.
She reached out to stop her, saying, "Minors are not allowed to drink alcohol."
Si Xitong blinked: "Underage? Does it mean reaching adulthood or hairpin age?"
In fact, in ancient times, most seventeen-year-old girls were already married or mothers.
If measured by modern standards, it seems impractical, so she loosened her grip: "In my country, those under eighteen cannot touch alcohol."
“Then I will abide by your rules.” Si Xitong put down the wine cup.
She licked her lips, her expression showing a hint of regret, as if she had drunk quite a bit in the past.
Xie Lanzhi thought to herself that girls in ancient times might be more mature than she had imagined.
The natural movements of the two were noticed by the guests, and everyone's doubts were dispelled.
I heard a few days ago that the marshal did not enter Lanzhang Palace, and I thought she was tired of the princess of the previous dynasty. Now it seems that the two of them were just having a minor squabble.
In the eyes of the Duke of Zheng, he was so happy that he drank a few more cups of wine, his face turning red and his blood rushing to his head.
He put down his wine cup, stood up, and bowed to Xie Lanzhi, saying, "Reporting to the Marshal! On the occasion of the birthday banquet, I would like to express my gratitude to Lord Xie for his fair treatment of rewards and punishments on behalf of my old friend, Lord Hai."
On the other side, several members of the Xie family, who were guests, had strange expressions. These were Xie Yongxin's friends and relatives, and now that Duke Zheng had brought up this matter at the birthday banquet, it was clear he intended to kick him while he was down. However, seeing his flushed face, they assumed for the time being that he wasn't doing it on purpose.
I never expected this.
The Duke of Zheng made a surprising move; he knelt directly before Si Xitong, performing a royal salute, almost knocking his head to the ground.
"Your Highness, I, Haiyun, am deeply grateful for your great kindness and virtue."
"I once surrendered to the Yellow rebels, and I am ashamed before the late emperor and even more ashamed before the Princess."
The host ruined the atmosphere of the birthday banquet. Some members of the Xie family had long disliked the Duke of Zheng and were using the influence of alcohol to put on airs.
Everyone knows that the Duke of Zheng sided with the Yellow rebels, and now he's sided with Marshal Xie. To put it nicely, it's a surrender; to put it bluntly, it's a fence-sitter. For such a fence-sitter to have so many people attend his birthday banquet is already a great honor.
Duke Zheng, however, used the banquet to bring up past court matters and old cases, clearly harboring ill intentions.
One of Xie's sons stood up and said with displeasure, "Duke Zheng, General Xie is celebrating your birthday. How dare you speak so recklessly here! Also, Madam Si is now the mistress of the Xie family. Please watch your words, Duke Zheng."
Duke Zheng let out a burp, got up, and walked off the stage to disperse the performers. His steps became unsteady, and he wandered around aimlessly. People who saw him helped him up.
"Thank you, thank you, young master. How could I, the Duke, speak so presumptuously? Her Highness the Princess is indeed Her Highness the Princess." Duke Zheng suddenly waved his arm, spun around, and said to the officials of Tianjing present, "Tell me, has the Duke of Zheng spoken incorrectly?"
The officials of Tianjing seemed to be prepared, and they huddled together and said, "Although His Majesty has passed away, the Eldest Princess is still alive."
"Although Her Highness the Princess is married to the Marshal, she is also a prince of our dynasty."
“We do not see any conflict. The princess and prince of the Jin state are still alive, and we, as their subjects, should all respect them as our sovereign.”
It seems that the Xie family is also prepared. The Xie family and the Duke of Zheng have been at odds for a long time, arguing in court, and the same thing is happening now.
Nowadays, young people are also arguing: "Since Madam is the mistress of the house, how can Lady Xie have any connection with the previous dynasty?"
"Once you enter the Xie Clan Ancestral Hall, you are a member of the Xie clan!"
“You address him as Your Highness, which clearly shows that you harbor ambitions to restore the previous dynasty.”
"Marshal, the words spoken by Duke Zheng and others at the birthday banquet were clearly disrespectful to you, and even more so to the Xie family!"
In an instant, the atmosphere at the birthday banquet became chaotic.
Xie Lanzhi watched the people below arguing.
Si Xitong calmly served her food, as if the noise had nothing to do with her.
She doesn't seem to care what others think of her.
Xie Lanzhi let them argue.
The argument between the two sides started rather childishly, beginning with a matter of form of address. While the form of address was a minor issue, the underlying problem was the long-standing friction between the Tianjing official and the Xie family, which had escalated to the point of erupting at the birthday banquet. It was Zheng Guogong who deliberately provoked it.
"You should call her Mrs. Si!"