ARTTEDSBGT Chapter 65
Li Zhizhi originally thought that Xiao Yan was saying that she was going to enter the palace to meet the emperor deliberately to let Li Furen hear, but she didn’t expect it to be true. She blinked in surprise and asked, “Why does the emperor want to see me?”
Xiao Yan replied, “I think it’s because Auntie recognized you as her adopted daughter, and this matter reached his ears, so he wants to meet you.”
Seeing no hint of joy on Li Zhizhi’s face, but a slight frown, Xiao Yan intentionally said, “What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy about this? I thought you would be overjoyed.”
Li Zhizhi looked at him and truthfully said, “Of course, I am happy. With my background, if I hadn’t gained the favor of the Grand Princess, I’m afraid I would never have the chance to see the emperor in my entire life. It’s indeed a fortunate event.”
She paused and then earnestly added, “But I have never been to the imperial palace and have never seen the world. I worry that I might do something wrong and offend the emperor, causing trouble for my mother.”
Li Zhizhi was self-aware, not only in this life but also in her previous life. She had never experienced much outside the Li family, constantly dealing with troublesome family matters. So, she was concerned about appearing inexperienced and embarrassing the Grand Princess, which could lead to bigger problems.
As she was feeling a bit anxious, Xiao Yan said, “You’re just going to meet the emperor; he won’t eat you. No need to worry.”
On the side, Xiao Rulei squeezed his neck and whispered, “But Father is really scary. A’yang doesn’t even dare to talk to him.”
Xiao Yan: …
Li Zhizhi suddenly changed her expression, putting on a gentle smile, and softly called him, “Crown Prince.”
Xiao Yan heard her call him like this for the first time, even with a hint of goodwill. He paused for a moment before clearing his throat lightly and asked, “What’s the matter?”
Li Zhizhi looked at him with her clear and transparent eyes, smiling sweetly. “Brother, can you do me a favor? Pretty please?”
Xiao Yan instinctively became a bit wary, but it was just a fleeting moment, quickly dismissed from his mind. He asked, “What do you want me to help with?”
Li Zhizhi took the tea prepared by a maid and personally handed it to Xiao Yan. She asked in a sweet and obedient manner, “When I go to the palace to pay respects, will the Crown Prince be there? Can you take me with you?”
Xiao Yan initially wanted to tell her that the Grand Princess would accompany her and guide her, so she didn’t need to worry. However, looking into the girl’s eyes filled with hope and a desire to please, he hesitated and didn’t say it. Instead, he asked, “You want me to take you into the palace?”
Li Zhizhi nodded like a little bird pecking at seeds, then added, “If the Crown Prince feels it’s inconvenient, then forget it. I’ll think of another way.”
It sounded very sensible. If Xiao Yan didn’t understand her nature, he might have believed her. However, he didn’t have the intention to refuse. With a smile that seemed like a joke, he said, “Taking you is fine, but how do you plan to thank me?”
Li Zhizhi asked back, “What does the Crown Prince want?”
Xiao Yan thought for a moment but couldn’t come up with anything specific. He coughed and said, “It depends on your sincerity. We can settle it later.”
Li Zhizhi naturally had no objections, and thus, the two reached an agreement. Xiao Yan completely forgot that just a few days ago, he strongly resisted when the Grand Princess mentioned him entering the palace.
The Li residence.
Li Cen returned early today. As soon as he entered the flower hall, he saw his wife coming towards him, ready to take his official hat. Li Cen dodged slightly and casually handed it to a servant. Madam Li’s movements hesitated for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. She said, “Master Li, you’re back early today.”
“Are you complaining that I usually come back late?”
Li Cen replied indifferently, and Madam Li felt a surge of anger, but she suppressed it. Following him into the hall, she calmly said, “Master Li, I was wrong about Zhizhi’s matter. Please don’t be angry with me.”
Li Cen snorted lightly and adjusted his robe, saying, “How dare I be angry with Madam? You’re always right, and everything is the fault of others.”
A while ago, the two of them had a fierce argument. Madam Li knew that he was still upset, so she humbled herself, apologized, and blamed herself. Li Cen’s expression softened a bit, and he lectured her, “If you always think like this, how can you avoid causing so many troubles? I’ve said it before, you have a narrow-minded view as a woman.”
“Yes, yes,” Madam Li continued to appease him, saying, “How can I compare to Master Li’s foresight?”
The atmosphere became more harmonious. The couple talked about other things until it was time for dinner. Li Suwan and Li Xingzhi came to the flower hall together. Standing at the doorway, they heard Madam Li saying, “I went to the Grand Princess’s mansion today.”
Following that, inside the hall, Li Cen asked, “Did you go to see Her Highness, the Grand Princess?”
“I didn’t see the Grand Princess,” Madam Li responded. “I went to see Zhizhi. I wanted to ask her to come back to the mansion. She always stays at the Grand Princess’s residence, causing trouble for the Grand Princess.”
Li Cen nodded and said, “I had the same idea. What did she say?”
Madam Li sighed and complained, “She said she’s living well at the Grand Princess’s residence, treated by the Grand Princess like a daughter. She doesn’t want to come back.”
“This child is really not sensible,” Li Cen said unhappily. “Even if the Grand Princess treats her well, it’s still with outsiders. It’s not appropriate for her to keep staying at someone else’s house, disregarding courtesy.”
“I said the same thing,” Madam Li agreed. “We are family, but she doesn’t listen. No matter how I persuade her, she refuses to come back.”
Li Cen nonchalantly said, “Children just seek novelty. Tomorrow, go visit her again. No matter what, even if you have to force her, make sure to bring her back.”
Madam Li, who had enough frustration for the day, was not willing to go again. She suggested, “The master also knows about it. Since that child doesn’t listen to me and is not close to me, why not let Xingzhi go? They seem to get along well, being siblings, she might listen to her brother.”
Li Cen considered for a moment and said, “That works. Let Xingzhi go then.”
Madam Li added, “Speaking of which, there’s another matter. Master, today at the Grand Pincess’s residence, I encountered the Crown Prince. According to him, it seems that Zhizhi is going to the palace to meet the emperor. The emperor has summoned her.”
“The emperor wants to see her?!” Li Cen seemed surprised. “Why does he want to see her?”
Madam Li speculated, “I suppose it’s because of the Grand Princess?”
Li Cen pondered for a moment and said, “If that’s the case, we need to urge her to come back sooner. Facing such a significant event like meeting the emperor, how can a young child handle it?”
The couple discussed for a while, and Li Xingzhi pulled Li Suwan with him as they entered the flower hall. Seeing their arrival, Madam Li quickly greeted Li Xingzhi, and Li Cen instructed him to go to the Grand Princess’s residence tomorrow and persuade Li Zhizhi to return.
Li Suwan was naturally left aside, her expression somewhat unpleasant. She could sense the joy in her mother’s tone, and the satisfaction on her face. Even addressing Li Zhizhi by name seemed more affectionate, as if overnight, Li Zhizhi’s status had invisibly elevated. Whether it was her father, mother, or brother, their eyes were only on Li Zhizhi. Li Suwan was completely ignored.
The hand in her sleeve slowly clenched into a fist. Li Suwan’s heart felt both uncomfortable and aggrieved. Why was it like this? Clearly, she hadn’t done anything wrong. Why did everyone suddenly value Li Zhizhi so much?
For a moment, she felt that everything she once had was gradually slipping away from her, and she had no way to retrieve it. She could only helplessly watch as everything slipped through her fingers.
She was unwilling.
She really couldn’t accept it!
…
It wasn’t until night that the Grand Princess returned to the mansion. She had heard from the servants about Madam Li’s visit today and couldn’t help but feel worried. Without even changing her clothes, she went to Li Zhizhi’s courtyard.
Inside the room, the lights were on, casting a warm yellow glow. The candlelight gently spilled out, creating varying shades of shadows on the flower beds below the corridor. Laughter and conversation could be heard from inside, accompanied by the silvery laughter of a young girl, and surprisingly, it was Xiao Rulei who was present.
When the Grand Princess entered the room, she saw Li Zhizhi and Xiao Rulei both wearing moon-white robes, their heads close together, engrossed in something. It was Xiao Rulei who noticed the arrival of the Grand Princess and joyfully exclaimed, “Auntie!”
She jumped off the couch, not even bothering to put on her shoes, and rushed over to hug the Grand Princess’s waist, affectionately saying, “A’yang really missed Auntie!”
The Grand Princess teased her, “How much do you miss me?”
Xiao Rulei gestured with her hands, “I missed you for three years.”
Grand Princess: ?
Li Zhizhi burst into laughter and said to the Grand Princess, “She means to say that a day without seeing you feels like three autumns.”
The Grand Princess chuckled, patting Xiao Rulei’s head, and said, “Alright, alright, Auntie also missed A’yang very much.”
The three of them squeezed onto the couch, with Xiao Rulei lying on the Grand Princess’s lap, playing with her hair. Li Zhizhi asked, “Why did Mother come over so late? Is there something wrong?”
The Grand Princess, with a smiling gaze, replied, “Just came to see you; it’s been a day, and I missed Zhizhi too.”
Using the same tone as comforting A’yang, Li Zhizhi blushed slightly. The Grand Princess sighed gently, expressing a hint of disappointment, and said, “It seems Zhizhi doesn’t miss Mother.”
“No, no!” Li Zhizhi hurriedly explained, “I also… miss you very much!”
The Grand Princess smiled, her lips curving, as she looked at Zhizhi’s black hair scattered over her shoulders. Unable to resist, she reached out to brush it away and admired for a moment before saying, “Ah, our Zhizhi is truly beautiful. I wonder which good young man will be lucky enough to marry her in the future. Just thinking about it makes my mother’s heart ache.”
Upon hearing this, Li Zhizhi immediately responded, “Please don’t feel upset. I won’t marry anyone in the future, I’ll always stay with you.”
Her expression was sincere, without any pretense. The Grand Princess chuckled, “You’re talking nonsense. You’re still so young, and you’re already thinking about not getting married? I was hoping for a son-in-law to show filial piety to me.”
Li Zhizhi tilted her head, pondered for a moment, and said, “Then I can take a husband and bring him into the family.”
The Grand Princess clapped her hands in approval, “That’s a good idea. This way, we can live in the Grand Princess’s mansion forever without being separated.”
Li Zhizhi shyly smiled, and Xiao Rulei looked at her, then at the Grand Princess. With a thoughtful expression, she scratched her chin and asked, “Aunt, what is taking a husband?”
The Grand Princess explained, “It means that your sister Zhizhi will marry a husband and bring him to live in the Grand Princess’s mansion from now on.”
Xiao Rulei’s eyes lit up, and she quickly sat up, patting her chest, “Then Zhizhi can marry A’yang. A’yang is willing to live in the princess’s mansion!”
Li Zhizhi and the Grand Princess exchanged a glance, unable to hold back their laughter.