After crossing, I surrounded the capital from the countryside

Zhao Chanjuan smiled bitterly and said, "Don't be afraid of you laughing at me. I have always had a soft spot for Chen Shuhan. You could say that Chen Shuhan is the only way out for me that satisfies me. So in order to hold on to him, I went through a lot of trouble to bribe the servants around him." At this point, she couldn't help but reveal a trace of sadness and helplessness: "But what is unexpected is..."

"You actually envy me?" Xu Qingqing asked puzzledly, staring at Zhao Chanjuan, whose eyes were slightly red.

Zhao Chanjuan shook her head slightly and replied: "You don't understand..."

"Ever since I was a child, I have known that I cannot control my own life, and the only value of my existence in the Zhao family is to add luster to the careers of my father or brothers." Her voice was trembling and unwilling.

“But since I have enjoyed the support of the Zhao family, then perhaps this is the price I should pay…” Zhao Chanjuan continued to speak sadly.

"However, I still hope to pick out the best one among the limited choices." Her eyes flashed with determination and desire.

"And Chen Shuhan is exactly the choice I'm looking for. He's a young genius, gentle and polite, and treats people with courtesy."

"I think I need to remind you of this. Chen Shuhan doesn't behave like he usually does..." Xu Qingqing looked at Zhao Chanjuan with complicated eyes.

"I know." Zhao Chanjuan interrupted Xu Qingqing: "But I have no choice."

"If you were asked to choose between Prince Wang and Chen Shuhan that day, who would you choose?"

Xu Qingqing: Uh... I don’t want to choose either of them.

But when she thought of the greasy man that day, Xu Qingqing felt that Chen Shuhan was much more pleasing to the eye than that man.

"Um... Chen Shuhan?" Xu Qingqing's eyes were vague.

Zhao Chanjuan wiped away her tears and said, "Yes, this is the choice that any discerning person would make."

Xu Qingqing nodded: "What do you want to say?"

"I want you to help me."

"help you with what?"

Zhao Chanjuan looked at Xu Qingqing with a firm gaze, and she held Xu Qingqing's hand tightly: "I will replace you at tomorrow's birthday banquet! My father doesn't give me much time. If I can't win over Chen Shuhan, I will marry those ugly guys! The trick Chen Shuhan uses to deal with you tomorrow will be my last chance!"

Xu Qingqing: !!!!!!

"Have you... have you really thought about it?" Xu Qingqing still felt a little reluctant, but... what may be poison to one person may be honey to another.

See Zhao Chanjuan nodded.

Xu Qingqing pursed her lips, and finally nodded and agreed: "Okay, since you insist, then I will help you. I hope you won't regret it in the future."

Zhao Chanjuan smiled bitterly: "There is no such thing as regret or not..."

She looked at Xu Qingqing and said, "Miss Xu, I am sorry for targeting you some time ago."

"It's okay." Xu Qingqing patted Zhao Chanjuan's shoulder: "Come on...

After seeing Zhao Chanjuan off, Xu Qingqing sat where she was and poured herself a refill of tea.

Looking at the rising mist, Xu Qingqing thought of what Zhao Chanjuan had just said.

I am in this prosperous world, but I seem to be bound by an invisible shackle. I long for freedom, longing to soar in the sky like a bird, but the reality makes me only wander in this small courtyard.

What I face every day are cumbersome etiquette and rules, which are like chains that bind me tightly. I cannot express my emotions as I wish, and I cannot choose my own destiny. I can only move forward silently on this established track.

I once dreamed of meeting a man of my dreams and spending the rest of my life with him. However, my marriage was determined by my parents and the matchmaker.

I cannot choose my husband and can only passively accept the arrangement of fate.

I often look up at the sky and lament my helplessness.

I long to break free from this bondage and pursue my own dreams and happiness.

However, the reality prevented me from taking that step. I could only pray silently in this courtyard, hoping that one day I could escape this helpless fate.

Xu Qingqing let out a deep sigh.

A flower imprisoned in the courtyard, this is Xu Qingqing's evaluation of Zhao Chanjuan.

Although she is gorgeous, she has lost the freedom to bloom. Her life is firmly locked in the shackles of tradition, and every step must follow those old rules and etiquette. However, even in endless helplessness, she still maintains a tenacity and elegance. She fights silently in her own way to make her life as beautiful as possible.

Feeling someone sitting next to her, Xu Qingqing leaned on that person's shoulder.

"Zhao Chanjuan asked me to send her to Chen Shuhan's bed tomorrow..."

Xiao Yuheng gently put his arm around Xu Qingqing's shoulders and said, "Since it's her own choice, let her go."

"I know, I just feel that this era is really suffocating..." Xu Qingqing closed her eyes.

Xiao Yuheng lowered his head and looked at Xu Qingqing. After a while, he raised his eyes and looked out the window and whispered softly, "It will get better."

Xu Qingqing heard it and rubbed her head against Xiao Yuheng's shoulder: "Yeah, it will get better."

……

The next day, the early morning light quietly fell, marking the beginning of a new day.

Xu Qingqing sat in front of the dressing table with her hair loose, looking out the window.

Occasionally, pedestrians hurried past on the street, and their footsteps echoed in the early morning air, appearing particularly clear.

The breakfast stalls on the street have started to get busy. The steaming buns and soy milk emit an enticing aroma that makes people stop and take a look.

Zhao Chanjuan was also staring out the window in a daze at this time.

The breeze blew gently, bringing with it a hint of coolness and the fresh scent of grass and trees. It gently swayed the leaves, making a rustling sound.

She felt the wind of freedom, and opened her hands slightly as if she could grasp this bit of freedom.

……

He Anran carefully dressed Xu Qingqing up, and every move she made was so gentle and focused.

After she finished dressing, Xu Qingqing looked at herself in the mirror in ancient costume and couldn't help but think of Zhao Chanjuan.

Born into a prominent family with a distinguished family background, her wealthy family gave her confidence but also became a shackle that bound her throughout her life.

Will she dress up today like herself in the mirror, and calmly face her shackles?

For some reason, Xu Qingqing felt a little sorry for this willful and capricious girl who lived a clear-headed life.

Zhao Mansion

Zhao Chanjuan looked at the two pieces of clothing the maid was holding and chose without hesitation the color that Xu Qingqing was wearing when she met her that day.

The light blue background is as pure as the sky, with delicate patterns cleverly embroidered on it. These patterns are mainly white and silver, just like clouds floating in the blue sky, full of freedom...

Zhao Chanjuan looked at herself in the mirror, gently stroked the auspicious clouds on her clothes, and let the maid put on the heavy and complicated hairpins and hairpins for her...