Both worlds are like dreams

Xue Huang followed Concubine Li and sat down to play Go. Her Go skills were not very good, but she had a flexible mind. After so many years of exposure, her Go skills had improved greatly, and Concubine Li was a little overwhelmed.

But Concubine Li's purpose was not to play chess with her, so she didn't play very seriously and didn't care about winning or losing at all.

As a result, Xuehuang also found it very boring.

"I heard about the princess's house arrest. His Majesty doesn't really blame you, so don't take it to heart."

Xue Huang nodded, "I don't take it to heart."

Concubine Li smiled and said, "That's great. The princess is indeed an open-minded person."

"Your Majesty, you are so kind."

"I also heard that all the officials who impeached the princess in the court that day were in trouble. I wonder what the princess thinks about this?" Concubine Li asked meaningfully.

Xue Huang's tone remained calm, and she only replied with four words, "God has eyes."

"The princess speaks in a very humorous way." Concubine Li said with a smile.

Xuehuang thought to herself: It’s really hard for her.

"Your Majesty, you are too kind. I am just a man of the world and I always speak directly. Please don't blame me, Your Majesty."

Concubine Li smiled but said nothing. Du Mengyao and Kang Minmin, who had been listening to the noise not far away, were very upset. Minister Du had been frightened by the sword hanging over his head and had not been sleeping well until now. Prince Kangyang even went out with more than a dozen followers every day, fearing that he would be dragged into the alley and beaten up one day.

Within one day, all those who had reported Xue Huang were retaliated against. Even a blind man could see that it was related to her, and yet she acted so indifferent and even said something like "God has eyes". She was simply gloating over other people's misfortune!

But they had no evidence and couldn't do anything to her, so they were very depressed and looked at her with resentment.

Concubine Li glanced at their expressions and knew what they were thinking. However, what she was concerned about was the power behind Xue Huang. More than a dozen officials, including some important officials of the court, were retaliated in one day. After the investigation, no trace was left. It can be seen that this power is quite huge and it is definitely not something that ordinary people can do.

She knew that Xue Huang had an uncle who had been secretly helping Mo Ruilin. This incident must be related to him, but she could never find out what was hiding behind him.

"The princess has made contributions to the court of Beiling that will go down in history. This minor fault is nothing." Concubine Li smiled. "It's really not worth making a big fuss about."

Xue Huang dropped a child and did not respond.

Concubine Li continued, "I heard that the princess not only vigorously defended the fifth prince in the court that day, but also pardoned him with a letter of pardon. I really admire the princess's love for the fifth prince. Even His Majesty praised her highly."

Xue Huang's expression remained the same. She had actually known for a long time that after that day, rumors began to spread not only in the court but also in the circle of noble ladies in Shangyang City. Some said that Mo Ruilin approached her from the beginning in order to win over the Guigu Sect, and some said that there was something unusual between them. However, these rumors were not widely publicized. After all, this was related to the face of the royal family. Who would dare to make rumors about the royal family?

In addition to the previous examples of those who had made things difficult for Snow Phoenix, no one dared to be the first to take action in this matter.

When Concubine Li talked about this, some of the daughters present also looked at Xue Huang unconsciously.

Xue Huang ignored the different expressions of the crowd, and spoke calmly but forcefully, so that everyone present could hear clearly: "Since I met the Fifth Prince, we have experienced life and death dilemmas many times. He treated me with all his sincerity and regarded me as his own sister. I returned his sincerity and respected him as my brother. So how can I stand by and watch my brother in trouble?"

In fact, Xue Huang was speechless. She didn't understand why they all thought that Mo Ruilin was friendly with her in order to win over Guigu Sect. She also didn't understand why they all thought that Mo Ruilin had made a deal with Guigu, so she and Wei Yunzhou helped him.

But in fact, the most fundamental reason why Wei Yunzhou chose him was his sincerity. She was willing to help him because he was a good person.

They have been through so many life and death ordeals together, and the friendship between them has never been measured by value, but this precious friendship is so superficial in the eyes of these people.

After hearing what she said, Concubine Li knew that her position would not change no matter what.

No matter whether it is to bind her with love or lure her with benefits, it is futile because she has her own stand and choice.

"Speaking of which, the princess has indeed experienced many life-and-death situations since she came to Shangyang City. It has not been easy along the way." Concubine Li said meaningfully.

Xue Huang smiled faintly, "Perhaps the road ahead will also be difficult, but since I have chosen to go on, how can I retreat?"

"Princess, you have such a rock-hard determination at such a young age. I admire you."

"Your Majesty, thank you very much."

Concubine Li looked at the chessboard and said, "Princess, you are a very good chess player. I give up."

Xue Huang didn't say anything.

Concubine Li took an exquisite sandalwood box from the hand of a palace maid beside her. "This is the spice I mixed myself. It has the effect of calming the mind. I hope the princess will not dislike it."

"Your Majesty, you're welcome."

"Take it. Everyone has one."

Xue Huang had no choice but to take it, "Thank you, Madam."

"Don't be so polite. If the princess likes it, I will send someone to deliver more to the princess's mansion someday."

At this time, a palace maid came over and said to Concubine Li: "My lady, the tea you ordered has been delivered."

Concubine Li looked at Xue Huang and said, "This is the new tea made before the first rain in Jiangnan. Let's try it together."

Xue Huang nodded and followed her to the tea table next to Mo Xingyue.

The tea prepared by Concubine Li was indeed good. It was emerald green in color and had a faint fragrance. Zhao Manqing's craftsmanship was also very skilled, and the tea he brewed was quite good.

However, as soon as the lid of the new tea brought by the palace maid was opened, a fragrance could be smelled, and the tea leaves were clearly visible. They expanded when they came into contact with water, and each leaf was complete and flawless.

Xue Huang took a cup and tasted it, feeling satisfied, thinking that today's gathering was not in vain.

At this time, Du Mengyao came to them holding an incense burner, "Madam, this is the incense that Mengyao made, please give me some advice."

"It has a rich aroma. Miss Du's cooking skills are excellent."

Du Mengyao took the opportunity to sit next to Xuehuang, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. How can I, with my crude cooking skills, show off my skills in front of you?"

Xue Huang had been smelling flowers or their incense this morning, and her nose was itchy. She finally managed to smell the tea for a while, but Du Mengyao came again.

She had nothing to talk to her about, so she turned around and talked to Mo Xingyue.

Mo Xingyue didn't like these things either and was already very bored.

Zhao Manqing handed Xuehuang a cup of tea, "Princess, try the tea Manqing brewed!"

"Okay." Xue Huang took it with a smile, but before she drank it, she heard an exclamation from the side.

When she turned around, she found that Du Mengyao's incense burner was all over her skirt. There was warm charcoal in it, which directly burned holes in her skirt.

"Quick..." Before Concubine Li could finish her words, Xue Huang waved her sleeves, and the incense ash was blown away, and the charcoal was even bounced out.

Du Mengyao had dust all over her face, choking her and making her cough continuously.

"Are you all right?" asked Concubine Li.

"Cough cough cough..." Du Mengyao wiped the dust off her face with a handkerchief, frowned and stared at Xue Huang without saying a word.

"Sorry!" Xue Huang said indifferently. "I didn't expect Miss Du to be here."

Mo Xingyue said, "Miss Du, if your hands are shaking, go see the imperial physician to avoid spilling incense ash on others next time."

"It is your honor to be rude." Du Mengyao quickly bowed.

Mo Xingyue rolled her eyes. It was so far away that it could still spill on Xue Huang. Who would believe her if she said it wasn't intentional?

Concubine Li said, "Come here, take the princess and Miss Du to the side room to freshen up."

"It's okay." Xue Huang said calmly. "It's just a little dust."

"It's still very obvious." Concubine Li said. "Let's go clean it up."

Xuehuang was wearing a white dress today. The material was not resistant to dirt and there was a hole in it, which made her look particularly ugly.

So she nodded and left with the palace maid beside her.

The maid led her around and around to a room with few people. "Princess, this is it. Please wait inside. I will go get you some water."

Xue Huang nodded and walked into the room.

The maid closed the door behind her and left.

Xue Huang rubbed the hem of her skirt and the dust was almost gone, but the hole could not be repaired, so the dress was considered useless.

"What's that smell?" Xue Huang sniffed and she seemed to smell a fragrance.

Following the direction, I found that it was the incense burner on the table that was smoking.

A sneer flashed across Xue Huang's eyes. Are you trying to plot against her? I'll give you a chance!

She chose a comfortable position, leaned down next to the incense table and closed her eyes.

Not long after, I heard the sound of the door opening and a pair of heavy footsteps slowly walked in.

Xue Huang listened to the voice getting closer and closer and stopped beside her.

A hand slowly reached out to her, but before it reached Xue Huang, she had already captured it.

Xue Huang opened her eyes, looked at the owner of the hand, and said with a half-smile, "Third Prince, it's you!"

Mo Yiming was full of surprise and quickly pulled his hand back, "Why is it you?"

"I'm surprised too, why are you here?"

Mo Yiming looked down at his clothes and said, "Just now a palace maid splashed water all over me. I came here to change clothes."

"This is Concubine Li's bedroom. The Third Prince comes here to change clothes?" Xue Huang found it funny.

Mo Yiming looked puzzled, "This is not Concubine Li's bedroom, it's an empty side hall."

Xue Huang thought about the route she had just taken. She had never been to Concubine Li's bedroom, so she didn't know exactly where it was, but the route the palace maid had taken her on was indeed very remote.

Mo Yiming continued to ask: "Tell me why you are here first?" As soon as he finished speaking, his body shook and his eyes became a little blurry. "What's going on?"

"It's obvious!" Xue Huang stood up and looked at him with a half-smile, "Someone wants to frame you and me!"