Rebirth and Marriage: I am the Mistress of the Palace

Xiao Qingxuan was taken aback: "You didn't come to see me?"

Gu Qianning ignored him and looked at Pei Yingzhu instead: "Cousin, I've been looking for you everywhere. Didn't you say you were waiting for me outside the palace? Why are you here at Yangxin Hall?"

Pei Yingzhu looked apologetic: "It's all my fault for making my cousin worry. I originally planned to leave the palace, but halfway there I felt uneasy because I hadn't conveyed my father's greetings to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. So I turned back, thinking I'd try my luck here with the Emperor, in case he's willing to see me?"

"Unexpectedly, I was extremely lucky. The Emperor summoned me and even met the Crown Prince. It was an immense honor. Now, when I return to Hengzhou, I can finally give an explanation to my father."

Gu Qianning's tone carried a slight sarcasm: "Since you're here to see the Emperor, why hide it? You wouldn't even tell my maid, making me think something had happened to you. Next time, please give me a straight answer, don't let people guess."

Pei Yingzhu lowered her head: "Cousin, it's not that I didn't want to tell your maid, but I was afraid that if I wasn't summoned, it would be embarrassing, so..."

Her fingers were twisted together, and she looked helpless, as if she had been bullied by Gu Qianning.

Xiao Qingxuan stepped in to smooth things over: "A'ning, this is nothing. Now that we've found your cousin, let's just let it go! It was your cousin's first time in the palace, so she must have been too nervous and handled things poorly. She was so nervous in the hall just now that she almost fell over!"

Gu Qianning frowned slightly, but before she could speak, Pei Yingzhu said, "I must thank Your Highness for helping me just now. If it weren't for Your Highness helping me, I might have really lost face in front of the Emperor."

Xiao Qingxuan smiled gently: "It's nothing, just a small matter, not worth mentioning."

Pei Yingzhu smiled at him and then walked to Gu Qianning's side: "Cousin, let's go! I'm already very satisfied to have met the Emperor, the Empress, and His Highness the Crown Prince today. I also want to thank you for bringing me into the palace. The Emperor just bestowed many good things upon me. After we return to the manor, let me choose first. After you've chosen, I'll distribute them to my other brothers and sisters."

After she finished speaking, she reached out and took Gu Qianning's arm, appearing as if she were close and intimate with her.

Gu Qianning glanced at her and removed her hand without giving her any face. She said indifferently, "Cousin is joking. Since it was a gift from the Emperor, you should keep it yourself. I don't want it. After all, I come to the palace often and have received enough good things. How can I take more from you, cousin?"

After she finished speaking, she turned and walked away.

Pei Yingzhu quickly bowed to Xiao Qingxuan, then hurried after Gu Qianning, calling out, "Cousin, wait for me!"

"A Ning!"

Xiao Qingxuan called out, wanting to chase after him, and even took a step forward, but for some reason, he ultimately didn't.

Feng Shuo watched the entire scene unfold. Seeing that Gu Qianning had already left, Xiao Qingxuan still looked wistful, and a cold smile crept onto his lips.

Just like the emperor, she was a master of disguise. The emperor pretended to be a respectable person, acting as if he was deeply devoted to the empress and very loving. The crown prince, on the other hand, pretended to be completely infatuated with Gu Qianning and to spoil and pamper her.

"Commander Feng."

"Your Highness."

"Don't you think Ah Ning seems a little different than before?"

“Your Highness, I am not familiar with Miss Gu and do not know what she was like before.”

"Sigh, yeah, I really asked the wrong person. But do you think she was jealous just now? Was she upset that I talked to her cousin a few too many times? Is that why she was ignoring me?"

Feng Shuo felt that Gu Qianning wasn't just jealous; she had murderous intent again.

“Your Highness, I don’t understand these sentimental matters. All I know is how to kill. If Your Highness is troubled, I will kill those two cousins ​​for you.”

Xiao Qingxuan glared at him: "Nonsense! I think Father has really spoiled you. You even dared to kill the eldest daughter of the Duke's mansion and the daughter of the Prince of Heng'an! Aren't you afraid of causing a stir in the court, or that the Duke will take your life? If he wants your life, even my father can't protect you!"

Feng Shuo listened indifferently, without uttering a single response.

But he already knew in his heart that Xiao Qingxuan did not care about Gu Qianning as much as he showed. Otherwise, his first reaction should not have been to fear that Gu Qianning's death would cause a commotion in the court, nor should it have been to fear the Duke's wrath.

Xiao Qingxuan didn't care about Feng Shuo's indifferent attitude. He was one of the emperor's most trusted people, otherwise he wouldn't have allowed Feng Shuo to carry a sword and serve him every day.

Those who can serve as imperial bodyguards do not necessarily need to be highly skilled in martial arts or have a good family background, but they must be extremely loyal.

Feng Shuo is a rare talent who excels in everything. He has extraordinary martial arts skills, comes from a distinguished family, is loyal, and is fearless.

If nothing unexpected happens, when he ascends the throne, Feng Shuo will become his right-hand man, either to purge heretics in the court or to guard the borders for him.

Thinking of this, Xiao Qingxuan raised his hand and patted Feng Shuo's shoulder: "Alright, stop all you do is fight and kill all day long. Be careful not to scare away the girls who like you. You've come of age and it's time for you to get married. Have you taken a fancy to any girl?"

"No."

"Really not?"

"Ah."

"If you do have one, don't keep it to yourself. If you fancy a girl from any family, just tell me and I'll ask my father to arrange a marriage for you. I guarantee your wedding will be a grand and glorious affair."

"Thank you, Your Highness, but no."

"Since there isn't one, I do have a good candidate here, and you've already met her. It's Pei Yingzhu, the daughter of the Prince of Heng'an. What do you think?"

Feng Shuo's heart stirred upon hearing this.

Pei Yingzhu?

The Crown Prince would never act as a matchmaker for him for no reason. Either he thought he could use Pei Yingzhu to control Prince Heng'an, or the Emperor instructed him to do so.

Could it be that the emperor has taken a liking to Pei Yingzhu?

Feng Shuo pictured Pei Yingzhu's face in his mind. Her appearance was indeed different from the girls in the capital. She had a very gentle and graceful appearance, with willow-leaf eyebrows, almond eyes, peach cheeks, a pointed chin, and cherry-like small red lips. She was indeed the type that the emperor would like.

Most importantly, Pei Yingzhu had been married before, yet she still possessed a pure and innocent charm, which was probably exactly what the emperor wanted to know.

The Crown Prince just mentioned that Pei Yingzhu was so nervous when she saw the Emperor that she almost fell over.

It was quite a coincidence; the emperor loved girls who were like startled fawns.

He knew the emperor's quirks better than anyone else. On the surface, the emperor was benevolent and righteous, but in reality, he was a beast in human clothing. He liked to torment people, steal other people's wives, and enjoy having someone cheer him on while he was having sex.

If he were to marry Pei Yingzhu, and then the emperor were to snatch her away and force him to stand by and watch, while the woman who was to be his concubine was terrified and crying, the emperor would probably find it incredibly arousing.