Accidentally dressed as an empress

Zhong Yi had to make plans for himself. Could he rely on his tribesmen? Could he rely on women? Relying on mountains will cause them to fall; relying on trees will cause them to run away. It’s better to rely on yourself than on others. His eyes grew dark.

Su Shiyi stayed at the Zhong Mansion, accompanying Zhong Yi. Zhong Yi had already memorized the diagram of the winch crossbow. After his injury healed, he drew the diagram and asked Su Shiyi to go to the weapons department and hand it over to Lin Zihan personally.

Lin Zihan will help him pass it up.

On this side, Yunxiu also had the same idea and asked Su Qing to take the bamboo slips in which she discussed with Zhong Yi about improving the smelting technique, along with a diagram of the iron smelting furnace, to the Weaponry Department.

She asked Su Qing to report the name of the Grand Princess's Mansion.

On Grand Chancellor Gu Yao's desk lay a scroll of bamboo slips and two blueprints: one for an iron smelting furnace, the other for a winch crossbow and its mechanism. The eldest princess and Zhong Yuan were surprisingly talented.

Grand Marshal Gu Yao was so excited that his hands were shaking. He immediately rolled up the drawings and took the bamboo slips into the palace to congratulate the emperor.

Needless to say, the importance of these two drawings is a huge leap forward in smelting technology and weapons manufacturing.

On the second day, the palace servants came to the Zhong Mansion to compare the birth dates of the eldest prince and Zhong Qi.

Zhong Yi had a faint smile on his face. He asked Su Shiyi to take the three embroidery patterns he had drawn back to Yunxiu.

The embroidery patterns he drew were willow leaves, lotus leaves, and flying catkins.

His body is like catkins, his heart is like duckweed, scattered by the wind. This is what he wanted to convey. He is like catkins and duckweed, unable to control his own destiny. Before that, love was too much of a luxury for him.

I don’t know if Her Highness can understand it, or maybe she won’t even read it.

Zhong Yi walked into the main house and saw Gu Zezhi, who was wearing a dark blue official robe.

Gu Zezhi came with another waiter, and His Majesty gave him another task.

When Gu Zezhi saw Zhong Yi coming, he took out the silk book hidden in his sleeve and winked at the servant behind him. The servant lifted the red cloth and the reward he had been holding turned out to be a set of dark green official uniform and hat.

Gu Zezhi sang, "His Majesty summons the bell maker to the palace for an audience."

Zhong Sizao, who else is this Zhong Sizao? It must be Zhong Yi. It can't be the Zhong Yuan who is still unconscious lying on the bed.

Yu Yan looked serious and knelt down to listen to the order.

He looked at Zhong Yi's cold expression as he knelt down to receive the imperial edict, and sighed in his heart that this boy was ultimately uncontrollable.

Zhong Yi changed into his official uniform and hat and followed Gu Zezhi out of the house.

He walked out of the gate of Zhong Mansion and before getting on the carriage, he turned his head to look at the plaque of Zhong Mansion. The autumn wind brought a slight chill, and Zhong Yi's eyes became even colder.

He turned and left, straightened his back, and never looked back.

On this side, Zhong Yi followed Gu Zezhi into the palace.

On the other side, the palace attendant also arrived at the door of the eldest princess's mansion, and Yunxiu followed the palace attendant into the palace.

..............................

Yunji Palace Study

Yun Se looked at Zhong Yi, who was wearing a dark green official robe and kneeling down to pay his respects. The more he looked at him, the more he looked like Xuan'er, except that his eyebrows and eyes were a little cold. He seemed a little more arrogant than the last time they met.

Yun Se actually felt a sense of appreciation for Zhong Yi's talent. "I never thought you could actually restore the winch crossbow. Bring the real thing with you so I can try it out."

Zhong Yi said calmly, "Your Majesty, I don't have any actual equipment. Your Majesty, please have the weapons department build a winch-type crossbow according to the blueprint."

Outside the hall, Cui Ti sang, "The Grand Marshal sent someone from the Arms Department to report that they've successfully made a winch-type repeating crossbow according to the blueprints given by Zhong Si Zao."

Yun Se's eyes were filled with warmth as she smiled and said, "You've made great contributions. What do you want?"

Zhong Yi said loudly, "I am willing to continue serving my country."

"Don't worry." Yun Se said, "Yun Xiu will be here soon. After you meet her, you can make a decision."

Zhong Yi's expression was somewhat unnatural, "Your humble servant does not wish to see Your Highness."

Yun Se watched with amusement, "You lived with her at her house, spending every day and night with her, and you were incredibly affectionate. Now, are you so cruel as to give up such a wonderful wife?"

Gu Zezhi gave up his status as a member of the Gu family and everything else to become His Majesty's confidant.

Zhong Yi naturally understood that the price of taking this step was that he would never be able to return to Yun Xiu.

Zhong Yi's cold, dark eyes seemed to be icy. "Your Majesty, I am willing to serve my country loyally for the rest of my life."

Yun Se said, "Have you made up your mind? My eldest daughter is deeply in love with you."

Cui Ti said outside the palace, "Your Majesty, the Grand Prince has arrived."

Yunxiu didn't know that Zhong Yi was just across the door.

Yunse said to the outside, "I have a headache, Xiu'er will talk to you outside."

Yunse said to Zhong Yi, "You, stand behind the bamboo shelf."

Yunxiu walked to the outer room and saw through the curtains and draperies that the emperor was sitting at a table in the inner room, with an attendant arranging bamboo slips.

"I have reviewed the iron smelting techniques you presented. You have performed a great service in compiling ancient texts and deserve a reward."

Sorting out ancient books? Your Highness said, was that obtained by arranging ancient books?

His Majesty said with a pleasant expression, "Tell me, what reward do you want?"

"I dare to ask Your Majesty to grant me a marriage with Zhong Yi. I am willing to marry Zhong Yi as my legal husband."

"Oh? Then what about Zhong Qi?"

"Your son dares to marry Zhong Qi as his equal."

She is the eldest daughter, and the Zhong family gave her to their two sons at once. Would they agree?

Her Majesty had been observing Zhong Yi and saw him turn his head away, his fist to his lips, as if trying to suppress his tears. This was still a pair of lovers, but for some reason she had the urge to break them up.

Yun Se's mind turned and she said, "Xiu'er, your marriage is already decided, so ask for a separate reward."

Yunxiu insisted, "I, your son, request to marry Zhong Yi as my equal husband."

There seemed to be a gleam of water in Zhong Yi's eyes, like a clear pool full of water, about to overflow.

Yun Se's tone was a little unhappy, and he said, "Xiu'er, don't you understand what I'm saying?"

Yunxiu lifted the curtain and walked into the inner room, kneeling down and saying, "Mother Queen, Zhong Yi and I have secretly agreed to spend our lives together. He belongs to me."

Yun Se said slowly, "But he said he wanted to be an official and serve his country, and he didn't want to marry you."

Zhong Yi walked out from behind the bamboo scroll rack, knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I wish to remain unmarried and serve my country loyally."

Yunxiu's heart ached, and she turned her head in shock, looking at the person who had spoken. She thought she had misheard, but it was really Zhong Yi.

He should be waiting to be married peacefully in the Zhong Mansion, but he's wearing his official uniform. His heart is truly wild.

As expected, once there is a second, and once there is a third. She would not tolerate him betraying her a second time.

He had never set his sights on the harem. Zhong Yi didn't feel he had done anything wrong, but seeing Yun Xiu's stunned, self-deprecating, and indifferent expression, he still felt a pang of pain in his heart.

He could read her expression; she must be very angry this time and probably wouldn't forgive him. He knew she loved him deeply, and his willfulness this time must have hurt her deeply.

As soon as he saw her, Zhong Yi no longer had any resentment in his heart, and he just wanted to throw himself into her arms.

But he held back.

He also wanted to return to the Grand Princess's residence, to be by her side, but not as her favorite servant, but as a man who could stand shoulder to shoulder with her. He had to prove that he could achieve fame and success on his own.