I just want to be a princess, no, you want to be a queen

"..."

I used to be like this, why can’t I do it now?

Pei Mian felt wronged, but he didn't dare ask. He saluted obediently and reported, "Your Highness, the city has been cleared. The casualties are not clear yet, but it seems nothing serious has happened. It's a pity that four Xiongnu assassins escaped."

Speaking of this, Pei Mian got furious. "I don't know which bastard is causing trouble and throwing coins into the sky..."

"Pei Zizhao!" Chu Mingzheng slammed his palm on the desk and lectured him, "You are incompetent and let them get away. What excuses are you making? It's embarrassing."

"Your Highness!" Pei Mian could no longer bear it and raised his voice in grievance, "They escaped through the North Gate. I, the subordinates guarding the West Gate, didn't let a single person escape. I even helped capture the Xiongnu hiding in the city."

"Zizhao!" Chu Mingzheng coughed lightly, his voice lowered. "They were just following orders. They only knew their mission was to assassinate the emperor, and nothing else. It doesn't matter whether they catch him or not. You've been tired all day, go back and rest!"

Chu Mingzheng made some advances, and Pei Mian no longer felt any grievance. He asked worriedly, "Your Highness, you are in a bad mood. Did His Majesty punish you?"

Chu Mingzheng didn't say anything. He wasn't sure what the emperor's upcoming punishment would be.

Pei Mian spoke up for His Highness: "According to your subordinates, you should have told His Majesty a few days in advance, even half an hour in advance. It would be strange if His Majesty didn't blame you."

"Your Majesty has always been close to Noble Concubine Song. If you tell her in advance, she will definitely notice. Moreover, Your Majesty has always cared about the majesty of heaven and will definitely not allow this to happen."

"There's no evidence, so it's better if it doesn't happen. You won't be punished by His Majesty either."

"If this hadn't happened, how could we have gotten the Xiongnu to give up the taxes they've paid inside Yanmen Pass? Yanmen Pass is already desolate, and people's lives are suffering. If we increase taxes again, how can we expect them to survive? Will they have to sell their children and become homeless?"

Chu Mingzheng was really angry this time, "Pei Zizhao, if you want to be a general, how can you abandon the people for your own selfish interests?"

"I know. I feel sorry for you. The people don't know what you've done, and yet Your Majesty..."

"Alright, I'm not wronged, why should you feel wronged on my behalf?" Chu Mingzheng ordered: "Send someone to pass a message to Jin Yiluo. I've given him the chance. Whether he can suppress Zuo Xian Wang depends on him."

The assassination was the work of Zuo Xian Wang. The more gifts he gave away for the marriage alliance, the more complaints he would have from the Xiongnu against Zuo Xian Wang. This matter was fueled by Jin Yiluo.

"Yes!" Pei Mian turned and left.

After the door was closed, Chu Mingzheng carefully straightened his clothes and walked into the inner room.

"what happened?"

Lu Mingyang stared at him intently, her eyes twinkling with stars. She heard their conversation clearly. He must be the true hero who served his country and his people!

At this moment, Lu Mingyang felt an inexplicable expectation in his heart, as if he trusted himself and that he was also a great hero serving the country and the people.

"Your Highness, you know I'm awake, why don't you go out and talk?"

Chu Mingzheng met her gaze calmly: "You are my princess, what is there that you cannot listen to?"

It wasn't the answer she wanted to hear, but it made her look away in panic.

"Where am I? I have to go back." She asked a question casually, got up and left.

Chu Mingzheng stopped her and deliberately slowed down his speech: "The main courtyard of our new wedding house is still empty. This is the study. We'll use it for one night. I've already sent a letter to the Chengyang Marquis' Mansion."

Lu Mingyang looked up in shock: "With you?"

"Can't you?"

"But we..."

"Haven't we had it before?" Chu Mingzheng tugged at his collar as he spoke.

"..."

The little girl didn't know how to answer for a moment. She clutched the quilt awkwardly, her face flushed red, her teeth clenched, as if she was struggling to make a decision.

Chu Mingzheng stopped teasing her and stood up to pour her a cup of hot tea. He handed it to her with a smile and said, "The Dali Temple has detained so many Xiongnu assassins. I am the presiding judge of this case after all, so I have to go and take a look. You should get some rest early."

As he said this, he emphasized: "Don't worry, I won't be back all night."

"Oh!" Lu Mingyang took the steaming cup of tea and rolled her eyes silently. This guy just knew how to tease her. She calmed down and asked, "Your Highness, have I caused you any trouble?"

She still remembered Pei Mian's words. It turned out that he had known from the beginning that Song Wei would plot against him.

Chu Mingzheng asked back: "What about you? Why did you report the danger?"

He returned to the original question, and seeing that he did not ask about the reason for his discovery, Lu Mingyang did not lie to him.

"I thought that if I scattered the money, the Huns would realize that the situation had changed and perhaps stop. Even if they don't, since Your Majesty hasn't climbed the city wall yet, your guilt would be less."

At this point, Lu Mingyang smiled awkwardly, "Your Majesty won't go up at all, right? I'm being self-righteous again."

"That's not what I'm asking." Her answer was obvious enough, but Chu Mingzheng was still not satisfied and asked more directly: "Why did you save me?"

"I promised Your Highness that as long as you let me be your princess, I will protect you from all the attacks from the Song family."

"Just for this?" he demanded.

Lu Mingyang nodded and raised his face sincerely: "I have a strong sense of contract."

contract?

Chu Mingzheng frowned. Although he had never seen anyone use these two words in this way, he could guess what they meant.

"Go to sleep!"

He smiled, stood up and left. When he reached the door, he paused and said something that Lu Mingyang couldn't understand.

"In a few days, there should be a happy event at the Chengyang Marquis' Mansion."

Lu Mingyang couldn't understand what kind of happy event could happen in a soon-to-disappear Chengyang Marquisate. She wanted to ask, but the person had already vanished.

I feel sleepy and have a good night's sleep.

Lu Mingyang had a beautiful dream. In it, she and Chu Mingzheng had a pair of lovely children, who accompanied him through ten years of hardship. She then raised them alone, and after they married, she traveled extensively, seeing the beautiful landscapes of the land.

After waking up, Lu Mingyang was so angry that he just wanted to curse.

What kind of person is this? He stripped her clothes off and left her alone, leaving her to go out in her underwear?

"Someone, someone, is anyone here?"

After calling for a long time, no one came. Lu Mingyang found one of Chu Mingzheng's outer garments in the closet and put it on. He also wrapped himself in a cloak and walked out of the study to look for someone.

The huge palace was surprisingly deserted, with not a single person in sight. Finally, Lu Mingyang saw a young eunuch at the palace gate.

"Where are the people in the mansion?" she asked.

The young eunuch said, "No one has been sent from the palace yet. I was sent by the Queen Mother to serve Your Highness. Including me, there are only three people in the mansion."

No wonder.