Marrying the Crown Prince

Emperor Chenze looked embarrassed, "Mother..."

“Your Majesty,” the Empress Dowager sighed, softening her tone, “didn’t you complain that the Crown Prince was too prominent? If that’s the case, why not let him go out and have some fun?”

Emperor Chenze was moved, but his expression remained largely unchanged, his brows still furrowed.

"Do you know why he came to beg me this time, instead of discussing it with you?" the Empress Dowager continued.

Emperor Chenze looked up and gestured for her to continue.

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly, her tone unfriendly, "It's because he knows you've become suspicious of him, so he doesn't dare tell you these things."

Having a paranoid personality and doubting one's own son is one thing, but having one's stepmother openly point it out is another.

Emperor Chenze waved his hand, refusing the accusation the Empress Dowager was making against him, "Mother, your words are so hurtful, I am truly ashamed."

The Empress Dowager glared at him, her eyes darkening slightly. "You wouldn't do that."

With skin this thick, even if everyone else dies, you won't.

Emperor Chenze: "..."

Can't we just have a pleasant chat anymore?

In the end, the Empress Dowager's advice was heeded, and Emperor Chenze granted Li Ziyan a week's leave.

Looking at the incredibly obedient Crown Prince before him, and remembering how much weight he had lost due to the heat and his inability to eat or sleep, and recalling the Empress Dowager's words, Emperor Chenze softened and reached out to pat his son's shoulder.

“You are different from your brothers. After they came of age, they all left the palace to build their own residences and travel around.”

“And you have hardly ever left the palace since you were a child.”

"It was my oversight."

Li Ziyan hurriedly stood up, but Emperor Chenze pressed him back down. He could only pretend to be flustered and said, "It is my greatest fortune to be able to accompany Father Emperor."

Seeing his restless appearance, Emperor Chenze felt even more heartbroken: It was his fault. How could he have given his son such a hard time that day? It was clearly his wife's fault; she shouldn't have taken her anger out on him.

Li Ziyan: "..."

I never imagined that I held such a high place in my father's heart.

In the end, Li Ziyan was released, and Zhou Zhou was taken away with him.

The hour of Mao (5-7 AM) had passed, and the hour of Chen (7-9 AM) had arrived. The sun had fully risen, radiating its light and scorching the earth.

Fortunately, they had already arrived in the town, and the group went straight to the town's largest and best inn, spending five taels of silver to book the entire place.

Zhou Zhou didn't have any particular requirements for the environment, as long as it was clean and tidy; Li Ziyan, on the other hand, had a slight obsession with cleanliness, and would refuse to step into the inn if she felt that other people had lain or slept on the bedding.

"How about we go out for a walk?" Zhou Zhou didn't insist when she saw his expression. "When Ju Fang and the others catch up, they'll come in and tidy up, and we'll change into the bedding we brought ourselves."

Indeed, considering Li Ziyan's obsession with cleanliness, Zhou Zhou specially asked someone to clean his bedding and pillow.

"Ah."

The two of them went out happily, leaving half of the guards at the inn, partly to wait for Jufang and the others, and partly to take turns resting.

The small towns on the outskirts of Beijing are not much different from Beijing itself. If there is any difference, it is that there are fewer people and the market towns are not as big, but the food, clothing and daily necessities are the same.

However, Zhou Zhou and Li Ziyan hadn't been shopping in a long time, and since they weren't short of money, they walked and bought things along the way, without really knowing what they were buying.

After walking around, the sun was high in the sky, blazing like fire. Zhou Zhou and Li Ziyan were both sweating, so they simply found a teahouse nearby and walked over.

"Young master, madam, please come in." The waiter at the door was cheerful, speaking in a straightforward and efficient manner.

Zhou Zhou asked, "Are there any private rooms available?"

"Well... our small shop operates on a low profit margin and high volume, so we don't have private rooms. However, we do have some elegant seating on the second floor."

"Lead the way."

"Alright, please come in, both of you."

The two arrived at the teahouse and ordered a pot of good tea from the waiter, but did not order any snacks.

Zhou Zhou rinsed the cup with hot water, poured tea into it, and handed it to Li Ziyan, saying, "You've had too many expensive teas, try this one."

Li Ziyan took a sip and smiled faintly, "It's not as bad as I imagined."

It has a tea aroma, and the bitterness and sweetness of the tea leaves are quite good.

Of course, it couldn't compare to the fine teas he had drunk before.

As the two were chatting and laughing, the storyteller on the stage came on stage, picked up his gavel and slammed it down hard, making a dull "crack" sound.

The entire audience fell silent, their gazes involuntarily drawn to the stage.

The storyteller cleared his throat and began with a few lines: "From north to south, from ancient times to the present, countless things have been told, too many to tell. Please listen to my story."

Sure enough, professional matters should be left to professionals. The storyteller's stories weren't particularly novel, but the key was his vivid descriptions and rhythmic delivery, which left the audience mesmerized.

After the play ended and the tea had lost its flavor, the guard who had stayed at the inn came to report that Jufang and the others had arrived.

"Let's go back." Li Ziyan looked at Zhou Zhou, seeking her opinion.

Having gotten up so early and strolled around for so long, it was indeed time for lunch and a nap, so Zhou Zhou agreed.

Inside the inn, Jufang had already changed all the bedding and went to the kitchen to boil water, thinking that the two masters could wipe themselves down when they returned.

At the entrance of the inn, a woman dressed in red riding attire with a snakeskin whip hanging from her waist stood there. Her skin was as smooth as jade, and her features were exquisite. She was truly stunning.

"What? I see plenty of empty rooms, how can it be full?"

"Young lady, we're definitely fully booked. All the rooms are reserved." The innkeeper was also helpless. He was lucky to get two or three guests a day on a normal day, but today, they were all wealthy and powerful, and their tempers weren't very good either...

Although Suhe and Wanying were angry, they did not make a scene. They just turned around angrily and prepared to leave. Anyway, this place was not the only inn. She did not believe that all the inns in the city could be booked.

At that moment, Li Ziyan and his group brushed past her.

When the innkeeper saw Li Ziyan and his companions return, he quickly put on a smile and said, "Young master, madam, the chef is preparing lunch. Please wait a moment; it will be ready soon."

"Wait!" Su He and Wan Ying turned back. "Hey kid, didn't you say the place was full? How come they let me in? Why can't I?"

Zhou Zhou and the others stopped.

She glanced at Su and Wan Ying's accessories and gave them a friendly smile. "Young lady, it's because we've booked this inn."

How could you do this?

"why not?"

It's not like I didn't spend any money; it wasn't your money that was spent.

"No, what I mean is, there are only a few of you, there's no way you can fit in so many rooms."