After being sentenced to death, she came to her senses.

Although Fang Xiaoran didn't care much about the marriage, the people in the Princess's Mansion were quite concerned about it.

In just a few days, the Princess's mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and a festive atmosphere filled the air. Red silk was hung high, lanterns were suspended, and even the servants in the mansion changed into new clothes with smiles on their faces, as if this wedding was a grand event they had been looking forward to for a long time.

Fang Xiaoran walked through the mansion, observing everything with a calm expression, as if it had nothing to do with her.

Qinglan and Ziju followed behind her, carefully observing her expression, afraid that she might be unhappy because of the marriage.

"Princess, do you think these lanterns are hung properly?" Qinglan asked tentatively, her tone somewhat ingratiating.

Fang Xiaoran looked up at the red lanterns hanging high and nodded slightly. Before she could speak, two figures flashed over. They were none other than Chu San and Xiao Qi, who came riding the wind.

"After you get married, will we no longer be able to stay here?" Xiaoqi asked with a worried expression, somewhat reluctant to leave.

Of course, his so-called reluctance was actually more about not wanting to leave the mansion. If he left, he would have nowhere to go. As for Fang Xiaoran, he was naturally reluctant to leave her, but he knew that this reluctance could not keep her.

Upon hearing this, Fang Xiaoran raised an eyebrow. "Why not? I am only marrying Gu Yuqing and have not lost my title of Princess. This mansion is still mine, so you can stay here as well. Besides, who knows what the situation is like in the Marquis's mansion? If the people inside are chaotic and scheming, I can simply leave and return here."

As soon as she said that, Xiaoqi grinned and said, "That's right, we can just bring him along too."

Fang Xiaoran smiled slightly and said nothing more about the matter. However, she rearranged the mansion that day. Even if she was not there, the mansion should be strictly guarded to prevent anyone with ulterior motives from entering.

In the Imperial City, in Consort Ning's palace, the once quiet courtyard suddenly erupted in commotion as a figure hurriedly rushed through the corridor to the scene.

"Your son greets Your Majesty." Zhao Mi's voice rang out in the hall. Through the screen, Consort Ning saw Zhao Mi kneeling in the hall and raised her hand slightly. "Get up. I already know what you said. Do not make any rash moves recently. Just wait. They will not succeed."

“But the Empress Dowager has been secretly eroding our power, and now my third brother also harbors resentment towards me. Mother, I am not reconciled.” The Empress Dowager Zhao Mi was referring to was naturally the Empress, the head of the six palaces and Emperor Zhao’s first wife. Even if the princes in the palace were not her children, they still had to call her Empress Dowager.

Consort Ning sighed softly, slowly stepped out from behind the screen, and looked at Zhao Mi with a mixture of pity and determination.

She was dressed in magnificent palace attire, her brows furrowed with a hint of coldness, clearly indicating that she was well aware of the situation within the palace.

"Mi'er, I know you are unwilling, but the situation is complicated right now. Acting rashly will only lead you into someone else's trap." Consort Ning's voice was low and calm, as if she was comforting Zhao Mi, or as if she was warning herself.

Zhao Mi raised his head, a hint of anxiety flashing in his eyes: "But Mother, if we don't act now, we won't even have a chance to fight back!"

"Counterattack?" Consort Ning sneered. "They are always the ones counterattacking. I will never be passive, nor will I lose."

Her aura was clearly different from before; she exuded a sharp presence and chilling killing intent. Seeing her like this, even Zhao Mi felt a tremor in his heart and involuntarily lowered his head, "But Third Brother..."

"Ignore him, he can't touch you," Consort Ning said softly.

Zhao Mi could only lower his eyes and whisper, "Yes, son understands."

After Zhao Mi left, a figure emerged from behind the curtain and gently embraced Consort Ning's waist. "Mi'er is still too impatient and will not amount to much."

"It's alright." A hint of coldness flashed in Consort Ning's eyes, but the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, a smile that was neither a smile nor a frown.

Upon learning that Fang Xiaoran had been betrothed, Zhao Jin was so enraged that he almost stepped into the imperial city. However, when he arrived at the city gate, he suddenly calmed down.

The imperial decree has already been issued; what use would his going be? Could he possibly persuade the Emperor to retract his order?

Dark clouds filled the sky, as if a heavy rain was about to fall. A carriage remained parked at the city gate for a long time without moving.

Zhao Jin sat in the carriage, silent.

Wen Shao, who was driving the carriage, frowned. It was the first time he had ever seen Zhao Jin so flustered.

Based on his understanding of Zhao Jin, he knew that anyone who spoke up now would surely die.

A thunderclap ripped across the sky, seemingly tearing a hole in it.

The dense raindrops poured down without warning.

The raindrops pattered as they fell, creating a jarring sound that was quite irritating.

The wind kept lifting the carriage curtain, revealing a gloomy face. After a long while, Zhao Jin finally let out a long breath, "Let's go back."

These two simple words convey a sense of coldness and authority.

As Wen Shao lashed out with his whip, a horse neighed, and then the sound of hooves faded into the distance, disappearing without a trace.

"The weather was fine, how could it suddenly start raining? Hurry up and pack things up, especially those pots of medicinal herbs, they are the princess's favorites."

The people from the princess's residence immediately set off, hurriedly packing things up to prevent them from being damaged by the rain.

Inside the pavilion, Fang Xiaoran sat by the window, gazing at the torrential rain outside. Her eyes flickered slightly, and it was unclear what she was thinking.

Just then, a carriage passed by on the official road ten feet away from the pavilion. The carriage bumped along, and the wind kept howling. The curtain was silently rolled up. Fang Xiaoran looked up unintentionally, and the moment their eyes met, it was like a stone hitting the surface of water, stirring up a thousand ripples.

In the end, she didn't say a word, got up, blew out the candle on the candlestick, put on a coat, and went downstairs.

"Stop!" Zhao Jin suddenly shouted from inside the carriage. Wen Shao reacted quickly, pulling on the reins. The horse raised its two front legs, neighed, and stopped abruptly.

Before the carriage had come to a complete stop, Zhao Jin lifted the curtain and stepped down. Ignoring the gushing rain, he stood on the official road, silently gazing at the distant pavilion.

At this moment, no light emanated from the attic, and although the window was half-open, no one could be seen inside.

The rain continued to fall, and the cold wind howled. Zhao Jin's clothes were quickly soaked by the rain, but he was completely unaware, his gaze never leaving the attic.

Wen Shao knew exactly where this place was, and because of that, he couldn't offer any advice. He simply opened his umbrella and walked towards Zhao Jin.

When the umbrella covered Zhao Jin's head, he pushed it away, tilted his head back, and let the rain wash over him.

"Hahahaha..." He laughed loudly, the cold rain mercilessly hitting his face, and a strange sense of desolation welled up in his heart.

He had never been so heartbroken, nor so obsessive. He wanted nothing more than to rush in and take the person away, but in the end, reason brought him back to his senses.

In the end, he did nothing but climb onto the carriage, looking utterly dejected.

Seeing him like this, Wen Shao could only sigh silently.