Holding the script, I want to give up.

"Princess, why do you insist on agreeing to this marriage alliance? There are so many noble ladies in Nanning, can't you find someone else?"

Youxi asked, puzzled.

"That Crown Prince of Beiji is blatantly insulting people! How could he do such a thing!"

Youzhi said angrily.

"I promised my father. Moreover, given Nanning's current strength, I must go."

Shangguan Zitong said calmly.

"Princess, but Crown Prince Beiji doesn't like you at all! Could you please not go?"

Youxi said, a little sadly.

"Do I like him? Does my sister like the former crown prince? It's all out of necessity."

Shangguan Zitong was also helpless.

[Mission: Marry Huangfu Hongxi and then assassinate him.]

"Ah Li, are you back?"

There was no response; perhaps it was a system-generated update. Shangguan Zitong thought to herself.

"Alright, you're all getting on in years, it's time for you to leave the palace. Don't follow me anymore."

"I will provide you with a sufficient dowry, so that you can live out the rest of your lives even if you do not want to get married."

"If you can't stand being idle and feel bored, then find an embroidery job. Your embroidery skills are so excellent that someone will definitely hire you at a high price."

As she spoke, Shangguan Zitong got up and walked towards her bed, taking out the silver coins she had hidden under the bed and handing them to them.

"I don't want to. I want to be your dowry maid."

"Me too."

Youzhi and Youxi knelt on the ground and said.

"Listen to me, once you enter the palace, it's like entering a deep sea. There are very few people in the palace who are truly sincere."

"I'm afraid I can't protect you."

Shangguan Zitong helped them up, but when they refused, she gave up. She could only ask Yibai to try.

"Yibai".

"My subordinate is here."

Yibai jumped down from the crabapple tree outside and entered the palace. He was filled with unease.

"You should go too. After leaving the palace, you can find a martial arts training hall to teach people martial arts. It won't be a waste of your talents."

Shangguan Zitong pondered for them.

"..."

Yi Bai remained silent.

"Please don't make things difficult for me, okay?"

"Princess, we don't want to leave. We want to stay and keep you company."

Youzhi cried.

"Don't worry, I know a little bit of the martial arts that Yibai taught me. I can protect myself. You may leave."

In fact, Shangguan Zitong's martial arts skills are not bad either.

"Life outside the palace is less restrictive and more free; you'll like it."

"Guards, escort them out of the palace."

When Shangguan Zitong realized that the soft approach wasn't working, she resorted to the hard one.

Youzhi, Youxi, and Yibai were sent out of the palace. Shangguan Zitong gave each of them two carriages full of gold and silver treasures so they could leave the palace in carriages.

She certainly didn't have that much money; it was all taken from the national treasury by Shangguan Nuoyou. If not now, when?

Seeing that she wasn't in a good mood, Shangguan Nuoyou lifted her confinement, hoping to help her calm down.

Shangguan Zitong wandered alone in the palace. She didn't know where to go.

"Hey, have you heard? The princess prepared two cartloads of dowry for her two personal maids!"

"Yes, I heard about it too. My cousin was on duty at the time, and that shadow guard was there too!"

"I also want to serve under the princess."

"Exactly, they are so lucky. They don't have to worry about the rest of their lives."

"No matter what position they hold, princesses are always sent away for political marriages. Do you remember the eldest princess?"

Shh! Shh! The princess is here.

The maids in the laundry quarters were discussing excitedly, but they all fell silent when Shangguan Zitong arrived.

"See Your Highness the Princess."

Everyone salutes.

"No need for formalities. I'm lost. Whoever can guide me will be richly rewarded."

Shangguan Zitong was truly lost. When traveling, a map helps her understand the terrain. But the palace layouts are all similar, and she couldn't tell where she was.

"slave."

"Princess, I'm here."

"Princess, they all..."

Everyone wanted to grab this lucrative job, so they all started to jeer.

Shangguan Zitong was in excruciating pain at the sight of this situation.

"Shut up, all of you! Stop making noise, it's so annoying."

Shangguan Zitong rubbed her head, intending to figure it out on her own.

Everyone was intimidated by this imposing aura and fell silent.

"Your Highness, let me lead the way."

Xuan Ye jumped down from the shadows.

"Hmm, you seem to have a lot of free time."

Shangguan Zitong complained.

"...It is my duty as a subordinate."

"You are the Crown Prince's shadow guard. If he hadn't ordered you, would you be by my side?"

"...Actually, His Highness the Crown Prince is really good to you."

"Yes, I understand. Now focus on leading the way."

Shangguan Zitong no longer wanted to refute, and replied randomly after reading the message.

"Never mind, I'd like to go to Lingyin Temple to burn incense."

Shangguan Zitong changed her mind. She had heard that Master Wugou of Lingyin Temple was very powerful and could see through people's fates. She wanted to go and see him.

"Princess, this..."

"Don't worry, I will speak with the Crown Prince."

Shangguan Zitong noticed a faint red mark on Xuan Ye's neck. Don't think it's well hidden; she's a fujoshi (a female fan of BL, a term for male-male romance).

I guess he was punished for not bringing her back in time earlier. But this punishment is no ordinary one.

......

Inside Lingyin Temple.

Shangguan Zitong knelt devoutly before the Buddha statue, kowtowed and paid her respects, lit three incense sticks, and then left to wander around the temple.

"Xuan Ye, go and ask that little monk if Master Wu Gou is here. If he's not, then go back."

"Yes."

After Xuan Ye finished speaking, he went to ask the monk who was cleaning.

Shangguan Zitong stood under the Bodhi tree, looking at the wooden plaques beneath the red ribbons. Some prayed for marriage, some for wealth, and some for the lifelong peace of their loved ones...

"The princess is not here."

"Alright, it seems we're not meant to be. Let's go then."

"Yes."

"Wait, I've heard this tree is very powerful. Why don't you hang one up to bless His Majesty?"

Shangguan Zitong teased.

"Your subordinate...I...I...but...I..."

Xuan Ye's face flushed red and then turned pale.

"Alright, go ahead and write if you want. I'll be waiting for you here. After all, it's not easy for you to leave the palace."

"Princess, aren't you going to write it down? I heard this tree is quite effective."

"I have no attachments and no desire to write."

"..."

Shangguan Zitong was waiting for him under the Bodhi tree. It was snowing, and she sneezed.

She didn't really believe in these things; she thought they were all vague and unrealistic.

"Your Majesty, I am ready."

"Well, let's go then."

"Please wait a moment, benefactor."

A young monk rushed over.

“Master Wugou is not here, but Master Huitong is here and he wants to see you.”

The little monk finished speaking, panting.

"Then, young master, please lead the way for me."

"Xuan Ye, wait here."

"Yes."

Shangguan Zitong followed the young monk into the meditation room.

"Does Master Huitong have something to advise my daughter?"

After bowing to the master, Shangguan Zitong got straight to the point, not wanting to waste any more time.

“Amitabha, benefactor, there is no need to be impatient. Please sit down, have some tea, and calm your mind.”

"..."

Seeing the monk's mysterious demeanor, Shangguan Zitong decided to investigate and sat down.

"Do you have any doubts, benefactor?"

"Nothing."

"..."

What doubts could I possibly have? Fate? Very few people can change their fate. I'm already doing well just to have survived this long. I don't need to know that much. Shangguan Zitong thought to herself.

“Your destiny is beyond my comprehension. But your lifespan is very short.”

Master Huitong spoke.

"I do not cultivate immortality."

So what if he died young?

"..."

"Rotten wood cannot be carved. The tea is cold; you may leave."

Huitong had never seen such a dullard.

"???"

Shangguan Zitong looked completely bewildered.

"Master Huitong, could you please tell me where my daughter's destined person is?"

Shangguan Zitong stood up.

"Far away, yet so close."

"???"

She was indeed a half-baked expert; she gave a perfunctory bow and left.

What do you mean "so close at hand"? Isn't Xuan Ye the Crown Prince's man? This is really bizarre.

Shangguan Zitong ignored Master Huitong's words and went back to the palace with Xuan Ye.

"That little monk is kind; he even gave me an umbrella," Shangguan Zitong exclaimed inwardly. With Xuan Ye holding the umbrella for her to shield her from the snow, her arms wouldn't get tired.

......