Her hair was cloud-like and beautiful! She opened her eyes and found herself back in the third year

"Huizhen." Cheng Yan suddenly spoke, his gaze towards Princess Huizhen calm, but containing a hint of warning.

Princess Huizhen met his gaze, and the words she was about to say suddenly stopped. Meeting Qin Yizhen's questioning gaze, she felt a sudden pang of guilt.

Speaking of that matter, they all knew what they needed to know, except for Qin Yizhen, who was kept in the dark. She had no idea about Xie Zhan's feelings for her.

Princess Huizhen inexplicably felt that her uncle was rather frightening.

"N-nothing..." Princess Huizhen forced a smile. "It's just that my uncle likes you the most, my mother likes you, and His Majesty likes you too. I'm jealous, hmph."

After saying this, Princess Huizhen flicked her sleeve and strode forward, seemingly not intending to travel with them.

Qin Yizhen blinked. She felt that Princess Huizhen's words seemed somewhat perfunctory, and that she seemed to be a little guilty.

Cheng Yan reached out and took her hand, and they walked forward together.

Palaces lined both sides of the avenue, and officials, yamen runners, and palace maids in their official robes hurried to and fro. Occasionally, carriages would pass by. The two walked slowly, and even though the road ahead was still long, they were not in a hurry at all.

Before long, a few drops of rain began to fall from the sky.

The spring rain fell like silk threads, cool and fine. A drop landed on Qin Yizhen's forehead. She hummed softly, then looked up: "It's raining..."

The sky was a little hazy at that time, and a breeze was blowing, bringing a chill.

Cheng Yan grabbed her hand and ran ahead, saying, "Hurry up, we'll get soaked if the rain gets heavier."

Qin Yi didn't think much of it, just nodded twice and let him pull her along. The maids and guards behind them quickly followed.

While Princess Huizhen was taking shelter from the rain outside the palace, she saw a group of people running by and stood there stunned for a long time, her face full of disbelief.

"Are these two crazy? Don't they know to seek shelter from the rain? Why do they have to run?"

Song Nian happened to be passing by and overheard this. He waved to her from a distance and said, "Princess Huizhen, you don't understand. You should take shelter from the rain."

You'll know once you find a lover.

The spring rain was light and not heavy. The group of people ran into the palace and their hair and clothes were only slightly damp. However, Cheng Yan was still a little worried and asked the imperial kitchen to make Qin Yizhen a bowl of ginger tea.

Qin Yizhen was a little out of breath from running, her fair face flushed slightly. Cheng Yan even had someone bring her a basin of warm water and wrung out a towel to wipe her face.

Empress Dowager Cheng couldn't help but say, "This is the Imperial Study; you should restrain yourself a little."

If you're going to show off your love, go back to your own home. Don't you know there's a widow here?

Qin Yi's face turned even redder, and she shook her head repeatedly, refusing to let him wipe her face.

Helpless, Cheng Yan had no choice but to give up regretfully. He placed the wrung-out handkerchief in her hand and then recounted the events of the day to Empress Dowager Cheng.

Empress Dowager Cheng frowned upon hearing this: "The Zhang family has been well-behaved all these years, and I've seen how miserable they are, so I've been too lazy to bother with them. But now it seems that the Zhang family harbors deep resentment towards us."

"In that case, have the Dali Temple investigate thoroughly. If it is true that Zhang Hui set fire to frame Yizhen and Huizhen and plotted to harm the princess, it is a serious crime. I will confiscate the Zhang family's property and send them all to prison for interrogation."

If you don't want to live like this anymore, then don't.

Qin Yizhen had seen many of Empress Dowager Cheng's decisive and ruthless ways these days, so she was not surprised. She even frowned and said, "The Zhang family is so audacious and resentful. I'm afraid keeping them around will only cause trouble."

Empress Dowager Cheng asked her, "What do you think we should do?"

"Exile." Qin Yizhen said coldly, stating the facts, "Plotting against the princess is an unforgivable crime. Sentencing him to confiscate his property and exile is reasonable."

"Oh?" Empress Dowager Cheng looked at her in surprise, and even Cheng Yan glanced at her sideways.

Qin Yizhen blushed a little when the two of them stared at her: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Empress Dowager Cheng withdrew her gaze and shook her head, saying, "I feel that your trips here these past few days have not been in vain; you have become much more decisive in your actions."

Qin Yizhen said, "Mother, you are mistaken. I am not saying this today because I have made progress in my studies these days. Even in the past, I would have said the same thing."

"The Cheng family and the Zhang family are the enemies of the Empress Dowager and the Marquis, and naturally they are also my enemies. I have no kindness towards my enemies."

She may be a bit gentle and mild-mannered, but she's not stupid. How could she possibly feel sorry for her enemy?

"If it weren't for the fear of getting too much innocent blood on my hands, I would have said to nip it in the bud."

She has always been someone who clearly distinguishes between friend and foe.

She could be tolerant of Wang Xianrong and understand her difficulties because Wang Xianrong had never done anything wrong or hurt her.

But when it comes to the Cheng and Zhang families, she stands on the side of Empress Dowager Cheng and Cheng Yan.

Despite the methods Empress Dowager Cheng used against the Cheng family, and the fact that Marquis Chengen is still paralyzed in bed, she doesn't see anything wrong with them.

Empress Dowager Cheng and Cheng Yan were her closest family members, and she felt even more sorry for the injustices and suffering they had endured.

Empress Dowager Cheng smiled: "It wasn't a waste of time to raise you."

Qin Yizhen was only six or seven years old when she was sent to her side. She has been raised by her for many years and has always been careful and considerate towards her. After raising her for so long, she is almost like her own daughter.

Huizhen always felt that she treated Yizhen better, so why didn't she learn from Yizhen's thoughtfulness and understanding?

Cheng Yan said, "Cutting weeds and eliminating the roots is not advisable. The Zhang family has many members. They benefited when the Zhang family was doing well, and now that the Zhang family has fallen on hard times, they are also being implicated, which is understandable. However, their crimes do not warrant death. Exile is a good idea. Empress Dowager, what do you think of exiling them to Zhihuangzhou?"

After the establishment of the Eastern Qin, the territory was divided into sixteen states, some of which were fertile and rich in resources, while others were barren. This desolate state was one of them.

This place is a place of exile for disgraced officials. After people are sent there, they are made to cultivate the land themselves. They can only make ends meet by eating half a meal a year. Life is very difficult.

Empress Dowager Cheng nodded, finding it feasible: "If the arson was indeed committed by Zhang Hui, I will issue an edict to confiscate his property and exile him."

After saying this, Empress Dowager Cheng looked at Qin Yizhen and said, "Tomorrow is your birthday. Enjoy your birthday at home."

From now on, you don't need to come every day. Just come once a month on the first and fifth day. As for other matters, I will assign you some tasks, and you just need to take care of them for me.

Qin Yizhen stood up and bowed: "Yes, Mother."

"Alright, if you have nothing to do today, don't get in the way. Go back."

"Yes."

When the two were driven out of the study, a light rain was falling outside. Cheng Yan took an oil-paper umbrella from a palace maid, opened it, and reached out his hand to her:

"My wife, let's go home."