Zhu Tian: Becoming a Sword Master from Martial Arts

Chapter 244

Although the ending was a bit anticlimactic, the confrontation between Dao Sect and Yuan Sect, and the confrontation between the alliance of many super sects in Dongxuan Territory and the Demon Prison, were like a storm, sweeping towards Dongxuan Territory with Yimo Territory as the center.

It even spread to places outside the East Xuan Realm, such as the North Xuan Realm and the South Xuan Realm, and even crossed the natural barrier to the West Xuan Realm, and crossed the ocean to the Chaos Demon Sea and the Demon Realm.

However, these things did not affect the people of Dao Sect.

After entering the palace in a lively manner and paying homage to heaven and earth and her parents, Shen Miaoyin entered the bridal chamber which had been well decorated.

The room, which was originally noisy, suddenly became quiet, with only the big red candle burning silently, and a piece of it falling from time to time.

"Madame Sun, have someone clean up the side room and prepare a bowl of hangover soup to keep warm."

There was a tone of unquestionableness in the soft voice, which frightened the old maid who came to serve the Crown Prince's wife on the orders of the princess, and she quickly agreed.

"Yes, Crown Princess!"

After saying this, Nanny Sun tactfully led the maids to retreat, and Lily followed them out carrying a tray.

When they got outside, Lily handed the tray to Nanny Sun. Nanny Sun did not let the maid beside her take it, but took it herself.

"The master is celebrating. This is the reward money given to you by the Crown Prince's Consort. Everyone gets a share!"

"Thank you, my dear princess!"

"This servant thanks the Crown Prince and Consort!"

Led by Nanny Sun, the maids bowed towards the house and then retreated happily. It seemed that the reward money was not small.

The maids, who had originally felt dissatisfied when seeing that others received wedding gifts while they had nothing, completely disappeared at this moment. Especially after taking the brocade bag and looking at the white silver inside, they secretly felt that the prince's wife was so generous.

"Well, since you have all received the reward, then you should serve the Crown Prince's Consort well. If anyone dares to betray me, be careful that I will skin her alive!"

Nanny Sun didn't have any thoughts about the fact that she and other maids received the same reward money. The Crown Prince's wife had just arrived, so it would be smart for her to treat them, the servants, equally, and there wouldn't be so many trivial matters in the future.

However, Nanny Sun is an old lady after all and has seen a lot, but these cheap guys are not necessarily the same. Therefore, in order to avoid causing unnecessary trouble, Nanny Sun needs to give them a warning first. This is also her duty.

"Yes, Madam Sun, I understand!"

Shen Miaoyin couldn't help but smile when she heard the faint noise coming from outside the house. Wan was still the same Wan, thoughtful and careful. Of course, if she wasn't thoughtful, she wouldn't have found ways to welcome her into the palace.

In her previous life, even though her bride was secretly replaced, Wan did not choose to make a fuss. Instead, she welcomed Shen Zhihua in. It was a pity that Shen Zhihua was too much like her parents and was a little too stupid. Otherwise, she would have been the mother of the country.

I can only say that she is too stupid. Even if she is given the position of queen, she will not know how to sit there. (I mention Empress Dowager He. She is so stupid. In a similar situation, the difference between Empress Dowager He and Empress Lü is like the difference between humans and paramecium.)

"Lily, go to the kitchen and get some light food."

While instructing Lily, Shen Miaoyin took the initiative to lift the veil, and then began to tidy up the things in her room.

Her dowry was very large. Although the ten-mile red makeup was a bit exaggerated, it was just a little. However, there were not many things placed in the house. In addition to clothes and jewelry and rouge commonly used by girls, there was only a zither bed, an ancient zither, a sword, a precious carved bow, and a specially made chain mail.

This guqin is one of her mother's relics and also her mother's favorite guqin, named Cai Feng Ming Qi.

Shen Miaoyin carefully placed the zither bed aside, then wiped the body of the zither meticulously before placing the zither on the bed with a solemn look on her face.

"Boom!"

Her slender hands gently plucked the strings of the zither, and the melodious and clear sound of the zither, like a clear spring, slowly sounded and echoed in the house.

Xiao Jin, who was forced to drink a lot of wine, came to the backyard very reluctantly with the help of his maid. However, as soon as he stepped into the backyard, Xiao Jin heard bursts of piano sounds, and his brows couldn't help but frowned slightly.

But soon, Xiao Jin's frown relaxed. The melodious sound of the piano was like the clear and elegant sound of a spring, or the cry of a divine bird, lonely and cold.

Xiao Jin, who had been hanging out in brothels for several years, was not drunk to begin with, and was completely sober at this moment. He turned his head and glanced at the two maids that his mother had arranged to bring him here. After gently waving his hands, he walked into the house on his own.

Xiao Jin gently pushed the door open and stood at the entrance, but he couldn't take a step inside. It was not because the woman playing the piano was too ugly. On the contrary, the woman was very beautiful, very beautiful, so beautiful that Xiao Jin didn't know how to describe her.

The bright red phoenix robe embroidered with gold thread looked like a set of luxurious phoenix feathers, draped behind the woman. The train behind her looked like long feathers. She wore a golden phoenix crown on her head, and she looked like the Queen Mother of the West who had descended to the earth, graceful and noble beyond words.

She was different from Wanwan. Wanwan was also very beautiful, with a face like a peach, skin like cream, eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like rippling water, and various postures. She was like a delicate flower, which made him want to protect her.

And the woman in front of him, whom he met for the first time, had already become his wife. Her facial features looked just like her entire person, very dignified, with the demeanor of a model mother who rules the country and brings peace and prosperity to the people.

Standing outside the door, Xiao Jin, looking at the gorgeous woman in the house, once again felt a very absurd feeling in his heart, as if the person in the room was not his Crown Prince's Consort, but his mother. The temperaments of the two people were really similar, and his mother was even slightly inferior.

Lily and Shijian, who were serving nearby, looked outside the door when they heard the noise. When they saw Xiao Jin, they bowed but did not speak, obviously not wanting to disturb Shen Miaoyin's interest in playing the piano.

Xiao Jin didn't care about these things, but just stood at the door, quietly listening to the beautiful singing of the phoenix.

"Boom!"

After Shen Miaoyin withdrew her green jade fingers from the silk strings, she noticed that the door was actually open. Standing outside the door was a young man with a handsome face, red lips and white teeth.

Without thinking, Shen Miaoyin knew that this was Xiao Jin. After all, she had seen this man in her previous life, and at that time, this man even wanted to forcibly take her back to be the queen.

In his previous life, Xiao Jin was a very ambitious and controlling emperor. He wanted to control everything in his own hands and hold everyone in his palm.

However, Xiao Jin now looks very immature, and is not yet the emperor with unpredictable power.

"I have met the prince. This zither is my favorite. I was worried that something might go wrong, so I couldn't help but try it out. But I am not very skilled, so the prince laughed at me."

Shen Miaoyin stood up and bowed to Xiao Jinfu. Her every move was impeccable, and it was obvious that she had learned the palace rules specially.

Except for lifting the veil yourself!

But this actually relieved Xiao Jin's embarrassment. If he were asked to lift the veil, Xiao Jin really didn't know what to do. First, he didn't dare to. The woman in front of him was dressed like a queen. Even if Xiao Jin had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to lift the veil.

But the woman in front of him was his legally married wife. If he didn't lift the veil, and the news got out tomorrow, Shen Miaoyin would be laughed at by the whole capital. Of course, that was not a big deal. The main thing was that Xiao Jin would suffer.

Fortunately, when Xiao Jin came in, Shen Miaoyin was not wearing the veil, which saved him. The veil had been lifted anyway, and there were only the prince and his wife in the room besides the maid, so it was impossible for it to be lifted by an outsider.

"You are too modest, Princess. Although I am not familiar with music, I can tell that your piano skills are like those of a great master."

Xiao Jin laughed dryly twice, feeling somewhat uncomfortable standing there, so he spoke very politely, as if he were an outsider.

Shen Miaoyin looked at the honest and decent Xiao Jin. There was no overbearing expression on her face, but rather she was unexpectedly gentle.

"Your Highness has drunk quite a bit of wine, I have asked someone to prepare some hangover soup."

Lily took the initiative to pick up the tray and brought the warmed hangover soup to Xiao Jin. Xiao Jin turned his head to look at it, and then his pupils shrank slightly.

At this time, Xiao Jin noticed that there were two large wooden racks on the open space on the other side of the house. One of them held a complete set of delicate chain mail, and the other held precious swords and bows.

Looking at the bow and sword that were obviously not ordinary items, Xiao Jin remembered an old incident.

Although the Shen family is not a famous family, the Xue family is a military family. Shen Miaoyin was known as a tiger girl when she was young. I heard, ahem, just heard, that the prince cousin and several prince cousins ​​were beaten by this tiger girl when they were young.

Immediately, Xiao Jin, who was originally just a little embarrassed, became stiff all of a sudden, and there was a hint of evasion in his eyes when he looked at Lily.

"Ahem, I can do it myself."

Xiao Jin didn't dare let Lily get close to her, because he knew that Shen Miaoyin had a personal maid who was a female guard trained in the palace and had great martial arts skills. He couldn't guarantee whether Lily knew martial arts or not.

The main thing is that Xiao Jin has self-knowledge. He knows that what he did was indeed ridiculous, but if it wasn't ridiculous, he wouldn't have done it.

However, he used to feel happy by himself, but now, he has to suffer by himself. Even if Lily really helps Shen Miaoyin beat him up for what he did in the past, he can only accept the defeat.

Complain? Xiao Jin couldn't afford to lose face. Besides, who could he complain to? Who was the official in the court who wanted to complain to him?

"I know that the prince has someone in his heart and loves only one person. I have asked the servants to clean up the side room. If the prince does not want to stay in the house, he can go to the side room to rest."

Just as Xiao Jin was drinking the sobering soup, Shen Miaoyin's gentle voice sounded again, which made Xiao Jin happy. He finished the big bowl of sobering soup in just a few gulps, and then quickly spoke.

"Princess, I'm a little tired, so I'm going to rest first."

After saying this, Xiao Jin looked as if he was afraid that Shen Miaoyin would go back on her word, so he turned around and left without any reluctance.

Looking at Xiao Jin's hurriedly leaving back, Lily looked at her master with some confusion and said in confusion.

"Little...Princess Consort, why don't you ask the prince to stay overnight?"

"I can keep people but I can't keep their hearts. Why force it? Well, let's all rest early. Don't be late tomorrow morning."

Shen Miaoyin did not explain too much. It was not because she did not trust Lily, but there were some things that she just needed to know in her own mind.

After taking off the phoenix crown and putting it away, Shen Miaoyin changed her clothes with the help of Baihe and Shijian, and then went to bed.

Nothing happened that night. The next morning, Shen Miaoyin got up early, washed up, and sat in front of the dressing table to start putting on her new makeup. From today on, she was a married woman, so naturally she could not wear her hair in a bun as a girl before.

But just when Lily was helping Shen Miaoyin to dress up, Nanny Sun from last night came in hurriedly, fell to her knees in front of Shen Miaoyin with a plop, and said in a sad voice.

"Princess, I deserve to die. I deserve to die for not taking good care of the prince."

"Hmm? Madam Sun, don't be anxious. Get up first and speak slowly and clearly."

Shen Miaoyin frowned slightly, and Nanny Sun was so frightened that she lowered her head. She didn't dare to raise her eyes and secretly glanced at her. After hearing what Shen Miaoyin said, she spoke in a low voice.

"Princess, when the prince was resting in the side room last night, I had someone keep an eye on him. But who would have thought that he would sneak out of the house before dawn today."

On the second day after their wedding, the Crown Prince ran away before the Concubine offered him tea. This was simply absurd and a dereliction of duty on the part of the servants. They would be punished with a beating at the very least and sold off at the worst.

Everyone knows that the whole palace attaches great importance to the Crown Prince's Consort. The princess has repeatedly admonished the servants in the palace early on, telling them not to treat her with disrespect. But given the current situation, even if the Crown Prince's Consort is a kind-hearted person, she would certainly be furious.

However, Shen Miaoyin was not angry about this. She understood Xiao Jin's thoughts. He was not stupid. On the contrary, he was very smart. But it was precisely because he was too smart that he had to do some ridiculous things.

The King of Liang has already made outstanding military achievements, and the Crown Prince of Liang cannot be a good person, or even an average person. Only a tiger father and a dog son can ensure the stability of the Kingdom of Yue.

As for today's ridiculous events, Xiao Jin was probably a little afraid of her. When facing fear, there is not necessarily the best way, but there is definitely the best and most comfortable way in the short term - escape!

Therefore, Xiao Jin ran away directly. At most, he would be scolded or punished by the princess. In that case, he could face her strong wife calmly.

Strong? Haven’t you seen that the once powerful Jin Dynasty dominated the Central Plains and looked down upon the four directions, but in the end it ended up with a tragic end of being divided into three families.

"Do you know where the prince is going?"

Shen Miaoyin's voice was soft and gentle, with a soothing warmth, which gradually calmed down Nanny Sun, who was originally a little panicked.

"Replying to the Crown Princess, it seems..."

Nanny Sun was a little hesitant, and she mustered up the courage to secretly glance at the invaluable Crown Prince's Consort. When she saw that there was no anger on her face, she spoke cautiously.

"It seems he went to Tianxiang Pavilion."

Tianxiang Pavilion is actually a brothel, and the most famous brothel in the entire capital.

"It's not your fault. If the prince wanted to leave the palace, you wouldn't dare to stop him. Just know where he's going. Send a few smart servants to follow him secretly. The prince is a precious person, don't let anyone bump into him."

Shen Miaoyin said in an orderly manner that as long as she knew the direction, it would be enough. As for what Xiao Jin did, she would not bother about it.

"As for my father and mother, I will explain it myself."

Upon hearing this, Nanny Sun breathed a sigh of relief, and then a sense of relief for surviving the disaster suddenly rose in her heart.

The Crown Prince's wife is indeed a lady from a noble family. She is really kind and generous. It is rare to find such a generous master. From now on, you must serve her well.

"Yes, I will go down and make arrangements now."

Nanny Sun responded softly. After hearing what the Crown Prince's wife said, Nanny Sun quickly calmed down. She just needed to send someone to keep an eye on the Crown Prince and make sure nothing happened. If something happened, they would be able to come back and report it in time.

"Also, send a few maids to follow Shi Jian."

"Yes!"

After Shi Jian and Nanny Sun left, Shen Miaoyin quickly finished dressing up and walked towards the main hall.

Before they even got close to the main hall, a servant went in first to pass on the message, and as soon as they got close, Shen Miaoyin was welcomed in.

As she stepped over the threshold, Shen Miaoyin looked up and saw a majestic man with an extraordinary aura sitting at the top, with a dignified woman next to him.

Shen Miaoyin walked forward, knelt down obediently on the prepared cushion, and saluted the two adults at the top.

"The daughter-in-law pays respects to the father and mother. May the father and mother be healthy!"

It is customary to offer tea when meeting for the first time, and Shen Miaoyin did not say anything overly intimate. As a royal relative, she must follow the rules and etiquette. This is called courtesy!
Prince Xiao Ji of Liang and Princess Wan, who were sitting at the first seats, had a stern face until Shen Miaoyin entered the room. It was not to show displeasure to the Crown Prince's Consort, but because they were so angry that they wanted to slam the table, but in order not to show displeasure to the Crown Prince's Consort, they deliberately kept a stern face.

As for deliberately showing a bad face to the Crown Prince's Consort, this kind of thing basically only appears in storybooks. It's not that it's impossible, but it's impossible for any normal person to do this.

The Crown Prince's Consort is also a royal relative registered in the Zongzheng Temple. She is a member of the royal family. At least, on the surface, the royal etiquette and face must be maintained. Otherwise, when rumors spread, the Zongzheng Temple will have to start showing off its presence.

In addition, some people may not know that treason is a crime that is both easy and difficult to convict.

It is easy to convict you because as long as the emperor thinks you have the crime, then you have it. It is difficult to convict you because your status is not high enough and you are not qualified to be convicted of this crime.

Just ask yourself, if one day, the Crown Prince’s Consort suddenly said something or did something, would the royal palace be implicated?

At this moment, seeing Shen Miaoyin's calm expression, Xiao Ji and Wan's anxious hearts gradually settled down. Xiao Ji even looked a little dazed when he looked at that considerate and gentle face.

Wan also felt a little emotional. No wonder she could never beat that woman in her entire life. Even the daughter she taught was so impeccable. It was not difficult to imagine how stunning that woman was.

While Prince Liang and his wife were expressing their deep gratitude, the maid standing beside them felt miserable. She couldn't stand there holding the tray, nor could she walk over. Fortunately, Shen Miaoyin spoke up at this time.

"Give it all to me."

The maid's face was slightly happy, but she did not bring it immediately. Instead, she turned her head to look at the princess. After seeing the princess nod, she bowed and sent the tray to Shen Miaoyin's side.

Shen Miaoyin first took a cup of tea, handed it to Liang Wang Xiao Ji, and said softly.

"This cup of tea is presented by your daughter-in-law on behalf of the Crown Prince to your father. The Crown Prince is young and behaves unruly. I hope your father will tolerate it!"

Xiao Ji only glanced at it twice, then took his eyes away, took the cup of tea offered by the prince, took a sip, and put it aside.

"This cup of tea is presented by your daughter-in-law on behalf of the Crown Prince to your mother. The past is like smoke. Thank you for your kindness!"

Mrs. Wan looked at Shen Miaoyin with a complicated look. This daughter-in-law whom she had tried so hard to get was even more outstanding than she had imagined. It was a pity that the phoenix was supposed to roost in the paulownia tree, but a pheasant fell from the tree!

Shen Miaoyin looked normal. After serving tea to Xiao Ji, she picked up her own tea and presented it to Liang Wang Xiao Ji.

"This cup of tea is presented to you by the new bride Shen. I am new here and may not be very considerate. I hope you will be more tolerant in the future!"

Xiao Ji took the cup of tea without any hesitation, but this time, Xiao Ji paused for a moment, then sighed slightly, took the teacup with a bit of relief in his eyes, took a few sips, and then said with emotion.

“Good tea!”

After sighing, Xiao Ji took off a badge from his waist, handed it to Shen Miaoyin, and said softly.

"This is the Tiger Order, which is the Royal Palace Guard, which can command a thousand people. Previously, your mother was in charge of it. However, your mother is weak and the aura of weapons is too strong, so from now on, you will be in charge."

"Thank you, father!"

The black token has a hint of copper in it. It feels heavy and thick in the hand. There is a word "tiger" on one side of the token, and a tiger coming down the mountain is carved on the other side.

In the previous life, this token saved the Xiao family's kingdom at a critical moment, and the person who led the troops was none other than Princess Wan.

Although Wan came from a scholarly family, after marrying into the royal palace, she was well-versed in military books and even learned riding and archery from Prince Liang. Normally, when Prince Liang was not in the capital, Wan was in charge of the Tiger Guard.

There is no doubt that this token is very important, but it is actually a hot potato. In the previous life, the princess hardly used it. It is true that this token was given by the emperor, but some things are given to you just to be given to you, not for you to use.

Prince Liang handed the Tiger Guards to Shen Miaoyin not only because he felt guilty, but also to show his support for Shen Miaoyin. With the Tiger Guards in hand, Xiao Jin could only be controlled by Shen Miaoyin. Moreover, Shen Miaoyin was the most suitable person to be in charge of this token. The emperor had absolute trust in her, and could even be said to have complete faith in her!
"This cup of tea is from my new wife to my mother. I am not very smart, so I hope my mother can give me more advice in the future."

After receiving the token, Shen Miaoyin picked up another cup of tea and handed it to Princess Wan. After Wan took it, she smiled and took two sips, then picked up a wooden box at hand, obviously she had prepared it a long time ago.

"I am weak, and from now on, I will rely on you to take care of the palace."

As the princess spoke, she handed the wooden box in her hand, which was in charge of the palace treasury, to Shen Miaoyin, which made Shen Miaoyin look slightly stunned, because in the previous life, the princess had firmly held the power of the palace.

In fact, in the previous life, Wan had originally planned to entrust the palace to Shen Zhihua after he got married.

Although the palace has a large fortune, the real foundation of the palace is still Prince Liang. Therefore, Mrs. Wan is not afraid that Shen Zhihua has no experience and does not understand these things. If she does not understand, she can just teach her. How can anyone know them naturally?

Besides, Shen Zhihua is Shen Miaoyin's younger sister after all. They are sisters. Even if she is not as good as Shen Miaoyin, she is more or less intelligent. After being taught, she will definitely be able to take charge of the palace. In the future, after a hundred years between her and the prince, she will be able to help Xiao Jin support the family.

Anyway, when Prince Liang was around, the palace was not afraid of turmoil, and no one really dared to come and take away the family business of the palace. She and the prince would definitely be able to teach it if they could hold on for a few more years.

But who would have thought that even though Wan had set her expectations extremely low, it was still beyond her expectations. Shen Zhihua was simply a foolish and jealous woman. If she didn't have a good sister, the princess would have wanted to divorce her directly and then go to the Shen Mansion to snatch Shen Miaoyin away.

People in the capital city only see that King Liang is at the peak of his power, holds a large army and is a high-ranking official, but they are unaware of the dangers involved.

Of course, Your Majesty and Prince Liang are brothers from the same mother, and Prince Liang has risked his life for Your Majesty. Moreover, the princess consort and only son are both in the capital, so Your Majesty will naturally not be suspicious. Even if the new emperor ascends the throne, Prince Liang can just hand over his military power to keep the palace safe.

But what about a hundred years after King Liang's death? At that time, where should Xiao Jin go? By then, the capital city will be a dangerous place, especially for the royal family.

How many of Emperor Taizu's descendants died at your Majesty's hands? The Liang King has so many generals under his command that the Crown Prince may not be able to rest assured when he ascends the throne in the future. Therefore, the Princess needs to ask for a talisman for Xiao Jin and the palace. It would be best if it could protect Xiao Jin for his entire life. If it could protect the next generation, it would be even better.

And Shen Miaoyin is this amulet. As long as Shen Miaoyin is still there, unless the palace rebels, his life will be safe.

In the entire Yue Kingdom, no one dared to touch Shen Miaoyin. At least, no one could touch her until the old general's prestige completely disappeared!

Wan thought very clearly that since the amulets were obtained in begging, there was no need to hold on to them any longer. She might as well be generous. With Shen Miaoyin's ability, it should not be a problem for her to manage the palace. Moreover, when she was in the Shen Mansion, she did not quarrel with Madam Shen who always targeted her, which showed that Shen Miaoyin was a generous person.

Even if Shen Miaoyin really was a domineering person, Wan would accept it. She would just endure some humiliation, just to ensure her son's life would be smooth.

How pitiful the love of parents in the world is!

Mrs. Wan had planned everything for Xiao Jin in advance, and her expectations for Shen Miaoyin were actually very low, yet very high at the same time.

But today, Wan realized that there was a reason why so many noble ladies in the capital lost to Xue Pingzhao. The daughters he raised were all so perfect.

Last night, after hearing that Xiao Jin went to spend the night in the side room, Wan Shi did not dare to fall asleep all night, for fear that Shen Miaoyin would make a scene in the palace out of shame and anger, but Shen Miaoyin did not.

This morning, Xiao Jin sneaked out directly. Wan was worried again. She kept thinking about how to appease Shen Miaoyin. She was even ready to humble herself and let Shen Miaoyin vent her anger.

But this time, Shen Miaoyin not only did not make a fuss, she even helped her good-for-nothing son in every way, took his face into consideration, and sent people to watch over Xiao Jin. It can be said that sometimes, even she, as a mother, was not as broad-minded as Shen Miaoyin.

"I'm sorry for making you suffer last night and this morning. In the past, the prince and I spoiled Jin'er. From now on, you should discipline him. No matter what happens, I will stand by your side. You don't have to worry too much about the queen mother. I will go and talk to her."

Mrs. Wan looked at Shen Miaoyin with some emotion, and she felt a lot more relaxed all over. Xiao Jin has always been a concern for her!

"Also, you don't have to be so restrained at home in the future. You don't have to call me father, king, mother, concubine. In my heart and yours, you are our biological daughter."

Although Xiao Ji did not respond, he did not deny it either.

After Shen Miaoyin took the wooden box, she stood up with the help of Wan, took Wan's hand, with a slight smile on her face, and followed Wan's words in a gentle tone.

"Mother, you're too kind. There's no grievance at all. The prince has always been a smart man. He has taken your mother's teachings to heart. It's just that he is still young and hasn't come to his senses yet." After these words, Wan's face was filled with a smile. She also felt sorry for her beloved son. Xiao Jin was extremely intelligent when he was young, but being born in a prince's mansion was his luck and also his misfortune. With the deliberate "indulgence" of the empress dowager and even the emperor, Xiao Jin's behavior became increasingly unruly.

Wan wanted to do something but couldn't back then. She could only watch and feel the pain in her heart. But now, someone finally understands her difficulties.

"I've heard that Miss Shen is beautiful and intelligent. Now that I see her, I can see that hearing about her is worse than meeting her in person. Meeting her in person is even better than hearing about her in person!"

"It's not as good as my mother said. Miaoyin just did what she should do."

Xiao Ji, who was sitting nearby, couldn't help but heaved a sigh of relief when he saw the princess and Shen Miaoyin becoming close so quickly. No matter how to put it, this time, he was the one who schemed against Shen Miaoyin, and he already felt guilty, so naturally he didn't want the Wan family and Shen Miaoyin to be at odds.

So, last night, when Mrs. Wan took the initiative to talk about letting Shen Miaoyin take charge of the family, Xiao Ji acquiesced. He was afraid that Shen Miaoyin would be wronged, so he specially gave her the Tiger Guard.

But now it seems that he was too suspicious. It was also true that Wan was able to put aside the past grudges and accommodate him in every way. She even took the initiative to help Xue Pingzhao deal with his affairs after his death and helped to put all of Xue Pingzhao's dowry under Shen Miaoyin's name. This shows that Wan was also a virtuous woman.

"Well, it's getting late. I should leave Beijing today."

Xiao Ji spoke in a deep voice. He should have gone to the border a few days ago. If the Shen family had not suddenly agreed to this marriage, he would not have wanted to miss it and would not have stayed in the capital until now.

Today, the wedding is over, this cup of tea has been drunk, and it is time to leave the capital. Although there have not been many wars on the border recently, the affairs are still heavy, and food for people and horses is a big deal.

"My Lord, have you brought everything with you?"

Wan, who was originally very surprised by Shen Miaoyin, couldn't help but feel a little depressed at this moment, and said with some reluctance.

Ever since the old general passed away, King Liang never stayed in the capital for long. Every time he met with his friends in a hurry, he would leave in a hurry.

This time was the longest time that Wan and King Liang had been together in the past few years, and it was also the time that Wan was most reluctant to leave. Her beloved son had just gotten married, and her daughter-in-law was well-educated, virtuous and kind. She happened to have some free time, but she had to leave before she could talk to King Liang.

"Don't worry, mother. After some time, perhaps you will be able to meet your father again."

Shen Miaoyin stepped forward and took Wan's arm, half supporting Wan's body, and whispered softly. Even Xiao Ji, who was standing next to her, did not hear clearly what was said.

Upon hearing this, Wan was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously turned her head to glance at Shen Miaoyin, and immediately understood. With Shen Miaoyin's intelligence, it would not be difficult to guess that she wanted Xiao Jin to marry her, but she still married him, so she must have a way to change the current situation of the palace.

After she had a clear idea in her mind, Wan's mood improved a lot. Although she was still a little reluctant, there was some anticipation in her eyes. She smiled and took Shen Miaoyin's hand and said.

"That rebellious son is not here, so I have to trouble you to accompany me and see the prince off."

"What are you talking about, mother? The prince was just worried that the meeting would anger the prince, so he asked me to prepare some things for the prince."

Shen Miaoyin turned and looked at Lily beside her. Lily stepped forward with a nervous look on her face and said.

"Princess, the herbs are ready. They are in the front yard."

"Medicine?"

Xiao Ji couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. After he reacted, he felt mixed emotions of joy and sorrow.

The border is a bitter and cold place, and food and grass are in short supply, not to mention the precious medicinal materials. Although each medicinal plant is not expensive, ordinary soldiers cannot afford good medicinal materials, and the army cannot afford them. However, there are frequent wars on the border, and the demand for medicinal materials is huge, which requires a lot of money.

With the little money the court had, there was not much left after paying for food and fodder. Xiao Ji even put all of his own salary into it, but it wasn't much, and he didn't care about that little money.

As for more, even if Xiao Ji had the intention, he would not dare to do so. A little bit of salary could be said to be for the purpose of stabilizing the military morale, but if he gave too much, he was afraid that the emperor would start to become suspicious.

And now this batch of medicinal materials...

"Don't worry, father. Your Majesty and father are brothers. Brothers have deep feelings for each other and are trustworthy."

If it was someone else who spoke, Xiao Ji would definitely be suspicious, wondering if they were trying to put him in an unfair situation. But since Shen Miaoyin was the one who spoke, Xiao Ji already believed it a little bit. Although he was still a little confused, Xiao Ji did not ask any more questions.

On the contrary, after hearing Shen Miaoyin mention brothers twice, Wan's eyes sparkled. If she remembered correctly, His Majesty had four sons, three of whom died young, and the late queen left only two princesses. The eldest son, also known as the crown prince, and the fourth prince were both born to the imperial concubine, and the second prince was born to the concubine.

"Your Majesty, since this is Jin'er's gift, you should accept it."

"Father, these herbs are just common herbs. They are not expensive and are worth no more than a hundred taels. They are just a drop in the bucket in this bitter cold borderland, but they are somewhat useful."

Shen Miaoyin followed suit, saying that she had guarded the border with Lin Rongxian in her previous life and was well aware of the bitter cold at the border.

A drop in the bucket? This is like timely help. Although it is small, it can save lives at the critical moment!
At that moment, Xiao Ji did not refuse anymore. He, like his teacher, was a general who loved his soldiers like his own sons.

Tianxiang Pavilion, black plum.

Momei is the best attic in Tianxiang Pavilion and also the residence of Miss Wanwan, the most popular courtesan in Tianxiang Pavilion.

On weekdays, the morning in Momei Pavilion is the quietest time, because, usually at this time, Prince Liang and Miss Wanwan are still resting.

But today, this elegant and quiet attic was unusually noisy.

In the attic, Xiao Jin, who had arrived early in the morning, was eating breakfast quietly. He looked up from time to time at the beautiful woman sitting opposite him, who was also eating breakfast quietly with him.

The woman's appearance was truly extremely beautiful. Different from Shen Miaoyin's elegant, dignified and graceful beauty, the woman did not wear any makeup, yet was still extremely gorgeous.

Her forehead is white, her eyebrows are long and slender, her eyes are like autumn water, her face is like a delicate flower, her lips are neither thin nor thick, and very red, and her nose is just the right size. She is wearing a long green dress, which makes her look delicate and unconventional, bright but not worldly.

At this time, the woman was eating breakfast quietly, as usual, without any crying or making any noise, which made Xiao Jin feel a little uncomfortable.

Xiao Jin would rather Wanwan cried and made a fuss in front of him, or even beat and scolded him, he could accept that, but he couldn't stand Wanwan's lack of attitude.

Did they not care? But for so many days and nights, the two of them confided their feelings to each other, and for so many days and nights, the two of them slept in each other's arms. Were all those things fake?
"Wanwan, what happened yesterday..."

Xiao Jin couldn't help but want to take the initiative to explain. He couldn't refuse what happened yesterday. If a knife was on his neck, Xiao Jin would dare not to marry, and at worst he would just die. However, everything was there, and Xiao Jin couldn't refuse to get married, let alone embarrass Shen Miaoyin that night.

In fact, leaving early this morning was not only an escape, but also a silent resistance by Xiao Jin. No matter what it was, he would refuse it, even if it was just a little bit of something that seemed insignificant.

The reason why he didn't leave the house last night was because of Shen Miaoyin's reputation, which Xiao Jin couldn't trample on. But the reason why he didn't go to serve tea early this morning was more because he didn't care about his own face. Xiao Jin never cared about his own face and even wanted to humiliate it to the end.

However, before Xiao Jin could open his mouth to explain, the woman opposite him put her handkerchief across to Xiao Jin's mouth, lowered her eyebrows, and spoke with a somewhat sad look.

"Your Highness, there is no need to say more. Wanwan understands it all. After all, Wanwan is of humble origin. Therefore, Your Highness should not have abandoned the Crown Princess so early to look for Wanwan. Even if Your Highness does not care about his own reputation, he should still consider the reputation of the Crown Princess."

"But you are the only one in my heart. I wish to have your heart and stay with you till we grow old together. This is what you wrote to me. Have you forgotten it?"

Xiao Jin's expression became a little excited. To him, whether it was the palace or the huge capital city, they were all just cages. Only here, only this attic, was a place that belonged to him.

Only in this attic, which is lowly in the eyes of outsiders, can Xiao Jin have his own joys and sorrows, and be himself, Xiao Jin, instead of the Prince of Liang who is envied by everyone, favored by the emperor and doted on by the empress dowager!

"Don't get excited, my lord. Wanwan has remembered it all. This is Wanwan's oath to you, and I will always keep it in my heart. But, the prince does not belong to Wanwan alone. Do you understand, my lord?"

There was a hint of sadness in Wanwan's curved eyebrows, which blocked her beautiful eyes, making it difficult for Xiao Jin to see clearly. However, it seemed that she was holding back tears, which made Xiao Jin feel distressed.

She took the initiative to put her delicate hand into Xiao Jin's big hand, then Wanwan came over and leaned into Xiao Jin's arms, comforting him softly.

"As long as the prince still remembers me, Wanwan will be satisfied. Wanwan will still be in the Momei Pavilion, waiting for the prince. I only hope that the prince can still remember Wanwan in his heart in the future."

Xiao Jin, who was already feeling uncomfortable with words stuck in his heart, now felt even more distressed for the beauty in his arms. He used a little force with his arms to hold her in his arms, wanting his body to remember the beauty's warmth, and kept rubbing his chin against Wanwan's smooth forehead.

After being hugged for a while, Wanwan's mood seemed to return to its previous state. A gentle smile reappeared on her face, and she spoke in a soft voice.

"Prince, the food is getting cold, let's eat first."

Seeing the smile on Wanwan's face again, Xiao Jin felt a pain in his heart and responded according to Wanwan's wishes.

"it is good."

Just like that, the two of them hugged each other and finished the limited meal with each other's affection.

After finishing the meal, Wanwan took the initiative to stand up from Xiao Jin's arms, and like an ordinary wife, she stood up and took the initiative to clear the dishes on the table.

After watching Wanwan put the dishes away in the kitchen, Xiao Jin's face showed a little more smile. However, when Wanwan came in again, Xiao Jin's expression suddenly changed.

"We have finished our meal, and it is time for the prince to return home. Yesterday was his wedding, and this morning, he came to Tianxiang Pavilion. Wanwan was very moved, but the prince's wife is still waiting for him at home."

Looking at Wanwan, who always called him the Crown Prince's Consort but never thought about him, Xiao Jin felt very upset.

In the past, when everyone said he was ridiculous, only Wanwan understood him and would comfort him and accompany him in the dead of night. Now, after he was forced to marry another woman, she was still so understanding and considerate of him and his prince consort in everything.

Originally, Xiao Jin, who sneaked out of the door in the morning, still felt a little guilty towards Shen Miaoyin, but at this moment, this guilt has been completely replaced by his debt and love for Wanwan.

Yes, he left early in the morning on the second day of his wedding, but didn't he stay at the mansion on his wedding night? People would only scold him for his absurd behavior, but how many people would blame her?

What's more, her reputation as a virtuous woman had already spread throughout the capital, and people would only pity and cherish her. At worst, Shen Miaoyin would just put the blame on him for everything, and people would believe her.

But his Wanwan only has him. If he doesn't want her anymore, then where in this big world can she find a place to stay?

At that moment, Xiao Jin made up his mind and made a decision immediately.

"No, I will accompany you today. Anyway, she won't care if I'm not at home. Who knows, she might even think I'm an eyesore when she looks at me!"

Anyway, his mother always disliked him, and the same was probably true for Shen Miaoyin.

"Prince, if you act like this, Wanwan will never see you again when you come to Momei Pavilion. We must not let Wanwan affect the relationship between the Prince and his wife."

Wanwan frowned and used herself directly to threaten Xiao Jin. She knew that Xiao Jin cared about her a lot.

Xiao Jin was furious when he heard this, but under his rage, he felt even more pity. To him, Wanwan was the kindest woman in the world, always thinking about him and standing by him. But fate was so unfair. If Wanwan had a background like Shen Miaoyin, why would she end up in this place of brothels?

"If Wanwan doesn't want to see me, I will wait outside Tianxiang Pavilion day and night, and never leave!"

"Why do you have to do this, my lord? Wanwan is just a floating duckweed in this world, she is not worth it for you to do this."

Looking at Xiao Jin's serious expression, Wanwan's eyes were filled with tears and she no longer mentioned asking Xiao Jin to return home.

……

There was something that Xiao Jin said that was right. If he was still hanging around Shen Miaoyin at this moment, Shen Miaoyin would really find him an eyesore.

When Princess Wan said that she wanted Shen Miaoyin to be the head of the household, she was not just talking, but was serious about it, including the Tiger Order given by Prince Liang.

After Shen Miaoyin and Wan sent Prince Liang out of the palace, they returned to the palace. The princess did not get a good rest last night, so she went back to her room to rest, and Shen Miaoyin began to take over the palace.

The first thing, naturally, was to take over the Tiger Guards, so Shen Miaoyin put on a bright red cloak and went directly to the martial arts training ground of the palace.

Although the prince's mansion is not as large as the imperial palace, it covers an area of ​​nearly a hundred acres and can accommodate a mere thousand people. However, on weekdays, most of these tiger guards gather at the prince's mansion's martial arts training ground in the early morning. Afterwards, a team is left behind to guard the prince's mansion, and the rest go through the side door next to the martial arts training ground to the gate guard's training ground for training.

After all, this group of 1,000 tiger guards were originally selected from the left and right gate guards. They were all members of the gate guards, and even received their monthly salary from the palace. They were just the guards of the royal palace on the surface.

The Tiger Guards were said to be personal guards given to King Liang, but who knows for what?

Today, the Tiger Guards had apparently received orders in advance. At this moment, most of them were in the training ground and had not gone to the gate guards' training ground for training.

After Shen Miaoyin walked into the training ground, nearly a thousand Tiger Guards looked over there one after another. Their eyes were filled with fanaticism and admiration. Shen Miaoyin knew that they were not admiring her, but her identity, her grandfather, the military god of the Yue Kingdom!
Afterwards, with an order from Tiger Guard General Feng Jun, nearly a thousand Tiger Guards knelt on one knee almost at the same time and shouted loudly.

"We pay our respects to the Crown Prince's Consort!"

Although there were only a few thousand people, their shouts were as powerful as thunder, rolling in. The murderous aura that came towards her made Lily's legs go weak. If Shijian hadn't helped her in time, Lily would have fallen to the ground. Even Shijian, who had practiced martial arts for many years, was frightened.

But Shen Miaoyin, who was standing in the front and facing this elite force, had a calm expression. Her eyes, which were a bit more powerful than those of ordinary women, now revealed a sharp aura. Her eyes swept across those faces, not showing any fear. Instead, they gave the Tiger Guards considerable pressure.

"Okay! From today on, you will be under my command."

Shen Miaoyin seemed to have returned to her previous life. At that time, at the border, she also stood in front of countless soldiers like this. Her voice was not loud, but she always responded in a sonorous and powerful voice.

The bright red cloak fluttered in the chilly early spring wind, like a blood-stained cape or the outstretched wing of a phoenix.

Shen Miaoyin stayed in the school martial arts field for a full half hour, carefully watching the Tiger Guards' training and even giving them some special instructions before leaving.

Shen Miaoyin knew very well that her background could easily make this Tiger Guard accept her orders as a woman and commander, but at the same time, she must also show talents that match her background in order to win over this elite army.

The descendants of the God of War are not mediocre, and there will never be a bad woman in a general's family!

The effect was also very significant. At least, compared to the princess, Shen Miaoyin could be said to have done it effortlessly. After all, she came from a family of learned scholars, and in her previous life, she had spent many years at the border.

When he was guarding the border, Lin Rongxian was a brave man. He was indeed brave in martial arts, but he knew nothing about training soldiers, so Shen Miaoyin was in charge of it.

Shen Miaoyin had just returned to the courtyard from the martial arts training ground and had just sat down. Before she had time to open the account book prepared by Nanny Sun, she saw Nanny Sun walk in respectfully and bow.

"Princess, the prince just sent a message saying that he will have lunch at Tianxiang Pavilion at noon, so you don't have to wait for him. Princess, do you think we should send someone to invite the prince back?"

After gradually understanding Shen Miaoyin's personality, Nanny Sun also began to speak boldly. She really felt that the Crown Prince was too unfair to the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess was such a good woman, but the Crown Prince insisted on staying with that vixen in the brothel. He even abandoned the Crown Princess on the second day of his wedding and stayed in the brothel without coming out. It was simply ridiculous.

Shen Miaoyin did not comment on Nanny Sun's words, nor did she blame her for being too talkative. Her first principle in doing things was to follow the rules, and as long as the rules were followed, she would be easy to talk to. And for someone like Nanny Sun who was beginning to like her as a bride, she would naturally not care, and would instead teach them.

"Since the prince is not here, the prince is in charge of the palace. If he wants to try the delicacies of Tianxiang Pavilion, he can go. By the way, does the prince have enough money? I have heard of the name of Tianxiang Pavilion even when I was still waiting to be married."

After hearing what Shen Miaoyin said, Nanny Sun couldn't help but open her mouth. The Crown Prince's wife was really sensible and intelligent.

We just need to pass the message on like this, and by then, the prince will no longer linger in places of brothels, but will just be a little greedy and like the delicious food in Tianxiang Pavilion.

Although it was a bit of an attempt to cover up the truth, at least it protected the reputation of the Crown Prince and the palace.

"What the Crown Princess said is correct. It was I who spoke too much."

Nanny Sun first admitted her mistake and then responded.

"I'm afraid the prince doesn't have much money on him. In the past, the prince often bought things on credit at Tianxiang Pavilion. He usually paid after receiving money from the princess. The queen mother would occasionally give him some rewards."

Naturally, the princess would not take the initiative to give money to Xiao Jin. If he took the money, he might be playing rogue and taking money from the treasury. As for the reward from the empress dowager, she would definitely give it to him, but it was estimated that most of the time, the silver was too much and it was not easy to ask the princess for it, so she could only go to the palace to ask the empress dowager.

Shen Miaoyin could guess without even having to think about it how Xiao Jin got the money.

"How much is the prince's monthly salary?"

"Replying to the Crown Prince's Consort, the Crown Prince and you both have a monthly salary of one hundred taels!"

This monthly salary is neither too much nor too little. After being recorded in the Zongzheng Temple, one can start receiving the monthly salary from the age of five. For those who marry into the royal family, like Shen Miaoyin, they can start receiving it after the marriage.

In fact, it is already a lot. You have to know that an average family of four, that is, a couple and two children, consumes no more than two catties of rice a day, and no more than ten dou of rice a month. One tael of silver is enough to buy one hundred dou. (For the convenience of calculation, one tael of silver is about one thousand coins, and one dou of rice is six catties.)
Three or five taels of silver was barely enough for a family of four's food and clothing expenses for a year.

Not to mention, the prince's mansion and the imperial palace often gave out rewards. If Xiao Jin hadn't spent any of it, he would have received tens of thousands of taels of silver by now. In fact, considering the empress dowager's doting on Xiao Jin, the amount might have exceeded 100,000 taels.

But now, not only did Xiao Jin have no money, he didn't even know how much silver he had asked the princess and the queen mother for.

In just over two years, Xiao Jin has invested so much money. Tianxiang Pavilion is worthy of the reputation of being the number one den of money in the capital.

Sure enough, it is easy to take women's money, and it is even easier for women to take men's money. After all, since ancient times, there have been many men who would spend thousands of gold just to make a beautiful woman smile.

"Take my monthly salary and send it to the prince. Lily, take another 100 taels from my private treasury and send it to the prince as well."

The last sentence was said to Lily who was standing beside her. Lily and Shijian, one was her close protector and the other was her personal maid, so most of the time, Shen Miaoyin ordered Lily around.

However, after she finished speaking, Shen Miaoyin remembered something and added something to Nanny Sun.

"By the way, you don't need to report this to mother. Don't disturb her, understand?"

"Yes, Crown Princess!"

Nanny Sun responded like this, but in fact, she didn't really intend to hide it from the princess. Shen Miaoyin didn't really intend to hide it from the princess either, she just didn't want this kind of thing to disturb her now.

Shen Miaoyin still has deep feelings for Mrs. Wan, her adoptive mother in her previous life. The two of them truly had a mother-daughter relationship. She only recognized two mothers in her life. One was her biological mother, who protected and taught her in the first half of her life, and the other was Mrs. Wan, who protected and taught her in the second half of her life.

However, Nanny Sun had only taken two steps when she was stopped by Shen Miaoyin again.

"Madame Sun, there is one more thing. After the prince has lunch at Tianxiang Pavilion, he should go back to the mansion to take a bath and then go to the palace. If the prince asks, just say that the palace wants to see him. Do you understand?"

"This...I understand!"

After hesitating for a moment, Nanny Sun couldn't help but recall the princess's instructions to her and her promise to the Crown Prince's wife, and then she agreed.

Although there was suspicion of falsely conveying the Queen Mother's order, the princess had often used this method in the past and the Queen Mother had never blamed her. At worst, the princess had said before that she could speak to the Queen Mother on behalf of the Crown Prince's Consort.

In this case, it is better to agree to it first and then inform the princess when she wakes up and has lunch.

After Nanny Sun left, Shen Miaoyin began to look through the account books of the palace. Of course, she did not look through them carefully one by one, as it would take her a long time to finish reading them in half a morning.

Shen Miaoyin first found out what kind of family business the palace had, and then slowly checked the accounts. After checking the accounts and having a clear idea, she made plans.

……

Xiao Jin, who was staying in Tianxiang Pavilion, did not expect that the palace not only did not urge him to go back, but even sent him a silver note of two hundred taels, which was completely beyond Xiao Jin's expectations.

According to Xiao Jin's idea, as a prince, he stayed in Tianxiang Pavilion in broad daylight. Even if Shen Miaoyin did not call him back home, his mother would definitely let him go back home for Shen Miaoyin's face.

At that time, he could take advantage of the situation to fight with the Wan family, and then stay in Tianxiang Pavilion with peace of mind, staying here to accompany his Wanwan.

However, Xiao Jin never imagined that the palace would allow him to continue staying in Tianxiang Pavilion. This was simply a fantasy!
"Da Hai, who asked you to deliver this banknote to me?"

In fact, before asking this question, Xiao Jin already had the answer in his mind. In the past, his mother had always opposed him coming to Tianxiang Pavilion. Now that he had just gotten married, it was even more impossible for her to give him banknotes. Therefore, there was no need to think about the answer. The only answer was his newly married Crown Prince's Consort, Shen Miaoyin.

But, is there something wrong with that woman's brain? She actually gave him money to openly support him in visiting brothels? Does she not care about her own face?

"My Lord, the Crown Princess asked me to deliver this. One hundred taels of silver is the Crown Princess's monthly salary, and the other one hundred taels of silver is what the Crown Princess took from her own dowry."

Zhang Dahai, who had followed Xiao Jin for several years, scratched his head and said, while speaking, he glanced lightly at his own young master.

"The Crown Prince's Consort also said that since the prince is not at home, you are the one who makes the decision. If you like the delicacies of Tianxiang Pavilion, it's up to you. The Crown Prince's Consort will take care of the princess."

The last sentence was added by Nanny Sun when she was delivering the message.

"Did the Crown Princess really say that?"

Xiao Jin looked at Zhang Dahai in disbelief. If Zhang Dahai had not followed him for many years and was not deeply trusted by him, he would have doubted whether Zhang Dahai was crazy as to how could he say such absurd words.

Did he come to Tianxiang Pavilion to taste the delicious food?
However, to be honest, the food cooked by Wanwan is indeed excellent. Moreover, Wanwan is also considerate and caring, and she always speaks up for Shen Miaoyin.

Thinking of this, Xiao Jin suddenly realized that from the beginning to the end, Shen Miaoyin had never mentioned Wanwan. She had never taken the initiative to mention anything related to her, nor had she ever said anything bad about her. She even helped him to smooth things over everywhere.

Although this excuse was extremely outrageous, Xiao Jin knew that it was a very clever trick. At least, it could help the palace save some face.

It seemed that, apart from making him a little afraid, Shen Miaoyin was really a very good person. She always stood by him, helped him, and never made things difficult for him.

This made Xiao Jin, who had always been isolated and helpless in the palace, suddenly have a very absurd idea in his mind - perhaps, he could ask Shen Miaoyin to help him bring Wanwan back to the palace!

The next moment, Xiao Jin couldn't help but shook his head and drove this ridiculous idea out of his mind. However, some things, once they take root in the heart, will sooner or later sprout and then grow uncontrollably.

Xiao Jin took the banknote with a complicated expression. Just as he was about to turn around, Zhang Dahai, who was standing in front of him, suddenly slapped his head and said, as if he remembered something.

"Look at my brain. I almost forgot something important. My Lord, after you have lunch at Tianxiang Pavilion, you have to go back to your house to take a bath and then go to the palace."

(End of this chapter)