The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

Three days later, Zhou Chenxi finally arrived at the imperial palace.

She had caught a cold a few days ago and was sick for quite a while, but now she has finally recovered and has come to the imperial palace.

Shen Tinghe had been looking forward to this for a long time. As soon as she saw her, her eyes lit up with a bright smile. She took her hand and led her into the palace, eager to pour out all the words she had been holding back for the past few days.

Zhou Chenxi looked around and couldn't help but sigh, "It's still my good Ah He. This royal palace is indeed more exquisite than the Summer Palace. Opening the window, you can see the mountains, and looking up, you can see the lake. The scenery is also very good."

Shen Tinghe gave a soft hum and complained in a low voice, "I only have someone to talk to now that you're here. You don't know, His Highness Xie took away all my storybooks a few days ago."

Zhou Chenxi's eyes widened: "What's going on? Didn't His Highness the Crown Prince used to let you look after him as you pleased?"

"It was originally for my viewing."

Shen Tinghe frowned, still feeling a bit annoyed as she recalled that day.

"That day I was reading a crucial part of 'The Princess's Escape' when he came in, glanced at it, and then took it all away, leaving not a single copy."

Shen Tinghe still remembered that day; she was engrossed in the book when Xie Yanzhao came over, saw the title, picked it up, glanced at it casually, and asked a question.

"There are books like this?"

She replied, "Yeah, I love watching this kind of thing."

The next second, the books were taken away, along with all her treasured stock, not a single one was left.

Zhou Chenxi was taken aback at first, then gave an "I see" smile: "Oh~ that book, I've read it too. Don't worry, I remember the later plot, I'll tell you..."

The two laughed as they talked, as if they had returned to their youthful days in their boudoirs, those days when they secretly exchanged stories and talked late into the night behind the curtains.

In the afternoon, Shen Tinghe took Zhou Chenxi to sit in the pavilion by the lotus pond.

The pavilion is well-ventilated on all sides, and in the distance, layers of lotus leaves cover the water's surface, dotted with pink and white lotus flowers, and a refreshing fragrance is carried on the breeze.

Several exquisite pastries were laid out on the stone table: lotus flower pastries, lotus seed cakes, and chilled fruit syrup, which looked refreshing.

Zhou Chenxi leaned against the railing, gazing at the emerald green pond, and sighed softly, "Ahe, you're living a truly idyllic life as the Crown Princess."

They had known each other since childhood and never needed to be formal with each other, speaking freely.

Shen Tinghe smiled and glanced at her: "What are you saying? Do you think you'll be short of enjoyment when you become the young mistress of the Duke's mansion?"

Zhou Chenxi betrothed the second legitimate son of the Rongguo Duke's mansion.

To everyone's surprise, Zhou Chenxi's smile faded slightly after hearing this, and her gaze fell on the swaying flower shadows on the water's surface. She remained silent for a long while.

Shen Tinghe, perceptive as ever, asked softly, "What's wrong? Did you have a fight with him?"

Zhou Chenxi turned her head, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

"As you know, his mother's preferred daughter-in-law has always been his cousin from the Fang family. A few days ago, I had another argument with him about Miss Fang."

She paused, then lowered her voice even further: "Ahe, do you think... people change after marriage? I'm starting to get scared when I think about it now."

Shen Tinghe was taken aback.

She thought of Xie Yanzhao.

After marrying Xie Yanzhao, she didn't feel anything was wrong; in fact, she felt more at ease than before.

He treated her as well as before, even...more obsessed.

"Ultimately, it depends on the person."

Shen Tinghe reached out and grasped Zhou Chenxi's slightly cool fingers, saying gently, "Young Master Qi is sincere towards you, you should trust him more. Even if you encounter difficulties in the future, don't be afraid, you still have me. As the Crown Princess, I can always support you."

Zhou Chenxi listened, her eyes slightly moist, and finally smiled: "Then thank you in advance, Crown Princess."

Shen Tinghe smiled on the surface, but in her heart she was somewhat worried about her friend's marriage.

Back then, the Zhou family chose Qi Jia's second son for Zhou Chenxi for two reasons: first, the two were of similar age and had feelings for each other; second, they thought that the second son would not have to bear the heavy burden of the clan and could live a more leisurely life in the future.

By staying out of the household power, he could avoid friction with the Duchess, with whom he wasn't particularly close to to begin with, and simply live his own quiet life behind closed doors.

But man proposes, God disposes. Two years after the engagement, the eldest son of the Rongguo Duke's mansion died unexpectedly, and the second son became the eldest son and the future Duke.

Zhou Chenxi not only had to transform from the second daughter-in-law to the matriarch, taking charge of the household affairs, but also had to face her original sister-in-law and mother-in-law who disliked her. The complexity and awkwardness of this situation can be imagined.

However, Shen Tinghe also knew that Zhou Chenxi was not a weak and easily bullied young lady. The girl carefully raised by the Zhou family had her own inner thoughts and feelings.

Life is something you make of yourself; no matter how difficult it is, you can always find a way out.

As the two were having a private conversation, footsteps came from outside the pavilion.

Princess Rouan, Xie Jiayu, supported by a palace maid, slowly stepped into the pavilion.

Today she was dressed in a light blue palace gown, with pearl hairpins in her hair, and her demeanor was dignified as she moved.

Approaching her, she gave a slight bow: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Zhou Chenxi rose and bowed: "Greetings, Princess Rou'an."

Xie Jiayu came over specifically because she saw that there were people here.

Seeing Shen Tinghe and Zhou Chenxi sitting together chatting and laughing from afar, she paused for a moment, but still walked over.

Her feelings for Shen Tinghe were quite complicated.

We played together when we were young; we weren't particularly close, but we got along well.

But as she grew older, she gradually discovered that Shen Tinghe's favor and honor... all surpassed her, the most favored princess in the palace.

Even family background…

She was just a figurehead with the title of princess but no real power.

Shen Tinghe not only comes from a top-tier family, but also has the protection of her elder brother, the Crown Prince.

That faint envy gradually brewed into a hidden jealousy.

As for Zhou Chenxi, it's quite a coincidence that Xie Jiayu's maternal cousin married Zhou Chenxi's cousin.

Xie Jiayu sat down on the stone bench, trying to keep her tone natural: "What are you two, Sister-in-law, chatting about that makes you so happy?"

Shen Tinghe smiled slightly: "It's nothing, just idle chatter. We were just talking about Axi's marriage; she's getting married next spring."

Zhou Chenxi nodded and smiled slightly, without saying anything more.

Xie Jiayu gently traced the embroidery on her sleeve with her fingertips and replied, "That's quite a coincidence, my wedding date is also set for next year."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chenxi's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she secretly glanced at Xie Jiayu.

She knew about this, of course.

The news that Xie Jiayu had arranged a marriage between him and the young master of the Guan family had already spread throughout the capital.

She couldn't help but look at Shen Tinghe again.

The social circle of sons of officials in the capital is only so big; they can always find some connections by going around in circles.

Almost everyone knows that Princess Rou'an is in love with Shen Chengbai, the handsome and upright eldest son of the Shen family.

However, the Shen family already has a Crown Princess. If they were to marry a princess, the excessive favor would become a burden.

Moreover, Shen's parents did not want their son to marry a princess. Therefore, even though Xie Jiayu made a fuss before His Majesty back then, he still could not get his wish.

But she never gave up, and the marriage was delayed until recently when she took the initiative to ask for a marriage decree from Guan Yi.

Zhou Chenxi snapped out of his thoughts and softly congratulated, "I haven't congratulated the princess yet."

Xie Jiayu gave a faint "hmm," noticing that the atmosphere in the pavilion had become less relaxed since her arrival.