After having a meal with her convenient older brother and being pulled aside to talk for a long time, Jiang Yuechu was finally able to catch her breath.
A procession of Palace Maids and eunuchs, imposing and grand, escorted Jiang Yuechu toward the Golden Jade Palace.
Upon arriving at the entrance of the Golden Jade Palace, Jiang Yuechu paused in her steps.
Her gaze fell upon the couplets.
Beside her, a sharp-witted Palace Maid, seeing the Grand Princess stop, hurriedly stepped forward: "Your Highness, please allow me to explain."
"His Majesty braved the heavy snow, insisting on carrying the ladder himself to put these up."
"Her Majesty the Empress was there to advise him, saying that the servants should do it, so as not to risk the Dragon's body."
"But His Majesty would not listen, saying that the joy of welcoming Your Highness home would not be sincere if done by others; he had to do it himself for it to be considered Perfection."
Jiang Yuechu shook her head slightly, feeling somewhat helpless.
"It was quite difficult for my Royal Brother."
Entering the palace, a wave of warm fragrance rushed to meet her.
The Palace Maids filed in one after another.
Some changed her clothes, others brought water.
The bronze basin was filled with warm water infused with hundred-flower dew, and the towel was made of cloud brocade gifted by Western Shu, soft and gentle on the skin.
After washing up, she changed out of the black robes stained with the snow and dust of the journey.
Wearing a moon-white nightgown, her figure appeared even more slender, cold, and ethereal.
Jiang Yuechu waved her hand.
"You may all withdraw."
"Without my orders, no one is allowed to enter."
Everyone dared not disobey, bowed in unison, and retreated with hunched bodies.
The vast bedchamber finally became quiet.
Jiang Yuechu walked to the side of the bed, fell backward, and sank into the incredibly soft silk quilt.
"Haaa..."
She let out a long breath.
"The New Year is almost here..."
Without realizing it, she had been in this world for half a year.
She slowly raised her hand, examining it carefully by the dim candlelight filtering through the curtains.
Sometimes, in such extreme comfort and tranquility, she would always fear that everything before her was nothing more than a fleeting dream.
But these past six months, the decisive killing and the dripping blood, the sensation of a blade cutting into flesh, the trembling of lingering between life and death, the joy of every Breakthrough—everything was so real.
Jiang Yuechu's fingers curled slightly, forming a loose fist.
This sense of control filling her entire body was definitely not an illusion.
She closed her eyes.
In her mind, the memories of her past life were like murals eroded day and night by the winds and sands of the Northwest.
All the events of her past life, thinking back on them now, it felt as if they were separated by a layer, unable to be seen clearly anymore.
Zhuang Zhou dreams of a butterfly, the butterfly dreams of Zhuang Zhou.
Was it a dream of becoming a young girl, or did this young girl named Jiang Yuechu dream of that man?
Who knows.
And who cares.
Since she was here, it was real.
Why think so much?
It only adds to the trouble.
Jiang Yuechu's lips curled slightly.
"Tsk..."
This soft sound was like a scoff at the smoke of the past.
The warmth in the quilt felt like countless gentle little hands, smoothing away the fatigue brought by the journey.
After lying there for a long time, she suddenly felt bored.
"Someone come here."
The Palace Maid guarding outside hurriedly pushed the door open and entered.
"Your Highness."
"I remember, the Wei Residence seems to be not far from this Imperial City?"
The Palace Maid was stunned, then smiled apologetically.
"Yes, if you take a sedan chair, it only takes a cup of tea's time to arrive."
"Mm."
Jiang Yuechu nodded slightly.
In the past, she had always been the one to stay at the Wei Residence, eating and drinking their food.
Now that she had ascended to the heavens in one step, besides these servants who only knew how to kowtow and offer greetings, there was no one to talk to.
"Go, go to the Wei Residence and invite Young Miss Wei Qing to the palace for a chat."
The Palace Maid looked troubled upon hearing this.
"Your Highness... it is already the second watch of the night. Although the palace gates are not locked, summoning an outsider into the palace at this hour might not be in accordance with the rules..."
Jiang Yuechu raised her eyelids slightly.
A red light flickered in her eyes.
The Palace Maid trembled all over, not daring to say another word, and hurriedly knelt to kowtow.
"Yes! This servant will go and do it immediately! I will go immediately!"
...
About two sticks of incense later, a sound of light, hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.
Accompanied by the jingle of jade ornaments, a gust of cold air from outside also rolled in.
"Subject daughter... Wei Qing, pays respects to Grand Princess Zhaoyue. May Your Highness live for a thousand years, a thousand years, ten thousand years."
Her voice was trembling, revealing obvious nervousness.
Jiang Yuechu leaned against the head of the bed, raised her eyebrows slightly upon hearing this, and slowly lifted her eyelids.
She saw Wei Qing with her head lowered; where was the boisterous girl who dared to pinch her cheeks in the past?
"Get up."
"Subject daughter... dare not. Your Highness is of golden branch and jade leaf. My previous offenses were truly worthy of death..."
"That's enough."
Jiang Yuechu found it somewhat amusing, yet also felt helpless.
This girl.
Usually, she looked bold and reckless, but now she had turned into a timid quail.
She simply got out of bed and walked a few steps to stand in front of Wei Qing.
She reached out, just like she used to in the boudoir.
She grabbed Wei Qing's arm and, with a slight tug, pulled the girl up from the ground.
"Ah—"
Wei Qing exclaimed in surprise, instinctively wanting to struggle.
But how could she overpower Jiang Yuechu, who was in the Zhonglian Realm?
She could only watch helplessly as that familiar, cold face leaned in close to her.
"What's the matter?"
Jiang Yuechu looked at her with a half-smile, reached out a finger, and lightly poked her pale little face.
"Back then you dared to pinch and squeeze my face, now that I have a different title, you don't recognize me?"
Wei Qing was stunned by the poking.
Feeling the warmth from those fingertips and hearing that familiar tone, she blinked, and her eyes inexplicably turned red.
"Yuechu..."
"Mm."
Jiang Yuechu replied, casually pulling her to sit on the edge of the couch, and pushed the pastries on the small table toward her.
"The imperial chefs in the palace have average skills, but this chestnut cake is made better than what you find outside. Want to try some?"
Wei Qing looked at the exquisite pastries, then looked at Jiang Yuechu, who had no airs before her.
Finally, "Waa—!!!"
The girl's mouth flattened, and she threw herself into Jiang Yuechu's arms, wailing loudly.
"My father said that accompanying the monarch is like accompanying a tiger. You are the tiger's sister, so you must be even fiercer than a tiger..."
"I thought that once you became a Princess, you would behead me, wuwuwu..."
Jiang Yuechu's body swayed slightly from the impact, feeling somewhat amused.
"If I am the tiger's sister, then what are you?"
"I am the little white rabbit eaten by the tiger..."
"..."
It took a lot of effort for the girl to cry enough and finally stop her sobbing.
Jiang Yuechu then looked with disgust at the water stain on her chest.
"How old are you, and you're still like a Child."
Wei Qing took the handkerchief Jiang Yuechu handed her and wiped her face indiscriminately.
"You still have the nerve to say that... We've known each other for almost half a year, and you hid such a background from me. I was so worried when you were summoned into the palace by His Majesty, fearing you would be bullied..."
Speaking of this, she seemed to recall something and felt a bit indignant.
"As expected..."
"As expected of what?"
Wei Qing said: "As expected, the books are right: the more beautiful a woman is, the more she likes to deceive people!"
Jiang Yuechu narrowed her eyes: "What do you mean?"
Wei Qing's body shook; she only then realized what she had said and hurriedly waved her hands: "No, no, no! I didn't mean you!"
"Then you mean to say that I am not beautiful?"
"I mean, you don't deceive people!"
Jiang Yuechu reached out her finger, gently lifted Wei Qing's chin, her tone eerie.
"Doesn't that mean... I am not beautiful?"
"..."