Chapter 04: The Phoenix Arrives, A Glimpse Through the Fragrant Dust (Four)

He remembers that in their youth, Nanya Yi, when she was with him, also liked bright and beautiful clothing. When did she abandon all the extravagant and gorgeous attire to choose the plain and simple garments favored by Zhuang Bilan?

Outside the door, an inconspicuous green canopy carriage was already waiting. Upon seeing him approach, it quietly opened its curtain, revealing the exquisite furnishings inside

The interior walls of the pear wood carriage are intricately carved, with vivid depictions of flowers, birds, insects, and fish. The seats are adorned with soft, thick tiger skin cushions, which imbue the seemingly ordinary carriage with an unintentional yet imposing royal aura.

It is said that she presented the wild goose she received to Marquis Cheng'an as a gift for their meeting, leaving Marquis Cheng'an both amused and perplexed, and he quietly returned the wild goose to the Shen family

Not long after returning to the palace, Tang Tianxiao was leaning on the couch, casually flipping through a small mountain of memorials piled beside him, when he heard the eunuch announce that Empress Shen and her father, Shen Du, requested an audience.

Tang Tianxiao laughed heartily as he stepped outside, pointing at Zhuang Bilian and saying, "I truly cannot be bothered with you, it is really dull!"

Tang Tianxiao casually brushed aside the hair that obstructed his view and turned his head to ask, "Jin Qi, what time is it?"

Hehe... Tang Tianxiao pressed his lips together, appearing to smile, yet no trace of mirth could be discerned. "Even Duke Lian Cheng'an is wary of the Shen family!"

Oh?" Tang Tianxiao stared at him, "I have proposed marriage to you several times, and you have always refused. Why are you so obedient this time? Is this Princess Beihe truly exceptional, or... do you think I do not dare to betroth her to you?

He turned to Zhuang Bilian and said: "This woman seems quite interesting. How about I assign her to you? After all, I only agreed to the marriage alliance with Beihe, and I did not specify that I would take her as a concubine."

His personal eunuch, Jin Qi, immediately replied: "It is almost the hour of Hai."

Zhuang Bilian's expression remained unchanged as she calmly replied: "I do not dare, I merely believe that Your Majesty possesses extraordinary talent, wisdom, and insight, and would absolutely not do such a thing"

At the hour of Hai... his brows relaxed slightly, "That Northern He princess who struck Shen Chaoxu should have arrived in the capital by now, right?"

What have you heard?

Zhuang Bilian smiled slightly, "If Your Majesty insists, I have no objections."

As he was a private visitor to the manor, Zhuang Bilian and Nan Yayi did not need to kneel to see him off, yet they still accompanied him to the gate, standing by the roadside for a long time

He turned his head and smiled at Jin Qi, "Come in, I was just thinking about my empress!"

Just as, nowadays she prefers those light and delicate garments, is it because Zhuang Bilan likes a simple white dress that flutters gracefully?

As they traveled further, Tang Tianxiao gently lifted the curtain of the carriage's rear wall to look back, only to see Zhuang Bilan reaching out to pluck a piece of last year's fallen leaf from Nan Yayi's hair, and then she took off her own outer robe and draped it over Nan Yayi.

Two individuals stand hand in hand at the foot of the steps, both dressed in plain garments, calming the flow of light in the night, even the dusk appears to soften.

Perhaps, the reason she liked those bright and beautiful garments back then was because Tang Tianxiao appreciated her ability to be striking and captivating

He swiftly entered the carriage and firmly commanded: "Return to the palace!"

Jin Qidao: "By the time of the Shen hour, Marquis Cheng'an had already arranged for her to stay at the inn, awaiting the Emperor's summons. It is said that..."