Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Fawning

Chapter 159 Princess Duanshu

When Abao saw Hongli, she was so scared that she immediately knelt down. Ever since she was punished by Zeng Huan with a few sticks last time, Abao has lost her courage and even felt scared when she saw or heard Hongli's voice.

Po: "Your Majesty..."

Hongli ignored her and turned around to return to the Yangxin Palace.

Seeing Hongli was about to leave, Abao remembered Meiruo's instructions. If Hongli did not go to Xianfu Palace today, with Meiruo's methods, she would definitely be in trouble.

Abao mustered up his courage, crawled forward a few steps crying, and called out to Hongli.

A Bao sobbed, "Your Majesty, please save this servant. If you don't go to Xianfu Palace, Concubine Ying will definitely not let this servant go. Your Majesty, please save me..."

Po kowtowed desperately.

But Hongli remained indifferent and ordered Jin to escort Abao back to the palace, leaving a message: "If there is news of someone being injured or dead in Xianfu Palace tomorrow, the position of Ying Fei will be replaced."

Jinbao told Meiruo exactly what he said. Meiruo was angry, but she could do nothing about it. She knew Hongli was threatening her, telling her not to use her status to punish others.

To give Meiruo a way out, Jinbao continued, "Empress Yingfei, it's not that the Emperor doesn't love you, it's just that he has official duties and can't leave the Yangxin Palace. Look, to cheer you up, the Emperor even specially invited Princess Balin to the palace to accompany you. This honor is unique in the harem."

After hearing what Jinbao said, Meiruo felt better and stopped making things difficult for Jinbao and Abao.

The Dzungar War lasted for several months, and Zeng Huan traveled from Anhua Palace to Cining Palace, praying for Hengchui in Mongolia every day. One day, someone finally brought good news.

For the safety of his fellow Junggars, Dawachi, after exhausting his last remaining troops, finally chose to surrender. The Qing army is now escorting Dawachi and his family to the palace to meet the emperor.

After hearing the news, Fujia ran back to the Cining Palace. Before entering the Cining Palace, she excitedly shouted: "Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, there is good news from the front line. Dawachi has surrendered, and the eldest princess is on her way back."

Zeng Huan opened her eyes wide and said happily, "Is this true?"

Fujia closed his eyes for a few moments before smiling and replying, "It is true, Queen Mother. Your piety has moved the Buddha. After twenty years, you and your daughter can finally be reunited. I heard that the Qing army has brought Dawachi and the princess back and will arrive at the Forbidden City tomorrow."

"Okay, okay, Fujia, go prepare some of Hengchu's favorite foods. I wonder if her taste has changed after not seeing her for so many years."

At this moment, Zeng Huan seemed no longer the high and mighty empress dowager, but an ordinary mother. Suddenly, her face froze and she asked, "Why didn't the emperor just kill Dawachi?"

Fuga didn't understand either.

Fuga: "Perhaps the Emperor feels sorry for the Princess and doesn't want her to become a widow again?"

Maybe so.

But is Hongli really so kind?

She didn't care whether Dawachi was alive or not. When she saw Hengchui tomorrow, she would let Hengchui divorce Dawachi, and then find a suitable husband for her in the former dynasty. As for whether a traitor like Dawachi was dead or alive, it had nothing to do with her.

The Mongolian tribe marched into the palace in a mighty procession, with Princess Duanshu standing at the front. She was only fifteen years old when she left the palace to marry far away. Twenty years have passed now, and the walls of the Forbidden City haven't changed at all, but the people in the palace have been replaced by batches of young and fresh faces. Hengchu didn't know them, and they naturally didn't know Hengchu either. They just felt that the Mongolian princess who entered the palace was very imposing, and couldn't help but look up at her a few times.

Hengchui was not happy at all when she returned home.

Hongli sat in a sedan chair on the palace road that Hengchu had to pass by. Only when he saw Hengchu did he excitedly wave his hand and order the eunuch to stop.

As soon as the sedan chair landed, Hongli ran happily to Hengchu.

Hongli: "Sister Hengchu."

I haven't seen Hongli for many years, and he looks much older.

Hengchui took two steps back and was about to kneel, but Hongli grabbed her arm and said, "We are brother and sister, no need to be so polite."

Hengchu glanced at Hongli holding her hand. Were they still brother and sister? But where was he when she needed him? Now that she didn't need him anymore, he reappeared. Hengchu said calmly, "No, first the emperor and the minister, then the brother and sister. Your Majesty, please let Hengchu perform the ceremony."

Hongli's smile froze, and he slowly let go of her hand. Hengchu knelt down and bowed.

"Your Majesty, long live the emperor."

But Hongli still did not give up. He took out from behind the back the golden cage that Hengchu had given him when she left the palace. That was their memory. Hongli hoped to use this cage to evoke Hengchu's memory.

Hongli: "Hengchu, look, this is the cage you gave me when you left the palace. You said you would return it to you when we meet again, and I haven't forgotten. Do you remember the bird when you were a child, my Royal Father..."

Hengchui said calmly, "I don't remember."

Hongli was speechless for a moment.

Hengchui: "I have long forgotten my childhood memories, and Your Majesty has probably forgotten them too. If Your Majesty is alright, I will go to the Cining Palace to see the Empress Dowager."

Hongli stretched out his hand and opened his mouth, but when the words came to his lips, nothing came out.

Hengchu nodded slightly, and Hongli made way for Hengchu to pass.

Jinzhong saw Hongli's eyes full of disappointment and asked in confusion, "Your Majesty, what happened to the Princess?"

Hongli: "She will never forgive me. My sister will never forgive me..."

But he is the emperor, what can he do?

But from Hengchu's point of view, Hongli was indeed unfair to her.

Perhaps their relationship has reached an unsolvable point.

In Cining Palace, Zeng Huan was fidgeting.

When she heard that Hengchu would be coming to the palace, she had Fujia wash and dress up early in the morning and wait for Hengchu in the palace. Even Hengti, upon hearing that Hengchu was coming back, could not wait to go to the palace to see her sister.

Heng Ti: "Empress Dowager, please sit down for a moment. My sister will be here soon."

Zeng Huan rubbed her hands repeatedly to hide her inner nervousness. "I haven't seen Hengchui for a long time. I don't know what she looks like now. Is she doing well these years? By the way, Fujia, are the cakes I asked you to make ready?"

Fujia smiled and said, "Look at how happy the Queen Mother is. I don't know how many times she has asked. Don't worry, everything is ready."

After saying this, Fujia leaned out of the house and then bowed to Zeng Huan and said, "Empress Dowager, I will go to the palace gate to take a look."

Zeng Huan nodded. Seeing Fu Jia leave, Heng Ti hurried forward, holding Zeng Huan's arm and helping her sit on the couch. After Zeng Huan sat down, Heng Ti half-crouched, resting her face on Zeng Huan's knees, and feigned anger, saying, "Sis is back, and the Empress Dowager only has eyes for you, not Heng Ti..."