Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

Chapter 1270: Ordinary Couple-like Intimacy

"They both know they were wrong. Your Majesty, please forgive them this time..."

Shen Zhinian's words were gentle, like a gentle spring breeze, quietly easing the tense atmosphere in the room. However, his eyes flickered over Nangong Xuanyu, observing his reaction.

She knew very well that she had to be neither humble nor arrogant when she pleaded for mercy, so as to save the emperor's face and give him a way out.

The tense atmosphere in the elegant pavilion was slightly eased by Shen Zhinian's gentle persuasion.

Nangong Xuanyu's cold gaze lingered on the two people kneeling on the ground for a moment, and finally he slowly withdrew his gaze, tacitly agreeing to the request.

He didn't shout immediately, but said in a deep voice: "Since the Imperial Concubine has spoken for you, I will forgive you this time. If you dare to be so ignorant and disregard the palace rules and etiquette again in the future, I will never forgive you!"

"Go back."

This sentence was like a pardon. Princess Wenshu and Bai Mufeng both breathed a sigh of relief and kowtowed in gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace! Thank you, Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine!"

"Your humble servant, I will take my leave!"

The two men then dared to stand up, lowered their heads and dared not say another word, and carefully left the Accord.

Even after they walked out of the restaurant and merged into the bustling crowd on the street, Princess Wenshu and Bai Mufeng still felt a chill on their backs.

Princess Wenshu subconsciously distanced herself from Bai Mufeng, her voice choked with sobs and fear: "Bai, Bai Hanlin... Today's events are all my fault..."

"If I hadn't been so willful and insisted that you accompany me, I wouldn't... wouldn't have run into my brother..."

The more she thought about it, the more she felt that she was the one who had implicated the other party.

Bai Mufeng quickly bowed and said, "Princess Wenshu, you must not say that."

"It was my fault for not being considerate enough to refuse firmly. Since I have agreed to accompany the Princess, anything that happens will be my responsibility."

"Thankfully, Your Majesty and the Imperial Concubine were magnanimous and refrained from imposing severe punishment."

He paused, his tone filled with genuine gratitude: "Tonight... it's all thanks to the Imperial Concubine."

Princess Wenshu also nodded quickly, still feeling a lingering fear: "Yes, the Imperial Concubine...she is such a kind person."

The two looked at each other, and saw a hint of relief in each other's eyes for surviving the disaster, as well as gratitude towards Shen Zhinian.

In Accord.

Seeing that Nangong Xuanyu's expression was still solemn, Shen Zhinian personally poured him a cup of hot tea and asked softly, "Your Majesty, are you still angry?"

"They already know they made a mistake, and I'm sure they won't dare make the same mistake again after this experience."

Nangong Xuanyu took the teacup but didn't drink it. He snorted coldly and said, "Wenshu, as the eldest princess of the royal family, is actually traveling with a young foreign minister and acting so intimately. If this gets out, how will the royal family maintain its reputation?"

"I think she is becoming more and more ignorant of the rules!"

Shen Zhinian smiled slightly, his eyes penetrating: "Your Majesty, please calm down."

"From what I have seen, Wenshu has a gentle nature and is not someone who doesn't know the importance of things."

"As for that Bai Hanlin, I have heard a little bit about him. He is the third place winner of this year's imperial examination. He is extremely talented, and his appearance and character are both excellent."

"Young people, unmarried men and unmarried women, occasionally meet and develop a mutual admiration, and for a moment, it's hard to resist... that's understandable."

Her words were tactful, but she accurately pointed out the rift.

Upon hearing this, Nangong Xuanyu's brows furrowed even tighter.

He looked at Shen Zhinian with a deep gaze, carrying the calmness that only an emperor could possess: "Niannian, do you know that the marriages of princesses are never determined by mere romantic feelings?"

"This matter concerns the balance of power in the court, the stability of the border, and even the relationship with the surrounding tribes."

"Their wishes..."

The emperor paused, his voice filled with an undeniable coldness: "It is often the least important."

Shen Zhinian was not surprised when he heard Nangong Xuanyu's words.

She naturally understood that the marriages of the daughters of the royal family were always pawns on the chessboard, used to contact important officials, appease local governors, or control foreign powers.

Personal likes and dislikes are as light as dust in the face of overwhelming power.

Shen Zhinian has just done what he could.

Under the emperor's wrath, it was already the limit to ensure that Princess Wenshu and Bai Mufeng were safe and sound.

To say more would be an overstep and would only arouse suspicion.

As for the direction of their respective destinies, it was ultimately not something that she, a royal concubine, could influence.

So, Shen Zhinian suppressed all her emotions, a gentle smile appeared on the corner of her lips again, and she said softly: "Your Majesty is thoughtful, it is I who am short-sighted."

Nangong Xuanyu's expression brightened slightly.

But after this incident, the leisurely mood I had in strolling around just now has long disappeared.

He put down the teacup in his hand, stood up and said, "Let's go back to the palace."

"Yes."

Shen Zhinian responded obediently and stood up as well.

The group quietly left the restaurant and boarded the carriage.

The curtains of the carriage were drawn, blocking out the bustling city life outside the window.

Nangong Xuanyu closed his eyes and rested, with a barely perceptible coldness between his brows.

Shen Zhinian sat quietly aside, his eyes fixed on his folded hands.

The carriage entered the palace, but did not go to the Zhongcui Palace. Instead, it stopped briefly at the inner palace gate and then, led by the eunuchs who had been waiting, turned to a wider palace road.

Shen Zhinian was slightly surprised when Nangong Xuanyu, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them and said casually, "I will let the Ministry of Internal Affairs take care of the palace relocation when I leave the palace today."

"From now on, Nian Nian will live in Yongshou Palace."

Shen Zhinian understood in his heart that this was another favor and honor bestowed by the emperor.

She didn't have to worry about anything, everything had been arranged.

She bowed her head and replied, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consideration!"

Nangong Xuanyu said "hmm" but did not get out of the car. He signaled the carriage to go directly to Yongshou Palace, obviously wanting to accompany Shen Zhinian there in person.

Yongshou Palace was the former residence of the Liu family. It once symbolized the most favored favor among the six palaces, and also witnessed the sudden death of its owner.

However, when Shen Zhinian stepped into Yongshou Palace, the scene that came into his eyes was very different from what he remembered.

The palace is still majestic, with vermilion columns and glazed windows that are breathtakingly beautiful.

But all the furnishings and arrangements in the palace, even every blade of grass and every tree, have been completely renewed.

In the past, the Liu family preferred a magnificent and heavy style that showed off their majesty, but this has been completely abandoned and replaced by a more elegant and noble style.

On the Duobao Pavilion were displayed the ancient books and treasures that Shen Zhinian liked; under the window were her usual soft couch and desk; even the color of the curtains was changed to her favorite soft tones.

The air was filled with a faint cold fragrance, without any trace of the past.

It seemed as if this palace was born to belong to Shen Zhinian.

Nangong Xuanyu took her hand and walked slowly into the main hall.

He glanced around, seeming quite satisfied with the changes. He turned his head and said to Shen Zhinian, "Yongshou Palace is right behind the Yangxin Palace. I came here for a walk. If you want to go to the Yangxin Palace to look for me, it's also convenient."

There was a touch of intimacy in these words, like that of an ordinary couple, which diluted the unique pressure of an emperor.