In the quick transmigration story, the most popular female supporting character is both delicate and

Chapter 88 The Unfavored Crown Princess (4)

When she arrived at the palace gate, her forehead was covered with a thin layer of sweat.

"I'll go see Father Emperor later, you go see Mother Emperor yourself."

Still breathing heavily and with her legs a little weak, Yun Yao could only quietly tug at Xiao Yan's sleeve for support to steady herself. "So, when will you be able to come find me?"

Xiao Yan glanced at her hand that was tugging at his sleeve, his gaze deep and unfathomable. "I don't know, maybe sooner or later. Just remember not to say things you shouldn't, and to obey whatever the Empress Dowager says."

"Oh, then..." Yun Yao was about to ask how she should behave if she encountered Su Yimo?

Xiao Yan pushed her hand away, turned around and left.

Yun Yao went to see the Empress alone.

It was just as terrifying as I had imagined...

The empress looked very dignified, and her words were sharp and sarcastic.

It seemed they wouldn't rest until they gave her a good beating and thoroughly subdued her.

"Just now I ordered someone to wait at the palace gate, intending to welcome you, but it seems that you two are not very close... What, are you having disagreements right after getting married?"

"...We're just not very familiar with each other yet, and our personalities need to be worked out."

The Empress put down her teacup in displeasure. "You should be the one serving the Crown Prince well. He is always right. If he is wrong, then it is your fault."

"……Yes."

"I can tell you don't quite understand. Go to the Buddhist hall and copy the scriptures until the Crown Prince arrives."

"...Yes." This is basically a compliance test for her, and the worst part is that she can't refuse.

The Empress ordered someone to take Yun Yao to the Buddhist hall to copy scriptures, and then beckoned to a woman beside her, "Amo, come here and massage my legs."

"Yes," Su Yimo lowered her head and walked slowly over, squatted down, and massaged the Empress's legs.

The Empress looked at the person who was kneeling quietly in front of her, his movements practiced with ease, and nodded in satisfaction. "You are still the most obedient and well-behaved one."

Yun Yao caught a glimpse of this scene out of the corner of her eye and sighed that her treatment was actually quite good; at least she didn't have to serve anyone.

However, isn't Su Yimo a female official? Why is she doing servant work in the Empress's palace?

What's the difference between her and a palace maid?

However, this is not something she should be worrying about right now.

Because... although the Empress only told her to copy Buddhist scriptures until the Crown Prince arrived, the old nanny took out a large stack of Buddhist scriptures and watched her copy them.

If she copied too slowly, or if she got tired and took a short break, she would be scolded by the old woman.

She's the Crown Princess, how could they treat her like this? That's outrageous!

But all she could do was whine and sob as she obediently copied away furiously to avoid being scolded.

She didn't know how long she copied, but it was until her hand holding the pen was red and swollen and her buttocks ached... that the Crown Prince she had been longing for finally arrived.

After Xiao Yan finished his greetings, he inquired about the Empress's health.

"I've been feeling a bit dizzy lately, and the medicine prescribed by the Imperial Hospital hasn't been working. It's probably a mental illness."

Yun Yao: I can tell from the sound that they're going to pull some kind of trick again...

"Your father has ordered you to marry the daughter of Grand Tutor Yun. Even if you don't like her, don't treat her badly. In any case, I will find you a few more women you like later."

Xiao Yan's expression was indifferent. "Your Majesty, I know you are thinking of me, but I have been busy with state affairs lately and have no time for such matters of love."

The Empress looked like she knew what he was thinking. "I know you are only in love with Amo, but after you have children, your first child absolutely cannot be born to a palace maid."

"My son knows."

"After I finish, I will send you some portraits of noble ladies. You can choose a few. The most important thing is to have children."

"Yes." Xiao Yan bowed, his eyelashes drooping, his demeanor respectful and refined, revealing no hint of sharpness.

Yun Yao muttered to herself that the Empress was using Su Yimo as leverage, which was equivalent to holding Xiao Yan's weakness in her hands.

On the one hand, they were also sending their own people to Xiao Yan, so that their people could quickly produce royal blood.

If the Empress's faction has members of the royal bloodline, wouldn't they be able to kick Xiao Yan aside at any time and seize power for themselves?

That's a clever plan.

However... how could someone like Xiao Yan allow the Empress to have leverage over him?

They came out of the Queen's palace.

Su Yimo led the way, carrying a palace lantern.

Yun Yao glanced at Su Yimo, then at Xiao Yan.

She glanced at Xiao Yan, asking if she needed to leave so the two of them could have a private conversation.

But Xiao Yan only gave her a disdainful look.

"..." Yun Yao was a little angry. She was trying to be kind and considerate of him, and he actually looked down on her?!

That makes sense, though. If he hadn't married her, they could have just found a place to be lovey-dovey, why would she need to make an exception for him?

As they were about to leave the palace, Su Yimo turned to look at Xiao Yan and said, "The snacks were delicious."

Xiao Yan's lips curved into a smile, and a rare hint of youthful emotion appeared in his eyes. "I don't often remember to buy them. If you want to eat them next time, why don't you ask Xie Qingye to bring them for you?"

The two chatted intimately, in an atmosphere that most people couldn't easily break into.

Su Yimo sighed, but mostly in a joking tone, "Alas, His Highness the Crown Prince remembers me less than General Xie does."

"It's getting late, you should go home soon."

"Ah."

Su Yimo nodded, but didn't leave; she remained standing in the same spot.

Until Xiao Yan's figure disappeared from sight.

Yun Yao followed Xiao Yan into the carriage. As she gripped the carriage door frame tightly, she accidentally touched the spot where she held the pen with her fingers, causing a slight pain.

Xiao Yan grasped her wrist and looked at her swollen fingers. "Were you punished by copying Buddhist scriptures?"

Yun Yao nodded vigorously, as if she were complaining to someone and trying to find someone to back her up, "Mm."

"Heh, you idiot," Xiao Yan tapped her forehead with his finger, "Can't you pretend you're not feeling well and say you were too tired to copy Buddhist scriptures last night?"

"..." She really hadn't thought of that! "Next time I'll just pretend to be pregnant!"

"..." Xiao Yan stared at her blankly for a moment, then said with a hint of warning, "This won't do!"

Yun Yao didn't expect Xiao Yan's attitude to be so firm. "I was just joking. I know I can't joke about the imperial heir."

“That’s not what I meant, it’s just…” Xiao Yan lowered his eyelashes and pursed his thin lips, “Never mind, just know it.”

This was the first time Yun Yao had seen such an expression on Xiao Yan's face; it seemed to convey something hesitant to say...

A little lonely, a little helpless, a little sad.

The emotions were too complex for Yun Yao to discern.

This emotion was probably not because of what she just said, but because of many other things.

A jumble of random things came together, stirring up those emotions in him.

It seems that he is a very lonely person.

So lonely that I can only express my sadness for a few moments.

But only for a moment, and Xiao Yan regained his usual aloof and handsome appearance, his calm and composed demeanor.

It was as if Yun Yao had misread it just now.

Back to the mansion.

Xiao Yan went to his study to handle official documents.

Yun Yao went to the small kitchen and made some osmanthus-flavored glutinous rice balls. Her intention was to make some late-night snacks since she hadn't eaten enough in the palace.

But she remembered that Xiao Yan probably didn't eat much either. Those people in the palace were already full of scheming, how could they still have the appetite to eat?