If not abolished

Chapter 42

As they got closer to Shuntian, Hu Shanxiang became more and more uneasy. She thought about what she was going to do next and hoped that it would not implicate others.

"Girl, we are outside the city. We can already see the city wall of Shuntian." Hu Shanxiang heard Lingzhi's words and reached out to take a look. Is that it? Hu Shanxiang held tightly the thing she asked Lingzhi to find.

I don’t know if I’ll have the chance to return it. If I see it, I’ll return it. If not, forget it.

After the Hu family's carriage team entered the city, they found an inn to stay in.

"Grandma, you must be tired. I'll help you to rest."

"Okay, let them all rest and get ready before continuing their journey tomorrow."

"it is good."

After Hu Shanxiang sent her grandmother back to her room, she also returned to her room, but took her things and went downstairs.

"Girl, are you getting ready to go out?" Lingzhi looked at her and asked.

Hu Shanxiang couldn't hide it either: "I'll be out for a while and will be back soon. If grandma asks, just say I'm resting in my room. But grandma has also gone to bed, so she probably won't ask for a while. Just deal with it."

Lingzhi heard her words and thought that she was not going to take anyone with her. "Miss, you are not going to go out alone, are you? This is not okay. It is almost dark now. If something happens to you, I will not be able to explain to the old lady. No matter what, at least let me go with you."

"I won't go far. I will be back before dark. If grandma finds out, I will explain it to her myself. I'm leaving now." The fewer people who know about this, the better. She has to go alone.

"Girl." Lingzhi called from behind.

At first, Hu Shanxiang was afraid that she wouldn't be able to find the place. Not long after she walked out, she ran into Zhu Zhanji who was also looking for her.

Zhu Zhanji was pleasantly surprised to see her. "Did Third Miss come to see me specially?"

"I do have something to talk to you about. Can I have a moment to talk with you?"

Zhu Zhanji took her to a teahouse nearby, and the two sat opposite each other in a private room.

"I heard that the third young lady was going back to Jining with the old lady, and I thought it was time to go to Shuntian. I didn't expect to meet you by chance. It seems that we are destined to meet."

"Maybe." Hu Shanxiang didn't believe in coincidences. If he wanted to know where they were, he could just ask around. He was best at artificial coincidences. After all, every time they met before, it was not just an artificial accident.

"I also have something to explain to the third young lady today." Zhu Zhanji suddenly felt a little uneasy.

"Then let you speak first, sir." Hu Shanxiang was worrying about how to start.

Zhu Zhanji took a sip of tea, cleared his throat and said, "I shouldn't have told you my identity or even my name before. Actually, I... your brother and I are not colleagues. I am the current crown prince Zhu Zhanji."

"What?" Hu Shanxiang showed an expression of disbelief and disbelief.

"It's true, I didn't lie to you." I knew it would scare Shanxiang.

Hu Shanxiang sat there speechless for a moment, thinking, my expression should be surprising enough, I hope he won't notice it.

"Then His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and I... this..."

"I am sincere to you, and my promise to marry you is also true."

"I can't afford you."

"What's the big deal? As long as I like her, Your Majesty can't say anything. Don't worry, I will arrange everything." Zhu Zhanji comforted her.

"Let's not talk about this for now. I wonder what the third lady wants to talk to me about?" Zhu Zhanji asked.

Fortunately, Hu Shanxiang thought that if she continued the conversation, she was really afraid of being exposed. After all, the emotions had not yet brewed. Who knew that this person would reveal himself? He really did not play by the rules.

She took out what she had been holding and placed it on the table, "This, you should return it to the Duke... no, Your Highness."

Zhu Zhanji looked at the box and knew what was inside without opening it. "This was a birthday gift given to the third girl last year. How could it be returned?"

"This thing is too valuable. I can't afford it. Your Highness, please take it back." Hu Shanxiang refused again.

"Do you know what's inside?" Zhu Zhanji felt a little uncomfortable. No one had ever rejected him like this.

Hu Shanxiang shook her head. She had only seen one thing, but she naturally didn't know what it meant specifically.

Zhu Zhanji opened the box in front of her, and the two things were still lying in it, without any signs of being moved. Thinking of the things he gave her, she didn't touch them at all. His kindness was not appreciated, and it was like a knife cut into Zhu Zhanji's heart. Although he was sad, he still asked, "Did the third lady never open it to look at it?"

"I did open it and take a look. I had to see what was inside to prevent someone from swapping it." Hu Shanxiang answered truthfully.

Zhu Zhanji laughed when he heard this answer, and Hu Shanxiang didn't know what he was laughing at.

"That's not bad. At least the Third Miss took a look at it. This longevity lock was made temporarily, so it's inevitable that it's rough. It's understandable that the Third Miss doesn't like it, but this..." Zhu Zhanji said as he picked up the jade sceptre, "This was made by the Emperor himself after His Majesty ascended the throne. My nickname is Agui, so this represents me. I'm giving this to the Third Miss. Do you understand what I mean?"

"I..." Hu Shanxiang wanted to explain that she didn't understand. It turned out that this jade sceptre was... She knew that before His Royal Highness was born, Emperor Yongle had a dream that Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty gave him a jade sceptre. Later, when His Royal Highness was born, it could be said that this dream increased Zhu Di's determination to quell the rebellion. At the same time, he also loved this grandson very much and raised him personally. Unexpectedly, Zhu Di directly gave a piece to Zhu Zhanji. "In this case, I am even more unworthy of receiving it. Your Highness should keep it well."

"Hu Shanxiang, I have said so much now. What about the Lantern Festival before that? You are just making fun of me and playing tricks on me." Zhu Zhanji called her by her name angrily and threw the teacup in anger.

Wu Cheng heard the noise and was about to come in, "Your Highness."

"Get out." He was scolded and sent away again.

Hu Shanxiang was also frightened by him and thought he was going to attack her, so she shrank back and looked at him warily.

When Zhu Zhanji saw her like this, he knew that he had frightened her, so he quickly said, "I am not, don't be afraid, I will never fight with you no matter what."

"What happened before was all my fault. Your Highness is magnanimous. Please forgive me."

"No, how can this be your fault? Can't we go back to the way we were before? You clearly agreed."

"At that time, I thought His Highness was just the son of an ordinary family, my brother's colleague, and only temporarily..."

"But what does it matter if I am His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? You know, when choosing concubines in the Ming Dynasty, we do not consider family background, but only character. What are you afraid of?"

"Shanxiang, I just want to ask you, are you willing to enter the palace?"

Hu Shanxiang shook her head slowly. Zhu Zhanji grabbed her body and asked, "Why? That is the imperial palace, a place that all women in the world dream of."

"At least not now."

"What if I go and ask the Emperor for an edict?" Zhu Zhanji said gritting his teeth.

"If Your Highness wants to use your power to oppress others, then I, a subject, cannot resist. But is this the result Your Highness wants?"

"Of course not, I hope you are willing." Zhu Zhanji shook his head.

"Then Your Highness should do it until I am willing."

"You mean."

"I just said I don't want to now."