The fellow slunk away, muttering in his heart that Miss Shen was truly too fierce. He thought to himself that perhaps his own young princess would be better company, for she had no airs about her at all.

Fu Jiujiu saw the buddies carrying flowers back. Without him opening his mouth, he knew what was going on.

The companion was quite remorseful, "My lady, I apologize for not handling things well."

Fu Chou Chou smiled, "What are you blaming me for? Come on, don't overthink it. There's fruit I brought over at the back, go eat with them."

"County Princess..."

"If you're not going to eat it, I'll have them take what they saved for you and eat it!"

"Don't go, don't go, I'll eat, hehe. Princess, how could you be so good? No wonder the Crown Prince would not marry anyone else. Hehehe..."

"Stop talking, I don't want to live anymore." The companion beside him knew what he was going to say and quickly pulled him away, fearing that he would bring trouble upon himself.

Fujujiao smiled, "I like doing things legally, but I won't say more, someone might get upset."

She glanced at the flowers that had been returned, telling the idle shop assistant to carry them back to their original place. Thinking of Miss Shen, she couldn't help but smile faintly.

……

Although the Empress's bedchamber has been unoccupied for many years, it has not been reassigned to a new mistress. Emperor Xianfeng did not give Empress Dowager Cixi love, but he did show her respect. In the years since her death, some of the palace attendants who served her originally remained here and continued to clean it.

Shěn Yuetong placed the flowers she bought for Empress Shěn. Seeing those familiar furnishings, scenes from her childhood flashed before her eyes, all filled with joy. She hadn't smiled this brightly in ages.

Unfortunately, it's just a memory.

How long she had been sitting in the house, Tang Yin waited outside for that long.

I heard that Miss Shen entered the palace. She has a waist card that allows her to enter the palace at any time, even after Empress Shen's death, Emperor Chengde did not take it back.

Unfortunately, for many years, Shen Yue Tong did not use it.

When she went out, she saw Tang Yin. Thinking of the girl with a smile as bright as a flower in her memory, holding hands and watching stars with her, she forcibly pressed down on the corners of her lips that were about to rise, forcing herself to be like a cold piece of ice.

"How did you get here?"

Tang Yin smiled faintly, "I heard you entered the palace. I thought you must have come to Mother's place, so I came to wait for you."

"What are you waiting for?" Shen YueTong said in a deep voice.

"Auntie, you're so scary!" A head poked out the door. It was Ah-Tu Zao.

Shen Yue Tong's frown deepened, "No one from Beimo is allowed into our Shen family's courtyard."

Atu Zhao was a very well-behaved little girl. She originally wanted to make a joke, but she was scolded by Shen Yue Tong. At this moment, the pitiful little girl stood there helplessly and at a loss.

She was well-taught by Tang Yin, she didn't have a bit of princess airs about her. Logically speaking, at this time, she should put on airs as a princess and make Shen Yue Tong apologize.

"Princess, don't you remember how many people from the Shen family died in that war? Do I need to remind you?"

Tang Yin shook her head, "No, Yue Tong, I... I'm sorry. It was my carelessness."

Actually, how could Tang Yin not know that Shen Yue Tong disliked people from Beimo? Her family died on the battlefield against Beimo. She blamed herself, partly because she had given up on her childhood sweetheart and partly because she married the son of her enemy.

She didn't call her daughter over, perhaps the daughter saw herself come out and quietly followed.

But that’s wrong, whoever it is, she admitted.

Shen Yue Tong's eyes reddened, she wanted to hit, she wanted to scold, but Atu Zhao was just a little girl. She couldn't bring herself to do it. But if she said she forgave her, she couldn't forgive for the ancestral tablets of the Shen family.

Attu looked like he had done something wrong, bowing his head. "Aunt, please don't blame my mother, she said she was coming to see a good friend, so I secretly followed along. It was me who wanted to come, my mother doesn't know."

Shen Yue Tong glanced at A Tu Zhao, then at Tang Yin who was calm and serene. "You... why don't you explain?"

Tang Yin chuckled lightly, “It’s okay, Yue Tong, we… can still sit down and have a drink and chat like before, right?”

"I can't," Shen Yue Tong firmly refused, "You are now the Great Empress of Bei Mo."

Tang Yin didn't say anything, "Yue Tong, I'm sorry."

But she really had no other choice back then.

"You never apologized to me. I know you have your own hardships, but I... can't be friends with an enemy anymore."

Shen Yue Tong lifted her head and looked at the sky, tears swirling in her eyes. "I only hate why it had to be you, why couldn't there be another princess besides Li Chao, why did it have to be my best friend who married the enemy I wanted to kill."

Tang Yin sighed, "I'm sorry."

Shen Yue Tong shook her head. "I can't seek revenge, but... please, you and the child you have with that man, don't appear in front of me, okay?"

Tang Yin helplessly looked at her, fiddling with the handkerchief in his hand, "Yue Tong..."

Unfortunately, Shen Yue Tong left without even turning back.

Atu Zhao looked at Tang Yin, "Mother concubine... I'm sorry..."

Tang Yin shook her head, "Zhao'er is right, it's not your fault."

"But Mother, you're not wrong either," Atuzhao asked in confusion.

Tang Yin smiled wryly, "Yes, I'm not wrong either. It's the war's fault."

So she had to marry Attule at the time, to prevent more people from meeting the same fate as Shen Yue Tong, with their families perishing on the battlefield.

Tang Yin knew that over the years, Shen Yue Tong had resentment in her heart. She was also wronged, and who among them hadn't been wronged?

Because they are close friends, she is willing to put herself in her shoes and think about her. She knows about her hardships over the years.

"Zhao'er, don't tell your father about this, or anyone else. Do you understand?"

A-Tu Zhao looked at her puzzled, "Mother Concubine, why? Father Emperor won't let Mother Concubine be wronged."

"Mother hasn't been wronged, Zha'er. That aunt just now was Mother's best friend."

But she's very mean to you.

Tang Yin shook her head, "That's just who she is. Actually, she's very good to her mother. She'll pick the sweetest fruits for her mother to eat and when her mother says she wants some wine, she'll secretly bring a jug back. She'll even take her mother to see handsome young men...and..."

Even the man I loved dearly gave himself to me without hesitation.

"Really? Then auntie is a good person."

"Yes, she's a good person, very good."

Shen Yue Tong had just gotten home, but saw Fu Jiu Jiu waiting at the door with Nian Xia. She frowned.

What are you doing?

Fu Chou Chou handed over a pouch of money, "Miss Shen doesn't accept flowers, so I can only return the extra money."

Shen Yue Tong had cried on her way back, but riding on horseback, the wind blew away her tears. However, her eyes were still a little red around the edges.

"Aren't you bored? You're supposed to be getting married! What are you doing running around all day? It's just a little money, is it really worth you coming all this way?"

Shen Yue Tong said as she was about to lead the horse inside.

But then I heard the little girl behind me say, "It's worth it. Doing business requires integrity. More should be returned than is owed. Our Fu family doesn't engage in dishonest dealings."

"Hmph...What's with you, girl... What does Tang Xiaoqi see in you?"

Original English:

First release on the繁體 Novels Network