Escape was impossible. With Emperor Hong so committed to restoring me to the throne, if his intentions were genuine, I couldn’t refuse; if it was a plot, I couldn’t escape. My only option was to proceed cautiously, following his arrangements while staying vigilant.
Assuming Emperor Hong truly had no ulterior motives and genuinely wanted to return the throne to the daughter of Emperor Xuan, I would face potential threats, primarily from Jiang Yun Qiao. Although she appeared normal, I was skeptical of surface appearances due to my experiences with royal family hypocrisy. Given that Jiang often visited me, I planned to see what she might be concealing.
Jiang Yun Qiao resided in the Zhao Yue Princess Residence, known for its rare birds and exotic beasts. She was fond of these animals and well-known throughout Feng Zhu City. Her husband, surnamed Cen, was the Grand Counselor’s son and was married to her by imperial decree. He was a gentle man who, despite his background, chose to manage the household and raise their son rather than pursue an official career, proving to be a supportive partner.
I had initially thought she had feelings for General Shen, but it turned out she was married with a son. When I brought up my speculation, she laughed it off, insisting they were merely friends. Although she could take a side consort as a princess, she seemed focused entirely on her beloved animals.
Since my arrival in South Rui, she had received less attention and seemed more relaxed, often inviting me to play with Yuan Xiang and Xiao Huang in her residence among the animals.
Yuan Xiang quickly became friends with several foxes and dogs in the princess’s residence, spending entire days playing and reluctant to return home. Xiao Huang fell in love with Jiang Yun Qiao’s favorite white peacock, constantly following its tail feathers and bringing fruits to curry favor, which made me cringe.
Not only did it cross species boundaries, but it was also enamored with a male peacock. I returned home and earnestly educated Xiao Huang. The next time we visited the princess’s residence, it initially restrained itself, casting plaintive glances at the white peacock, Snow Encounter. Just as I felt relieved, the peacock shook its feathers, and Xiao Huang disregarded my obstruction, scampering after it. The peacock walked away proudly, ignoring Xiao Huang completely.
