Seeing her clasp the hairpin in her hand, there was no further action, while a gentle breeze spread all around, refreshing and soothing the heart.

This should be a Daoist artifact, forming a small barrier to shield external perceptions, worried that at this moment someone like Eunuch Wei might be deliberately eavesdropping.

Ji Chengjue took a deep breath, did not retreat, and took two steps forward.

"The men of the Ji family are really ruthless."

These were the words of the Princess.

Last night’s details, Seventh Uncle had already told him, including the most important sentence: Please wait until dawn. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

This sentence, paired with the eight rings of the Departure Bell, was quite simple in meaning.

Either this was Ji Chengjue’s handiwork, his influence reaching far, able to kill within the palace, and the target was the Empress.

Or, Ji Chengjue had deduced who would act against the Empress and believed that she was likely to pass away tonight.

These were two possibilities, while the Princess directly dismissed two other possibilities: one being that Ji Chengjue was endowed with luck, divinely protected, which the Princess did not believe; the other was that Ji Chengjue could foresee life and death and glimpse lifespans, which was even more absurd than the former.

"Speaking as if the daughters of the Li family are delicate and weak."

"Ha, in any case, you are lucky."

Ji Chengjue sneered at these words, pointed in the direction of the inner hall, and said:

"Look at the current Crown Prince, isn’t he pitiful? But ten years ago, I had already experienced it.

There is one more thing, I didn’t have the heart to tell Seventh Uncle, but I want to tell you."

"You speak, I’m listening."

"Do you think that since Lord Jingnan incapacitated my third brother, your Earl North Border can also do the same to me? Are Southern and Northern Marquis really that different, what you can do I cannot, is that so?"

The Princess did not answer.

Ji Chengjue questioned himself and answered: "But have you thought about it, after Lord Jingnan incapacitated my third brother, that very night he went back and destroyed his entire family himself, what did your Li family do?

If it was the Earl of North Border who did it, there would be nothing to say, and you, what weight do you have?"

"Chengjue, you are getting more and more rude speaking to your sister now."

"Without letting off some anger, you might really think I’m a pushover, acting crazy again, do I still have to wait another dawn for you?"

"All I know is, Seventh Uncle said you were very anxious last night, uneasy the whole night, at that moment I knew, I actually didn’t do wrong."

"You won’t have a second chance," Ji Chengjue said.

"I never wanted a second chance."

"From the bottom of my heart, my father, your father along with Lord Jingnan, the three of them could sacrifice everything for Yan.

Unfortunately, in our generation, there isn’t such high awareness, but don’t ever think someone will always clean up after your mess.

Next time if you act recklessly,

don’t worry about how my father will react with rage,

what you should worry about is,

you personally pushing your father to the torment of having to deal with his own daughter."

"Enough of the chatter."

"Heartfelt words, your mind is dull, and you’ve been spoiled, someone had to tell you."

"I’m just a woman, only men are considered manly, I’m not a big hero, I only care if my own days are comfortable, why suffer for the bigger picture?"

"Ha ha, then what do you plan to do next, it must have been uncomfortable with so many eyes watching when you went to pay respects earlier?"

"You’re gloating over my misfortune, aren’t you?"

"You won’t be getting married, since the grand ceremony didn’t happen, besides, Yan is not Qian, where rites and virtues of women are regarded so highly.

No need to tie the knot which leads to more distress.

I think,

my dear Princess sister, you have the courage and vision for this."

"I really am tired, originally I never intended to marry over, each man in your Ji family is rotten, it was my parents who forced me over.

Then I waited and waited so long, couldn’t even manage to get married off.

Used to the vast desert, but by chance ended stuck in Yanjing for so long, in a few days, I’ll submit a memorial to His Majesty, asking for permission to go out and get some air, I believe His Majesty will grant it."

This bit of face, I still have it.

A move like this would certainly let the marriage fade away.

"Return to Beifeng Prefecture to continue fighting the Barbarians?" Ji Chengjue asked.

"Ha."

The Princess reached out, lifting the strands of green silk from her face,

and said:

"I’m tired of seeing sands, I want to see the snow."