Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 253: Your Majesty, would you like to meet her?

Chapter 253: Chapter 253: Your Majesty, would you like to meet her?

Qi Yu did not yet know that the person who longed for her position was not only Song Yuting. She was sitting in the carriage, explaining the customs and people of the capital city to Shi Zhou.

As she spoke, she felt somewhat emotional.

An outsider from another realm, she could now play the role of an indigenous person from ancient times.

Once Shi Zhou entered the capital, he would definitely stay in the Prince Residence.

Shen Xiheng was somewhat displeased with this.

But he had not yet proposed marriage, nor had he carried her off in a grand bridal sedan, and without a name or title, he could not just kidnap her.

When Qi Yu mentioned the ladies from prominent families in the capital and the princesses in the Imperial Palace, Shi Zhou pursed his lips and said nervously, "What if Shen Duke and Madam Shen don’t like me?"

It was at this moment that she suddenly realized the vast difference between herself and Shen Xiheng.

One was the son of a duke, an Assistant Minister of Rites, and so exceedingly handsome that he was a sought-after match in the capital.

Yet she was merely a daughter of a bandit. What noble family’s son would want to marry a bandit’s daughter?

When Qi Yu heard this, she burst out laughing, "Had you known, you wouldn’t have flirted so carelessly at first."

Shi Zhou glared at her, and Qi Yu sobered a bit, teasing, "What are you afraid of? You’re to marry him, not his parents. Isn’t it enough that he likes you?"

This set of values was undoubtedly very common in modern times, but in the ancient context of arranged marriages, it was rather shocking.

Even for someone as rebellious as Shi Zhou, she gasped in fright and shook her head repeatedly, "Don’t let anyone else hear that!"

Qi Yu, unconcerned, shrugged her shoulders and offered a few words of comfort.

Seeing that Shi Zhou was still visibly worried, she raised her eyebrows and whispered to her, "Do you still remember why your father sent you to the capital?"

This reminder somewhat calmed Shi Zhou down, and she said matter-of-factly, "My father sent me with you to gain some experience in the world."

Qi Yu smiled, winked at her, and said mysteriously, "Not quite."

"Then what is it?" Shi Zhou frowned, not understanding her cryptic words.

Qi Yu leaned closer to her ear and quietly said something. After hearing it, Shi Zhou’s pupils dilated, and she stammered, "This... this can’t be true, right?"

"Believe it or not, up to you. In any case, I would not harm you," Qi Yu said, knowing how unbelievable her words sounded, but that was all she could disclose for now.

Shi Zhou’s lips formed a tight line.

Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly heard a voice outside the carriage.

It was Shen Nanxing, who drew back the curtain and said to Qi Yu, "Princess, His Majesty and Noble Consort Wan are waiting ahead."

Hearing this, Qi Yu knew she had to exit the carriage to exchange a few polite words.

Shi Zhou had no choice but to hold her thoughts back as she watched Qi Yu leave.

Sitting in the carriage for a while, she couldn’t resist pulling back the curtain and peeping outside.

She saw a person clad in Dragon Robe, commanding and majestic, smiling as he spoke with Li Mingjue and Song Feng, surrounded by kneeling soldiers and attendants.

Shen Xiheng was among them, his expression usual, carrying a superficial smile that didn’t reach his eyes, standing next to Li Mingjue and conversing with the Emperor in the Dragon Robe.

With just one glance, Shi Zhou’s pupils shockingly dilated briefly.

From a distance, the Emperor bore a slight resemblance to her mother between the brows and eyes.

Only, her mother’s demeanor was gentler, her eyes not as sharp.

Yet the nose and eyes were clearly of the same mold.

Recalling what Qi Yu had just said, she had remarked, "In terms of status, you’re not inferior to those ladies from prominent families."

An idea suddenly sprang to Shi Zhou’s mind.

But how could this be possible?

If her mother really had a relationship with His Majesty, then she, could she possibly be...

Shi Zhou violently shook her head, driving the absurd thoughts out of her mind.

Ever since she could remember, her mother had been in the bandit stronghold, growing up with her and never leaving her side.

However, her mother indeed said that she came from the capital city.

Shi Zhou’s mind was in turmoil, her hands clutching the sword, unsure of how to react.

Outside the city gate, Li Tianze spoke for a while with Song Feng and then offered some comforting words to the soldiers who had fought on the front lines with Song Feng, before turning to Li Mingjue and Qi Yu, "My son, you must be tired from the journey; you should rest for a few days after returning home before attending the court."

Despite standing beside two people, he spoke only to Li Mingjue.

Qi Yu had long witnessed this man’s double standards and didn’t mind it.

However, Li Mingjue slightly furrowed his brows, saying to Li Tianze, "The Princess has traveled a long way with me, and is even more exhausted, I hope Father would arrange for the Imperial Physician to visit us at the Prince Residence after we return to the capital."

Qi Yu was very pleased with her Prince’s tact, but Li Tianze’s expression faltered slightly, feeling extreme disappointment towards his biased son.

What was so good about this woman? If he wished, countless ladies from prominent families in the capital city were waiting to marry into the Prince Residence.

Recalling the Lady from the Liu Family mentioned by the Empress the other day, Li Tianze harbored some plans in his mind.

But now was not the right time, so he held his peace.

Qi Yu was still unaware that Li Tianze was plotting in his heart how to bring down this Princess; her gaze fell on Lingya who was standing by.

Although her face was mostly covered by a veil, Lingya’s pale complexion did not escape her attention.

Recalling the recent news during their journey of Noble Consort Song being pregnant, her feelings were mixed.

This child, probably unexpected by everyone.

Lingya forced a faint smile towards her.

Qi Yu smiled back.

Though nothing was said, everything was understood through their exchanged glances.

The child definitely couldn’t be kept, yet, Qi Yu wondered how Li Tianze planned to make this child disappear.

Ideas raced through Qi Yu’s mind, but her face remained calm.

Song Ting, meeting the Emperor for the first time, was initially a bit intimidated, but seeing Li Tianze smile kindly, he was no longer afraid.

He even began to chatter about the battles fought on the frontier, annoying Song Feng who couldn’t help but glare at him.

Li Tianze also took a liking to this young lad, patted his head, and laughed, "Truly the son of a General, to have established such distinguished military exploits at such a young age, after returning to the capital, I must reward you handsomely!"

Song Ting innocently asked, "Your Majesty, may I have a chicken leg?"

He was still thinking about the chicken leg he hadn’t managed to eat.

Upon hearing this, Li Tianze laughed heartily, "Of course, Ting’er, in the Imperial Kitchen, all the chicken legs you want are yours!"

Hearing this, Song Ting’s eyes gleamed, and he even mimicked the adults and bowed formally, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

This amused everyone immensely.

While joking, Li Tianze’s gaze suddenly caught sight of a person sitting inside the carriage behind the lifted curtain; it seemed to be a young lady.

His eyes darkened slightly, asking, "My son, did you also bring someone back with you this time?"

Li Mingjue looked towards Qi Yu, who blinked and with a sly smile said to Li Tianze, "The person sitting in the carriage is a younger sister I recognized in Jiangnan, would Father like to meet her?"