The cousin is beautiful but ruthless.

Chapter 155 Pei Du is in trouble

The head maid massaged the Empress Dowager's shoulders. "Your Majesty, what should we do now?"

“Song Hui is already a pawn to be discarded. The Emperor and I are not of one mind. The decree he issued was precisely to protect his daughter. It’s not going to work in Yongning. Let’s go back.”

Since the marriage couldn't go through, there was no point in her staying at the hunting grounds. She might as well go back and think of another way.

The girls' school is getting better and better, and Yongning does have some real talent.

A palace maid entered: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Zhao requests an audience."

Upon hearing that it was Zhao Wanfu who had come, the Empress Dowager nodded and let him in.

"Isn't Prime Minister Zhao afraid that the Emperor will find out?"

Zhao Wanfu sat down: "What's going on with Song Hui?"

He didn't bother to inquire, and by the time he found out, Song Hui had already been imprisoned.

The Empress Dowager didn't take Zhao Wanfu's tone to heart; she simply had the head maid repeat the foolish thing Song Hui had done.

"I had high hopes for him, but who would have thought that he would lose everything on the very first day of the autumn hunt, and that the Emperor would become suspicious of me?"

Zhao Wanfu lowered his head: "Is it still possible to place people on Princess Yongning's side?"

The Empress Dowager shook her head. Yongning was heavily guarded and would not allow their people to pass through. The only opportunity to send people there with a legitimate reason had been lost.

"This is troublesome." Zhao Wanfu couldn't think of a solution for the time being.

The Empress Dowager rested her chin on her hand and looked at Zhao Wanfu: "You are a strange person. You were the one who made the girls' school possible back then, but now you want to help me destroy it. What exactly do you want to do?"

"Your Majesty will know what I need to do later. Since there is no other way for the time being, let's not do anything and just let Song Hui admit his guilt. I'll take my leave now."

After finishing his sentence, Zhao Wanfu left without lingering.

The head maid couldn't help but complain, "This Prime Minister Zhao's attitude is far too arrogant."

Looking around, who in Chang'an would dare to speak to the Empress Dowager like that?

The Empress Dowager didn't care about these things. Zhao Wanfu offered to help her, and their relationship was based on mutual benefit.

"Go back. There's no point in staying here. The Emperor doesn't want to see me right now."

And then there's Li Jun. Li Jun's eyes are filled with resentment as she looks at her. If she delays, things might change. She should leave as soon as possible.

When Li Jiangui heard that the Empress Dowager was unwell and wanted to return to the palace, he sent someone to escort her back safely.

"He ran really fast."

Li Huaijiang blew on her nails as a palace maid was coloring them; she was in a fairly good mood.

Yu Qi came in, carrying a fruit platter.

"Is the princess in a good mood today?"

Li Huaijiang nodded: "It's alright. After all, there's no one in the way right now. If she were here, I would be very restricted in what I do."

"Your Highness, it seems something has happened at the border."

Li Huaijiang straightened up and dismissed the palace maid.

Yu Qi lowered his voice: "I am but a lowly person with little influence. I only know that the situation at the border has changed, and it is developing in a bad direction. Your Highness, should we intervene in this matter?"

At the border, Li Huaijiang rubbed her fingertips. It was too far for her to reach, but Pei Du was there. She wondered if it would affect Shen Hanyu.

"Let's find out what's going on first."

Li Jiangui wouldn't tell her about this, so she had to investigate it herself.

Shen Hanyu did not go hunting today, but was summoned by Empress Wang.

"Hanyu, have you exchanged letters with Pei Du?"

Shen Hanyu nodded: "Several letters have been approved."

She was a little embarrassed when she said this, because exchanging letters was a very intimate thing.

Have you discussed the wedding date?

Shen Hanyu shook her head honestly. There was no time to discuss the wedding date. After the engagement was made, Pei Du went to the border to earn a title. There were many more things that happened afterward, so there was no time to talk about these things.

Empress Wang sighed: "Indeed, you still have to take the imperial examinations, so you really don't have much time to get married and take care of family matters. It's not too late to discuss the wedding date when you two have time."

Upon hearing Pei Du's name, Shen Hanyu's heart skipped a beat, as if she sensed something bad was about to happen.

"Your Majesty, why did you suddenly bring this up?"

Empress Wang placed her hand on Shen Hanyu's shoulder.

"I do have something to tell you, Hanyu, you must hold on."

Shen Hanyu's heart skipped a beat.

"Pei Du disappeared while fighting against foreign tribes at the border."

Shen Hanyu jumped to her feet. "What? Missing?"

Many unpleasant images flashed through her mind, after all, Pei Du had been pierced by ten thousand arrows in his previous life.

They had just been exchanging letters recently, yet the accident happened so quickly.

Shen Hanyu's hands trembled slightly. "Your Majesty, please explain clearly. What exactly happened at the border?"

Li Jiangui walked in from outside: "A week ago, they tracked down the movements of the foreign tribes and sent troops to deal with them. It was at that time that Pei Du disappeared. His fate is now unknown, but perhaps it's a good thing that his body hasn't been found."

Having been missing for a week, Shen Hanyu's mind went blank. Pei Du had been kind to her and had helped her so much; she couldn't just abandon him now.

In just a few seconds, Shen Hanyu had already made up her mind.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, may I go to the border?"

She couldn't stay still for a moment longer and wanted to see what was going on.

“My child, I understand how you feel, but don’t worry, I’ve already sent people from the border to look for them. General Ji’s men are here, but the weather is getting colder and it’s already snowing at the border, so you shouldn’t go.”

He was also worried that something might happen to Shen Hanyu over there, but Shen Hanyu had already made up her mind.

"I cannot rest easy if I do not go and see for myself, Your Majesty. My mind is made up."

They're all the same kind of stubborn bastards, the thought popped into Li Jiangui's mind.

"And what about your studies?"

"The college entrance exam is next year, I have plenty of time to catch up, it won't be a problem."

Shen Hanyu spoke with such conviction that neither Li Jiangui nor Empress Wang could dissuade her.

Empress Wang glanced at Li Jiangui: "Your Majesty, why don't you let her go?"

Seeing how restless Shen Hanyu is, it's impossible to keep her here even if we wanted to.

Li Jiangui had no choice but to agree, agreeing to send more people to protect her.

When Jin Chui came out, he looked worried. He had heard the conversation inside.

Knowing that Shen Hanyu was going to the border, Jin Chui thought for a moment and still advised her, "Miss, the border is extremely cold now. Why don't I go and find the young master? You can stay in Chang'an and wait for my news."

Shen Hanyu shook her head: "If you're going, then let's go together. Otherwise, I won't be able to settle down in Chang'an."

We haven't been able to find him for a week, and the climate at the border is so harsh, I'm afraid Pei Du's situation isn't good either.

She no longer needed to participate in the autumn hunt and wanted to set off immediately.

Knowing that Shen Hanyu was leaving, Li Huaijiang came to see her.

"Have you thought it all through?"

Li Huaijiang didn't really approve of Shen Hanyu's past.

Shen Hanyu said firmly, "Yes, I will come back as soon as I find Pei Du. Whether he is dead or alive, I have to see him with my own eyes."

Li Huaijiang felt somewhat helpless; the border affairs had ultimately affected Shen Hanyu.