When she heard Jiang Liu hastily calling her to receive the decree in the courtyard, Mei Li instinctively felt a wave of fear. Was it possible that the Emperor had changed his mind? Was he going to take her back?!

  The eunuch outside the door urged loudly with a hint of impatience: "Meili Gege, quickly receive the imperial edict!"

  Meilis tightly clenched fist slowly relaxed as she went out to receive the imperial edict. Fortunately, it was a benevolent edict. She lowered her eyes and knelt down on the ground with utmost respect, even if it was an imperial order to take her back... Could she escape? Whether good fortune or bad, she had no right to choose, nor could she avoid it; all she could do was kneel down and obey.

  The edict was simple: all the close relatives who received the edict tomorrow would accompany the Empress Dowager and the Queen to the west of the city to watch the hunt. Meili held her head high, took back the edict, and said that she should rest for a few days... This is the sacred will, let you live or die, without considering your feelings at all.

  After Taijian left, Hai Shu was overjoyed and said that the old ancestors still remembered his familys Gege. With great kindness, he arranged for a good tailor to come and make her hunting attire. The spring hunt was approaching, and this time the citys outer hunting had a strong sense of selecting the best and most handsome. Over the years, this kind of hunting activity has been like a matchmaking conference in disguise, where people who dont often meet gather together. Those noblewomen naturally looked around to see whose young master was handsome and brave, suitable for their own daughter. The Gege misses were even more excited, just seeing so many beautiful men riding horses and competing was worth several sleepless nights.

  She had once been wildly excited and looked forward to it.

  In order to attract his attention in the arena, Pai Hai even went to her uncles house to ask for silver to make hunting clothes. She deliberately made some trouble in the arena, hoping he would come over to deal with it, and even if he scolded her a few words, at least he could see her carefully dressed up for him. Only she knew that such luxurious dressing was exchanged for how many complaints and white eyes, she had no mother, no kind-hearted nurse, all her efforts relied on herself, including piercing her ears...

  The girls feelings had been worn away in that cold and quiet Anning Temple long ago.

  Nowadays, even when she thinks back to her infatuation with Jingxuan in the past, which she thought was pure and true at the time, its mixed with a lot of worldly thoughts. Did she really love Jingxuan? She loved his handsome and unmatched appearance, he loved his prominent and noble status, as long as she married him, her life would no longer be difficult and embarrassing. Did she love him as a person? Apart from his stunningly beautiful appearance, his cold and arrogant demeanor, did she love his heart? Heart... had she ever touched his heart? Had he ever let her get close to his heart?

  Everything was just a shallow infatuation and longing of a young girl. What did she know about love back then?

  Two years ago, she thought she was clever and worldly enough, how ridiculous! She thought that by marrying Jingxuan, she would be safe and stable, and no longer looked down upon. But what she didnt think about was why Jingxuan wanted to marry her?!

  At first, she was heartbroken and desperate for his indifference. Even if he didnt want to marry her, he shouldnt have been so cruel as to demand severe punishment. The Empress Dowager even stood up for her, but he still wouldnt budge, forcing her to be confined in the cold palace for three years. Later... she no longer blamed him. If he hadnt done that, their ancestors would have forced her to become his wife. He had to protect himself first.

  Every time she asks herself, what is she to him?

  Stumbling block!

  If it werent for Cheng Yis brother, Jing Xuan... was supposed to be the husband of a Mongolian princess! He was going to marry a powerful and wealthy Mongolian princess! And what about her? She, Shu Mu Lu Mei Li, has nothing. She is just an empty-headed princess with both parents deceased, not even many dowry goods, only because the ancestors pitied her and hoped she would marry well, so they exceptionally granted her the title of He Shuo Princess, but even the Emperors older brother didnt like her.

  A man liked a woman, liked her to the point of giving up his life, but it was just an unfulfilled love! What about the ending? The Qing dynasty is going to war with Dzungar, Ziqing sister died, originally promising Wang Ye, became a criminal of the imperial court, guarding the tomb for Emperor Taizong. Just like her... imprisoned!

  All delusions have long been shattered.

  Tonight, the girls who cant sleep because they want to see their heartthrob may not know that their fate is not in the hands of the moon god or the emperors ancestors, but in the hands of power and influence! Whose mother has a higher status, whose mother the emperor wants to rely on, look, the most dazzling man in the arena belongs to her.

  Men... even more!

  All the men in the arena were born into wealth and nobility, they wanted women... What kind of woman wasnt available on the streets and alleys? How many stunning beauties from Jiangnan to Saiwai couldnt be found? They looked at the women in the arena not as wives, but as surnames, backgrounds, they chose not spouses, but supporters.

  Ancestors... have always been very fond of her. After going through so much, she has a deeper understanding. Compared to the bitterness in the world of fame and fortune, who understands better than ancestors? Although tomorrows appearance is just adding laughter and gossip, ancestors still want her to go, and people feel that at least there is an empress dowager behind her back.

  She didnt want to go, she was also afraid of facing so many pairs of mocking eyes, she wanted to curl up humbly in her own little nest like a mouse, letting the storm rage outside. But she couldnt reject the good intentions of her ancestors, she couldnt... lose face and not give face.

  The terror of imperial power, the difficulty of heavenly authority... She has already felt it too deeply.

  Holding the imperial edict, Meili sat silently in the chair, lost in thought for a long time. She was startled awake by Hai Shus enthusiastic greeting, who was leading an old nanny from outside, and seeing his smiling face, only noble guests could enjoy such treatment.

  She smiled and looked at the aunt from the open window, who was a bit fat, but had a very kind face. She just stood up, and the person had already come in. Hai Shu introduced that this was Wu Auntie, who was sent by Ruo Yu to deliver clothes, and gratefully opened the package brought by Wu Auntie, which contained a set of elegant blue hunting attire.

  The old woman finished her courtesy and said with a warm smile: "Our lady knows that you will also go to the hunting ground tomorrow, so she sent me to help you get dressed."

  Meili understood why Hai Shu was so kind to Wu Nainai, because of gratitude. Not only was Hai Shu grateful, but she was also grateful.

  Jiang Liu, although young in years, was clever and nimble with her hands. Seeing Wu Ayi as a master hairdresser, she quickly knelt down to pay respects and ask for guidance. Mei Li also willingly sat in front of the mirror as a model, allowing the old and young pair to fuss over her hair.

  She couldnt see what kind of buns they had put on the back of her head from the mirror, a bit boring, but she enjoyed it very much, very warm... Compared to the indifference that no one asked about, she was already very happy now.

  At night, she still couldnt sleep. It wasnt excitement... The panic caused by the fierce fire in the middle of the night hadnt dissipated yet. The despair of opening her eyes and finding herself surrounded by a sea of flames, shouting loudly but no one came to rescue her, had not gone away for a while. She didnt dare fall asleep soundly.

  Fortunately, Jiang Liu and Wu Ayi woke up early too. They seemed even more excited than her, dragging her out of bed to get dressed before dawn. Wu Ayi was rummaging through the jewelry box, unable to make up her mind.

  "Gege, you choose for yourself."

  Meili took over a jewelry box that had been separated for two years, which was filled with the jewels she had collected with great difficulty. Now it looks... tacky!

  When she was young, she thought that as long as the jewelry was big and heavy enough, it could show off her status and wealth. She picked up a rough ruby brooch, which reminded her of a fallen landlord who went out and applied lard to his mouth, pretending to eat meat every day. She smiled, rummaged through the box, no wonder Wu Ayi couldnt choose one. The set of jewelry given by the ancestors was very good, but it was made of jade, not matching with the blue clothes.

  "Jiang Liu, go to the courtyard and pick a pale-colored flower for me to wear." She instructed.

  "Gege! Today even the dignified Princess Gege will be there, youll only make people laugh if you wear flowers!" Jiang Liu frowned and stopped her.

  Meili smiled, would she wear such a tacky accessory and people wouldnt laugh? Even if... she wore the most beautiful accessory in the world, people wouldnt laugh, and she wouldnt be Meili Gege anymore?

  The old woman gave Jiang Liu a look and urged, "Go on, go on, pick a light red one, the lighter the better."

  Mei smiled and nodded.

  Hai Shu was brushing a horse in the front yard with a heavy heart, Mei Li stopped at the stone steps by the door without getting closer, "Uncle Hai... I think Ill take the car instead."

  Hai Shu nodded repeatedly and immediately called for someone to prepare the carriage. Although it was unusual to go hunting in a carriage, Gigi had been thrown off a horse before and he was worried that she might have another accident if she rode again.

  Just as she was about to leave, a eunuch came to inform her that she didnt need to enter the palace and could go directly to the hunting grounds.

  Meilis carriage was slow, and by the time they arrived at the hunting grounds, the other families ladies had already arrived. In the distance, colorful flags fluttered in the lush greenery of the hunting grounds, below which were handsome men and beautiful women dressed in dazzling attire, horses of various colors pranced proudly, and servants occasionally beat large drums to scare away animals, amidst cheers and laughter... a lively and exciting hunting scene.

  Meili looked from afar for a while, then followed the eunuch in the direction of the imperial umbrella.

  This bustling... She was just an outsider, now and in the past, only that at that time she refused to admit it with a deaf ear.

  This book is first published on 17K, read the genuine content at the first time!