Shen Zhi slept through the cold wind for a night, but in fact, for the past ten-odd years, he had always lived like this, eating and sleeping in the open.
It wasn't until Chu Ningzhao rescued him that he began to live a good life, and after his name was cleared, he enjoyed a life of luxury!
It had been more than ten years since he had suffered any hardship or tribulation, and now, suddenly living as a wanderer, he couldn't get used to it, neither mentally nor physically.
Fortunately, he only needed to stay outside for this one night! He wouldn't be wandering for long.
To avoid disturbing Chu Yu's rest, he deliberately waited for a few more hours.
When he knocked on the door again, it was still the same servant boy from last night who opened it. The servant boy was extremely annoyed to see him and kept pushing him away.
"Go away, go away! Why are you still waiting here? You want to see the Princess, but don't you look at your status?"
"The Princess knows me!" Shen Zhi explained anxiously, "The Princess has seen me, she knows who I am, please inform her."
The two of them pushed and shoved at the manor gate, attracting the attention of others.
Chu Yu's maid saw this scene and came forward to scold, "What's all this noise? Why aren't you getting him out of here?"
"Miss, I am Shen Zhi. The Princess saw me at the Prime Minister's Residence, and you also saw me! Please help me relay a message, Shen Zhi begs the Princess to take him in!" Shen Zhi said humbly.
He was unwilling to say a soft word in front of Chu Ningzhao, but it was different with Chu Yu.
Chu Yu was never short of talented and learned people around her! So he was willing to lower himself, just to stay by Chu Yu's side.
The maid remembered the name, but still disliked him greatly.
She thought and thought, unable to make up her mind, afraid that the Princess would also dislike him and direct her anger at her.
Shen Zhi said eagerly, "Miss, just go and deliver the message! The Princess will definitely see me."
He wanted to say, the Princess will definitely take him in! In his previous life, Chu Yu had said so. If it weren't for Chu Ningzhao's interference, the one who took in Shen Zhi back then would definitely have been Chu Yu.
Seeing him speak so decisively, the maid's heart wavered, and she decided to go and inform the Princess.
Chu Yu had just woken up and was dozing in front of the bronze mirror. She had to go to the palace to pay respects today, and the thought of it already felt troublesome.
"Princess, there's a Shen Gongzi at the gate, named Shen Zhi, who wishes to see you."
Chu Yu was displeased, "Can just anyone see me? Who is Shen Zhi?"
Hearing her say this, the maid couldn't help but curse Shen Zhi silently. The Princess didn't even know who he was, yet he made her come in to relay the message. Wasn't this just getting herself scolded?
At this moment, with the Princess questioning, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and reply, "He said you saw him at the Prime Minister's Residence. The servant boy at the gate said this person came last night and is from Princess Zhaoyang's side."
"Chu Ningzhao's person?" Chu Yu was even more displeased.
What a mess! Her mood was already bad in the morning, and this was just adding to her annoyance!
Chu Yu had no recollection of who Shen Zhi was, let alone taking him in.
The maid was severely reprimanded by Chu Yu. After coming out, she immediately called for people to beat the culprit, Shen Zhi, and told him never to approach the Princess Manor again.
While he was being beaten, Hua Zhuozhuo was watching from not far away!
She returned to Chu Ningzhao's side, satisfied, and reported the good news to her.
"He got beaten so quickly!" Chu Ningzhao gloated, thinking to herself that he must absolutely persevere and continue to wait for Chu Yu to save him!
Idiot!
Hua Zhuozhuo smiled with pursed lips, seeing her happy.
"Didn't I tell you to get well before coming out?" Chu Ningzhao glanced at him, "Not listening anymore?"
Hua Zhuozhuo immediately knelt before Chu Ningzhao, explaining anxiously, "I've already recovered. The Princess is entering the palace today, and I wish to stay by her side to protect her."
In the past, he didn't need to say anything, and Chu Ningzhao wouldn't ask.
As long as he had no mission, he would always guard Chu Ningzhao's side.
"You're well so quickly?" Chu Ningzhao's gaze shifted downwards, wanting to look, but she didn't want to see blood yet.
Hua Zhuozhuo didn't realize her little thought and insisted, "Yes, I am."
Chu Ningzhao couldn't argue with him, so she agreed to let him accompany her. Today's entry into the palace was mainly to pay respects to the Empress, and secondly, to see another ungrateful wretch, and to get to know her good younger sister.
The other ungrateful wretch was the hostage prince sent by Yun Country.
Before leaving, Chu Ningzhao prayed, "Please, let him also be reborn!"
The carriage traveled on the road, and Chu Ningzhao, having nothing to do, lifted the curtain to look at the streets on both sides. They were lively and prosperous; this truly was a good place.
Hua Zhuozhuo vigilantly scanned his surroundings. Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared not far away, limping and walking dejectedly.
Upon seeing the Princess Manor's carriage, he immediately turned his head and hurriedly avoided it.
"Princess." Hua Zhuozhuo said with ill intent, "It's Shen Gongzi."
Chu Ningzhao looked in the direction he pointed. In just one night, this Shen Zhi was truly miserable!
"Keep an eye on him! Report any developments immediately. If you find he's about to starve to death, reward him with two stale steamed buns. He still owes me money, so he can't die."
Hua Zhuozhuo nodded and said, "Alright!"
He knew how Shen Zhi had caused a ruckus at the Princess Manor two days ago. At that time, the Princess was incredibly lenient, not even saying a harsh word.
Now, the Princess was so heartless, she must have been truly angered by Shen Zhi!
This Shen Zhi truly didn't know what was good for him.
In a corner of the Imperial Palace, Meng Xun endured the curses of the palace servants, picking up the crushed steamed bun crumbs from beneath the eunuch's feet and forcing them into his mouth.
He couldn't die yet!
He was destined to return to Yun Country and become its Emperor!
He couldn't die here. Heaven allowed him to be reborn to make up for his regrets. If he could endure it in his previous life, he could do the same in this life!
Just a little longer, both Princesses were coming to the palace to pay respects today. When Chu Yu arrived, he would be saved.
"Oh, Xun Gongzi is a Prince of Yun Country, how can he eat such things? Why aren't you snatching it away?"
Following the head eunuch's command, several junior eunuchs swarmed forward and once again trampled him underfoot.
Li Country and Yun Country had been at war for many years. A few months ago, Li Country achieved a great victory, and Yun Country agreed to pay tribute annually and submit as a vassal, while also sending Prince Meng Xun as a hostage.
Over the years, countless lives had been lost in the wars between the two countries, and the common people deeply resented Yun Country!
Some palace servants had lost their fathers, brothers, and family members on the battlefield, and they vented their anger on this hostage prince.
In her previous life, Chu Ningzhao passed by. Firstly, she pitied him, and secondly, she was afraid that the hostage prince would die in Li Country, so she stepped forward to help him and instructed the palace maids and eunuchs not to bully him anymore.
Later, relations between the two countries gradually eased, and the Emperor agreed to let Meng Xun return. Meng Xun also promised that Yun Country would continue to pay tribute and be a vassal state.
He did indeed fulfill his promise, but he then claimed that it was all for Chu Yu, that he wanted to repay Chu Yu for saving his life.
Mistaking his benefactor, Chu Ningzhao could not care; she hadn't expected any repayment when she saved him.
Later, Meng Xun murdered his father and usurped the throne in Yun Country, becoming its Emperor.
On Li Country's side, Chu Ningzhao also finally put her younger brother on the throne.
Before the new Emperors of both countries ascended, they exchanged letters, proposing to send a Princess for a marriage alliance. Chu Ningzhao was this Princess.
When she arrived in Yun Country, she was met with endless humiliation. Meng Xun always remembered how the palace maids and eunuchs of Li Country had bullied him back then, and he took all of that out on Chu Ningzhao!
Lunatic!
Chu Ningzhao had clearly saved him, yet he claimed that if Chu Ningzhao hadn't been there that day, he would have met the even gentler and kinder Chu Yu, and Chu Yu would have been willing to save him and would not have allowed him to be criticized by others.
Therefore, he didn't want Chu Ningzhao to save him at all, and even regretted asking Chu Ningzhao for help back then.
Then, good!!!
Today, the scene repeats!