The troupe followed the young ladies’ convoy toward the city gates.

Such performing troupes had their own permits to enter the city. These permits were issued by the government and contained the troupe’s numbers, composition, male and female members, and basic characteristics. Clearly, they were now having her substitute for one of the members.

And the young ladies’ convoy – not checking the troupe’s credentials, not checking their background, casually picking up a performing troupe on the street and preparing to bring them into the inner city?

The soldiers nearby didn’t understand these intricacies. They had personally watched this performing troupe performing at this gate for several days, and the young ladies had been let out by them today – they were all familiar faces. So they just watched without anyone coming to interfere or question.

Shen Mi stood by the roadside with Rong Yi’s cat head poking out of the basket behind him. He smiled at the procession, reaching back to stroke the cat’s head, saying: “Don’t worry, just follow along. I’ve been waiting for you for several days.”

Tie Ci smiled at him.

The maid glanced at the long queue and shouted: “Young ladies from the Vice-Minister’s and General’s residences are traveling – how dare you people block the way! Make way!”

Tie Ci: …Vice-Minister’s and General’s residences? Civil and military officials in Da Qian had never gotten along, and even the young ladies from civil and military officials’ families wouldn’t play together. Today they were actually traveling together on spring outings?

Most people entering the inner city had some wealth and status – you could hit several fourth-rank officials with a single brick. Normally such shouting would guarantee no one would pay attention, but today was strange – those women remained silent and uniformly made way.

While making way, they secretly turned their heads to peek.

The female performers surrounded Tie Ci in the middle, blocking gazes from all directions.

The maid shouted: “A bunch without manners – what are you staring at!”

The women who had made way immediately turned their gazes away as if nothing had happened and began chatting among themselves.

The young ladies’ carriages passed through, followed by the performing troupe, and behind them, those pleasure-seeking courtesans directly followed along.

What was wonderful was that the women who made way not only let the official family young ladies pass, not only let the performing troupe pass, but even let this group of courtesans go first.

And the young ladies’ convoy didn’t find anything strange about it, just letting them follow behind.

Tie Ci felt she no longer recognized today’s capital.

Everything was against human nature, everything was eerily strange.

How had these women who clearly belonged to different social classes, different identities, completely unrelated to each other, even incompatible like fire and water, reached consensus and cooperation to cover and support her together?

And for what reason had they all mobilized just to support her?

Tie Ci didn’t yet know about the city-wide discussions of the Six-Volume Chronicles or that Crown Princess legends were everywhere. Although she had thought that news of her affairs reaching the capital would probably reverse the people’s impressions, she hadn’t imagined it could reach this extent.

The crowd ahead parted like seawater, directly sending this convoy to cut in line and reach the inner city gates.

At the gates, several matrons were busy with sweat beading their foreheads. They briefly checked the young ladies’ carriages, then soldiers came over, using long spears to probe under the carriages. Finding nothing, they signaled the matrons to thoroughly check the performing troupe.

The matrons took the permits and called people up one by one for verification, feeling their bodies, making the performers open boxes to check for contraband, and confiscating all personal implements.

When a matron was about to pinch Tie Ci’s sleeve, the courtesans suddenly crowded forward, scattering the formation. They laughed and chattered, saying they needed to hurry back to dress up since they had clients tonight. Their eyes and handkerchiefs flew about as they chattered and spun around, dazzling the matrons who couldn’t see clearly. They could only take a cursory look. Before the matron’s hand touched Tie Ci’s sleeve, the courtesans had already pushed Tie Ci away, clamoring that it was her turn, while discreetly slipping silver into the matron’s sleeve.

The matron waved her hand, and Tie Ci and Dan Shuang passed through. Xia Houchun and the other men went through the other side. His type – clearly a rough man – naturally wouldn’t receive overly strict inspection and also passed smoothly.

Soon the courtesans also exited the city. At the gates, they pushed and shoved each other, staring at Tie Ci with infatuated smiles. But Tie Ci was the oddball who had grown up under perverted gazes since childhood – she felt no embarrassment, responding calmly. She casually pulled out a bag of candy beans she’d bought at the market earlier, giving one to each person, smiling: “Thank you, sisters.”

The courtesans held the candy beans like they were golden beans, their gazes at Tie Ci practically overflowing with affection.

The young ladies in the carriages wanted to get out, but Tie Ci waved her hand: “Thank you all, but this place isn’t far from the gates. To avoid drawing attention, let’s continue as before.”

A round-faced girl lifted the curtain and smiled: “Please bear with us a little longer. I’ll apologize properly when you come to my residence later.”

Before she finished speaking, a young lady from the carriage ahead poked her head out: “What do you mean go to your residence? Obviously to mine.”

Another young lady sent her maid to say: “Better come to my residence – our house is closer to the imperial city.”

Someone retorted sarcastically: “Your residence doesn’t even have family guards – how would you escort someone into the imperial city?”

Seeing they were about to fight, Tie Ci didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, thinking she couldn’t go to any of their homes – if things went wrong later, she’d cause trouble for them.

But soon they couldn’t fight anymore. Stewards from the young ladies’ families arrived to fetch them, all vetoing the young ladies’ proposals to hire the performing troupe, and shaking their heads repeatedly about entering the imperial city: “There are important matters in the imperial city today. The master instructed before leaving not to go out casually. Young ladies should return home quickly.”

The young ladies obviously hadn’t expected this development and were all dumbfounded. The courtesans stepped forward, probably with some intention to invite, but courtesans inviting a performing troupe would be even more inappropriate and easier to investigate. Tie Ci immediately turned around, preparing to quietly leave the troupe and figure out another way later.

Suddenly a convoy approached. A woman jumped down from a blue-curtained oil carriage in the middle: “Our young madam is idle with nothing to do. You performers, come with us.”

Tie Ci was startled – wasn’t that Lan Xian’er?

Looking at the oil carriage, someone lifted the curtain and smiled at her with crinkled eyes.

It was indeed Xiao Wenliu, but she was wearing a married woman’s hairstyle. She and Tie Lin were already married?

Before Tie Ci could speak, Dan Shuang forcefully tugged her sleeve.

Xia Houchun also said in a low voice behind her: “Your Highness, be cautious.”

Never mind that Xiao Wenliu was from the Xiao family – her current husband was genuinely Tie Ci’s competitor, currently at the palace square trying to take away Tie Ci’s position as heir apparent.

A genuine enemy – what if getting in the carriage was walking into a trap?

Tie Ci looked at Xiao Wenliu waving vigorously at her, smiled, pushed away Dan Shuang’s hand, and calmly climbed into the carriage.

The curtains fell. The crowd of women felt both happy and somewhat disappointed. Tie Ci suddenly lifted the curtain again and said gently: “Thank you all for your hard work. Please return home safely.” Then to Dan Shuang: “See if you can leave some tokens for the future…”

Before she finished speaking, she saw a maid lifting her skirt and running over, tossing a hairpin into her hands.

This was like a signal. Maids from various families competed to throw sachets, purses, gold hairpins, hair ornaments… swooshing through the curtains onto Tie Ci’s lap, instantly piling up a knee-full.

The troupe leader outside the curtain said softly: “We rough people of the jianghu consider it our fortune to accompany you on this journey today. We dare not leave tokens to sully your noble eyes. We only ask that when writing the seventh volume of Chronicles of Ci’s Heart, you might mention our troupe in passing. Our troupe is called the Grace-Receiving Troupe.”

Chronicles of Ci’s Heart?

What was that?

Tie Ci and Dan Shuang both looked confused.

The young ladies and courtesans formed two camps on either side, rolling their eyes at each other, but now echoed in unison: “Right, right, we only hope Chronicles of Ci’s Heart continues forever, that Your Highness’s legend never fades. Rewards and such – we don’t ask for them, don’t ask.”

Tie Ci could only cup her fists with a confused expression, smiling and nodding. Whatever this was, she’d agree first and figure it out later.

The carriage turned around. She could vaguely hear a courtesan pulling at Xia Houchun, chattily asking if he was the Fat Commander, then coquettishly saying the Commander had squeezed her bottom when passing through the city earlier – this episode should also be added to Chronicles of Ci’s Heart.

Xia Houchun followed the carriage. After walking far away, Tie Ci finally heard him mutter: “Bah, who touched you? I’d rather pet a cat than feel you up!”

This was the truth.

In the carriage, Xiao Wenliu had her arm as a pillow, looking at Tie Ci holding that lap full of colorful trinkets, seeming quite happy and giggling continuously.

Tie Ci had to borrow her handkerchief to wrap up those things that looked very much like love tokens, planning to store them temporarily with her and slowly repay the kindness when she had the chance.

While listening to Xiao Wenliu explain Chronicles of Ci’s Heart to her.

After hearing it, she couldn’t help but sigh: “Teacher put so much thought into this.”

She was really lucky to encounter such powerful teachers.

Public opinion warfare was very important, and Teacher had unknowingly helped her establish a foundation of public opinion in the capital.

“The women of the capital have probably gone crazy for you these past days. They even formed a society called the Wonderful Ci Society. It looks like it’s for discussing poetry and literature, but this ‘ci’ refers to you. All topics inside are about you.” Xiao Wenliu spoke enthusiastically, then suddenly sighed: “If I hadn’t gotten married, I should have been the one to start this society.”

Seeing her instantly deflated, Tie Ci looked more carefully at the newly married young madam. She didn’t have the peach blossom radiance of a newlywed woman as imagined, but rather showed exhaustion. Thinking of her cousin and what he’d been busy with recently, she frowned imperceptibly.

“Fortunately I was returning home today. Seeing Tian shops offering customer appreciation, I knew you were returning to the city and came just in time to meet you.”

“You’re returning home alone?”

Xiao Wenliu played with the tassels of her sachet, smiling carelessly: “Because he’s busy with important matters.”

“Tie Lin is busy with important matters – what about you? Do you know what kind of important matters?”

“Probably just competing for power and profit.”

“Then why did you come to meet me?”

“He’s busy with his affairs, I do mine.” Xiao Wenliu said. “I don’t think about so much. I only remember that I promised sister I’d gather with her when she returned to the capital.”

Tie Ci stared at her, somewhat unable to understand what this girl was thinking. Even if she and Tie Lin had no affection, the Xiao family and Prince Zhao were already bound together. Would she disregard even the Xiao family for her sake?

Xiao Wenliu grasped her hand: “Go, go to the palace city. They want Tie Lin to replace you, but I know they can’t do it. So I came to meet you. I want to get you to the palace city as quickly as possible. You go stop their ambitions, let them learn a lesson. This way they won’t go further and further down the wrong path… Your Highness, as long as you appear to stop them, both Tie Lin and the Xiao family won’t deserve death, right?”

Tie Ci couldn’t answer.

Should she say this girl was too naive?

If Tie Lin and the Xiao family pulled back in time, seeing her and immediately prostrating themselves, reining in at the cliff’s edge, then the situation wouldn’t be too bad. Given Prince Zhao and the Xiao family’s influence and status, she and her supporters could indeed coexist peacefully with them, maintaining temporary balance.

But was that possible?

Both sides were wolves that had already tasted blood. Their snow-white fangs wouldn’t stop until they bit down on something.

The curtain lifted and Lan Xian’er poked her head in: “I chose a shortcut to get back to the Xiao residence on time. It’s a bit bumpy – Your Highness and Young Madam please bear with it.”

“I’ll take you to the Xiao residence, then use the Xiao family’s carriage to send you to the imperial city. I’ll have Lan Xian’er take you in under the pretext of bringing medicine to Tie Lin. People in the imperial city know her, so she can bring you inside.” Xiao Wenliu said. “The Xiao family’s carriage can also enter the imperial city directly.”

She pointed at Lan Xian’er and smiled: “It was actually Lan Xian’er who reminded me today, or I wouldn’t have thought to meet you at the inner city gates.”

Tie Ci looked at Lan Xian’er, her heart stirring.

She didn’t think this woman was so kind-hearted.

Meeting her gaze, Lan Xian’er smiled: “Your Highness… didn’t that person return with you?”

Xiao Wenliu also said: “Where’s Feiyu? Isn’t she always inseparable from you?”

Tie Ci was silent for a moment, then smiled: “Even the closest people sometimes part ways.”

Dan Shuang, who had been sitting silently on the side, looked up at her.

Tie Ci thought of something: “What about those Six-Volume Chronicles? Let me take a look.”

Xiao Wenliu treasured them like precious items, taking out a bundle containing six books separately wrapped in fine palace-made paper covers. You could tell they’d been read many times but carefully protected. Xiao Wenliu carefully took them out while pouting: “Though they’re generally accurate, they wrote our Xiao family too badly. I barely read the Dongming volume, and there’s no me in it!”

Tie Ci flipped through them. Not only was there no Xiao Wenliu, there was no trace of Murong Yi either.

The books focused on describing her great achievements, but also included multifaceted character development – classmate bonds, brotherly affection, even imperial family relationships were mentioned. Even Rong Pu’s pursuit of her was included. Only about her and Murong Yi – not a single mention.

Someone had deliberately erased Murong Yi’s existence.

Tie Ci closed the book and sighed.

This was probably Teacher’s intention.

Probably no one was optimistic about this relationship.

Xiao Wenliu hurriedly took the books back, carefully wrapping them: “Don’t wrinkle them – these are deluxe editions from Cultivating Heart Hall. ‘Long nights, what dispels worry? Only the Six-Volume Chronicles.'”

“Tie Lin doesn’t seem to be a considerate and gentle husband.”

“He’s just a little brat – what does he know about gentleness and consideration?” Xiao Wenliu said. “He kicks off the covers every day, and I have to cover him. He also complains I take up his space and kicks me out of bed. It feels like marrying a son.”

“If he becomes Crown Prince, naturally plenty of people will compete to help you cover your husband’s blankets.”

“If he becomes Crown Prince, I’ll probably end up in the cold palace sooner or later. We’ve been married only a few days and already fought several times.” Xiao Wenliu said wistfully. “He’s already like this before becoming Crown Prince – if he really becomes one, what kind of life would I have?”

“Not necessarily. With the Xiao family’s status, even if Tie Lin doesn’t love you, you’d still be Crown Princess.”

“A Crown Princess keeping an empty chamber or being squeezed out by concubines – that’s not as comfortable as being a young lady in the Xiao family’s grand residence.” Xiao Wenliu snorted. “What good are empty titles? Can you eat them? Drink them? Do they accompany you through long nights or bring lifelong joy?”

Tie Ci patted her shoulder. Xiao Wenliu called her naive, but she was quite worldly-wise.

She finally only said: “If you’re truly unhappy in the future, come find me. I can always protect you.”

“I have family. I must stay with my parents and sisters.” But Xiao Wenliu shook her head, then smiled again.

The carriage stopped before the Xiao residence. Before stopping, Tie Ci and Dan Shuang had already gotten out and mixed into the performing troupe. Several people were arranged by the Xiao family steward to stay in the front courtyard, watching as a large group of maids and matrons came to receive Xiao Wenliu while the carriage drove directly into the inner courtyard.

After a while, Lan Xian’er emerged from the moon gate carrying a bundle, followed by two maids and two guards. When leaving, she deliberately took a detour to look at the performing troupe, then got into a carriage with the two maids while the two guards followed alongside.

The men of the Xiao residence had all gone to the imperial city, and the women were busy with Xiao Wenliu’s homecoming, so no one would pay attention to this matter.

The Xiao family’s carriage, delivering medicine to Prince Zhao’s heir, naturally proceeded without obstruction and wasn’t subjected to any inspection.

In the palace square, after all ceremonies concluded, the Empress Dowager looked meaningfully at the Emperor, who sat upright with no expression.

The ministers and citizens below knelt prostrate, not daring to raise their heads. The Empress Dowager coughed once, signaling Li Gui. Li Gui stepped forward and said softly: “Your Majesty, it’s time to summon Prince Zhao’s heir to the hall.”

Author’s Note: Recently traveling and running low on saved chapters, so updating less frequently to ensure no interruptions. After National Day, will see about more updates depending on saved chapter situation.