novelraw Chapter 175 : Dealing with a Rival
Chapter 175 : Dealing with a Rival
The search and rescue near the Kazas Bridge continued for over half an hour.
The magnificent sunset had faded to twilight, yet the soldiers still hadn't found a trace of their target.
Quintina cradled Shen Han's retrieved cap, tears falling "pitter-patter".
Julie finished a phone call and hurriedly crouched before the little princess, "Shen Han is fine. She's already changed into clean clothes and gone back on duty!"
Hearing her maid's words, Quintina immediately looked up at her.
The princess's green eyes were misty, like the waters of a jade pool.
That clean and clear look was like an autumn fairy tale.
"She's okay?"
"She's fine. I don't think that guard is all that great anyway. She made you cry. Let's not bother with her anymore!"
Quintina sniffled, saying very seriously, "But I still want to see her."
She clasped her hands, gently placing them on her chest, "My heart is beating a bit fast. It feels like love at first sight."
Julie was stunned for a moment, then quietly reminded her, "Princess, that's from being scared."
"It's not love, it's fear."
Quintina lowered her gaze to the black military cap on her lap and asked, "Can I ask my brother to talk to the Empress about keeping Shen Han here?"
Hearing this, Julie felt her temples start to throb.
She patiently explained to the little ancestor before her, "We can't do that. The news of Shen Han falling into the lake has surely spread throughout the palace by now."
"We know it was just an accident, but some gossips will surely spread rumors, which would negatively impact your reputation."
"If you ask the prince to request her from the Empress, it would surely brew into a royal scandal."
Perhaps the destructive power of 'royal scandal' was too great; Quintina quickly abandoned the idea of keeping Shen Han in the palace.
She thought for a moment, then asked again, "Then during her time in Ksenrode, can she spend some time playing with me each day?"
Julie felt a toothache coming on.
But seeing that her little ancestor had already taken a big step back, she didn't dare to negate it outright. She could only nod stiffly.
"Then let's go."
Quintina broke into a smile through her tears, cradling the wet military cap as she headed towards a certain banquet hall in the palace.
Julie hurried after her, somewhat anxiously, "Princess, where are we going?"
"I'm going to the banquet hall to find the Empress. She can arrange Shen Han's time. We won't trouble my brother with this."
Hearing the little princess's words, Julie's scalp tingled. She reached out to steady her, "Princess, your dress is dirty, and your face is covered in tear stains. You can't go to the banquet hall looking like this."
"How about this: let's go back to your room to change clothes first, then I'll call the Empress's assistant to set up an appointment for you. Then you can meet the Empress. That's more proper."
Hearing this, Quintina lifted her skirt with one hand and hugged Shen Han's military cap with the other, happily changing direction and starting towards her quarters.
"Then please help me set up a meeting for tonight. They're all very busy in the morning, and we shouldn't disturb the Empress's work."
......
Gu Junwan had just finished attending the noblewomen's banquet when Xu Zhao approached her with an odd expression.
"What is it?"
Hearing her Empress ask, Xu Zhao quickly spoke in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the little girl wants to meet with you tonight."
Hearing this, curiosity flashed in Gu Junwan's phoenix eyes, "What does she want to discuss with me?"
Xu Zhao turned her head, making sure no one was paying attention to them, then carefully replied, "She wants Shen Han to spend some time playing with her. She knows only you can decide this, so she wants to ask you for some time."
She had originally wanted to say 'ask you for the person', but on second thought, she felt this phrasing might displease the Empress, so she changed it at the last moment.
The meaning was the same, but asking for time sounded much gentler than asking for a person.
As she spoke, Xu Zhao kept watching the Empress's expression.
She thought that little princess was really brave, daring to come bouncing around in front of the Empress. How was this any different from voluntarily offering herself up?
Gu Junwan's expression remained unchanged; no one could discern her current emotions.
But Xu Zhao, familiar with her temperament, knew that the cute little princess with silver hair was about to be dealt with!
After a brief consideration, Gu Junwan spoke, "Go and arrange it. Tonight at 9:30, have her meet me at St. Aya Cathedral."
The corners of her lips curved slightly upward, her narrowed phoenix eyes flowing with an obscure light.
This version of the Empress was one Xu Zhao rarely saw.
Extremely charming, yet with a hint of danger.
Xu Zhao nodded rapidly. After accompanying Gu Junwan out of the venue, she went aside to make calls and arrange tonight's meeting.
Seeing her wife's figure appear at the door, Shen Han, standing outside the venue, immediately went to meet her.
She handed a light suit jacket to her, then silently escorted her back to their quarters.
The midsummer palace wasn't cold, but the night breeze could easily make one's skin feel chilly.
Gu Junwan draped the jacket, permeated with her alpha's body heat, over her shoulders. The familiar warmth instantly enveloped her, giving her a comfortable and soothing feeling.
The two walked one in front of the other along the stone path. Moonlight poured down from the sky, casting long shadows of the two on the ground.
An invisible aura slowly blended between this AO couple, warm and beautiful.
After several phone calls, the arrangements for St. Aya Cathedral and the little princess's side were completed.
Xu Zhao, carrying her briefcase, quickly walked towards Gu Junwan, but after just a few meters, she slowed her pace.
She looked up at the two strolling under the moonlight, feeling the atmosphere was so harmonious.
It was like an impressionist painting, where both bold and light strokes created the scenery. Adding another stroke would destroy the painting's artistic conception.
Xu Zhao's gaze shifted slightly, falling on the tall alpha walking behind the Empress.
She sincerely felt that Shen Han had it quite tough.
While waiting in the corner of the venue earlier, she had already learned the ins and outs of the 'bridge incident' through her channels.
In that situation, with the little princess about to fall in front of her, what else could Shen Han have done?
If she had caught her, it might have led to scandalous rumors.
If she hadn't, and the little princess had gotten hurt, Shen Han would still have been implicated.
Wasn't jumping into the lake the only option left?
Although it was a bit extreme, it did solve the problem.
After tonight, that little princess probably wouldn't be able to act willfully about this matter anymore.
No joke, when had the Empress ever failed to hit the nail on the head?
Thinking of this, Xu Zhao couldn't help but feel a bit gossipy again.
She was already impatient to fast-forward the clock to 9:30, eager to see what method her Empress would use this time to strike at her love rival!
Time quickly arrived at 9 PM.
Shen Han's Team 1 members had just changed shifts and returned to rest.
Gu Junwan then took Xu Zhao and two guards from Team 2 out.
The Empress had changed out of the elegant dress she wore to the banquet. Now, she wore a dark suit.
The suit style was rather masculine, somewhat similar to a Federation military uniform. Paired with leather ankle boots, the overall look gave off an indescribably crisp and dashing feeling.
Xu Zhao's eyes behind her glasses were fixed in amazement.
She felt the Empress before her was like a countess who had stepped out of a mural, about to rush to an unknown night battlefield.
......
St. Aya Cathedral stood directly across from the palace square.
It was one of the largest cathedrals in Ksenrode, with ancient and weathered outer stone walls and colorful stained glass windows.
Viewed from afar, it always exuded an indescribable solemnity and sacredness.
After passing through the magnificent corridor, the Empress's party arrived at the chapel.
Light poured down from the domed ceiling, illuminating the gray ceramic floor, making it clean and bright.
The two guards stood watch outside the door, while Xu Zhao followed Gu Junwan into the cathedral-like chapel.
The hall was very quiet, with an elderly priest with graying hair sitting on a bench in the front row.
Hearing footsteps, he slowly rose and nodded in greeting to the Empress.
Gu Junwan nodded back, indicating that her side didn't need any reception.
The old priest nodded and sat back down without hesitation.
He sat slightly hunched, either in silent prayer or resting with closed eyes.
Seeing his indifferent attitude, Xu Zhao felt a bit dissatisfied.
She knew that church clergy didn't bow to power and wealth, but did he need to be so cold? He could at least exchange a few polite words.
Gu Junwan, however, didn't mind at all.
After seeing the old priest's behavior, satisfaction even flashed in her eyes.
Her choice to meet Quintina here wasn't because she believed in Ksenrode's religion.
It was because this St. Aya Cathedral was Prince Joris's 'private intelligence station'!
She had caught this information in her previous conversations with Joris.
She knew that all the clergy here were his eyes and ears, and that seemingly aloof old priest, despite looking detached from worldly affairs, was actually not much different from an intelligence chief.
Simply put, the conversation between her and the little princess here would reach Joris's ears before the night was over.
Not long after, Quintina arrived at St. Aya Cathedral with her maid.
She had also changed into a new dress, her silver hair tied up in a bun style with a delicate small crown adorning it, giving her a sweet air like a finely crafted porcelain doll.
The little princess was still carrying Shen Han's military cap from the afternoon.
As soon as she saw Gu Junwan, she quickly walked up to her.
"Empress, I'm really sorry to bother you so late."
Gu Junwan shook her head slightly, gesturing for the other to sit down.
Her gaze seemed to casually sweep over the familiar cap in the other's hand, then she spoke softly, "It's alright. I heard you want my guard captain to stay in the palace to play with you. May I know the reason?"
Quintina had been struggling with how to broach the subject politely.
Hearing the Empress bring it up directly, her expression relaxed, and she quickly said, "Yes, she fell off the bridge to save me this evening. I want to make it up to her."
Gu Junwan leaned back slightly in her chair, turning her head to look at the somewhat anxious little princess, and continued to ask, "Oh? What kind of compensation did you have in mind?"
The little princess placed the military cap on her lap and gestured with both hands, "My brother has a favorite hunting dog, about this big. I want to give it to her."
"There's a saying in the Free Federation: 'A gentleman doesn't take what others cherish.' This gift is too valuable; she can't accept it."
Hearing the Empress's words, the little princess thought seriously for a moment, then gestured again, "Then can I give her my brother's second favorite falcon?"
Not far away, the old priest, who was trying hard to lower his presence, twitched his long eyebrows slightly.
He pursed his lips, mentally noting down another piece of information.