Decree for the fallen princess

It had been three days since the Duchess Wan last visited, Xuan Cheng had explained her situation with Duyi pharmacy and how her income worked. And this had made her the only person other than Li Quan who had the transparency of income resources that funded the lavish life of Princess Cheng--the frogotten princess.

Princess Xuan Cheng found herself standing in her garden, surrounded by the towering trees that sheltered numerous birds. Her gaze was fixed on them, their melodious chirping accompanied by an unusual aura that clung to the air.

She couldn't help but address the feathered creatures. "I understand why you've come, but couldn't you have waited? Your presence only adds to my unease," she murmured softly, her nails pressing into her clasped palms.

Her eyes then dropped to the grassy ground, unable to bear the weight of the impending storm that this peculiar aura foretold. Confronting it was a daunting prospect, and her heart was heavy with the burden of it.

Suddenly, her tranquility was interrupted by Huan. She approached the princess with the urgent news.

"Your Highness, someone from the Capital City has arrived," Huan reported, and her words cut through the princess's reverie, pulling her away from her melancholic thoughts.

Xuan Cheng's reaction was a mixture of disbelief and hope. "What did you say?" she inquired, her teary eyes now brimming with a mix of emotions. Huan wore a triumphant smile, well aware of the significance of this moment.

Princess Cheng had foreseen this day, meticulously plotting and waiting for it. She had endured hardships and sacrifices to reach this point. However, even with her careful planning, the shadow of doubt had always loomed, making her restless and apprehensive.

"Somebody from the Capital City has indeed arrived," Huan repeated, her grin widening as she witnessed the princess's astonishment. She understood the immense price and sacrifices that Princess Cheng had paid to make this moment a reality.

Filled with a rush of emotions, Xuan Cheng bolted forward like a wild deer, her heart pounding wildly. The feeling of victory, earned after a long and painful journey, had finally arrived.

Two rows of maids headed by Huan followed her, she stood at the threshold of the main hall, and several eunuchs dressed in their official robes were waiting for her inside.

Her steps halted, and she gasped, her heart wanting to tear her skin and rise above, but she patted herself to calm down.

"Your Highness, why don't you proceed inside?" Huan whispered, her eyes flickering toward the patient eunuchs awaiting the princess's arrival.

Xuan Cheng chuckled softly, her eyes reflecting a mixture of disbelief and joy as she exchanged knowing glances with her trusted companion. "Let me savor the reality of this moment. It feels too good to be true," she admitted.

Huan's playful smile mirrored the princess's sentiments. "Your Highness..."

After a brief pause, Princess Xuan Cheng made her way inside, her posture regal, her shoulders squared, and her hands elegantly clasped before her. A radiant smile adorned her face.

The maids in attendance lowered their heads in a show of respect as she entered. Xuan Cheng assessed the room's atmosphere, noting the palpable change in the air. It was an atmosphere of elation, and everyone present seemed overjoyed.

She proceeded directly to the two chairs positioned at the center, flanked by rows of side chairs. This was the customary seating for her grandfather and grandmother, where they would meet with a select few guests and oversee household matters.

However, since her grandmother had entrusted her with the responsibilities of managing the household when she was just fifteen, this had become her designated place.

It was a unique sight – the unmarried princess acting as the host for the master and mistress of the house. The eunuchs present were left in a quandary, uncertain whether to bow their heads or remain at attention, unyielding in their posture.

"Please, everyone, rise," Princess Xuan Cheng commanded as a courteous greeting, her gaze drifting to the head eunuch, who remained upright and unyielding, a clear sign of his reluctance to show her respect.

She locked eyes with him, delving into the depths of his memories. In his puzzled gaze, she uncovered the memories of the arduous journey he had undertaken, an indistinct face speaking to him before he embarked on his mission.

'No one should know about this,' the enigmatic figure had said.

The head eunuch was then presented with a scroll. Curiosity welled up within Xuan Cheng, prompting her to want to dig deeper and unveil the identity of this mysterious man, who clearly was not the emperor as she had expected.

However, Huan's voice broke through her focus. "Your Highness..."

Princess Xuan Cheng sighed softly and redirected her attention toward Huan. "Hmph..." She acknowledged her companion, her thoughts still circling around the enigma that had just unfolded before her.

"They are from the Capital City," Huan informed, her initial smile fading as she took offense at the eunuchs' rudeness.

Princess Xuan Cheng turned her attention back to the eunuchs. Their expressions now bore an even deeper layer of bewilderment.

In a hushed tone, one of the eunuchs leaned in and whispered to his companion, "Has Her Highness somehow grown younger over the years?"

The other eunuch couldn't help but react strongly, giving his companion a sharp smack on the arm. "Nonsense!" he retorted, utterly astounded by the absurd notion.

Xuan Cheng, on the other hand, found the situation rather amusing. She couldn't help but laugh inwardly at their confusion.

"Huan, please provide them with seats," she instructed, ensuring they were attended to, even though they were oblivious to her extraordinary abilities.

The head eunuch hesitated for a moment and then spoke up, "No... it's alright, Your Highness..."

Princess Xuan Cheng chuckled and decided to introduce herself. "I am Xuan Cheng, the granddaughter of the Grand Imperial Princess. I am honored to host your rare presence and wish to ensure your visit is without any complaints," she declared graciously.

"Granddaughter?" The head eunuch was left utterly speechless. He had served in the palace for many years, yet he had never heard of Princess Xuan Cheng before.

His indecisiveness and failure to recognize her were evident, and he berated himself for not discerning her true identity. The opulence of her attire and the priceless jade headwear she wore should have been telltale signs that she was not someone to be trifled with.

"Forgive me, Your Highness," he pleaded, dropping to his knees with trembling legs.

Xuan Cheng leaned forward and spoke with a hint of mockery in her tone, her eyebrows raised. "How could you recognize me when we've never met?" She then gestured to Huan to assist the head eunuch in rising.

Leaning back in her seat, she inquired, "I'm curious about the purpose of your visit."

"Your Highness, I am here to deliver a decree," the head eunuch explained. His companion stepped forward, handing him the scroll that Princess Xuan Cheng had glimpsed in the head eunuch's memories.

With a swift, purposeful motion, Xuan Cheng got up from her chair and knelt on the ground, her demeanor becoming serious. Her eyes were lowered, and the smile that had adorned her face was replaced with a facade of gravity, concealing her underlying excitement.

"I will begin now..." the head eunuch announced after ensuring that all those present within the hall had shown the due respect by kneeling, as he prepared to deliver the confidential decree.