Chapter 211: The Demon Lord Princess's Daily Life of Slacking Off Chapter 211: Holding Back Troops

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Protagonist:

Yan Qianqian

Hearing these words, Yan Si hurriedly stood up, bowed respectfully to the Empress, and said with tears of gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress, for your kindness. Such great grace, this humble one will never forget!"

Shangguan Xingyu, standing beside them, had already reddened eyes, tears swirling in her sockets. She bit her lip lightly and called out with a voice slightly choked: "Mother, thank you..."

Seeing this, the Empress smiled faintly, reached out to gently stroke Shangguan Xingyu's hair, and said softly: "Silly child, why must we mother and daughter be so formal? As long as you yourself truly feel happy and willing, that is enough."

Saying this, the Empress pointed to the exquisite pastries on the table and continued: "Take these pastries back to taste; the flavor is quite good. This palace is also a bit tired today; you two go back and rest first."

Hearing this, the two hurriedly bowed and took their leave. Afterwards, they slowly walked out of Fengyi Palace. Along the way, both remained silent, each seemingly harboring their own thoughts.

Yan Si carefully escorted Shangguan Xingyu to the Qin Gong; a gentle breeze blew, lifting Shangguan Xingyu's skirt and hair, making her appear even more pitifully beautiful.

Finally arriving at the door of Shangguan Xingyu's Qin Gong, Yan Si stopped, gazed deeply at Shangguan Xingyu, and softly instructed: "Rest early, do not overexert yourself."

Shangguan Xingyu nodded slightly, a faint blush rising on her face, and softly replied: "Mm, you too." After speaking, she turned and walked into the Qin Gong.

After Shangguan Xingyu entered, Yan Si then turned to leave. However, a thought kept echoing in his mind—how exactly could he successfully win over Shangguan Peilin? Thinking of this, he couldn't help but frown slightly, sinking into deep thought...

Over the next three days, every morning when sunlight streamed through the window lattice onto the floor of the room, Yan Si would wake up on time. After washing up, he would go with Shangguan Xingyan to the shop to begin a day of busy work.

Although the shop's affairs were numerous and busy, Yan Si's heart could not fully immerse itself in them. He would often become distracted, secretly pondering why, since he last mentioned the imperial marriage decree to the Emperor, there had been no news at all.

And what did Shangguan Peilin think of this? Agree or refuse? This question was like a mischievous little cat, constantly scratching at his heart, making him unable to rest easy.

Finally, as the third day neared evening, Yan Si could no longer suppress his inner anxiety. Taking advantage of a brief lull in the busy work, he sought out Shangguan Xingyan and proposed they go together to Fengyi Palace to have an audience with the Empress. Shangguan Xingyan hesitated slightly, but finally nodded in agreement.

The two hurried to the gate of Fengyi Palace, and after reporting in, were soon welcomed into the palace. The Empress, upon seeing them both arrive at the same time, couldn't help but show a hint of surprise on her face. However, having long experienced palace intrigues, she immediately regained her composure and hurriedly smiled to welcome the two inside.

After Yan Si entered the palace hall, he first bowed respectfully to the Empress, then quickly handed a box of exquisite pastries he had carefully prepared in advance to the palace maid standing beside the Empress.

Immediately afterward, he took a deep breath, mustered his courage, and got straight to the point: "Your Majesty the Empress, since this humble one had the fortune to see the Emperor last time and respectfully requested the imperial marriage decree, many days have passed, yet there has been no follow-up news at all. I wonder if Your Majesty the Empress is available today, and could clarify this matter for this humble one?"

Hearing this, the Empress smiled faintly and replied softly: "This palace happens to be free today; why don't we go together to Yudi to ask the Emperor's opinion?"

Hearing these words, Yan Si was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed to thank her: "Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress!" Thus, the three of them set off toward Yudi.

At this time, Shangguan Peilin, inside Yudi, was listlessly flipping through a memorial. He looked up at Eunuch Xi attending nearby and asked casually: "These past two days, what is that Yan Si doing?"

Eunuch Xi bowed slightly and said: "Replying to Your Majesty, according to this servant's knowledge, Young Master Yan and the Sixth Prince either stay in the Qin Gong these days or go to the shop to busy themselves; apart from that, there are no other special actions."

Hearing this, Shangguan Peilin frowned slightly and showed a look of confusion, asking puzzled: "This is truly strange! How can they be so quiet? I have already thought of how to make things difficult for that Yan Si; could it be that he has actually chosen to give up?" In his words, there seemed to be a hint of disappointment.

Seeing this, Eunuch Xi hurriedly spoke to comfort him: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger; perhaps there are hidden circumstances..." However, before he could finish, a loud voice of the guards came from outside: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, the Sixth Prince and Young Master Yan request an audience!"

Hearing this, Shangguan Peilin was first stunned, then a smile instantly bloomed on his face, but soon he forcibly suppressed the smile at the corners of his mouth.

He casually picked up a memorial on the table, pretending to be wholeheartedly handling official business. After everything was ready, he then said unhurriedly: "Come in."

At this order, the guards immediately stepped aside to make a path. Then the Empress entered first, Shangguan Xingyan followed closely behind in the middle position, and Yan Si came last.

Shangguan Peilin looked up and saw this; he couldn't help but feel angry again. He thought: One is his own birth mother, the other is his full brother, yet they do not think to help him make things difficult for Yan Si, but instead all come together to plead for him; truly unreasonable!

As he was secretly pondering, he saw the Empress gracefully bow and say softly: "Concubine pays respects to Your Majesty."

Shangguan Xingyan and Yan Si behind her, seeing this, did not dare to be slow, and hurriedly followed with a salute: "Your subjects (this humble one) pay respects to Your Majesty!" At this time, the Emperor suppressed the anger in his heart, but his tone was still somewhat stiff as he asked: "Why does the Empress happen to have time to come to my Yudi today?"

The Empress smiled faintly and answered without beating around the bush: "Replying to Your Majesty, today this child Yan Si sent some pastries to Concubine. After Concubine tasted them, she found them very delicious, and thought to bring them for Your Majesty to taste as well."

Hearing this, Yan Si and Xingyan hurriedly echoed: "Yes, Your Majesty. We learned that Her Majesty the Empress was coming to present pastries to you, and thought it would be a good opportunity to report to you about the shop's affairs at the same time."

Shangguan Peilin couldn't help but snort coldly in his heart: "Hmph, sounds better than singing, nothing but high-sounding excuses." However, he showed no displeasure on his face, only said lightly: "Grant them seats."

After the three had taken their seats in turn, the Emperor then slowly asked: "Then, how is the shop's situation recently?"

Hearing this, Shangguan Xingyan quickly took out a ledger from her bosom and respectfully handed it to Shangguan Peilin. Shangguan Peilin reached out to take the ledger, gently opened it, and what met his eyes was the net income details from the opening day.

Seeing that number, even the usually steady Shangguan Peilin couldn't help but be greatly shocked, nearly dropping his jaw.