Chapter 232 A gloomy atmosphere hangs over the West Depot, but suddenly an invitation arrives from the heavens.

"Reporting to the Superintendent, there is no movement from the Eastern Depot. After Superintendent Wang Yue vomited blood yesterday, he has remained behind closed doors. Superintendent Yu Huatian's injuries are severe; I heard he had to hire the best physician in the capital just to save his life," General Su Meng reported.

Emperor Liu Sheng nodded; this was all within his expectations.

"What about the Jinxiu Pavilion?"

"Our men have been keeping a close watch, and there have been no abnormalities so far."

"Continue to keep a close watch." A cold glint flashed in Emperor Liu Sheng's eyes.

"Understood!"

Emperor Liu Sheng walked into his office and sat down in the large, ornate armchair.

He rubbed his throbbing temples, feeling waves of exhaustion.

He needed a way to break the deadlock.

A solution that could resolve all problems once and for all.

But where could such a solution be?

He went over everything in his mind once more.

Consort Jiang, Superintendent Wang Yue, the Empress Dowager, and the three pregnant women in the Cold Palace...

Face after face, incident after incident, all interwoven into a complex and dangerous web.

And he was standing right at the center of this web.

A single misstep, and he would be crushed to pieces by this web.

Just as he was feeling agitated and had no clue what to do.

Outside the door, a report came through.

"Reporting to the Superintendent, someone from outside the palace requests an audience. They say they are from the Eldest Princess's residence and have brought an invitation for you."

The Eldest Princess? Princess Zhao Linger?

Emperor Liu Sheng was stunned for a moment.

Why would she suddenly send him an invitation?

"Let her in."

Soon, a maid dressed in the attire of the Eldest Princess's residence walked in respectfully and presented a gold-embossed invitation with both hands.

Emperor Liu Sheng took the invitation and opened it to take a look.

It was written in Princess Zhao Linger's own graceful, small regular script.

The content was simple.

It stated that the weather had been clear recently, the ice on Yanbo Lake on the outskirts of the capital was beginning to thaw, and the scenery was pleasant. She wished to invite him to go sightseeing and relax.

Emperor Liu Sheng looked at the invitation, his heart stirred.

He had indeed been feeling suffocated by all these vexing matters recently.

Going out for a stroll and relaxing might perhaps provide some new ideas.

Moreover, deepening his relationship with the Eldest Princess Zhao Linger would be nothing but beneficial for him.

This Eldest Princess was exceptionally intelligent, and she held significant weight in the Emperor's heart.

Perhaps, at some critical moment, she could become a great asset to him.

Thinking of this, Emperor Liu Sheng no longer hesitated.

"Go back and tell the Eldest Princess that I, Liu, gladly accept."

The maid acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Emperor Liu Sheng placed the invitation, which carried a faint scent of ink, on the table and tapped his fingers lightly on it.

Princess Zhao Linger's invitation had come at just the right time.

It was like a window opening in his suffocating, cramped room of worries, letting in a breath of fresh air.

He truly needed a change of environment and a change of mood.

Spending all day circling around the Western Depot and the inner palace, dealing only with conspiracies, power struggles, and slaughter, would keep one's nerves constantly taut and easily lead to a deadlock in one's thinking.

Going to the outskirts of the capital for an outing might look like leisure, but it was actually a strategy.

For one, it allowed him to temporarily step out of this whirlpool and re-examine the entire chess game from the perspective of an observer.

Secondly, this contact with Princess Zhao Linger was also an important signal.

He wanted those people in the palace who were watching him to see that he, Emperor Liu Sheng, not only had the Empress Dowager's backing but also had an extraordinary relationship with the Eldest Princess.

This was a form of intangible deterrence.

It would help reduce unnecessary resistance to his future actions.

"General Su Meng, Shi Potian," Emperor Liu Sheng called out.

"Your subordinates are here." The two immediately entered from outside the door.

"I am going out of the palace tomorrow to accompany the Eldest Princess on an outing to the outskirts of the capital," Emperor Liu Sheng instructed. "While I am away, keep a close watch on everything inside and outside the Western Depot. Especially the Eastern Depot and Fengyi Palace. If there is any movement, notify me immediately via pigeon post."

"Rest assured, Superintendent," General Su Meng said, cupping his hands. "Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we will not let a single mouse slip past."

"Shi Potian, tomorrow you will take a squad of elite Secret Agents to guard the perimeter of Yanbo Lake. We are going for an outing, not to war, so do not make it too conspicuous, but safety must be guaranteed."

"Understood!" Shi Potian nodded. He was a man of few words, but his execution was always strong.

Having arranged everything, Emperor Liu Sheng felt the pressure in his heart lighten slightly.

He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and began to simulate the scene of meeting Princess Zhao Linger tomorrow in his mind.

This Eldest Princess was different from any woman he had ever encountered.

She did not have the depth and desire for control of the Empress Dowager, the viciousness and ambition of Consort Jiang, the weakness and dependency of the three consorts in the Cold Palace, nor the innocence and straightforwardness of Xiao Cui.

She was like a clear spring—transparent, yet bottomless.

She possessed the pride and nobility of a royal family member, as well as an intelligence and clarity that ordinary women lacked.

Getting along with her was comfortable, but it also required constant vigilance.

Because you never knew what was truly behind those eyes that seemed to see right through people's hearts.

...

Early the next morning.

Emperor Liu Sheng changed out of his python robe, which represented the power and murderous aura of the Commander of the Western Depot, and put on a moon-white silk casual outfit.

He fastened a jade belt around his waist and tied his hair up with a simple wooden hairpin.

The whole person looked less sinister and more refined.

He did not bring General Su Meng or Shi Potian. Alone, riding a spirited black horse, he arrived at the agreed-upon palace gate.

Princess Zhao Linger's carriage was already waiting there.

It was an extremely magnificent carriage; the body was crafted from high-quality golden nanmu wood, the curtains were made of cloud brocade tribute from Jiangnan, and delicate silver bells hung from the four corners, emitting crisp sounds with the breeze.

The carriage curtain was lifted by a slender, jade-like hand, revealing Princess Zhao Linger's beautiful and peerless face.

Today, she had also changed into a riding outfit convenient for movement, which made her look heroic and spirited, while also carrying a touch of a young woman's charm.

Upon seeing Emperor Liu Sheng's attire, a flash of admiration passed through her eyes.

"Superintendent Liu's attire today makes you look like a graceful young master from the mortal world, not the terrifying Commander of the Western Depot that makes people tremble," she teased with a smile.

Emperor Liu Sheng dismounted and cupped his hands toward the carriage.

"In front of the Princess, I dare not call myself Superintendent; I am merely a protector of flowers."

His words made the smile on Princess Zhao Linger's lips deepen.

"Slippery-tongued," she chided, then said, "Get in; the wind is strong outside."

Emperor Liu Sheng, however, did not get into the carriage.

"The weather is perfect today; wouldn't riding a horse be more interesting than sitting in a carriage? If the Princess does not mind, why not ride with me?"

As he spoke, he patted the saddle behind him.

Princess Zhao Linger was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting him to make such a bold suggestion.

Riding together on one horse—how intimate would that position be?

A blush inevitably flew to her cheeks.

But she was not the type of coy young girl.

She only hesitated for a moment before nodding readily.

"Alright. I want to see if your horsemanship, Superintendent Liu, is as impressive as your glib tongue."

As she spoke, she stepped down from the carriage with the help of her maid.

Emperor Liu Sheng reached out to support her arm.

It felt warm and soft to the touch.

With a gentle pull, Princess Zhao Linger used the momentum to leap lightly onto the horse's back, sitting behind him.

Emperor Liu Sheng could feel the young girl's soft body pressed tightly against his back.

A faint scent of orchids lingered at the tip of his nose.

His heart stirred, but he did not show it on his face at all.

"Princess, hold on tight."

He said, then squeezed the horse's abdomen with his legs.

"Giddy up!"

The black horse neighed, its four hooves flying, and like a black bolt of lightning, it sped off in the direction of outside the city, leaving dust in its wake.

The carriage and the guards were left far behind.

The wind whistled past their ears.

Princess Zhao Linger was a bit nervous at first, her hands gripping Emperor Liu Sheng's clothes tightly.

But soon, she adapted to this feeling of speed.

An unprecedented sense of freedom and exhilaration surged into her heart.

She couldn't even help but let out a joyful cry.

Emperor Liu Sheng, listening to the young girl's silver-bell-like laughter behind him, felt that the gloom of the past few days had been blown away by this swift wind.

Perhaps, today really was a good day.

Yanbo Lake was located thirty miles outside the western suburbs of the capital.

It was named so because the lake was shrouded in mist all year round, like a light smoke.

In winter, the surface of the lake froze into a thick layer of ice, and under the sunlight, it looked like a huge mirror, crystal clear.

The plum blossom forest by the lake had also quietly bloomed at this moment; red plum, white plum, and green calyx plum blossoms were dotted here and there, with a subtle fragrance drifting, adding a touch of vitality and color to this silver-clad world.

When Emperor Liu Sheng and Princess Zhao Linger arrived at the lakeside on horseback, there were already many tourists there enjoying the plum blossoms and walking on the ice.

Most were nobles, young masters, and ladies from the capital.

The two dismounted and handed the reins to the guards who had followed them.

Shi Potian had already led the men of the Western Depot to quietly disperse in the surroundings, bringing this area into an invisible circle of protection.

"It's so beautiful."

Princess Zhao Linger looked at the beautiful scenery before her and exclaimed sincerely.

She took a deep breath; the air was mixed with the crispness of ice and snow and the fragrance of plum blossoms, which was refreshing and heart-gladdening.

"Let's go, let's go play on the lake."

Like a child, she took Emperor Liu Sheng's hand and ran toward the frozen lake surface.

Pulled by her, Emperor Liu Sheng felt the warmth of her palm and that heartfelt joy, and he couldn't help but be infected by it.

The two stepped onto the solid ice, cautious at first, but later, as their courage grew, they began to run and chase each other on it.

Princess Zhao Linger's laughter was crisp and pleasant, carrying far across the empty lake surface.

Emperor Liu Sheng watched her sliding on the ice, her skirt fluttering like a dancing butterfly, and the part of his heart that had become hardened by vexing matters seemed to soften as well.

After playing for a while, they were both a bit tired.

They walked to a pavilion by the lake to rest.

The maid had already prepared hot tea and snacks.

Princess Zhao Linger picked up the teacup and sipped it, her cheeks flushed from exercise, looking truly beautiful.

She looked at Emperor Liu Sheng and suddenly asked, "Superintendent Liu, you seem to have something on your mind?"

Emperor Liu Sheng's heart tightened.

This woman's observation skills were truly too sharp.

He had clearly acted very relaxed, yet she still saw through it.

"Why does the Princess say that?" He asked back calmly.

"Your smile didn't reach your eyes," Princess Zhao Linger pointed out incisively. "Although you are playing with me and laughing with me, deep in your eyes, there is a worry that cannot be dissolved."