The concubine was charming and alluring, and the ruthless prince coaxed her day and night.

Chapter 172 Finale 1

In Zhao Yunzheng's view, his relationship with Xu Jiaojiao, which went from physical intimacy to a bond that transcended life and death, began in the bamboo courtyard.

He used to like Hanmei because he used her to comfort his dark heart. But now, he has Jiaojiao, who is like the warm sun and can brighten up all the gloom in his heart. So he no longer needs Hanmei.

Besides, Jiaojiao had misunderstood him because of Hanmei and almost ran away from him...

So, just to be on the safe side, Zhao Yunzheng planted a bamboo grove.

On one hand, bamboo has a special meaning in his heart, and on the other hand, he wants Jiaojiao to see bamboo often and recall their vows of life and death in the bamboo courtyard in the forest.

Upon entering Anning Garden, Xu Jiaojiao was slightly taken aback to see Zhou Yingyue and Cao Lingyun sitting upright in their chairs.

Zhou Yingyue and Cao Lingyun were also slightly taken aback.

But Cao Lingyun quickly concealed the surprise in her eyes, lowered her head and pretended not to know anything.

Zhou Yingyue, however, lacked such composure and immediately exclaimed in surprise, "You are...!"

Before she could finish speaking, she realized that some things shouldn't be said carelessly, so she immediately swallowed the rest of her sentence.

Stiff and unable to think of anything suitable to say to make up for it, she blushed and, in a moment of excitement, knelt down.

Xu Jiaojiao, who was about to sit down and looking for a suitable opening line, said: "..."

After a moment's hesitation, she pursed her lips and said, "Ahem, no need for formalities, please get up."

Zhou Yingyue's face darkened, feeling somewhat resentful, but she dared not utter a sound. She blushed and thanked him, then stood up awkwardly.

After Xu Jiaojiao took her seat, Zhou Yingyue and Cao Lingyun served tea and bowed according to etiquette. After receiving Xu Jiaojiao's permission, they also sat down.

Xu Jiaojiao's gaze swept between the two of them.

We're all old acquaintances, so there's really no need to use official jargon.

Xu Jiaojiao rubbed her head wearily, gave a few routine instructions on being harmonious, respectful, and wanting to produce many offspring for the Prince Chen's mansion, and then sent the two of them back.

After the two left, Xu Jiaojiao thought for a long time.

In this day and age, life is not easy for women. Zhou and Cao married Prince Chen and seemed to have no worries about food and clothing, but in reality, it was no different from being widows.

Moreover, in this princely mansion where people were treated differently based on their status, the two of them were not favored and did not live a good life.

Instead of letting them waste their time fighting with her, it's better to give them some choices and let them live a different life.

Of course, Xu Jiaojiao wouldn't force them; she would only subtly probe their intentions. If they were willing, she would naturally do her best to help them.

Thinking of this, after nightfall, Xu Jiaojiao and Prince Chen lay on the bedside table chatting, and she subtly told Prince Chen about her thoughts.

The latter, though surprised that she would have such an unusual idea, did not object.

In his view, the vast Prince Chen's mansion was more than enough to support two idle people. As long as Zhou and Cao did not cause trouble, he could support them for life and ensure they had no worries about food and clothing.

But since Jiaojiao wants to do it, let her do it. As long as she's happy, anything goes.

Just a few months later, before Xu Jiaojiao's plan could even be implemented, a sudden change disrupted all her plans.

When the Su family father and son rebelled, they took most of the Zhennan Army with them. Now, the southern border defenses of the Yan Dynasty are weak, and the southern barbarian thieves have begun to plot against them.

Externally, the Yan Dynasty has had several minor clashes with the Southern Barbarians in the past two years, with each side experiencing victories and defeats.

Domestically, the Emperor of Yan Dynasty was in increasingly poor health and began to frantically pursue the art of immortality, which consumed a great deal of financial and material resources, causing widespread resentment among the people of Yan Dynasty.

With such internal and external troubles, the Yan Dynasty was far from stable, and Xu Jiaojiao's ambitions could hardly find an opportunity to be realized at such a time.

It was at this same time that the Southern Barbarians chose to send an envoy to the Yan Dynasty, intending to test the political situation of the Yan Dynasty and also to take this opportunity to seek some benefits.

The Southern Barbarians came with great force, and only Zhao Yunzheng could shoulder the heavy responsibility in the Yan Dynasty. Since the Southern Barbarians entered the heart of the Central Plains, Zhao Yunzheng has been extremely busy.

The situation on the southern border also entered an unprecedentedly tense phase after the mission departed, with the impression that if the mission could not reach an agreement in the capital, they would launch an invasion.

On this day, Prince Li Shuchang of the Southern Frontier led his delegation into the capital.

That night, a banquet was held in the palace to welcome the delegation.

At the banquet, Le Thu proposed the exchange of goods between the two countries and a marriage alliance.

Based on the idea of ​​peaceful coexistence, both of these demands could be resolved through negotiation and consultation to reach a mutually satisfactory solution. However, it just so happens that the person Li Shuchang is requesting to marry into the family is Jia Rong.

Before the old emperor, who was about to agree, could even speak, Zhao Yunzheng flew into a rage and flatly rejected Li Shuchang's request.

Not to mention that Jia Rong is already engaged and is in love with Tu Zhannan, just the fact that she is Zhao Yunzheng's younger sister is enough for Li Shuchang's request to touch Zhao Yunzheng's sore spot.

Such a resolute attitude angered Li Shuchang, and the Southern Barbarian delegation hurriedly entered the capital and left again. Not long after, the Southern Barbarians launched a war against the border.

Perhaps to protect his beloved, Tu Zhannan volunteered to lead his troops to the southern border.

Perhaps sensing something was amiss, Jia Rong was filled with unease and cried her heart out on the day Tu Zhannan left Kyoto.

Sure enough, a few months later, news came from southern Xinjiang that Tu Zhannan had died in battle.

Upon hearing the news, Xu Jiaojiao felt her hands and feet turn ice cold, and her mind went blank.

Coming to her senses, she frantically grabbed the Princess Consort's token and ran into the palace.

At that time, Jia Rong drove all the maids and servants out of the house, intending to go and keep Tu Zhannan company alone.

If Xu Jiaojiao hadn't arrived in time, she probably would never have seen Jia Rong again.

Jia Rong, who had been rescued, cried out in pain. Xu Jiaojiao, with red eyes, held her in her arms and let her vent her sadness and grievances.

In that instant, Xu Jiaojiao felt as if life was fleeting, and everyone would eventually be born, grow old, get sick, and die, as if all her efforts and struggles were meaningless.

But looking at Jia Rong's temples, which had turned white overnight, she vaguely felt that although everyone will die, as long as one is alive, there is still meaning.

Whether life brings us happiness or misfortune, we need to experience it and face it. As long as we live well, everything in this world has meaning!

For the next month, Xu Jiaojiao stayed by Jiarong's side without leaving her side, accompanying her, comforting her, taking her to see the mountains and rivers, and even showing her the hardships of life.

When Jia Rong saw a widow in the slums who had lost her husband and had to sell her youngest child to support her several infants and bedridden in-laws, she was moved for the first time since Tu Zhannan's death.

From that day on, Jia Rong stopped feeling sorry for herself and started working harder to earn money, which she then used to build a women's charity hall to help women and children who were struggling to make a living.

Giving someone a fish is one thing, but how can that compare to teaching them how to fish?

Although there are many charitable organizations, very few women and children actually receive help.

Xu Jiaojiao had a vague feeling that the time had come…