The princess was ordained by Heaven.

Chapter 141 Persuading Surrender

"How can there be..."

Zheng Xun sighed softly.

"You always say that you are pitiful because your parents are both dead, but didn't your parents die because of you?"

Once the truth is understood, it becomes clear that Crescent Moon's tone is not one of self-pity, but rather a blatant boast.

"Huh?" Crescent tilted her head in confusion, taking two breaths to think about what she meant.

Zheng Xun watched her quietly, unfazed by her performance.

"You're just a kid, yet you talk about the Brown Kingdom as if it were the most real thing. But you can't say things like that carelessly in the future, it'll damage my reputation and image..."

"However, I can understand your choice. They wanted to sell you in exchange for their freedom. You were just fighting back. It's just a pity that people in your hometown seem to be very dissatisfied with your actions."

Crescent Moon smiled helplessly: "You're making me almost believe you."

Zheng Xun listened patiently to her finish speaking before calmly asking, "Would you like me to go over all the details?"

The new moon is silent.

"That day was your birthday. Your two parents, who are almost never seen, came back together. The gift they prepared for you was a pink and purple dress with butterflies and flowers..."

The crescent moon, which had been perfectly still, finally lost its composure.

"what do you want to say in the end?!"

Her face was clouded with worry, like the dark sky before a storm.

Zheng Xun took a sip of tea: "How pitiful. Are you going to follow in your parents' footsteps...?"

Crescent Moon is an "obedient" pawn, but that's just an appearance. In reality, she has a very strong sense of self-respect and high aspirations.

The word "pitiful" is the last thing these kinds of people can hear.

"Yuan Jia!"

Looking into the cold depths of her eyes, Zheng Xun began to coax her gently: "You grew up in the Brown Kingdom, so you should know what kind of people there are. Regardless of whether the Brown Kingdom wins or loses, your chances of a good ending are extremely slim. Moreover, they are the root of your suffering, and you will have to risk your life for these enemies..."

"New Moon, it's not worth it to act out of spite."

"You want me to betray the Brown Kingdom? You want me to work for your Great Yong Kingdom after I return to the Brown Kingdom?" Crescent Moon sneered. "It's better to die for my obsession than to die for your Great Yong Kingdom."

"Don't you want revenge?"

What difference does it make whether you want to or not?

She was right about one thing: she has no choice now.

The Brown Kingdom is a tiger's den, but if she were to switch allegiance to the Great Yong Kingdom, what good would come of a traitor?

Moreover, she absolutely cannot return to the Brown Kingdom now; a pawn without value is simply "dead"!

The only way out she could think of was to establish unparalleled merit, cultivate her own power, and then return in a dignified manner as the one in power!

Zheng Xun seemed to see through her thoughts and laughed heartily for a long time: "First of all, I do not intend to let you return to He Kingdom. Secondly, it will be more difficult for you to establish power in Dayong than in He Kingdom, because no one in Dayong will trust you."

"Even if they are captivated by your beauty, they only want you to be a harmless caged bird. Once you try to reach for power, they will definitely cut off your hand!"

"Even if you find a sucker willing to hand over their power to you, can your power still surpass that of the Brown Kingdom's royal family?"

Unless she can become the Empress of Dayong, but with Zheng Xun around, she won't get that chance. The people of Dayong will never accept her, and she has no way to lift up Dayong, this shaky tree.

Crescent Moon said coldly, "I know you look down on me..."

Zheng Xun slammed the teacup on the table, leaned back in her chair, and said, "On the contrary, I think highly of you. Otherwise, you would never be sitting here in front of me and speaking so politely."

Crescent Moon caught a glimpse of her crossed hands in front of her, which seemed to transform into a pair of giant hands behind her, tightly binding her.

"New Moon, you are an exceptionally remarkable girl."

Zheng Xun sometimes thought that if she didn't have superpowers and a system, and was just an ordinary girl, she would probably have had to work thousands of times harder to get to where she is today.

New Moon has no experience of living a second life, and she started her life in the Brown Kingdom when the heavens collapsed. How can she not be admirable to have achieved what she has today?

Crescent Moon did not lower her guard because of a few words of praise: "No need to keep me in suspense, Princess, just tell me what you need Crescent Moon to do."

“New Moon, instead of following them, you should work for me.”

Crescent Moon scoffed: "Follow you? On what grounds?"

"Our Great Yong has always treated meritorious officials well..."

"You think it's funny to lie to me? That was in the past. I know perfectly well what's become of the descendants of those meritorious officials now."

Zheng Xun awkwardly touched his nose: "Oh dear, you found out about this?"

It seems that the Brown Kingdom still has a good understanding of the internal situation of the Great Yong Kingdom.

Crescent Moon glared at her.

Zheng Xun said solemnly, "If they behave themselves, Dayong is not unable to let them continue to enjoy the legacy of their ancestors. But since they dare to do evil things like oppressing the people and bullying others, Dayong will never protect them. Don't worry, Dayong will not treat you like the He Kingdom did. Here, there is justice and fairness."

Crescent Moon let out another soft snort, seemingly disdainful and disbelieving: "It sounds better than it sounds. All the powerful and bureaucratic families are birds of a feather, and your royal family is the largest among them. You are all born with the same stance."

"You say that the Great Yongzheng Palace cannot tolerate the powerful and corrupt who do evil, but is that really the case?" She stood up excitedly, pacing back and forth, her voice both impassioned and passionate. "Isn't your so-called fairness and justice just a means for you to eliminate dissidents?"

No matter how fierce the struggle, it is still an internal conflict. If their interests are truly harmed, or if an outsider wants a share of the pie, they will unite against an external force.

A bunch of cronies, talking about justice and fairness.

"You can't talk about ice with a summer insect," Zheng Xun said without arguing in the face of her accusations and complaints. She just smiled good-naturedly. "During your time in Dayong, you can see for yourself that Dayong is different from Heguo, and I am different from everyone else."

Now, even if she were to utter a single flowery phrase, it would be nothing but empty talk.

Besides, they had never met before, so it was impossible for Crescent Moon to believe her promise.

Zheng Xun wasn't in a hurry at all; she had plenty of patience.

"Alright, it's getting late. Wash up properly and get some rest."

Zheng Xun was very kind. After giving a word of advice, she waved her sleeve and turned to leave.

Crescent Moon stood there, stunned. After a long while, she suddenly screamed and frantically grabbed a handful of her hair: "Damn lecher!"

Damn Yuan Jia!

They tore away her disguise, poked at her wound, and then just floated away!

What's the difference between this and a thug who flirts with someone and then runs away?!

She's still laughing! How can she even laugh like that?

I’m so angry, I’m so angry, I’m so angry!

She was so angry that she squatted on the ground and cried loudly. Zheng Xun hadn't gone far when Zhi Chun followed behind her, hesitant to speak.

Zheng Xun seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, and suddenly said, "Speak your mind."

“Princess…while there’s nothing wrong with liking women, you are still young, perhaps…you should…probably…” Zhichun hesitated for a moment, her tongue tumbling out before she could finish, “You should restrain yourself, and besides, between men and women…between women, it requires mutual consent…”

Zheng Xun: ...

That despicable new moon, it tarnished her image.

Her face darkened, and she said irritably, "If you keep talking nonsense, go and train with Zhicheng. Your body is still too weak."

Zhichun realized she had misunderstood, lowered her head, and said guiltily, "This servant knows her mistake..."

"It's no use admitting your mistake; you must receive more training."

Zhichun frowned, cursing herself for meddling in other people's business.

Princess Crescent Moon has misled her!

……

The envoys paid their respects at the morning court the following day.

Of course, they did not enter the Fengqin Hall with the ministers attending court; instead, they had to wait for a summons.

Princess Xinyue wore a phoenix-tail dress adorned with butterflies and flowers, the hem of which trailed on the ground. She was like a flower goddess emerging from spring, lively and vibrant, adding a touch of brightness to the solemn palace.

However, Zheng Xun felt that the smile on her lips was very fake.

Butterflies flitting among flowers...

She definitely didn't choose this dress herself.

It's estimated that what Xinyue hates most in her life is butterflies flitting among flowers.

A little girl, yearning for family affection, is greeted by her parents who bring her gifts.

But all they wanted was to wrap her up in beautiful clothes and offer her to those in power in exchange for her freedom.

The image of butterflies flitting among flowers is accompanied by such painful memories.

Zheng Xun shook his head with a sigh, then beckoned to the eunuch beside him, asking him to find a cloak to give to Xinyue.

After taking the plain cloak, Xinyue stared at it for a long time.

In the end, she put it on anyway.

Although she still resented what happened last night, the weather was getting cold, and she felt a bit lazy. She didn't want to deal with that seduction mission today.

When the prince saw her cloak, he said gently, "This cloak doesn't suit you."

Crescent Moon buried her face in the collar of her cloak, her eyes, as clear as autumn water, looking at him: "Really?"

Who wouldn't soften their heart if a stunningly beautiful woman spoke to them like that?

Anyway, Prince Chou is soft-hearted, but being soft-hearted doesn't mean he can neglect important matters: "This cloak doesn't show off your slender figure, my dear, we'll put it on after we meet the emperor."

Xinyue thought she was already quite adept at handling this situation, but for some reason, she suddenly felt a bit annoyed today.

She felt disgusted by the smile on the prince's face, and wanted to slap him...

She suddenly realized that Zheng Xun's words yesterday had left a mark on her heart. If she had a choice, would she still have the patience to play along with that disgusting Prince Chou?

She lowered her eyes slightly, afraid of revealing her true emotions: "But this was sent by Princess Yuanjia. If I refuse, I'm afraid it will annoy the Emperor of Dayong..."

King Chou: "Indeed, let's wear it for now. That person was really something, meddling in other people's business..."

Crescent rolled her eyes.

Damn it, with that wretched Prince Chou around, she finds Zheng Xun much more agreeable.

Prince Chou complained a couple of times and then moved on: "By the way, why did you send He'er out?"

Without batting an eye, Xinyue shifted the blame: "Princess Yuanjia dislikes noise, so Aunt Zhichun, who serves her, sent He'er away."

"Meddlesome!" Prince Chou cursed again, then soothed, "You're suffering without someone to serve you personally."

"The new moon is not wronged."

Of course she wasn't upset. It was a good thing she left. She wouldn't dare take such an arrogant maid.