CHAPTER 817: CHAPTER 817 VIRTUAL WORLD (2)

Even though the person who intentionally misled the princess was dealt with, the current Emperor saw that Princess Zhaoyang had no intention of becoming the next emperor, and did not force her.

While not forcing the princess, he also helped her select a group of handsome men according to her wishes.

It’s just that the princess is still young now.

Otherwise, Furong fully believes that the princess would be lying in the arms of various handsome men, unwilling to come out.

Ah.

This perfect life.

Shi Yaoguang listened to Furong’s sigh and raised an eyebrow, "Furong, it seems you also want to experience this palace life of mine?"

Furong shook her head and quickly said she didn’t dare.

Shi Yaoguang chuckled, "What’s there to be afraid of? It’s by my order that you do this, if anyone has an objection, they can come find me."

Furong understood her intent immediately upon hearing her words.

"Princess, you wouldn’t... be planning to sneak out of the palace, would you?"

Shi Yaoguang raised a finger and shook it, "How can this be called sneaking out of the palace? I just want to follow the example of the late emperor and go on an incognito tour."

Furong hesitantly said, "But when the late emperor toured, he had masters protecting him. Princess, your noble body, what if something happens to you?"

Shi Yaoguang countered, "Do you think I’m absolutely safe in this Imperial Palace?"

Furong lowered her head and remained silent.

If the Imperial Palace were absolutely safe, the princess wouldn’t have fallen into the lake, and no one would know who did it.

Had the princess not been lucky this time, those who organized the flower viewing banquet by the lake that day might have been in trouble.

Seeing her expression, Shi Yaoguang knew she must be thinking what she herself was thinking.

She immediately said, "I will only be out of the palace for a short while and will return soon. During this time, you will disguise yourself as me and continue to stay in Zhaoyang Palace."

Furong wanted to refuse, "But..."

However, upon meeting Shi Yaoguang’s unyielding gaze, she swallowed the rest of her words again.

She hesitantly said, "Alright then... Princess, please be careful."

"Yes."

Saying this, Shi Yaoguang began to tinker with the disguise technique.

Furong watched her use the materials in the makeup box to prepare a bowl of paste similar to her complexion, then poured it out to make a mold.

"Your Highness, what is this for?"

Shi Yaoguang said, "Have you ever heard of a human skin mask?"

Furong was shocked, "Princess, are you sure you’re not joking?"

This thing doesn’t look anything like the legendary human skin mask!

Seeing Furong’s disbelief, Shi Yaoguang did not explain further. Once the mold she poured out dried, she carefully carved it with a knife.

In less than half an hour, Furong’s expression turned from suspicion to shock.

Looking at the mask on the table, which was almost identical to "Princess Zhaoyang," she was dumbfounded.

"Princess, how did you do it?"

Shi Yaoguang looked unconcerned, "It’s very simple. If you want to learn, I can teach you later. But for now, I want to go out of the palace."

Seeing that she was about to leave, Furong hastily said, "Your Highness, won’t you see the Emperor and Empress first?"

"No hurry, I’ll talk to them when I get back."

After Shi Yaoguang finished speaking, seeing Furong’s anxious face, she thought for a moment and said, "You can feign illness and stay in Zhaoyang Palace during my absence."

"If you want to go out, be careful."

Since waking up, Shi Yaoguang had no memories of the past.

Moreover, the palace attendants didn’t know how she fell into the water, giving her reason to believe the palace was not safe.

Knowing nothing now, staying in the palace would only make her vulnerable, it was better to hide in the shadows and watch the situation unfold.

As for Furong...

She wouldn’t let Furong be in danger either.

After teaching Furong how to apply the human skin mask, she summoned the hidden guards in Zhaoyang Palace and instructed them to protect Furong.

Although Shi Yaoguang had lost her previous memories, she sensed the presence of hidden guards in Zhaoyang Palace.

Even though the hidden guards were worried about Shi Yaoguang’s safety, the Emperor had made it clear when assigning them to the princess, their master could only be the princess.

Therefore, apart from obeying the princess’s arrangements, they had no other choice.

Furong was unaware of the hidden guards. After Shi Yaoguang left the palace, she was somewhat anxious.

Fortunately, she pretended to be sick and did not go out. Even when the Emperor and Empress came to visit, concerned for her recovering health, they didn’t stay long. She played the role of the fake princess quite well.

...

Shi Yaoguang used Furong’s token to leave the palace directly.

She stayed at an inn near the Imperial Palace and took the opportunity to inquire about some rumors regarding the royal family.

Especially those related to herself.

She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but when she woke up and was told she had become Princess Zhaoyang with memory loss from falling into the water, Shi Yaoguang felt it was a bit melodramatic.

However, if she thought carefully, she couldn’t figure out why she felt it was melodramatic.

So, she wanted to temporarily set aside the identity of the princess and figure out where this feeling came from.

After a few days of inquiries, she learned what kind of image Princess Zhaoyang had in the people’s eyes.

Hmm...

To sum up, it was hard to describe.

Reportedly, Princess Zhaoyang was overbearing and arrogant, indulged in debauchery.

This last phrase generally describes a dimwit emperor.

There was no denying that achieving such a "title" as a princess was quite an accomplishment.

But how exactly was Princess Zhaoyang overbearing, arrogant, and debauched?

She was overbearing and arrogant, yes.

It was said that she derived amusement from beating and killing palace attendants.

And she bullied the concubines in various ways; in short, a scoundrel who was good for nothing but bullying others.

As for being debauched...

That was a long story.

Did the people see the princess in debauchery with a man with their own eyes?

No one did.

Did the princess kidnap someone in public?

That didn’t happen either.

So where did these rumors come from?

This...

If investigated closely, no one could explain it clearly.

In any case, everyone said so, and the facts no longer mattered.

Shi Yaoguang initially wanted to understand what this was all about.

She never expected the truth to be so unspeakable.

After gathering all the information, Shi Yaoguang didn’t delay and headed back to the palace.

The whole trip took her three days.

During these three days, Furong was anxious every day.

She was afraid her identity would be exposed and she would be caught red-handed.

When Shi Yaoguang returned, Furong was in a state of panic.

Concubine Xiang from Xiangche Palace had said she wanted to chat with her.

It was obvious that Concubine Xiang had an ulterior motive.

Furong could pretend to be Princess Zhaoyang and get by under the Emperor and Empress’s favor.

However, she couldn’t deceive someone who didn’t favor her.

Therefore, she was extremely resistant to meeting with Concubine Xiang.

But Concubine Xiang had a legitimate reason for visiting the princess, so Furong couldn’t refuse.