Chapter 131: Give It Some Thought
“The princess dismissed a little palace maid.”
Hearing this, the Empress stopped trimming the flower branches in her hand and looked up at the confessor palace maid: “What happened to that little palace maid?”
“She is young and relies on the princess’s good temper to be playful and lazy.” The confessor palace maid said, “Your Ladyship need not worry. This servant will warn the palace maids serving in the princess’s sleeping quarters again.”
The Empress held the scissors without speaking.
She knew her child well; she was generous and did not fuss over small matters. Even if a little palace maid was lazy, she would not mind.
If there really was punishment, it was definitely not because of laziness.
“Did the princess go to His Majesty before returning to her sleeping quarters?” she asked.
The palace maid hurriedly nodded: “Yes, she went to the Imperial Study to pay respects to His Majesty.” She paused here, “But Lord Li was there, so the princess did not go in.”
“What did he come for?” the Empress said, a cold smile at the corner of her mouth, “To reprimand his younger sister again for being shallow, ignorant, and vulgar? If he really knew his younger sister was so unworthy, why did he beg the Emperor to take pity on her and bring her into the palace back then?”
The confessor palace maid did not respond to this and continued: “His Majesty knew the princesses had come, so he let the princesses in. Princess Pingcheng and Princess Nangong left, and Princess Wuyang went in by herself.”
Princess Pingcheng was too lazy to pay attention to this uncle and niece pair, which was normal. The Empress asked: “How was it at the National Academy today?”
Ever since the matter of Wu Nu Shi plotting to harm Princess Pingcheng, the Empress had not only screened the people around the princess again but also had people watch closely in daily life, especially outside the palace.
The confessor palace maid summoned the palace maid responsible for checking the National Academy side.
The palace maid said: “Because it was a holiday today, the princess and the companion reader ladies were all very happy. When leaving the National Academy, they also encountered Wei Jiao.”
Her daughter’s daily life was as usual; it seemed there really was no big issue. She had overthought it. Although Princess Pingcheng was affable, she was not without temper.
Her daughter did not need to pretend to be gentle and generous like she had when young. If she wanted to lose her temper, she should. The Empress lowered her head to continue trimming the flower branches, then suddenly thought of something: “That Yang Luo, how was she at the National Academy today? Was she arrogant?”
Besides watching over the princess, the Empress also had people watch the companion reader ladies, especially this Yang Luo.
But it was still fine; this Yang Luo had not been arrogant and rude whether she had previously received a reward or ranked first in the exam. In the school hall, she was the same as before. The National Academy had not even changed her seat for her; she was still sitting in the last row for lady-in-waiting.
The palace maid finished in two sentences, but paused at the end.
“After school…” she said, “she encountered Wei Jiao.”
The confessor palace maid thought, this was already known. Wei Jiao came to see the princess, so naturally others would see it too.
“…Then Wei Jiao called Yang Luo to go, go listen to the Libationer’s lecture.” The palace maid continued.
The confessor palace maid’s heart skipped a beat, and at the same time, she heard a click. The blooming wintersweet flower was cut from its main branch and fell to the ground.
The Empress gripped the scissors in her hand, her face gloomy.
No wonder Princess Pingcheng was so unhappy; she had suffered such a great grievance.
Wang Zaitian had indeed made this Yang Luo his disciple!
The confessor palace maid dismissed the palace maids and softly comforted: “Your Ladyship, don’t be angry.”
The Empress said: “I am not angry.”
If angry, just go vent it.
“Summon Qin Fu.”
“Other people’s uncles know to help their nieces get close to His Majesty. Our Princess Pingcheng is not without an uncle.”
……
…….
Although Libationer Wang Zaitian had not announced to under heaven that he had selected a female disciple, with the companion reader ladies returning home, this news quickly spread through the inner residences.
But for Zhu Yunxiao, he was still shocked about the previous matter.
“That Liu Chan is not Liu Chan? She is that Miss Yang’s maidservant?”
Because he had led troops out of the Capital City on guard duty, Zhu Yunxiao had just learned of this.
Yes, a maidservant. Jiang Rui had been very surprised at the time, but now she was not so surprised.
“That Miss Yang is outstanding in talent and learning, able to be selected by the Libationer as a disciple. It is not strange that her maidservant could enter the National Academy as the princess’s companion reader.”
Zhu Yunxiao explained: “I mean, that’s it? They are not pursuing their crime of impersonating others?”
Jiang Rui smiled and said: “Miss Yang ranked first in the exam, and that fake Liu Chan and the real Liu Chan also did quite well…”
“This is not about how well they did in the exam.” Zhu Yunxiao interrupted her, “They impersonated others and approached the princesses; it is great disrespect.”
No matter how well she did in the exam, she was just a woman. Besides, even if a man had excellent learning but flawed conduct, His Majesty would discard him.
Moreover, Wang Zaitian had actually taken this Miss Yang as his disciple.
Why would that be? Because this young lady was outstanding in talent and learning? Impossible!
“His Majesty is magnanimous, and the Libationer loves talent.” Jiang Rui smiled and said, taking out an invitation, “However, I have not decided whether to go to the banquet where this Miss Yang will be attending.”
Zhu Yunxiao looked over.
“Qin Ying is inviting us companion readers to have tea and gather at Dengyun Tower.” Jiang Rui said, “This Miss Yang has stolen the princess’s limelight after all. Everyone gathering together seems like flattery to her. Several young ladies privately told me not to go…”
“Go.” Zhu Yunxiao interrupted her, “You must go.”
Jiang Rui was stunned for a moment, somewhat surprised. Normally, she did not attend many banquets, and Zhu Yunxiao often said there was no need for her to go out and befriend people.
Why this time, even after hearing others were not going, did Zhu Yunxiao want her to go?
“We cannot only consider Princess Pingcheng’s face.” Zhu Yunxiao said softly, “We must also consider His Majesty’s face. You said it is His Majesty being magnanimous. Since His Majesty has forgiven her, you cannot distance yourself from her.”
But there was no need to fawn over her either. Previously, Zhu Yunxiao had said she did not even need to care too much about the princess’s face. A thought flashed through Jiang Rui’s mind, but she quickly dismissed it. No matter what, Yunxiao must be thinking of her best interests.
“Alright.” She smiled and nodded, “I will listen to you.”
…….
…….
Night fell over the Capital City.
With the curfew drum sounding, Duke Ding’an finally waited for his returning niece.
Too hurried to scold them for returning late.
“A Hui said you went to listen to the Libationer’s lecture?” he hurriedly asked.
Mo Zheng nodded: “Yes, besides the grand lecture, the Libationer gives his direct disciples three lessons each month.”
Duke Ding’an looked at her, seemingly in disbelief: “So, you really became the Libationer’s disciple?”
He had thought ranking first and avoiding expulsion would be the best outcome.
He had not expected Wang Zaitian to truly take her as a disciple.
“What Mister says is naturally true.” Mo Zheng said, then smiled again, “This is really good. In the future, when I have achieved learning and can teach and take disciples, I can establish my own school.”
Duke Ding’an hurriedly scolded: “You are a child of the Yang Family; what school of your own!”
“Then my family’s young lady has one more school to rely on.” Yang Luo said with a beaming smile beside her, “Uncle, if you bully my family’s young lady, you will have to think twice.”
Duke Ding’an was stunned; one more reliable school.
Wang Zaitian’s school was indeed very reliable, with apprentices and disciples everywhere. Bullying her really required thinking twice…
He quickly came back to his senses and scolded the maidservant.
“Nonsense, bold.” He scolded, “So ill-mannered.”
Mo Zheng smilingly apologized for the maidservant, about to take leave, when she saw Duke Ding’an’s expression change momentarily. He handed over an invitation.
“The invitation from the daughter of Minister Qin of the Court of Diplomatic Affairs, for you.” he said, then pulled a long face again, “This time is fine, but since you are not going to school, do not always go out to banquets. You are still in the mourning period.”
With that, he flicked his sleeve and walked away.
Qin Ying’s invitation?
Mo Zheng looked at the invitation in her hand, then turned to look in the direction Duke Ding’an had left.
Waiting here to give her this invitation?
Or rather, waiting here to not give the invitation and forbid them from attending the banquet.
Then he changed his mind.
Not bad, he really thought twice immediately. Duke Ding’an was not so inflexible after all.
……
……
“Duke, why did you give it to her? Did we not say not to let her go out again?”
Ever since helping Princess Pingcheng expose the palace maid’s plot at the National Academy and receiving rewards from the Emperor and Empress, many invitations from noble families had been sent to Duke Ding’an’s Mansion, hinting for Duke Ding’an’s Wife to bring this Miss Yang to banquets. After ranking first in the exam, even more banquet invitations arrived.
Of course, Duke Ding’an and his wife had all refused.
Although the Emperor had not driven Yang Luo out of the National Academy, they still did not dare let her show her face.
To avoid repeatedly displeasing Marquis Yichun.
For this reason, Duke Ding’an and his wife did not attend any banquets, nor did they host any in the mansion.
Today, upon receiving the invitation from the daughter of Qin, the Minister of the Court of Diplomatic Affairs, they had originally planned to refuse, and even use the mourning period to suppress it, not letting her go out all through the New Year period.
Unexpectedly, Duke Ding’an came back saying he had given the invitation.
“What are you thinking!” Duke Ding’an’s Wife said angrily.
“I am thinking she is the Libationer’s disciple. If we stop her, she might use studying diligently as an excuse to move to the National Academy.” Duke Ding’an said irritably, “Then we could not control her at all!”
Moreover, since the Libationer had truly taken her as a disciple and the Emperor had not stopped it, even if she could not become the princess, being the direct disciple of a great scholar of the age would bring no small reputation.
Duke Ding’an’s eyes flickered; this niece seemed to have extraordinary luck.
Unlike her mother, who was so unlucky—married to the true dragon Son of Heaven, only to have him taken midway, no luck and no fate.
Could this be the fortune of the true dragon Son of Heaven’s bloodline?
