Chapter 101: Sudden Mishap
“What do I have to do with associating with him? Now he’s even privately called Lady-in-Waiting Duke, what a joke.”
Duke Yongwu laughed heartily.
Zhu Yunxiao did not laugh: “Father, don’t mock him, or else you’re mocking the Emperor. Think about it, the legitimate young lady of Duke Ding’an’s Mansion is one thing—the Emperor and Empress know her background and watched her grow up, so selecting her as Princess’s lady-in-waiting makes sense. But how can young ladies from relatives’ families, who just arrived in the Capital City with unknown conduct, also be sent to the Princess’s side to serve as ladies-in-waiting? Is His Majesty the sort of person who easily trusts others?”
As for the Emperor, Duke Yongwu had followed him from the very beginning and knew he was brave and strategic, also extremely intelligent and perceptive.
This perceptiveness was a praiseworthy trait when seizing under heaven, allowing his followers to avoid many dangers.
But when sitting upon under heaven, with followers becoming ministers and the sovereign looking down from above, this perceptiveness turned into excessive suspicion.
Duke Yongwu restrained his smile, slightly hesitant: “His Majesty naturally won’t let it slide. Previously, Miss Yang went out at night and encountered bandits, which made His Majesty very angry, and he sent a palace maid to teach the young ladies of Duke Ding’an’s Mansion.”
“Love deeply, hate intensely.” Zhu Yunxiao said, “There are plenty of unruly young ladies from new noble families in the Capital City—has His Majesty ever inquired about them? Moreover, a few days ago, His Majesty had palace maids spank Miss Yang’s palms, punishing them for improper conduct at the National Academy.”
He looked toward his father.
“It sounds like His Majesty is very angry, but this Miss Yang has been punished repeatedly yet still remains by the Princess’s side as a lady-in-waiting—doesn’t that seem strange?”
Right, Duke Yongwu realized with a start, slapping his palm. With the Emperor’s temperament, such a person should have been driven away long ago.
“Duke Ding’an’s imperial grace is truly extraordinary.” he said.
Zhu Yunxiao shook his head: “I originally thought the same, but now I think it might be those two young ladies.”
So he deliberately went to the courtyard gate of the National Academy to take a look.
Those two young ladies’ attire and appearance were no different from the young ladies of the Capital City, and they even seemed somewhat humble and meek, but…
His intuition told him that these two definitely had something special about them.
These eyes of his were the best at recognizing wealth and power, never lingering on ordinary people for a moment.
……
…..
Plum blossoms were in full bloom inside the National Academy, dotting the scene with extreme beauty.
After a class ended, the young ladies gazed out the windowside to admire them, relieving some of their fatigue.
“The National Academy’s plum blossoms still can’t compare to Lingquan Temple.” one young lady sighed.
If not for attending school, at this time in the past, they would have gone with their families to admire flowers and snow.
“I heard the Libationer went too.” another young lady said, “And he brought many students from the National Academy.”
Yet another young lady came over, linked arms with her, and laughed: “No rush. Once you become the Libationer’s disciple, you can go along.”
This remark made the young ladies giggle: “Then I’ll have no hope in this lifetime.”
Because the instructor had just said that this major exam had both rewards and punishments, and some young lady had learned that the reward seemed to be becoming the Libationer’s disciple.
This reward was simply too great.
The companion reader young ladies didn’t dare to dream of it.
As everyone chatted, they looked ahead. Princess Pingcheng sat there in a bright red skirt blouse, just like a blooming plum blossom— the young girl was both charming and poised.
In terms of scholarship and status, the Libationer’s first female disciple would undoubtedly belong to Princess Pingcheng.
“Young ladies, come get your brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.”
Several palace maids came in, holding trays.
“This afternoon’s class is painting. Instructor Yan will teach everyone to paint plum blossoms.”
The young ladies responded and hurried from their seats, windowside, and doorway toward the palace maids, selecting the paper, paintbrushes, and pigments they needed.
Yang Luo and Liu Chan fetched several sheets of paper and brushes, ink, and pigments, placing them on Mo Zheng’s desk: “We’ve got them—you choose.”
Mo Zheng smiled and gave thanks.
Yang Hui, holding her own paper and pigments from behind, came over and snorted coldly upon hearing this: “You have hands and feet, yet you let others serve you.”
“I just have good relations with people.” Mo Zheng raised her brow at her and said.
Yang Hui was about to say something when a palace maid from behind called, “Miss A Luo.”
Mo Zheng hurriedly turned her head and saw a palace maid she recognized as one from Princess Wuyang’s side surnamed Sun. At this moment, Sun Nu Shi was holding four or five paintbrushes.
“Take them to the Princess.” she said, “The Princess is accustomed to using her own.”
Mo Zheng acknowledged and stood up, whispering to Yang Hui: “I’m going now to serve that person with hands and feet you mentioned.”
Yang Hui glared, wanting to say something but not daring to, watching as Mo Zheng went to the palace maid, took the paintbrushes, and lightly stepped forward.
“Trip and fall!” Yang Hui muttered a curse through gritted teeth from behind.
Yang Luo glared at her, about to say something, when she saw Yang Hui’s eyes widen instantly as she let out an “ah.”
Noisy terrified screams came from ahead—
“Ah—”
“Careful—”
Yang Luo hurriedly looked forward and saw Mo Zheng, who had just reached the seating area beside Princess Wuyang, somehow collide with a palace maid who had finished distributing paper and pigments.
Paper and pigments flew everywhere in chaos.
The palace maid and Mo Zheng fell toward Princess Pingcheng sitting right in the middle. Princess Pingcheng, who was focused on spreading out her painting paper, was caught off guard and had no time to dodge as she was struck.
Yang Luo, Liu Chan, and Yang Hui all instantly stood up.
Yang Luo and Liu Chan looked worried, while Yang Hui had a face full of excitement.
Her curse had actually come true! This countryside maid really fell!
The schoolroom was in chaos, the companion reader young ladies all stood up, and those nearby hurriedly went to help, when suddenly there was another piercing scream.
“Princess—”
“The Princess’s face—”
The two companion reader young ladies who came to help had terrified expressions as they looked at the slumped Princess Pingcheng.
A bright red bloodstain was spreading across the fair right cheek of Princess Pingcheng.
Their gazes followed the bloodstain to a paintbrush scattered at the Princess’s neck, and this paintbrush was still gripped in the hand of Mo Zheng, who had fallen onto the Princess.
Yang Luo, who had rushed over, also saw this scene; her legs went weak, and her heart plummeted like a giant stone.
It was over.
……
…..
“Your Ladyship, Your Ladyship—”
“Your cloak—”
“Shoes—”
The Empress’s palace was in chaos.
When the news arrived, the Empress was as usual sitting in the warm room pruning flowers and plants. Upon hearing that the Princess’s face was injured, she rushed out in slippers and casual skirt blouse.
Palace maids, palace women, and eunuchs all tried to stop her, bringing clothes and shoes, arranging her hair. They finally perfected her demeanor before boarding the phoenix carriage.
Sitting in the phoenix carriage, the Empress’s face was pale as she listened to the palace maid continue relaying the hastily sent news from there.
“…It says there was a cutter among the paintbrushes.”
“…The imperial physician has already gone ahead.”
The Empress stopped her; she couldn’t listen anymore, or she would faint.
Her Pingcheng, her Pingcheng….
“Your Ladyship, Your Ladyship, this consort has sinned—”
A heartrending cry came from outside the phoenix carriage.
The carriage curtain swayed, and the Empress saw Imperial Consort Li throwing herself down before the imperial carriage.
Imperial Consort Li had obviously rushed out hastily too, in simple clothes wrapped with a cloak.
“Your Ladyship, this consort has sinned, this consort has sinned.”
The news had reached her quite quickly. The Empress looked at the beautiful woman kneeling and kowtowing on the ground, knowing well that there wasn’t a single easy one in the rear palace.
“Drag her away.” she said hoarsely.
The eunuchs outside the carriage immediately pounced and dragged Imperial Consort Li away.
“Your Ladyship—” Imperial Consort Li was tear-streaked, kowtowing toward the Empress’s carriage, “Please punish this consort, Your Ladyship. Wuyang is just a child; it was this consort’s failure in teaching her—”
The Empress’s carriage drove past, but the next moment the Empress ordered it to stop.
“Bring her up.” she said.
The palace maid was slightly puzzled.
“If she goes to beg His Majesty, she can go too, and she’ll bring His Majesty along.” The Empress glanced at the hall of government ahead, her gaze cold, “His Majesty cannot go now, or he will definitely protect the Yang Family’s people.”
Even though Pingcheng was His Majesty’s most cherished Princess.
Even though the Emperor had previously either sent palace maids to teach the Yang Family’s young ladies manners or spanked their palms.
Even though the Emperor would fly into a rage upon hearing that a Yang Family young lady had injured the Princess.
But if the Emperor saw that Yang Family young lady, he fundamentally wouldn’t punish her harshly.
“Tell His Majesty’s side that the Princesses quarreled with the companion reader young ladies at the National Academy, and it got a bit excessive. I will personally handle it.”
The Empress said gravely.
The palace maid acknowledged.
Although this matter certainly couldn’t be hidden from the Emperor, at least before he intervened, give the Yang Family’s young lady a lesson!
The Empress looked at the swaying carriage curtain, listening to the quickening sound of hooves and wheels.
She had been bullied back then, so be it.
The Yangs need not think of bullying her daughter again!
