Chapter 141: Can She Be Punished?
As dusk fell, outside the Capital City the temporary palace bustled with horses and men; dozens of Imperial Guards and seven or eight palace maids in hunting attire escorted Princess Pingcheng back.
Several wild rabbits hung from the saddle of Princess Pingcheng’s horse.
Another horse was carrying a deer.
The Prince of Donghai laughed loudly in praise: “Sister, you had quite a haul today.”
Princess Pingcheng, dressed in bright red hunting attire, had a little face frozen red but was full of vigor.
“Thank you, Brother, for your guidance. My horsemanship and archery have both improved.” She jumped down from the horse, smiling as she spoke.
The Prince of Donghai looked even happier: “Better than being cooped up in the Imperial Palace reading, right? You should come out to play more often from now on.”
Princess Pingcheng smiled and said: “Then Brother, remember to bring me out to play more often from now on.”
The siblings entered the hall, where lamps were already lit, splendid and magnificent, warm as spring.
“Tonight we’ll feast on Sister’s prey,” the Prince of Donghai said.
As he spoke, an eunuch hurried in. Seeing the laughing siblings, he hesitated, then called out, “Your Highness.”
The Prince of Donghai was the heir apparent and had already begun observing court politics.
Messages coming and going involved court politics. As a princess, she knew advance and retreat, avoiding taboos.
Princess Pingcheng immediately stood up: “I’ll go wash up and change first.”
Seeing his sister so sensible, the Prince of Donghai was even more willing to be a magnanimous brother. He quickly waved his hand: “No need to leave.” He signaled to the eunuch, “Speak.”
The eunuch glanced at the princess again, lowered his head, and said: “Your Highness, something happened at the Empress’s side—”
The Prince of Donghai and Princess Pingcheng were instantly shocked: “What?”
“Your Highness, don’t worry, the Empress is fine—it’s Yang Luo from Duke Ding’an’s Mansion who disobeyed the Empress—” The eunuch hurriedly finished speaking in one breath.
Hearing the name Yang Luo, Princess Pingcheng stiffened.
She had already left the Capital City, and these days she wasn’t reading anymore—how could she still hear that name.
……
…….
Morning light enveloped the Imperial City. With the festival approaching, the Imperial City began its decorations, adding festivity to its majestic solemnity.
But the Emperor sitting in the princess’s sleeping quarters showed no trace of festivity on his face.
He had slept well last night and didn’t need to attend morning court today. Though he woke early as usual, he was leisurely and in a pleasant mood, preparing to read and do some calligraphy, then reward the ministers during the festival.
Then he received Imperial Consort Li’s request for an audience.
Strictly speaking, the house arrest hadn’t been lifted yet, but in this bitter winter, he couldn’t bear to let her kneel outside for long.
If Lord Li found out, he’d blame himself again.
“Letting A Qing marry His Majesty was our Li Clan leveraging favor. Every time I think of it, I blame and regret myself, ashamed before His Majesty.”
Better self-blaming for leveraging favor than self-satisfied for it.
The Emperor lowered his eyes slightly and summoned Imperial Consort Li in.
If she was asking to lift the house arrest early, he’d allow it—so she could receive homage from the court ladies during the festival and have face.
But Imperial Consort Li wasn’t pleading for herself—it was for Yang Luo.
Imperial Consort Li, under house arrest, knelt before him, choking as she recounted what happened.
“…All young girls, inevitably one gets cocky, the other refuses to yield, and they quarrel…”
The Emperor’s expression darkened, his gaze somewhat dazed.
She fought with Miss Chai.
Again…
“Were there injuries?” the Emperor suddenly asked.
Imperial Consort Li was stunned, then hurriedly said: “No, no, Miss Chai is fine. The Heir of Duke Yongwu was there and stopped it in time.”
The Emperor lowered his eyes and said nothing.
Imperial Consort Li cautiously continued.
“…Girls quarreling inevitably say wild things. Yang Luo came from the countryside, without manners or etiquette.”
“…My brother, though he cherishes talent, also thinks this child is unruly and should be taught a lesson, so he didn’t come to see His Majesty and only told me.”
“…Brother said this child has no mother, and her father might as well not exist. He instructed me to watch Princess Wuyang closely from now on, and also give this child more guidance.”
“But after thinking all night, I still couldn’t bear it…”
As she spoke, she knelt forward, looking at the Emperor.
“I’m not asking Your Majesty not to punish her. I want to beg Your Majesty to punish her by writing calligraphy, copying books, removing her as princess’s companion reader—anything but let the Empress beat her.”
“Your Majesty, I tried it last time. The Empress’s caning is really severe. That child can’t take it—if she really gets beaten, she’ll be ruined.”
As she spoke, she prostrated herself on the ground and cried.
The Emperor was about to say something when cold laughter came from the doorway.
“Consort, last time’s caning really wasn’t heavy.”
The Empress!
Imperial Consort Li trembled, turned while kneeling, and kowtowed toward the doorway: “Your Ladyship.”
The Emperor was also nervous. He stood up, watching the Empress enter from the door, with eunuchs behind her heads bowed.
“Your Majesty, don’t blame the eunuchs. I heard Imperial Consort Li was here, so I came specially to eavesdrop and see if she said bad words about me,” the Empress said.
So direct—the Emperor was amused instead.
Though her temper was bad sometimes, A Feng was always frank and straightforward before him.
In A Feng’s eyes, he was the Emperor, but more importantly her husband.
The Emperor smiled and said: “Before Us, no one dares say bad words about you. We won’t allow it.”
The Empress smiled at the Emperor, walked over, and looked at the consort prostrated and trembling on the ground.
“Last time Yang Luo had merit, I beat her to put on a show, so it really wasn’t heavy,” she said. “This time when I beat her again, Consort can try it and see I’m not lying to you.”
Imperial Consort Li lifted her head, tears streaming as she pleaded: “Your Ladyship, Your Ladyship, show mercy—she’s still a child…”
“Precisely because she’s a child, she needs stricter teaching, or she’ll be even more lawless in the future,” the Empress said, looking at the Emperor. “Your Majesty, isn’t that right?”
Strictly speaking, the Emperor was about to nod and say something when Imperial Consort Li straightened up on her knees and grabbed the Empress’s hem.
“Your Ladyship, her mother is already dead. Be magnanimous. Put yourself in her shoes—if Pingcheng did wrong, could you bear to beat her…”
Before she finished, the Empress’s face changed drastically. She raised her hand and slapped Imperial Consort Li.
“Insolent thing!” she snapped.
Imperial Consort Li cried out in pain, toppled sideways to the ground, blood seeping from her mouth.
The Empress was still furious, pointing at Imperial Consort Li: “Her mother died—what’s that got to do with me? What is she to be compared to my Pingcheng!”
Imperial Consort Li wept and knelt: “Your Ladyship, I was wrong.”
The Emperor’s face also darkened. He snapped: “Get out! Without Our command, don’t come out again!”
Imperial Consort Li didn’t dare cry anymore. Covering her face, she stumbled out.
The Empress didn’t scold or punish further. She stood in the hall, chest heaving violently.
“What’s it got to do with me? What’s it got to do with me?” she muttered repeatedly.
The Emperor held her hand, soothing softly: “No relation, no relation. It has nothing to do with you, A Feng. Don’t be angry, don’t be angry.”
The Empress looked at him: “Can I punish her?”
The Emperor looked at her.
“A Feng, sit down first,” he said, holding her hand. “Have some tea. Your hand is ice-cold.”
The Empress yanked her hand back forcefully: “Don’t worry about my hand. I’m asking you—can I issue the decree right now to punish her?”
The Emperor’s lips moved, and he said: “Yes.”
The Empress smiled at him: “Good, thank you, Your Majesty.” Then she called out for attendants.
The eunuchs outside the door entered with heads bowed.
“Draft an edict for this palace: Yang Luo of Duke Ding’an’s Mansion disobeyed and offended her superior—thirty canes…”
Thirty canes—for a young girl, she’d likely be ruined. The Emperor’s lips moved again…
“Father Emperor—I’m back—”
A girl’s voice suddenly came again from outside the hall door.
In the morning light, the young girl in red hunting attire strode in, holding two wild rabbits in her hands.
“…I brought back prey for you. Eh? Mother Empress!”
Princess Pingcheng looked at the Empress and smiled in delight.
“Mother Empress is at Father Emperor’s? I’ve already had the prey sent to your palace.”
She paused slightly.
“Are Father Emperor and Mother Empress busy? Did I disturb you?”
Before the Empress could speak, the Emperor beckoned to her.
“Not busy, not busy.” He said excitedly, “Pingcheng, how are you back at this hour? Are you cold?”
Father Emperor was always happy to see her, because she was his favorite daughter.
But today his happiness exceeded the usual—because she could resolve the Yang Luo problem, right?
Did that mean Father Emperor was happy because of Yang Luo?
Princess Pingcheng pursed her lips, shook off the absurd thought, and smiled brightly.
“Not cold,” she said. “I hunted prey and wanted to present it to Father Emperor and Mother Empress right away, to make you happy for me.”
