Chapter 142: The Princess Pleads
“Last year, she could only ride horses, draw bows, and shoot grass targets.”
“This year, she can hunt live prey. Princess Pingcheng is truly accomplished in both civil and martial arts.”
“Princess Pingcheng, so what you sent to the Empress’s Palace was a deer.”
The Emperor was both praising and looking sorrowful.
“Father Emperor only got two wild rabbits.”
Princess Pingcheng held hot tea, smiling as she said, “Father Emperor is so good at riding and shooting; he can hunt as many deer as he wants.”
The Emperor sighed, “A deer sent by my daughter is not the same as one I hunt myself.”
Because Princess Pingcheng had suddenly come in, the Empress also stopped writing the decree, afraid her daughter would get too cold. She had people bring hot tea and pastries. The Emperor excitedly looked at Princess Pingcheng’s prey, then had people check the prey at the Empress’s Palace. Upon learning that what was sent to the Empress was a deer, he became sorrowful again.
The hall became lively.
Soon the prey was sent to the imperial kitchen, and Princess Pingcheng’s face, after drinking hot tea, became rosy.
The Empress set down her tea and interrupted the father and daughter’s laughter, “You should go wash up and rest first. Your father Emperor and I still have matters to discuss.”
The Emperor stiffened, about to say something, when the Empress spoke again.
“…You set out at midnight yesterday and must be both tired and exhausted. If your body gets chilled through, you’ll get sick.”
You’ll get sick. The Emperor hurriedly set down his tea and urged, “Yes, go quickly to the hot spring pool to soak, then rest well.”
Princess Pingcheng stood up but did not take leave. Instead, she walked to the Empress, took the Empress’s hand, and knelt down.
“Mother Empress, do not issue the decree to punish Yang Luo.” She said.
……
…….
“You have disappointed me too much.”
“I thought you came back to comfort me, but you are actually pleading for that Yang Luo?”
“I know you have a good temper, but you cannot be so good as to let people humiliate you and still treat them leniently.”
The Empress looked at Princess Pingcheng kneeling before her and angrily rebuked.
“Have you read books until you became foolish?”
The Emperor stood to the side, sighing, “Princess Pingcheng, stand up and speak.”
Princess Pingcheng looked at the Empress, “Mother Empress, please forgive your daughter for being selfish. For the sake of my own face, I must stop Mother Empress.”
For the sake of her own face? The Empress looked at her.
Princess Pingcheng withdrew her hand and knelt straight.
“I know, Mother Empress is not truly so angry because Yang Luo offended you; it is also for my sake.”
“The cause of all this was because of the poor exam results at the National Academy.”
“My cousin was venting for me and quarreled with Yang Luo, leading her to speak arrogantly and offend Mother Empress.”
The Empress looked at her, “Just because she did well on one exam, she became so arrogant and rampant—should she not be punished?”
Princess Pingcheng nodded, “She should be punished, but since it arose from reading, it should be punished with reading. Please, Mother, do not issue a decree for caning, or else the world will mock your daughter for being a sore loser.”
The Empress reached out and gently stroked her daughter’s face, “How would the world mock? Princess Pingcheng, you are the first princess of the Great Xia Dynasty, the legitimate Grand Princess. You can punish whomever you want without even needing a reason; the people under heaven will not mock you but revere you.”
Princess Pingcheng nodded, “Mother Empress, precisely because I have such a noble identity, how can I fly into a rage over a single sentence from such a lowly person? This is also a humiliation to me.”
The Empress’s expression paused slightly.
“Mother Empress.” Princess Pingcheng grabbed the Empress’s hand again, “I know Mother Empress and my cousin both mean well, but I was originally indifferent to this matter. It was just one exam; I had already forgotten it. If Mother Empress punishes Yang Luo over this, then the world will not forget, and I will not be able to forget even if I want to.”
The Empress hesitated, “You are magnanimous and do not care, but that villain is smug…”
“She is still reading books; it’s not like she only takes one exam.” Princess Pingcheng said, “Does Mother Empress think I am inferior to her?”
The Empress sneered, “What is she? How can she compare to you?”
With that, she pulled Princess Pingcheng up.
“Princess Pingcheng.” The Emperor, who had been quiet to the side, said, “Go rest quickly.”
The Empress looked coldly at him.
The Emperor looked at Princess Pingcheng, his gaze gentle, “Study your books well. Your mother Empress and I will handle this matter.”
He then looked at the Empress.
“I consider her previous meritorious service in cleverly saving you, so I exempt her from the crime of disobedience, but this child is arrogant and overbearing; she truly cannot be indulged without question.”
“I will personally issue the decree to question her crime of disrespect.”
“Caning can be exempted, but palm strikes must be administered.”
Princess Pingcheng smiled and paid respects to the Emperor, “Clear distinction between reward and punishment—Father Emperor is wise and sage.”
The Emperor looked at her, his expression gratified and thankful. About to say something, Princess Pingcheng raised her sleeve to cover a yawn.
“Father Emperor, Mother Empress, I really am tired; I will go rest now.” She said.
The Emperor and Empress said in unison, “Go quickly.”
The Emperor added, “Remember to go to the hot spring pool.”
Princess Pingcheng smilingly agreed, paid respects, and withdrew.
The Emperor’s gaze followed his daughter’s disappearing figure.
“To have such a daughter is truly the fortune of my life, Deng Shan.” He said. Then he turned to look at the Empress beside him, “A Feng, I know you have grievances, but Princess Pingcheng knows nothing. Do not involve her in past matters.”
The Empress looked at him, “Then please remember, Your Majesty, that Princess Pingcheng is innocent. Do not mistreat Princess Pingcheng because of others.”
The Emperor nodded and sighed again, “I will not mistreat the Empress either.”
The Empress lowered her eyes, curtsied, said nothing, and rose to walk out.
The Emperor did not detain her and watched the Empress leave.
The hall returned to quiet, and the Emperor slowly exhaled.
Yang Luo.
“Come, draft a verbal decree!”
……
…….
“Grandfather!”
Princess Pingcheng had not walked far from the Emperor’s sleeping quarters when she saw two eunuchs leading two people over.
One was a tall old man, the other a young girl.
Princess Pingcheng recognized them at a glance and hurried forward to meet them.
The eunuchs paid respects and withdrew.
Marquis Yichun stood in place, smiling as he paid respects, “I have seen the Princess.”
Chai Wan’er following behind also respectfully paid respects, “I have seen the Princess.”
Princess Pingcheng personally helped Marquis Yichun up, “Grandfather has been troubled again.”
Marquis Yichun straightened and looked at Princess Pingcheng, saying, “With the Princess returned, I no longer need to be troubled.”
The grandfather and granddaughter said nothing explicit about the matter, but one sentence from each showed they understood one another, and they immediately smiled at each other.
“I have already soothed Mother Empress.” Princess Pingcheng said with a smile.
Marquis Yichun lightly hummed, “She is getting more regressive with age, not even as good as a child.”
Princess Pingcheng smiled, “Grandfather, do not blame Mother Empress.” With that, she told Marquis Yichun what she had just done and said.
Marquis Yichun listened carefully and nodded in satisfaction.
“This is the Princess’s bearing.” He said, “Whether quarreling or issuing a decree to punish, it all elevates her.”
This was merely giving the world a spectacle, with little benefit to oneself.
One should quietly crush this ant underfoot to demonstrate the Empress’s might and the Princess’s nobility.
With that, he glared at Chai Wan’er to the side.
“Why haven’t you apologized to the Princess yet?”
Chai Wan’er knelt down with a face full of self-reproach, “Princess, it was I who acted on my own and brought trouble.”
Princess Pingcheng hurriedly reached out to help her up, “Cousin, get up quickly.”
Chai Wan’er stood and timidly said, “Princess, I’m sorry; I was too stupid…”
She had specially styled her hair high today, exposing her forehead, where the whip wound was clearly visible.
Princess Pingcheng’s gaze fell on her wound, and she frowned.
“It won’t leave a scar, will it?” She said, “Call an imperial physician to take a look.”
Being cared for by the Princess, Chai Wan’er teared up excitedly, “Even if it scars, I’m not afraid; I only fear letting the Princess down.”
Princess Pingcheng laughed, “You, what you’re good at isn’t reading; why compare reading with others?”
Chai Wan’er was overjoyed, “Princess, rest assured; Father has already lectured me. I know what to do now.”
Right, what she was good at wasn’t reading.
Next time, she would compete in kung fu with this Yang Luo and beat the cheap maid to death!
“Grandfather, what I can do is prevent Father Emperor and Mother Empress from quarreling.” Princess Pingcheng looked at Marquis Yichun again and said, “I am relying on my parents’ love for me; I can only resolve the surface. I still must trouble Grandfather to soothe Father Emperor and Mother Empress to avoid resentment between them.”
Marquis Yichun once again satisfiedly appraised Princess Pingcheng, “Your mother is luckier than me to have given birth to such a good daughter.”
Princess Pingcheng was amused and coquettishly called Grandfather.
“Good, you don’t need to worry about it; you have already fulfilled your duty as a daughter.” Marquis Yichun said, “I will handle the rest with the arrangement.”
Princess Pingcheng did not ask what arrangement Marquis Yichun had, only smilingly agreed.
“Princess, you have labored through the night; go back and rest quickly.” Marquis Yichun said gently, then sternly looked at Chai Wan’er, “You come with me to apologize before the Emperor and Empress.”
Chai Wan’er fearfully lowered her head.
Princess Pingcheng took Chai Wan’er’s hand, “She is just a child; Father Emperor won’t hold it against her. Bringing her there would make Father Emperor uncomfortable and unable to speak freely. Grandfather, you know Father Emperor’s temperament; don’t put him in a difficult position.”
This granddaughter truly understands the Emperor better than his own daughter.
Well, after all, half of Deng Shan’s blood flows in her veins.
This is truly good, even better.
Marquis Yichun smiled and bowed, “This old minister obeys.”
