Chapter 175: The Young Lady Returns To The National Academy
After the Lantern Festival, the curfew resumed, and this festival came to an end.
The Emperor, who had caught a cold during the hunting, did not delay the morning court. The court officials ended their rest, the princes resumed their daily studies, and the princesses should also go to the National Academy to continue reading.
At the Imperial City Gate, three carriages waited. The three princesses got into their carriages one after another. When they got out of the carriages and were hit by the cold wind, Princess Wuyang’s originally sullen face scrunched up even more.
“Wouldn’t it be better to wait until spring in the second month to start school?” she grumbled irritably.
Princess Nangong tugged at her sleeve from the side: “Don’t say it.” At the same time, she signaled backward with her eyes.
Princess Wuyang shook off her hand: “I didn’t say anything disgraceful. I’m a dignified princess—can’t I even complain?”
With that, she glanced at Princess Pingcheng, who was walking up behind them.
Princess Pingcheng gave her a look: “When your uncle took you before Father Emperor to lecture you, why didn’t you complain then?”
Although Imperial Consort Li was under house arrest, because Lord Li entered the palace to discipline his younger sister and check on the studies of the Prince of Linhai and Princess Wuyang, the Emperor also personally went to the Imperial Consort’s Palace. Her uncle was strict, Father Emperor was soft-hearted. With the festival ending, Imperial Consort Li’s house arrest was lifted, and Princess Wuyang and the Prince of Linhai also returned to her side.
Princess Wuyang lacked confidence and muttered softly: “I did complain.” Then she said no more and hurriedly got into her own carriage.
Princess Nangong gave Princess Pingcheng an apologetic smile and a curtsy, then also hurriedly got into her carriage.
Princess Pingcheng glanced around at the Imperial City Gate. The noisy princesses and the magnificent carriages made her somewhat dazed, as if she had returned to the first time she went to the National Academy.
Hmm, it was not the same. That time, Wei Jiao had specially come to see her off. This time…
Princess Pingcheng looked at the imperial guards standing solemnly around her, but there was no sign of that handsome captain in flowing black robes.
Wei Jiao was still recuperating from his injuries at the temporary palace.
Earlier, when Yang Luo’s maidservant came to the palace, she had asked her to bring nourishing delicacies, but Wei Jiao had not responded.
Princess Pingcheng was not surprised.
Pretty people were arrogant like pretty animals.
With the support of a palace maid, she got into the carriage.
“Set off.”
With the princess’s order, the imperial guards cleared the way, escorting the three princess carriages toward the National Academy.
On the road that had been cleared in advance, many civilians stood on the street side watching. Unfortunately, in the winter, the princesses’ carriages were tightly sealed, so their appearances could not be seen, but the majestic imperial guards, the dazzling royal procession, and the carriages adorned with gems made the civilians unable to get enough of the sight.
Passing a street corner, a magnificent carriage and a simple carriage waited beside them, with Yang Hui and Liu Chan quietly waiting.
Yang Hui paid respects to Princess Pingcheng’s carriage, then ignored the princess carriages behind it and got straight into her own carriage.
Liu Chan waited until all the princess carriages had passed before getting into her carriage, following behind Yang Hui’s carriage and going outside the city with the imperial guards clearing the way.
The civilians on the street side once again pointed and discussed.
“…Who are these two young ladies?”
“…These are the princesses’ companion readers…”
“…No, the companion reader young ladies have already passed. These are lady-in-waitings…”
“…There are only two lady-in-waitings for three princesses?”
“…Three, right? Where is that Miss Yang?”
That Miss Yang was now quite famous; she was the libationer’s first female disciple.
“…Did you hear? During the festival, at the Emperor’s hunting banquet, that Miss Yang fought with the young lady from Marquis Yichun’s Mansion. The startled horse even charged right up to the Emperor…”
Although the Emperor had covered up what happened at the hunting banquet to the outside world, it had happened in public after all, and the news had still spread.
The companion reader young ladies who had already arrived outside the National Academy did not enter the school hall. For the first class after the New Year, everyone respectfully waited at the doorway for the princesses.
Everyone was also discussing that Miss Yang.
“…Her injuries aren’t light, right? She hasn’t been seen since the incident.”
“…Has she been recuperating at the temporary palace all along?”
“…Will she come to school?”
Soon, the princesses’ carriages arrived. The young ladies all paid respects to welcome them, but besides surrounding the three princesses, a few people deliberately squeezed next to Yang Hui.
“Yang Hui, how are Yang Luo’s injuries?”
“Yang Hui, will she come to school?”
“Did she go back to your home?”
The young ladies asked in low voices all at once.
Yang Hui had a sullen face. How would she know! Yang Luo had not gone home; her father and brother had gone to see her but hadn’t met her.
The thought flashed through her mind, and she almost wanted to laugh.
That day, her father and brother said they were going to the temporary palace to see Yang Luo and give her a good scolding. She had felt even then that it definitely wouldn’t be that easy; Yang Luo was a very sly person.
Sure enough, her father and brother had slunk back dejectedly, saying they had stood at the palace gate for half a day but hadn’t seen her.
Fortunately, she had been smart and not gone with them.
Yang Hui did not reply, but Liu Chan, who was walking at the very back, spoke up.
“She’s much better and can come to school.”
Several people turned back in surprise to look at Liu Chan.
Liu Chan nodded: “A Sheng came to tell me specifically.”
Yang Hui did not know, but Liu Chan did. The young ladies all looked at Yang Hui again, and she snorted coldly: “You all really… have such deep sisterly bonds.”
What she actually wanted to say was that they were all in cahoots like snakes and rats, but she was afraid of being scolded. This Liu Chan might look more honest than Yang Luo and her maidservant, but someone who could do something like impersonating an identity definitely was not honest either…
While they were talking, one of the companion reader young ladies let out a low cry.
“Ah, another one has come… a princess carriage.”
Another princess carriage?
Everyone turned to look. Sure enough, they saw a magnificent carriage slowly stopping outside the mountain gate of the National Academy, escorted by imperial guards and eunuchs and palace maids. The carriage was also of royal specifications.
Could it be Princess Shengping, who was young and had only come once so far and temporarily did not need to attend school, coming this time too?
The three princesses also turned to look, their expressions surprised.
“What is that lazybones Shengping trying to do?” Princess Wuyang muttered. Was it to compete for favor in front of Father Emperor?
Was it really Shengping? Why hadn’t Father Emperor told her? He would definitely have instructed her to look after Shengping. Princess Pingcheng frowned slightly. This morning when paying respects to Father Emperor, he had said nothing about it.
“Ah?” Another young lady’s low cry came. “Isn’t that…”
“A Sheng!” Yang Hui had already shouted loudly, pushing aside the young ladies in front of her and glaring at the woman being helped down from the carriage by a palace maid.
Yang Luo’s annoying maidservant—she recognized her at a glance!
Her expression then became even more incredulous. The maidservant had gotten down, so who was sitting in the carriage…
Princess Pingcheng could not help taking a step forward. She watched as two palace maids lifted the carriage curtain, an eunuch respectfully placed a stool, the maidservant A Sheng extended her hand, and Miss Yang, dressed in a goose-yellow dress and wearing a plain cloak, slowly alighted.
“Yang Luo!”
“It’s Yang Luo.”
“Yang Luo, how did you come in this kind of carriage!”
Shocked questions from the young ladies rang out uncontrollably in front of the National Academy gate.
Miss Yang, supported by her maidservant, slowly walked forward and stood before everyone, giving a faint smile.
“There are only royal carriages at the temporary palace,” she said, her expression seemingly helpless yet reserved and arrogant. “They said I could use it.”
……
……
“She did not return to Duke Ding’an’s Mansion after school.”
“She went back in a temporary palace carriage again.”
“We originally thought it was a hasty arrangement with no other preparations.”
“But the next day, she still… did not change carriages.”
Hearing the palace maids speak up to this point, the Empress gave a cold laugh and put down the scissors in her hand: “For such overstepping behavior, since you were present, why didn’t you slap her mouth?”
The palace maids lowered their heads: “Your Ladyship, we questioned her. That Miss Yang said it was His Majesty’s decree. The eunuch who came with the carriage also said it was His Majesty rewarding Miss Yang for merit in looking after Captain Wei…”
The Empress laughed: “How did Wei Jiao get injured? Shouldn’t she be questioned for the crime of causing his injury? She is a young lady looking after a young man—doesn’t she find it humiliating? Isn’t she afraid of gossip?”
After the Empress spoke, the palace maids did not immediately agree but exchanged glances with strange expressions.
One palace maid stepped forward and said in a low voice: “Your Ladyship, there is indeed gossip, but what they are saying is…”
She seemed unable to say it.
The Empress looked at her coldly: “What are they saying?”
The palace maid lowered her head.
“They say His Majesty has taken a liking to Miss Yang of the Yang Family.”
