Chapter 46: The Father Emperor And Mother Empress’s Daily Matters
In the early morning of deep autumn, the Imperial City was shrouded in a thin mist, and the palace resembled a celestial mountain.
Princess Pingcheng walked into Kunning Palace and saw many people standing in front of the Empress’s sleeping quarters.
There were people from Kunning Palace, people from the Emperor’s side, and two servant women who were not from the palace.
Princess Pingcheng looked at those two servant women and recognized them as from her grandfather Marquis Yichun’s family.
Palace maids and eunuchs came forward to pay respects, and those two servant women also came forward to perform a grand bow: “Princess, the Old Madam of Marquis Yichun has come to see Your Ladyship.”
Princess Pingcheng first lit up with joy: “Grandmother has come?” Then she immediately frowned and looked toward the Empress’s sleeping quarters. “Is there something the matter?”
So early.
…….
……
“This subject wife came to see the Empress. I was ill before, and the Empress has been worried. I’ve come today so she can see me and feel relieved.”
The Old Madam of Marquis Yichun said this while looking at the Emperor, who was dressed in casual clothes to accompany the Empress for breakfast, and respectfully paid respects.
The Emperor smiled warmly and supported her: “This has troubled my mother-in-law to make the trip. It was my mistake; I should have accompanied A Feng to visit you.”
The Emperor and Empress were a couple formed amid wartime chaos. After becoming Emperor and Empress, they did not stand on so much ceremony with each other, and he still habitually addressed the Marquis Yichun’s Madam as mother-in-law.
The Old Madam of Marquis Yichun was just about to thank him and say she dared not, when the Empress, dressed simply with her hair in a single bun and no makeup, gave a cold laugh from the side: “His Majesty came immediately upon hearing the news. Mother, tell the truth, don’t hide it from him.”
These words made the indoor atmosphere tense.
Princess Pingcheng, eavesdropping outside the hall, also felt somewhat nervous.
Compared to her father Emperor, her mother Empress had a very bad temper.
She remembered her brother saying that her mother had been very gentle when he was little…
Her brother was born before her father Emperor and mother Empress entered the capital to establish the nation.
When her father Emperor ascended to the throne, she was in her mother Empress’s belly. From the moment she was born, she was a princess, and her mother had become the Empress.
Perhaps because Madam Great General Deng and the Empress’s identities were different, her mother’s temperament had also changed.
As Princess Pingcheng was lost in random thoughts, she heard her father Emperor’s voice come through, somewhat helpless.
“A Feng, I really did come to have breakfast with you.”
The Empress pretended not to hear and said: “My mother came to see me because of Duke Ding’an.”
Duke Ding’an? Princess Pingcheng was stunned for a moment.
Inside, the Old Madam of Marquis Yichun was already hurriedly paying respects: “Your Majesty, this subject wife did not stop Duke Ding’an from seeing Your Majesty.”
Why was her grandmother saying this? Princess Pingcheng was even more surprised. She tiptoed up and peered inside through the window lattice, seeing her father Emperor hurriedly supporting her grandmother.
“Mother-in-law, get up quickly. I did not think that way. You must not say such things.” The Emperor forcefully helped the Old Madam of Marquis Yichun up and sighed: “Mother-in-law, with you like this, how can Deng Shan possibly manage?”
He had even used his own name in self-reference. The Old Madam of Marquis Yichun looked guilty: “It was this subject wife’s fault.” Without further hesitation, she continued, “It is like this: The princesses are selecting companion readers, and Duke Ding’an wants his daughter to be selected. He entrusted the matter to the Marquis.”
The Emperor was stunned for a moment: “How did he…”
Not come to find the Emperor personally, but go to Marquis Yichun instead?
The Empress said flatly: “Perhaps he feels we owe him.”
The Emperor’s face stiffened, then he became annoyed: “What a muddled fool.”
The Old Madam of Marquis Yichun hurriedly stopped the Empress: “Do not speak recklessly.” She then looked at the Emperor. “He knows Your Majesty’s temper and dares not come to ask for a favor. This matter is also my fault. Duke Ding’an asked here, and I wanted our two families to grow closer, so I agreed and asked the Empress.”
At this point, she hurriedly added another sentence.
“The Empress did indeed handle it.”
The Emperor looked at the Empress and sighed: “You’ve been troubled by this.”
The Empress said flatly: “Your Majesty need not praise me. The matter was not accomplished; his family’s daughter failed the selection, and now Duke Ding’an hates me even more.”
Not accomplished? The Emperor was about to say something when the Old Madam of Marquis Yichun gave a wry smile and spoke first: “Originally, this was a small matter. The Empress provided the exam questions and gave instructions to the National Academy in charge of the exam, but unexpectedly, the Libationer personally graded the papers…”
So Miss Yang failed the selection.
The Emperor understood. He naturally knew Wang Zaitian’s temper. Forget the Empress’s instructions; even if he, the Emperor, spoke up, it was not certain he would give face.
Especially when it involved reading.
The Emperor laughed: “It seems the young lady from Duke Ding’an’s Mansion does not have much learning.”
The Old Madam of Marquis Yichun sighed: “A girl of only thirteen or fourteen—what learning could she have? The Libationer was too harsh.”
It was unknown what these words made the Emperor think of; his expression briefly became somewhat dazed.
The Old Madam of Marquis Yichun noticed, and her gaze sharpened slightly.
“No matter what, we took on the matter but did not accomplish it,” she said. “Duke Ding’an misunderstood and thinks we obstructed it. Sigh.”
“So yesterday he caused Father no peace.” The Empress said with a cold laugh.
The Emperor was annoyed: “That scoundrel.”
As he spoke, he paced back and forth.
“Yang Bin is truly measuring a gentleman’s heart with a petty man’s.”
“After so many years, and at his age, he has not improved at all.”
The Old Madam of Marquis Yichun said: “No matter what, we agreed but did not accomplish it. We have let him down…”
The Empress abruptly stood up: “How have we let him down? His own daughter is incompetent, yet he blames me. How have I let him down?”
The Emperor hurriedly pulled her back: “No one says you let him down. This matter has nothing to do with you. You need not concern yourself with it anymore. I…”
The Empress suddenly looked at him: “What? You want to see him personally and apologize to them on my behalf?”
The Emperor’s face stiffened slightly: “No, that’s not it. I will summon him and tell him this was the Libationer’s judgment, so he does not make wild guesses and blame others.”
The Empress sneered: “Let him make wild guesses and blame—do I fear him?”
The Emperor hurriedly soothed: “A Feng, do not get angry. Alright, I will not see him…”
He looked toward the Old Madam of Marquis Yichun with a hint of pleading for help.
The Old Madam of Marquis Yichun hurriedly spoke: “Your Majesty, rest assured. This matter, I…”
Before her words finished, a calling voice rang out from the door: “Father Emperor, Mother Empress—”
Princess Pingcheng stepped in briskly, her bright smile instantly dispelling the gloom indoors.
The Emperor straightened up, the Empress lowered her gaze to conceal her anger, and the Old Madam of Marquis Yichun showed a loving smile.
“Grandmother.” Princess Pingcheng rushed over and hugged her. “You’ve finally come to the palace to see me.”
The Old Madam of Marquis Yichun laughed heartily: “Do not let the medicinal smell on this old body fumigate the Princess.”
The Empress frowned: “How old are you? Do not cling to your grandmother.”
Princess Pingcheng smiled and took her father Emperor’s arm: “So Father Emperor is here with Mother Empress. I was just coming to find you.”
The Emperor was all smiles: “What is it?”
Princess Pingcheng said: “Father Emperor, I am going to school tomorrow, but I am still short a few things.”
The Empress said from the side: “For school, brush, ink, paper, and inkstone are enough. What else could you lack? Do not use reading as an excuse to demand favors.”
“Let her speak. Pingcheng has grown so big and rarely asks us for anything.” The Emperor said with a laugh, looking at Princess Pingcheng with a gratified expression. “It must be because you impressed the Libationer so much that he personally reviewed the exam papers. You are more capable than Father Emperor—he would not even look at my writing, saying it was ugly.”
This was also an unexpected joy for Princess Pingcheng. Originally, the instructors and palace maids said the Libationer would not intervene, but unexpectedly, he personally reviewed them. Although the Libationer did not comment on her handwriting or essay, he must have left an impression in the Libationer’s mind.
Princess Pingcheng smiled brightly: “Father Emperor is the most capable person under Heaven. I only seek not to bring shame to Father Emperor.” She then looked at the Empress. “Nor to bring shame to Mother Empress.”
The Empress said nothing, but her previously tense face had softened.
“Tell me, what do you want?” The Emperor asked with a laugh.
Princess Pingcheng said: “Although I have companion readers, I am still short a lady-in-waiting.”
Lady-in-waiting? The Emperor was stunned for a moment. The Old Madam of Marquis Yichun and the Empress thought of something; the Empress’s brows shot up as if to speak, but she was stopped by a fierce glare from the Old Madam of Marquis Yichun.
“One cannot bring maidservants to study at the National Academy, but I am a princess after all. Some things I truly cannot do myself. So Father Emperor, please find me another lady-in-waiting. She need not be learned; as long as she can help me grind ink, turn pages, organize notes, and serve tea, that is enough.”
Hearing Princess Pingcheng’s words, the Emperor’s eyes filled with even more affection. He said: “Father Emperor permits you to choose yourself.”
Princess Pingcheng smiled: “Then let it be Miss Yang from Duke Ding’an’s Mansion. I saw her during the exam and quite liked her.”
The Emperor looked at her deeply and nodded.
“Good.” He said softly. “Good child.”
