Chapter 52: After Class, Full Of Joy
The carriage drove directly from the west gate into Duke Ding’an’s Mansion’s inner courtyard.
A group of maidservants and servant women waited outside the second gate. When Yang Hui got out of the carriage, they all paid respects.
“Congratulations, Young Lady, on returning from reading.”
Before the words had even finished, Yang Hui screamed and threw her book bag over. “Shut up!”
The maidservants and servant women were at a loss. What happened? She had been so happy when she left in the morning. This time it wasn’t an exam, so she wouldn’t fail the selection. Why was she unhappy upon returning?
“Mother!”
When Yang Hui shouted and rushed in, Duke Ding’an’s Wife was lying on a rocking chair listening to a maidservant play the qin and sing.
Although there had been some twists and turns, she had urged Duke Ding’an to go make a fuss with Marquis Yichun. Her daughter had still been selected to Princess Pingcheng’s side.
Although called lady-in-waiting, what she was called didn’t matter. What mattered was being selected.
Now she felt relieved. The world could see that their Duke Ding’an’s Mansion was not to be underestimated.
After sending her daughter to the National Academy and allowing Duke Ding’an to go boating and playing on the lake, she herself selected gold and silver jewelry in a gold and silver shop, then returned home to listen to some tunes.
She was listening drowsily when she was startled awake by her daughter’s shout.
Leisurely time really passed quickly. Unknowingly, her daughter was back from school.
“Huihui, you’re back.” Duke Ding’an’s Wife hurriedly got up. “How was it? With the princess—”
“I’m so angry I’m going to die.” Yang Hui shouted, interrupting Duke Ding’an’s Wife’s words. She sat down, her eyes reddening as tears pattered down.
Duke Ding’an’s Wife hurriedly shooed the maidservants out and nervously asked, “Did the princess bully you?” Then she muttered, “That daughter of the Chai Clan is not easy to get along with. Her daughter must be the same.”
Was that daughter of the Chai Clan referring to the Empress? Her mother had dealings with the Empress? Over these years of entering the palace to pay respects, she hadn’t seen her mother speak much with the Empress. Yang Hui had a thought, then immediately shook it off and felt a bit proud. “No, Princess Pingcheng was very good to me. She even held my hand.”
At this point, she spoke hatefully.
“It was that countryside maid surnamed Liu!”
Hearing that Princess Pingcheng had held her daughter’s hand, Duke Ding’an’s Wife breathed a sigh of relief and asked, “Surnamed Liu? The one who stole your spot?”
Yang Hui nodded. “That’s her. Today when she saw me, she even wanted to steal my lady-in-waiting position! She squeezed me aside and went to cling to the princess.”
That day her daughter had clamored that her spot was stolen. Duke Ding’an’s Wife hadn’t taken such words seriously. How could such a thing be stolen? It could only be said that this young lady from Fuzhou truly had good knowledge. But she hadn’t expected this person to be so brazen.
Real or fake?
“Real.” Yang Hui stomped her foot. “In front of everyone, everyone saw it. She really has no shame.”
So that’s how it was. Duke Ding’an’s Wife suddenly understood. This must be someone sent by the family to attach herself to the princess. Fuzhou, outside the Capital City—this was a rare chance to attach to the Imperial Family, so of course she would be shameless and go all out.
“It’s not wrong for her to want to attach herself; everyone wants to attach.” Duke Ding’an’s Wife said, then frowned. “But she can’t bully others.”
Yang Hui nodded vigorously. “Exactly.” She was both aggrieved and furious. “And she only picked on me, saying I wasn’t selected, saying I was shameless, saying our family relied on the Empress and Marquis Yichun.”
Of course, the last part was what she had said.
She had only realized afterward when she said it that her mother and father had instructed her not to say it to outsiders.
So now she didn’t dare admit she said it and simply pinned it on that countryside maid.
Duke Ding’an’s Wife immediately became angry and slapped the table. “How can such a shameless person stay by the princess’s side!”
Yang Hui nodded. “Exactly.” She shook Duke Ding’an’s Wife’s arm. “Mother, quickly have Father speak to Marquis Yichun and the Empress to drive her away.”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife sneered disdainfully. “A woman from a Fuzhou academy—no need to trouble Marquis Yichun and the Empress.”
With that, she raised her voice outward and called for someone.
“Go summon the Duke back!”
For this small matter, Duke Ding’an could write a letter to instruct them. Fuzhou would have officials up and down go teach that Liu Family a lesson—how they raised such a brazen daughter and take her away.
If she were driven away by the Empress and Emperor in the future, that family’s face would be completely lost.
Now, by reminding the Liu Family, they were helping them.
After instructing the servant woman, Duke Ding’an’s Wife smiled and stroked her daughter’s shoulder.
“Alright, small matter. Don’t be angry.” She said, “School is tiring. Come eat quickly. I made your favorite meal.”
…….
…….
When Princess Pingcheng stepped into the Empress’s Palace, she saw the Emperor was also there.
“Why is Father Emperor here?” she asked happily.
Although her parents were husband and wife who had married young and shared hardships, after more than ten years as Emperor, the couple no longer stayed together all the time.
The Emperor was busy with state affairs, with all matters under heaven to manage, and there were many imperial concubines in the rear palace as well.
Of course, Father Emperor still came to Mother Empress the most, just that he had come consecutively for only a few days recently.
“Of course to examine your homework.” The Emperor deliberately put on a stern face and said, “How was the first day of school?”
Princess Pingcheng was not afraid of Father Emperor’s stern face at all. She smiled and sat down beside him. “Father Emperor, you’d better not examine my homework, lest Father Emperor be put in a difficult position.”
The Empress chided from the side, “How do you speak to your Father Emperor.”
The Emperor laughed heartily. “My daughter is just like me—proud and confident.”
The Empress glanced at him. “Still proud, saying your knowledge is poor.”
Princess Pingcheng chimed in from the side. “Every measure has its strengths and weaknesses. Father Emperor has only this one shortcoming, but now I can make up for it.”
The Empress glared at Princess Pingcheng. “Truly boastful without shame.”
“How is it boastful without shame?” The Emperor said with a smile. “Our Pingcheng has ambition.”
As he spoke, he twirled his short mustache.
“When I was not yet as old as Pingcheng, I already had the ambition to pacify the chaotic times.”
Princess Pingcheng solemnly paid respects. “It shows Father Emperor was chosen by heaven and did not fail heaven’s heavy trust, achieving his ambition.”
The Emperor laughed again. “My daughter will surely achieve her wish and become a learned talent.”
The Empress shook her head. “You two father and daughter…” A smile also appeared at the corners of her mouth. She asked, “How was it at the National Academy today? Did you understand the teacher’s lesson? Did you get along well with the young ladies?”
Princess Pingcheng nodded, her expression pausing slightly. Getting along with the young ladies… there were some surprises, like that Liu Chan young lady from Fuzhou.
She had now remembered this name.
However, this young lady’s small matter was not enough for her to mention to Father Emperor and Mother Empress.
“It’s a pity the Libationer doesn’t teach us.” She said, “I hope to attend the Libationer’s class in the future.”
With that, she shook the Emperor’s sleeve.
“Father Emperor, I’m hungry. Stay today to eat with me and Mother Empress.”
The Emperor smiled. “I came precisely to eat with my daughter.”
Princess Pingcheng was joyful. “Father Emperor is truly good to me.”
“You are my daughter.” The Emperor said. Then he looked at the Empress. “Trouble the Empress to make some of my daughter’s favorite dishes.”
The Empress glared at him.
“Trouble Mother Empress to also make some of my Father Emperor’s favorites.” Princess Pingcheng said with a giggle.
The Empress couldn’t help but laugh out.
The palace maids and palace women standing outside the hall looked at the family of three inside the hall, their expressions joyful, discussing softly.
“The Empress and His Majesty haven’t been so happily open like ordinary husband and wife in a long time.”
“His Majesty truly dotes on his daughter.”
“That depends on which daughter. The Empress and His Majesty are childhood sweethearts who shared hardships. The eldest princess was born the year of His Majesty’s ascension to the throne—she’s different from the other daughters.”
“All three princesses went to study, but only the eldest princess gets His Majesty to personally inquire and wait.”
…….
…….
“Young Lady, it’s time for dinner.”
Yang Luo sat at the desk, looking at the book scroll placed in front of her, when she suddenly heard the call.
She came back to her senses and lifted her head, seeing the young guard holding the meal.
Yang Luo looked outside. Dusk had already enveloped the courtyard.
