Chapter 70: The Emperor’s Explanation
As the sunlight slanted, the bustling Hall of Diligent Governance gradually quieted down.
The Emperor lifted his head from the memorial, easing the soreness in his eyes, and then saw a youthful face peeking in from outside the hall…
“Father Emperor.”
The Emperor’s tense face from the entire day instantly broke into a smile: “Princess Pingcheng, school is out.”
He glanced at the sky outside.
“Why are you back late today?”
Princess Pingcheng’s face was also full of smiles; Father Emperor even remembered her school dismissal time.
“Father Emperor has been busy all along,” she said. “I was practicing calligraphy in the study room next door.”
Everyone said he spoiled Princess Pingcheng, but in fact, this child never needed spoiling; she was the most sensible. The Emperor’s smile deepened as he beckoned his daughter to come forward.
Princess Pingcheng stepped forward as instructed and sat down beside the desk.
She wasn’t coy at all: “This morning when I left, I went to pay respects to Mother Empress. I said I would come see Father Emperor early, but I was in a hurry to go to school and didn’t come over.”
She explained the whole matter and looked at the Emperor.
“So I came to see if there’s anything I can help with?”
The Emperor laughed heartily. Nowadays, others spoke to him with circumlocutions, beating around the bush, concealing their own intentions, guessing his intentions…
The Imperial Concubines in the Imperial Palace, as well as the princesses and princes, were the same.
Only this daughter was always frank and sincere in front of him.
“There is a small matter.” The Emperor said with a smile, “Even if you hadn’t come to ask, I would have sent for you to discuss it.”
Princess Pingcheng quickly sat up straight: “Father Emperor, please speak.”
“Because of assigning Yang Hui to serve as your lady-in-waiting, there has been some criticism after all.” The Emperor said, “So I discussed it with your Mother Empress, and we decided to select a lady-in-waiting for Princess Wuyang and Nangong as well.”
This sounded like a small matter, but Princess Pingcheng was stunned for a moment. From childhood to now, she had enjoyed many exclusive privileges. Although they were all princesses, her status was different from the other princesses, and this was known to everyone…
How could there be criticism just because of one lady-in-waiting?
Who was criticizing?
Her hands on her knees clenched slightly, but she smiled on her face and nodded: “So that’s what it’s about.” She thought seriously again, “But after all, she didn’t go through the normal examination, and with the status of a servant girl, it’s easy for them to face criticism at the National Academy.”
With that, she looked at the Emperor.
“Even Duke Ding’an’s Family’s Young Lady, serving by my side in such a status, would be called shameless.”
The Emperor was taken aback.
He knew that young girls weren’t all as delicate as they appeared; privately, they had sharp tongues and could be aggressive.
But it had only been a few days, and trouble had already arisen?
The Emperor frowned: “Where the Sage of reading is, which family’s young lady is so rude?”
Princess Pingcheng smiled: “Father Emperor doesn’t need to investigate; it’s a small matter. When everyone gathers together, verbal disputes are inevitable. Moreover, precisely because they are scholars who worked hard to get in through the examination, seeing something irregular inevitably makes them angry. Father Emperor, rest assured, I’ve already soothed them. What I mean is that the lady-in-waiting status isn’t very prestigious; I’m afraid the selected ones won’t be able to study and will feel ashamed to face people…”
The Emperor nodded with a smile: “With you here, I’m not worried.” He coughed lightly, “The status isn’t prestigious, but you don’t need to worry. I will still select from Duke Ding’an’s Mansion. Anyway, one has already been ridiculed; two more won’t matter.”
He snorted coldly in his heart.
This was even better.
He had been worried that once these two entered, they would be smug and fawned upon, but unexpectedly, the female students already disdained such behavior.
Princess Pingcheng didn’t even mention those female students’ names, fearing he would punish them, but he had no intention of punishing; rather, he wanted to reward them.
Of course, aside from hiding the truth from his daughter, he couldn’t say such things to her.
The Emperor saw that after his words, although Princess Pingcheng tried to stay calm, being only a teenager after all, she couldn’t help showing a shocked expression, and seemed a bit disappointed.
The Emperor quickly added: “I told your grandfather, and he agrees. I’ve already informed Duke Ding’an’s Mansion. Coincidentally, Duke Ding’an’s Mansion has two daughters from relatives’ families visiting, about the same age. They say they’re at home making a fuss out of jealousy over Yang Hui reading. When they heard they were selected, Duke Ding’an was extremely grateful.”
So Grandfather agreed too. Princess Pingcheng’s clenched hands relaxed a bit; it seemed this was unavoidable.
Alright then.
Princess Pingcheng smiled: “Father Emperor’s decision is fine.” She raised her brows again, “Now our reading will be even more lively.”
The Emperor naturally understood what this “lively” meant.
Guilt appeared on the Emperor’s face. He had let his daughter read, but as a result, she had to face these troubles, pacifying disputes among the female students…
“You’ve worked hard, my daughter,” he said. “Reading is supposed to be a pure matter…”
“Father Emperor.” Princess Pingcheng interrupted the Emperor, “Is there true purity under Heaven? In the past, I was raised in the palace, protected by Father Emperor and Mother Empress, carefree in all things. But eventually, I will leave the Imperial Palace and deal with people. I should thank Father Emperor for giving me this opportunity to learn to distinguish loyal from treacherous, wise from foolish, discern right from wrong, and soothe hearts.”
The girl’s eyes sparkled, her face full of pride.
“This is not hard work.”
The Emperor clapped and laughed loudly: “Good, good, good! As expected of Deng Shan’s daughter!”
Princess Pingcheng bowed: “Father Emperor, rest assured.”
With that, she didn’t stay longer.
“Father Emperor is diligent in governance, and I will go read as well.”
The Emperor nodded with a smile and instructed again: “Go see your Mother Empress first. She may not say it, but she misses you very much.”
Instructing his daughter to see her mother also showed that the father missed his wife too. Princess Pingcheng’s smile deepened; she respectfully agreed and walked out.
But this time, Princess Pingcheng did not leave directly; she stopped outside the Hall of Diligent Governance and then saw the Emperor’s Chief Eunuch heading toward the quarters of the Imperial Concubines…
Princess Pingcheng lowered her gaze and said: “Go to the study room and fetch the essay I wrote today; I’ll bring it to Mother Empress to see.”
The eunuchs by her side quickly agreed and hurried off.
Princess Pingcheng stood in place waiting, her gaze fixed on the Hall of Diligent Governance. Soon, she saw the Chief Eunuch return…
He didn’t return alone; Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong were there too. The two hurried toward the Hall of Diligent Governance, nervous yet unable to hide their joy.
Father Emperor wanted to see them.
That made sense; assigning them ladies-in-waiting required some instructions.
Princess Pingcheng clasped her hands in front of her, but actually, there was no need for Father Emperor to instruct them personally; for such a small matter, she as the older sister could relay it.
She just felt that today’s Father Emperor was somewhat different from yesterday’s.
……
…….
“Didn’t you go pay respects to your Father Emperor first after school?”
Seeing Princess Wuyang walk in, wearing a goose-yellow dress with soft features, Imperial Consort Li quickly stood up to greet her, her willow-leaf brows furrowing.
“Didn’t I warn you? Even if Father Emperor doesn’t see you, you must still go.”
Princess Wuyang, who had been all smiles, was scolded upon arrival and immediately became unhappy: “Mother Consort, of course I went. The eunuchs saw us and said His Majesty was busy, so we left.”
Imperial Consort Li then relaxed a bit but remained suspicious: “Then why did His Majesty suddenly summon you?”
Perhaps because he was the founding Emperor, his original wife and children were the true family; she and her later concubines and born children, though father and daughter, always had a layer of separation, more like ministers in the Emperor’s eyes.
The Emperor rarely saw the other children alone; for matters, it was either the Empress or Princess Pingcheng who relayed.
Hearing her Mother Consort’s question, Princess Wuyang’s brows danced with excitement.
“Father Emperor asked about my homework.”
“Asked how I was doing at the National Academy.”
“He even had Nangong and me write calligraphy on the spot. Hehe, Mother Consort, you know that when it comes to studies, I don’t lose to Pingcheng.”
“Father Emperor saw my calligraphy and was very surprised; he seriously praised me.”
Listening to her daughter’s account, Imperial Consort Li was full of delight, praising her repeatedly and instructing, “Don’t be proud, don’t show smugness.”
Princess Wuyang nodded smugly, then impatiently said, “I know, rest assured. I’m not stupid; I know how to please Father Emperor too.” At this point, she muttered, “It’s just that Father Emperor didn’t give me the chance before.”
Now it was good. As long as Father Emperor was willing to see her more and listen to her speak, he would surely discover she was the truly smart and sensible daughter.
Imperial Consort Li smiled and said no more: “Alright, you’ve worked hard. Go rest now.”
Princess Wuyang stretched lazily and walked toward her palace, smugly adding: “Father Emperor also gave Nangong and me each a lady-in-waiting. This time, it’s not just Princess Pingcheng’s exclusive.”
Before she finished speaking, Imperial Consort Li yanked her back.
She was caught off guard and nearly fell.
“Mother Consort.” She couldn’t help complaining.
Imperial Consort Li ignored her daughter nearly falling, her eyes flashing: “Selected ladies-in-waiting for you and Nangong too? Which family’s young ladies?”
