Chapter 85: After One Night
Not necessarily?
Princess Wuyang was stunned for a moment.
Mother Consort had always taught them not to provoke the Empress and Emperor’s two precious darlings.
How come this time she said disrespectful words about Princess Pingcheng and Prince of Donghai, yet Mother Consort didn’t scold her but instead said not necessarily.
Is this agreement?
“Mother Consort, how do you plan to win Father Emperor’s favor, to make Father Emperor treat me and Prince Linhuai like precious darlings?” She lowered her voice and asked eagerly.
Imperial Consort Li lifted her head, as if just coming back to her senses: “What? What nonsense are you saying again? I’m thinking about things.” She waved her hand dismissively, “If you want to win your Father Emperor’s favor, you don’t need me to step in, nor do you need to bring calligraphy practice sheets before him. Studying diligently in your own hall is enough to reach his ears.”
How boring. Princess Wuyang didn’t want to hear this: “I skipped breakfast this morning and wrote calligraphy, that’s diligent enough already.” With that, she stood up to take her leave and left, without picking up the calligraphy practice sheet thrown on the ground.
Imperial Consort Li didn’t pay her any mind, seemingly still lost in thought.
The conf idante palace maid came in to pick up the calligraphy practice sheet.
“Your Ladyship, why not have Princess go see His Majesty at noon, and use the opportunity to inquire about Miss of Duke Ding’an’s Mansion’s safety, so His Majesty can see Princess’s homework.” She said.
Earlier Your Ladyship had even taken the initiative to ask. Such a good opportunity—is it forgotten to tell Princess Wuyang?
Last night the Emperor was woken up for something urgent, and Your Ladyship hadn’t slept well either. Is this exhaustion?
Imperial Consort Li lifted her head: “No need. The matter hasn’t been fully investigated yet. We don’t know that young lady’s condition. If it’s improper, mentioning it too much would only displease His Majesty.”
Even if the Miss of Duke Ding’an’s Mansion has something improper, what displeasure would His Majesty have? Wouldn’t he rebuke Duke Ding’an even more? It has nothing to do with Princess Wuyang. The palace maid was puzzled and wanted to say something, but Imperial Consort Li spoke again.
“Go have Maternal Uncle’s people come over.” She said, “I want to ask about last night’s matter, exactly what happened.”
She’s really asking about how the Miss of Duke Ding’an’s Mansion is. The palace maid said no more and acknowledged.
…….
…….
Morning light was already bright. There was no grand court assembly today. The Emperor had a simple breakfast, then went to the Imperial Study with a furrowed brow. Before even approaching, he heard faint sounds of reading.
Hearing this voice, the Emperor’s tightly furrowed brows instantly relaxed, and a smile spread across his face.
He signaled the eunuchs not to make a sound, and quietly walked to a side hall, peering inside through the window lattice.
In the morning light, the young girl sat upright in the hall, holding a book scroll and reading softly. When she reached a pleasing part, a smile appeared on her face. After an unknown time, she suddenly turned her head and saw the Emperor standing at the door.
“Father Emperor!” Princess Pingcheng called out with a smile, setting down the book.
The Emperor also walked in with a sigh.
“What’s wrong with Father Emperor?” Princess Pingcheng asked hurriedly, her expression concerned. “Is there something troubling you?”
“What troubles Us is that We have grown lax nowadays, not as diligent as my daughter Pingcheng.” The Emperor said.
Princess Pingcheng smiled: “Father Emperor, don’t tease me. It’s precisely because Father Emperor is diligent and sets an example that I am like this.”
The Emperor smiled as he looked at the desk, seeing calligraphy practice sheets laid out, the ink not yet dry.
“It’s a day off today, why get up so early to read?” He said. “No need to work so hard.”
Princess Pingcheng smiled with pursed lips: “Father Emperor, I like it. Doing what I like doesn’t feel hard.”
The Emperor’s smile deepened: “Well said.”
“Father Emperor, you should go do what you like too.” Princess Pingcheng said with a smile.
The Emperor laughed heartily and said no more: “Finish your reading and don’t leave. Once We are done with business, we’ll go boating in the Imperial Garden together. We must balance work and rest.”
Princess Pingcheng smilingly acknowledged.
The Emperor walked out and turned back at the doorway, seeing Princess Pingcheng already seated at the desk again, focused on lifting her brush to write calligraphy. Morning light enveloped the young girl, casting a halo around her.
The Emperor was dazed, as if seeing another person through that halo.
He withdrew his gaze, his expression somber, and called the Chief Eunuch.
“Select two palace maids to go to Duke Ding’an’s Mansion to teach the young ladies of the household!”
The Emperor’s expression turned disgusted as he said this.
“To prevent each generation from being worse than the last!”
……
…….
“What’s going on! No school today? Why call me up so early?”
Yang Hui shouted irritably, stomping her feet.
“I finally got a good sleep.”
Then she saw Duke Ding’an and his wife before her, their eyes bloodshot, faces haggard and distraught.
Yang Hui was startled.
“Father, Mother, what’s wrong with you?”
Duke Ding’an said feebly: “Don’t make noise. That you can sleep well is already good.”
He had spent the night as if tossed on stormy seas, his heart racing countless times.
Although Marquis Yichun repeatedly claimed it wasn’t he who sent the attackers, of course he didn’t truly believe it.
He hadn’t seen his younger sister in White Horse Town die with his own eyes, but last night’s corpses filling the streets and that child’s narrow escape—he had seen with his own eyes.
The attack was real.
Before leaving, Marquis Yichun had warned him not to say what shouldn’t be said.
On his way back midway, he several times wanted to rush to the Imperial City, but feared being cut down just before reaching it.
When he returned home, though he originally wanted to hide it from Duke Ding’an’s Wife, she had already guessed.
The couple was uneasy.
Fortunately, then the Imperial Guard and Jingzhao Prefecture came to inquire.
This meant the matter had blown up, and Marquis Yichun hadn’t concealed it.
As dawn neared, the Emperor also sent people.
This made him breathe even easier.
No matter what, with the Emperor knowing his family had encountered danger, they were much safer.
“Get up quickly, it’s good news.” Duke Ding’an’s Wife urged her daughter.
……
…….
“His Majesty instructed to tell the Duke that the villains from last night have been investigated clearly by the Imperial Guard—they are remnants of Sun Shu the rebel, who infiltrated the Capital City intending to cause chaos.”
“Additionally, His Majesty is very angry that Miss Yang was not staying safely at home but wandering everywhere, leading to this danger.”
“Therefore, His Majesty is sending palace maids to teach rules and etiquette.”
“For these three days, the young ladies of the mansion will rest from school and study rules properly at home.”
Hearing the eunuch convey the Emperor’s words, Mo Zheng had experienced it personally, Yang Luo knew clearly in her heart, and Liu Chan also knew the rough details that very night, so there was no big reaction.
Yang Hui was completely unaware. Hearing of rebels causing chaos, she looked afraid; hearing that “Yang Luo” and others encountered rebels, she looked excited; upon hearing the Emperor’s rebuke, she looked gleeful—until the last sentence…
“Why do I have to learn too?” She shouted, her expression stunned. “I didn’t go wandering around!”
Mother even said it was good news—what kind of good news is this!
She was truly suffering undeserved calamity!
……
……
Night was deep.
Duke Ding’an and his wife, exhausted after a sleepless night and day, finally fell into deep sleep.
Yang Hui, taught rules all day, was both angry and tired, and fell asleep early from exhaustion.
The entire Duke Ding’an’s Mansion fell quiet.
When a few bird calls sounded in the night, Mo Zheng, lying on the bed, opened her eyes and quietly got up.
Yang Luo, sleeping on the small bed, also sat up.
“Something wrong?” She asked softly, then added, “Need my help?”
Earlier she hadn’t paid attention, or rather chose not to, but she knew this guard had many peculiarities. Until that night when identities swapped, she could no longer ignore it. She knew A Sheng had many helpers, like beggars in the city, the butcher next door, to be well-informed and handle everything.
Though A Sheng had never told her, she too had many things hidden from A Sheng, and moreover, what A Sheng did benefited her.
She could no longer pretend to be deaf and dumb; she had to help as much as she could.
Mo Zheng looked at the young lady sitting on the small bed, still in her clothes.
“It’s nothing. Before I left, I asked neighbor Big Brother Zhang to help gather news.” She said softly. “He’s here now to deliver the news. I’ll go see. You sleep.”
Yang Luo said okay and indeed lay down.
Earlier, Miss Yang’s mind wasn’t on her, not minding her peculiarities. Now, Miss Yang knew she had many peculiarities but didn’t ask much.
This was very good.
They each got what they needed, so each gained something.
Mo Zheng smiled and vanished into the night over the window.
…….
…….
“There are many more soldiers on the street.”
“The city gate is under martial law.”
“Personnel in the city are all being checked for identity.”
Standing in the corner inside the outer wall of Duke Ding’an’s Mansion, Tao Hua told her today’s movements in the city.
“From last night to daytime, different groups came to this alley. The Imperial Guard and Jingzhao Prefecture just put on a show and left without even entering the door.”
“A group without declared identity searched inside and out carefully.”
“There were even more gazes spying from outside the alley, impossible to distinguish who.”
Hearing this, Mo Zheng looked at her and asked: “Embroidered Uniform Guard didn’t appear?”
Last night before leaving, she had instructed Zhang Sheng You and Tao Hua not to go out easily these days. Government soldiers could be ignored, but be vigilant of Wei Jiao and Embroidered Uniform Guard—these people had sharp eyes.
But just one day later, Tao Hua came to find her.
Tao Hua nodded: “Wei Jiao has left the Capital City.”
