Chapter 91: Joy Turns To Sorrow
“……Mister, the allusion you mentioned comes from the Zuo Zhuan.”
“……Princess thinks that ‘inquire’ means asking downward, while ‘consult’ means seeking the best strategy. ‘Inquire’ can be used, but ‘consult’ better expresses deference to the wise.”
“……Princess, your thinking makes sense. Miss, the lady-in-waiting, change this sentence in your notes.”
In the twilight, Princess Wuyang’s voice echoed through the Imperial Consort’s Palace.
Imperial Consort Li looked at her daughter’s excited face and followed with agitation: “My child is truly too amazing!”
Indeed, she was truly too amazing. Princess Wuyang sat down: “Mother Consort, it’s such a pity you didn’t see it. At the time, all the students in the school hall looked at me with such eyes…… I am the princess who can debate with the Libationer…… Only me…… Princess Pingcheng couldn’t say anything in front of the Libationer……”
At this point, she stood up.
“Father Emperor doesn’t know yet.”
Imperial Consort Li frowned: “Did you not go pay respects to your Father Emperor after school?”
“I did go. I waited there for a good while.” Princess Wuyang said, her expression indignant. “Princess Pingcheng, that black-hearted one, knew she was mediocre today and didn’t come to see Father Emperor. She hid in the study room to cry, and Father Emperor went to comfort her. The eunuchs told us to go back first.”
So she came back first to show off to Mother Consort. Thinking of this, she stood up.
“Father Emperor should be coming out soon. I’ll go find Father Emperor again.”
With that, she turned and headed outward.
The palace maids hurried to follow, calling out “Princess, slow down” and “Princess, it’s time for dinner,” fading into the distance.
Imperial Consort Li did not send anyone to chase after the princess. She leaned back on the chaise longue and took a sip of the tea on the desk.
“This Miss Yang has good knowledge.” She said to her attendant palace maid, “It seems she was taught very well at home.”
The attendant palace maid was somewhat helpless: “Your Ladyship, you still have the mind to think about this. Quickly persuade the princess to come back. Princess Pingcheng has some things, and our princess has them to show off, but if Princess Pingcheng doesn’t have them and our princess goes to show off, it won’t end well.”
Imperial Consort Li smiled: “Reading matters can’t be called showing off, can they? Although it borrowed someone else’s support, it was still discussing knowledge, which shows some progress. If His Majesty praises her a bit, Wuyang might really like reading and become even more diligent.”
The palace maid thought to herself, impossible……
The thought flashed by, and she saw Imperial Consort Li suddenly stand up as well.
“I should go see the Empress.” She said, her expression joyful. “Thanks to the Empress for selecting lady-in-waitings for the princesses, allowing my unworthy daughter to also know progress.”
Ah, the palace maid was even more stunned. Apart from the required paying respects, the Imperial Consort never went before the Empress and was always low-key and humble. Now, because her daughter spoke in front of the Libationer, she was going to see the Empress……
Such a small matter, not worth it, right?
Moreover, it was said to be giving thanks, but it seemed more like showing off.
As the two were talking, a palace maid hurriedly ran in.
“Your Ladyship, the princess was reprimanded by His Majesty.”
……
…..
“……Princess Nangong is also waiting outside the Imperial Study.”
“…….The two saw His Majesty and hadn’t spoken yet when His Majesty asked if they had been waiting here all along.”
“……The two naturally admitted they had been waiting all along, then eagerly talked about their own performances in front of the Libationer.”
“…….Before they finished speaking, His Majesty scolded them harshly.”
The palace maid stood in front of the desk, animatedly telling the seated Princess Pingcheng who was reading a book scroll. At this point, she imitated the Emperor’s tone.
“……Since you were fortunate enough to hear the Libationer’s lecture today, why not hurry back to review and memorize it! What are you doing running here to show off to me? You read for yourselves, not for me to see!”
With that, the palace maid covered her mouth and laughed.
“The two cried as they left.”
Another palace maid brought a bowl of hot soup, hummed, and said: “Earlier, when they learned the princess didn’t go pay respects to His Majesty, those two gossiped and mocked that the princess had no performance and hid to cry. Now we see who cried.”
Princess Pingcheng raised her eyes from the book scroll and said: “Those two don’t treat Father Emperor as a father but as a ruler to curry favor with. They use fatherly love for showing off and betray Father’s intentions. Father Emperor didn’t see it before and didn’t mind, but now they crowd around Father Emperor every day, clearly displaying their thoughts. Of course they would be reprimanded.”
The earlier palace maid lightly hummed: “Their intentions are not upright, they don’t know propriety, and they compete with you in everything, trying to steal your limelight.”
Princess Pingcheng smiled faintly: “Some things can’t be stolen.”
For example, fatherly love.
She was Father Emperor’s first daughter, born at the moment when Father Emperor transformed from an ordinary person to Emperor.
She was Father Emperor’s dual emotional anchor of past and present.
This kind of affection cannot be stolen or taken away; it is innate and fated.
Thinking of Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong’s postures in front of the Libationer today, she smiled again.
So what if they responded in front of the Libationer?
She didn’t need to say a word; she just needed to sit in the study room reading, and their showing off became detestable in front of Father Emperor.
Moreover, if these two really relied on true talent and learning to steal the limelight from her, she might even look at them more.
Relying on two lady-in-waitings.
Princess Pingcheng picked up the soup bowl, looking at the milk-white thick soup……
Lady-in-waiting.
Especially Princess Wuyang’s lady-in-waiting.
She had clearly ordered the two princesses not to speak again, yet this lady-in-waiting dared to seek another strategy.
Miss Yang from the Yang Family was indeed unlikeable.
…..
…..
“Your Majesty.”
In the deepening twilight, the Empress’s Palace lit its lamps. The Emperor walked in, and the inner palace maids and eunuchs all paid respects together.
The seated Empress stood up, and a beautiful woman with a pearl crown at the lower seat respectfully curtsied.
The Emperor was stunned for a moment: “Consort Li is also here with the Empress.”
The Empress did not like crowds; apart from the required paying respects according to rules, the imperial concubines rarely came over.
Imperial Consort Li said: “This concubine came to thank the Empress.” With that, she hurriedly paid respects again. “I was just about to take leave. Your Majesty has arrived; you and the Empress should dine quickly.”
The Emperor oh-ed, of course not saying words to keep her for dinner, and watched Imperial Consort Li retreat.
The Empress signaled everyone to set the meal. After the Emperor was served handwashing by the palace maids and seated, she asked: “What did Imperial Consort Li come to thank you for?”
The Empress smiled ambiguously: “Thanks to Your Majesty for selecting a good lady-in-waiting for Princess Wuyang, who could support Princess Wuyang in responding to the Libationer in class. She truly gained face and is endlessly grateful.”
With that, she handed the rice she personally served to the Emperor.
But the Emperor did not take it, his face displeased, frowning.
“Lady-in-waiting support?” He said, slapping the table. “Fine, I was wondering. Those two can’t even read an essay smoothly on normal days, so where did they get the ability to respond to the Libationer? Turns out they stole from others!”
With that, he stood up.
“And they dared to run here to show off to me! Truly shameless!”
“Did I grant them lady-in-waitings for this use?”
The Empress took the bowl back and ate herself, saying indifferently: “Yes, Your Majesty granted them to do the Yang Family a favor. I didn’t expect it would lead the princesses astray.”
The Emperor was embarrassed and hurriedly nodded.
Indeed.
Although Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong were not diligent, they had never done such a thing.
He raised his brows and slapped the table again.
“These two lady-in-waitings from the Yang Family not only failed to advise the princesses to study but even taught the princesses to cheat!”
He had said long ago that the Miss Yangs from the Yang Family were getting worse with each generation!
The Emperor’s hands on his knees clenched.
“Come!”
