Chapter 249: Earnest Admonitions
Ying Tong did not win the horse, and was filled with indignation.
He had managed to restrain himself during the banquet, but upon returning to his residence, he kicked the attendant twice, saying he had followed too closely and stepped on his foot.
Then he scolded the palace maid who served tea, saying she had put too much tea leaves and prevented him from sleeping.
When the little cat came to rub against his leg seeking affection, he became even more enraged and kicked it far away.
The cat was still very young, and after being kicked, it cried out for a long time and couldn’t get up.
Just then, Princess Consort Zhao arrived.
Seeing the situation, she naturally understood what had happened, but did not expose it directly, only saying, “If you don’t like these cats and dogs, just throw them out. Why get yourself angry?”
“You don’t even know the origin of this cat. The one I had before was killed by Ying Bai, and his mother gave me this thing as compensation, clearly treating me like a fool.” Ying Tong was extremely indignant.
“Don’t talk nonsense. Why would he kill your cat for no reason?” Princess Consort Zhao reprimanded her son.
“Am I talking nonsense? Ask the people who followed me, wasn’t my cat stabbed to death and buried in a haystack?” Ying Tong said, “It was only because my cat jumped on his painting before. He kicked my cat like this then, and the cat disappeared afterward. If it wasn’t him, who else could it be?
Besides, we all thought the cat was just lost and would return in a few days, but his mother sent this kitten. Doesn’t that mean they knew my cat wouldn’t be coming back?”
“Did something like that really happen? Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Princess Consort Zhao was only learning the full story today.
“Say it earlier? Didn’t you always tell me to make peace? Not to be petty and narrow-minded.” Ying Tong, in his anger, couldn’t help but retort to his biological mother.
“That’s how it should be. Impatience leads to the ruin of great plans. You are too childish, how can you accomplish anything like this?” Princess Consort Zhao said earnestly, “Have you forgotten what your father and I told you?”
Ying Tong certainly hadn’t forgotten; he had heard it so many times his ears were almost calloused.
“That Ying Bai is extremely malicious, he did it on purpose! Now he’s trying to suppress me at every turn, it’s truly too much!” Thinking of the celestial horse and Sang Er’s handkerchief today, Ying Tong wished Ying Bai would disappear from this world.
His words happened to align with Wen Mingqian’s, making Princess Consort Zhao even more vigilant. She said sternly, “What’s the use of just being angry? It’s more important to be wise. I’m telling you, in the Palace, be nice to Princess Zhuolahhan and pay attention to her preferences.”
“Why should I pay attention to her?” Ying Tong was perplexed. “She’s always pestering Gong Changan, and she’s so ill-tempered, I can barely avoid her.”
“What do you, a foolish child, understand? Zhuolahhan is the Fenye King’s most favored daughter. Bringing her to the Capital this time is likely to make plans for her marriage. If we can form a marital alliance with her, it would be a great help. Don’t take it lightly; you’re not young anymore.”
However, Ying Tong’s heart was entirely with Sang Er at this moment, so his mother’s words naturally did not enter his mind.
“You are truly a stubborn ox!” Princess Consort Zhao said, frustrated by his lack of progress.
Seeing that it was getting late and she couldn’t stay long, she called Ying Tong’s Granny to her side.
She instructed, “I am not often in the Palace, so the Heir Apparent is in your care. The Empress is busy and often unable to attend to him. You must be diligent and not show the slightest negligence. Watch him so he doesn’t act impulsively, and guard against anyone harming him.”
The Granny quickly replied, “Your Ladyship, please rest assured, this servant will do her best.”
Princess Consort Zhao then went to the Empress’s Palace. The Empress had rested briefly and had now changed into her casual clothes.
Upon seeing Princess Consort Zhao, she said, “Did you go to Tong’er’s place? This child lost the competition today, and I imagine he is not convinced.”
Princess Consort Zhao quickly replied with a smile, “This child takes after me; his emotions are all on his face. I told him these are minor matters, and there will be plenty of time in the future.”
“He doesn’t take after you; he takes after me.” The Empress smiled. “It’s no wonder he’s unhappy. Look at what Princess Duanmin said, was it pleasant to hear?”
In fact, the Empress was not particularly displeased that Ying Bai had won, as anyone who could guess correctly brought honor to their side.
However, Princess Duanmin’s subsequent praise for Ying Bai made the Empress very unhappy. Everyone knew that Ying Tong was her nephew and the son she intended to adopt.
Ying Bai was merely brought into the Palace as a foil.
Princess Duanmin praising Ying Bai so highly in front of all the civil and military officials and the Fenye King, and with such pointed remarks, was clearly an attempt to humiliate her.
The two of them had a history of animosity, but ultimately, the Empress had the upper hand.
Now that Duanmin had returned from Outside the Great Wall, she was completely in a provocative stance.
Yet, her current status prevented the Empress from easily falling out with her.
“It’s all because Tong’er is not ambitious enough, which has burdened Her Ladyship the Empress,” Princess Consort Zhao said quickly. “I have already spoken to him and told him not to be negligent.”
“Alright, you’ve all been tired all day. You should go back and rest too,” the Empress sighed and said. “Don’t take it too much to heart; ultimately, this is not a major issue.”
Actually, Princess Consort Zhao wanted to ask the Empress if she knew whether the Fenye King intended to arrange a marriage for his daughter this time.
But since the Empress had already spoken, and there were many people serving her, she did not say anything.
Although she and the Empress were sisters, perhaps because they did not grow up together, they could never be as close as sisters in ordinary families.
Princess Consort Zhao rose and said, “Her Ladyship the Empress is tired today, please rest early! I will take my leave and go out of the Palace now.”
“Father and Mother have not returned from Qingliang Temple yet, but they should be back soon,” the Empress added. “I am short-handed here, so you should pay attention and send someone to meet them outside the city early.”
Grand Tutor Dong went to Qingliang Temple every summer to escape the heat and returned in autumn. This year, he was returning later than usual.
“I understand, Your Ladyship, please rest assured,” Princess Consort Zhao said. “My brother is on patrol inspection in Jiangnan and will return to the Capital in about a month.”
The Dong family had four siblings, two sons and two daughters, all now in prominent positions. It could be said that no other family in the Imperial Court surpassed them.
Mentioning her maternal home, Princess Consort Zhao’s confidence grew. As she was leaving, she happened to meet Princess Consort Chu, who was also taking her leave from the Empress.
“Sister, are you leaving now?” Princess Consort Chu asked with a smile, respectfully and intimately.
“Yes! Sister, please go in quickly! The Empress just said she was tired, so I came out to take my leave,” Princess Consort Zhao also said with a smile, but in her heart, she recalled what Ying Tong and Wen Mingqian had told her.
She always felt that beneath Princess Consort Chu’s gentle and amiable facade, there lay deep cunning.
Princess Consort Chu nodded, lifted her skirt, and gracefully walked in.
Princess Consort Zhao inexplicably felt that her back seemed straighter today.
