Her guards

Chapter 91 Extreme joy leads to sorrow
"...Sir, when you spoke, you took the allusions from Zuo Zhuan."

"...The princess believed that inquiry was asking questions from below, while consultation was taking the best course of action. Inquiry could be used, but consultation better expressed respect for the virtuous."

“…The princess’s thinking makes sense. Miss, please change this sentence in your notes.”

In the twilight of the Imperial Concubine's Palace, Princess Wuyang's voice resounded.

Looking at her daughter's excited face, Consort Li exclaimed excitedly, "My son is truly amazing!"

"Yes, she's really amazing," Princess Wuyang said, sitting down. "Mother, it's a pity you didn't see the way all the students looked at me back then... I was a princess who could debate with the Chancellor... I was the only one... Hei Cheng couldn't say a word in front of the Chancellor..."

He stood up as he said this.

"Father doesn't know yet."

Consort Li frowned: "Didn't you go to pay your respects to your father after school?"

“I went there, and I waited there for quite a while,” Princess Wuyang said, her expression indignant. “That heartless fellow, He Cheng, knowing that he was mediocre today, didn’t come to see Father Emperor and hid in the study to cry. Father Emperor went to comfort her, and the eunuchs told us to go back first.”

So she came back first to show off to her mother, and stood up when she thought of this.

"Father should be out soon. I'll go find him again."

After saying that, he turned and walked away.

The palace maids hurriedly followed, calling out, "Princess, slow down!" and "Princess, it's time to eat!" before disappearing into the distance.

Consort Li did not send anyone to bring the princess back. Instead, she leaned back on the chaise lounge, picked up the tea on the table, and took a sip.

"This Miss Yang is quite learned," she said to her personal maid. "It seems she has been well-educated at home."

The personal maid said helplessly, "Your Highness, you still have this on your mind? Quickly persuade the princess to come back. If Princess Heicheng has something, our princess can show it off. If Princess Heicheng doesn't have something, our princess will only get away with showing it off and won't be well."

Consort Li smiled and said, "It can't be called showing off when it comes to studying. Although he has the help of others, he is still discussing knowledge and has made some progress. If His Majesty praises him, Wu Yang might really like studying and become more motivated."

The palace maid thought to herself, "Impossible..."

The thought flashed through his mind, and he saw Consort Li suddenly stand up as well.

“I should go see the Queen,” she said, her expression joyful. “Thank you, Queen, for choosing tutors for the princesses. It has made even my good-for-nothing daughter want to improve.”

Ah, the palace maid was even more stunned. Apart from the usual greetings, the Consort never went to the Empress's presence, always keeping a low profile and being humble. Now, because her daughter had spoken up for the Chancellor, she was going to see the Empress...

This is such a small matter, it's not that big of a deal.

Moreover, while it was said to be a thank you, it sounded more like a boast.

As the two were talking, a palace maid rushed in.

"Your Majesty, the princess has been reprimanded by His Majesty."

……

.......
"...Princess Nangong was also waiting outside the Imperial Study."

"...When the two met His Majesty, before they could even speak, His Majesty asked them if they had been waiting here the whole time."

"...The two of them naturally admitted that they had been waiting, and then they rushed to talk about their performance in front of the chief priest."

Before he could finish speaking, His Majesty began to berate him.

The palace maid stood in front of the table and spoke animatedly to Princess Heisei, who was sitting and reading a book, mimicking the emperor's tone.

"...Since you have the honor of listening to the Grand Master's lecture today, why don't you hurry up and review it to memorize it! What are you showing off here? You are studying for yourselves, not for me!"

After saying this, the palace maid covered her mouth and laughed.

"The two left crying."

Another palace maid brought over a bowl of hot soup and snorted, saying, "When they found out that the princess hadn't gone to pay her respects to His Majesty, the two of them were whispering among themselves, mocking the princess for not showing any respect in front of him and hiding away to cry. Now you know who's crying, right?"

Princess Heicheng looked up from the book and said, "The two of them don't treat Father Emperor as their father, but as a monarch to fawn over him. They flaunt their father's love and have failed to live up to his expectations. Father Emperor didn't see it or care before, but now they are always trying to get close to him and clearly showing their intentions. It's no wonder they are being scolded."

The palace maid scoffed, "They have ulterior motives, no sense of propriety, and always want to compete with you and snatch things from you." Princess Heisei smiled faintly, "Some things are useless to snatch."

For example, fatherly love.

She was her father's first daughter, born at the moment when he transitioned from an ordinary person to the emperor.

She is the embodiment of her father's emotions, both past and present.

This kind of feeling cannot be stolen or taken away; it is innate and destined.

Thinking of Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong's demeanor in front of the Chief Priest today, he smiled again.

What good would it do to deal with the situation in front of the chief priest?
She didn't need to say a word; she only needed to sit in the study and read. Their boasting would be considered despicable in front of their father.

Moreover, if these two were to actually try to steal her thunder with their genuine talent and skills, she might actually give them a second glance.

He was supported by two tutors.

Princess Heisei picked up the soup bowl, gazing at the thick, milky-white broth...

Read aloud.

Especially Princess Wuyang's tutor.
She had explicitly forbidden the two princesses from speaking to each other, yet this tutor still dared to devise another plan.

The young lady from the Yang family is indeed not likable.

.......
.......
"His Majesty."

As dusk settled, the lights in the Empress's Palace were lit, and the Emperor approached. The palace maids and eunuchs inside bowed in unison.

The seated empress stood up, and a beautiful woman with a jeweled crown below her bowed respectfully.

The emperor was taken aback: "Consort Li is also here with the empress."

The Empress disliked crowds, and apart from the customary greetings, the concubines rarely gathered around.

Consort Li said, "Your Majesty, I have come to thank the Empress." After saying this, she quickly bowed again, "I was just about to take my leave when His Majesty arrived. Please have your meal with the Empress."

The emperor simply said "oh," but of course he wouldn't invite her to stay for dinner. He watched as Consort Li withdrew.

The Empress gestured for everyone to set out the meal. The Emperor, with the help of palace maids, washed his hands and took his seat before asking, "What did Consort Li come to thank you for?"

The Empress smiled faintly and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for choosing such a good tutor for Princess Wuyang. She is truly honored and deeply grateful for the help she receives from the Chancellor in class."

After saying this, he handed the rice he had personally served to the emperor.

But the emperor did not accept it, his face showing displeasure and his brows furrowed.

"Reading assistants?" he said, slamming his hand on the table. "Good, I knew it! Those two can't even read a single article smoothly, how did they get the ability to deal with the Chief Priest? Turns out they're stealing from others!"

He stood up after saying that.

"You dare to come and show off to me! You have no shame!"

"Is this what I appointed them as tutors for?"

The Empress took the bowl back and used it herself, saying calmly, "Yes, His Majesty used it to do favors for the Yang family, but he didn't expect it to corrupt the princesses."

The emperor looked embarrassed, but quickly nodded again.

That's right.

Although Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong were not ambitious, they had never done such a thing.

He raised his eyebrows and slammed his hand on the table again.
"These two tutors from the Yang family not only failed to encourage the princess to study, but actually taught her to cheat!"

He had said it before: the young ladies of the Yang family are getting worse with each generation!
The emperor clenched his fist on his lap.

"Somebody come!"

(End of this chapter)