Chapter 8 Father

Before her legs were crippled, Yi Shao never imagined that she would one day become someone's concubine.

Although the current dynasty does not exert great effort to suppress merchants, the traditional social order of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants is still deeply ingrained in people's minds, and there is always some disdain for them.

Even so, he once declared that he would rather marry into a family than become a concubine.

He had his pride, but that pride was crushed the day his legs were crippled.

As for marriage, it was not his choice, but he never accepted his fate.

Before marrying into the family, he had thoroughly investigated Ling Wei. She used to be a military general with no brains, and now she's a spoiled brat with no brains.

He was absolutely certain he could control such a person.

On their wedding night, he was taken aback. His wife was far more complex than the rumors suggested. His shock was fleeting, replaced by excitement and a sense of anticipation, as if he had finally met his match.

To win over such a hidden talent, to make her willingly elevate your position, and even to use her influence to reclaim everything that belongs to you in the future—wouldn't that be an excellent challenge?

He had been in business since childhood, navigating the treacherous streets and enjoying the thrill of taking things one step at a time and ultimately winning everything.

Unexpectedly, before he could even use all his tricks, the other party had already casually pushed the position of Yuanjun in front of him.

What does the title of Prince signify? A reputation for integrity? A tremendous boost to one's fortunes?

She seemed completely unconcerned.

Yi Shao had never met such a person before.

Although he knew that the other party's ultimate goal was not this, and that he had no chance of being recognized as a potential Yuanjun by the senior monk, at that moment, his heart still felt as if it had been hit by something, neither lightly nor heavily.

It was very light, yet inexplicably hot.

Jinghe Di Ling Jiming looked at his daughter kneeling below with a self-righteous expression, and his brow twitched slightly.

Was the baby coaxed into becoming an embryo last night?

He immediately demanded the position of principal wife, and the woman in question was a newly appointed concubine from a merchant family who had a leg ailment.

Does she know how many people are eyeing her position as a princess?

Before she could reprimand her, Ling Wei continued on her own, complaining loudly but also making the matter clear: "Mother, you don't know, on the way here, the people from the Inner Ceremonial Office insisted that palace rules forbade wheelchairs from entering the inner court, and that Shao Lang had to move on his own, and even then, he would have to be three steps behind me."

“Your Majesty, I am thinking, he has difficulty walking, should I make him crawl over? Or have someone carry him over? I really can’t bear to do that. But if we make him the Empress, then he will be the principal wife, and it is only right that he walks alongside me. Wouldn’t it be reasonable for me to carry him in?”

This will save those inflexible people from citing rules again, needlessly delaying the time for paying respects to the emperor and empress, and making themselves a laughingstock.

Her words were quick and direct, seemingly impulsive and naive, but in reality, every word she uttered hit the nail on the head, and Emperor Jinghe understood them perfectly.

Since her fifth daughter was seriously injured three years ago, she has been a spoiled brat who doesn't care about anything. Although she pities her once most valiant daughter who has lost her wings, she also knows that the political winds in the court have changed, and it will be difficult to find her a powerful husband.

That's why Shen Zhilan and Yi Shao were assigned to her as concubines. Although both of them had flaws, concubines didn't care about such things. One of them had a reputation for integrity, and the other had a family with immense wealth. This was a way to quietly provide her, a daughter who had lost her claws, with some security and stability.

I thought that this arrangement, though not illustrious, was still prudent.

Who would have thought that on the very first day of their marriage, someone would be so eager to make a fuss about such a small detail?

Ling Wei's seemingly absurd request to establish Yuanjun was clearly a way of complaining to her, her mother, that someone was unwilling to even offer her this small "compensation," and was even going so far as to trample on the dignity of a disabled concubine in her backyard.

Ling Jiming, who had been a ruler for many years, had a rather bad temper, and especially disliked his subjects playing mind games and hiding their true intentions in front of him.

However, she was not a harsh and ungrateful ruler. On the contrary, she was more tolerant and protective of her relatives and ministers who showed some of their true weaknesses.

Ling Wei's straightforward and uncompromising approach suited her perfectly.

This child seemed to be acting out of spite, but he laid things out straight and didn't play any tricks on her. He even had a cheeky attitude that said, "I've been bullied, Mom, you have to do something about it."

Instead, it dissipated most of her displeasure caused by the absurd request, and replaced it with dislike for the person who was pulling the strings behind the scenes.

"Nonsense," Emperor Jinghe rebuked, though his tone wasn't harsh, even carrying a hint of helplessness.

She turned her gaze to the side of the hall and ordered in a calm voice, "Where are the people from the Inner Ceremonial Department?"

The steward, Wang, scrambled to his knees and crawled into the hall, saying, "This servant is here."

"Since Consort Yishao suffers from a leg ailment, he is granted special permission to enter the inner palace in a wheelchair for an audience. All palace regulations must be followed, and no one may obstruct him. As for other rules," Emperor Jinghe's gaze swept indifferently over Ling Wei, "the rules that must be observed must still be observed. I grant you convenience, not permission for you to act recklessly, understand?"

"Your subject understands! Thank you for your grace, Mother!" Ling Wei immediately seized the opportunity, grinning foolishly, "Your Mother is wise!"

Emperor Jinghe was both amused and annoyed by her smug expression. In the end, he simply waved his hand and said to Fengjun, "Look at her, still as shameless as ever, with the same fiery temper as her father. Alright, take your people and go properly serve tea to your father. Stop trying to play tricks on me here."

"yes."

Ling Wei left, satisfied.

When Ling Wei led the two into Jingyixuan, her father, Su Shijun, was standing with his back to the window, pruning a pot of orchids.

Turning around at the sound, her eyebrows and eyes resembled Ling Wei's, especially her peach blossom eyes, which naturally carried a hint of charm when she looked at people.

His figure was as upright as a bamboo stalk, and when he turned around, his clothes fluttered, and one could still vaguely see the dashing figure of him riding through Chang'an Street in the past.

"You've finally arrived." He put down the small scissors, his gaze lingered on Ling Wei's face for a moment, then swept back. "Come in, come in, it's windy outside."

Ling Wei led Shen and Yi forward and offered them tea according to etiquette.

Su Jianqing took the teacup, took a small sip, and said gently to Shen Zhilan, "Zhilan, the past is like smoke and clouds. From now on, just relax in the Prince's Mansion." Her tone was calm, yet carried weight.

Shen Zhilan bowed his head and gave a solemn salute.

He then looked at Yi Shao, his gaze lingering on his legs for a moment. He handed the teacup to a palace servant, and then personally took off a string of translucent tourmaline beads from his wrist and handed it to him: "Shao'er, these beads are good for your health, you can wear them and play with them." His attitude was friendly and natural.

He then turned around and took two brocade boxes that had been prepared beforehand from the table, giving one to each of them.

The two accepted the gift with both hands, thanked her, and Su Jianqing waved her hand, indicating that they should all sit down.

The palace servants served tea and snacks. Su Jianqing picked up her cup, blew on the foam, and asked casually, "Did you encounter any trouble on your way to the palace today?"

Ling Wei was stuffing almond cookies into her mouth when she mumbled, "No."

"Oh?" Su Jianqing raised her eyelids. "Then how come I heard that someone stopped you on the palace road and even tried to 'invite' Shao'er down from her wheelchair?"

The room fell silent for a moment.

Ling Wei swallowed the snack and clapped her hands: "It was a small matter, and it's been resolved."

"A trivial matter?" Su Jianqing laughed, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "My daughter went to the palace on her wedding day, and her people were almost dragged down in public. Is that a trivial matter?"

He put down his teacup, got up and walked to the display cabinet, opened a drawer, and took out a rolled-up cowhide whip.

With a soft "snap," the whip snapped open and hung on the ground.