Chapter 190: A Unique Grace
As soon as Yuan Siyin sat down, the palace maids serving her carefully offered her tea, then bowed their heads and retreated in unison.
"Your Majesty summoned me here today, surely not just to have me appreciate calligraphy and paintings?"
The emperor sat back down at his desk and took a leisurely sip of tea. “This White Dragon Beard tribute tea has a delicate fragrance and a lingering, sweet aftertaste. You’ve come at just the right time.”
"Yes, that's why I dare not use it."
Yuan Siyin pushed the porcelain cup aside, and the smile on her face gradually faded.
"Why wouldn't I dare?" The emperor asked with interest, then covered the teacup again.
“Since it is tribute tea, it is naturally offered to His Majesty. As a subject, I am a subject. I would not dare to overstep my bounds without His Majesty’s permission.”
"Alright, after all that beating around the bush, it's still just about having a good meal. Granted."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Yuan Siyin readily agreed, tilted her head back, and drank it all in one gulp, making the emperor feel a pang of heartache: "Like a cow chewing on a peony!"
He sighed and decided to get straight to the point: "I summoned you here today to ask what reward you desire. You and your father did a good job in the matter at the northern border..."
"Since Your Majesty wishes to bestow a reward, then bestow it solely upon my daughter."
"What, can't I reward the General?"
These words caught the emperor completely off guard.
Aren't you two from the same family? Why are you turning against each other?
"Father is just a military general who only knows how to brandish swords and spears all day long. He doesn't have so many complicated thoughts in his mind. Can't you reward me for my idea alone?"
Yuan Siyin said, half-jokingly and half-seriously.
"Then tell me what you want, and I will grant it to you."
"I lack nothing. How about Your Majesty granting me some privileges that others don't have?"
"Since that's the case, I hereby grant you special permission to enter and leave the palace freely without prior notice. Furthermore, from now on, you will not need to bow to anyone, even if I am present in person."
They're so stingy, they won't even offer a real reward.
Yuan Siyin muttered a curse to herself, then replied, "Your Majesty is all talk and no action. I'd rather ask for some tea leaves to take home and drink."
"As you wish, everything is as you wish."
The emperor found it somewhat amusing, and before he could finish speaking, he quickly added a condition: "Have Li Yuande fetch you some of each kind of tea. Recently, some excellent Pu'er tea cakes have been presented from the local areas. While you're on your way, please also get some for my mother."
"Ha! So you're really beholden to those who take bribes, and now you're ordering me around."
Yuan Siyin clicked her tongue and was about to get up to express her gratitude when the emperor stopped her. "My word is my bond. I will issue an edict in a moment. This is a unique favor."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for allowing me to deliver tea cakes to the Empress Dowager. This is indeed a unique occasion."
Yuan Siyin stuck out her tongue and ran off.
Upon hearing the noise, Li Yuande entered and, seeing the emperor in high spirits, immediately put on a broad smile.
When the master is in a good mood, he suddenly has a long face. Isn't he just asking for trouble?
"But what did the Yuan family girl say that made His Majesty so happy? That's quite rare."
“That girl used to only cause me trouble, but she has changed a lot since she grew up. Now she is much smarter and even knows to protect General Yuan.”
Yuan Jin is quite fortunate; she's single-minded, and her daughter is just like my mother.
"The emperor's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea." Li Yuande pondered these words repeatedly, unsure whether they were praise or criticism. Just as he was about to ask again, he heard the emperor speak.
"However, since she is willing to lower her head and show weakness to temporarily avoid the limelight, I will not be too harsh on her."
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