Chapter 63: The Old Grudges of Princess Changning Surface
Chapter Sixty-Three: Princess Changning's Old Grudges Surface
Time flies, and half a month has passed in the blink of an eye. The issue of Princess Chengbi's placement in the Southwest remains unresolved. Li Qianche seems to have forgotten about her, neither issuing an edict to bring her into the palace nor arranging another marriage for her, leaving her and the delegation stranded in the post station.
Such a cold reception was undoubtedly a great humiliation for Cheng Bi, who was proud and arrogant and considered herself charming. She was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Several times she dressed up carefully, wearing revealing clothes with the most southwestern style, and tried to "accidentally" meet Li Qianche in the palace road and imperial garden where he might pass by, but she did not even see the shadow of the emperor. She was politely but forcefully "invited" away by the guards.
Just when she was almost in despair, her opportunity finally arrived. News came from the palace that the Emperor would hold a horse and archery competition in three days at the Western Garden Martial Arts Ground, both to test the martial skills of the sons of nobles and to enjoy himself with his ministers. The Southwest Mission was also among those invited.
Upon hearing the news, Chengbi was overjoyed. The martial arts arena was where she could showcase her strengths to the fullest! She could almost see herself on horseback, displaying her dashing figure and unparalleled archery skills, attracting everyone's attention, especially that of the aloof emperor.
Meanwhile, a long-absent name appeared on the list of participants—Princess Changning. This princess was the younger sister of the late emperor and the aunt of the current emperor. Many years ago, she was sent by the founding emperor to the Puning Temple, hundreds of miles outside the capital, to practice Buddhism and rarely returned to the capital. For some reason, she specially submitted a petition requesting to return to the capital to participate in this grand equestrian and archery competition.
Qiu Ju, who was well-informed, seemed to have obtained some incredible secret that day. She ran all the way back to Yongshou Palace, her face full of excitement to share the gossip with others.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Guess what this servant found out today?" Qiuju approached Su Su, who was leisurely leaning on the couch eating melon seeds, and whispered mysteriously.
Su Su's interest was piqued. She spat out the sunflower seed shells and lazily asked, "Oh? What's making you so excited?"
"It's about Princess Changning, who's about to return to the capital!" Qiuju's eyes lit up. "I heard that when this princess was young, she was quite the 'influential figure' in the capital, known for her outrageous behavior and spoiled, willful nature! And... she also had a rather ambiguous relationship with our master!"
"It's related to Father?" Su Su sat up straight instantly, putting down the melon seeds in her hand, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise. "Why have I never heard Father and Mother mention it?"
Seeing that she had successfully attracted her master's attention, Qiuju became even more energetic and began to tell the story vividly: "I heard that it happened more than twenty years ago! The Princess was young and beautiful at the time. She met the master once by chance and was captivated by his unparalleled handsomeness. From then on, she insisted on marrying no one but him, causing a great stir in the city. Everyone in the capital knew about it. But the master only had his wife in his heart at that time. He avoided the princess's infatuation like the plague and never gave her a kind look."
She paused, lowering her voice even further, with a hint of sigh: "The princess, unable to obtain what she desired, turned her love into hatred and actually... actually resorted to despicable means! She found an opportunity to give the master an extremely potent aphrodisiac, hoping to create a fait accompli and force him to submit."
Su Su frowned as she listened, feeling worried for her father.
"But who knew," Qiuju changed the subject, "that something went wrong, and by some twist of fate, the one who 'had a good time' with the Princess that night was not the master, but a lowly servant who was responsible for leading the horse!"
Su Su gasped, this turn of events was truly unexpected.
"Later, the eldest princess secretly became pregnant," Qiuju continued. "When the Taizu Emperor learned of this, he was furious, feeling that the royal family had lost face, and immediately imprisoned the eldest princess. The unfortunate servant was naturally secretly executed. The eldest princess, however, was stubborn and, for some reason, refused to abort the child. Despite the immense pressure, she insisted on giving birth to the child, a boy. The Taizu Emperor was utterly disappointed in her and, in a fit of anger, sent her far away to Puning Temple to practice Buddhism, forbidding her from returning to the capital without an imperial edict. The child she gave birth to was not included in the imperial genealogy by the Taizu Emperor and is still being raised in the eldest princess's residence, which has been vacant for many years, in an awkward position. It seems that the eldest princess's sudden return to the capital this time, to participate in the horse and archery competition, was a pretext; she probably wanted to find an opportunity to secure a title for her son and have him included in the imperial genealogy!"
Su Su was deeply moved, never expecting her father to have such a thrilling past in his youth. She steadied herself and asked, "Where did you hear such palace secrets?"
Qiuju smiled smugly: "I've become familiar with some of the most senior and discreet old women in the palace. I occasionally overhear them gossiping and piece together what I've guessed. Although they don't dare to say it outright, their meaning is pretty much right!"
Su Su reached out and gently tapped her head, laughing and scolding, "You're such a clever little devil! Always asking about these things."
Qiuju covered her head, looking aggrieved yet earnest, and said, "Your Highness, I'm not just here for the spectacle. You must be careful this time when the Princess returns! I heard she later developed a deep hatred for the Master, stubbornly believing that he plotted against her, leading to her tragic end. Before, she was too far away to reach him, but now that you're back in the palace as a Noble Consort, enjoying great power, it's hard to guarantee she won't vent her resentment towards the Master on you!"
Upon hearing this, Su Su's expression turned serious, and she nodded. Her father had never mentioned it, presumably because he didn't want to recall such sordid matters. She pondered for a moment, then said, "I understand. What's meant to be will be. Let's see what she intends to do upon her return."
Three days later, at the Xiyuan Martial Arts Ground.
Banners fluttered and drums thundered. Spectator stands had already been erected around the vast arena, where princes, nobles, civil and military officials, and envoys from the southwest sat in orderly rows, creating a lively atmosphere. Li Qianche, dressed in a smart equestrian and archery outfit, appeared even more dashing and extraordinary. He carried Su Su, who was dressed in simple palace attire but whose stunning beauty could not be concealed, as they ascended the throne at the highest point in the center.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" A deafening roar of worship erupted.
Li Qianche's gaze swept across the entire arena, exuding natural authority. He delivered a few words of opening remarks to inspire the soldiers and demonstrate the nation's power before announcing the start of the competition. His gaze did not even linger for a moment on Princess Chengbi, who was dressed in a particularly radiant manner and whose eyes were burning with passion.
Cheng Bi, from the moment Li Qianche appeared, had his eyes glued to him, plotting how he could make a name for himself in the archery event and impress him.
On the other side of the stands, a middle-aged woman dressed in plain palace attire, with a slightly gloomy demeanor, was coldly watching the young imperial concubine leaning against the emperor on the high platform, chatting and laughing.
She was Princess Changning. Time had left its mark on her face, but it had not completely erased the pride that belonged to a royal princess. However, deep in her eyes lay years of resentment and bitterness.
"She's Su Mufeng's daughter? That lowly merchant's daughter's bastard?" Princess Changning sneered inwardly, her fingertips almost digging into her palms. Su Mufeng, you discarded me like trash back then, preferring to marry a lowly merchant's daughter rather than even glance at me! Now, your daughter has quite the ability, climbing to the rank of Imperial Concubine, enjoying all the favor… By what right? What gives your Su family the right to be so smug?
A surge of anger and jealousy that had been building up for over twenty years welled up and burned within her. Looking at Su Su's young and charming face, which bore a striking resemblance to her beloved, a glint of malice flashed in her eyes.
This seemingly lively equestrian archery competition was destined to be anything but peaceful.
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