Chapter 6: Did you understand the Empress's lecture?
In the Imperial Garden, it was springtime, with lush grass, warbling birds, and a riot of colorful flowers.
Princess Li Yuanshu, dressed in a pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), was chasing butterflies with a round fan, looking every bit the charming and lovely young lady.
Consort Cui was sitting on a stone bench in a nearby pavilion, looking at her daughter with a loving expression.
After playing and making a ruckus for a while, Li Yuanshu lifted her skirt and ran to her mother's side, pouting, "Mother, the spring scenery is so beautiful, why don't you take this opportunity to hold a flower-viewing banquet?"
"A flower-viewing banquet?" The Imperial Concubine picked up a teacup from the table and handed it over. "Whom does Shu'er wish to invite?"
Li Yuanshu took the teacup, took a sip, and then said with a glint in his eyes, "Naturally, I would like to invite the young men and women of the prominent families in the capital to enjoy the spring scenery, compose poems, and exchange verses together. How interesting that would be!"
The imperial concubine looked at her daughter's flushed cheeks and understood what was going on. She deliberately dragged out her words to tease her.
"Oh? Young men and women from the capital? I think you're planning to invite that young master Pei, aren't you?"
"Mother!" Li Yuanshu's cheeks flushed instantly. She playfully pushed Cui Shi away. "You're teasing me again! I'm not talking to you anymore!"
He then got up and ran away.
"Alright, alright, Mother won't say anymore." The Imperial Concubine took her daughter's hand, her smile deepening. "Sit down, be careful not to fall."
She gently smoothed her daughter's wind-blown hair and said softly, "But this month, how many aristocratic banquets have you attended? Wasn't it all to see Pei Huaijin? You wear your heart on your sleeve."
When Pei Huaijin's name was mentioned, Li Yuanshu couldn't help but smile.
"He was so handsome, elegant, and talented. He was proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. None of the men in the capital who only knew how to fight cocks and hunt dogs could compare to him."
"Mother, you don't know, at the banquet at the Duke of Anguo's mansion last time, his poem 'Lamenting Spring' was praised by even the Grand Tutor..."
The imperial concubine sighed as she looked at her daughter's infatuated expression.
Pei Huaijin was a good man, but he was in an awkward position in the clan. His parents died early, and he relied entirely on his uncle for support. In the end, he was living under someone else's roof.
Fortunately, this child is exceptionally talented and will surely be among the top achievers in this scientific expedition.
After marrying Shu'er, with the support of the Cui family, how could I not achieve great things?
Moreover, if the Pei family were also won over, Yuan You's throne would be even more secure.
Thinking this, she patted her daughter's hand and said, "My dear child, since you like it so much, I will arrange it right away. I will hold a flower-viewing banquet and invite the young master of the Pei family to come as well."
Li Yuanshu then turned his anger into joy.
However, the smile on her face didn't last long before she suddenly remembered something, and her tone became somewhat indignant.
"But Mother, you must not let that woman come."
"That woman?"
"Who else could it be but Li Yuanzhao!"
When Li Yuanshu mentioned this name, a hint of annoyance immediately flashed in his eyes.
"I'm so annoyed with her! I heard she returned to the capital yesterday and even snatched a man in the street. She's utterly shameless!"
Upon hearing this, the Imperial Concubine's smile faded slightly, and she subconsciously glanced around.
Seeing that only her personal maid was standing not far away, she whispered, "Shu'er, be careful what you say. She is currently favored by the emperor, wields immense power, and is the Princess Who Protects the Nation. How can you speak of her like this?"
Li Yuanshu snorted indignantly, "She's so arrogant and domineering, yet Father Emperor still protects her at every turn. He's so biased!"
"Alright, alright, stop talking."
The Imperial Concubine quickly interrupted her daughter, her tone tinged with worry.
"Walls have ears. If she hears this, she won't let you off easily."
Li Yuanshu retorted, "So what if the walls have ears? Even if she were right in front of me, I would still curse her."
"Oh? Is that so?"
A voice suddenly came from behind, carrying a hint of mockery.
Li Yuanshu and the Imperial Concubine were both startled and looked in the direction of the sound.
Li Yuanzhao, dressed in a crimson casual robe, was slowly walking in from the side gate.
Her face was devoid of any emotion, except for her eyes, which were fixed on the two people in the pavilion.
"Royal sister! You... what are you doing here?" Li Yuanshu turned pale with fright.
Over the years, although she hated Li Yuanzhao to the core, she only dared to curse him secretly behind his back; she would never dare to truly offend him.
I never expected that she would overhear my careless remarks today.
She couldn't help but shudder at the thought of what happened to those who offended her.
The Imperial Concubine quickly stood up and tightly shielded her daughter behind her. "Yuan Zhao is back?"
Out of etiquette and filial piety, Princess Li Yuanzhao should have taken the initiative to greet her stepmother, the Imperial Concubine, when she met her.
However, she ignored him and walked straight into the pavilion, her gaze sweeping indifferently over Li Yuanshu, who was cowering behind the imperial concubine.
Then she lifted her clothes and slowly sat down on the stone bench.
Her movements were so natural, as if the Imperial Garden and the Imperial Palace were her own territory.
Seeing Li Yuanzhao's arrogant behavior, the mother and daughter stood aside like two palace maids.
The initial fear was gradually replaced by anger. Li Yuanshu's face turned red with anger, and she mustered up her courage to say, "Li Yuanzhao, you...you have no manners at all and do not pay your respects to Mother Consort."
The Imperial Concubine quickly stopped her daughter, "Shu'er! Don't be rude! Yuan Zhao doesn't need to pay his respects to me; it's a special permission from your father. Don't talk nonsense."
Li Yuanzhao leisurely opened his mouth and asked, "What did you call me?"
Li Yuanshu then realized that she had used the wrong address in her haste, and was so frightened that she quickly and tremblingly corrected herself, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty."
Just then, Li Yuanzhao slowly stood up and walked step by step toward the two of them.
Li Yuanshu was so frightened by the powerful pressure emanating from her that he involuntarily took a step back, his face turning even paler.
The Imperial Concubine forced herself to remain calm, saying, "Yuan Zhao, your sister just spoke carelessly."
However, Li Yuanzhao completely ignored the concubine's pleas.
"Speaking ill of your elder sister, is this the etiquette and manners you've learned?"
Without any hesitation, she raised her hand and slapped Li Yuanshu across the face.
Although the movement looked light, it caused Li Yuanshu's face to swell up instantly.
"Yuan Zhao!"
The imperial concubine gasped in shock, her face turning deathly pale instantly.
Li Yuanzhao glanced coldly at the Imperial Concubine: "What? Does Your Highness have a problem with my disciplining my sister?"
Seeing Li Yuanzhao's arrogant gaze, the Imperial Concubine swallowed back the words she was about to say and could only whisper, "No..."
The palace servants around were already used to this scene, and they all lowered their heads, not daring to step forward, as if it had nothing to do with them.
Li Yuanzhao raised his hand again and slapped Li Yuanshu on the other side of his face.
"This slap is a good lesson from your elder sister. Next time you talk badly about someone, do it back in the palace. Don't be so stupid as to embarrass yourself in public."
The two slaps left Li Yuanshu dizzy and unable to stop the tears from flowing. Two clear red and swollen handprints were imprinted on his face, making him look particularly pitiful.
Li Yuanzhao didn't give her any time to react before slapping her a third time.
"Did you understand what my elder sister said?"
At this moment, Li Yuanshu was somewhat dazed from the beating. Seeing her mother powerless to protect her, she was filled with fear and resentment.
She covered her burning cheeks, and though she was unwilling, driven by fear, she nodded slightly, her voice trembling with tears: "I understand."
Li Yuanzhao finally accepted the handkerchief from Ru Mo and slowly wiped his hands.
Then, she threw the handkerchief on the ground, didn't even glance at it, stepped over it, and left the pavilion without looking back.
Only Li Yuanshu, looking terrified and aggrieved, and the Imperial Concubine, with a gloomy expression, remained behind.
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