Chapter 2: A Tiger Father Like a Dog Daughter
"So that's what you're talking about!"
Pu Qiongzhi seemed to suddenly understand, "Princess, please don't mention it again. I am ashamed."
"You should be ashamed! We come from wealthy families. Although we cannot understand the suffering of the common people, we should not be so ignorant. If you are well-educated and can read and write, you would not dare to say such outrageous words!" Ding Momo scolded harshly.
As the head of the noble ladies in the capital, as soon as she said this, the other noble ladies followed suit and accused Pu Qiongzhi of being stupid and ignorant.
For a moment, the rumors spread like wildfire. Pu Qiongzhi was surprised. "Where did you hear such rumors, Princess? They are really wronging me."
"You still want to deny it? You're such a scoundrel, you're despicable!" Ding Momo's face twisted. "This princess will definitely punish you severely today!"
Seeing that she had already acted inappropriately, but the imperial concubine remained unmoved, Pu Qiongzhi knew that her guess was correct.
What happened today was planned jointly by the imperial concubine and her niece!
First, he invited her to the royal flower viewing party, arranged for refugees to trip her up on the way, and then instigated Princess Roujia to embarrass her...
However, could it be that her new husband, Earl Gongning, had a grudge against the Imperial Concubine? Why would the Pei family's aunt and nephew want to make things difficult for a newlywed woman?
"Someone, come and slap this princess in the face! Since you can't control your mouth, you must know that trouble comes from the mouth!" Ding Momo clapped her hands, and several black-faced maids came forward.
Pu Qiongzhi was not going to take the beating obediently. She looked up at the imperial concubine sitting above her and said, "Your Majesty, are you going to allow me to be punished? May I ask where I have gone wrong?"
"Madam, you have a very sharp tongue. Do you know where the saying 'Why not eat meat porridge' comes from?" Pei Wanqing finally spoke.
Pu Qiongzhi nodded and said frankly, "Although I come from a humble background, I can read a few words and have read some books. This sentence comes from the Book of Jin, and it was said by Emperor Hui of Jin..."
"You are quite frank! Now that you know where it came from, there is nothing to refute! You know the meaning of it, but you still speak nonsense in the street. Aren't you mocking the current emperor?! You are really damaging the reputation of the noble family!!" Ding Momo was furious.
Pei Wanqing then sighed and said, "Mr. Gong Ning is also a proper nobleman. How could he marry a vulgar and ugly woman like you? It's such a pity."
"I haven't finished speaking yet. I heard that the princess knows the rules best. Why do you always interrupt me?" Pu Qiongzhi said softly.
"What else do you have to quibble about?! This princess doesn't want to listen to your nonsense! Your Majesty, please punish this woman who talks nonsense and set the record straight!" Ding Momo knelt down and loudly asked the Royal Concubine to make the decision.
"Your Highness, I don't understand the rules of the capital. If this woman has done something wrong, she should report it to the Empress for trial and then be punished. Why is the princess abusing her power?"
"Why bother the Empress with such a trivial matter?" Pei Wanqing also stood up at this time. "The Imperial Concubine is also a role model for women in the boudoir. In a more distant sense, she is also the elder of Earl Gongning. It is reasonable for her to help him discipline his new bride."
"Since you all say so, I will be generous for once... Pu, do you admit your guilt?"
The imperial concubine's gaze shifted to Pu Qiongzhi. Seeing her calm and composed, kneeling with her back straight, she felt a little confused.
Just as the stalemate was about to end, a loud shout came from outside, "The Princess has arrived——"
At once, everyone stood up and saluted the eldest princess.
The eldest princess was dressed in plain and simple clothes, but she exuded a royal aura that frightened the women wherever she went.
Princess Duanhui, Gongsun Ying, followed the late emperor into battle when she was young. She grew up among the soldiers and was as brave as any man in killing enemies on the battlefield. She was also a hero in conquering the world.
The late emperor specially named this youngest daughter the Princess Zhenguo, and did not allow her to marry a foreigner. He left a will allowing her to marry freely, and also granted her the right to enter and leave the court to attend government affairs, and ordered her to perform the duty of governing the country.
The current emperor has to respect his sister and give her some face both inside and outside the court.
Even if she was a noble concubine, she had to move aside when she saw the eldest princess.
Seeing her coming, Ding Momo couldn't help but straighten her back and glanced at Pu Qiongzhi with a haughty look, "The eldest princess hates people who exploit the people the most. With her here, you will definitely be severely punished!"
"Oh, it's so lively, aren't we supposed to be looking at the flowers? I see, these beauties in the garden are three times more beautiful than the flowers!"
"Your Highness has come just as we, the servants, were discussing how hard it is to maintain peace in the world. It was all thanks to you and the late emperor, fighting through mountains of swords and seas of blood. Yet, now, someone is unaware of the kindness of our ancestors and is speaking out of rebellion!"
Pei Wanqing stood up and complained about Pu Qiongzhi in various ways.
These words were really beautiful. He praised the eldest princess's military achievements and brought out the whole story in a roundabout way. Even Pu Qiongzhi couldn't help but applaud.
However, although her words were good, the princess remained unmoved. "Oh? Really? What did you say?"
"Your Highness, this is exactly what the wife of the Duke of Gongning, Pu, said. Pu was speaking out in the street, even saying 'Why not eat meat porridge?' Where does this put Your Majesty! Where does this put you and the late emperor!!" Ding Momo interrupted directly in a high-pitched voice.
Gongsun Ying frowned and teased, "Roujia, your voice is almost as loud as your father's. Like father, like daughter!"
"I... Your Highness! I am just filled with righteous indignation!" Ding Momo's face turned red with anger, but she did not refute Princess Duanhui.
Her father was a rough and tumble military commander, but she was a girl from the boudoir. How could she be compared to him like that?
Gongsun Ying didn't even look at her. He then fixed his eyes on Pu Qiongzhi and asked, "Is this Mingxu's new bride?"
Her tone was kind, her eyes were smiling, and there was not a trace of anger in her.
"I've heard that Jiangnan women are gentle and graceful, but look how frightened you two are! Your faces have turned pale!"
"I pay my respects to Princess Duanhui. Long live the princess." Pu Qiongzhi came back to her senses and stood up to salute.
It was because the other party called her the "new bride" that she didn't react. It turned out to be her husband's handwriting...
"What a wonderful person! No wonder Mingxu is like this..."
"It is precisely because Your Highness and the old Marquis Gongning are close friends regardless of age difference, and since Marquis Gongning has a new bride, Your Highness should take charge of her." Pei Wanqing mentioned this matter again.
Gongsun Ying then looked her straight in the eye and said, "I've forgotten the important matter. Pass on the Emperor's order!"
Upon hearing this, everyone stood up and knelt in the center, "Long live our emperor."
"Mrs. Pu, the wife of the Duke of Gongning, donated her entire dowry to open a porridge factory for the refugees in the suburbs. I am particularly grateful for this benevolent act of a simple woman and child, and I have specially conferred her the title of Eighth Rank Anren and granted her the title of Wenshu."
After the decree was announced, silence fell all around. Everyone held their breath and stared at Pu Qiongzhi who was kneeling in front of them to receive the decree.
On the side, the Imperial Concubine, Pei Wanqing, and Ding Momo were left hanging to dry like a joke...
"Why?! Even if she donated this damn dowry, so what? She said such treasonous words. In terms of virtue and cultivation, how can she be worthy of being awarded an imperial edict?! Since when can an imperial edict be bought with a few melons and dates?" Ding Momo was so angry that she retorted.
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