On the first day of the seventh lunar month, a grand court assembly is held. Many officials and nobles who do not usually attend court sessions go to Taihe Gate to attend court on the first day of each month.
Prince Yong was no exception, though this exception was only within the rules; whether he went or not depended entirely on his personal mood.
Zhao Shuyin got up immediately. After Green Ivy helped her wash up, she went to Chensong Courtyard with a lamp in hand.
On the way, they encountered Xiao Guozi, who was looking for them with a lantern and a food box in his hand.
“Princess, everything has been arranged.” he said.
Zhao Shu nodded, and the three of them hurriedly headed to Chensong Courtyard.
When they arrived at Chensong Courtyard, Prince Yong was washing up, and Uncle Fu was attending to him. Bi Qiao had also gotten up early and was waiting outside the door with her maids and servants.
Upon seeing Zhao Shu approach, Bi Qiao hurriedly led her entourage to pay their respects, "Princess."
"Father has gotten up?" He looked past Bi Qiao and at the two maids standing in front of the door, holding court robes and filled with a wooden basin of water. They were very ordinary-looking and their eyes were fixed straight ahead.
These two were Bi Qiao's confidants, Fu Xi and Fu Qing. When Zhao Shugang was still a child, Bi Qiao had a good friend who killed herself in an attempt to climb into someone else's bed. From then on, Bi Qiao only kept average-looking people as her right and left hands.
Bi Qiao, unaware of what Zhao Shu was thinking, replied respectfully, "Yes, she has already gotten up, and Uncle Fu is serving her inside."
As soon as she finished speaking, Uncle Fu opened the door and saw Zhao Shu hurriedly came out to greet her. "Princess, why are you up so early?" He disapproved. In the past, the prince did not like to get up so early, so he almost never went to court. The princess is still young, how could she endure this hardship?
Zhao Shu noticed his concern and smiled, "Uncle Fu, don't worry about me. Hurry up and help Father wash up."
"Sigh." Uncle Fu also knew what was important and what was not. The most important thing at the moment was to serve the prince his washing up. It was already 3:00 AM, and they had to get to Taihe Gate before His Majesty arrived at 5:00 AM.
He bowed and led Fuxi and Fuqing into the house.
Zhao Shu set up breakfast in the courtyard. The breakfast was very simple: two eggs and two bowls of porridge. The combination was a bit odd, but the eggs were filling, while the porridge was nutritious.
After setting everything out, Zhao Shu said to Green Ivy and Little Guozi, "You two should go and eat something, so you won't be hungry when you get to the palace."
Knowing that they would not be able to leave the palace anytime soon, the two accepted the order and went to the kitchen.
Before long, Prince Yong appeared, dressed in a dark red court robe embroidered with gold dragons and trimmed with glossy black, wearing a seven-bead crown. He was impeccably dressed, and his every move exuded an aura of dominance.
Under the lamplight, Zhao Shudu could barely open her eyes. If there were a stranger present at this moment, they would certainly not believe that this was the absurd prince.
His demeanor and temperament far surpassed those of Prince Jing, who held a certain position in the court.
"What are you looking at, Ah Jun? Is it because your father's clothes don't fit? These clothes were made when I was conferred the title of prince. I haven't worn them for many years, and I feel very uncomfortable." Prince Yong plopped down opposite Zhao Shu. "Why don't you stay at the manor and not go to the palace?"
“No, I’m afraid they’ll bully Father. Ah Jun must go to the palace.” Zhao Shu peeled the eggshell off Prince Yong and handed it to him.
It was the first time Prince Yong had eaten such a simple breakfast, and he was still a little unaccustomed to it. However, he had recently fallen into the happiness of being cared for by his daughter. As long as Zhao Shu said it was for his own good, he would nod and accept it without any doubt.
“With your royal uncle here, they wouldn’t dare.” Prince Yong ate his egg, feeling a warmth in his heart.
Zhao Shu shook her head again, "No, A-Jun still has to go."
Prince Yong, who was not good at taking care of children, had no choice but to compromise. After quickly finishing their breakfast, the two of them went out and headed to the palace.
When they arrived at the Meridian Gate, many ministers were already waiting in front of it. Prince Yong's carriage continued on its way and stopped beside Prince Rui and Prince Hui.
Prince Yong got off the carriage first, followed by Zhao Shu.
When everyone saw that Prince Yong had actually come to court for the first time—no, "first time" is an understatement; it was the first time they had ever seen him get up early and wait at the Meridian Gate to attend court—they were utterly astonished. They began to wonder what kind of trouble this absurd prince was up to this time. Just as they were calculating how not to get involved, they saw Zhao Shu get out of the carriage.
Immediately, the ministers all had different feelings. What was a young girl doing appearing at the Meridian Gate on the day of the grand court assembly?
Several ministers, remembering the two second-rank officials who were still at home teaching their children and Jiang He who had been demoted, couldn't help but look at Prince Yong and his daughter with a sinister gaze.
Zhao Shu hadn't planned to get out of the carriage, but Prince Rui and Prince Hui were both elders, and Prince Hui was also that woman's father. Hehe, she smiled slightly.
Upon approaching the two kings, Zhao Shu performed the junior's greeting, saying, "A-Jun greets Uncle and Fourth Uncle."
Prince Hui had always disliked Prince Yong, and had never given Zhao Shu a kind look. When he saw Zhao Shu appear at the Meridian Gate, he frowned and his face turned icy cold.
Prince Rui didn't show anything, and said gently, "Nineteenth brother, Ah Jun," and then fell silent.
However, Prince Hui showed no kindness whatsoever. He began to reprimand Prince Yong in the manner of an elder, completely disregarding Zhao Shu's existence.
"It's one thing if you're always a mess, but what's the occasion today? Why did you bring her here?"
'She'? It's as if he's talking about some random cat or dog. Even in front of outsiders, he doesn't treat Zhao Shu as his grandniece at all.
Prince Hui, the late emperor's half-brother, was enfeoffed as Prince Hui. While the other princes went to their fiefdoms, he remained in the capital to manage the Imperial Clan Court, a position similar to that of a patriarch in a powerful clan. Apart from Emperor Mingde's family, he was in charge of every member of the imperial clan.
Everyone was quite afraid of this sect leader. Whenever Prince Yong encountered Prince Hui outside the palace, he was always reprimanded. Prince Hui would never let go of the opportunity to reprimand the most favored prince in Dayong, as if he were demonstrating his power and status.
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