"Don't speak carelessly about things you don't understand or are unsure about. Do you have any proof that I was the one who bullied your mother the most? Even if you're stupid, you should know that people in the harem are unpredictable. Putting aside whether I treated your mother badly, I slapped Consort Luo a while ago."
"Furthermore, even if I really treated your mother badly, shouldn't you hold it in your heart and find a way to get revenge on me? What's the use of just saying it? You're nine years old this year. If I wanted to harm you, could you escape? Would anyone help you? And your sister, who's a little older than you, is still a child. She's still a girl. Have you thought about how you might implicate her if you offend me?" Yan Nangui asked with a stern face.
"I really won't do it again."
"Go back and copy the Classic of Filial Piety a hundred times, then confine yourself to your quarters for seven days," Shu Chengfeng said.
"Yes." The Fifth Prince breathed a sigh of relief.
"Do you remember why you were punished?" Shu Chengfeng asked again.
"I remember now, I shouldn't speak ill of my elders, and I shouldn't bully my younger sister." The Fifth Prince finally came to his senses.
"And remember, when someone tries to instigate you, just tell them back, 'Go beat them up,'" Yan Nangui said.
The Fifth Prince was taken aback: "Yes."
Shu Chengfeng almost burst out laughing. He glared at Yan Nangui, then waved for the Fifth Prince to leave.
Yan Nangui watched the Fifth Prince leave before saying, "Growing tall but not smart, the Ye family's genes are truly frightening."
"What are you saying? I'm going to check on Bao'er."
The seventh princess had just had the medicine applied and had stopped crying. She looked aggrieved and wanted a hug.
Shu Chengfeng looked at his youngest daughter, whose eyes were swollen, and hugged her tenderly: "Father has already punished your fifth brother. Are you feeling better now? Does it hurt?"
If it were any other prince, he would certainly have been punished with a beating, but the Fifth Prince is weak and very thin. He also had a serious illness some time ago, so no matter how angry I am, I can't bring myself to hit him.
"It hurts! Fifth Brother bullied me and said Mother Consort is bad. She doesn't like him," the Seventh Princess complained.
"Yes, we don't like him, so we'll ignore him from now on." Shu Chengfeng hugged the girl and coaxed her, giving Xu Yuan things as well, and continued to coax her.
Yan Nangui said after coaxing him, "Your fifth brother is stupid. Don't argue with him anymore. If he does this again, go ask your fourth sister to teach him a lesson."
"Yes." The Seventh Princess nodded.
"Let's go back with Mother. Your father still has things to do. He'll come see you again tonight when he has time," Yan Nangui said.
The seventh princess said reluctantly, "Oh."
"Go ahead, Father will come to see you this afternoon." Shu Chengfeng did indeed have some matters to attend to.
As soon as the wild geese flew south, Shu Chengfeng summoned Yun Jixuan paper, declaring that Consort Luo's conduct was lacking and demoting her to the rank of Good Lady. The Third Princess, failing to maintain harmony among her siblings, was punished by copying the Classic of Filial Piety a hundred times, confined to her quarters for seven days, and given twenty strokes of the cane.
The third princess cried as she was beaten.
Although the servants below dared not hit her too hard, the delicate princess had never suffered like this before.
Luo Liangren's status has been lowered again and again, and she has lost all ambition.
The eldest princess remained silent.
In Zhaochun Palace, Yan Nangui held his daughter in his arms: "Did you hear what Aunt Jiangxiang said? Your father demoted your third sister's mother's rank."
"Yes." The Seventh Princess nodded.
"Remember, your mother isn't telling you to hate them. There's no need. Just act the same way you always do when you see them. But you need to understand this in your heart, understand?"
"I remember."
"Well, your fifth brother is a fool, don't argue with him. Otherwise you'll be the one who suffers. You need to learn to find someone to control him. The one who can keep him in check is your fourth sister."
"Yes, I remember too." The Seventh Princess hugged her mother's neck: "Who is his mother? Why did he say that you bullied her?"
"His mother was Consort Jing. She was originally your grandmother's niece. She was your father's cousin, just like you and your mother are now, you're all family. She later passed away from illness." It was too complicated, she said, her daughter can't remember it now.
"Did you bully her, Mother?" the Seventh Princess asked again.
"Hmm, she must have bullied me? But she also tried to bully my mother. She just didn't succeed."
"No one can bully Mother Consort!" The Seventh Princess said, hands on her hips.
“But the concubines in the harem always want to be the most powerful. They don’t want to be bullied, they only want to bully others. And you princes and princesses are the same. You always want to be the one your father favors the most.” Yan Nan Gui stroked her daughter’s head.
"I am Father's most beloved!" the Seventh Princess declared.
"Yes, Bao'er is the best." Yan Nangui stroked her head, and sure enough, her own daughter was different.
"Your mother will pave a good path for you, so that you will never have to be bullied by others for the rest of your life."
The seventh princess blinked: "With Father Emperor around, no one dares to bully me."
Yan Nangui smiled but didn't tell her that everyone gets old and dies. Ultimately, everyone has to rely on themselves someday.
"Mother, none of them are pretty. You are the most beautiful."
Although the seventh princess is still young, she understands simple truths: people will like someone if they are good-looking.
“Silly child, never define good or bad by appearance. A beautiful face is certainly good. But outstanding knowledge, a calm and quick-witted mind, and a strong heart are the foundation for living in this world. Even the most beautiful face will grow old. If you only have a beautiful face but no strong and interesting soul to match, you are nothing but a withered beauty. You will get tired of seeing the same thing after a while. You don’t understand these words now, but that’s okay. Your mother will keep telling you. When you grow up, you will understand.” Yan Nan Gui said.
"I want to know right now..." the Seventh Princess pouted.
"Well, to put it simply, if there's a child who isn't good-looking, but is well-behaved, sensible, smart, and interesting, people will like them over time. But if a child is good-looking but has a bad temper, always bullies others, swears, or is very stupid and silly, people will stop wanting to play with them over time."
The seventh princess thought for a long time: "If I'm beautiful but stupid, will my father and mother not like me?"
"Uh... no, after all, you're my daughter. If you're born stupid, then it's my fault. But if you have personality problems, then... it's my fault." Yan Nangui was confused by her daughter.
She laughed and said, "Parents always love their own children the most."
Although that's not necessarily true in this day and age. Stupid children generally don't receive good treatment in large families.
However, it's best to teach children these things when they're older.
"Just remember, don't quarrel with your brothers and sisters, and don't try to please anyone. Play with whoever you like. But even with those you don't like, you should still maintain harmony, because you are all your father's children."
The seventh princess is adorable on the outside and nods cutely.
This prompted Yan Nangui to hug and kiss him.
By the time her father arrived that evening, the Seventh Princess had almost forgotten what had happened during the day.
Although my knees still hurt, it doesn't stop me from having fun.
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