The woman who had spoken out of turn shrank back into the crowd, trying to leave.
Huaiyao cracked her whip: "Stop!"
The woman's fleshy body trembled twice.
She stepped forward with an embarrassed smile: "Princess, my eyesight is poor, I misunderstood and misunderstood the princess and the tiger cub."
"I have been wrong, please forgive me, Princess and the Crown Prince..."
Talkative, timid, opportunistic, and easily swayed.
Huaiyao looked at Yuan Yao: "Yuan Xiaoyao, tell me, should we forgive her?"
Yuan Yao glanced at the lady.
She was adorned with gold and silver, wearing numerous ornaments as if afraid of falling behind others. Even the makeup on her face couldn't conceal her sharp tongue and penchant for flattery.
They like to show off, be clever, and attract attention.
Yuan Yao wouldn't even give a second thought to someone like that.
Her large, bright eyes looked straight at the lady: "On the hunting grounds, neither bows and arrows nor wild beasts have eyes."
If this lady's eyesight and hearing are both poor, she should not leave the courtyard during the autumn hunt, lest she be injured or frightened.
"What?" The woman's legs went weak.
Staying in your own yard?
This means... a house arrest?
She just said a couple of casual words, and she's being grounded?
She was well-prepared for this autumn hunt, hoping to show off her skills, expand her social circle, and elevate her status among the ladies.
Unexpectedly, before the autumn hunt even began, she was to be confined to her quarters?
It’s over…
It's really over!
Why did she lose her temper and provoke Princess Yuan Yao when none of the other ladies spoke today?
unwise……
Huairou's expression was gentle as she said, "The princess is so considerate of the madam, shouldn't the madam thank the princess?"
Huaiyao also held a whip, frowning as she stared.
Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the lady gritted her teeth, knelt down and thanked the princess, saying, "This concubine...thanks for your concern, Your Highness!"
Yuan Yao pursed her lips and said, "Madam, please rise."
After the lady got up, she called her maid and fled in panic.
After everyone left, the hot spring area became lively again.
Several ladies whispered among themselves—
“Even if a concubine is elevated to the status of a principal wife, she is still not worthy of respect.”
"Yes, I don't know what kind of taste this Marquis of Guangyuan has. He doesn't pamper his perfectly good wife, but instead elevates such a woman to be his principal wife!"
"I heard that when the Marquis of Guangyuan fell ill, this woman took care of him tirelessly. The Marquis was so moved that he neglected his wife and favored his concubine, which led to the death of his first wife..."
"No wonder, a girl from a humble family could be promoted from a concubine to a wife."
"..."
Lady of the Marquis of Guangyuan?
Yuan Yao secretly memorized the name.
It seems this lady has quite a story.
A concubine managed to climb to the position of a marquis's wife; she's quite the troublemaker...
The Empress arrived late, accompanied by the imperial physician.
She was busy with the affairs of the women in the hunting grounds and palace when a palace maid came to her, saying that something had happened at the hot spring.
After the Empress learned the reason, she looked at Deng Zhiheng a few more times and asked, "Miss Deng is so cute and charming. How old are you this year?"
Wearing a slightly damp outer robe, Deng Zhiheng was helped by her mother and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, Zhiheng just celebrated her fifth birthday recently."
"Oh?" The Empress smiled gently: "If Zhiheng is another year older, she can attend the same school as Yao'er and Chengyan."
Hearing the Empress call her daughter by her name, Madam Deng was overjoyed and said with a smile, "It's a pity we missed this year; we'll have to wait another three years."
"It's alright," the Empress advised. "At Zhiheng's age, if we hire a tutor for her now, she can go directly to Chengyan's school after three years when she enters the Imperial Academy..."
The Empress and Lady Deng stood by the hot spring and chatted for a long time.
Deng Zhiheng changed into clean clothes and had the imperial physician take her pulse.
Although she is young, she is in good health.
They fell into a hot spring pool, and because of the heat, they didn't catch a cold.
After taking his pulse, the imperial physician prescribed a calming remedy.
The Empress, holding Zhiheng's hand, said to Madam Deng, "Later, I will send someone to bring the medicine. Madam, have it brewed and give it to Miss Deng..."
Huaiyao moved closer to Yuanyao and Huairou: "Mother... seems to really like this Miss Deng?"
Huairou smiled and said, "Although Miss Deng is young, she is very smart. Moreover, unlike others, she doesn't openly slander Yao'er and Tangyuan, so naturally she is well-liked."
“Yes,” Acha also chimed in, “I also think Miss Deng is lovely.”
Although she was frightened, she did not cry.
I hate little kids who cry and whine all the time!
Huairou smiled, patted Yuan Yao's little head, and said gently, "However, my favorite is still Yao'er."
Yuan Yao looked up and smiled sweetly, "Yao'er also likes Sister Huairou!"
She realized that Huairou was afraid of praising Deng Zhiheng and upsetting her.
She's not that petty!
Yuan Yao added in her childish voice, "Yao'er also likes Miss Zhiheng."
A pretty and well-behaved child, so sweet and soft, how adorable!
I want to rub it...
The Empress spoke with Deng Zhiheng for a while before leaving.
Before leaving, she said gently, "This hot spring is for Princess Yuan Yao's tiger cubs to play in. Everyone else can use the pool outside."
Although everyone knew that the emperor and empress favored Yuan Yao, today, many ladies and young women are finally seeing and hearing it for themselves.
This large hot spring is the best located hot spring in this courtyard.
The Empress's words sounded like she was giving the pool to the tiger cubs to swim and play in, but in reality, she was giving the pool to Yuan Yao.
As a result, no one else dared to come to this hot spring pool anymore...
If anyone dares to come again and gets scared or hurt by the tiger cubs, they've only asking for it!
The Empress, accompanied by her entourage, stepped out of the courtyard.
Everyone curtsied and said, "Your Majesty, please take care."
The Empress nodded and said slowly, "Guards, lead the way. I'm going to see the Lady of Guangyuan County..."
Ah Cha, being outspoken, said smugly, "That woman is going to be in trouble."
“She brought this on herself!” Huaiyao sneered.
"Alright!" Huairou said gently, "Let's soak in the hot springs. After we're done, we'll have lunch together this afternoon."
Huaiyao wrapped the whip around her arm and said as she stepped into the hot spring, "Royal sister, I want to eat roasted mutton!"
"I want to eat roasted lamb leg!" Acha added from the side.
Yuan Yao thought for a moment, then tilted her head and smiled, "Then... I'll have mutton soup? And an extra serving of grilled mutton skewers, is that alright, Sister Huairou?"
Huairou readily complied: "Alright, whatever you say..."
With a "plop," the glutinous rice ball jumped into the water.
"Awooo..."
It swam happily in the warm water, waving its four paws.
The four people and one tiger had a wonderful time soaking in the hot spring.
After soaking in the hot spring, the group went directly to the courtyard in Huairou.
Huairou and Huaiyao live in the same courtyard.
Early on, a barbecue grill was set up in the yard.
Half a freshly slaughtered mutton was placed in the yard.
As soon as Acha saw the mutton, her eyes lit up: "Let me do it! This princess knows how to cook mutton!"
Huairou asked, "This meat must weigh several dozen kilograms, right?"
After estimating, Acha replied, "About sixty jin."
"So much? How can we finish it all?" Huaiyao exclaimed in surprise.
Yuan Yao suggested, "Why don't we invite more people and have a bonfire party?"
Bonfire party?
"That's great!" Acha clapped his hands. "The more people, the more lively it will be! I can dance for you! Huairou can play the piano, and Huaiyao can wield a whip."
Xie Zhi and the others can wrestle with my brother...
Little Yao'er, what can you do?
Yuan Yao: "?"
The talent show is about to begin again, isn't it?
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