Chapter 218 The Mandate of Heaven
Princess Fu'an didn't take it to heart, just hummed in agreement, and then chatted with her and Wei Ruoxuan about everyday matters.
Wei Ruoxuan is cheerful and outgoing. Although it was our first meeting and she didn't say much, she was able to skillfully pick up on topics, which suggests that she has a clever mind.
Madam Gu and Old Madam Dou naturally liked this kind of woman. After lunch, the group from the Yongchang Marquis's residence left first.
Princess Fu'an reminded her, "Although she is the legitimate daughter, the one who just came is her stepmother. Her stepmother and younger siblings used to always try to bully her, but she taught them a lesson a few times, and now they behave themselves."
"No wonder she has such a calm and composed personality," Dou Wenyi couldn't help but sigh.
A person who grows up in such an environment has a firm mind and can naturally keep Dou Mingxiu in check. If this marriage can be arranged, it would be Dou Mingxiu who is marrying above his station.
After Princess Fu'an left, Dou Wenyi also boarded the carriage to return to the East Palace.
Cuizhi asked with some doubt, "Your Highness, are you going to the palace on New Year's Eve?"
On New Year's Eve, the Minister of Ceremonies, along with his officials and musicians, would enter the palace to perform exorcism rituals. Inside the palace, precious sandalwood and agarwood would be used to light bonfires. The emperor, along with his princes, princesses, and other imperial relatives, would stay up all night to celebrate New Year's Eve.
Whether she participates or not, people will probably gossip about her behind her back.
Dou Wenyi squinted her eyes, "...The eldest princess is of noble status and is deeply favored by the emperor. She also manages many affairs of the palace. Even Consort Zhang does not dare to compete with her. The fact that she sent Fu'an to ask me is a sign of respect for me."
The eldest princess must have known that Fu'an was close to her, and she couldn't refuse her. Therefore, it can be inferred that the eldest princess wanted her to enter the palace.
Having gone through so many conspiracies and intrigues with her, Cuizhi had matured considerably and seemed to sense something amiss. "Your Highness, are you worried that something might happen that day?"
The eldest princess's attitude towards Pei Siyan was unclear. Dou Wenyi did not want to offend her or cause trouble on the surface, but she did have a bad feeling.
"The Crown Prince is fighting a bloody battle. Unless they want to fight to the death, they won't dare to openly attack me. But we should be cautious in everything we do."
Cuizhi frowned deeply. "That day, how about we bring more guards?"
Dou Wenyi smiled wryly, "This is all we can do now."
Pei Siyan left her a team of elite soldiers to protect her life, which was more than enough to keep her alive, but he was afraid that she might encounter some unexpected changes.
After returning to the Eastern Palace, Consort Zhang sent someone to carefully inform her of the arrangements for New Year's Eve and the New Year's Day ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
Before long, it was New Year's Eve. Dou Wenyi dressed in extremely gorgeous and warm clothes. After noon, she went to the palace to accompany Consort Zhang.
After the Seventh Princess Pei Shuyue woke up from her midday nap, she was extremely excited. The palace maids dressed her in a red satin embroidered jacket with gold thread trimming mink, and she wore a gold hairpin and pink pearl flowers in her hair. Her beauty was like water reflecting the morning sun, and even though she was only seven or eight years old, she already showed amazing beauty.
She raised her fair face, like a peacock eager to fly away.
"Princess Consort, the grand exorcism ceremony later is going to be amazing! There will be so many performers, including a general in full gold-plated bronze armor, the door gods guarding the palace, and many other deities such as Zhong Kui, Little Sister, the Earth God, and the Kitchen God..."
"Will you come with me to see it later?"
Dou Wenyi smiled and replied, "Okay."
Consort Zhang pointed to her forehead and said, "You're so naughty. Your sister-in-law, the Crown Princess, has a lot on her plate. Let your wet nurse and nanny keep you company. Zhang Cheng'an will be coming in later; ask him to play with you."
Pei Shuyue immediately became unhappy, pouting, "I'm not going to play with a kid like him!"
Consort Zhang glared at her, then turned to Dou Wenyi, "Later, more and more royal wives will come to pay their respects. You should come with me to meet them, so that you don't not recognize people in the future."
Dou Wenyi understood that Consort Zhang was genuinely thinking of her best interests, so she said, "Then I will respectfully comply and follow Your Highness's arrangements."
Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the Funing Hall was not so peaceful.
Eunuch Feng carefully held the silver spoon and brought the medicine to Emperor Muzong's lips. With a crash, the bowl and spoon were overturned to the ground by the emperor, who was sitting in his wheelchair. Hearing the noise, the imperial guards gripped their sword hilts, ready to move forward in alert.
Emperor Muzong sat in a wheelchair with a gloomy expression, while Eunuch Feng knelt on the ground in fear and trepidation to collect the broken pieces.
"...Brother, have these lackeys angered you again?"
A series of clear, bell-like sounds came from outside the palace. The princess was dressed in a gorgeous purple robe, her hair was piled high, and she wore a colorful phoenix hairpin. Her beautiful eyes were filled with arrogance and sharpness, making people dare not look directly at her.
Emperor Muzong suppressed his anger. "Kangping has arrived?"
Princess Kangping glanced at Eunuch Feng on the ground, "Clumsy, hurry up and bring me another bowl of medicine."
Eunuch Feng gave her a grateful look, tidied up the mess, and respectfully withdrew.
Princess Kangping personally served the emperor his medicine. As his elder brother, he could not afford to lose his temper, so he took the bowl and drank it all in one gulp.
The eldest princess took the medicine bowl and placed it on the tea table beside her. "Brother, are you worried about the affairs of the country? The Great Zhou is a fierce and powerful army. Besides, the Crown Prince is both talented in literature and martial arts, and is exceptionally wise. You should put your mind at ease. That rebellious king can't cause any trouble. Perhaps we will be able to completely eliminate him soon and return in triumph."
Emperor Muzong's face was gloomy, his brows were tightly furrowed, and he remained silent.
He did not waver in the face of her advice; on the contrary, when the Crown Prince was mentioned, Emperor Muzong's gaze darkened further.
The princess didn't miss a single expression on his face, and she had almost made up her mind.
She suddenly knelt down, glancing at the palace servants around her. "Although Kangping is a foolish woman, she knows that important court matters should not be discussed lightly. However, there is one matter she wishes to ask privately. If she says anything incorrect, please forgive her, Your Majesty..."
The emperor waved his hand, and the palace servants respectfully withdrew.
"Although we are not from the same mother, I treat you better than my own sister. Please get up and speak frankly about what is on your mind."
The eldest princess rose and slowly spoke, “You often say that governing a large country is like cooking a small fish; sometimes, taking a step back can open up a whole new world. The disaster caused by the rebellious prince was his own doing, and has nothing to do with you, Your Majesty. So I beg you, Your Majesty, not to blame yourself.”
Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke slowly, each word distinct.
"Brother, there are countless capable ministers and valiant generals to share your burdens in this world. The country may be lost temporarily, but you must not be harmed!"
Her words were truly treasonous, but to Emperor Muzong, they sounded quite agreeable.
Her phoenix eyes, looking up, glistened with tears, revealing her sincere feelings; she truly deserved to be the imperial sister he had cherished for so many years.
Emperor Muzong's expression completely relaxed. "Kangping, you've put your heart into this."
The eldest princess took a deep breath, her tone resolute, "Does Your Majesty still remember? Once, when we were trapped in the hunting grounds and attacked by a tiger, Father taught us that only by surviving would we have the chance to turn the tide..."
Emperor Muzong could not have forgotten that the late emperor had deliberately ordered people to bring the tiger into the hunting grounds. The imperial guards were nearby, and their lives were nothing more than a bloody test. The seventh prince almost died in the tiger's jaws.
"Today, please hear me out—as long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn!"
"Your Majesty's health is of utmost importance. This empire rightfully belongs to Your Majesty, and you are the one destined by Heaven. If anyone dares to disobey, Your Majesty can simply replace them with a single word!"
That last sentence was like a spring breeze brushing against his heart, creating ripples.
Emperor Muzong suddenly looked up and stared straight at her. "New Year's Eve, New Year's Eve, it is time to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. Let's not mention anything else."
The princess felt reassured and subtly raised the corners of her lips. "Yes."
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