The relationship between ruler and subject and father and daughter
A faint scent of sandalwood wafted through the imperial study. The midday sun shone through the carved window, casting dappled patterns on Xiao Diting's pale yellow silk skirt, making it a beautiful sight.
She deliberately chose an elegant outfit in a light color and subtly accessorized it with some silver jewelry. Her hair had been carefully styled by Chunyan and the others; the uneven parts that couldn't be gathered together were secured with pearl hair clips.
The old emperor's summons was exactly what Xiao Diting wanted. Although she was eager to go to Huaizhou to find out what was going on, she was also afraid that making a rash suggestion would alert the enemy.
The Imperial Guards' itineraries were required to be reported to the Emperor. The Princess's involvement this time was a fait accompli, and it was impossible for the Emperor to be completely unaware of it.
Xiao Diting's heart sank. He wondered how Pei Wenjin had explained things to the emperor. This ally was reliable enough, and he would definitely thank him properly when he had the chance.
Starting with Pei Wenjin is definitely the most convenient way to get to the bottom of things. The reason is simple: it allows her to appear in front of the emperor in a "passive" state, so that she can subtly play the victim without leaving a trace.
Fortunately, these are all secondary factors. Lord Pei might not even be the emperor. At worst, she can just cherish her own head and lie low for a while before making her move.
She doesn't yet have enough confidence to rely on; her life and death are in the hands of others. The constant obstacles are a constant reminder that she needs to be cautious and careful at every step.
And now, that opportunity has arrived.
Xiao Diting was led by Granny Sun to the Imperial Study. The Emperor had something to do and asked her to wait outside. She stood on the steps, idly tapping her abacus.
Just as she was figuring out how to play the victim, the tightly closed door to the Imperial Study suddenly opened. Before her attendant, Granny Sun, could speak, she lifted her skirt and stepped forward with delight.
A screen embroidered with red plum blossoms stood at the entrance of the Imperial Study, preventing outsiders from peeking inside. The principle of doing things properly is something those who understand will understand.
Today, Xiao Diting's identity is that of an unlucky girl who disobeyed orders again and almost lost her life. Fortunately, her father did not blame her. She has to coax her father to get rid of this matter.
Just like last time when he was dragged over by the Imperial Guards, the emperor, still in his dragon robe after the morning court session, leaned on his arm as he listened to a report on the renovation of the Empress Dowager's mausoleum.
After Xiao Diting looked over the screen and saw the scene inside the imperial study, he got stuck at the corner and refused to go in.
The emperor dismissed the palace maids who served him, leaving only one person to accompany him. That person was dressed in black, stood straight, and rested his hand on the table, flipping through the documents sent by the Ministry of Revenue. He would occasionally say a few words to the emperor.
The emperor rested with his eyes closed, occasionally nodding in agreement, without any other expression. The man, meanwhile, remained silent, his eyes bruised and dark, looking as if he hadn't rested well.
He was none other than Xiao Yiyu, the Crown Prince, who was the protagonist of Xiao Diting's nightmare not long ago.
The Imperial Study was very quiet. It was impossible for someone to walk in without being noticed. So, while Xiao Diting stood there stunned, two pairs of eyes fell on her.
Xiao Yiyu turned to the side, looked his younger sister up and down, and chuckled with amusement. The old emperor lifted his eyelids and glanced at him, saying nothing, but simply beckoning Xiao Diting to come forward: "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and come over."
Xiao Diting stood there, unsure whether to leave or stay. It wasn't out of fear of her elder brother, the Crown Prince, but rather the Emperor's kind tone that made her feel incredibly flattered.
If I remember correctly, she had just gotten into trouble not long ago. The Imperial Guards hadn't even finished cleaning up the mess, and then she continued to disobey her father's orders, almost dying outside.
As the ruler of the country, the old emperor did not arrest her and berate her the moment she stepped into the palace, and then impose a permanent confinement on her. Instead, he showed some kindness by sending someone to take care of her...
This is really bizarre.
Xiao Yiyu noticed Xiao Diting's hesitation. He rolled his eyes at her, then turned to his father and berated his sister: "If it weren't for Lord Lin and Wen Jin's strong guarantees, would you really have let her go out there fooling around like this?"
His words were harsh, but the emperor remained unmoved. He was used to Xiao Yiyu's sharp tongue and beckoned to Xiao Diting, "Don't listen to your brother, come here quickly."
With her father urging her so many times, it would be very awkward for Xiao Diting to be ungrateful if she didn't know what was good for her. She slowly moved in front of the two men and respectfully bowed, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty... and greets Your Majesty."
The emperor's gaze fell on her bandaged hand, and his attitude softened further: "I have told you before, as a princess, you are of noble birth and have no need to put yourself in danger. Otherwise, all the powerful ministers I have been supporting would be better off packing up and returning to their hometowns to farm."
Xiao Diting answered respectfully, choosing the parts that would not be wrong as much as possible: "Your subject believes that it is your duty to serve the emperor and relieve his worries.
Whether it was her imagination or not, her elder brother, the crown prince, who had been deliberately keeping his distance from her ever since she approached, seemed to want to say something, but after thinking about it, he remained silent.
Perhaps out of consideration for the emperor's face, they refrained from further mockery. Xiao Di shook his head inwardly.
"Not bad—bring some tea." The old emperor casually praised, which relaxed Xiao Diting's tense nerves.
After this whole process, Xiao Diting suppressed his elation and successfully won over the emperor's favor. It seemed that the emperor was now allowing him to go to Huaizhou.
Before the old emperor finished speaking, two palace maids brought in this year's Grain Rain tea and also brought Xiao Yu a chair made of high-quality pear wood with a beautiful luster.
Xiao Yu hesitated: "Father, what is this...?"
The old emperor picked up his teacup, lifted the lid, and blew on it. The tea leaves inside the jade cup swirled up and down. He said casually, "My son's sudden thoughtfulness makes me a little uncomfortable."
Xiao Yiyu was still standing to the side, her face expressionless. Even the Crown Prince didn't have a place of her own, and the Emperor seemed to be trying to get to the bottom of things, as if he wanted to have a long talk with her.
She didn't dare sit down at all, and humbly curtsied, saying, "Your Majesty, I have important matters to attend to, so I won't delay your discussion with my brother any longer..."
After saying that, she was in a hurry to leave. Just as Xiao Yiyu was about to make another sarcastic remark, the emperor stopped her and raised his chin to indicate that she should drink the tea: "This is the best tea this year. Your brother has asked me for it many times, but I have not given it to him."
Xiao Diting paused, inwardly grumbling: What are you doing?!
She was cursing inwardly, but she couldn't let anyone see it on her face.
Xiao Diting obediently thanked her, picked up the cup, and drank it all in one gulp. The tea was fragrant and had a moderate flavor. She didn't like bitter things and couldn't distinguish between good and bad, but the tea in her hand was indeed a top-quality tea that even a layman could tell.
It truly lives up to its reputation as a top-quality product used by the imperial court.
She licked her teeth, as if savoring the aftertaste. The old emperor looked at her with an even more amiable expression: "I told you to savor it slowly, but you never listen. You're wasting good tea."
Xiao Diting smiled and smiled.
Xiao Yiyu, who was holding a teacup and smelling it, had a burning gaze on her even before taking a sip, as if he wanted to stare her through.
"Vulgar." Xiao Yiyu said succinctly, putting the tea back without touching it. He saw that his younger sister was already upset, and since they had already discussed everything, there was no need for her to stay.
This time, it was Xiao Yiyu who said he had important business to attend to.
The old emperor nodded, not forgetting to add, "Let's talk about the Empress Dowager later. Please take good care of her."
"yes."
Once Xiao Yiyu left, Xiao Diting didn't dare to stay any longer. She wasn't the original owner of this body, and the more she said, the faster she would be exposed.
The emperor released her quickly this time. It seems that this private chat in the study was just a father showing concern for his daughter, casually asking her a few questions.
Xiao Diting knew that wasn't the case. Born into an imperial family, there was an even more inviolable relationship between father and daughter, that of ruler and subject.
Xiao Diting's experience of visiting the Imperial Study was never pleasant. With a solemn expression, he was led out by a palace servant. As he stepped across the threshold, he saw Pei Wenjin standing by the canal not far away.
It was the same octagonal pavilion as last time, but this time Pei Wenjin was in high spirits, leaning leisurely against the railing. Xiao Diting still left the palace servants who accompanied him in place and went to the appointment alone.
Pei Wenjin took some time to change into a plain-colored casual outfit, but for some reason, the hem of his clothes was stained with water.
Xiao Diting leaned closer, and the atmosphere between them became harmonious. She expressed her gratitude in a good mood: "Father didn't ask me anything else. Lord Pei is truly responsive to every request."
Pei Wenjin sneered: "I was just saying that Your Highness injured your hand while on a mission and needed to go to Huaizhou to seek treatment from the Medical Sage."
Xiao Diting: ?
She looked Pei Wenjin up and down in disbelief, then took two steps back in shock: "You drugged my father? The Imperial Hospital isn't just for show, you..."
She wondered how the emperor could believe such a ridiculous reason.
Pei Wenjin, feigning profundity, stood with his hands behind his back and answered her inscrutable, "It is possible."
Xiao Diting fell silent, her mind flashing back to the melodramatic novels she had read in high school, such as "The Overbearing Imperial Guard's Forced Love" and "He Holds Power Over the Court"... After a mental storm, the outline of the story took shape in her mind.
Most of them are about an old and useless emperor, and the ambitious ministers who are close to the emperor.
Pei Wenjin seemed to be able to read her mind, and just as her thoughts were about to drift to the Northwest, he stopped her in time: "What are you thinking about? Your eyes are glazed over."
Xiao Diting subtly warned him: "I didn't realize you'd been working so hard."
"That's natural. After Your Highness was imprisoned, the Court of Judicial Review accumulated a lot of cases. Minister Lin of the Court of Judicial Review misses you very much. I was just using Minister Lin's help to fight back."
"Then how did you explain my leaving the palace to my father?" Xiao Diting was worried and needed to have a clear conversation with Pei Wenjin to ensure they had a consistent story, lest the truth be exposed someday.
Pei Wenjin feigned surprise: "Didn't Your Highness go to the Dali Temple to review case files early yesterday morning, and then go to Jingkou with Lord Lin and the others to investigate the case in the middle of the night?"
Jingkou is the closest ferry crossing to the capital and south of the Yangtze River. Xiao Di listened to his rambling without batting an eye, as if she had truly believed what the commander had said yesterday, and was amazed.
Sure enough, having a favorite of the emperor is a great advantage; whatever the emperor says, he believes. He's truly a powerful patron; Xiao Diting suddenly found Pei Wenjin much more agreeable.
Having asked all the questions she needed to, Xiao Diting was satisfied and prepared to lift her skirt and leave, but Pei Wenjin quickly stopped her.
Xiao Diting was still not used to being too close to this person, so she subtly moved away a little. She raised her phoenix eyes and asked, "Is there anything else?"
Pei Wenjin respectfully clasped his hands in greeting: "I've covered for you and gotten involved with the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Lord Lin said that you shouldn't just focus on the case in Huaizhou, but also pay attention to your own affairs."
"What's the meaning?"
After she raised this question, at the same location, Pei Wenjin, with a half-smile, took out two more documents from his bosom: "Lord Lin entrusted me to convey this message: Your Highness, please do not forget the case in Jiangzhou."
Xiao Diting: ...
She only now realized one thing: the emperor had been suppressing the officials' questioning of the princess, showing little reaction and being wary of her but never punishing her, which wasn't necessarily just because of the Empress Dowager...
The main reason is that the princess was never just a pretty face; in addition to her status, she was also an official with real achievements.
That's probably where her courtesy name came from.
On this trip, she claimed to be going to Jiangzhou to collect accounts of salt and iron revenue in front of the emperor. Jiangzhou is adjacent to Huaizhou, so as long as she leaves the capital, no one can interfere with where she goes.
Xiao Diting sighed in despair. So, this business trip meant she had to investigate the case in Huaizhou and also smooth things over in Jiangzhou.
The title of "Number One Horse Princess of the Great Jing Dynasty" is truly well-deserved.
She was already feeling emotional and tired before it even started, and she didn't give Pei Wenjin a friendly look either.
"Thank you so much, Lord Pei."
"It is my duty."
Xiao Diting gritted his teeth: "...Get out."
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