The emperor fell silent…
He felt guilty towards Rong Yang.
But right now, there is no better option.
“A-Ning… Father Emperor promised that if there is an opportunity in the future, he will definitely bring your elder sister back from Da Jing.”
Bring them back?
My sister is going to marry a foreigner, not to marry into the neighbor's family. How could she be so easily brought back?
How incredibly vague and unrealistic this promise is!
Rong Ning was too lazy to argue with him, and gave a perfunctory reply, "Your subject believes in Father."
The meal was ready, so the two sat down to eat.
After eating her fill, Rong Ning didn't linger and prepared to leave, clutching her full stomach.
The emperor didn't want to release the man, so he said, "Have some tea before you leave."
“Father…” Rong Ning frowned, “Your subject has other matters to attend to.”
"Put everything else aside for now..."
The emperor didn't care.
"I just want you to talk to me."
oh?
It sounded novel to hear him make such a request.
Have you been having too much of a comfortable time lately?
Rong Ning's buttocks, which had been raised, fell back down.
"I intend to bestow a title upon you and establish a separate princess residence outside the palace. This was requested by your elder sister, so I want to finalize it before her marriage, so that she can marry with peace of mind."
Rong Ning took a sip of tea and said coolly, "There's no need for that."
Anyway, she might not even be able to live in the princess's mansion in the end.
"Your subject thinks Zhaoqing Palace is fine. Now that my elder sister is gone, I will stay. No one is allowed to touch anything inside," she said.
The emperor shook his head, "A'ning... the harem is not suitable for you."
Upon hearing this, Rong Ning laughed out loud, "What's this about being suitable or unsuitable? Father Emperor is just afraid that after my sister leaves, no one in the harem will be able to control me and turn your harem upside down, right?"
“That makes sense,” the emperor readily admitted, “but it’s not entirely because of that. Since the founding of the Southern Dynasty, no princess has ever been granted a title and established her own residence before marriage. You are the only one.”
This honor bestowed upon you is, in fact, a reward from me.
You made an indispensable contribution in the Battle of Kangye City. As for the other generals, I have already promoted them and bestowed upon them generous rewards.
But because you are a woman and a princess, your father cannot give you these things. It was only after your elder sister mentioned this yesterday that I felt it was acceptable, and that it wouldn't be considered that I owed you anything.
Given your military achievements, even if those ministers knew it was against the rules, they had no reason to object.
Rong Ning found this statement absurd yet somewhat reasonable. She traced her index finger around the rim of the teacup again and again before lazily replying, "Father, you have considered everything thoroughly. Your son thanks you."
Seeing that she wasn't in high spirits, the emperor asked, "What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"
"No... I'm quite happy!"
Rong Ning tilted her head, resting her chin on her hand, still looking lazy. "But since Father has mentioned rewards, I would like to ask Father for a favor. If Father agrees, I will not need any of the things you just mentioned."
Um?
not simple!
It's definitely not simple...
The emperor did not reply immediately, but picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea.
Seeing his reaction, Rong Ning sat up slightly, her expression darkening. "What? Father is already afraid before I've even spoken?"
"That's not how you say it!" the emperor resigned himself to his fate. "Speak, what do you want to say?"
I've been waiting for this sentence.
Rong Ning sat up straight, abandoning his previous lazy demeanor, and looked at the emperor earnestly, saying, "Your subject wishes to request that when my elder sister goes to marry a foreign ruler, you grant me permission to escort her north."
The emperor paused, "A'ning, you have no official rank and are a woman. If you accompany your elder sister north, you can only be a dowry attendant, which is against etiquette."
Is it against etiquette?
Rong Ning found it funny and couldn't help but laugh out loud, tilting her head back.
“That would be against etiquette… Then why don’t you just grant me an official position, Father? After all, as you just said, I made a great contribution in the Battle of Kangye City.”
"That's even more impossible!" the emperor exclaimed, his head throbbing. "Ah Ning... don't joke around."
"Your Majesty, I am not joking..." Rong Ning stopped laughing and returned to her lazy demeanor, but what she said sent chills down one's spine, "Father, whether or not I am given a title, or a princess's residence, I do not care, and I care even less about the official rank, since it is indeed against the rules."
Your son only cares about your elder sister and only wants to see her off on her wedding journey so that he can feel at ease.
Your Majesty's concerns are well-known. He is afraid that if I go along, I might cause some trouble on the way, which could affect the important marriage alliance between our two countries.
But let me make this clear: if you agree to let me go with you to escort the bride, I might not cause any trouble. But if you don't agree, I will find a way to see my sister off myself.
"I have no idea how much commotion it will cause then!"
In the most nonchalant tone, she uttered the most treasonous words, nearly causing the emperor to slam his fist on the table. He took a deep breath, held back, and gritted his teeth as he asked, "Ah Ning... are you threatening me?"
"Your Majesty, I don't think so. I was just informing you of my actions in advance so you could prepare," Rong Ning said, looking at him. "But if Your Majesty thinks so, then so be it!"
She cared little to begin with. Her elder sister was going to marry a foreign ruler, and her elder brother was the crown prince. No matter how much trouble she caused, it wouldn't affect him.
She was all alone; at worst, she would die.
That's all!
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