20demayo Chapter 364
Chapter 364
chapter 364
consort ru flitted out like a joyful little bird, fluttering her wings as she went.
"your majesty, this subject... this subject pays her respects to the emperor."
she mimicked the etiquette of the great yan dynasty, just like all the other consorts in the harem, hoping to show the emperor a different side of herself.
unexpectedly, the emperor merely glanced at her indifferently and asked in a perfunctory tone, "rise. are you accustomed to life in the palace?"
consort ru nodded. "this subject is overjoyed to be so close to the emperor for the first time. there is nothing i am not accustomed to."
the emperor nodded and moved to pass her by. consort ru followed. "your majesty, aren't you here to see this subject? where are you going?"
wang dequan turned and raised his hand to stop her. "your highness consort ru, the emperor is going to visit the second princess. please return."
consort ru thought that after visiting the second princess, the emperor would surely come to see her. with a heart full of anticipation, she ran off again.
she wanted to hurry back and instruct her servants to prepare fine wine and delicacies. today, she was determined to present herself to the emperor.
"princess, this fabric is so beautiful. the servant heard that ronghua xueguang brocade is very rare and only available in the imperial noble consort's chambers."
the second princess sat at the head of the room, glancing at the maidservant who was full of admiration. she took a sip of fragrant tea before saying, "do you like it?"
the maidservant quickly replied, "the servant dares not. this is a gift from the imperial noble consort to your highness. the servant has shallow eyes and has never seen such fine things. it's really not..."
"if you like it, i'll give it to you."
"ah?"
the maidservant was momentarily stunned but quickly fell to her knees with a thud upon understanding the second princess's words. "your highness, this is a gift from the imperial noble consort to you. only someone of your noble status can wear it. the servant... the servant..."
"why can't a servant wear it?"
the second princess chuckled lightly. "before the imperial noble consort was favored by the emperor, she was just a lowly noblewoman in xihuo palace, with a mother who was a dancer in ruyang prince's residence. she was taken into the residence of minister jiang. wasn't she a servant to her legitimate sisters at that time? it was only through the emperor's favor that she rose from servant to master. now, no one mentions her past status anymore. a few bolts of fabric are worth her 'bestowal' upon me? i find it fitting that such a gift is given to you, the servants."
no matter what the emperor said, the second princess always believed that her mother did not deserve to die, that it was all jiang xinyue's scheme.
but in front of the emperor, she couldn't show it. she could only cry and feign weakness. "father, i don't want to... i don't want to, but whenever i think of mother's death and lady jiang's involvement, i can't help but hate. i... i'm so sad."
the emperor had few children left, and he genuinely loved each of the ones he had.
if it weren't for these children, consort de would have been deposed long ago, not dragged out until she made a move on jiang xinyue.
the second princess wept bitterly, and the emperor felt pity but still retained some reason. "those with narrow minds always blame others for their mistakes. mingzhu... you should learn from your eldest sister."
the second princess bit her lip. "mingzhu... mingzhu understands. i'm sorry, father. i know i was wrong. i will never speak ill of lady jiang again."
the emperor nodded. "if you can change, that would be best."
if she couldn't change, well, a princess who reaches a certain age without marrying will be sent out of the palace to establish her own residence.
then he wouldn't have to see her, and she and jiang xinyue wouldn't cross paths anymore.
the second princess lowered her head. "father, i wish to go on a scholarly journey. please grant me your permission."
she looked down. "my narrow-mindedness stems from my limited experiences within the palace. i wish to go out and see the world, to broaden my mind. may i?"
locked in this palace, it would always be the imperial noble consort's domain, and no one could outmatch her.
her world should be outside the palace.
jiang xinyue's influence couldn't extend outside the palace.
she couldn't break through from within; she had to encircle from without.
"this old nanny can no longer remain by your side."
the emperor signaled tang shiliang to take the woman away. "i will send you a head nanny later. you are a young lady of over ten years now. do not let a servant lead you by the nose."