Chapter 187: Yuhua

Chapter 187: Yuhua

What can and cannot be done?

Should she not harbor ill intentions towards her brother Lang, or not use foreign tribes?

"I didn't harm him; he has always been frail. Without the snow lotus, it would have been just the same as usual. As for using foreign tribes... it was just that when people from the Yun family's second branch came to my mansion with gifts, I inadvertently leaked some information. It was their own greed, wanting to profit from the Huns..."

Princess Huaiqing began to retort but swallowed her words under the Emperor's stern gaze, eventually kneeling and admitting, "Yes, I am wrong. Please punish me, Father."

Being pregnant, the Emperor didn’t have her kneel long. He had her rise, then as if nothing had happened, said, "Your husband’s position as Left Deputy in the Ministry seems rather idle, a waste of his talents. I think I'll send him as a deputy envoy with the Junior Minister of Honglu Temple to the Huns."

Deputy envoy... During her pregnancy, it's just a formal mission to the Huns, possibly even earning rewards. However, this move by the Emperor would surely be understood by the Cui family; they wouldn't dare act rashly for a while. And by the time her husband returned, his position might well be occupied by someone else.

Princess Huaiqing looked up at the Emperor, and perhaps due to her pregnancy, couldn't control her emotions, suddenly asking, "Father, do you remember the birthday gift you gave me? What was it?"

The Emperor looked at her, silent.

"You don't remember, do you? Because that so-called gift was chosen by Eunuch Sheng from the imperial treasury, right?" Princess Huaiqing smiled, tears rolling down her cheeks, vanishing into the carpeted floor, "My younger sister loves fun, so last September, you took her out of the palace for her birthday... Father, didn't you promise in the King's Mansion that you'd always love me? Have you forgotten?"

Princess Huaiqing's voice grew louder as she accused, "You sent me to Wangyou Palace, but with Mother gone, how could I forget my sorrows? I can't forget!"

She wiped away her tears, knelt again, and kowtowed, "Father, your daughter has been remiss, please punish me."

The room was eerily quiet, only the sound of the ancient water clock, dripping water drop by drop, tick-tock, tick-tock.

After a long pause, the Emperor said softly, "It was a gold ruyi bracelet and a longevity lock."

One was for Princess Huaiqing, the other for her unborn child.

Princess Huaiqing, kneeling on the ground, suddenly looked up, murmuring, "Father…"

But the Emperor, opening another memorial, concluded the last audience of the day, "Huaiqing, once or twice can be forgiven, but not a third time. This is the last chance."

The carved red lacquer door reopened, and Princess Huaiqing stepped out of the hall. She glanced back before saying to Sheng An, who was waiting outside, "Eunuch Sheng, I've made some new clothes for Father. Please give them to him after he is done with his duties."

Xia Chan, who was also waiting outside, immediately handed the bundle she was holding to Sheng An and silently retreated behind Princess Huaiqing.

"I understand."

Sheng An, smiling, took the bundle and watched Princess Huaiqing leave Liangyi Hall. Then he turned back inside to report to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, Princess Huaiqing has made some clothes for you."

"Put them there," the Emperor, closing the memorial in his hand, kept his eyes closed and raised a hand to rub his forehead, showing no intention of taking a look.

Sheng An’s expression changed slightly. As he was about to step forward, the voice of An Jing sounded from outside, "Your Majesty, the second princess requests an audience."

"The second princess? Let her in," said the Emperor.

The second princess, Xiao Yan, had delicate features and inherited her mother’s dimples, radiating warmth and charm when she smiled.

She first respectfully bowed to the Emperor, then said, "Father, I've heard that the Xiongnu have proposed a marriage alliance. As a princess of the Great Zhou, worshipped by thousands, I have nothing to repay. I am willing to go to the Xiongnu for a peaceful marriage alliance."

Standing by, Sheng An couldn't help but sneak a glance at the Second Princess's resolute profile, then lowered his gaze as the emperor asked, "Yanyan, do you know that not only is the land of the Xiongnu bitterly cold, but their customs and familial relations are also different from our Great Zhou?"

"Yanyan knows," the Second Princess answered.

The emperor looked at her and smiled, "Then do you know that it was the Xiongnu who provoked us first, and there was no need for Great Zhou to marry off a princess?"

Seeing the emperor's smile, the Second Princess slightly relaxed, her smile revealing dimples, "But Father Emperor neither agreed nor refused, there must be your reasoning. Although I may not understand it at the moment, I am willing to ease Father Emperor's worries."

"Yan'er has been thoughtful," the emperor waved his hand at her, "Go back. Have you looked at the list your mother gave to Consort Yi Jie? Come back to me if you have made your choice."

"Father..." The second princess wanted to say more, but seeing the emperor's resolute expression, she could only say, "Yan'er understands."

She then bowed and exited the Hall of Dual Principles.

Sheng An approached to replace the Emperor's tea with freshly brewed hot tea and personally added spices to the Boshan burner before returning to the Emperor's side and softly asking, "Your Majesty, it's almost dusk. Would you like to have your meal served?"

The Emperor nodded, about to speak, when An Jing's voice rang out again, "Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived."

Jiang Hui had come with the evening meal. She instructed her attendants to arrange the meal in the side hall of the Liangyi Hall before entering the main hall and bowing to the Emperor, "Greetings to Your Majesty. May you enjoy peace and prosperity."

Xiao Sheng came out from behind the imperial desk, helped her up, and asked with a smile, "Why has Hui'er come?"

"Your Majesty, I heard you missed your meal again. I had no choice but to come and urge you to eat," Jiang Hui sighed.

"I was busy and forgot. It's not a big deal," Xiao Sheng said, leading Jiang Hui towards the side hall, "Since Hui'er is here, let’s have the meal together."

"Alright," Jiang Hui agreed, following Xiao Sheng, but then stopped and asked, "What incense is burning, Your Majesty? It doesn't smell like ambergris."

Sheng An, following behind them, tucked his whisk into his sleeve and bowed his head.

Xiao Sheng smiled, "Yuhua incense, newly made by the Medical Bureau. I find it quite pleasant. If Hui'er likes it, I'll have more made for you."

Jiang Hui replied, "Yes, the fragrance is light and carries a hint of coolness. It lacks the pungency of anxi incense and is not as sweet as chenxiang, perfect for summer."

"We should take more with us to Qingning Mountain Villa this summer," the Emperor added, walking with Jiang Hui to the side hall.

He asked, "Where is Huayang?"

"Huayang went horseback riding with Miss Qin at the training field after lunch. She was hungry early and has already eaten. She's now in the Yuxia Palace, preparing your birthday gift," Jiang Hui said, serving the Emperor a bowl of yam soup and sitting beside him.