Proud Feather

Chapter 7 Father and Daughter
"A Ling!" The emperor caught her. Seeing his daughter crying on his knees, his eyes turned red. "You are the only one I have left for my father. You are the only one I have for my father!"

He said it twice in succession and burst into tears.

Chu Ling felt heartbroken as she looked at the face that looked slightly younger than she remembered.

It has been five years. She hasn't seen her father for five years.

After her eldest brother's death, she gradually became suspicious of her second brother, but she could not find any evidence, so she opposed him in every way. At that time, she was too young and had been raised to understand nothing. Under the instigation of her second brother, she gradually became estranged from her father.

Her father was annoyed that she did not know the importance of things and was arrogant because of her favoritism. She believed that her father was partial to her second brother and did not trust her.

Finally, after she got drunk and caused a scene at her second brother's family dinner, her father ordered her to go to Sanqing Temple for reflection and let the imperial master temper her.

Chu Ling lived there for two full years.

During those two years, the emperor came to see her, but she turned him away. When she turned eighteen, her marriage could no longer be delayed, and she was finally brought back to the capital.

After careful selection, the emperor chose Xiao Zhen, the King of Xining.

The Xining Palace was far away in the Western Frontier, and rumor had it that Xiao Zhen had murdered his uncle, who had raised him, in order to seize power. Anyone would consider it a dangerous place. Chu Ling knew her second brother was behind this, intending to send her far away to eat sand, but her father actually agreed, much to her disappointment.

On the day of the marriage, she pretended nothing happened and went to the palace to express her gratitude, but she cursed all the civil and military officials in front of them.

This time, the father and daughter broke off completely. She asked to be exiled and returned to the place where the Chu family was founded to guard the tomb.

Who would have thought that just one year later, news came that my father had passed away.

Chu Ling was shocked and wrote a letter requesting to return to Beijing to attend the funeral, but was rejected.

In this way, she didn't even see her father for the last time.

In the following four years, she thought over and over again, if she had not been so willful and had not fallen for her second brother's scheme, would she not have turned against her father?
Her father had always been in good health, yet he passed away within a short year. It was hard to say there wasn't some hidden agenda. If she hadn't left the capital and had been wary of her second brother, could she have avoided her father's early death?
Regret always comes late, and after losing all her loved ones, she was left in excruciating pain.

Now, God has given her a chance to start over. She can no longer save her elder brother, so she must protect her father!
After crying bitterly, Chu Ling's emotions gradually calmed down.

She took out a handkerchief and wiped the emperor's tears, saying, "Father, you are the only one I have left. Please take care of yourself!"

The emperor was extremely pleased to hear this: "A Ling has grown up and can comfort father now."

Chu Ling felt sad: "I was ignorant before, I will never make father angry again."

The father and daughter comforted each other and sat down to talk.

"I really didn't expect something like this to happen. Ah Ling, thank goodness you're here, otherwise your elder brother would have died unjustly."

"Maybe Big Brother is unwilling to give up, so he reminds me in this way!" After saying that, Chu Ling asked with concern, "Father, how is your illness? Have you taken all the medicine?"

"I ate it. The doctor said it was just a case of shortness of breath. It will be fine after two days of rest."

He examined his daughter carefully. "You, on the other hand, look quite haggard, your eyes swollen from crying. I'll have the imperial physician take your pulse later and prescribe you some tranquilizing soup. You're still young, so don't stress yourself out. If you develop a chronic illness, you'll suffer in the future." The emperor's face shone with regret as he reminisced. "Your mother was like that too. She was in such a state of turmoil when your eldest brother was born, and she was so worried and frightened that she ended up suffering from the disease."

It had been a long time since someone cared for her like this. Chu Ling felt warm in her heart: "I know. Big brother is gone, so I have to take good care of him and take care of him."

The emperor felt very relieved after hearing this and said, "I'm glad you think this way."

A voice came from outside; it was Concubine Shu returning. "Your Majesty, the medicine was spilled just now. Luckily, there's still a bowl. Drink it while it's hot!"

Chu Ling was surprised: "Father, you haven't drunk it yet! How could you lie to me? Quick, go drink the medicine first. The Concubine Shu must have been waiting for a long time."

After saying this, she stood up and bowed to give up her seat, which made Concubine Tian Shu secretly feel strange.

The princess has never been so polite before. She must have been upset, right?
After the emperor had taken the medicine, Chu Ling asked again, "My Lady Consort Shu, is my sister-in-law okay?"

Concubine Tian Shu sighed, both answering her and reporting to the emperor: "The Crown Princess is very reasonable. She understood as soon as I explained it."

The emperor nodded. "She was born into a prominent Lu family, so she was naturally virtuous and polite. Unfortunately, her fate with Ayi was too brief, and they passed away after only a few years."

Chu Ling took the opportunity to say, "Sister-in-law has managed the Eastern Palace in perfect order over the past few years. She is also very respectful to our father, the Imperial Concubine, and has raised the little grandson. Father, although my eldest brother is gone, you must not mistreat your sister-in-law in the future."

"Do I need you to tell me that?" the emperor said, "I won't let Ayi go without peace of mind. She just needs to take good care of the child."

Chu Ling felt melancholy. While her father certainly thought so, it was a shame her second brother wouldn't give her the chance. She had initially become suspicious of him because of the suspicious deaths of Jin'er and her eldest sister-in-law, and because former members of the Eastern Palace had told her he was suspicious. However, there was no evidence, and this only caused a falling out between her and her father.

Of course, this time, she won’t give her second brother another chance!
Thinking of her second brother, she looked at Concubine Tian Shu and asked tentatively, "By the way, Concubine Shu, how is my second brother?"

While helping the emperor clean his face, Concubine Tian Shu replied, "What could possibly happen to him? I've told him to return to Huaide Hall. The palace is in chaos right now, and it's time for him to contribute."

The emperor nodded in agreement. "The rest of his brothers and sisters are still young, and the Crown Princess has children to take care of. If he doesn't help, who will?"

Yes, as he worked hard, he became the prince.

Chu Ling suppressed the sneer on his lips and went to look at Concubine Tian Shufei.

Consort Tian Shu was born into the family of the Empress Dowager, who gave her to the Emperor. When she became pregnant, she was given the title of Beauty. While the Empress Dowager was alive, she remained relatively inconspicuous. However, after her death, she rose to prominence, enjoying the Emperor's exclusive favor.

In his previous life, Chu Ling didn't care much about Concubine Tian Shu, but later he realized what a terrible opponent Concubine Tian Shu was.

Even after her mother's death, she still addressed her mother as "Empress" and considered herself a servant. Others said she was devoted to her former master and was loyal and righteous, but they ignored the fact that the second prince she gave birth to was only two years younger than the crown prince.

The most favored concubine with no one to take the throne, the only adult prince under the crown prince. Would she change the reality just because she lowered her attitude enough?
"Princess, your eyes are swollen from crying. Why don't you go back and rest?"

Chu Ling came back to his senses and met Concubine Ueda's concerned gaze.

Look, on the surface, she is always impeccable, respectful to her elder brother and caring for her. She uses her mother's legacy to win favor without leaving any trace.

"Thank you, Empress Shufei. I'm not tired yet." Chu Ling pretended to know nothing and shook his head with all his strength.

The emperor saw through it and said softly, "A Ling, go back! I will take my medicine well and have a good rest. Don't worry."

"really?"

"Really." The emperor looked at her lovingly, "I will still be your support."

Chu Ling finally breathed a sigh of relief, looking relieved: "Then, I'll take my leave first. Madam Shufei, thank you for your concern."

Concubine Tian Shu looked kind and said, "Go!"

(End of this chapter)