Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 524 The Tang Dynasty Princess
"Please calm down, Fairy! This matter was merely a private discussion among a few idle people, and we dared not bring it to public attention. It has already been refuted, which shows that right and wrong are fair and that people's hearts are in the right place."

Zhang Dai was used to Princess Yuzhen's serene and demure demeanor as a nun, but this was the first time he had seen her with such a furious expression. He was startled and, without a moment to marvel at her status as a princess of the Tang Dynasty, quickly tried to comfort her, saying, "Prime Minister Pei's dispatch of this official to inform you is merely a routine matter; it doesn't truly require the Princess to send officials to court to hear your accusations..."

"Calm down? I live peacefully in my own home and have never made any enemies among the people, yet I am subjected to such criticism. How can I tolerate this? If you, Zhang Dai, were to be questioned like this, could you calm down?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Yuzhen snorted coldly again, then roared angrily, "Boy, stop talking nonsense! Just tell me who wrote this heretical theory! If you don't know, then send someone who does to come and see me! If you dare not present it to the public, it is because the villain is cowardly, and I have no reason to forgive you. If you are not severely punished, this hatred will not be appeased!"

Zhang Dai was repeatedly questioned and eventually ran out of words. Although he knew Princess Yuzhen would be furious, seeing her enraged state made him uneasy, and he was even a little worried that his grandfather might make things worse.

While he was still pondering how to respond to Princess Yuzhen's question, another young woman hurriedly entered the hall; it was none other than Princess Yunyang.

Zhang Dai was already deeply in love with the county princess. Now that she had appeared at the crucial moment, the girl was even more charming than a fairy from the Jade Pool in his eyes. He quickly stood up and bowed to the county princess, saying, "I didn't know the county princess was here. My apologies."

Seeing his feigned politeness, the Princess of Yunyang immediately gave him a coquettish glare and said, "The temple in the south of the city is almost finished. I came to my aunt's place to select some Daoist classics to copy and collect. What have you been busy with lately, brother? It's been a while since I've seen you."

"So fast?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai was quite surprised. His family's villa was built much earlier than the Taoist temple of the Prince of Qi's family, and they hadn't moved in yet. How could the Taoist temple of the Prince of Qi's family, which was larger in scale and built later, be almost completed? It's really good to be rich!

At the same time, Zhang Dai couldn't help but feel uneasy. He had been determined to marry the county princess after the Taoist temple was repaired. However, not long ago, his aunt interfered again and even planned to build a villa for his little cousin in the neighborhood so that they could live next door. She was very eager to take him as her son-in-law.

He hasn't even figured out how to get out of the past yet, and now the Qiwang family's Taoist temple has been built. How is he supposed to talk about marriage?

Before entering the hall, Princess Yunyang had also heard her aunt's angry roar. Seeing Zhang Dai's shifty eyes, she assumed he was being intimidated by Princess Yuzhen and felt a pang of sympathy. Wanting to ease the tension, she spoke again, saying, "The construction of the main hall is progressing quickly, but all the buildings still require careful decoration. Winter is fast approaching, making construction difficult. It won't be truly completed until at least the following summer or autumn. Is your villa ready, Brother?"

Princess Yuzhen was still seething with resentment and eager to vent her anger when she saw the two of them chatting animatedly as if no one else was around. Naturally, she became even more annoyed and immediately snorted, "Whatever sweet nothings you two have to say, leave them somewhere else. Don't gossip and bother me here! I have something to ask Zhang Dai. Ayu, you should shut up for now."

Princess Yunyang blushed upon hearing this, but seeing that Princess Yuzhen was still fuming, she couldn't help but worry for Zhang Dai. So she quickly asked, "I heard my aunt's scolding outside the hall. What could have made my aunt so angry? Anger harms the body and damages one's cultivation. Whoever angered my aunt, she will not be easily forgiven!"

"Ask yourself, your lover!"

Princess Yuzhen, hearing the county princess's incessant questioning, immediately gave a cold snort of annoyance.

Years ago, when Zhang Dai visited her in Luoyang, he carried a letter of introduction from Princess Yunyang. Therefore, Princess Yuzhen was well aware of the feelings between the two, but she was unaware that they had already pledged their lives to each other. Moreover, she lived in a Taoist temple for a long time, and even when she entered and left the palace, she rarely interacted with Consort Wu Hui.

She wasn't as magnanimous as a saint; she still harbored resentment towards her mother for being harmed by Empress Dowager Wu, and consequently, she didn't find Consort Hui very agreeable. If Zhang Dai hadn't come to pay his respects with a letter from the Princess of Yunyang, it would have been difficult for her to favor him based solely on his status as Zhang Shuo's grandson and Consort Hui's nephew.

Princess Yunyang had already made her feelings for Zhang Dai clear, so she didn't find the statement particularly offensive. She immediately turned to look at Zhang Dai, waiting for him to tell her.

After hearing the whole story, Princess Yunyang frowned and was about to reprimand Zhang Dai when she noticed his strange look. Although she didn't know the reason, she knew it was not advisable to further provoke Princess Yuzhen.

As she walked toward the hall, she said, “These absurd and ridiculous statements would only elicit scorn from ordinary people. It is easy to see that those who hold such heretical views are either trying to gain attention or have ulterior motives.”

My aunt is a devout Taoist practitioner, and her purpose is to cultivate her mind and spirit, and to worship Heaven and pray for blessings. Yet, she is still disturbed by these evil spirits, which makes her anger and anger rise and consume her pure blessings. Doesn't this just make the evil people's evil intentions even more successful?
Although I don't know who committed this evil deed, I trust Brother Zhang. Since he has come forward to report this matter, he will surely coordinate personnel and properly handle these disturbances. Aunt, you only need to stay here peacefully and wait for news of the villain's defeat!

Princess Yuzhen's furrowed brows relaxed slightly upon hearing this consolation. She quickly realized she had indeed lost her composure in front of Zhang Dai, so she merely snorted and didn't continue her outburst. Seeing that the county magistrate had managed to appease Princess Yuzhen, Zhang Dai couldn't help but feel uneasy. He needed Princess Yuzhen to maintain her anger so he could vent it on those he needed to deal with, ideally without affecting him. If her anger subsided too quickly, it would be counterproductive.

So he quickly added, "I am truly flattered by the county princess's high praise and trust. In ordinary matters, I would certainly do my utmost to handle them without the fairy maiden needing to give any instructions. But this matter is extraordinary; even if I wish to mediate, I am powerless to do so..."

Upon hearing this, the county princess couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed. She had been praising her lover, but she hadn't expected to speak so confidently that Zhang Dai would have to quickly correct her.

It seemed she had misunderstood, so she stopped speaking and carefully sat down next to Princess Yuzhen, picked up the official document from the Censorate that the princess had just tossed aside, and began to read it carefully.

Princess Yuzhen's anger had indeed subsided somewhat, but upon hearing Zhang Dai's words, it surged again. She pointed at Zhang Dai and rebuked him, "Aren't you supposed to be a paragon of integrity and uprightness? How can you harbor such thoughts of cowardice and avoiding disaster! Even if you don't say it, do you think I don't know where these heretical ideas originate? They come from nothing more than those arrogant, domineering, and cowardly people in the court!"
This group of followers likes to put on airs and act upright, spouting selfless theories, but they are good at being mean to their own family and relatives. They say that the emperor should not spoil his relatives, and that it is most to their liking for the emperor to be lonely and isolated!
When this temple was built, there were many sycophants who earnestly advised the late emperor to be frugal and compassionate. They said that we, the imperial relatives, were sinful to live in this world! If there were truly virtuous ministers in the court, how could the public treasury be insufficient for the expenses of just a few households?
Yuwen Rong, who claims to be wise, has only ever plundered people from both the mortal and secluded realms. Not content with the secular world, he now extorts the imperial family. What are his true intentions? If he merely wields his authority and plunders indiscriminately, then Zhang Dai, you could easily be a prime minister too!

"You flatter me, my lady. I dare not even dare to harbor such thoughts..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai lowered his head somewhat embarrassed and said, "I'm not as humble as I am." Although he agreed with Princess Yuzhen, he still felt he should remain modest.

Before he could finish speaking, Princess Yuzhen immediately rebuked him, saying, "Is this a praise? This is a mockery of your incompetence as court officials, allowing such wicked people to occupy high positions, yet none of you dare to correct wrongdoing."

The censor who submitted the memorial, did he not know who made this statement? What good would it do if he clearly named the person? He only offered hearsay and unsubstantiated claims; should I be grateful to him for speaking out for justice?

These words left Zhang Dai in a difficult position. If he spoke too plainly, they would immediately start fighting, leaving no room for muddying the waters.

"Aunt's words are too domineering! Whoever becomes prime minister is not chosen by Brother Zhang. Even if the atmosphere is corrupt, there are still high-ranking officials in the court, each with their own positions. Why blame Brother Zhang, who is merely an eighth-rank or seventh-rank official?"

Hearing Princess Yuzhen's reprimand from the side, Princess Yunyang was quite dissatisfied and couldn't help but retort, "If you want to blame someone, Aunt, you often socialize with the world, don't you know who the wise and virtuous are? If they could be recommended to the court, you wouldn't have to suffer this harassment today!"

"You woman, are you deliberately trying to provoke me? Haven't you heard the story from before? What are the important matters of the court and the country that are for women of our clan to comment on? I am full of anger and naturally need to find someone to vent to. Your lover happens to be here. If I don't tell him, who else can I tell?"

Princess Yuzhen was also in a bad mood at this moment, so she simply left Zhang Dai aside, and the two of them glared at each other and started arguing.

Seeing them fighting amongst themselves, Zhang Dai was speechless for a moment. Just as he was thinking about what to say to guide them, a female Taoist priest hurriedly entered the hall and bowed, saying, "Reporting to the Immortal Maiden, King Xin'an has entered the temple and is waiting to be summoned in the front courtyard."

"Prince Xin'an? What's he doing here?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Yuzhen was somewhat surprised, but she quickly raised her hand and ordered, "Quickly bring Prince Xin'an into the hall."

Upon hearing that Prince Xin'an had finally arrived, Zhang Dai breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed, saying, "This humble official will take his leave for now and go out to greet Prince Xin'an."

"Go, but don't try to slip away! If you don't come back, there are always ways to deal with you!"

Princess Yuzhen nodded after hearing this, then glared at him and warned him.

(End of this chapter)