Her guards

Chapter 131 Let's Think It Over

"The princess sent away a little palace maid."

Upon hearing this, the Empress stopped pruning the flower branches and looked up at her trusted maid: "What happened to that little maid?"

“She’s young and takes advantage of the princess’s good temper to be playful and lazy,” the trusted maid said. “Your Majesty, don’t worry, I will remind the palace servants who serve the princess’s bedchamber again.”

The queen held the scissors without saying a word.

She knew her child well; he was generous and didn't care about trifles. Even if a palace maid was lazy, she wouldn't mind.

If anyone is to be punished, it certainly won't be for slacking off.

"Did the princess go to His Majesty's place before returning to her palace?" she asked.

The palace maid nodded hurriedly, "She went to the Imperial Study to pay her respects to His Majesty." She paused here, "However, since Doctor Li was there, the princess did not go in."

"What is he doing here?" the Empress said, a cold smile playing on her lips. "He's here again to reprimand his sister for being shallow, ignorant, and vulgar? If he really knew his sister was so despicable, why did he ask the Emperor to take pity on her and bring her into the palace in the first place?"

The trusted palace maid did not respond to that, but continued, "His Majesty knew that the princesses had arrived, so he let them in. The princess and Princess Nangong left, but Princess Wuyang went in by herself."

Heisei was too lazy to pay attention to the uncle and nephew, which was normal. The Empress asked, "How was your day at the National Academy?"

Since the incident where Wu, the maid, attempted to harm Princess Heisei, the Empress not only re-screened the people around the princess, but also kept a close watch on her daily life, especially outside the palace.

The trusted palace maid summoned the palace woman in charge of inspecting the Imperial Academy.

The palace maid said, "Because it was a holiday today, the princess and her companions were very happy. When they left the Imperial Academy, they even met Wei Jiao."

Her daughter's daily routine was as usual, so it seemed that nothing serious had happened. She was probably overthinking it. Although Heisei was approachable, he wasn't without a temper.

Her daughter didn't need to pretend to be gentle and generous like she had when she was young. Let her throw a tantrum if she wanted to. The Empress lowered her head and continued pruning the flower branches. Suddenly, she thought of something: "How was Yang Luo at the Imperial Academy today? Was he arrogant?"

Besides keeping an eye on the princess, the empress also had people keep an eye on the young ladies who accompanied her, especially this Yang Luo.

Fortunately, Yang Luo was not arrogant or rude, regardless of whether she had received a reward or ranked first in the exam. She remained the same as before in the academy, and the National Academy did not even change her seat. She was still sitting in the last row of the tutors.

The palace maid finished speaking in just two sentences, but paused at the end.

"After school..." she said, "I ran into Wei Jiao."

This was already known. The trusted palace maid thought that since Wei Jiao was coming to see the princess, naturally everyone else should see it.

"...Then Wei Jiao called Yang Luo, 'Go, go listen to the lecture by the chief priest.'" the palace woman continued.

The trusted palace maid's heart skipped a beat, and at the same time she heard a snapping sound as the blooming winter plum blossoms were cut off from their main branches and fell to the ground.

The Queen held the scissors in her hand, her face grim.

No wonder Heisei was so unhappy; he had suffered such a great injustice.

As expected, Wang Zaitian still made Yang Luo his disciple!
The trusted palace maid dismissed the other palace women and maids, and whispered soothingly, "Your Majesty, please don't be angry."

The queen said, "I'm not angry."

If you're angry, just go vent it.

"Summon Qin Fu."

“Other people’s uncles know how to help their nieces get closer to His Majesty. We’re not without uncles in the Heisei era.”

……

.......
Although the chief priest Wang Zaitian did not announce to the world that he had chosen a female disciple, the news spread quickly within the inner quarters as the young ladies who accompanied him returned home.

However, Zhu Yunxiao was still in shock about what had happened before.

"That Liu Chan isn't Liu Chan? She's Miss Yang's maid?"

Zhu Yunxiao had just learned of this matter because he had led troops and guards on a trip out of the capital.

Yes, a maid. Jiang Rui was very surprised at the time, but not so surprised now.

"That Miss Yang is exceptionally talented and was chosen as a disciple by the Grand Master. It's not surprising that her maid was able to be admitted to the Imperial Academy and become a companion to the princess."

Zhu Yunxiao explained, "What I mean is, is that all? We're not going to pursue the matter of them impersonating someone else?"

Jiang Rui laughed and said, "Miss Yang got first place! The fake Liu Chan and the real Liu Chan also did quite well..."

“This isn’t about how well they did on the exam,” Zhu Yunxiao interrupted her. “They were impersonating someone else, and they even got close to the princess. That’s extremely disrespectful.”

What good is it if she does well on the exam? She's just a woman. Besides, even if a man is very learned, if he has flaws in his character, His Majesty will not employ him.

Furthermore, Wang Zaitian actually took this Miss Yang as his disciple.

Why is that? Because this young lady is exceptionally talented? Impossible!

“His Majesty is magnanimous, and the Grand Master cherishes talent,” Jiang Rui said with a smile, taking out an invitation. “However, I haven’t decided yet whether to attend the banquet where Miss Yang is attending.”

Zhu Yunxiao looked over.

"Qin Ying invited us, her companions, to have tea and a small gathering at Dengyun Tower," Jiang Rui said. "After all, this Miss Yang stole the princess's thunder. Everyone's gathering here seems to be praising her. A few of the young ladies privately told me not to go..." "Go," Zhu Yunxiao interrupted her. "You must go."

Jiang Rui was taken aback, somewhat surprised. In fact, she rarely attended banquets, and Zhu Yunxiao often said that she didn't need to go out and make friends.

Why is it that even though everyone else said they wouldn't go, Zhu Yunxiao still wants her to go?

"We can't just think about Princess Heisei's reputation," Zhu Yunxiao said softly. "We also need to consider His Majesty's reputation. You said it yourself, His Majesty is magnanimous. He has already forgiven her, so you can't distance yourself from her."

But there's no need to curry favor with her, is there? Zhu Yunxiao used to tell her not to care too much about the princess's face. A thought flashed through Jiang Rui's mind, but she quickly dismissed it. No matter what, Yunxiao must be doing it for her own good.

"Okay." She nodded with a smile. "I'll listen to you."

.......
.......
Night fell over the capital.

As the curfew drums sounded, Duke Ding'an finally welcomed back his niece.

He didn't have time to scold them for coming home late.

"Ah Hui said you went to listen to the chief priest's lecture?" he asked hurriedly.

Mo Zheng nodded: "Yes, in addition to the main lectures, the Chief Priest will give his personal disciples three lectures every month."

Duke Ding'an looked at her, seemingly incredulous: "So, you really became the disciple of the Chief Priest?"

I thought that getting first place would be the best outcome, as long as I wouldn't be kicked out.

Unexpectedly, Wang Zaitian actually accepted her as his disciple.

“I take your words to heart,” Mo Zheng said, then smiled. “That’s wonderful. When I’m accomplished in my studies, I can teach and start my own business.”

Duke Ding'an hurriedly rebuked him: "You are a child of the Yang family, what right do you have to establish your own household!"

“Then my young lady has another family to rely on.” Yang Luo said with a smile, “Uncle, if you bully my young lady, you should think twice.”

Duke Ding'an was stunned; he now had another reliable patron.

Wang Zaitian's lineage is indeed very reliable, with apprentices and disciples everywhere. You should really think twice before bullying her...

He immediately came to his senses and scolded the maid.

“Nonsense, how dare you!” he shouted. “Such rudeness!”

Mo Zheng smiled and apologized on behalf of the maid. Just as she was about to take her leave, she saw that Duke Ding'an's expression changed for a moment and handed over an invitation.

“This is an invitation from the Qin family’s daughter,” he said, then added with a long face, “I’ll let it go this time, but since you’re not going to school anymore, you shouldn’t keep going out to banquets. You’re still in mourning.”

After saying that, he turned and walked away.

Qin Ying's invitation?
Mo Zheng looked at the invitation in her hand, then turned to look in the direction where Duke Ding'an had left.

Was I waiting here to deliver this message to her?
Or perhaps, they were waiting here to prevent them from receiving invitations and attending the banquet.

Then they changed their minds.

Indeed, he did consider it immediately; Duke Ding'an wasn't so inflexible after all.

……

……

"My lord, why did you give it to her? Didn't I tell her not to go out anymore?"

Ever since the Imperial Academy helped Princess Heicheng expose the palace maids' plot and received rewards from the Emperor and Empress, many invitations from powerful and wealthy families were sent to the Duke of Ding'an's mansion, implying that the Duke of Ding'an's wife should bring this Miss Yang to the banquet. After she came in first place in the exam, the number of banquet invitations increased even more.

Of course, both the Duke of Ding'an and his wife refused.

Although the emperor did not expel Yang Luo from the National Academy, they still dared not let her show her face in public.

To avoid displeasing Marquis Yichun again and again.

Therefore, the Duke of Ding'an and his wife did not attend any banquets, nor did the mansion host any banquets.

Today I received an invitation from the daughter of Qin Honglu, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. I was originally going to refuse, and I would even use the heavy charge of mourning to suppress her, preventing her from leaving the house during the entire New Year period.

Unexpectedly, the Duke of Ding'an returned and said he had given the invitation.

"What are you thinking!" Lady Ding'an complained angrily.

"I think she's a disciple of the Imperial Academy Master. If we try to stop her, she might use the excuse of studying hard to move to the Imperial Academy," Duke Ding'an said irritably. "Then we'll be even less able to control her!"

Moreover, since the Grand Master of Ceremonies truly accepted her as a disciple, and the Emperor did not stop her, even if she doesn't become a princess, being the personal disciple of a great Confucian scholar of our time would still bring her considerable fame.

Duke Ding'an's eyes flickered; this niece seemed to have extraordinary luck.

Unlike her sister, who was unlucky enough to marry a true emperor only to have him snatched away halfway through their marriage, she had neither luck nor destiny.

Could this be the destiny of someone with the bloodline of a true dragon emperor?