Chapter 66: Xie Peiyu’s Triumphant Return

Chapter 66: Xie Peiyu's Triumphant Return

She even knew about how Zheng Jinxiu gave a beggar a silver coin, who subsequently passed away not long after.

"Hmph." Lady Zheng was furious. Despite it being bedtime, she summoned Zheng Liuli and Zheng Liuxin to reprimand them.

"Both of you, don't you intend to explain to this lady what happened?"

Intimidated by Lady Zheng's authority, the two sisters didn't dare to lie and recounted the incident of getting separated from Zheng Jinxiu during the day.

"Mother, it wasn't intentional on our part. Jinxiu sister was simply too quick. She ran swiftly with empty hands, while Luoxin and I were burdened with many items, unable to keep up."

"Yes, Mother. If not for Jinxiu sister insisting on not bringing servants along, we wouldn't have been so slow catching up due to the weight of our belongings."

"Silence! If getting separated was an accident, then why were you both drinking tea at a teahouse when she was frantically searching for you?"

"I... We were extremely thirsty," Zheng Liuli replied meekly.

Lady Zheng's anger caused her to smash the teacup, its sudden shattering noise startling them both.

"How have I taught you both? Yet you bully your own sister and still try to justify it. Both of you, kneel down for me."

The two girls immediately knelt down.

"Hmph." Lady Zheng gave a cold snort. "Kneel here tonight. No one is to help them up."

With the New Year approaching, the weather was quite chilly. Despite the heated floor in the room, the sisters were still shivering.

"Sis, it must be Zheng Jinxiu who reported us. It's infuriating. The two of us were bullied by an outsider like this."

"Shh, less talking. Mother's maidservants are guarding outside."

Zheng Liuli secretly vowed to make Zheng Jinxiu pay.

Both sisters held a grudge against her.

On Zheng Jinxiu's side, she couldn't sleep with that peculiar little ball in her hand.

She tossed and turned, waking up her wet nurse, Madam Zhou.

"Miss, why are you like this? Why haven't you been sleeping?"

"Nanny, come here for a moment."

Her voice was soft, hinting that she was about to share a secret.

Lady Zhou didn't light any lamps and approached her quietly, whispering, "What happened?"

Zheng Jinxiu took out the small ball and recounted the encounter she had during the day to Lady Zhou.

After finishing, she said, "How should I approach Grandmother with this? Should I entrust this ball to her to give to the Imperial Princess?"

Lady Zhou narrowed her eyes. "Do you want to?"

"I... I don't know. Hmm, the way the Imperial Princess treated me, I don't want to tell her about the prince's husband. But he trusts me so much, and it seems like he doesn't have long to live. Since I've promised him, what if I don't follow through and he becomes a vengeful ghost seeking retribution from me?"

Lady Zhou chuckled. "There are no ghosts in this world."

"But he's different. He's missing an arm and both his legs are broken; he crawls on the ground begging for alms. When he saw me, his eyes were still bright, and after entrusting me with this matter, that look in his eyes..." Zheng Jinxiu quickly shook her head. "I'm quite scared."

"Since I've promised to help, I should see it through."

"But... how do I explain this to Grandmother?"

"Keep it from Elder Madam for now, Miss. Your chance to stay in the capital has arrived."

Zheng Jinxiu was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

Lady Zhou wore a sly smile. "My dear Miss, think about it. If you bring news of the prince's betrothal, how will the Imperial Princess perceive you? Is royal blood more important than the prince's connection to his father's savior? Will Prince Chen wed the man who saved his father or Zheng Jinyu?"

Zheng Jinxiu's eyes widened in realization. "I understand. I must personally deliver this information to the Imperial Princess and Prince Chen. Then, they'll owe me a favor and wouldn't dare pressure my parents to send me away easily."

Lady Zhou chuckled. "Exactly."

"But how do I return home?"

"Let's cross that bridge after the New Year celebrations. Later on, we'll find a way to make Elder Madam have no choice but to take you back."

...

The Imperial City

As the new year approached, Prince Chen's entourage returned in triumph.

The Emperor, showing great respect to his nephew, personally greeted them outside the city gates.

On a makeshift platform, two seats were occupied, by the Emperor and the Imperial Princess.

A little lower down, a concubine stood. She was the birth mother of the First Prince, having gained her status through her son, and was thus titled as the Shufei.

In an imperial palace without a queen, she was the uncrowned queen.

Consort Shu, after all, was merely a concubine, her status not comparable to that of the Imperial Princess, the legitimate daughter of the late emperor. Yet what irked her was that she had given birth to the Crown Prince, a great service rendered. Even if she was not the Empress, not worthy of sitting beside the Emperor, there was no justification for creating a special seat for the Imperial Princess alone.

To those in the know, it's clear that His Majesty is showing respect to the Imperial Princess. But to those unaware, they might mistake the one seated above as the Empress. You expect me to stand below — where does that leave my dignity?

While everyone else was filled with joyous anticipation for the victorious return of the procession, she alone wore a sullen expression.

The Imperial Princess, with her heart set on catching the first glimpse of her son, had initially overlooked Concubine Shu's foul expression.

Yet, she was too talkative. After waiting for a while without any sign of the person she was expecting, she started to chatter away.

"Your Majesty, could it be that the time was reported incorrectly? Why hasn't he arrived yet?"

The Imperial Princess's smile froze as she lowered her head, only to see the 'ugly' face of Concubine Shu.

In her thirties, yet she still acted coquettishly. Who did she think she was disgusting?

"Concubine Shu, are you getting impatient?"

Concubine Shu replied, "Replying to my Imperial Sister, I... "

"Hmph, you insisted on coming even when I told you not to. Now, bear with it." The Imperial Princess was always straightforward; she had no need to give anyone face.

Concubine Shu: "..."

"Your Majesty, this concubine didn't mean that. My Imperial Sister has misunderstood me."

The Emperor said calmly, "If you didn't mean it, then so be it. Just wait patiently. It was your own decision to come."

Consort Shu was furious, her teeth gritted in anger. She couldn't comprehend why, when the Emperor had first ascended to the throne, it was understandable that he would extend the highest respect to the late Emperor's only daughter for the sake of stabilizing the regime.

But why, after all these years, did the Emperor still appear subordinate before the Imperial Princess?

Even his biological mother, the Empress Dowager whom he had personally bestowed the title upon, didn't seem to hold as much authority as the Imperial Princess.

As Consort Shu brooded, the victorious procession finally arrived.

The Imperial Princess, filled with excitement, stood up and prepared to descend from the high platform.

The Emperor, upon witnessing this, promptly rose to assist her. "Imperial Sister, please take your time."

Princess Shu felt a pang of discomfort.

To those who knew, it was the Emperor assisting his Imperial Sister, but to those unaware, it might appear as if he were serving his own mother.

Seeing the Emperor supporting the Long Princess as they descended from the platform, Princess Shu felt it inappropriate to remain where she was and hurriedly followed them.

Prince Chen and the others rode over. Upon spotting the crowd gathering around someone, they dismounted from their horses.

"I, Subject Xie Peiyu, pay my respects to the Emperor."

" Rise," the Emperor replied with a smile. "Yu'er has grown into a fine young lady. I imagine you've had your share of hardships and have lost some weight."

"Thank you, Imperial Uncle, for your concern," Xie Peiyu responded respectfully.

The Imperial Princess spoke gently, "You must have had a tiring journey, right?"

Xie Peiyu shook his head. "Mother, it wasn't hard at all."

The procession marched straight towards the city gates, heading for the imperial palace.

Families of the soldiers were among the crowd, waving to each other from time to time.

Zheng Hongyan also caught sight of his family.

His parents, brothers, and sister. This sister had changed significantly; she was no longer the pitiful little girl he had seen back at the post station.