Chapter 84: Confrontation in the Court

Chapter 84: Confrontation in the Court

"Ah~ lying down for too long is uncomfortable."

The emperor, buried under a pile of memorials, heard the thought and was about to reach out to dig out the little one.

He stretched out his hand, but the sensation was wrong.

What he touched was soft silk fabric.

Where's the child?

He was slightly alarmed and turned his head to look. Bei Jingchu was wriggling like a turtle that had been flipped onto its back, grunting and groaning as she tried to turn over.

She was halfway there, with the whole baby squished to the edge of the cradle.

Fortunately, the cradle made by the Bureau of Skilled Crafts was stable enough, so her light weight wouldn't tip it over.

Pretty good!

She’s managed to flip over.

The emperor temporarily put down his brush, watching the little one wriggle with keen interest.

Thump!

The baby lying on her back had turned into a baby lying on her stomach.

Her little bottom looked quite soft and bouncy.

Cough... better not hit the child.

A round of applause erupted. "Chu-chu is amazing, has learned to flip over!"

Hearing the emperor's praise, Bei Jingchu proudly lifted her little head.

She was the best baby in the world!

Later, the emperor summoned Xu Lanqi to discuss certain matters.

"Your Majesty, concerning the increasing popularity of Buddhism and Taoism among the common people..."

"What? How did you know my eldest princess has learned to flip over?"

Xu Lanqi: ...

It's okay, I understand. When his own child was born not long ago, he acted the same way. Now that he's grown up, he's still just as annoying.

By now, Bei Jingchu was no longer toothless; two little tooth tips had emerged from the middle of her lower gums.

When teeth first come in, they can be very itchy. Bei Jingchu always gnawed on her bib to relieve the itch.

Actually, she wanted to suck on her hand, but found it a bit embarrassing, so she settled for gnawing on her bib.

Her father seemed ready to rest and stretched his arms.

"Jiang Zixian."

"Your servant is here," replied Eunuch Jiang.

"Get me some food."

It seems that Father is hungry.

Bei Jingchu bit her bib, wondering when she would be able to eat such delicious food. Waaaahh.

Eunuch Jiang led four or five young attendants forward, each carrying a food box.

"Your Majesty, this is from Consort Qi Zhaorong."

"This is ginseng chicken soup from Concubine Zhang."

"These are Yu Lu Tuan pastries from Concubine Wu."

"This is Mudan Yan Cai from Concubine Cui."

"This is..."

"The attendants have already tested these for poison."

Bei Jingchu had never met her father's other concubines and only realized he actually had a harem at times like this.

Slurp~

Just hearing the dish names made her mouth water.

"It sounds so yummy~"

"When can I eat it?"

The emperor paused, his chopsticks hovering, and turned his head to see the little one staring longingly at the food in his hand.

She was eager to taste it.

He brought the chopsticks close to the little one's mouth, and the delicious aroma wafted into Bei Jingchu's nose.

Ah~ it smells so good.

Bei Jingchu couldn't help but open her little mouth to bite.

The chopsticks quickly pulled back.

"Ah~ can't reach it~"

Bei Jingchu: ...

The emperor teased her with the chopsticks, his eyes fixed on Bei Jingchu, as his hand instinctively popped the shredded radish into his mouth.

After a few chews, he exclaimed, "Quite delicious."

Bei Jingchu: ...

"You dog-tyrant!—"

"Tyrant, tyrant, tyrant!"

Despite the little one's flailing and cursing, the emperor felt satisfied.

Hmm, this is really amusing, haha.

A young eunuch entered to make a report, "Your Majesty, Censor Qin Yun, Assistant Director of the Imperial College Luo Ping, Right Remonstrance Officer Miao Ruzheng..."

The young eunuch rattled off a long list of names like a comedian performing a fast-paced monologue.

He finished with two words: "Requesting an imperial audience."

He completed the sentence without even pausing for breath.

He could be a great crosstalk performer.

However, Bei Jingchu felt very puzzled. "Why are all these people coming in like they’re at a crowded event?"

The emperor wondered the same thing.

He ordered for these officials to be summoned inside.

The group that entered consisted of people of various ages, and as soon as they entered, they fell to their knees with a thud, tears streaming down their faces. "Your Majesty—"

"Your Majesty, please grant us justice!"

Bei Jingchu immediately felt excited. Wuhu! More drama to watch, hehehe.

Even the anger from being teased earlier by that old dog dissipated quite a bit.

Facing his ministers, the emperor’s previous casual demeanor vanished instantly. His expressionless face now exuded solemnity.

"Enough, stop crying, don’t waste my time, get to the point."

His style, as always, was clean and straightforward.

Bei Jingchu silently mocked, "But when it comes to trusted aides like the Zhongshu Ling or the Shangshu Ling, it’s ‘My dear minister’ and ‘I don’t know how to properly honor you.’"

"I understand the effort you’ve put in, truly."

"You bewilder them, tricking them into loyalty, hahaha."

"The skill in those words is impressive, like a pyramid scheme leader."

"If a valued minister comes crying to you, you might even offer them tea, pat their head, and comfort them like a big brother."

The emperor: ...

Isn’t this normal?

Naturally, capable ministers and ordinary ministers should be treated differently.

He didn’t know what a pyramid scheme was, but it didn’t sound good.

Censor Qin Yun was an old man, but his abilities were unremarkable, and he wasn’t favored by the emperor.

"Your Majesty, Princess Xianning today led people to forcibly enter Wenqin Academy and brutally beat my grandson."

"My grandson is just a young child, and I don’t know why the princess would be so cruel to him!"

Assistant Director Luo Ping added, "Your Majesty, my eldest son was also beaten. All of us have children who were injured by Princess Xianning."

"It is said that the students had a conflict with the son of the Long Princess while they were at Wenqin Academy."

"How absurd, Your Majesty. To think that the Long Princess would personally step in and lay hands on the children over a quarrel among a few boys."

"This is... simply outrageous..."

"She went so far as to bring her private troops to seize by force property from our estates."

"It's highway robbery!"

"The Long Princess's private troops are meant to protect her, yet she used them to loot our homes."

"How can the rest of us officials rest easy?"

"We humbly request Your Majesty to stand up for us and let the Long Princess give us an explanation!"

Xianning was known to have a troublesome nature, but she wasn't one to be entirely irrational.

That was the emperor's previous thought.

But ever since he learned that the Long Princess had also abused her own eldest son, he began to think that perhaps his sisters could do anything.

It wasn't out of the question.

He summoned the Long Princess.

Before the eunuch could leave the room, another eunuch entered to announce: "Your Majesty, the Long Princess requests an audience."

The Long Princess entered, far more composed than those ministers who had been wailing their complaints.

After gracefully performing her greeting, she turned to the ministers behind her and said, "I knew you old coots would accuse me first."

Bei Jingchu extended her hand in a melodramatic 'Erkang' pose and said, "My dear aunt! Your words don't match your face at all."