Chapter 274: The Emperor’s Thoughts

Chapter 274: The Emperor's Thoughts

The Empress, who had just taken a sip of tea, nearly choked on her tea, staring at County Princess Le Rong in astonishment.

Thinking of handsome men?

That blunt?

She had vaguely heard that County Princess Le Rong was free-spirited, but she hadn’t expected her to be so unrestrained.

Realizing her slip of the tongue, County Princess Le Rong opted to shut her mouth rather than attempt damage control.

Batting her eyes sweetly, she pleaded, "Your Majesty, could you pretend you never heard any of that?"

The Empress replied, "I... suppose I can."

"Thank you, Your Majesty! You’re the best!" County Princess Le Rong’s words were sugar-coated.

Setting down her teacup, the Empress smiled and asked, "Is Princess Pingning setting you up?"

In the capital, noble ladies typically selected potential spouses by first reviewing portraits, then exchanging a few words at banquets if both parties were interested. If no objections arose, an engagement would follow.

Especially for royal children, they could drown in portraits.

"Kinda," County Princess Le Rong answered guiltily.

The Empress mistook her unease for a shy, demure act, her expression growing even more kindly. "Marriage is a lifelong matter for a woman. It’s only right to choose carefully and think it through."

County Princess Le Rong lowered her eyes with a smile, putting on a dutiful front.

No—she firmly believed in seizing the moment.

Hesitate, and you lose.

While the Empress and County Princess Le Rong chatted amiably, the Emperor, having just concluded the morning court session, showed up late.

County Princess Le Rong promptly rose and dropped into a curtsy. "Long live Your Majesty!"

The Emperor cast a sidelong glance at her. "If you keep stirring up trouble, forget millennia—I’d be lucky to hit a hundred."

"However diminished the Yongning Marquis’s household may be, it still holds a second-rank noble title in Daqian. Lashing out at the Marquis’s daughter in his own residence is nothing short of humiliating him. Who gave you the audacity?"

County Princess Le Rong, ever adaptable, hit the floor with a thud, tears welling up on cue. "Your Majesty, I know I messed up. In a moment of impulsiveness, I committed a grave mistake—just plain reckless."

"Go ahead, punish me."

"I accept it."

The Emperor looked down at the sobbing County Princess, his mouth quirking.

This was the same blunt girl who had received his late elder brother’s personal token, with the Emperor’s own authority, and the title "Le Rong" as her honorific.

After the bloody palace coup, fewer and fewer traces of his elder brother remained.

Le Rong.

His elder brother really didn’t even try to hide his favoritism.

The Emperor's expression softened slightly. "You'll accept any punishment?"

County Princess Lerong's heart skipped a beat, deciding to make one last attempt. "Your Majesty, actually this matter isn't entirely my fault. It's really because the Madam of Yongning Marquis is too hypocritical and Lu Minghui is too vicious. They claimed the servants in Lanxi Courtyard were bullying the weak—as if they thought I was stupid!"

"I was so furious, I couldn't endure it any longer, so I lashed out with my whip."

"There was a little maidservant with hundreds of needles fine as hairs embedded in her body, migrating into her internal organs, at death's door. Others were forcibly fed medicine meant for livestock."

"My nature is too straightforward—I couldn't bear to watch Lu Minghui's fake virtuous act."

"I struck her, and I don't regret it."

The Emperor gave a wry smile. "So you're saying you not only did nothing wrong but actually did a good thing. Should I reward you then?"

Her eyes rolled about.

Could she actually take His Majesty's teasing words seriously? The idea tempted her but was ultimately suppressed.

"No reward is needed. Righting wrongs is my duty," she said.

The Emperor thought: County Princess Lerong wasn't being taken for a fool—she was never the sharpest knife to begin with.

Oh well. Le Rong—joy and prosperity. Peace, happiness, wealth and glory, but no point being picky about it.

The title bestowed by his late elder brother was quite fitting indeed.

"Last night, you used the imperial token bestowed by Emperor Wencheng?" he asked, though he already knew.

She gave a miserable nod.

Surely His Majesty wasn't thinking of taking the token back?

That was her most powerful weapon for getting away with anything in the capital!

"Did it work well?"

"Very well."

She feigned ignorance, pretending not to understand the Emperor's hint.

The Emperor laughed lightly. "Give it here."

Her head snapped up, then quickly lowered again.

Wait—he was really confiscating it?

Such a huge loss! she thought.

An enormous loss!

County Princess Lerong pinched herself hard and scrambled forward on her knees to cling to the Emperor's leg, bursting into dramatic sobs: "Your Majesty, I nearly died for that token!"

"It was Princess Pingning who earned it with her life."

Her sobs caught in her throat momentarily.

Her mother only had this one golden child—what was her mother's was hers. No point being picky about it.

"I swear I'll be more careful and think before I act in the future, and will never embarrass the royal family again. Please spare me this once."

"Surrender it!" The Emperor's voice remained flat and unyielding.

Princess Lerong County reluctantly released her grip, scrambled backward slightly, and with great reluctance produced the token, raising it above her head with both hands.

As the token left her hand, her heart sank.

Now the tears really wanted to come.

Even if she didn’t shed them, her grandmother would surely make her cry with her cane.

Her grandmother, just like her, had treasured that token bestowed by Emperor Wencheng.

She loved waving it around to bully people.

Her grandmother preferred sitting quietly with it from time to time.

She figured her grandmother missed Emperor Wencheng.

The next moment, Princess Lerong County felt something heavy drop into her palm, the cool touch filling her with overwhelming joy.

The Emperor owned everything in the empire—how could he covet her token?

She had underestimated his generosity.

But when she saw what now lay in her palm, her smile froze.

Instead of the dark golden token, it was a smooth, translucent dragon-patterned jade pendant.

"This will keep you safe and prosperous."

The Emperor’s voice drifted down from above.

Princess Lerong County’s heart sank, yet her smile remained bright as she gushed, "I thank Your Majesty for this generous gift."

The Empress jumped in playfully, "Your Majesty truly spoils Lerong the most."

"On your feet now."

"On my feet? For what?" The Emperor’s tone was inscrutable. "Mistakes require consequences."

"The eldest daughter of Yongning Marquis received thirty cane strokes. Once healed, she will reside in Chengchan Temple, spending her days in prayer and penance."

"Lerong, as a county princess personally honored by my late brother, is also part of the royal family. We cannot invite gossip."

"Wait outside on your knees. Only when Yongming Grand Princess comes to fetch you may you rise."

Princess Lerong County bowed respectfully. "As Your Majesty commands."

And so, she scrambled out on all fours to kneel outside the hall.

The Emperor’s voice sharpened with anger. "Empress, look at her! She's clearly rebelling!"

Princess Lerong County: !!!

Wasn't this just looking for reasons to punish me?

The Empress soothed, "Your Majesty, don’t be angry, don’t be angry."

"County Princess Le Rong is genuinely free-spirited and unpretentious—her heart’s in the right place."

"The Eldest Imperial Sister is hopeless at teaching!" the Emperor vented his anger.

"Take Yu Jin—he’s a master at wine, women, and song."

"And County Princess Le Rong? Stubborn, odd, and does whatever she wants."

The Empress stayed silent...

How was she supposed to smooth this over?

A lowborn Empress like her—who was she to criticize Yongming Grand Princess?

Yu Jin was Yongming Grand Princess’s sole grandson.

And County Princess Le Rong? Her only granddaughter.

"Your Majesty, Emperor Wencheng would’ve been glad to know County Princess Le Rong grew up so unconstrained."

Because she’s good at heart.