Chapter 275: Because She is Kind

Chapter 275: Because She Is Kind

The Empress weighed her words carefully before speaking cautiously.

The Emperor’s anger dissolved like snow in sunlight, vanishing in a flash.

"Is that so?"

His voice was barely a whisper, light and faint, almost inaudible.

He seemed to ask the Empress—or perhaps Emperor Wencheng, who had passed away over a decade ago.

The Empress nodded. "The name 'Lerong' alone shows Emperor Wencheng's hopes and blessings for the County Princess."

The Emperor grew pensive, his gaze falling on the bowed head of Princess Lerong County. Then, abruptly, he asked, "Lerong, are you truly happy?"

Lerong was baffled.

Princess Lerong felt she might lose her mind.

Happy?

Should she be happy?

Could she be happy?

"Your Majesty, I do not know..."

The Emperor sighed faintly. "You may rise."

"Stay in the Empress’s palace and wait at ease."

"By the way, how did your relationship with Yongning Marquis’s adopted daughter improve so suddenly?"

Princess Lerong stood up and murmured, "Because she is kind."

"Kind?" The Emperor was taken aback.

Princess Lerong nodded gravely. "Yes."

"She’s clever, lovely, and kind."

The Emperor instinctively looked up at the sky. "Is the sun rising from the west?"

"Or is the sky about to rain blood?"

"I never expected praise from you."

Princess Lerong seethed.

As if she were some wicked woman!

"Your Majesty, I may be proud, but I’m not cruel."

The Emperor arched a brow and chuckled, turning to the Empress. "My Empress, it’s rare to see Lerong speak so highly of someone. On behalf of the Empress’s court, grant her gold, silver, fine silks, and jade."

"As for the specifics, you may decide."

"As Your Majesty commands," the Empress replied with a smile.

"Zitong..." (a term of affection for the Empress)

It seems her remark about Emperor Wencheng smiling in the afterlife had pleased His Majesty.

The Emperor became even more pleased and continued, "It's been some time since I last rewarded you with treasures. When you have time, go personally to my personal vault and pick something."

"Yes." The Empress's smile widened.

The Emperor's visit was brief.

County Princess Le Rong watched the Emperor's departing figure and thought to herself that his visit had been solely to confiscate her token.

Her luck had truly run out.

Like a wilted flower, County Princess Le Rong drooped as she waited to be taken back to her residence.

Once outside the palace, she boarded the gilded carriage and broke down sobbing.

Yongming Grand Princess and County Princess Pingning looked at each other in surprise.

County Princess Le Rong was crying?

County Princess Pingning gently signaled the driver, "Hurry up, have Painter Bai waiting."

Such a rare scene naturally deserved to be immortalized in paint.

With tear-filled eyes, County Princess Le Rong stomped her foot in frustration. "Mother!"

"Grandmother, look at Mother!"

"Tell us, why are you crying?" Yongming Grand Princess produced a silk handkerchief to wipe County Princess Le Rong's tears.

"Did His Majesty punish you?"

County Princess Le Rong opened her palm, revealing the dragon-patterned jade pendant.

Yongming Grand Princess's aged eyes widened in recognition.

This was the jade pendant the Emperor customarily wore on his belt—anyone in the capital qualified to meet the Emperor would recognize it.

"Grandmother, His Majesty took away Emperor Wencheng's token and gave me this dragon-patterned pendant instead," County Princess Le Rong whispered timidly.

That dark golden token had accompanied her for over a decade.

It was her talisman, her life charm.

She regretted showing off.

Hearing this, County Princess Pingning shot a worried glance at Yongming Grand Princess.

Yongming Grand Princess's aged lips trembled, her voice shaking. "It's good it's taken away, good it's taken away."

"At least you won't keep obsessing over it."

County Princess Le Rong looked confused. "Who's obsessing?"

County Princess Pingning swatted the back of County Princess Le Rong's head. "Some questions are better left unasked."

"In the days ahead, stay quietly at home appreciating blossoms and melodies. Don't roam about, lest you get caught up in political entanglements."

"Wait until the troubles at Marquis Yongning's estate die down before you go out."

County Princess Le Rong stammered, finding it hard to speak.

How could she tell her mother that she had a vague premonition—the storm around Marquis Yongning's estate wouldn’t die down but would only grow stronger.

Until Marquis Yongning disappeared from the noble circles of the capital.

"Mother, could the confinement start tomorrow instead?"

"I’ve already invited Ming Zhou and Lu Mingchao to see the blossoms at Qufeng Mountain."

"No!" County Princess Pingning cut her off.

County Princess Le Rong rubbed the pliant whip at her waist, gritting her teeth. "Mother, this concerns my future marriage."

"If I miss this chance, there won’t be another."

"Who knows when I’ll meet someone who suits my heart again!"

Her words hit like lightning, reverberating in their ears.

Yongming Grand Princess snapped out of her nostalgic mood. "What does seeing the blossoms at Qufeng Mountain have to do with your future marriage?"

"Have you set your sights on a monk from the temple at the foot of Qufeng Mountain?"

"Le Rong, you mustn’t act recklessly!"

"Monks have their initiation scars, renounced worldly life. If word spreads that you forcibly took someone from the temple, even I couldn’t protect you."

County Princess Le Rong shook her head frantically. "Not a monk."

"Grandmother, nothing’s settled yet."

Under the intense gazes of Yongming Grand Princess and County Princess Pingning, County Princess Le Rong blurted out. "I’ve fallen for...someone's looks."

"And then?" Yongming Grand Princess and County Princess Pingning spoke in unison.

County Princess Le Rong gave up all pretense. "Her name is Amber."

County Princess Pingning lightly furrowed her delicate brows, pondering silently before murmuring, "That name doesn't sound like a man's name."

"She’s a maid by Lu Mingchao’s side." County Princess Le Rong’s voice grew quieter.

Yongming Grand Princess and County Princess Pingning exchanged glances.

"Oh no!"

"So, I asked Lu Mingchao if Amber has brothers."

Two long sighs came at nearly the same time.

"Not hopeless yet—we might salvage this."

County Princess Pingning pursed her lips. "She’s not also a servant, is she?"

Though she had promised Le Rong choice in marriage...

A servant as a son-in-law would truly be embarrassing for their family.

This wasn't about steamed buns—she just wanted to save face before Gu Shen.

Princess Lerong County pouted, "Mother, being of bondservant status isn’t the issue. The real problem is Amber has no brothers."

"By then, your golden years spoiling grandchildren will be delayed indefinitely."

Princess Pingning curled her lips. "Bondservant status or not, what matters most is that Lerong is happy."

Yongming Grand Princess declared, "No need to go all the way to Qufeng Mountain. I shall send an invitation to Lu Mingchao for the flower appreciation banquet at the Grand Princess's estate."

"The estate boasts every rare and exotic variety—I promise she’ll come delighted and leave thoroughly satisfied."

"The grass is always greener on the other side," Princess Lerong County muttered petulantly.

Yongming Grand Princess rubbed her temples. "What nonsense has Yu Jin been teaching you?"

Only then did Princess Lerong County recall, "Grandmother, His Majesty scolded you."

"He said you don’t know how to raise people properly—that Cousin Yu Jin is only good for drinking and carousing, while I’m wild, strange, and headstrong."

Yongming Grand Princess scoffed. "As if our nephew-killing emperor knows any better."

Noticing this, a dark glint flashed in Princess Lerong County’s eyes.

Grandmother’s attitude toward His Majesty is... deeply unsettling when you think about it.

"Grandmother, I’ll personally invite Lu Mingchao."

"By order of the Empress."