During these days, Yan Xiaoying had to enter the Empress’s chambers morning and evening to kowtow and pay respects. Nine times out of ten, she would encounter female relatives of the Tang family visiting the palace, delivering messages for clan members, and discussing matters of the imperial front court.
Yan Xiaoying had learned quite a few palace rules and knew that such frequent visits from imperial relatives were against protocol.
However, as the Empress was the leader of the inner palace with no living Empress Dowager above her, no one except His Majesty dared to intervene. The Empress’s chambers had become as busy as a marketplace, almost like a second small court within Dafeng.
As for what the Tang family sought, Yan Xiaoying had overheard some things during her movements around the palace. The behavior of certain Tang family members could not be adequately described as willful and presumptuous.
When His Majesty sternly questioned this, Yan Xiaoying had a flash of insight, suddenly understanding Old Ge’s earlier words about “tall trees attracting lightning.”
Among all the towering trees under the imperial canopy, which family could compare to the Tang family?
The Tang family’s actions—even going so far as to predetermine the Crown Prince’s consort selection, not allowing anyone outside their family to be chosen—how could an emperor tolerate such behavior?
Thinking of this, she put down her bowl and chopsticks and tentatively said: “Even the most meritorious noble family is still merely Your Majesty’s subject and should teach their daughters proper conduct! I am Your Majesty’s imperial son—how could I allow a woman to suppress me? What does it matter if she’s beautiful? This son… this son feels disgusted just looking at her!”
Emperor Chunde had always regretted that his fourth son didn’t resemble him, being naturally timid as a mouse and trained by his consort to have no personality whatsoever.
But now the Fourth Prince’s words truly struck a chord with him—after four years of confinement, this son had finally developed some princely temperament.
Back during the Dinggeng Rebellion, the root cause had been the imperial in-laws growing too powerful.
Fortunately, Emperor Chunde’s father, at that time still the distant Prince of Lingxi, had saved the situation. As a minor branch of the imperial family, with the help of several noble houses, he had fought his way back to the capital, bringing about Dafeng’s revival and preventing a dynastic change.
However, several years of warfare had damaged the nation’s foundation. The need to pacify bandits in all directions and guard against Wei Country’s stirrings across the river meant that the Dafeng court absolutely could not afford internal strife.
Now, with the Tang family leading the deeply entrenched old meritorious ministers, he had no way to deal with them immediately. Even though he wished to depose the weak Crown Prince, he had to consider the Tang family’s and the Empress’s face, delaying again and again.
This child had finally developed some courage—he was indeed a son of the Feng family! Even if born weak, he would not allow others to bully him!
Emperor Chunde lightly reprimanded the Crown Prince, telling him not to tarnish his cousin’s reputation, as girls raised by the Tang family could certainly not be at fault.
Afterward, he ordered Li Quan to get a bowl of white rice from the imperial kitchen for the Crown Prince. Millet was too hard for young people unaccustomed to it, and his fourth son was still growing and needed to eat well.
Yan Xiaoying, who was always restricted by rules in the Empress’s palace and could never eat her fill, now hugged the rice bowl and ate ravenously, not caring who sat opposite her.
Seeing this, His Majesty felt more gratification: A true man doesn’t need to be dainty when eating! Such tiger-descending-the-mountain eating style was excellent, wonderful!
However, after the Crown Prince finished eating, he suddenly knelt before His Majesty, asking his father to save him.
Upon inquiry, the Emperor learned that his son had been beaten by the Empress and feared returning to face further punishment.
His Majesty leaned against his cushion, speaking coldly: “How would you have me save you? Reproach your mother for improper child-rearing?”
Yan Xiaoying pretended not to understand the Emperor’s sarcasm and said directly: “Mother always worries about this son and restricts me, treating me the same as my eight-year-old sixth brother… But this son is no longer a child—how can I remain on Mother’s side palace? If I could move somewhat farther away, this son… this son could finally breathe, otherwise Mother’s old maids will drive me to death with their nagging!”
Emperor Chunde was in a good mood today and tolerated the Crown Prince’s “insolence” somewhat indulgently.
Feng Qiyuan’s timid nature was indeed related to the Empress’s overly strict discipline. So he nodded: “Indeed, it’s time for you to move out. I will speak with your mother about it. You may take your leave.”
Yan Xiaoying rose with a grateful expression, thoughtfully served another bowl of rice for the aging Emperor, and then knelt to take her leave.
Emperor Chunde had always been annoyed by his fourth son. Previously, on the rare occasions when he was in a good mood and intended to strengthen the father-son relationship, the boy would constantly say, “Mother says… Mother doesn’t allow,” as if he were a puppet controlled by his mother. The Emperor hadn’t expected the boy to amount to much. Unexpectedly, his son had grown up and developed some courage.
This was excellent. The boy deserved some training to prevent him from being completely without his own opinions.
After that meal, everyone in the palace knew that the Crown Prince had fallen in love with the Mu family girl, Yanyan, at first sight.
Even if the Mu family was unwilling, the Crown Prince remained infatuated, expressing to His Majesty that in matters of the heart, with mutual affection, he didn’t wish to use imperial power to pressure anyone. He only wished to gradually win over the Mu family girl, making her change her mind of her own accord.
The Crown Prince had not yet reached the age of twenty, so marriage was still early. Since he was focused on Mu Yanyan and planned to pursue her gradually, the consort selection matter was quietly dropped.
His Majesty summoned the Empress again, stating that as the Crown Prince was the heir apparent, the Empress should give him some face. How could she arbitrarily order people to punish him with the palace board?
Now that the Crown Prince had grown up, it was inappropriate for him to continue living with the Empress. Effective immediately, the Crown Prince would move from beside the Empress’s Fengming Palace to the East Palace’s Chuwen Hall, the traditional residence of Crown Princes throughout dynasties. All palace servants and attendants would be bestowed by His Majesty.
The Empress was stunned upon hearing this and tried to persuade His Majesty to withdraw his order, arguing that the Crown Prince still couldn’t manage affairs independently and needed constant guidance.
But His Majesty said that since the Crown Prince would be living independently, he should receive some training. He might as well go to the Shao Fu first to learn about internal tribute taxes. Even if he couldn’t master it, the exposure would be beneficial.
The Empress was simultaneously shocked and delighted—shocked that the fake Crown Prince would be moving away from her side palace, making the situation harder to control, but delighted that His Majesty had finally permitted the Crown Prince to take up official duties!
Given this, the Empress couldn’t obstruct the Crown Prince’s relocation. After meeting with the Emperor, she hastily summoned Yan Xiaoying, asking what exactly she had said to His Majesty.
Yan Xiaoying made up a story: “I just apologized to His Majesty, Your Highness. I shouldn’t have sought revenge out of personal spite due to my argument with that A’Ru, carelessly giving out hairpins. If you hold another event, I’ll give the hairpin to the Tang family girl.”
The Empress had no interest in the consort selection matter. After the Crown Prince moved to his separate palace, he could enter the Shao Fu to take up duties—wasn’t that close to participating in governance? This made the Empress happier than any consort selection.
However, upon hearing that His Majesty had permitted the Crown Prince to take up official duties, the impudent girl began making trouble, wanting to resign to His Majesty.
The Empress sensed she was threatening her, speaking coldly with murderous intent in her eyes: “You… think that by moving out of this palace’s side hall, you’ll no longer be under my control?”
Yan Xiaoying lounged sideways on the mat with a Western Region grape between her teeth, saying lazily: “I’ve always had this temperament since childhood. If people treat me well, I’ll repay them with loyalty. But if they’re always hitting me with boards and setting rules, my naturally stubborn disposition can’t tolerate it! What kind of damned Crown Prince am I pretending to be? Even a Tang family girl who’s barely come of age dares to disrespect me! Some heir apparent! Even passing dogs can step on me! I won’t move, and I don’t dare threaten Your Highness—I just find this act suffocating! Your Highness can punish me however you like, even kill me and my father. That would be fine too—we father and daughter could reincarnate earlier, and in our next life, hopefully be born into a truly wealthy family, being genuine young masters would be more satisfying!”
By the end, she simply flopped onto the ground, lying like a corpse waiting to be killed!
“You…” Empress Tang was nearly choked with anger by this girl’s shameless behavior.
She had countless severe methods to deal with this young girl, but tomorrow was the day the Crown Prince would enter the Shao Fu to meet officials. If the girl bore injuries or made a scene, it would be problematic.
Moreover, this girl did indeed have a talent for making people like her. In just a few short days, she had gained His Majesty’s frequent favor—something the real Feng Qiyuan could never accomplish even if beaten to death!
Currently, she urgently needed this girl’s cooperation. Why create unnecessary complications by falling out with her?
So the Empress squeezed the corner of the table, swallowed her anger, and smiled: “I was just angry and treated you like my own child in scolding you. It was just a few strokes of the palace board, not too severe. Didn’t you want to be this Empress’s daughter? Why are you throwing a tantrum when I treat you with sincerity?”
Hearing these comforting words, the stubborn girl on the ground became teary-eyed, sobbing as she threw herself at the Empress’s feet, clutching her legs and crying: “I’ve had no mother since I was small, like a monkey that sprang from a stone shell, enduring everyone’s mockery. How could I know the principle that beating is love and scolding is affection? So, Your Highness cherishes me this much! Your Highness… your great kindness and virtue, I have no way to repay!”
The young girl cried movingly, but her arm strength was like a stranglehold on a bull, squeezing until the Empress gasped. Yet the Empress had to endure to avoid losing control and giving this wild girl a good beating!
Though the “mother-daughter” knot had been untied, Yan Xiaoying was still angry about the despicable Tang A’Ru. If she didn’t hear her cousin apologize, she would likely become so angry she’d fall ill, unable to get out of bed the next day.
The Empress’s teeth ground audibly, but she ultimately endured, ordering Song Ao to summon Tang Ru to the palace.
That evening, as the sun was setting, Tang Ru from the Tang family arrived at Chuwen Hall with a face full of resentment to apologize and admit her guilt to the “Crown Prince.”
Yan Xiaoying sat crookedly on the mat, looking sideways like a mountain bandit at the unwilling girl.
On that day, she had conversed with the Crown Prince, inquiring about his interactions with relatives. Besides Mu Hanjiang, with whom he had a feud, Feng Qiyuan had also mentioned this Tang family little cousin.
According to the Crown Prince, this youngest daughter of the Tang family was privileged, pampered since childhood, and favored by Empress Tang. Over time, she had come to seem more like the Empress’s own child than he, an actual prince.
As a result, Tang Ru had become increasingly presumptuous, looking down on the weak Crown Prince, always teasing him, then reporting and falsely accusing him to the Empress. Sometimes she would even conspire with Tang family children to play underhanded tricks.
From childhood to adulthood, Feng Qiyuan had been unjustly punished by the ruler numerous times because of Tang Ru. Consequently, whenever he saw Tang Ru, he refused to speak to her and avoided her when possible.
Yan Xiaoying felt that such childish grudges were not significant and should not be carried overnight—better to settle them while they were fresh!
Moreover, Tang Ru had already been humiliated by this Crown Prince during the consort selection. Now her aunt, the Empress, wasn’t supporting her and even made her apologize—she was truly full of resentment!
She still maintained her previous attitude toward Feng Qiyuan, saying loudly with sarcasm: “Crown Prince, such great imperial might! You summon me here today but say nothing—what exactly do you want?”
Yan Xiaoying propped her face with one hand and asked Song Ao, “As the daughter of a subject, she speaks before being addressed when meeting the heir apparent. According to palace rules, what is her offense?”
Song Ao, watching the impudent girl throwing her weight around, controlled herself and said: “She should receive twenty slaps to the face, but as the Tang family girl is the Empress’s close relative, she needn’t observe protocol even in the Empress’s presence. Why should Your Highness…”
Before Song Ao could finish her rambling, Yan Xiaoying said compassionately, “Song Ao, you’re too strict! Since she’s my cousin, why must it be as severe as twenty? I am A’Ru’s cousin brother and naturally care for her. Out of respect for Mother’s position, a minor punishment of ten strokes will suffice!”
With that, she waved her hand, ordering the palace eunuchs to execute the palace rules.
Song Ao was so angry she rolled her eyes, unable to speak: This dead girl was playing the good person! When had she said to slap her twenty times?
However, the young eunuchs standing nearby all kept their heads lowered, unwilling to perform this offending task.
Tang Ru almost laughed—she was Empress Tang’s cherished niece. Who would dare strike her?
Yan Xiaoying also smiled lazily and asked: “Such an opportunity is truly rare. Now that I’ve reestablished the East Palace, if I don’t put forth some effort, how will I remember all your names?”
At this moment, a eunuch named Jin Zhong shortsightedly decided to make an impression before the Crown Prince. He quickly stepped before Tang Ru and swung his palm to strike.
Those ten slaps came rapidly, like a sudden rain shower upon lotus flowers. Song Ao couldn’t intervene in time before Tang Ru’s cheeks were swollen and red, her head spinning.
She covered her face, staring blankly at the Crown Prince: “You… you dared to hit me!”