klisemfg Chapter 27 "I'm going back to my parents' home today! Going back to my parents'
Chapter 27 "I'm going back to my parents' home today! Going back to my parents'
Just as Bai Qiongzhu pushed open the door and entered, Emperor Longyun was about to reprimand Consort Qin, but hadn't yet uttered the words he was about to say.
This is now impossible to explain. Even more coincidentally, Bai Qiongzhu is a person who believes in the principle of finding the root of the problem and the creditor of the debt. Whenever a concubine provokes her, she always blames Emperor Longyun, believing that he gave those concubines the audacity to be so presumptuous in front of her.
Not to mention that today Emperor Longyun actually dared to bully her daughter-in-law for the sake of these concubines!
Therefore, Bai Qiongzhu immediately wanted to smash Emperor Longyun's Xuanzheng Hall. What pained Emperor Longyun was that he was worried that Bai Qiongzhu's temper would hurt him, and he was also heartbroken about his magnificent Xuanzheng Hall.
Meanwhile, Qin Jieyu was still trembling with fear in the corner.
Fortunately, Emperor Longyun had a loyal, intelligent, and meticulous chief steward named Li An, who sent someone to investigate the situation as soon as Consort Qin arrived at the door to wait for her announcement. So, just as Bai Qiongzhu smashed the second vase, Li An quickly led the eunuch who had finished investigating into the situation to "rescue the emperor."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please calm down! Please listen to my explanation. His Majesty had no intention of siding with Consort Qin. As soon as Consort Qin entered, His Majesty ordered me to send people to investigate the whole story. His Majesty intended to find out the truth so that Consort Qin would be speechless before punishing her in a way that made her accept the punishment wholeheartedly."
"Your Majesty, His Majesty shows absolutely no intention of siding with Consort Qin!"
This plea did persuade Bai Qiongzhu somewhat. She thought back carefully and realized that she hadn't heard Emperor Longyun say anything; it was Qin Jieyu crying the whole time.
Bai Qiongzhu slowly lowered the hand that had been holding yet another priceless vase.
Seeing that things seemed to be salvageable, Emperor Longyun seized the opportunity to explain, "I didn't intend to stand up for her! I was just about to reprimand her when you came in, Zitong."
Bai Qiongzhu finally calmed down. Emperor Longyun's explanation made sense; the eunuch witness was still kneeling there. Moreover, after careful consideration, it seemed unlikely that Emperor Longyun would harm his sworn brother Lin Yunyue's son, since the man was someone Emperor Longyun himself had schemed and plotted to give to the Crown Prince.
Seeing that the man's expression softened, Emperor Longyun quickly pressed his advantage.
"I also think that perhaps I have spoiled Consort Qin too much, which is why she dared to bully the Crown Princess. So I plan to punish her severely, demoting her and confining her to her quarters, to teach her a lesson."
Qin Jieyu, standing nearby, was nearly in tears. "You're trying to comfort your wife, but don't risk my life to do it!"
This time, Bai Qiongzhu finally realized that she might have indeed misunderstood Emperor Longyun. But she also felt that ending the matter like this would make her seem unladylike and not dignified or virtuous enough.
I should be a very reasonable person!
So, Bai Qiongzhu took a sip of the tea that Li An had brought her, cleared her throat, and said, “I am not an unreasonable person. Since Consort Qin thinks that the Crown Princess is wrong, and the eunuch has just gone to investigate, let’s confront each other and argue about who is at fault.”
Emperor Longyun: "Very good, very good!"
Qin Jieyu: “... ..."
Qin Jieyu: I regret it now, please let me go!
Therefore, Emperor Longyun generously gave up his time for reviewing memorials. He could simply cancel the tea break and make up for it!
Bai Qiongzhu sat upright in the chair that Li An had brought over and asked Qin Jieyu, who was kneeling there.
"I heard you say that the Crown Princess rejected her younger brother's request, was not loving towards him, and treated him coldly?"
Qin Jieyu sobbed.
The eunuch explained shrewdly, "It was the Seventh Prince who immediately demanded that the Crown Princess give him one of the wolves that was part of her dowry, and his tone was indeed quite 'unquestionable'."
Bai Qiongzhu sneered, "Heh, they got tired of showing off to the concubines and princesses in the harem, so they switched to the Crown Princess to bully them!"
Emperor Longyun: "Yes, the seventh prince is indeed not properly disciplined!"
Qin Jieyu sobbed.
"You also said that the Crown Princess lost her temper with her brother and verbally abused him?"
The eunuch stepped forward and said, "It was Prince Ping who helped the Seventh Prince demand the wolf back, and then the Crown Princess argued that Prince Ping was 'generous with other people's money'."
Bai Qiongzhu took another sip of tea. "Did the Crown Princess say something wrong? Helping someone rudely ask for something from another person, isn't that 'being generous with other people's money'?"
Emperor Longyun: "That's right, this second son is really unreasonable. He actually helped bully others! He deserves to be scolded."
Qin Jieyu sobbed.
"And also, she said the Crown Princess said she'd bully you all often from now on?"
"emm..."
Emperor Longyun asked in confusion, "Why aren't you explaining?"
The eunuch forced a smile and repeated Lin Shiming's boastful words from back then.
Emperor Longyun and Bai Qiongzhu: "... ..."
That's certainly a bit arrogant, isn't it?
"Ahem, I know him of course. He's genuine, he can't act, and he won't suffer any losses. So the Seventh Prince and the Prince of Ping really brought this on themselves. As for bullying him again in the future—well, even his father bullies me from time to time, so it's normal for him, as a son, to bully a prince."
"Besides, if you don't provoke him, why would he bully you?"
The eunuch perked up again, "Your Majesty is right. The princesses are all very kind to the Crown Princess, and the Crown Princess has prepared precious crystal headdresses as gifts for them, which is rare even among the ladies of the palace. Moreover, the two princesses also received gemstone jewelry!" Although it immediately seemed cheap compared to the others.
Bai Qiongzhu immediately grasped the key point, "Look, even the wives of the two princes who don't get along with him, the Crown Princess, have prepared generous gifts. It's clear that Prince Ping and the Seventh Prince brought this upon themselves! If they are bullied in the future, it will be because they made the first mistake."
Emperor Longyun: "Yes, yes, yes, yes!"
Emperor Longyun: "Since that's the case, then today's events were caused by Consort Qin believing the Seventh Prince's fabricated story and falsely accusing the Crown Princess. Consort Qin, I am utterly disappointed in you!"
Heartbreaking.JPG
Qin Jieyu wanted to cry but had no tears.
"By imperial decree, Consort Qin, having believed rumors and falsely accused the Crown Princess, is hereby demoted to the rank of Consort and imprisoned..."
"No need to confine me!" I want her to come and greet me every day!
“Very well, he will not be confined to his quarters, but his salary will be suspended for half a year. Seventh Prince,” Emperor Longyun pondered for a moment before making his decision under Consort Qin’s hesitant gaze, “He will first be placed under the strict discipline of Lady Duanhuai.”
Consort Qin slumped down. Lady Duanhuai was a first-rank lady, second only to the four noble consorts (Gui, Shu, De, Xian), and importantly, she had no children. Now that the Seventh Prince was in Lady Duanhuai's hands, it seemed unlikely she would get him back.
This is the harshest punishment for her.
Consort Qin was sent back to the side hall of Ganlu Palace.
Inside the Xuanzheng Hall, Bai Qiongzhu felt somewhat embarrassed by the mess on the floor. So, under Emperor Longyun's teasing gaze, she quickly explained what she wanted to say and then fled back to the Fengyi Palace.
*
Lin Shiming and Lu Yuxi were both dumbfounded. They never expected that such a grand performance would take place in the less than half an hour they had spent taking a nap.
This follow-up was truly beyond Lin Shiming's imagination and completely outside his plan.
However, since it concerned his father and mother, Lin Shiming couldn't comment too much. He then asked another question.
"So what does this have to do with these palace affairs?"
Aunt Lianqiu composed herself and returned to her usual, standard smile.
"After Your Highness returned, she thought it over and over and concluded that it was because you did not have the power to control them that they dared to complain to His Majesty. So she immediately sent me to deliver these palace affairs."
"...It won't make a difference if one more day comes, will it?"
Aunt Lianqiu smiled gently, "Her Majesty is anxious. She probably hasn't been able to face anyone lately."
walk slowly.
*
On the morning of the fourth day of the second lunar month, at Chen Shi (7-9 AM).
Lin Shiming and Lu Yuxi, who were supposed to be returning to their parents' home, appeared at the gates of the capital.
They are seeing Lin Yunyue off.
Seeing Lin Yunyue and Zhang Ting's faces filled with longing for freedom, Lin Shiming couldn't help but roll his eyes, just like his brother.
"I'm going back to my parents' home today! Going back to my parents' home!"
"I know! That's why I've been waiting for you here for a while."
You waited for me for a while? Okay!
"Who... sees off their parents who are going on a long journey at the city gate when they return to their parents' home?"
Lin Yunyue's eyes darted around, revealing his guilty conscience, but he still put on an air of being both in the wrong and confident.
"I came all the way back to spend the New Year with you, to see you get married, and even waited two extra days to come back to visit you today!"
That's true. When Lin Shihe got married a couple of years ago, Lin Yunyue and Zhang Ting really couldn't get away, so they could only send their personal guards back with valuable gifts. Later, after the situation stabilized, Lin Shihe took Ji Tiao to the military camp in the west to spend the New Year with her, which could also be considered as introducing his daughter-in-law to his parents.
However, "was it really not because it was time to return to Beijing for work reporting, so you did it on the side?"
Lin Yunyue was furious and embarrassed, "Don't make wild guesses!"
Lin Shiming smiled but remained silent.
After a brief standoff, Lin Yunyue sighed. He pulled Lin Shiming aside.
“Shiming, I know that your mother and I have truly let you two down. For the past four or five years, we've been traveling, unable to attend your brother's wedding, and now we've even lost you. For generations, our family has been about people who can marry freely, able to stay with the one they love.”
"But when it comes to you, I've arranged a marriage for you directly. And it's a man like you who's being married off in a 'bride' ceremony. In the future, when history is written, your name will forever appear in the comments and speculations of posterity. Although you don't seem to mind, I can't erase this guilt from my heart."
"Father! It's just a title, I don't care about it."
Lin Yunyue shook his head.
Whether you care or not is your own wisdom and character, and your own strength. But pushing you into the midst of everyone's gossip is our mistake. No matter how well or happily you live in the future, it is your own responsibility to live your life well. For us, your parents and your brother, the fact that we initially arranged for you to 'marry' someone else is a regret we can never get over.
Lin Yunyue looked up and let out a long sigh.
"Now, all I can do for you is to stand firmly behind you whenever you need me. Whether you spend your life with the Crown Prince or whatever you want to do, the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion and the Tingyun Army will always be your support. My child, I only hope that when you and your brother are old and frail, you can look back on your life without any regrets."
Lin Shiming lowered his head, his eyes slightly red. He suppressed the bittersweet feeling stirred by his father's love, then looked up and smiled again.
“Father, I had already thought it through when I agreed to this marriage. In my eyes, none of these things are as important as family, so I accept it willingly. No one can have all the advantages forever. Between other things and family, my current choice is what I want most, and it is what I truly believe in. I will never regret it in the future. You and my brother need not feel guilty.”