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The Emperor asked, "Is that General Nangong called Nangong Li? Where is he now?"
Marquis Xuanping replied, "Chang Jing went to pursue him. As for his subordinates, we did manage to capture a few alive. Would Your Majesty like to personally interrogate them, or shall this official do it?"
"You handle it." The Emperor said.
Marquis Xuanping nodded his head, then added, "Ah Heng said to spare Grand Preceptor Zhuang"s life, but the rest are up to Your Majesty’s discretion."
Grand Preceptor Zhuang had committed so many crimes that even a hundred deaths wouldn"t suffice, but since Marquis Xuanping personally made this request, the Emperor wouldn"t deny giving him this face.
However, Grand Preceptor Zhuang"s official position was completely untenable now, and the entire Zhuang Family"s honor would be ruined in an instant.
"Then let"s confiscate his property and exile him." The Emperor stated, looking at the contents of Xiao Heng"s memorandum. "The late Emperor"s blank imperial decree was destroyed by Zhuang Yuheng, which is considered a great contribution. Let him be exempted from punishment."
"That child has changed since getting to know Ah Heng." Princess Xinyang said.
"Mainly because our son has been well-educated. It"s like the saying goes, "One is influenced by those around them."" Marquis Xuanping remarked, showcasing an unusual literary flair.
And Princess Xinyang surprisingly didn"t argue about his use of "our."
The Emperor was bewildered. Aren’t you guys a bit too enthusiastic about praising your son?
"The Empress misses you. Go visit her at the Kunning Palace later." The Emperor instructed Marquis Xuanping.
"Yes."
After exiting the Huaqing Palace, Princess Xinyang planned to leave the imperial palace.
Marquis Xuanping, sitting in the wheelchair, called out to her, "Aren"t you going to visit Little Seven?"
Qin Chuyu had been poisoned. Although he was cured now, he was still undergoing subsequent recuperation.
Just as Empress Xiao might not favor Princess Xinyang but deeply loved her son Xiao Heng, Princess Xinyang similarly cared a great deal for Qin Chuyu.
After some consideration, Princess Xinyang decided it was better to go with Marquis Xuanping than to go alone, at least avoiding a confrontation with Empress Xiao.
The two of them, accompanied by Yu Jin and a eunuch pushing the wheelchair, headed to the Kunning Palace.
Seeing her brother in a wheelchair, Empress Xiao a.s.sumed he was crippled and couldn"t hold back her tears, bursting into sobs.
Princess Xinyang suddenly thought of Empress Dowager Zhuang. Both entered the palace as imperial consorts, but while Zhuang Jinse was no longer the old Zhuang Jinse, Xiao Shuyu could always be the maiden she was before marriage.
Was this what it meant to have someone supporting and protecting you?
Empress Xiao cried so hard that she couldn"t catch her breath, her tears and mucus flowing freely, acting spoiled and unrestrained.
Marquis Xuanping, sitting in the wheelchair, couldn"t stand it and leaned back in disgust, "Xiao Shuyu, you"re so ugly!"
Marquis Xuanping decided to ignore his sister. Since childhood, she had been this crybaby!
He had someone push him to see Qin Chuyu.
With her brother gone, Empress Xiao suddenly stopped crying.
"Why aren"t you crying anymore?" Princess Xinyang asked.
"Why should I cry? My brother is gone. Should I cry just to show you?" Empress Xiao replied.
Princess Xinyang pondered for a moment before saying, "You and your brother had a strong bond."
"Of course!" Empress Xiao said proudly, "He was my only brother, and I was his only sister! Whenever someone dared to bully me as a child, I would tell my brother, and he would beat them up!"
"If the person who bullied you was very powerful, would your brother still beat them up?" Princess Xinyang asked.
Without hesitation, Empress Xiao replied, "Of course! Even though he couldn"t win every fight when we were kids, he would still stand up for me."
That was her brother——he would rather bleed himself than let his sister suffer even the slightest grievance.
Even if he couldn"t defeat the opponent, he would still take a bite out of them, just to warn everyone that anyone he protected would not be bullied!
Lunch was served in the Kunning Palace.
Marquis Xuanping couldn"t stomach the delicate but tasteless palace dishes.
Thus, Empress Xiao had the small kitchen prepare a table of flavorful home-cooked dishes.
Thanks to Marquis Xuanping, Qin Chuyu finally didn"t have to eat porridge today. Seeing the sumptuous dishes on the table, he couldn"t help but drool.
In front of Princess Xinyang was a plate of brightly colored scallion-braised tendon.
After Marquis Xuanping sat down, he casually moved the plate of scallion-braised tendon and placed a dish of mixed vegetables in front of her while chatting with Empress Xiao.
Empress Xiao suddenly remembered that Princess Xinyang seemed to have started eating vegetarian dishes in recent years.
"Oh, by the way." As they neared the end of their meal, Empress Xiao said to Marquis Xuanping, "Liang w.a.n.gfei’s family will be coming to the capital in a few days."
Princess Xinyang"s hand holding the chopsticks paused.
"Liang w.a.n.gfei ?" Marquis Xuanping asked. "The late Emperor"s ninth uncle"s wife?"
Empress Xiao smiled, "You still remember her, brother?"
Marquis Xuanping replied, "I don"t have a strong impression of her, but I do remember Liang w.a.n.g well."
Liang w.a.n.g was the ninth uncle of the late Emperor, eight years older than him. They grew up together like brothers. When the late Emperor usurped the throne, Liang w.a.n.g exerted a lot of effort. The late Emperor was always very grateful to him and valued him greatly. Even the Dragon Shadow Guards from those years were bought by him from the State of Yan.
"Is he still in good health?" Marquis Xuanping asked.
Empress Xiao shook her head solemnly, "It"s said that he"s not doing well. He didn"t even come from his fief for the autumn ceremony. He only let Liang w.a.n.gfei bring their children over. Ninth Granduncle is benevolent, treating the people like his own children and doing a lot of good deeds in the fief. I hope he lives a long life."
Empress Xiao then looked at Princess Xinyang and continued, "Speaking of which, Ninth Granduncle and Ninth Grandaunt used to dote on Princess Xinyang a lot. They even had Princess Xinyang stay at their mansion for a while. Ninth Grandaunt praised Princess Xinyang for being sensible whenever she met someone, saying it was a pity that Princess Xinyang wasn"t her own daughter. She even dreamt of having such a beautiful daughter."
Princess Xinyang"s face turned pale.
Marquis Xuanping noticed her unusual reaction and turned to ask, "What"s wrong with you?"
Princess Xinyang collected herself and said, "It"s nothing. I"m full, and I have something to attend to. I"ll take my leave first."
With that, she put down her chopsticks and left.
Empress Xiao watched her departing figure, feeling puzzled, "Did I say something wrong?"
Marquis Xuanping gave Princess Xinyang a deep look and said, "I"m full too. I"ll come see you and Little Seven another day."
"Hey! How much did you just eat?" Empress Xiao asked in confusion, furrowing her brow. "What"s wrong with those two?"
"Qin Fengwen!" At the palace gates, Marquis Xuanping called out to Princess Xinyang.
Princess Xinyang stood in front of the carriage, her pale face half turned, "I can"t ride in the same carriage with you. Ask the Empress to send you another carriage."
Marquis Xuanping looked at her steadily, "Isn"t it enough to just open the window and lift the curtains?"
Princess Xinyang pinched her fingers, her eyes reddening, and said in a trembling voice, "Not anymore."
Marquis Xuanping pushed the wheelchair toward her.
She suddenly crouched on the ground, holding her head and screaming, "Don’t come over!"
As Marquis Xuanping approached, he frowned at her, "Qin Fengwen, Qin Fengwen?"
Princess Xinyang"s vision darkened, and she fainted.Raz P."s Thoughts
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