Part 3
“I have finished eating. Father, take your time,” she said.
Although the Empress said this, since she had finished, how could anyone dare to continue? They all put down their chopsticks and sat there with heads bowed, hearts beating like drums.
After speaking a few words to Zhao Weimin, Zhao Yiyi lost interest. She ordered the gifts for the household to be brought out and distributed one by one. “Returning home today, I am very happy to see everyone. I received some small trinkets a while ago; take them to play with. If you don’t like them, giving them away is fine too.”
They were all rare tributes. Even in the huge Marquis Manor, usually only the Marquis and his wife had such things. Everyone received their rewards, stood up to thank her, joy flashing across their faces.
Everyone was rewarded, but when it came to Zhao Shunnian and Zuo Lianzhi, Zhao Yiyi suddenly smiled, “I actually forgot these two were here. However, today’s rewards are for my younger brothers and sisters. I didn’t prepare extras. I’ll give them to you two another time.”
Zhao Weimin was stunned. In the past, no matter how much his eldest daughter disliked Shunnian and Lianzhi, she would always keep up appearances. What was happening today?
Hearing her words, Zhao Weimin couldn’t help cupping his hands and saying, “Has Your Ladyship forgotten? Shunnian is also Your Ladyship’s younger brother.”
A trace of surprise flashed across Zhao Yiyi’s face. She said in astonishment, “Isn’t he, like Miss Zuo, brought here by Madam Xu? When they entered the manor, they were already ten years old or so. Could he be some lost brother of mine?”
Aside from the few legitimate children, Zhao Weimin had many illegitimate children. Although not very close, Zhao Yiyi had given them things today, and she had never left them out when sending gifts to the manor in the past.
But to ask her to elevate the son of an outside mistress—don’t even think about it!
She propped her head on her hand, thought for a moment, and asked puzzledly, “Could it be, he was born of Father and Madam Xu?”
Zhao Weimin wanted to retort “Nonsense,” but held it back in his chest. He sat there stiffly, an awkward smile on his face.
Zhao Yiyi’s eyes widened slightly, her face full of shock. “But according to his age… at that time, wasn’t Madam Xu still keeping chastity for her late husband, and had sworn not to remarry?”
Zhao Weimin’s expression became even uglier. His chest felt blocked by a ball of air, pressing down so hard he couldn’t speak.
“Yunzhu, what should this be called?” Zhao Yiyi suddenly beckoned and asked coldly.
Yunzhu hurriedly said, “Your Ladyship, this should be called adultery (sitong).”
“Adultery, ah.” Zhao Yiyi gave Zhao Weimin a meaningful look and chuckled lightly. “Father needs to think clearly. If a widow keeping chastity could commit adultery with Father, who knows if she couldn’t with others? Who knows whose family this child… actually belongs to?”
Zuo Lianzhi stood up abruptly, tears streaming down her face. She choked out, “Your Ladyship, Mother and Father were in love. Although Your Ladyship is the Empress, as a daughter, how can you… how can you slander Mother’s innocence like this?”
A female official at the side suddenly shouted, “Audacious! Her Ladyship is speaking with her father; when is it your turn to interrupt?”
“What, did I force your mother to commit adultery? Don’t talk to me about ‘mother this, mother that.’ Look at whether she is worthy. I have my own mother; unlike Miss Zuo, I don’t like claiming other people’s fathers as my own.” Zhao Yiyi glanced at her, losing the desire to argue. She ordered indifferently, “Enough. Take her away. Let Miss Zuo sober up first.”
Zhao Weimin didn’t react in time and watched his stepdaughter being taken away by the Empress’s people. He hurriedly wanted to plead for mercy, but was pinned in place by Zhao Yiyi’s gaze.
Grabbing a Ru-ware cup from the table, Zhao Yiyi smashed it violently in front of Zhao Weimin. She said coldly, “Just a bastard who doesn’t even know who his father is. If Father wants to spoil him, that is Father’s business. But if you let him climb over my brother’s head, that is no longer just Father’s business!”
“The place in the Imperial College was originally requested by Grandfather for Ah Chen. It was because Ah Chen is talented and studious. Since when did it have anything to do with a bastard?” Zhao Yiyi stood up, looking down at Zhao Weimin below, a cold sneer on her lips. “Even if Father took it upon himself to marry the Xu woman, when did Grandparents ever look straight at your precious son?”
“What kind of trash is he, yet you treat him like a treasure. If you wrong Ah Chen for their sake, Father, don’t even think about it!”
Zhao Shunnian looked at the person above in terror. All sorts of strange words came out of her mouth. Although he didn’t quite understand, he knew these words were about him.
His body trembling slightly, his eyes gradually turned to anger. He wasn’t a bastard! Dad liked him the best! How could it be like the Empress said, that he didn’t even know who his father was!
But at his age, he knew who the Empress was and what her status was. Seeing how Zuo Lianzhi had just been taken away, even though his face was red with held-back anger, he dared not speak.
Zhao Yiyi swept a glance at Zhao Shunnian, feeling only disgust, and then raised her eyes to look at Zhao Weimin. “Father will handle this matter yourself. Whether you write a letter to the Chancellor explaining the whole story, or go to apologize, Father must find a way to resolve it.”
Zhao Weimin was resentful and wanted to scold her like before, but remembering his eldest daughter’s current status, he dared not speak again.
His heart trembled with anger. He clutched his chest for a long time before calming down, gasping, “Subject… Subject obeys the order.”
Truly… truly rebelling against the heavens!
This eldest daughter has been well-behaved for so many years. She has only been Empress for two years, and she actually doesn’t put me, her father, in her eyes! It is truly… truly…
Zhao Weimin suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest, throbbing in waves. clutching his chest, he bent over, his face turning as pale as paper.
Zhao Yiyi raised her eyebrows slightly and frowned, “Has Father been angered to this state by Madam Xu and the others? Quickly summon a doctor. It makes sense; Father has loved him for so many years, yet doesn’t know if it is his own child. It is inevitable to feel angry inside.”
Zhao Weimin felt his breath catch even more; his eyes rolled back, and he almost fainted dead away.
Above, Zhao Yiyi sat back down, quietly watching him act.
For so many years, she had always been cautious and timid. Since her grandparents passed away, she knew this Marquis Manor was no longer her home. No one would cherish or pity her, so she could only play the role of an obedient daughter to win a bit of pity from her father.
Playing the role for so long, she gradually truly became that way.
Today, for a rare moment, she felt incredibly carefree.
Comfortable from head to toe.
Right. Why did I have to keep it bottled up inside before? Why did I always give only minor punishments and warnings instead of dealing these people a harsh blow?
She was the Empress; everyone in the manor should obey her commands. Why did she have to suppress herself like that and save face for them? Since they were shameless, she certainly didn’t need to save face for them anymore.
After venting today, she finally figured it out.
Comfortable.
It feels too comfortable.
She hadn’t wanted to cause trouble, but Zhao Weimin and Xu shi insisted on touching the people she cared about.
After leisurely giving a few instructions, Zhao Yiyi got up and left straight away.
However, as she exited the manor gate, a female official hurriedly approached and whispered in her ear, “Your Ladyship, His Majesty is waiting for Your Ladyship at the street intersection.”
Zhao Yiyi turned her head to look and indeed saw a carriage parked at the northern street intersection, along with countless guards on duty.
She acknowledged it. After getting into her carriage, she instructed directly, “Go from the south side. It’s rare to come out; I want to buy some candied fruit there.”
Author’s Note: Gu Zhen: Yiyi, I’m here! Yiyi: Goodbye! Gu Zhen: Can you look at me? @ Today’s update, chirp chirp, still 30 small red envelopes~
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