Chapter 67: Side Story (1) Princess Ping’s Apology
After staying in the State of Qi for two or three months, Qi Xiaojun took the initiative to propose returning to Chu.
“Do you want to leave so soon?”
Lying beside Qi Xiaojun, Chu Lianmo turned his head and kissed him on the side of his face.
“Zhen originally planned to stay with you for half an year.”
“That’s too long.” Qi Xiaojun smiled wryly and shook his head. “Chu needs you, the new Emperor. The Crown Prince is underage after all; can you really rest assured leaving state affairs to him for so long? What if another one of your siblings starts to get restless?”
Chu Lianmo thought for a moment. “Ah Nan is helping us watch Chu Ziqian’s side; Old Five has always been well-behaved and wouldn’t have designs on the throne; it’s just Zhen’s Third Imperial Sister… Never mind. Since it’s the first time leaving, Zhen will return a bit earlier this time.”
“That’s right.” Qi Xiaojun broke into a smile. “Father still has Mother and Eldest Brother by his side; he doesn’t need me with him all the time. We are more important to the State of Chu.”
Although the Empress of Qi and the Crown Prince treated Qi Xiaojun very well, he still felt like they were a family of three and he was somewhat superfluous. Coupled with his concern for the situation in Chu, despite being in his homeland, he felt like an arrow longing to return to the bow.
And inside, Chu Lianmo was naturally worried about the Chu court as well.
So early the next morning, they bid farewell to Qi Xiaojun’s parents and set foot on the road back to Chu.
“Imperial Father, Imperial Mother, you’re back!” As soon as they reached the palace gates, Chu Yunxuan came out excitedly to welcome them.
But excitement aside, etiquette could not be abandoned. He still bowed respectfully. “Greetings to Imperial Father, greetings to Imperial Mother!”
“Rise,” Chu Lianmo responded indifferently.
“Has Xuan’er grown taller again?” Qi Xiaojun looked Chu Yunxuan up and down with a smile, his gaze full of concern.
However, compared to his height or weight, Chu Lianmo was more concerned about state affairs. “Xuan’er, has everything been smooth in court recently?”
“Answering Imperial Father, everything has been fairly smooth.”
“Tell Zhen about the major events recently.”
“Yes, Imperial Father…”
Hearing this topic, Chu Yunxuan became a little nervous and began to report the major events of this period and his handling of them to Chu Lianmo one by one.
He was terrified that he had handled something improperly and would be scolded by Chu Lianmo.
And indeed, Chu Lianmo was as strict as ever, bluntly pointing out all his improprieties. The cold sweat on Chu Yunxuan’s forehead grew heavier and heavier.
“Alright, alright.” Qi Xiaojun finally couldn’t bear it anymore and interrupted their conversation, which was putting Chu Yunxuan through fire and water. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from Chu Yunxuan’s forehead. “We’ve been gone so long, and at least no major chaos has erupted in Chu. Xuan’er has done well enough for his age, yet you don’t know how to praise him.”
Chu Lianmo glared at Qi Xiaojun. “Do you know what ‘a loving mother spoils the child’ means?”
Qi Xiaojun didn’t make a sound, but said in his heart: It’s a good thing I count as a ‘loving mother,’ otherwise Xuan’er’s psyche would definitely become twisted.
“By the way,” Chu Lianmo looked at Chu Yunxuan again. “Has your Third Aunt made any moves recently?”
“Answering Imperial Father, in this son’s view, Third Aunt has made no moves and has been very well-behaved.”
“Mmn…” Chu Lianmo actually felt that Princess Ping being this well-behaved was suspicious. “Is it possible that you failed to detect her movements?”
Chu Yunxuan started sweating again. “Perhaps… it is true that this son’s observation was not thorough…”
“Enough!” Qi Xiaojun raised his voice, unable to tolerate it any longer. “Chu Lianmo, what is wrong with you? Isn’t it a good thing your sister isn’t causing trouble? You have to blame Xuan’er for this too?”
“…Zhen didn’t blame him.” Chu Lianmo finally noticed Chu Yunxuan’s mood. “Zhen just asked an extra question; he’s the one who got so nervous.”
Qi Xiaojun said huffily, “Do you have no idea how scary your expression and tone can be sometimes?”
Hearing this exchange, a hint of a smile appeared on the face of the previously anxious Chu Yunxuan.
Qi Xiaojun sighed in his heart again. Thank goodness Chu Yunxuan has me by his side.
“Alright, Xuan’er, go back to the Eastern Palace and rest first.”
“Yes, Imperial Mother. This son withdraws.” Chu Yunxuan bowed deeply again before turning to leave.
Chu Lianmo smiled at Qi Xiaojun. “Zhen is actually a bit unaccustomed to Third Imperial Sister being so well-behaved.”
Qi Xiaojun laughed. “Maybe she just hated Chu Ziqian. Now that you are the Emperor, she has no more ideas.”
“Heh, Zhen doesn’t think she likes Zhen that much.”
The two joked for a while and temporarily put the matter of Princess Ping to the back of their minds.
However, on their first rest day after returning to Chu, Princess Ping sent someone to invite them over as guests.
To figure out what exactly Princess Ping was thinking, Chu Lianmo agreed.
“Greetings to the Emperor, greetings to the Empress.” Princess Ping’s attitude seemed quite respectful.
“No need for formalities. Does Third Imperial Sister have business with Zhen and the Empress?”
“I heard,” Princess Ping sized up Qi Xiaojun directly, “that the Empress’s true identity is Prince Xiao of the State of Qi?”
Chu Lianmo’s heart immediately skipped a beat—so she came for this! Does she still have designs on Qi Xiaojun?!
Thinking of this, Chu Lianmo subconsciously stiffened his face. “Zhen knows Imperial Sister once had some old feelings for Ah Jun, but now Ah Jun is Zhen’s wife. Please put away any superfluous thoughts, Imperial Sister.”
“…Your Majesty, what are you thinking?” Princess Ping smiled bitterly upon hearing this. “I was very rude to the Empress in the past, so I specially set up a banquet to invite you as an apology to him… The feast is ready, please follow me to the dining hall, Your Majesty and Empress.”
Chu Lianmo breathed a sigh of relief. “Since Imperial Sister is ready, Zhen and the Empress would be disrespectful to refuse.”
Arriving at the dining hall, they saw a table full of delicacies.
“Bestow seats.” After Chu Lianmo took a seat holding Qi Xiaojun’s hand, he signaled for Princess Ping to sit as well.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Empress,” Princess Ping raised her wine cup and looked at Qi Xiaojun. “I was young, ignorant, and arrogant back then, nearly causing a disaster. Today, I will punish myself with three cups, hoping the Empress can forgive me!”
After speaking, Princess Ping downed the strong wine in one gulp and went to pour another.
“Imperial Sister need not be like this.” Qi Xiaojun stopped her, glancing at the Prince Consort, He Xiu, who was standing by the side. “Actually, after being reborn in Zhou Yun’s body, I have forgotten much of the past. Instead, I can often personally feel Zhou Yun’s plight… If the Princess truly sympathizes with people like us, treat the Prince Consort better in the future.”
“…Sorry, sorry, I was inconsiderate. Ah Xiu, sit down quickly.”
Princess Ping hurriedly ushered He Xiu to sit beside her.
She knew that both Qi Xiaojun and Chu Lianmo were men, so naturally, they couldn’t bear to see her bullying another man.
Yet, after He Xiu sat down, he spoke somewhat shyly to Qi Xiaojun, “Actually, the Princess treats me very well usually. I also respect and love her; it is not as you imagine.”
These words made Princess Ping feel somewhat ashamed.
In fact, she had initially only valued He Xiu for his looks and his gentle, easy-to-control temper. After taking him as her Consort, seeing that he truly never hit back or talked back, she became even more satisfied and used various methods to ‘discipline’ him.
But after all, he was the man sharing her bed every night. Princess Ping eventually developed some true feelings and couldn’t bear to torment him severely anymore.
“Your Majesty, speaking of which, I’m not afraid of you laughing…”
Princess Ping suddenly looked at Chu Lianmo and smiled bitterly. “Although my mother was Father’s favored concubine, she always told me in private that men are no good. She said never find a man with higher status than yourself, otherwise, he will treat his wife and concubines like goods, picking and choosing… So, if I were to marry, I should find a man inferior to me, so I could torment him to death as I pleased.”
Qi Xiaojun and Chu Lianmo looked at each other, both finding this remark a bit laughable yet tragic. However, they actually couldn’t completely misunderstand the feelings of Princess Ping’s mother.
Chu Lianmo spoke first, “Father indeed could not be counted as a good man. But to conclude from this that there are no good men in the world is a bit too arbitrary.”
“Heh, I had heard the saying that there are good men in the world, but I never believed it in my heart. But now I believe it.” Princess Ping gazed at Chu Lianmo with a smile. “Because, Your Majesty, you really are a supremely good man.”
“…What do you mean by that?” Chu Lianmo was curious how Princess Ping came to this evaluation of him.
“Your Majesty stormed out of the banquet back then because you learned I had given the Empress an aphrodisiac, right? Given the situation at the time, clearly, you shouldn’t have offended me, should you?
“And the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, Jiang Wan, used to have some friendship with me. After she married into the Murong family, I went to see her. Every time I mentioned you, she was full of praise, no longer full of complaints like the day you two fell out… I guessed then that the incident was an act you two put on. Actually, you respect women very much.”
Chu Lianmo hadn’t expected his thoughts to be completely guessed by Princess Ping.
She was worthy of being the clever and articulate Third Princess of Chu. It was fortunate she didn’t want to be his enemy now; otherwise, she would likely be a formidable opponent.
“And precisely because of this,” Princess Ping continued, “I believe that with you as the ruler of Chu, you will surely treat the women of Chu well. So I will absolutely not cause you any more trouble.”
This heart-to-heart moved Chu Lianmo somewhat. He solemnly promised Princess Ping, “Thank you for your trust, Imperial Sister. Zhen will do everything possible to seek welfare for the women of Chu and will not fail your trust!”
Qi Xiaojun added, “I will also provide help within my ability. After all, my current identity is the Empress; I count as the leader of all women, right?”
After that, Chu Lianmo began to actively plan for allowing women to serve as officials in the court.
This matter naturally faced much resistance, but Chu Lianmo was never one to fear difficulties.
After all, he had already overcome the massive difficulty of installing a male Empress. The so-called loyal ministers who pointed at his nose and cursed in court every day had dwindled; those people were running out of energy to curse.
Chu Lianmo always firmly believed that as long as he stood side by side with Qi Xiaojun, he could overcome any difficulty in the world.
(Author’s Note: Originally, I didn’t plan to write side stories, so I changed the status to completed, haha. But I suddenly felt some plot points in this story weren’t complete enough. For example, Princess Ping appeared earlier but was offline for a long time, which wasn’t very reasonable. So I wanted to complete it to have a proper beginning and end. Maybe there’s also my reluctance to let go of this story involved, hahaha.)
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