frightfiction Chapter 173 "I want to move faster; let's make our move by the middle of next month."
Chapter 173 "I want to move faster; let's make our move by the middle of next month."
It wasn't until His Highness the Crown Prince, who was there to take the Crown Princess back to the Eastern Palace, came looking for her that the sharp-tongued Lou Yunsu was pitifully rescued from the Crown Princess's furious clutches.
After arranging for the eunuchs to properly deliver the person to Xiao Feng, Lu Yuxi turned to look at Lin Shiming, who was feigning innocence.
"Why are you hanging out with him again? Shouldn't we be discussing serious matters? Instead, you're fooling around with him..."
This meaningful tone caused Lin Shiming's early warning radar to instantly start beeping.
"I have nothing to do with him! That wasn't playing around, it was me beating him!" Lin Shiming quickly defended himself. "I was originally eight feet away from him! He was just being mean, so I couldn't help but hit him."
"Oh?" Lu Yuxi smiled. "What did he say?"
"..."
"If you don't speak, then you're lying to me—"
"no!"
Lin Shiming gritted his teeth, but decided to put aside his pride for the sake of his health. After glancing around to make sure that the guards and eunuchs around him were far enough away not to hear, he reluctantly lowered his voice to answer.
“He mocked me, mocked me for being disciplined by my brother, and for not upholding the law against family discipline.”
Lu Yuxi burst out laughing.
"What do you mean? Are you making fun of me too!"
"No, no," Lu Yuxi quickly coaxed, "Her Highness the Crown Princess is a peerless martial artist, far beyond my brother's reach. If you wanted to escape, you could have easily done so. Your willingness to be disciplined by your brother is simply a sign of your deep respect and agreement with him. You are a model of brotherly love, respect, and responsibility."
“Exactly!” These words struck a chord with Lin Shiming. “It’s because I trust my brother, unlike Lou Yunsu who was suppressed and couldn’t beat him! I am a model of high moral character, while he is the one who was forced and humiliated.”
"Yes, yes, yes. Your Highness the Crown Princess is right."
Lu Yuxi smiled as she responded to Lin Shiming's rambling, and led him slowly toward the East Palace.
"...Besides, how can this family law be banned so easily?" Even in modern times with its comprehensive laws and high standards, something still exists. How could they possibly ban it overnight in ancient times? "Moreover, our ultimate goal is to uphold the law of the land and target the Empress Dowager."
"Yes. You're right."
"It would be good enough if they could prevent severe punishments and the death penalty from being imposed by the clan while also protecting private property. It's not as easy as he thinks."
"He just can't figure it out."
“If things continue like this, I’m afraid we’ll only be able to rely on ‘people reporting and officials investigating’,” Lin Shiming’s mood dipped for a moment before quickly recovering. “But this is still progress; at least it gives those who have been oppressed a chance. One must take things one step at a time…”
"What the Crown Princess said makes a lot of sense."
The two figures drew closer and closer, their shadows gradually merging together in the sunlight. Lu Yuxi patiently responded to Lin Shiming's words, one by one.
"...We'll be going to the summer palace in a few days, so we need to pack as soon as we get back today. The concubines in the harem are waiting for my arrangements..."
"I'll prepare it for you."
"No, you have to spend time with Tingsong. You've been so busy lately, I've been the one taking care of the kids, Tingsong's almost forgotten about you!"
"Alright, I'll accompany Tingsong in practicing calligraphy. You take care of the arrangements."
……
*
June 1st.
The grand procession carrying members of the royal family and high-ranking officials headed towards the imperial palace.
This was Lin Shiming's second trip out of the capital with the main group since returning. Compared to the busy spring hunt, which required Lu Yuxi's help, the experienced Crown Princess handled it with ease this time, even having time to take two wolves and a grandson of the Crown Prince out for a stroll.
Then, bored on the road, Emperor Longyun arrested him on the spot and summoned him.
"Greetings to Your Highness the Crown Princess and Your Highness the Imperial Grandson."
The three concubines serving inside the carriage bowed respectfully and then withdrew after Lin Shiming waved his hand.
"Take a look at this." Emperor Longyun pushed a memorial in front of Lin Shiming, then hugged his beloved grandson and started playing with him.
"Prince Ping requests an imperial decree to grant a marriage?"
Lin Shiming was only surprised for a moment before quickly relaxing.
"Your Majesty, I had almost forgotten about him." Lin Shiming closed the memorial. "Then what are your plans, Father?"
"Take it, and I'll issue an imperial decree approving it."
During the Changping era, the emperor always issued a decree to allow princes to marry. Only the taking of concubines was a matter of the inner palace and fell under the empress's jurisdiction.
"Just a concubine?" Lin Shiming's curiosity was piqued. "Isn't Father worried that Hu Jiao will be displeased and their actions will be hindered?"
"Hmph." Emperor Longyun scoffed disdainfully, "No one can profit from Zitong's name! Dream on if you think you can get married during mourning!"
"What about Hujiao?"
"Tell Prince Ping and Shen Lin to figure it out themselves."
After Emperor Longyun stopped watching Lin Shiming's jokes, he found new ways to have fun.
*
Youshi.
Just as Prince Ping arrived at the temporary palace and settled in, he received an imperial edict.
"...She was made a concubine and entered the mansion on the fourth day of the sixth month. It was during the mourning period, so all the formalities were kept simple."
a bolt from the blue.
This time, there's no need to wait at all.
As soon as the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree left, Prince Ping returned to his room and smashed the floor in a fit of rage.
"It's too much to bully others, it's too much to bully others!"
“Your Highness!” Zheng Tong, one of Prince Ping’s concubines, quickly stepped forward to stop him. “Your Highness, you mustn’t! We are in the palace now, not in the manor. All our supplies are handled by the Crown Princess. If Your Highness continues to smash things, I’m afraid His Majesty will find out.”
Zheng Tong's persuasion finally stopped King Ping's violent outburst. He sat heavily on the couch, panting, his eyes bloodshot and the veins in his hands bulging.
This really touched a nerve with him.
The position of concubine was one thing; he could use it to marry a noblewoman later if things went well. But the fact that she would enter the palace in three days with such a simple ceremony was a slap in the face. In the royal family, even ordinary concubines had to be chosen on an auspicious day. His taking a concubine was even less dignified than others taking a concubine.
Not to mention, there was no mention whatsoever of promoting his mother's rank.
"What time is it now?"
Zheng Tong had stopped him in a fit of anger, but now that he had calmed down, a sense of lingering fear welled up from the bottom of his heart.
She glanced at the water clock in the corner of the room and answered cautiously, "Your Highness, it is already past 5:15 PM."
Prince Ping closed his eyes briefly, then suddenly stood up. "I'm going to find my maternal grandfather. Take care of things in the courtyard; don't wait for me."
"Yes."
*
The imperial palace was built in the suburbs, in a sparsely populated area. It was so large that it could accommodate not only the emperor's family, but also members of the imperial clan and important officials. However, each family could only be allocated a courtyard, and the number of people was limited. Others had to live in their own estates nearby.
Because Shen Lin had a daughter who was an imperial concubine and held a high official position, she was entitled to have a courtyard in the imperial palace.
Prince Ping naturally came directly to the courtyard to find the person.
"Grandfather."
Upon entering, Prince Ping gestured to Shen Lin to send all the maids out.
"I want to act even faster. Let's make our move by the middle of next month."