She also liked to dream of kicking her, and then wake up as a delicate, timid little woman crying with tears streaming down her face.
Women come in all sorts of fresh looks, and it's enough that she's strong and untamed. She doesn't want to explain her tastes too clearly, but fortunately, her mother blushed slightly, so she guessed she understood.
"That's good, that's good."
After leaving the Yu family's gate, Princess Changyang carried her concubine onto the imperial carriage.
Yu Zhi waved to her mother with red eyes, barely managing to hold back her tears. She turned her head and saw someone looking at her with an ambiguous and strange gaze.
"W-What's wrong?"
"Nothing much."
Ji Pingxi cleared her throat. Ever since she left the house, she had been thinking that taste is indeed a very peculiar thing.
In her two lifetimes combined, she had seen countless women, some clothed, some naked, some smiling, some not. She had drawn at least eighty or a hundred women with a single brush, but the one she truly wanted to bully and tease at first sight was the one right in front of her.
If the Northern Saintess's beauty broadened her innocent youthful eyes, this crybaby truly made her willingly indulge in a sea of joy.
The flowers by my pillow are a delight to behold, and they smell wonderful no matter how I smell them.
The imperial carriage departed from the Yu family residence south of Xuanwu Street, and following His Majesty's decree, circled the moat before setting off for the palace.
Everywhere, crowds of people came out to watch the emperor and his family in their glory, and some women even threw flowers at the carriage where Princess Changyang was.
The story of Princess Liuyun's heroic battle against the Old Ancestor Xuanyin at the Flowing Cloud Hunting Ground has long been turned into a tale by storytellers and told daily in teahouses, captivating many.
Yu Zhi was so jealous of someone's ability to attract attention that she kept a straight face and didn't say a word. Ji Pingxi would tease her from time to time, making her both laugh and cry, but she couldn't keep a straight face anymore.
The crowds were immense. The emperor was a popular emperor, and the empress was a virtuous empress recognized by the people. His Highness the Crown Prince sat demurely in his seat, occasionally waving to the people on the roadside. Every time he waved, it caused a great sensation.
Princess Changyang waved, mimicking her younger brother, and the carriage was filled with flowers.
It was thrown on her hair and shoulders, leaving her covered in the scent of flowers.
Yu Zhi chuckled, her eyes crinkling: "Serves you right."
The beauty's audacity grew daily, nothing more than arrogance born of favor. The princess didn't bother with her, her eyes narrowing as she pondered how to 'tame' her tonight.
"Your Highness! Look here!"
The people lining the streets were incredibly enthusiastic.
Strangely enough, when Ji Pingxi was still known as Wei Pingxi, people were at most captivated by her beauty and said it was a pity.
After learning that she was from an imperial family, his attitude changed drastically.
As it turns out, power is the most luxurious garment.
Ji Pingxi pursed his lips, his temper flaring up and he simply couldn't be bothered to pay attention to these people.
Little did she know that the elderly women and young wives throughout the capital, all with a strong sense of compassion, felt an unbelievable level of pity for her after learning of her tragic past.
In teahouses, storytellers, with the tacit approval of those above, would recount the story of Princess Changyang's life being stolen and switched.
The storyteller was eloquent, and Ji Pingxi's story brought tears to the eyes of many women.
Even when the man learned that she was mired in the filth of the Wei family, he cherished her radiant beauty even more, and her unruly nature became a symbol of her noble and extraordinary birth.
When the imperial carriage arrived at the palace gate, the ministers lined up to greet it.
Ji Pingxi possessed the noble air of a princess. At least, even without saying a word, her demeanor, which resembled that of the Empress, was quite intimidating. In addition, her eyebrows and eyes resembled those of His Majesty, and she exuded an extraordinary imperial aura, capable of commanding respect in any setting, no matter how grand.
The courtiers kowtowed, but she didn't blink, oblivious to everything else, only wanting to return to her palace to rest as soon as possible.
I slept for seven days in a row, and it felt like even my bones were getting lazy.
"All of you, rise."
With the Empress in one hand and her daughter in the other, Ji Ying, having enjoyed the attention of the ministers, felt she had made quite a show of herself on this trip. Feeling smug, she laughed and said, "Let's all go home."
The entire court of officials rushed to congratulate His Majesty on his family's reunion, only to be kicked aside by their holy emperor after their congratulations were finished, and returned the way they came with varying degrees of resentment.
Ji Ying didn't care about any of that, but his outburst made everyone realize that the Emperor and Empress cherished Princess Changyang.
His affection for the princess surpassed even that of the crown prince.
Changyang, Changyang, it is said that when His Majesty bestowed this title, it was meant that Princess Pingxi would be the long-lasting sun of the empire.
This title is ridiculously prestigious, but no matter how much a father dotes on his daughter, he never feels it's excessive.
Ji Ying didn't think it was excessive, and Ji Qingyou thought it was perfectly reasonable.
His previous "elder sister" had broken his heart. Whether she was real or fake, they had lived together for more than ten years. But she turned out to be an ungrateful wolf cub who dared to plot a rebellion and assassinate his father.
Ji Qingyao hanged herself, and His Highness the Crown Prince was heartbroken for several days. However, when he learned that the 'cousin' he had always liked was actually his 'elder sister', the young man's depressed mood finally eased.
"Royal sister, come and see, this is your palace!"
The sun was shining brightly, and Ji Pingxi raised his eyebrows to look—the three large characters "Yangchun Palace" came into view.
She secretly thought to herself how fortunate she was; thankfully it was 'Yangchun Palace' and not 'Yangchun Palace,' otherwise the palace servants coming and going would have thought she was quite improper.
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Chapter 76 Being Needed
With spring in full bloom, the newly renovated Yangchun Palace has finally welcomed its true owner.
The twelve palace maids and twelve eunuchs, of all ranks, paid their respects to their mistress. Princess Changyang said calmly, "Reward her."
Jade, who was standing to the side, took out the gold jewelry that had been prepared in advance and distributed it to everyone.
The gold jewelry weighs about four ounces. Even without considering its weight, its substantial weight in the hand is quite pleasing.
At first glance, the princess gave the impression of being generous, and this was still before any merit had been made. It was clear that if one served her well in the future, there would be many benefits to be gained.
The palace servants assigned to work in Yangchun Palace were all carefully selected by the Empress. Those who stood out from the many competitors were either shrewd and quick-witted, or honest and pure-hearted.
Time will tell. After bestowing a gift upon them, Princess Changyang pushed her favored concubine in front of everyone and said, "From now on, Zhizhi is half a mistress of Yangchun Palace. You must not treat her with disrespect."
They had long heard that His Highness, a woman, had defied the world by taking a concubine, and now, upon seeing the concubine, the palace servants vaguely realized, "As expected."
Their mistress was already as beautiful as an immortal, and the concubine who had won her favor was indeed a beauty that was hard to find in the world. It was said that she came from the 'Jinghe Willow'.
Thinking of the renowned 'Jinghe Willow', the palace servants bowed respectfully to Yuzhi.
In the palace, the way of addressing concubines outside is not followed. Pingxi is the one who mainly calls Yuzhi "Miss".
Yu Zhi had been by her side for almost a year, and had seen many ups and downs. With a calm and steady shout of "Qi," she made her debut and established herself in this "family."
It is said that once you enter the palace, it is like entering a deep sea. Serving a princess who is most favored by the emperor and empress, Yu Zhi's status can be described by more than just the word "concubine".
Having witnessed the young lady eating, living, and going about with His Highness, the palace servants dared not mistreat their mistress.
Ji Pingxi and Yu Zhi settled down in Yangchun Palace and visited Ganning Palace every morning and evening to pay their respects. Yan Xiu was overjoyed to see her daughter and treated Yu Zhi with extra tolerance and love.
The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law has always been a major issue, but Yu Zhi was able to get along well with the Empress. This was partly because the Empress loved Yu Zhi because of her, and partly because she and Yu Zhi were kindred spirits.
Thinking that such a delicate and charming woman was being 'bullied' by her daughter every day, Yan Xiu could not stop them from getting close, so she could only take good care of her future daughter-in-law in daily life.
The family was reunited, and the Crown Prince would frequently visit Yangchun Palace, while the Princess and her concubines would also visit Ganning Palace from time to time.
On this day, Ji Ying took some time to have a meal with his wife and daughter at Gan Ning Palace. The poor Crown Prince, despite his title as heir apparent, was gaining experience in the Ministry of Personnel, where he spent his days scheming against the older ministers.
Unlike her doting treatment of her daughter, Ji Ying always treated the Crown Prince with more sternness because her son was destined to inherit the throne.
After lunch, Ji Ying rushed to the Imperial Study to discuss state affairs. Before leaving, she patted her daughter's head. Yan Xiu watched him leave, her expression reluctant to part, which made people's teeth ache for no reason.
Princess Changyang was a daring and mischievous child, and she winked at Yuzhi.
After seeing her beloved off, the Empress turned around and saw her daughter's strange appearance, looking helpless: "What are you doing?"
Ji Pingxi took her mother's arm and said, "Mother and Father have such a good relationship. But..." She glanced at Yu Zhi and said, "Father seems like a virtuous and wise emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty, but behind the scenes..."
She complained to Yan Xiu, "Father Emperor is an old lewd man!"
Heaven help me, Ji Ying topped the beauty list at the age of thirteen, and has held the top spot for nearly thirty years.
Such a blessed person has absolutely nothing to do with the word "old". Fortunately, he was busy with government affairs and had already left. Otherwise, if he heard his beloved "little cotton-padded jacket" say that he was "old and improper", he would probably be so worried that he wouldn't be able to eat dinner.
The Empress and His Majesty had a deep affection for each other. Fortunately, it was their daughter who said this, and she laughed, "Why is your father being so inappropriate?"
The princess whispered in her mother's ear, "Father ordered the craftsmen to place a mirror opposite the bed where I sleep."
"..."
Yan Xiu gasped – she really didn't know about this.
The life-size mirror is exquisitely crafted. When in use, the curtain is drawn back, and when not in use, the curtain provides privacy so it won't frighten people day or night.
It's easy to imagine what it's meant to be placed opposite the large bed.
Hearing this, Yu Zhi felt a wave of shame, her toes almost digging into the ground. Because of this mirror, this man had tormented her quite a bit at night.
It would have been better without this mirror; with it, my vision is clear, and I can see every single detail.
It's really embarrassing.
The princess, having gained an advantage, betrayed her beloved father.
Inside the imperial study, the emperor, who was discussing important matters with his ministers with a serious expression, suddenly felt an itch in his nose, covered his face with a handkerchief, and sneezed, which prompted a series of concerned inquiries.
It's a pity that Ji Ying taught people to inlay mirrors with good intentions. The princess was lustful, which was not a big deal in the royal family. If one is lustful, one can be called devoted to one person.
Like the Empress, he did not treat Yuzhi as his daughter's concubine. He intended to give her a push so that his precious daughter could see her own heart, but little did he know that his daughter was a 'heartless little thing'!
The mother and daughter were gossiping about His Majesty. Yu Zhi listened with a blush on her face, thinking to herself: Perhaps complaining is a unique and interesting aspect of this family's relationship.
Not to mention that after the complaint was filed, His Majesty went to Ganning Palace and was given a good scolding by the Empress. Ji Pingxi returned to Yangchun Palace in an extremely good mood.
She also loved watching her father get the short end of the stick when her mother was being humiliated. Imagine, a king being a real henpecked husband—how interesting! How homely!
This was something she had never experienced in the Wei family before.
Thinking of the Wei family, Emerald, a first-class palace maid of Yangchun Palace, hurriedly whispered in his ear, "Your Highness..."
At noon, Caishikou was crowded with people.
In this peaceful and prosperous era, what must the Marquis of Yiyang and his son have been thinking to start a rebellion?
Your Majesty is the wise ruler that your subjects have long awaited. Under your rule, the country will prosper and enjoy lasting peace and stability.
The crowd thronged around, talking loudly about how the Wei family had squandered a winning hand.