Mercenary Princess - Chapter 74
"Remember my words! You have one hour, so hurry up!" With a cold snort, Tuoba Chen flung his sleeves away and strode off without looking back, leaving Luyi alone, slumped to the ground in despair...
Inside the west wing, Rongyue carefully applied medicine to Yuyan's wound with a handkerchief. When she touched the painful spot, Yuyan couldn't help but cry out, but seeing the anger and self-reproach in her eyes, she instinctively bit her lower lip...
Looking at the horrifying blue spots on Yu Yan's body, Rong Yue clenched the handkerchief tightly, a surge of resentment and unwillingness almost reaching the heavens! With a fierce flick, the handkerchief was thrown hard onto the floor.
"My husband..."
"Yu Yan, believe me, I will never let you suffer any more injustice! I promise!" With her fists clenched, Rong Yue seemed to be speaking to Yu Yan, but also to herself.
Smoothing Rongyue's furrowed brows, Yuyan nodded heavily, "I believe you! Husband, I believe you!"
Just wait and see, those who dare to bully them will understand just how much trouble they've gotten themselves into...
Volume Two: The Resolute Heroines' Chronicle, Chapter Eleven: Rongyue's Official Appointment
"...To ensure a tree grows tall, its roots must be firm; to ensure a river flows far, its source must be dredged; to ensure the peace of the nation, its virtue and righteousness must be cultivated. To expect a long flow from a shallow source, to expect a tall tree from weak roots, to expect a well-governed nation from weak virtue! A ruler who holds the weight of the imperial power, resides in the vastness of the realm, aspires to the highest heavens, and seeks eternal peace, yet fails to consider the dangers of complacency, to practice frugality and restraint, to cultivate virtue without restraint, and to be unable to control his desires—this is like cutting the roots to make the tree flourish, or blocking the source to make the river flow long..." These resounding pronouncements on national policy echoed above the Zichen Palace, powerful and clear, even stopping the birds on the rooftops in their tracks, crouching down as if listening intently to the clear yet bold and generous words emanating from beneath the green tiles. All the ministers, and even the princes and emperor in the hall, held their breath and listened intently to this unprecedented and invaluable discourse, afraid of missing a single point if they became distracted...
"All rulers, having received the mandate of Heaven, have invariably begun with deep sorrow and achieved great things, only to see their virtue decline after success. Many have a good beginning, but few can finish well. Is it because it is easy to seize power but difficult to maintain it? In the past, they had more than enough to seize power, but now they cannot maintain it. Why is this? When in deep sorrow, one must treat one's subjects with utmost sincerity; once one has achieved power, one indulges in arrogance. Sincerity unites people like strangers, while arrogance turns even close relatives into strangers. Even if one governs with harsh punishments and intimidates with wrath, one will ultimately be swayed without benevolence, outwardly respectful but inwardly submissive. Resentment is not great in itself, but it is the people who are to be feared. People can carry a boat but also capsize it; this should be carefully considered. A runaway cart with a rotten rope—how can it be ignored!"
"A ruler who sees something desirable should reflect on his own sufficiency and restraint; one who is about to undertake something should reflect on knowing when to stop to bring peace to the people; one who is mindful of the dangers of high office should reflect on humility and self-discipline; one who fears overflowing power should reflect on the vast oceans that receive all rivers; one who enjoys leisurely pursuits should reflect on moderation; one who worries about laziness should reflect on being cautious from the beginning and respectful to the end; one who is concerned about being misled should reflect on being open-minded to accept advice from subordinates; one who is suspicious of slander should reflect on rectifying himself and expelling evil; one who bestows favors should reflect on not rewarding others unjustly out of joy; one who imposes punishments should reflect on not abusing authority out of anger. By considering these ten points, one can cultivate these nine virtues. If one selects the capable and appoints them accordingly, and chooses the virtuous and follows them, then the wise will use their wisdom to the fullest, the brave will exert their strength, the benevolent will spread their kindness, and the trustworthy will demonstrate their loyalty. Civil and military officials will compete, and the ruler and his ministers will have no worries. One can enjoy leisurely pursuits, live a long and healthy life, play the zither and rule with folded hands, transforming others without saying a word. Why bother to rack one's brains, take over the duties of subordinates, exhaust one's intelligence and senses, and lose sight of the great way of non-action?"
As she finished speaking, Rongyue let out a deep breath, stepped forward, flung her robes back, knelt down, and respectfully kowtowed to the still-shocked old emperor on the throne: "This servant was ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth, and dared to utter such outrageous words in the Holy Hall, which insulted His Majesty's ears. I deserve to die!"
"Excellent!" A deep and resounding shout of approval echoed from the dragon throne, shattering the tense atmosphere and jolting the ministers still absorbed in their discussions of national policy. Among the civil officials, Liu Zhiyi was particularly excited; tears of relief welled in his old eyes, and he clenched his teeth, forcefully suppressing the urge to burst into laughter…
The old emperor rose, stroked his white beard, and slowly walked down from the main hall. To the astonishment of the crowd, he personally helped the kneeling Rongyue to her feet. Looking Rongyue up and down, who stood respectfully with her hands at her sides, the old emperor nodded approvingly, repeatedly saying "good" and sighing, "Talented people emerge in every generation! To have such insight at such a young age is truly a gift from heaven! With such a talent, how can my Southern Kingdom not prosper, how can it not surpass all ages, for thousands of years to come!"
As soon as the last words were spoken, all the princes and ministers bowed and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" The sound reverberated throughout the empty Zichen Hall, shaking the walls and beams, and was deafening.
With a hearty laugh, the excited old emperor took Rongyue's hand and led her into the hall, leading her to the side of the dragon throne.
"Tell me your name? Where are you from? Who else is in your family?" The old emperor looked at Rongyue kindly and asked casually.
Rongyue knew that the old emperor was investigating her political background! She quickly bowed and respectfully replied, "This servant's name is Jian Xiaosan, and I am a citizen of a small country in the north. I lost both my parents when I was young, and now, apart from my wife Yuyan, I have no other relatives."
"It must feel bad to be a stranger in a strange land, right? Jian Xiaosan, have you ever thought about going back?" The old emperor said slowly, stroking his beard.
"This servant has never intended to go back."
"Oh? Why? Even birds are attached to their old forests, let alone strangers who are away from home year-round?"
No wonder the ancients said, "Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger!" This emperor was truly cunning and treacherous!
Not daring to be careless in the slightest, Rongyue hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, you may not know this, but because I have no one to rely on, I have wandered around for many years. I am used to wandering all over the country, so I have no sense of belonging. Moreover, my marriage with my wife is... Alas, I am not afraid Your Majesty will laugh at me. My wife was originally a wealthy young lady. We met by chance, and from then on, we fell in love and made a vow of love on the Three Lives Stone. However, my wife's family did not approve of this poor boy with no power or influence. They obstructed and made things difficult for me in every way. I had no choice but to grit my teeth and make up my mind to win my beauty's heart. I took my wife and ran away together... Hehe, Your Majesty, you say I ran away with someone's precious daughter, how could I dare to go back?"
Suppressed chuckles rippled through the hall. The old emperor smiled kindly: "From this day forward, you no longer need to refer to yourself as a servant! Someone, draft a memorial to convey my decree: effective immediately, Jian Xiaosan is hereby appointed as a second-rank Imperial Censor! He is to be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver, a hundred bolts of silk, five chests of antiques, and a mansion in the west of the city!"
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
...
From the moment Rongyue began discussing national policy until this moment, Tuoba Chen's deep gaze had not left her. Looking at Rongyue's calm and composed face, he couldn't help but recall again that petite figure in the court, composed and confident, radiating wisdom...
By this time, Rongyue and Yuyan had almost finished packing their things. With their bundles swaying gently, Rongyue, carrying Yuyan, stepped across the threshold, ready to leave the mansion.
Taking a step to the left, Tuoba Chen blocked Rongyue's path: "Little mistress, do you really intend to leave so decisively?"
Rongyue chuckled and asked, "Does His Highness the Second Prince have any further instructions?"
"The mistress—" Tuoba Chen drawled, sighing as if in helplessness. He stepped forward and placed his hands on Rongyue's shoulders: "Are you still angry about what happened earlier?"
A fierce glint flashed in her almond-shaped eyes, and Rongyue sneered without uttering a word.
"Luyi's father died protecting me from an arrow in the Battle of Beiluo five years ago. On his deathbed, he kept murmuring about his young daughter, Luyi. I've always felt guilty about her father's passing, and naturally, I've tried to make up for it by taking care of her... Sigh, what I said that day was really a bit much, but seeing your murderous intent, I was confused and blurted out whatever came to mind, wasn't I? Little San, now that I've kicked her out of the Prince's residence, please don't be angry anymore, okay?"
Tuoba Chen's words were tantamount to an apology and a plea for reconciliation to Rong Yue. Looking at Tuoba Chen, who had lowered his stance and appeared sincere, Rong Yue's anger subsided slightly. However, when her gaze fell upon Yu Yan beside her and saw her still-swollen cheek, Rong Yue's temper flared up again: "The Second Prince's status is so noble, why bother explaining to a lowly commoner like me? Are you not afraid of lowering your own standing?"
"You!" Tuoba Chen was so angry that his throat was choked with rage. He gasped for breath and after a long while, he said resentfully, "Is it because of a few unintentional offending words I said the other day that you deliberately showed off in front of Father today to attract his attention, hoping to gain fame and fortune and raise your own status?"
"The Second Prince is a wise man, why ask a question he already knows the answer to! Besides, gold is meant to shine. If it is buried in the sand for too long, it will eventually be worn away by the sand and stones!"
Staring intently at Rongyue's nonchalant expression, Tuoba Chen's eyes held reproach: "If you want fame and fortune, you could have just told me! With my influence in the court, I can arrange everything for you. Although your official rank might be slightly lower than a second-rank official, at least you'd be set for life! But you... You're a foreigner; if you make even the slightest mistake... Sigh, you, a mere servant, dared to speak so boldly in court, so calm and composed, without the slightest fear. If I had known your true nature for so long, I would suspect you had ulterior motives in approaching me, and thus the court, let alone Father... I've said my piece. In short, you must be cautious in everything you do from now on. Remember that, and don't forget it!"
Those words were a wake-up call! A cold sweat broke out on Rongyue's back. Only now did she regain her composure from her anger and realize the incredible risk she had taken! But the move was made; there was no going back. No matter what lay ahead, she had no way out but to grit her teeth and keep going! All she could do was be extremely cautious, making sure no one could find fault with her…
"Thank you." Despite her anger, she appreciated the advice.
Looking at Rongyue, whose expression had softened slightly, with surprise, she asked, "Little San, you're not angry with me anymore?"
He rolled his eyes at me: "Did I say that?"
"Mistress--" Tuoba Chen shook Rongyue's shoulder with a grin.
With a quick dodge, Rongyue dodged Kaiba Chen's wicked hands, composed herself, and said solemnly, "Second Prince, I appreciate your kindness and will remember it. I promise to spare her life. But I'm warning you beforehand, I will not let this matter rest! I will settle scores and avenge all wrongs. I will not let those who have crossed me off easily!"
Hearing Rongyue's unyielding tone, Tuoba Chen knew there was no room for negotiation. He sighed and rubbed his temples helplessly. "Fine, I don't care how you treat her. However, as you said, sparing her life is a favor to this prince!"
"Your Highness, rest assured, Xiao San will definitely keep his word!"
...
Volume Two: The Resolute Heroines, Chapter Twelve: Tuoba Chen's Jealousy (Part One)
The official attire of the Nancha Kingdom was similar to that of the Tang Dynasty.
Officials of the third rank and above wore purple robes and carried gold fish-shaped pouches; officials of the fifth rank and above wore scarlet robes and carried silver fish-shaped pouches; officials of the sixth rank and below wore green robes and carried no fish-shaped pouches. Officials with high positions but low ranks still wore their original rank-specific clothing. For example, a prime minister who was below the third rank would have the words "bestowed with a purple and gold fish-shaped pouch" in his title; the governors and prefects of prefectures, regardless of rank, all wore scarlet robes.
As a second-rank minister, Rongyue's official robes were purple robes with pheasant patterns outlined in dark red thread, while her official hat was a dark purple four-pronged turban. After admiring herself in the bronze mirror and feeling satisfied, Rongyue instructed the two newly purchased maids to take good care of Yuyan, then turned and entered the courtyard, boarding her carriage…