This matter had undoubtedly stirred up a storm in everyone's hearts. The emperor listened to all the discussions carefully. In order to stabilize people's hearts and ensure that the tenth prince could gain a firm foothold in the future, the emperor gritted his teeth and roared, "You're simply spreading nonsense! Guards! Drag him out and beat him to death with a stick!"
"Father, please calm down!" Wei Dongling knelt stubbornly in front of the emperor and gritted her teeth as she shouted, "This matter concerns the cause of my mother's death! I must know the truth! I must seek justice for my mother! Otherwise, I'll regret it for the rest of my life!"
Hearing this, the emperor was so angry that he was almost out of his wits. He could find justice for her at any time! But did she have to be so aggressive in front of all the civil and military officials at this moment?
The noble consort Rong also didn't expect that this seemingly gentle and kind fifth princess would be so unreasonable and deliberately make things difficult for the emperor in public. Seeing the emperor's face turn ashen, the noble consort Rong quickly stepped forward and gently comforted the emperor. Then she said to Wei Dongling, "Wanlin, your father will investigate this matter carefully later. If everything is true, he will naturally seek justice for your mother. For now, it's more important to arrange the funeral for your fourth elder brother!"
Hearing the noble consort Rong's kind persuasion, the emperor slowly suppressed his anger and nodded, "The noble consort Rong is right! After we've taken care of your fourth elder brother's funeral, I will surely find out the truth and give you an explanation!"
Wei Dongling knelt on the ground and stubbornly grabbed the emperor's clothes. "Father! I have evidence to prove that what Mrs. Xue said is true! I've been in great pain since I heard about my mother's tragic death. Please forgive my disrespect. I can't wait for a moment!" With that, she kowtowed heavily one after another. Her forehead hit the ground with a thud. Before long, blood oozed from her forehead.
Seeing Wei Dongling's stubbornness, the emperor's anger flared up again. He tightened his fists and stole a glance at the Prince Rui behind her.
The Prince Rui understood his meaning and stepped forward to scold Wei Dongling, "Fifth princess! You're not only a child of your mother but also a princess of the country! Even if you're filial and want to seek justice for your mother, you should consider the occasion! At the time of the fourth prince's funeral, when everyone is mourning for him, you're causing such a commotion. Do you deliberately want your fourth elder brother to leave in peace?"
As soon as the Prince Rui said this, all the officials echoed him. This fifth princess was really too reckless. It was really not the right time to hold on to this matter!
Wei Dongling had said all she wanted to say. Under the pressure of public opinion, the emperor had to investigate this matter thoroughly. So she took the opportunity to nod and said, "Uncle Wang is right! I've realized my mistake! Please punish me, Father!"
The emperor's face darkened and he said coldly, "I'll punish you to be confined for ten days and copy the "Rules for Women" twenty times. You're not allowed to go out without permission. Go back and accept your punishment!"
"Yes! Thank you, Father!" Seeing Mrs. Xue being taken away, Wei Dongling bowed to the emperor and then left happily with her maidservants for the Yaoguang Pavilion.
Being confined and copying books was such a good thing! She really didn't want to stay here and watch everyone perform who could cry more miserably. She might as well go back and have a good sleep. After all, she had gotten up too early today and had been too forceful just now. It was time to go back and apply medicine to the wound on her forehead.
The tenth prince standing in the crowd glanced at Wei Dongling who swaggered away. A venomous look flashed in his eyes.
When Wei Dongling returned to the Yaoguang Pavilion, all the maidservants were in a hurry to apply medicine to the wound on her forehead.
Aunt La Mei came over with the "Rules for Women" and writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones gloatingly. She couldn't hide her smug look at all. Copying the "Rules for Women" twenty times within ten days. This fifth princess would probably have cramps in her hands! She had to supervise carefully beside her and make sure that the fifth princess didn't slack off and try to get by.
Seeing that the wound on Wei Dongling's head had been treated, La Mei stepped forward and said with a smile, "Fifth princess, I've already ground the ink for you. We should hurry up and start copying the books!"
"Okay." Wei Dongling glanced at La Mei and felt secretly amused. She might not be good at embroidery, but how could she not know how to copy books and write? It didn't require calculation, just copying. How could this be difficult for her?
Wei Dongling rolled up her sleeves, picked up the writing brush, dipped it in ink, and began to copy the "Rules for Women" stroke by stroke. The wolf - hair writing brush in her hand flowed smoothly. A line of small regular - script characters was delicate and clear, which made La Mei, who was supervising beside her, almost drop her jaw.
She never thought that the fifth princess could write so fast and well. It was clearly a punishment for copying books, but why was it as easy as practicing calligraphy for the fifth princess?
Soon, page after page was filled with words. It wasn't until Wei Dongling coughed lightly to remind her that La Mei quickly stepped forward to turn the page for her.
Before she knew it, she had finished copying one time. Wei Dongling was about to put down the writing brush and take a rest when La Mei shook her head and said, "Princess! You have to finish copying two times today before you can rest!"
Wei Dongling looked at La Mei's round face and said with a laugh, "Aunt La Mei, how did you get ink on your face?"
La Mei asked in surprise, "Where? I didn't even touch the ink. How could it get on my face?"
"Come here. I'll wipe it off for you!" Wei Dongling didn't allow her to refuse. She quickly twisted her thumb on the tip of the writing brush and then reached out to touch La Mei's face. She smeared a big blotchy face on her with the ink on her fingertips and then pretended to frown and said, "Why can't I wipe it off? Aunt La Mei, you'd better go and look in the mirror to tidy up. Others might laugh at you if they see you like this."
Hearing this, La Mei didn't suspect anything. She rushed out in a hurry to tidy up her appearance.
Seeing her leave, Wei Dongling rushed to the side - room to find Cheng Hao.
After not seeing each other for a few days, Cheng Hao's injury had improved a lot, but his face was still a little pale. He probably still needed to recuperate for a while before he could fully recover.
When Cheng Hao saw that there was a wound on Wei Dongling's forehead, he even forgot to bow and asked in surprise, "What happened to you?"
Wei Dongling waved her hand to drive away the maidservants following behind her and whispered, "I've stirred up a hornet's nest. Empress Zhao may not tolerate me anymore."
Cheng Hao looked anxious and sighed, "Why don't we run away? You were more comfortable outside the palace than here!"
Alas! That's right! Since she entered the palace, it had been full of crises and she hadn't had a moment of peace!
Wei Dongling said dejectedly, "It's not the right time yet. I have to avenge Concubine Chen before I leave." She had completely ignored the overall situation today and had probably angered the emperor terribly. She was afraid that the emperor would have some complaints about her.
She wondered if she could find an opportunity to resign and leave the palace in the future. Being the fifth princess was really too frustrating.
Cheng Hao said worriedly, "I'm afraid there are more experts around Empress Zhao than just that old nurse."
Wei Dongling nodded and said, "You can sleep in my bed tonight!"
Hearing this, Cheng Hao was stunned and his face turned as red as blood.
Wei Dongling glanced at him and snorted, "What are you thinking? You'll pretend to be the fifth princess and sleep in my bed tonight! I'll sleep here with you!"
Judging from Empress Zhao's character, before the emperor started to investigate the fire in the Jingyang Palace that year, she would surely panic and send someone to assassinate her secretly!