Li Wanming had always known that Princess Chengping was powerful.
But was she this powerful?
Could she go head - to - head with the Empress Dowager all by herself?
She stared at the cloud above her head that seemed like a Buddha's halo, then turned her dull eyes to Empress Dowager Kang.
Empress Dowager Kang's complexion was changing constantly. Her phoenix eyes were slightly narrowed, and there was a hidden undercurrent in her eyes.
After a long while, she let out a cold snort from her nose. "The princess hasn't been in the palace for a long time. I didn't expect her to be so well - informed. Before my punishment could fall on this girl, you're already here in Yonghe Palace!"
Princess Chengping slightly raised her hand, signaling Li Wanming to get up by herself. At the same time, she slowly stepped forward, a faint smile curving her lips.
"Your words are really interesting, Empress Dowager."
"I know I'm lazy by nature and don't like going out. I rarely enter the palace on weekdays. That's why I reflected on myself today and thought that I should come to the palace more often to accompany you in the future. That's the loyalty of a subject."
"Now, it seems from your words that you're not very welcome to my presence in the palace?"
She slightly raised her eyes and swept them across the Empress Dowager's face.
Li Wanming obediently stood up and followed behind her, not daring to even breathe loudly.
All she knew about Princess Chengping was that she was the younger sister of Prince Ning, Xiao Yuancheng, the only legitimate daughter of the Xiao family, the widow of General Piaoqi, Huo Xiaoyan, and a first - rank imperial - appointed noble lady...
At the same time, she was also the adopted elder sister of the late emperor and the nominal aunt of the current emperor. Of course, this also meant that she was the adopted elder sister of Empress Dowager Kang.
She didn't know that Princess Chengping was actually the person in power of the Huo Family Army.
Empress Dowager Kang was currently in a crucial period of competing for military power with the Feng and Xiao families. Naturally, she couldn't afford to offend Princess Chengping.
Therefore, although she held great power and made all the decisions, she still had to show courtesy to this nominal elder sister.
Li Wanming watched Empress Dowager Kang's changing complexion and keenly sensed that she seemed to have accidentally found an extremely powerful ally.
- There weren't many people in the world who could make Empress Dowager Kang look bad.
Was Princess Chengping really this amazing?
No wonder Xiao Jingnan had repeatedly told her before he left that if something happened, she must go to this princess aunt for help.
After Princess Chengping finished speaking, she deliberately looked up at Empress Dowager Kang and asked with a smile, "Empress Dowager, you're not blaming Chengping, are you?"
Normally, Empress Dowager Kang would have replied, "Of course not" following this conversation. But at this moment, she bit her lips, her complexion changing several times, and she just couldn't bring herself to say these four words.
Princess Chengping gave a soft laugh, walked past her, and gracefully stepped into the palace hall, looking very much at home.
"I've long heard that the Guzhu Zisun tea here looks like an orchid, tastes fresh, refreshing, and mellow, and is a unique tea in the world. Since I'm here today, I must trouble you for a cup."
Empress Dowager Kang's cheeks twitched slightly, and she squeezed out a few words through her teeth. "Fang Rong, serve the princess tea."
Princess Chengping unceremoniously sat down on the official - hat armchair carved with crane - feather patterns, picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and praised, "Good tea."
After putting the tea cup on the table, she finally turned her gaze to Li Wanming, raising the corners of her eyes slightly. "Tell me, how did you, this unruly monkey, manage to anger our Empress Dowager?"
Although her tone carried a hint of blame, there was also a great deal of affection in her eyes. It was obvious that she was going to let Li Wanming off...
"Didn't you come to the palace today to express your gratitude? What on earth did you do that made the Empress Dowager so angry?"
Li Wanming felt a huge weight lift off her heart, but on the surface, she pretended to wring her handkerchief and lowered her head, even squeezing out a couple of tears.
"It's all my fault..."
She pinched her throat and said aggrievedly, "The Empress Dowager asked about the old events in Fujian and mentioned the Yuan Family Water Stronghold. She blamed me for whether the Yuan Family Water Stronghold had pretended to surrender back then... I got anxious for a moment and argued a few words, but... but I didn't expect to anger the Empress Dowager..."
"Deserving of punishment!"
Princess Chengping slightly raised her eyebrows and slapped the table, making the tea cup jingle.
She stared coldly at Li Wanming and scolded, "Not to mention the Empress Dowager, even I want to punish you!
"Military and state affairs are of such great importance. How can a woman in the inner courtyard interfere?
"You rashly interfere in political affairs. You should be punished according to the ancestral family rules! The Empress Dowager's punishment is to teach you a lesson. Do you understand?"
Hearing this, Li Wanming quickly knelt down and kept answering, "Yes, yes, yes. I understand. It's all my fault... My words and actions were inappropriate. I violated the ancestral family rules and angered the Empress Dowager. I really deserve to die..."
Princess Chengping glanced at Li Wanming kneeling on the ground and let out another soft snort. "You're smart enough."
When she turned to Empress Dowager Kang, a gentle smile had already appeared on her face. "Empress Dowager, the younger generation is inexperienced. We should teach them slowly. Why get so angry?"
"Moreover, General Feng is about to lead his army on an expedition. Bloodshed in the palace is ultimately inauspicious."
"In my opinion, how about giving this girl a small punishment as a warning and making her copy the Buddhist scriptures a hundred times to pray for the soldiers on the front line? It can also be considered as doing good deeds. What do you think, Empress Dowager?"
After saying that, she gently tapped the tea cup on the table, making a clear sound.
Princess Chengping's words were spoken casually, but they touched on all the relationships.
She first flattered Empress Dowager Kang, then downplayed the matter of whether the Yuan Family Water Stronghold had pretended to surrender as the "inexperience" of a child.
She then subtly mentioned that the army was currently on the move, and Xiao Jingnan had already gone to the southern border. Punishing his family at this time might arouse dissatisfaction in the army.
Finally, she directly proposed a solution: let Li Wanming copy the Buddhist scriptures a hundred times to make a big problem small and a small problem disappear.
Even more, there was a hint of threat in her words.
Rashly interfering in political affairs...
Who was she talking about?
It was clearly a hint to Empress Dowager Kang!
You, a woman in the inner palace, still hold on to the government after the emperor has come of age. This violates the ancestral family rules!
If you keep holding on to the matter of the Yuan Family Water Stronghold, I'll have a good talk with you.
...
Li Wanming was extremely impressed.
Amazing!
Sure enough, she was a noble lady trained in a wealthy and noble family.
In just a few words, she not only saved the Empress Dowager's face, but also issued a threat. At the same time, she protected the person she wanted to protect and took all the interests and relationships into account.
Even someone as shrewd and capable as Empress Dowager Kang would probably find it difficult to pick out any mistakes from these words.
Li Wanming lowered her head. On the surface, she was respectful and obedient, but in her heart, a voice kept surging: I'm still too inexperienced. I need to practice, I need to practice...
Empress Dowager Kang's complexion changed several times. Although it was still very gloomy, it was no longer as intimidating as before.
"Since the princess has spoken..."
Her gaze swept across Li Wanming, as if weighing something. "Then punish Li Wanming to copy the Buddhist scriptures a hundred times. Deliver them to Baohua Hall for incineration three days later to pray for the soldiers about to go on an expedition."
Li Wanming bowed deeply again. When her forehead touched the ground, she finally let out a long sigh of relief. "Thank you for the Empress Dowager's grace."
This crisis had finally passed without any major mishaps.