vstars Chapter 104 Learn the Rules
Chapter 104 Learn the Rules
Qin Wanyue heard footsteps behind her and thought it was Jun Shuyan. Her face lit up with joy, but when she turned around and saw it was the two of them, her face darkened again. "What are you doing here?"
She had applied the medicine and originally planned to take a nap before going to see the Emperor, but she was brought here by the people Shen Sangning had sent to Huaqing Palace as soon as she closed her eyes.
Being punished with an extra half hour was already annoying, but seeing the two sisters so affectionate only made her more annoyed, and her tone revealed her disgust and displeasure.
"Your Highness, you've worked so hard. My sister and I have come to visit the Empress and the little princess."
As she spoke, Jibuchuhe pretended to push the umbrella in the maid's hand toward her, without even covering half of her shoulder.
Seeing that there was an umbrella, Qin Wanyue wanted to take it from Jibuchuhe, but Jibuchuhe suddenly pulled the umbrella towards herself. "Oh dear, it's really hot. Sister, let's go inside quickly," she urged Cheng Changzai, who was coaxing the child.
Before the two even entered, palace maids and eunuchs followed them around with ice blocks, which infuriated Qin Wanyue so much that she almost ground her teeth to powder.
"I have a general idea of why my two sisters have come. This Consort Qin is truly causing trouble, and I will certainly punish her severely."
Shen Sangning looked at Chun'er in Cheng Chang's arms with a calm voice and a pained expression.
The well-behaved and quiet baby lay adorably in its mother's arms, its little mouth opening and closing as it blew bubbles – it was truly endearing.
There's just a thin, long scratch on her delicate little face; it looks red now after the medicine has been applied.
The little baby neither cried nor fussed; when she saw her looking at her, he even showed her two little teeth and giggled.
Shen Sangning's heart melted. She took off her armor and walked up to Cheng Yan'er to tease him.
The little baby kicked his legs and stretched out his hands, trying to pounce on her. Shen Sangning was overjoyed and carefully took him, then carried him into the hall. "Shall we take our Chun-ge'er to play with his little sister?"
Her voice was gentle as water, and the little baby was so adorable that she felt a surge of joy upon seeing him.
The little girl and Jun Shuyao were placed together on the crib. The two children looked at each other in confusion at first, then touched their little hands and started to chatter.
The group stood there laughing and watching for a while before Shen Sangning called over Lü Qiao and two personal maids to watch over the two children before going out again.
Qin Wanyue was fanning herself with her hand. The spot where she was kneeling was no longer exposed to the sun, but her face was flushed and fine red veins could be seen.
Shen Sangning came out and saw her face full of resentment and listlessness. She walked over and slapped her twice across the face. "Chun-ge'er is so young, how could you be so cruel as to scratch his little face? You are truly vicious!"
As a mother herself, she felt heartbroken even if her daughter accidentally caught a chill and coughed slightly, let alone when Cheng Changzai saw her child's face scratched and bleeding.
If she weren't so insignificant and of such low status, she had no doubt that people would have directly attacked this brainless idiot.
Qin Wanyue covered her face and looked at her unwillingly, shouting, "I just wanted to tease him. It was his own doing that had nothing to do with me!"
She's just a lowly concubine who wasn't favored. She only gave birth to a son, and she thinks she can rise in status because of her son? So what if she hurts this little kid?
She has the Emperor backing her up, so what is there to be afraid of?
"When His Majesty arrives, he will surely believe me!"
Shen Sangning scoffed coldly and said indifferently, "Once you've finished kneeling before me today, you don't need to come again."
Qin Wanyue's face lit up with joy, her eyes brimming with smugness. She had always thought that as long as she brought up the Emperor, what could Shen Sangning do to her? Even though she was the most favored one, Shen Sangning still had to think twice.
"Starting tomorrow, you will kneel in Huaqing Palace for three hours. You can kneel anywhere you like, but I will send people to keep an eye on you."
"You can kneel back for two more hours only after Chun'er's facial injuries have completely healed."
This fool always drags his feet, waiting for Jun Shuyan to come over after court. Once he arrives, he keeps the little princess from sleeping well, and she gets annoyed just looking at him.
Even though she was a noble concubine, it would be a disgrace to the royal family if she were to be made ugly. Kneeling for an extra hour every day would at least give this poor little Chun'er some vindication.
Qin Wanyue's face stiffened, her eyes widening in disbelief. Shen Sangning continued, "After kneeling, copy the 'Admonitions for Women' twice. I will have someone bring them over to check them personally."
Starting from the time Jun Shuyan attends the morning court session, kneeling for three hours is just until lunchtime. After copying the "Admonitions for Women" twice, the day is almost over.
That way, she won't have time to go out and wander around anymore, and she won't feel like doing something stupid to everyone she sees!
Qin Wanyue felt as if the sky had fallen. She tried to stand up, but Shen Sangning pressed her down heavily. "I said we'd finish kneeling today! Not now!"
Shen Sangning's eyes were sharp, and Qin Wanyue was so frightened that she forgot to resist. The person who was being punished by kneeling behind her had his heart in his throat.
Cheng Yan'er was deeply moved. Jibuchuhe leaned closer and whispered to her, "I knew the Empress would stand up for you."
"Consort Cheng, I will personally escort you back in a moment."
Shen Sangning looked at Cheng Yan'er, her eyes revealing an unfathomable emotion.
There are too many injustices in the harem for her to handle, but since she has encountered them, she will do her best to manage them.
She's supposed to be a low-ranking official, but she doesn't look like one at all. Her clothes aren't even as nice as what Lü Qiao is wearing. She needs to give those people a good talking-to.
Cheng Yan'er stood up to thank them, and the group chatted for a long time until Jun Shuyan sent someone to take Qin Wanyue back to Huaqing Palace before the matter was over.
Upon arriving at Huaqing Palace, Qin Wanyue lay on the bed, weeping bitterly.
She knelt for so long and was slapped twice, and now she's in pain all over. Why won't the Emperor stand up for her? She clearly sent someone to inform him before she went!
"Your Highness, the Prime Minister has sent several people over."
Upon hearing this, Qin Wanyue hastily wiped away her tears. Had her father heard that she was being bullied in the palace and sent someone to back her up?!
She went outside and saw several old women standing upright with puzzled expressions.
"Your Highness, we are a few old servants sent by the Prime Minister to teach you etiquette."
"The Prime Minister has instructed us to teach you manners and etiquette from today onwards, and to report to him daily."
An old woman stepped forward and explained her purpose, looking expressionlessly at the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's family, and couldn't help but sigh twice in her heart.
If the mistress hadn't passed away so early, this young lady probably wouldn't have been raised by an actress to be so uncouth.
Qin Wanyue took a few steps back and shouted in a state of near collapse, "I don't want to! I don't want to learn that damn etiquette and rules!"
Her father had never forced her to learn these things before; she was very free in the Prime Minister's residence. Why did she have to learn them now? Did her father think she was useless?
The old woman who was speaking didn't care about any of that; losing face was a small matter, but losing her life later would be a much bigger deal.
She stepped forward with another burly old woman and grabbed her arm, saying, "Your Highness, this outfit and makeup are truly inappropriate. You must take better care of yourself and avoid disgracing the royal family."