Chapter 786: What Example Did the Commandery Princess Set?

The emperor frowned, "Gu Jingzhe?"

The name sounded so familiar.

Lu Zhaoyang stepped forward and reported, "Your Majesty, Gu Jingzhe is the youngest son of the Sui Feng Village Lady and also my brother-in-law."

The emperor’s face was quite unpleasant.

A member of the Royal Family fancying a married man was already disgraceful enough, especially when the man was his trusted courtier’s brother-in-law.

This was simply a blow to the courtier’s heart.

The emperor coldly said, "Nonsense."

Prince Yu was so frightened that he kowtowed to the emperor.

Lu Zhaoyang remained calm, as if he were merely reporting that the weather was good today.

The Imperial Censor, observing the emperor’s expression, began his performance, saying, "Prince Yu just now refused to speak, knowing that a Commandery Princess being fond of a married man is indeed a disgraceful act. I heard that Princess Ming Yue’s affection isn’t simple but rather ambushed the man’s house, demanding Mr. Gu to divorce his innocent wife. Even after Mr. Gu refused her, she still pestered him. She just returned from Longhua Temple recently, and again ran off to the Imperial College to block him."

"Not only that, but the Commandery Princess also ambushed Mr. Lu’s sister, using her status to bully her into requesting to leave her husband. As Royal Princesses and Commandery Princesses should set an example for women under the heavens, may I ask, Your Highness Prince Yu, what example has Princess Ming Yue set?"

"The previous spring, the Imperial Concubine issued rules for the Royal women’s conduct, and Princess Ming Yue has evidently not heeded these at all. However, all of this can’t be separated from your indulgence, Prince Yu."

The words left Prince Yu sweating.

The emperor was touched by old concerns.

After the previous spring examination results were announced, a Commandery Princess took a fancy to Lu Zhaoyang.

Much like Princess Ming Yue, she also pestered him.

Even after Lu Zhaoyang made it clear that he was married, she kidnapped him, forcing him to agree to divorce his wife.

This matter eventually escalated to the Jinluan Palace.

Since the passing of the previous empresses, the emperor had not appointed a new empress. Thus, he ordered the respected ladies to tutor Princess Jingan to prevent similar incidents from disgracing the Royal Family. The Imperial Concubine ordered the compilation of conduct rules for Royal women for the empresses, princesses, and concubines to copy and keep in mind.

The troubles caused by Princess Ming Yue reminded the emperor of the scandal involving Princess Jingan.

That farce trampled on the Royal Family’s dignity.

Instead of picking someone from the clan to bestow the title of Princess, he married off Princess Jingan to the King of Mo Bei largely because of the widespread knowledge of her scandal of kidnapping the married Champion Scholar.

Now, Princess Ming Yue was causing a similar incident.

Who she fancied was one thing, but she had to fancy the son of the Sui Feng Village Lady, Gu Jingzhe.

The Sui Feng Village Lady had been raising the Crown Grandson; speaking broadly, she had merit toward the state, yet a Royal woman was trying to break apart the marriage of a meritorious person’s son. Wouldn’t that be a slap in the face to the Royal Family?

If word spread, how would the people of Shengjing discuss it?

Saying the Royal women had no sense of morality.

One Princess snatched a Champion Scholar, one Commandery Princess snatched the Champion Scholar’s brother-in-law.

Shameful!

Utterly shameful!

The emperor’s gaze was icy, his voice even colder, as he said to Prince Yu, "Xiyue indeed needs to settle down. In the coming days, I will have the Imperial Concubine choose a suitable groom for her. Her impulsive nature could lead to trouble after marriage. How about this, let’s have Xiyue stay in the palace to learn etiquette starting today, and her marriage will proceed from the palace."

Prince Yu’s forehead began to bead with sweat, sweat breaking out on his brow.

The emperor hesitated over this and that, what kind of groom could he choose for Xiyue?

What if he chose a prince from a small country, or someone needing to ally with a frontier vassal of a different surname, wouldn’t Xiyue have to leave Shengjing, and whether they would meet again in this lifetime would remain unknown.

The Prince Mansion could only smile and agree.

Prince Yu regretted raising his daughter to be so arrogant.

Further, he regretted not punishing her or confining her at home when she left Longhua Temple to ambush Gu Jingzhe.

Yet, Prince Yu blamed Su Shihang more.

If it weren’t for his intentions of marrying into their family, his illiterate, ignorant old mother wouldn’t have proposed the match at Prince Yu Mansion, which wouldn’t have led to the Imperial Censor’s impeachment and the exposure of Zhao Xiyue’s scandal.

Su Shihang had no way to defend himself, and after court, for the first time, he lost his temper at his own mother.

Previously, when Old Mrs. Su tormented Min Baozhen and harshly treated the Lu Family, Su Shihang believed it was their fault.

He thought his mother was the most kind-hearted, loving mother in the world, and whenever she did something excessive, it was because others didn’t understand her enough.

Now the Su Family offended the Lin Family, and also made an enemy of the Prince Yu Mansion; all of this was due to Old Mrs. Su’s selfishness and waywardness.

Having hurt himself, he now felt the pain.

Su Shihang began to reassess his old mother.

Realizing she was stubborn and foolish.

Old Mrs. Su was reproached by her own son, yet righteously said, "A man unmarried and a woman unwed, why can’t he propose to Princess Ming Yue? If the Prince Yu Mansion doesn’t agree, then so be it, why cause such an ugly scene in court."

Everything she did was for whom, if not for her son, for the Su Family?

In Old Mrs. Su’s mind, with Min Baozhen passed, and the Lu Family left, Su Shihang was essentially in an unmarried status.

Being unmarried, he could propose to any unmarried woman in Shengjing.

She even thought Prince Yu and Princess Consort Yu looked down upon their family.

Upon learning that Zhao Xiyue was taken to the palace to learn rules, and that the emperor wanted the Imperial Concubine to choose a husband for Zhao Xiyue, Old Mrs. Su contemplated presenting her credentials to see the Imperial Concubine.

Hoping the Imperial Concubine would betroth Zhao Xiyue to Su Shihang, and deliberately infuriate Prince Yu and the Prince Yu Mansion.

But Su Shihang stopped her forcefully.

Tong Huaqiong knew nothing of court affairs.

When she went to attend the full moon celebration of Huang Jingshan and Lu Zhaoyang’s child, with no outsiders present, Huang Jingshan told Tong Huaqiong about recent court affairs.

"...Princess Ming Yue is now in the palace learning rules, and will stay there until the marriage. It’s said the Imperial Concubine is currently choosing a husband for her, but who knows what kind of person she’ll choose, hopefully someone far away for her like Princess Jingan." Huang Jingshan said.

With no more harassment from Zhao Xiyue, Gu Jingzhe could peacefully focus on his studies, and Lu Zhaozhao could peacefully nurture her pregnancy.

When the second heavy snow fell in Shengjing, Zhao Xiyue was betrothed to the youngest son of Prince Jingnan.

The youngest son of Prince Jingnan had lived in Shengjing since childhood, somewhat like a hostage.

In the spring, Zhao Xiyue and the youngest son of Prince Jingnan married, and the emperor granted them permission to return to Yunnan together.

Excited, the youngest son of Prince Jingnan repeatedly expressed his gratitude, finally able to return home after so long in Shengjing.

Although he did not like Zhao Xiyue, being able to return to Yunnan through the marriage was a good match for him.

He did not need to treat Zhao Xiyue with much consideration; leaving Prince Yu Mansion, Zhao Xiyue was like a toothless tiger, kept within the Prince Mansion.

After Zhao Xiyue was betrothed, she caused a scene in the palace.

She didn’t want to leave Shengjing.

The Imperial Concubine, with a cold face, instructed her, saying if it weren’t for Princess Jingan requesting to marry the King of Mo Bei for the sake of the nation, she would be stuck in the cold hardship of Mo Bei, never setting foot in Dasheng in her lifetime.

Marrying into Prince Jingnan Mansion, at least every three to five years, she could request permission to visit Shengjing once.

On hearing the news, Old Mrs. Su sneered, stating that Prince Yu should have just agreed to Zhao Xiyue marrying Su Shihang, and she could have at least stayed peacefully in Shengjing.

Now it’s simply like losing a daughter altogether.

After Zhao Xiyue’s marriage was settled, Tong Huaqiong specifically went to thank Mrs. Min.

She knew whether it was Old Mrs. Su proposing marriage at Prince Yu Mansion or revealing Zhao Xiyue’s pestering of Gu Jingzhe at Jinluan Palace, it couldn’t have happened without Old Mrs. Min’s instigation and the Mighty General’s support.

With Zhao Xiyue’s affairs resolved, Tong Huaqiong could finally spend a good New Year in peace.