Five Years To Ascend The Throne, Three Years Of Mock Simulations - Chapter 10

And so, surrounded like a moon among stars, she knelt for a little less than half an hour.

Taking the handkerchief Sheng An handed her, Ming Tan wiped the crumbs of Longjing crisps from the corner of her lips, gathered the thick cloak around herself, and felt that she had already gotten full from snacks alone.

What kind of VIP treatment was this…

At this moment, a young eunuch with an anxious expression suddenly came running over from the distance. He hurriedly saluted Ming Tan, then leaned close to Sheng An and whispered something in his ear.

After Sheng An finished listening, his expression changed. He quickly dismissed the palace maids holding trays around them, bent down, and said apologetically to Ming Tan, “Your Highness…”

Ming Tan blinked and immediately understood. She yanked off the cloak draped over her body and even smoothed her skirt to cover the kneepads, then straightened her back and knelt properly in place.

Sheng An swiftly took the cloak from her. Just as he had the young eunuch who delivered the message take it away, footsteps sounded in the distance. Someone was hurrying toward Tianhong Palace.

“Your Majesty Consort Yi!”

Ming Tan paused, then turned her head to look. She saw Sheng An trot over to welcome the newcomer, smiling in attendance, his posture and tone extremely cautious.

“His Majesty is currently in the hall discussing matters with Consort Ning…”

Ming Tan also recognized this Consort Yi. She was the daughter of a military family, the only daughter of the Great General Dingyuan, and one of the three consorts in the palace. Her maiden name was Hua Rong.

In the night, Hua Rong wore a black cloak embroidered with gold patterns. Her figure was slim and tall, making her look especially gallant and imposing. Her long hair was casually pinned up, as if she had left in a hurry. Between her brows and eyes was a cold, sharp beauty like a frosted blade, naturally carrying three parts fierceness, yet making it impossible for anyone to look away from her.

Hua Rong lifted her eyes and glanced calmly at Ming Tan kneeling before the hall. When she spoke, her voice was like ice cracking and jade shattering. “What a coincidence. I have also come tonight because there is an important matter I must discuss with His Majesty.”

Sheng An laughed dryly twice and hesitated with some difficulty. “This…”

“Then I will have to trouble Eunuch Sheng to announce me.” Hua Rong curved her lips and spoke slowly and unhurriedly. “It will depend only on whether His Majesty is willing to see me.”

Since the other party had put it that way, Sheng An could not find a reason to refuse for the moment. He could only salute with a worried face and enter the hall to ask the emperor’s wishes.

Seeing his figure disappear into the hall, Hua Rong withdrew her gaze and walked a few steps to Ming Tan’s side. She looked at her blandly. “Ninth Princess, please return to Kunning Palace.”

Ming Tan raised her head blankly and had just been about to speak when Hua Rong bent down and scooped her up. While unfastening the cloak from her own shoulders and wrapping it around Ming Tan, she said to the maid behind her, “Qixing, send the Ninth Princess back.”

Ming Tan’s mouth fell open, completely caught off guard by this development. “Your Majesty Consort Yi…?”

“As you command.”

The maid Qixing bowed in acknowledgment, walked to Ming Tan’s side, and gave her a deep curtsy. “Ninth Princess, please allow this servant to escort you back to your palace.”

“Wait, Your Majesty!”

Ming Tan was thrown into a bit of helpless confusion by this sudden change, but her mind was still clear enough. She immediately asked worriedly, “If I leave just like this, won’t Your Majesty anger Father Emperor?”

Seeing that Ming Tan actually knew to think on her behalf, Hua Rong paused. Her gaze could not help softening, and she gently shook her head. “It does not matter. When I discuss matters with His Majesty, outsiders are never permitted to remain outside Tianhong Palace. You may return to your palace with peace of mind.”

Ming Tan was still hesitating when Sheng An happened to walk out from inside the hall. He acted as if he had not seen Ming Tan, who had already risen to her feet. He only saluted Hua Rong and said respectfully, “Your Majesty Consort Yi, please wait a moment. Consort Ning is currently freshening up inside the hall. His Majesty will summon you in shortly.”

Hua Rong let out a cold laugh full of mockery.

Sheng An was worthy of being Sheng An. He actually acted as if he had not heard that cold laugh at all. Then he turned to Ming Tan and said with a smile, “Ninth Princess, please return as well… However, His Majesty instructed that after school tomorrow, please remember to make a trip to Tianhong Palace.”

Ming Tan gave a thoughtful “hm” and had not yet spoken when Hua Rong beside her was the first to furrow her brows. Her face filled with anger as she scolded, “The Fourth Princess merely had a few red scratches on her face. They were only small injuries, not even worth applying ointment to. Must this still go on endlessly?”

Sheng An was startled by her sudden attack and hurriedly said in embarrassment, “Your Majesty does not know…”

His words got stuck halfway, neither going up nor down.

On the surface, the emperor was supporting Consort Ning and Ming Xiao, but secretly, he was afraid the Ninth Princess would suffer even the slightest hardship… Sheng An, as chief steward, suddenly did not know whether he should speak of such inconsistent behavior.

Fortunately, Ming Tan reacted very quickly. She hurriedly tugged at the corner of Hua Rong’s robe and smiled sweetly. “Your Majesty, there’s no need to worry. Father Emperor has always finished today’s matters today!” After thinking about it, as if she felt this was not persuasive enough, she added, “If he still wants to punish me tomorrow, I promise I’ll immediately send someone to complain to Mother Empress. I definitely won’t suffer a loss for nothing.”

Whether it was because Ming Tan’s smile was cute enough, or because she had mentioned some key words… after hearing this, the hostility around Hua Rong instantly withdrew, and her expression softened once more.

She raised her hand and gently stroked the top of Ming Tan’s hair. Her voice carried a faint sigh. “With your mother empress’s slow and gentle nature, how can she protect you… Forget it. Go back first. Another day, I must invite the Ninth Princess to my palace as a guest and treat you to snacks.”

Seeing that the other party had relented, Ming Tan immediately deepened her smile and nodded hard. “Then Ming Tan will wait for Your Majesty’s invitation!”

…

Under Qixing’s escort, Ming Tan returned safely and steadily to Kunning Palace.

Unexpectedly, in the depths of the night, the empress was actually standing outside the palace doors with a robe draped over her shoulders. It looked as if she had waited there for a long time. The moment she saw Ming Tan, she rushed forward and asked nervously, trembling, “Tan’er! How did your father emperor punish you? Were you hurt anywhere?”

Ming Tan: “Uh…”

She hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting around. Then she used that little-child trick again and tugged at the empress’s sleeve to change the subject. “Don’t worry about that first! Mother Empress, Mother Empress, this is Sister Qixing, Consort Yi’s maid. She was the one who sent me back to Kunning Palace!”

The empress furrowed her brows, as if realizing something. She reached out and poked Ming Tan’s forehead hard, making the latter cry out in pain before finally rising and giving Qixing a grateful smile. “Ah Yu has worked hard this time.”

Ah Yu?

Who was Ah Yu?

Ming Tan widened her eyes. Could it be Consort Yi’s childhood name?

And what did she mean by “worked hard this time”… Could Consort Yi’s perfectly timed rescue tonight actually have been entrusted to her by Mother Empress?

Qixing smiled faintly, lowered her head respectfully, and said meaningfully, “Your Majesty the Empress is too serious. Tonight’s matter was merely a coincidence. My mistress had an important matter to discuss with His Majesty and happened to see the Ninth Princess kneeling in punishment outside the hall. Therefore, she ordered this servant to escort the princess back to the palace. There is no question of ‘working hard.’”

When she said the first half, the empress was still nodding in understanding. But when she heard the second half, her expression changed. She immediately flew into a rage, clutched her chest, and coughed several times, saying in disbelief, “Kneeling in punishment?! His Majesty has always doted on Tan’er. How could he bear to… how could he… cough, cough…”

Ming Tan was frightened and quickly supported the empress. While patting her back to help her breathe, she hurriedly said, “Mother Empress, don’t be angry! There are other details to this. Tan’er will explain it to you properly in a moment…”

Qixing took the opportunity to curtsy and withdraw, and the quick-witted Jinkui went to see her off. Ming Tan and Du Ye helped the empress back into the hall. Only after she drank two cups of hot water did they finally manage to suppress her coughing.

“Tan’er.” The empress waved her hand for Du Ye to step back and asked in deep worry, “What exactly happened tonight?”

Ming Tan then told her the entire story honestly, explaining everything Sheng An and the palace maids and eunuchs of Tianhong Palace had done. She also especially stated that they had acted under “Father Emperor’s instructions,” and only then did the empress finally calm her anger.

Because of this, the hall fell silent for quite some time. The empress held her forehead, her mood low. “It is all Mother Empress’s fault for being useless…”

Ming Tan knew what she was referring to.

The empress’s background was not especially illustrious. She was the daughter of the Prince of Huailing Commandery, unable to compare with Noble Consort Wan’s noble and meritorious family, nor with Consort Yi’s military lineage.

In his early years, the commandery prince had once fought in the northwest on behalf of the previous emperor, repelling the invading Qiangmi Kingdom. Unfortunately, he had also sustained an illness during the war and had no choice but to return to the capital to recuperate. From then on, he had accomplished nothing for many years and gradually faded into obscurity.

If not for the crown prince of those years, Ming Yi, stubbornly insisting and naming Gu Ying, the daughter of the commandery prince, as the woman he wanted to marry… with the empress’s family background, she never would have been able to enter the Eastern Palace as crown princess.

Her maternal family was quiet and nameless in the capital, and she herself had a slow, gentle personality that disliked fighting for things. How could she suppress Consort Ning, whose father was an important official in court and who spent all day acting arrogantly?

Not to mention that right now was the special period of the great drought in Yuanzhou. The emperor naturally had to give Consort Ning a great deal of face.

Because of all sorts of problems left behind through the Tiancheng Dynasty’s past generations, officials and ministers held firm control over their respective duties. Even though the emperor was the most honorable Son of Heaven, supreme above all, he still had no choice but to be restrained everywhere, his actions bound hand and foot.

For example, this time.

If Minister Ning refused to release funds, then the disaster victims of Yuanzhou really would not be able to receive the life-saving grain they were waiting for.

“…”

Ming Tan instinctively tightened her fingers, for the first time regretting that she had acted impulsively.

She had clearly been the one who kicked Ming Xiao, yet Third Imperial Sister had to feel guilty for her, Father Emperor had to clean up the aftermath for her, and Mother Empress had to blame herself for her…

She lowered her eyes, held the empress’s hand, and said softly, “Mother Empress, Tan’er knows she was wrong.”

The empress looked at her daughter in surprise, then seemed to suddenly understand something. She reached out and gently patted Ming Tan’s shoulder, saying slowly, “No, Tan’er. You were not wrong.”

“But I…”

“Of course you may do what you believe is right.”

The empress smiled and said, “Tan’er, you are a princess.”

Ming Tan abruptly widened her eyes.

Only after a long while did she bite her lip, forcibly swallow down the sourness in her throat, close her eyes, and nod heavily.

“Mm. Tan’er is a princess.”

The next day at the Upper Study.

“I was only absent for one day. How did Your Highness end up causing such a huge matter?”

Lin Shurong sat on her knees beside Ming Tan, glanced meaningfully at Ming Xiao’s empty seat, and asked softly, “Could it be that you acted impulsively again?”

“You’re so annoying.” Ming Tan pouted listlessly and did not want to pay attention to her at all. “Stop asking, stop asking.”

“…Looks like I guessed correctly.” Lin Shurong laughed.

Ming Tan rolled a dead-fish eye at her.

It was rare for the Ninth Princess not to yell at her. Instead, she merely lay on the desk in low spirits, shutting herself away, surrounded by a whole stretch of gloomy clouds. Seeing it, Lin Shurong oddly felt a little unable to bear it.

She thought for a moment, bent down, opened her book chest, and slowly took out a small food box, placing it before Ming Tan with a smile. “Here, Your Highness.”

“…” Ming Tan straightened, glanced at her, and muttered as she reached out to open the food box, “You didn’t poison it, did you…”

Lin Shurong raised a brow, her face calm and breezy. “Your Highness must not speak nonsense.”

Ming Tan stuck out her tongue at her and set the food box lid aside. Inside were several snowy-white, soft pastries. Each piece had a small golden cluster of honey gathered on top. Fragrant petals were scattered around the soft cakes. Like jelly pudding, they trembled lightly with Ming Tan’s movements as she handled the food box. Just one look made it clear their texture must be wonderfully springy and tender.

“What is this?”

“Gardenia cakes made by my mother herself.” Lin Shurong smiled faintly. “After hearing that Your Highness suffered a grievance last night, I specially brought them for you to taste.”

“…Heard from where?” Ming Tan widened her eyes.

Like magic, Lin Shurong fished a pair of chopsticks out of her book chest and handed them to her, saying meaningfully, “The matter of Your Highness being punished had already spread through more than half the capital by this morning. Did Your Highness truly not know?”

“…”

She could guess with her heel whose handiwork that was.

This was exactly how her reputation was ruined bit by bit.

Ming Tan gloomily took the chopsticks, let out an even gloomier sigh, picked up a piece of flower cake, and put it into her mouth.

The fresh sweetness of gardenia immediately spread across her tongue. As expected, the pastry was soft and smooth, like double-skin milk, unable to withstand much chewing at all and practically melting as soon as it entered her mouth.

As the flower cake changed shape, the honey flowed down with it, adding a little sweetness to the dessert. It lost two parts of elegance, but its flavor increased by two parts instead. It was simply too suitable for a little girl like Ming Tan, who loved sweet snacks and pastries.

“Mm!” She swallowed the cake and praised Lin Shurong in astonishment. “It’s so good! Madam Lin actually has such wonderful skill!”

“If my mother knew Your Highness praised her this way, she would certainly be very happy.”

Seeing that Ming Tan no longer looked full of misery, Lin Shurong also did not act modest on Madam Lin’s behalf. She merely narrowed her eyes and smiled, then pushed a small pale-blue porcelain bottle in front of Ming Tan.

The latter paused with her chopsticks and curiously picked up the bottle to look at it. “What is this?”

“Bruise-dissolving ointment. It can treat injuries from kneeling,” Lin Shurong said. “My family’s younger brother is mischievous and fond of martial arts, so he is often injured. Your Highness suffered last night and must need this, so I asked him for a bottle.”

Eh?

Why was the great demon king so thoughtful today?

Ming Tan tilted her head in surprise. Lin Shurong looked back at her calmly, her face full of matter-of-course ease, as if she had not noticed her own change of character at all.

“…All right.” After the two looked at each other for a long while, Ming Tan finally reached out and took the porcelain bottle, saying awkwardly, “Then thank the Lin family’s younger brother for me.”

Lin Shurong raised her brows and did not mind why Ming Tan did not thank her. Instead, with smooth and flowing movements, she took a thick stack of paper out of her chest and slapped it in front of Ming Tan, smiling at her like a spring breeze.

“Come, Your Highness,” she said cruelly, brutally, viciously, and without humanity, “these are the copybooks that must be finished today. Please look them over.”

Ming Tan: “…”

The flower cake in her mouth instantly stopped tasting good.

Expressionless, she set down the chopsticks, curled her lips, and once again rolled a world-shaking eye at Lin Shurong.