Second, the guests arrive

Yang Shufei grew increasingly angry as she listened. Had she known that this beautiful tree would attract an expired concubine to flirt with the Emperor, she would have rejected it even if it were eight hundred times more beautiful. Seeing that Emperor Jing was almost enchanted by that little enchantress, she stamped her foot heavily and said, "Your Majesty! Did you not say you would accompany me to pick flowers? I want that branch, that branch, and that branch. Quickly, call Xiao Shunzi to pick them for me!"

Qing Tong exclaimed loudly: "Yuan Qing Tong! My mother said that my eyes were born bright and black, and she also said that 'qing' means black, so she named me Qing Tong!" Next to her, Yang Shu Fei snorted coldly: "Impertinent! What is your official name?" Qing Tong paused for a moment, lowered her head, and her voice became much softer: "Ning Che! Che, as in clear and pure, is also because of my eyes."

The Taixue is the place where the princes and princesses of the Dayuan study and receive enlightenment. It is also due to the rule that princesses can ascend to the throne that the princesses of Dayuan must study in their youth. After they grow up, they return to the palace, while only the princes continue to be taught by the Grand Tutor. Due to the numerous offspring of Emperor Jing, the matter of the princesses studying is not taken seriously, and there are no girls in the Taixue. Emperor Jing hesitated, saying: "In theory, it is possible, but currently there are no girls in the Taixue, and having you as the only girl among so many royal brothers is inconvenient." Due to the numerous offspring of Emperor Jing, the matter of the princesses studying is not taken seriously, and there are no girls in the Taixue. Emperor Jing hesitated, saying: "In theory, it is possible, but currently there are no girls in the Taixue, and having you as the only girl among so many royal brothers is inconvenient."

In the future, no matter where Qing Tong goes, she will always remember the clear sky above Gan Zhi Palace

Qing Tong saw a large group of people approaching from a distance, and had already stopped playing, staring with her bright, watery eyes. Wang Chongrong hurried out, bringing her, Hua Jian, and the nurse to kneel and wait. The Emperor and Yang Shufei dismounted from their palanquin, without acknowledging these few individuals. Wherever Yang Shufei went, everyone would kneel and wait for them to pass, a sight that had long become customary. She was just about to walk straight past these individuals when the Emperor, who was beside her, suddenly stopped, leaving her with no choice but to take a step back and wait.

Emperor Jing then said: "It is a bit difficult here; if anything is lacking, please discuss it with Yao Youde later."

Yang Shufei's face alternated between green and red, realizing that the phrase "move to Gan Zhi Palace" was equivalent to being sent to the cold palace, which was truly ominous! For the concubines in the harem, this was a serious curse. Seeing Qing Tong still eagerly awaiting her answer, it seemed she bore no malice at all. Yang Shufei found it difficult to take her anger out on her and could only vigorously wave her sleeve, saying: "Return to the palace!" The emperor ignored her and stormed off in anger.

Emperor Jing felt somewhat embarrassed, as he realized that the voice belonged to his own daughter, yet he did not recognize her. He cleared his throat and said, "I am... which palace is your mother from?" Wang Chongrong, who had been waiting nearby for quite some time, took the opportunity to perform a grand salute and replied, "This humble servant, Wang Chongrong of the Wang family, pays respects to Your Majesty."

Suddenly, one night the fragrance spreads, dispersing into a spring that stretches across the vast universe

The blue-eyed girl turned her eyes and suddenly said: "Your Highness, I didn't know you liked plum blossoms so much! That's wonderful! I like them too. You see, this tree is at its most beautiful when it blooms for the first time every winter, perfectly matching someone as beautiful as you! It's a pity you arrived a few days late; now the blossoms are not as lovely. What should we do..." It's a pity you arrived a few days late; now the blossoms are not as lovely. What should we do...

The emperor was doting on her, and upon seeing her sulking expression, he found it charming. He repeatedly said, "Alright, alright, alright, I am foolish. I will personally go with my beloved consort to pick them!" Yang Shufei was intrigued by his words and pulled Emperor Jing to ascend the palanquin, heading towards the direction of the red flowers. Yao Youde led the way in front, and the group passed through the woods, circled around the artificial hill, and after a long journey finally arrived in front of the Gan Zhi Palace.

As soon as Emperor Jing dismounted from his carriage, he saw an exceptionally beautiful little girl. Her pair of eyes was clear and bright, fixed intently upon him. When she noticed Emperor Jing looking at her, she became somewhat shy, her gaze flickering as she averted her eyes for a moment, yet she could not help but steal glances at him with her sparkling eyes, appearing very clever and adorable.

Qingtong asked: "Mother, how can you accept this after she has harmed you like this?! Talk to Father and let him judge the matter!"

The Emperor Jing has more than a dozen sons, so there is no need to consider the possibility of a princess ascending to the throne. Therefore, the name "Che" of Qing Tong is not an obscure character; this official title is merely symbolic. In the palace, only those of higher status who are not very close would address the princesses by their official titles. Yang Shufei's reluctance for Emperor Jing to call Qing Tong by her common name is, in effect, a refusal to acknowledge that she is also the daughter of Emperor Jing

Qing Tong finally saw her father and felt a surge of excitement. She looked at him repeatedly, her eyes filled with joy, and couldn't help but compliment, "Father, you are very handsome!"

Wang Chongrong seemed to be speaking to himself: "That year I was already 24 years old, just one year away, only one year away from freedom!"

Wang Chongrong and the others walked away, and with a solemn expression said: "Qingtong, come with me into the house"

Wang Chongrong smiled and said: "I have absolutely no such intention, Your Majesty, I truly lack nothing!"

Emperor Jing was taken aback again, as Wang Chong, dressed in tattered and worn clothes, knelt there with his head bowed. He had always regarded her as a palace maid. After a moment of hesitation, Emperor Jing finally said: "Everyone, please rise; there is no need for excessive formalities"

Wang Chongrong lifted the bowl to take a sip of water and asked, "Qingtong, do you know how I lost favor in the beginning?"

As the master and apprentice walked and talked, they suddenly spotted the emperor's bright yellow carriage from a distance and fell silent. They hurried over to present a bouquet to Consort Yang. Consort Yang had already put on a stern face and said: "It took you quite a while to pick a few flowers; you seem to be enjoying yourself with this task!"

In the icy and snowy forest, I stand alone, distinct from the mingling fragrance of peach and plum blossoms

Emperor Jing pondered for a moment, feeling that this was not a significant matter, and nodded, saying: "Alright, you may go and read as you please. Master Sun is notoriously strict; if you are not accustomed to it, you need not go." Qing Tong had already begun to cheer, her small face sparkling with excitement. Wang Chongrong, who had originally been frowning, could not help but smile slightly upon seeing his daughter so happy.

Wang Chongrong respectfully replied: "I am very well, and there is nothing lacking here"

Qing Tong was taken aback: "Mother, why?"

Wang Chongrong smiled and said: "Because I took the Huirong Pill, which is a type of medicine that can gradually make one's appearance dark and ugly"

Emperor Jing glanced at Yang Shufei, and she unhesitatingly glared back, showing no signs of yielding. After a moment of hesitation, Emperor Jing spoke: "Ning Che, you are seven years old, right?"

Emperor Jing turned his gaze towards her and, after a moment of effort to recognize her, asked: "Wang... Chongrong, you seem to be looking quite haggard. Have you not been well?" Wang Chongrong replied: "No, my lord. I am simply getting older, and it is natural that my appearance cannot remain as it once was"

Hearing her father refer to her in this way, Qing Tong felt a bit wronged and gently replied, "I am almost nine years old." Emperor Jing looked at the shimmering light in her eyes, which were so expressive they seemed to speak, and for a moment, he was somewhat moved. He then said, "How has life been? If you want anything, just tell me." Qing Tong quickly raised her head, her eyes shining with excitement, and said, "Really? Father! Can I go to the Taixue? I want to go to school!"

Qing Tong followed in and said: "Mother! That what’s-her-name, Consort Shu, is truly annoying. Just because she has a bit of looks, she’s become so full of herself, humph!"

Emperor Jing looked at the dilapidated palace, then at the mother and daughter who were dressed in rags and had no jewelry at all, feeling a sense of guilt in his heart. He walked in front of Qing Tong, examined her for a while, and said: "You are as beautiful as your mother was in her youth. What is your name?"

Emperor Jing felt a sense of fondness and paused to casually ask, "Which palace are you from? Do you recognize me?" The girl with the blue eyes had already become cheerful: "You are my father, right! My mother said that the one with a long beard and wearing a bright yellow robe is my father. You are indeed my father, aren't you?"

"Let him judge?" Wang Chongrong chuckled, looking at his daughter's bewildered expression. He then retracted his smile and said seriously, "At that time, I was favored, and if I brought this lawsuit against your father, he would most likely punish Guo Shuyuan severely. But what about next time? A year from now? Five years from now? I do not have a prominent maternal family to rely on, and there are many high-ranking concubines who harbor resentment. If I were to lose favor one day, how would I protect myself and my child? Qing Tong, the Emperor values beauty, but I am already twenty-four years old. How long can I rely on my looks to serve others? Even if I retain my appearance, how long can it last? Rong Meiren committed suicide when she lost favor at the age of seventeen, and even Guo Shuyuan was still beautiful when she lost favor!"

The old maid Ding, brought out from the Cailuan Palace, wiped her tears and said: "Little Princess, what a pity for the beauty of Empress Chongrong; I advised her at the time, but she would not listen."

She looked back at Qing Tong earnestly, both mother and daughter possessing dazzling eyes: "Rather than me being anxious every day, it is better to take decisive action and let others compete for it! Qing Tong, my abilities as a mother are limited, and there are many things I cannot control, but I still want to do my best to provide you with a clean sky in this palace!"

Wang Chongrong looked at her seriously and said, "Are you done with your little tricks? Qing Tong, do you know what 'taking a step back allows for a broader view' means?"

Qing Tong was unhappy: "Why doesn't she back down? I am unwilling to bully others, but I also do not wish to be bullied by others!"

She sighed: "In the end, I cannot escape my fate. At that time, the Emperor favored me greatly, but I was always unwilling to accept it. Later, I discovered that having you made me uneasy. With so many consorts in the palace, once the Emperor favors someone, the others are always filled with resentment. One day, Guo Shuyuan put a poison pill in the snack she gave me, and there was also some with Gao Xianfei; I recognized its taste, so I ate it."

The Emperor immediately discarded Qing Tong and instructed the young eunuch to pick the flowers. In a short while, the young eunuch brought the flower branches that Consort Yang wanted. Consort Yang glanced at them and threw them all on the ground, saying: "These are not good, go pick some from over there, from the back, and I want those three branches on top as well!" Qing Tong felt heartbroken, but she understood that she could not move recklessly and endured it with great difficulty. She watched as many more branches were picked and brought to Consort Yang. Consort Yang took a look and threw them on the ground again, saying: "These are still not good!"

Emperor Jing hurriedly called out "Beloved Consort" to follow him, and in an instant, he disappeared with several eunuchs, leaving behind a trail of footprints and scattered flower petals at the entrance of the Gan Zhi Palace

Emperor Jing said somewhat sadly: "Chongrong, you are indeed blaming me..."

Regarding names, the tradition was that princes from various countries in the Central Plains would have two names. The official name was recorded in the golden registers and jade tablets, and they would choose an obscure character to ensure that the common people could avoid the emperor's taboo after his ascension. For example, the crown prince was named Ning Juan, and the ninth prince was named Ning Xie, both of which are characters that nine out of ten people would not recognize. Once a new emperor ascended the throne, other princes could no longer use their official names. In daily life, they would have a commonly used name, similar to a nickname. Because the founding empress of Dayuan had only one daughter, the tradition here allowed for a princess to inherit the throne in the absence of princes. Therefore, the princess of Dayuan also had an official name, just like the princes. Although in later generations there was only one emperor who could not produce a son and had his eldest daughter succeed him, the rule that princesses must also have official names recorded in the golden registers and jade tablets has been maintained.

The azure-eyed girl displayed a look of confusion; she was not yet born when Wang Chongrong fell out of favor, so how could she possibly know why

Qingtong interjected, "Father, Mother always says that you are destined for great things and are very busy every day, which is why you don't have time to see us. I am not angry, just... just a little bit missing you..." Emperor Jing was moved and reached out to his daughter, wanting to embrace her

Qing Tong urgently said: "I am still young, there are several years until I reach the age of coming-of-age, let me go, I really want to study!"

Her small brows furrowed, and her little face was filled with a serious expression, a beauty that truly surpassed even flowers. Everyone couldn't help but ponder along with her. Suddenly, she clapped her hands and laughed, saying: "Ah, I've got it! Why not have the Empress move to our Gan Zhi Palace? The plum blossoms can be seen at a glance. What do you think? I will give my room to the Empress; one of the window panes is broken, and when you look up, you can see the plum blossoms!"

Yao Youde quickly apologized, repeating phrases such as "damn it, forgive me" several times. Emperor Jing, standing nearby, took over and said with a smile, "What a bright color, beloved consort, pin a flower on your hair for me to see." Yang Shufei, whose given name was Binghan, was the daughter of the current Prime Minister and was only nineteen years old this year. Having been spoiled since childhood, she twisted her body to evade the Emperor's hand and said, "How can such a thick branch be pinned to my head? I find the vase too large. Foolish servant! What I want is the slanted branch with a fork that I saw at the top of the tree just now."