Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 599 What Duties Should We Uphold?

"Between your third brother and the Crown Prince, who do you spend more time with?"

The second princess broke out in a cold sweat, but her face remained innocent and naive. "Crown Prince and Third Brother are both my brothers. Why does Father ask such a question?"

The emperor shook his head. "Jun'er, that's all you need to answer."

The second princess did not lower her guard because of the emperor's sudden affectionate address.

She knew the emperor would demand a result, and her answer had to conform to the emperor's preconceived notions.

So she told the truth: "My elder brother, the Crown Prince, is busy with official duties, but my third brother is younger and often plays with us."

The emperor nodded and asked again, "You have a female official named Wei by your side. Is she treating you well?"

The second princess did not rush to answer. She carefully recalled the questions the emperor had asked, which seemed unrelated, but she knew the emperor's personality.

There must be a connection between these issues.

She couldn't make up her mind for a moment, but decided to tell the truth: "Qinyi has always been very good to me."

Of course, she also tried to ask the emperor a question in return. She asked in a daze, "Father's question is so strange. I am Father's daughter. Who would dare to treat me badly?"

The emperor laughed and asked, "Can you distinguish between good and bad?"

“Of course!” said the second princess.

“Even I sometimes can’t tell the difference, but you can speak with such certainty. It seems you are better than me.”

The second princess knelt down in fear, saying, "I misspoke."

"Get up." The emperor's expression was always deceptive. The second princess secretly observed him, thinking hard, but she couldn't guess what he was thinking.

Without knowing anything, one can only comply in order to ensure complete safety.

"Go and summon that female official surnamed Wei," the emperor said to Eunuch Qian.

The second princess's two hands, hidden in her sleeves, were clasped tightly together.

"Yes." After Eunuch Qian left, the Emperor seemed to realize that the Second Princess was still there and said to her, "Oh, Jun'er, you should go back too."

The second princess had no choice but to withdraw, knowing that once today was over, Wei Qinyi would definitely not be able to stay by her side anymore. "How old are you this year?" the emperor asked Wei Qinyi, who was kneeling below.

Wei Qinyi appeared calm on the surface, but was actually panicking inside. "Your Majesty, this servant is twenty-two years old this year."

"Twenty-two." The emperor pondered for a moment and said, "You're not young anymore. In ordinary families, people of this age are already married and have children."

"I heard from Jun'er that you have never gotten married."

"Yes."

The emperor flipped through the memorials before him, speaking in a very casual tone, as if it were just ordinary conversation, "Is there a reason?"

“There’s no special reason, I just don’t want to get married,” Wei Qinyi said.

The emperor looked up at her and said, "Isn't it unusual that you don't want to get married?"
So, what's the reason you don't want to get married?

"Your Majesty, there is no reason."

The emperor asked, "Do you have someone you love but cannot have?"

"Your Majesty, no."

"So your father has always treated your mother poorly?"

“My parents have always been harmonious.”

The emperor chuckled twice. "You are a lady-in-waiting to the princess, so your thoughts and ideas will inevitably influence her."

Since you have such thoughts, then it's inconvenient for you to serve the princess.

For a moment, Wei Qinyi couldn't figure out what she had done to displease the emperor. It was mainly because she had done too many things, and she didn't know which one the emperor had noticed.

Regardless, Wei Qinyi still wanted to fight for herself. "Your Majesty, the princess is a member of the royal family. If she marries in the future, she will be chosen as a consort, which is very different from my situation."

The emperor said, "You are all women, what is the difference between you? Leave the palace tomorrow."

Even when you return home, you must uphold your duties as a woman.