Too high to reach

Chapter 94 Looking forward to a good show
In the palace, the Empress finished her work and drank a cup of warm tea.

Then, addressing the respectful Lady Zhuang who had been standing for quite some time, he said, "Speak!"

Lady Zhuang had lost the arrogance she displayed at the Mo family. With her eyes half-lowered and body slightly bowed, she softly recounted what she had seen on her trip. Knowing the Empress's habits, she presented her account objectively.

You said she's average-looking?

"Your Highness, that girl is indeed of average appearance! Her face is covered in bruises, so it seems what the Prince said was true. Her attire, manners... not to mention anything else, even the maids in Your Highness's palace are far superior to her!"

The Empress remained silent, thinking to herself: Was it really because of an accidental injury that she married him to protect the girl's reputation?

Ha, what a joke!
"Mother, what are you doing?!" A melodious female voice rang out; Princess Yu'an had arrived.

Everyone in the palace stepped forward to greet the princess.

Princess Yu'an didn't even glance at them; she went straight to the Empress's side as soon as she entered.

Lady Zhuang bowed respectfully and quietly withdrew.

The Empress looked at her daughter, her eyes crinkling with laughter. "There's something interesting that I've been wondering about!"

"Should I talk to my daughter about it?"

The Empress then told her everything in detail.

Princess Yu'an blinked, somewhat incredulous: "Mother, you said he's taken a fancy to whose daughter? The Mo family?"

The Empress nodded: "Yes! I just had Zhuang Zhen take a look. They're an ordinary family. The head of the household is the girl's uncle, a barely fourth-rank official, and he only does things like editing. The girl is just over fifteen, and her appearance is quite ordinary... I don't know what Li Jing is up to!"

"Zhuang Zhen! Come here!" Princess Yu'an suddenly raised her voice and called out.

The empress was startled and looked at her reproachfully.

Lady Zhuang had already retreated to the side hall next door.

As soon as the princess called out, someone immediately went to fetch her. She hurried over, a fawning smile on her face, "Your Highness, did you call me 'Your Majesty'?"

"Where does that Mo family you visited today live?" Princess Yu'an leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. She knew how a woman should sit, but she just wouldn't.

She has that right!

"Your Highness, the Mo family lives in Yuanbao Alley."

Who lives in your family?

"A whole family! I heard it's three brothers living together, and quite a few daughters. When I went there, a whole bunch of them came out. His Highness Prince Qi has taken a liking to the second daughter of the second wife, named Mo Yi."

"Does she have an older sister who just got engaged?"

Zhuang Zhen recalled, "That Mo Rushan was quite talkative. I think he mentioned that Mo Yi's older sister had just gotten engaged to the grandson of Doctor Xu, the old master of Guanglu. This Master Mo is so talkative; in no time, he'd mentioned three generations of his ancestors!"

Her disdainful tone made Princess Yu'an burst into laughter.

"My goodness! This is...so much fun!"

They laughed and laughed until tears streamed down their faces, and the maid beside them quickly handed them handkerchiefs.

"What's so funny? How can you be so happy..." The Empress laughed too.

"It's okay...oh...it's okay. This is so much fun!"

It's unbelievable; how can things in the world be so coincidental?
Xu Ke's marriage was arranged hastily by him under the influence of his own lust and coercion.

I'm looking for a small, inconspicuous, and honest company.

But unexpectedly, she ended up becoming sisters with that bastard, sharing the same parents!

If Xu Ke were told that His Highness Prince Qi would be his brother-in-law... what would he think?

Wow, this marriage is so interesting!

...In that case, I will make some plans and wait for the good show to begin!

She smiled again and continued wiping away her tears.

"Oh dear, what's wrong with you...?" The Empress shook her head helplessly.

She knew that Dongfang had always been a shadow in her daughter's heart.

Although he didn't understand why she was so persistent, he couldn't kill Dongfang or bring his daughter back at the moment.

It's good that you can laugh so heartily!
"Your Majesty, His Majesty has arrived!" a palace maid announced at the door. "What are you laughing at, Yu'an? I heard it from the courtyard!" the Emperor said as he entered.

The Queen quickly stood up.

Princess Yu'an also quickly got up and moved closer to the Emperor, wanting to reach out and tug at his clothes, but hesitated for a moment and didn't actually do it.

"Father! Mother is telling me about Seventh Brother. I never expected that Seventh Brother would suddenly have a change of heart and turn into a loving, righteous, and responsible young man!"

The Emperor frowned: "What are you saying?!"

He could indulge in beautiful women, and even enjoy the erotic and explicit things they said to him.

But other women, especially his daughters, were not allowed to do anything out of line.

Princess Yu'an's joyful mood vanished instantly...

He's always been like this!
Anger rose in his heart: Ming'an, that bitch, is rotten to the core, and I can't even replace her?
She can tug at your clothes and spout nonsense, and you! Just stand there grinning like an idiot, completely indulging her.

Why do you show this attitude when it comes to me?

Princess Yu'an feigned embarrassment and gave a soft reply, glancing at her father, the Emperor…

After the major illness and disaster that year, his body and mind never recovered. The heavy workload of court affairs made him look much older than his actual age.

Another illness... or if I cause something else, he won't be able to handle it.

Great, I've been looking forward to that day!
It's been too long...

The youth and emotions I've wasted, the humiliations I've endured...

The image of Dongfang appeared in my mind... They all have to pay with their blood and flesh!

Just like that bitch Ming'an!
She lowered her eyes, concealing a sinister look. "Father, you speak with Mother. I'll go see Grandmother first!"

"Go!" the Emperor waved his hand.

The Empress helped the Emperor sit down and then personally brewed tea for him.

She said gently, "Your Majesty, I sent someone to check. The Mo family is basically as Seventh Prince said. When they saw people from the palace, the whole family was dumbfounded. The girl's bruises haven't completely faded yet. It seems that Seventh Prince really is soft-hearted."

The Empress looked amused and shook her head.

The emperor snorted; his feelings toward this son were very complicated.

I don't want him to live a bad life, but I also don't want him to receive too much.

They wanted him to serve the court, but they couldn't let him hinder their plans.

"Your Majesty, on the second day of the second lunar month, summon that girl here so you and the Empress Dowager can both take a look. If it's a good match, then bestow the marriage upon her. If not, as long as she's not his principal wife, then let him have his way! You are so busy with state affairs, please don't worry about your children anymore. What do you think of Yu'an..."

"Such a straightforward and intelligent woman. Yet she fell for Dongfang's tricks... I always thought that people's hearts are made of flesh and blood. But why can't Yu'an's infatuation move him?"

"Sometimes, I'm just so angry! I don't know which princess could be treated like this! But Dongfang is a talented man of the court, and has made great contributions to Your Majesty. Although I'm angry, I can't ask you to punish her according to the law."

She paused, then continued, "I've told Yu'an countless times to separate from Dongfang and find another talented young man. Releasing the prince consort would be the same as freeing herself. But she refuses! What is love in this world..."

She spoke as if it were an unintentional remark, a spontaneous expression of her feelings.

The Emperor's face also darkened. Dongfang—he was someone he'd watched grow up since childhood! He'd once been extremely fond of him!
I once admired and was moved by that guy's unconditional love for Ming'an.

But that's all in the past!

No matter how much I like him, Ming'an is no longer here!

Getting married, having children, and pursuing a better future—that's how any person would live their life!
But that bastard humiliated my daughter... He's the only one like him in the whole world!
"Don't worry! I will bring him back. He will pay the price for the wicked things he has done!"

The Empress had gone around in circles for so long, all for this very purpose.

Then she came back to the same point: "So, what about the matter on the second day of the second lunar month? Is that it?"

The Emperor nodded without saying a word.

……

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(End of this chapter)