Proud Feather

Chapter 28
"Huier." Seeing his daughter, Tian Ben's tone softened. "Why did you come out? It's okay. Dad won't let you go."

Although Tian Huier is inconspicuous among the noble ladies, she is a truly delicate young lady in the Tian family.

The eldest daughter was born early. At that time, Tian Ben was just a shop assistant, so he raised her roughly and married her off early. Unfortunately, she lost her husband within a few years.

The timing of the second daughter's birth was perfect. The emperor had already ascended the throne, the younger sister had given birth to a prince and became a concubine, and the empress soon died. She was seen becoming more and more favored every day. The Tian family's status rose, and they transformed into a family of officials, so they naturally took good care of her.

It can be said that the filthy smell of the Tian family has been completely removed from Tian Huier, and her food, clothing, housing and transportation are similar to those of a real official lady.

And Tian Huier really lived up to her family's expectations. She was good-looking and well-mannered. She had been associating with noble ladies since she was a child, and she got along with the princess like a sister.

Tian Ben had high hopes for his second daughter. He knew it wouldn't be hard for her to marry into a middle-class family, not to mention a noble family. His son married a lady, and his daughter married a nobleman, gradually eradicating the Tian family's roots.

At this time, Tian Huier said: "Dad, why don't I go!"

"How can this be possible?" Tian Ben objected. "What kind of good place is the government office? What good girl would go to court? If you go there, who knows what they will say. You're old enough now, and the marriage is only going to be arranged in the next two years. You absolutely can't make any mistakes."

"Father, if it was just the Dali Temple that summoned me, I definitely wouldn't go, but the princess is there."

"The princess is going there to supervise the work, how does that make any difference?" Tian Ben refused.

"Dad, listen to me." Tian Huier explained patiently, "Given the princess's personality, even if the Dali Temple is just using her name, she'll be angry if we don't give her face. Now they're investigating the murderer who poisoned her. If we don't go, wouldn't that mean we're guilty? Once the princess gets angry, she'll really send people to arrest us!"

"Isn't it possible?" Tian Ben hesitated. "Forget about you and your sister, but your grandmother is the Second Prince's grandmother, at least she's an elder. How can she really not give you any face?"

"We don't even give her face, so why should she give us face?" Tian Hui'er had been a follower for so many years and knew the princess's temperament too well. She spoke with a slight dissatisfaction, "In her heart and eyes, there is no one else except His Majesty and the Crown Prince. She can barely give way to my cousin here, but she doesn't even give this face to my aunt. How can she still care about us?"

Tian Ben was persuaded by his daughter.

Tian Huier asked again: "If the princess really sends people to arrest us, what will you do, Dad?"

Tian Ben opened his mouth but couldn't answer.

"Father, you can't do anything to her. Even if you report her to Aunt, His Majesty will at most say a few mild words and then reward her to appease her. Then, the whole capital will laugh at our family. Why should we humiliate ourselves?"

Tian Ben was persuaded by her and hesitated, "Then let your sister go? After all, she..."

"My sister can't speak, and the princess has no feelings for her." Tian Huier flatly rejected it. "Dad, don't think too much. The most important thing for us now is to pass this level, otherwise there will be no future."

The implication in her words made Tian Ben nervous. "Princess, don't you really think my family is harming her? Whether you invite her to listen to the sutras or your grandmother goes to burn incense, it's all normal!"

Tian Huier didn't respond, just looked at her father.

Tian Ben felt guilty when she looked at him, and said quickly, "Okay, come back soon after you finish talking."

Tian Huier smiled and said, "Don't worry, Dad. I'm going to see the princess. What bad things could I say?"
-
Soon after the meal, the people the officers had invited arrived.

The first to arrive were Mrs. Cao and Mrs. Yan. Just as Gao Mian had expected, since he had personally issued the order, the two families dared not fail to come. One was accompanied by her husband, the other by her son, which was in accordance with etiquette.

They were tactful, so Gao Mian was polite. He asked the two ladies to verify the maid's confession and asked them to wait for a while.

When the messenger came to announce the arrival of Miss Tian Er, Chu Ling, who was sitting behind the screen drinking tea, smiled. She knew that Tian Huier would not dare not come.

In her previous life, Tian Huier had always been doing well. Her cousin became the emperor and her aunt became the empress dowager. She was engaged at first, but later for some reason she broke off the engagement and entered the palace.

I heard that my second brother treated her well because of her status as Concubine Shu, and she has always been favored and even had children with him.

How could Tian Hui'er, who was so good at judging the situation, not smell the danger? Naturally, he had to personally coax her and get through this crisis.

However, she was not very satisfied. She summoned three people from the Tian family, but only one came.

"My daughter, Tian's Second Mother, greets Master Gao. My grandmother is old and unwell, and my sister is a widow at home, so it's inconvenient for her to come. I've been asked to apologize to you, Master, and I beg for your forgiveness."

Gao Mian had anticipated this result and looked behind the screen.

Tian Hui'er was much more clever than Tian Fu. As soon as she saw the screen in the hall, she knew Chu Ling was behind it. She followed Gao Mian's gaze, as if she had just realized what was going on. She hesitated and said, "But the princess is here? Princess, can I explain this to you in person?"

Since she said so, how could Chu Ling refuse? She smiled and said, "Okay, come here."

Tian Hui'er beamed, feeling a little relieved. She had been afraid that if the princess were to handle everything on a business-like basis, it would mean she was really going to deal with her family. Now that the princess had let her in, it meant she could explain the misunderstanding to her close friend, rather than confront her in court.

So she bowed to Gao Mian and walked over quickly, lifting her skirt.

There were tables and chairs behind the screen, and Chu Ling sat at the table, slowly eating snacks and drinking tea, with palace servants accompanying her beside her - this leisurely look, if it weren't for the wrong location, would be no different from a flower-viewing and poetry gathering.

Tian Huier felt a little unfair, but she quickly wiped it away and smiled innocently as usual.

"Princess, are you feeling better? I heard you were poisoned the other day..."

"I'm fine." Chu Ling paused and said, "Isn't it a coincidence that the two times we met, you kept asking me if I was feeling better..."

Tian Huier said hurriedly, "Princess, you are blessed by heaven. Although you have suffered this time, good things will surely come after the hard times!"

Look, he's avoiding the important issues and speaking in sweet words.

Chu Ling smiled and raised her voice, "Master Gao, Miss Tian Er is an old friend of mine. I don't want her to go through the court again. How about letting my staff ask her?"

Gao Mian was eager to get rid of this job and immediately agreed: "I can hear you from here, Princess, you have the final say."

Chu Ling was very satisfied with his skills. Look, the knife doesn't fit your hand well. Just sharpen it.

Jiang Shijun, standing nearby, received the signal and stepped forward, bowing and smiling, saying, "Miss Tian Er, my surname is Jiang, and I have been asked by the princess to ask a few questions. I hope you can enlighten me."

Seeing his friendly smile, Tian Hui'er felt much more relaxed and nodded, "Please come in, Mr. Jiang."

After saying this, Jiang Shijun was still smiling, but his expression gradually became profound and gloomy.

He asked the first question quietly, "May I ask, Miss Tian Er, when you invited the princess to the Dahuai Temple that day, did you intend to lead her to see Jinghui?"

(End of this chapter)