Tang Dynasty Puppet Doctor

Chapter 55 Princess Taiping, Punishing Qiu

The words "I want to be someone else's mother again" made Cui grit her teeth. She clenched her fists and suppressed her anger for a long time before she burst out.

When she was young, she saw Xiao Hongjing, who was concentrating on playing the qin with great grace at a poetry gathering. His piece of Ji Zi's Changqing shocked the audience, and his ability to play the pipa with raised toes made people think he was an immortal. His unrestrained and romantic demeanor was quite representative of the famous scholars of the Wei and Jin Dynasties. From then on, her heart was obsessed with this man, and she took the initiative to invite him many times, hoping to achieve a marriage between a talented man and a beautiful woman.

However, Xiao Hongjing was full of disdain for her, and even said to her venomously, "Although our family backgrounds are a good match, our personalities are not. The Cui family has always prided itself on being a first-class clan, so how could I dare to marry into such a position? Moreover, a person's nobility does not lie in his status, but in his heart."

The saying "A person's nobility lies not in his power but in his heart" devalued her character to nothing. From then on, she vowed to teach this man a lesson.

Later, it was heard that this man went to the battlefield and brought back a woman of unknown origin. Less than five years later, the woman disappeared mysteriously. There were all kinds of strange rumors about this woman in Luoyang City. Some said she was a fairy, some said she was a demon, and some even said she was a ghost.

She knew that the opportunity had come. Because her reputation was ruined when she was young, many big families did not dare to propose to her. She was already twenty years old. Her mother, who was a concubine, also advised her many times to marry someone of lower status, but she was unwilling. Until this day, she once again begged her grandfather to marry her into the Xiao family, even if it was as a second wife.

She originally thought that if she married into the Xiao family and won the approval of the head and mistress of the Xiao family with her own abilities, Xiao Hongjing would look upon her with respect. However, she did not expect that Xiao Hongjing would rather go out with prostitutes all day long and never set foot in her room.

It was not until the Xiao family was wiped out that she appealed to the government and finally made him write a letter of divorce.

How heartless!
Although she had never seen the woman Xiao Hongjing brought back with her own eyes, she had seen the portrait of the woman in his study.

I have to say, the bastard this woman gave birth to Xiao Hongjing looks really like that woman.

Especially as she watched the child grow up, his talents and temperament became more and more like his father, Cui felt extremely uncomfortable.

She knew that Xiao Hongjing was unwilling to step into her room and did not want to have children with her. He just wanted to hand over the inheritance rights of the Xiao family of Nanliang to his son.

What a brilliant calculation!
So what did she get in return for marrying into the Xiao family?
……

The more she thought about the past, the more resentful Cui became when she looked at Xiao Muchen, and this anger even extended to Murong Huan.

"Where did you come from, you little bitch, to talk to me?"

Cui's angry voice immediately attracted the attention of another group of noble ladies.

Wang Wuniang's mother, Lady Liu, couldn't help but chime in, "Madam Cui, that's exactly what you're doing wrong. Ever since the sages created the 'Family Names' register, no one's status is determined by their ancestors anymore. Family affiliations are so fickle, while what remains constant are a person's talent and character. This lowly girl you're talking about is a great benefactor to our Taiyuan Wang family. Madam Cui, having studied the sages' books since she was a child, don't you realize how precious the human heart is?"

"You, Wang Liu..."

Cui was about to get angry when she heard a lazy voice interrupt her: "What's all the commotion?"

Several noble ladies and gentlemen who were watching also looked in the direction of the sound, and saw a beautiful woman wearing a silk cross-collared dress, with a plump figure, and a cloak decorated with precious emerald feathers and embroidered with peonies, walking towards them, accompanied by a group of maids and the gentlemen's family.

"See Your Highness the Princess!"

The noble ladies and gentlemen around her saluted at the same time. Even Xiao Muchen bowed to her with great respect: "I pay my respects to Her Royal Highness the Princess!"

So this is Princess Taiping!
The woman looked to be in her twenties. It was said that she had given birth to four children for Xue Shao, but her plump and seductive figure did not look like that of a woman who had given birth to children. Her appearance was gorgeous yet dignified and wealthy, and there was a hint of laziness in her every move.

The moment he saw Princess Taiping, Murong Huan once again felt an indescribable sadness.

"So it's Zicheng who's here. In the past, when I invited you, you always declined due to being busy. How come you're free to come today?"

"Your Highness, please forgive me. The past is the past, and today is today. What's more, the Peony Festival hosted by Your Highness is an annual event that brings together talented people. It is a pity to miss it." "I didn't expect Zicheng to say such nice things. Now that you are here, please take a seat at the banquet. Many scholars have left their calligraphy here. I remember that Zicheng played the zither very well and wrote excellent poems. Don't let me down today!"

"Here!"

Princess Taiping finished speaking, took the hand of a young man, and was about to leave when she seemed to have discovered something. She glanced at Cui and the other noble ladies and said, "By the way, what happened just now?"

Xiao Muchen replied, "It's nothing, I was just bitten by a dog. I don't want to pollute Her Royal Highness's ears, so let's not talk about it!"

"You——" Cui glared.

Princess Taiping couldn't help laughing. "Zicheng is still the same as he was when he was little, sharp-tongued and full of wit! Well, since you don't want to mention it anymore, I won't ask about it anymore!"

Princess Taiping finished speaking and whispered something into the ear of a maidservant beside her. The maidservant immediately said in a stern voice:

"Everyone, please take your seats! You are guests here. If anyone continues to stir up trouble here, Her Highness will no longer care about their dignity and will expel them from the palace!"

Cui's face was horrified, and Qiu's expression also changed drastically. They quickly bowed their heads and replied, "Yes!"

"Oh, right!" The maid glanced at Qiu and the two girls she brought with her. "Although Her Highness the Princess doesn't judge people by their status, she does judge them by their character. Whoever provoked the incident just now, please come forward and leave the Princess's Mansion immediately. Otherwise, if the Princess finds out, she will definitely punish you severely!"

As soon as the maid finished speaking, Su Wuniang screamed in fear, pointing at Murong Huan and saying, "It's her! She's the one who started this trouble!"

Qiu quickly covered Su Wuniang's mouth.

The maid's face changed, and she glanced sideways, signaling another plump maid to come over. She took a step forward and slapped Su Wuniang in the face, making Su Wuniang burst into tears for no apparent reason.

"Why did you hit me?"

"You think Her Royal Highness is a fool? You were shouting so loudly just now that we could hear you from a distance. I asked you to stand up and gave you an opportunity, but you actually used it to slander others. Do you think every pair of eyes here are blind?"

Su Wuniang was about to burst into tears due to grievance, and Qiu immediately knelt down and said, "It is my fault for not teaching well. Please forgive me, Your Highness!"

"Since Madam Su's teaching is not good enough, then take your own daughter back!"

Qiu was horrified, but she had to lower her head and nodded. Then she took Su Wuniang and Su Sanniang, who looked angry and unwilling, to walk out of Princess Taiping's mansion.

Princess Taiping turned back and glanced at Cui before smiling and saying, "Madam Cui, I know you were reluctant to marry into the Xiao family and live as a widow, but when the Xiao family suffered a devastating disaster, they gave you a chance to survive. This was a great kindness. As a person, you shouldn't just think about what others owe you; you should also think about whether you owe others. Tell me, am I right?"

"Yes, Your Highness the Princess is right!"

Princess Taiping nodded and looked at Xiao Muchen again: "Zicheng, what are you waiting for? Come on, I'm still waiting to hear you play the qin!"

Xiao Muchen nodded: "Yes!"

At this time, a handsome and elegant man beside Princess Taiping tugged at her sleeve and said in a rather feminine and coquettish manner, "Your Highness, I play the zither very well, too!"

Murong Huan's attention was instantly attracted by this young man with an extraordinary demeanor.

Lotus Rokulang Zhang Changzong!
He turned out to be Zhang Changzong, the male favorite of the empress whom she had once dreamed of!
(End of this chapter)