Her guards

Chapter 46 The Emperor and Empress's Everyday Affairs
On a clear autumn morning, the imperial city was shrouded in a thin mist, making the palaces resemble a fairyland.

Princess Heicheng entered Kunning Palace and saw many people standing in front of the Empress's bedroom.

There were people from Kunning Palace, people from the emperor's side, and two maids who were not from the palace.

Princess Heicheng looked at the two maids and recognized them as belonging to her maternal grandfather, the Marquis of Yichun's family.

Palace maids and eunuchs greeted her with bows, and the two servants also stepped forward to pay their respects: "Princess, the old lady of the Marquis of Yichun has come to see Your Highness."

Princess Heisei was initially delighted, "Grandmother has arrived?" She then frowned and looked towards the Empress's chambers, "Is there something you need?"

So early.

.......
……

"I have come to see the Empress. I was ill before, and the Empress was very worried. I came today to let her see me so that she can be at ease."

The old lady of the Marquis of Yichun said that she respectfully bowed to the emperor, who was dressed in casual clothes and had breakfast with the empress.

The emperor chuckled and helped her up: "It's my fault that my mother-in-law had to make such a trip. I should have accompanied Ah Feng to see you."

The emperor and empress were a couple who met during the war. After becoming emperor and empress, they did not have many rules to follow. He still habitually addressed the Lady of Yichun as his mother-in-law.

Just as the old lady of the Marquis of Yichun was about to thank her and say she didn't dare, the Empress, who was dressed simply with her hair in a bun and no makeup, gave a cold smile: "His Majesty came immediately upon hearing the news. Mother, tell him the truth, don't hide it from him."

These words caused the atmosphere in the room to freeze.

Princess Heisei, who was eavesdropping outside the palace, was also a little nervous.

Compared to her father, her mother had a very bad temper.

She remembered her brother saying that their mother was very gentle when he was a child...

My elder brother was born before our father and mother went to the capital to establish the country.

She was in her mother's womb when her father ascended the throne. She was born as a princess, and her mother became the empress.

Perhaps because General Deng's wife and the Empress had different identities, their mothers' personalities were also different.

Princess Heicheng was lost in thought when she heard the emperor's somewhat helpless voice.

"Ah Feng, I really want to have dinner with you."

The Empress pretended not to hear and said, "My mother came to see me because of the matter of the Duke of Ding'an."

The Duke of Ding'an? Princess Heicheng was taken aback.

Inside, the old lady of the Marquis of Yichun bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty, this humble woman did not prevent the Duke of Ding'an from seeing Your Majesty."

Why did her maternal grandmother say that? Princess Heisei was even more surprised. She stood on tiptoe and looked through the window lattice, where she saw her father hurriedly helping her maternal grandmother.

"Mother-in-law, please get up. I didn't mean it that way. Please don't say that." The emperor helped the old lady of the Marquis of Yichun up with all his might and sighed, "Mother-in-law, if you do this, how can I, Deng Shan, possibly cope?"

Even referring to herself, the old lady of the Marquis of Yichun looked guilty: "It was your fault." Without further hesitation, she said, "It is like this, the princesses are choosing companions, and the Duke of Ding'an wants his daughter to be selected. He asked to ask the Marquis to do so."

The emperor was stunned for a moment: "How could he..."

Why didn't he come to see the Emperor in person, but instead went to see the Marquis of Yichun?
The Queen said calmly, "Perhaps he feels we owe him something."

The emperor's face stiffened, then he became furious: "What a fool!"

The old lady of the Marquis of Yichun hurriedly stopped the Empress: "Don't talk nonsense." Then she looked at the Emperor and said, "He knows Your Majesty's temper and dares not ask for favors. This matter is also my fault. When the Duke of Ding'an asked us, I wanted our two families to get closer, so I agreed and asked the Empress."

Then he added another sentence.

"The Empress did indeed arrange it."

The emperor looked at the empress and sighed, "I'm sorry to have troubled you."

The Empress said calmly, "Your Majesty, there's no need to praise me. The matter was not accomplished, his daughter was not selected, and now the Duke of Ding'an hates me even more."

"It didn't work out?" Before the Emperor could say anything, the old lady of the Marquis of Yichun smiled bitterly and spoke first: "Originally, this was a small matter. The Empress had already given us the questions and given instructions to the people in charge of the examination at the Imperial Academy, but unexpectedly, the Grand Master of Ceremonies personally reviewed the papers..."

Therefore, Miss Yang was not selected.

The emperor understood. He knew Wang Zaitian's temperament well. Even if the empress gave the order, he, the emperor, would not necessarily give him face.

Especially when it comes to reading.

The emperor laughed: "It seems that the young lady from the Duke of Ding'an's mansion is not very well-educated."

The old lady of the Marquis of Yichun sighed, "What knowledge can a girl of only thirteen or fourteen have? The Grand Master of Ceremonies is too harsh." For some reason, the emperor seemed slightly dazed after hearing this.

When the old lady of the Marquis of Yichun saw this, her eyes narrowed slightly.

"No matter what, we didn't get this done," she said. "Duke Ding'an misunderstood and thought we were interfering. Alas."

"That's why Father was so disturbed yesterday," the Empress said with a sneer.

The emperor was furious: "That scoundrel!"

He paced back and forth as he spoke.

"Yang Bin is truly a petty person who judges a gentleman by his own standards."

"After all these years, and at my age, I haven't made any progress at all."

The old lady of the Marquis of Yichun said, "No matter what, we agreed, but we couldn't do it, so we've let him down..."

The Empress jumped up and said, "How have I wronged him? His own daughter is incompetent, yet he blames me. What have I done wrong to him?"

The emperor quickly pulled her back: "No one said you wronged him. This matter has nothing to do with you. You don't need to worry about it. I..."

The Empress suddenly looked at him: "What? You want to see him in person and apologize to them on my behalf?"

The emperor's expression stiffened slightly: "No, no, I called him here to tell him that this is the judge's decision, so that he won't make wild guesses and blame me."

The Empress sneered, "Let him speculate wildly and blame me. Do you think I'm afraid of him?"

The emperor hurriedly advised, "Ah Feng, don't get angry. Fine, I won't see him..."

He looked at the old lady of the Marquis of Yichun with a hint of pleading.

The old lady of the Marquis of Yichun hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I..."

Before she could finish speaking, a voice called out from outside the door, "Father, Mother—"

Princess Heisei strode in with light steps, her bright smile instantly dispelling the gloom in the room.

The emperor straightened up, the empress lowered her gaze to hide her anger, and the old lady of the Marquis of Yichun showed a kind smile.

“Grandmother.” Princess Heisei rushed over and hugged her. “You’ve finally decided to come to the palace to see me.”

The old lady of the Marquis of Yichun laughed heartily: "I hope the smell of medicine on me won't bother the princess."

The Empress frowned: "How old are you? Stop clinging to your maternal grandmother."

Princess Heisei smiled and took the emperor's arm again: "So Father Emperor is with Mother Empress. I was just about to go find you."

The emperor smiled broadly: "What is it?"

Princess Heisei said, "Father, I'm going to school tomorrow, and I'm missing something."

The Empress said from the side, "You only need writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones for school, what else do you need! Don't take advantage of your studies to ask for favors."

"Let her speak. Princess Pingcheng has grown up so much and rarely asks us for anything." The Emperor said with a smile, looking at Princess Pingcheng with a gratified expression. "It must be because you, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, personally looked at the exam papers. You are more capable than your father. He wouldn't even look at my handwriting, complaining that it was ugly."

This was also an unexpected joy for Princess Heisei. Originally, the instructors and palace maids said that the Grand Master of Ceremonies would not interfere, but unexpectedly, the Grand Master of Ceremonies personally read it. Although the Grand Master of Ceremonies did not comment on her calligraphy and writing, it must have left an impression on him.

Princess Heicheng smiled broadly: "Father is the most powerful man in the world. I only ask not to embarrass Father." She then looked at the Empress, "And not to embarrass Mother either."

The empress did not speak, but her previously tense face softened.

"Tell me what you want," the emperor asked with a smile.

Princess Heisei said, "Although I have a study companion, I still lack a personal tutor."

The emperor was taken aback. The old lady of the Marquis of Yichun and the empress seemed to realize something. The empress raised her eyebrows and was about to speak when she was stopped by a fierce glare from the old lady of the Marquis of Yichun.

“Studying at the Imperial Academy doesn’t allow me to bring maids, but I am a princess after all, and there are some things I really can’t do myself. So, Father, please find me another tutor. He doesn’t need to be very learned, just someone who can help me grind ink, turn pages, organize notes, and serve tea. That will be enough.”

Hearing Princess Heisei's words, the Emperor's eyes showed even more affection, and he said, "Your father allows you to choose for yourself."

Princess Heisei smiled and said, "Then let's talk about Miss Yang from the Duke of Ding'an's mansion. I met her during the exam and I quite liked her."

The emperor looked at her intently and nodded.

“Okay,” he said softly, “good boy.”

(End of this chapter)