Free Web NovelChapter 1342: Chapter 1340: Bearing the Birch and Pleading Guilty
Look at her demeanor today.
Even Old Madam Tao wasn’t spared; she dared to lash out, let alone at me.
If I fell into her hands, there wouldn’t even be a scrap left of me.
The more Xiao Luo thought about it, the more terrified he became. Eventually, he curled up in his bed, only falling asleep in the latter part of the night.
...
The next day was Qingming Festival.
The Tao Residence, which should have been bustling with ancestral rites and tomb sweeping,
became a simple and dreary affair because of the old madam’s illness.
The servants bowed their heads, not daring to breathe loudly; within the old madam’s courtyard, doctors were nervously taking pulses and preparing medicines, observing her condition.
Even Old Master Tao and Tao Prince Consort were filled with unease, each of them cautiously and carefully.
They did not speak unless necessary and refrained from inappropriate actions.
Let alone Maternal Aunt Tao.
Since being taken away yesterday, she knew her good days were over.
Having offended the Princess before and the old madam yesterday.
Although she had a son, he was ultimately illegitimate, and she was ultimately a concubine.
As long as the Princess didn’t acknowledge, her son wouldn’t even count as illegitimate.
Because her former status was just a Chamber Maid, the more Tao Hong thought about it, the more hopeless she felt.
All day and night, she neither ate nor drank, didn’t speak or smile, lying on the bed with eyes wide open, as if bewitched.
The maids didn’t dare intervene, and after taking away the young master, no one paid her any more attention.
Maternal Aunt Tao, who once brazenly declared she would replace the Princess as the rightful wife, now found herself abandoned, her ambitions scattered like monkeys after a fallen tree.
...
The demeanor of everyone within the Tao residence appeared to be solemn and respectful, abiding by the strict decorum typical of prestigious learned families.
Those unaware of this family’s sordid affairs might truly believe it to be a proper and upright scholarly household, but now... haha.
After Qingming Festival, the ancestral rites and tomb sweeping concluded.
The Tao family had no choice but to face the reality of the Princess leaving the residence.
Tao Prince Consort felt conflicted.
Rare green veins appeared on his usually fair face.
"If we had known earlier, we wouldn’t have..."
Old Master Tao quickly interrupted his son.
"Shut up, speak with caution!"
"The Princess is of the Imperial Family; marrying you is a blessing, don’t speak recklessly!"
Tao Prince Consort felt aggrieved, but ultimately didn’t dare argue further.
The father and son remained silent for a good while before finally deciding to bring the Princess back.
"Life has to go on, and your role as Prince Consort must continue!"
Old Master Tao decisively stated.
Laughable, without his son’s status as Prince Consort, could he have risen in rank so quickly? How difficult it is to advance in positions at the Hanlin Academy, others might not know, but he was well aware.
How many more capable than him would never in their lifetime reach his current position.
Why is that? It’s because of the Princess!
Even if the Emperor doesn’t favor the Eldest Princess, he has to consider the Imperial Family’s reputation.
The family of the Princess’s husband, the Prince Consort’s clan, cannot be disgraced.
If it really came to the point of separation, not only would their current status be lost, the Tao family might find it impossible to remain in the Capital City.
Working for the Emperor and offending the Emperor’s daughter, isn’t that courting death?
They weren’t fools!
Tao Prince Consort actually felt his father was right.
Yet he couldn’t shake off some discomfort in his heart.
"As the saying goes, unwavering in poverty, unyielding in power, I haven’t done anything wrong, why should I bow to power? Just because she is a Princess?"
"Yesterday she angered my mother like that, and still had the nerve to not come home at night, just thinking about it makes me feel aggrieved!"
Which household in the Capital City doesn’t have concubines? Why can’t I?
What about the Princess? Isn’t she still a woman? Just because she married me she doesn’t have to respect her elders?
How could mother at her age be at fault?
As a Princess, she should set an example for women of the world, but what has she done?
"If we compromise this time, she’ll probably become even more insistent in the future!"
"By then, our mansion will really have no peace, Father!"
Tao’s father stroked his beard, hesitating for a long time.
Between his wife’s dignity and a promising official career, he chose the latter.
"You! What do you understand?"
"According to the rules, the Emperor stands behind her, she is the sovereign, and we are the subjects!"
"This... loyalty and filial piety have always been hard to reconcile!"
Old Master Tao tactfully, using his somewhat scholarly knowledge, built himself a grand escape route.
Tao Prince Consort thought about it and eventually accepted this strange notion with difficulty.
Although he still didn’t understand it fully in his heart.
The wife he slept beside, how did she become his sovereign?
However...
This did not diminish their resolve to defend their interests.
And so, the day after Qingming Festival.
Old Master Tao, accompanied by Lady Tao and Tao Prince Consort, and even Maternal Aunt Tao, grandly arrived at the palace where Consort Zheng and the Eldest Princess resided.
What were they doing?
The answer: Bearing the rod to apologize!
...
Inside the palace.
Consort Zheng and the Eldest Princess had just risen not long ago.
The Eldest Princess was up a bit earlier, helping Consort Zheng to groom and adorn.
Hong Yun entered, keeping a steady expression, to report.
"Madam, the Tao family is here! Knocking at the front courtyard!"
Consort Zheng was deliberating over a row of different enamel hairpins, unsure which to choose.
Upon hearing the report, she acted as if she hadn’t heard, leisurely picking one up with a smile.
"Is this one pretty?"
"Yes, it is!"
"Mother, in your prime, any would look beautiful!" the Eldest Princess smiled.
Consort Zheng’s smile became even more radiant.
Secretly sighing: In fact, the Eldest Princess isn’t stupid, sometimes she’s quite clever, knowing how to make people happy.
It’s just because Lady Dou’s brainwashing in her early years, she never recognized her position and status clearly.
To be precise, she was too insecure!
Like a lion born, but told from birth, you are a cat, you are a cat, over time she truly believed she was a cat knowing nothing.
That is the rationale.
Consort Zheng sighed.
’Only, it’s too late, she can’t change anything now!’
Having finished grooming and dressing.
Consort Zheng and the Eldest Princess shared breakfast, and leisurely finished a cup of tea, only then did she say calmly.
"Let them in!"
Problems must be resolved; a suitable cooling period was enough, going too far was unnecessary.
The Eldest Princess visibly sighed in relief.
Consort Zheng noticed at a glance, but didn’t point it out, and merely shook her head with a wry smile.
’This child! She fears, this whole life might be just so!’
...
The members of the Tao family entered the flower hall and knelt neatly together.
"Your servant/your servant wife/your maid pays respect to Consort Zheng, may Your Highness live a thousand years!"
Consort Zheng sat at the head, not calling them to rise, asking with a smile.
"Oh! Who are these people kneeling below? Why have I never seen them before?"
Old Master Tao sweated with embarrassment.
"To reply to Consort Zheng, your old servant is Tao Shuhai, a Third Rank Scholar of Hanlin Academy, this is my wife Lady Zhang, this is my son Tao Yanzhen, and this is my son’s concubine Lady Tao!"
He introduced each one, yet Consort Zheng remained silent.
Only after a while, when she finished sipping half a cup of tea, did she speak slowly.
"I wondered why it sounded so familiar!"
"Turns out it’s my daughter’s husband’s family!"
