His Majesty And I ✔️

Puppets And Punishment

Chapter 55

Bai Yang Liu
The Palace

“Mother, Elder Brother has summoned me to go give him my audience at the court.”

“Why would he want you there?” Grand Consort Shu continued to apply face wear, seating on the zabuton of her welcoming room. The sun was already up and she was still in her nightwear, just woken up within the previous hour. Grand Consort Shu definitely was a person who did not care about anything people said.

“Obviously, he is angry she did not present herself at his birthday celebration.” Li Lian said from the garment she was making.

This was bonding time for the two women, always after Li Lian came from the morning harem meeting. It was a norm that Yang Liu would sometimes sit in and be the third person chatting with them.

“Why were you not there?” Grand Consort asked.

“I want His Majesty to see that he is wrong. He can’t use my marriage for military strategies.”

“Tantrums will not work. You are just making him more determined.” Li Lian advised.

“Well, we will see about that.”

“Li’er is right.” Grand Consort Shu took Li Lian’s side.

“Her Highness should stop calling me, Li’er. It means ‘to be disloyal’. Nothing is good about that name.”

Yang Liu and the Grand Consort laughed. The emperor’s mother had a habit of twisting people’s names. All her servants had horrible names with weird meanings.

“But I and Dao like that name!” The Grand Consort protested. “Where is Dao? She will take my side.”

Li Lian chuckled. “Dao went home, Your Highness. She said she will be back on the third day, tomorrow.”

“Surely, Dao is spoilt. She leaves regularly when she wants to?” Grand Consort took out her powder and started puffing her face.

Later on, Yang Liu was before the emperor. And she hated every minute of it.

“Why were you not present at my birth date celebration?” Her brother questioned in his not so subtle tone.

“I was at the temple praying.”

“Praying for what on a day you were required to perform your duty as a royal princess?”

“I no longer want to be a royal princess if I can't be with the one I love.”

Shen Hong gave her a reprimanding stare from his throne that had her looking away.

“Royal Princess Bai to address the emperor formally, please.” The scribe recording the turn of events chastised her from his seated corner at the back of the court.

“This servant apologises.” She bowed.

Her brother did not smile at this, quite irritated with her.

By his side was Noble Consort Qi, the acting empress, who was to be the practising empress for three full moons before she was officiated as one. She sat on the newly positioned phoenix seat that was shiny and in grandeur as his. She could not wear the empress official garments, thus she wore the official garments of a noble consort, black, and beige that was not considered to be as exquisite as gold.

“You must be punished and repent for your wrongs. If I can’t discipline my own family, the nation will take me for a laughing stock.”

“General Feng loves me! Why is he being sacrificed for it?” It was unfair and ridiculous.