Chapter 16

Chapter 16

At Huayang Temple.

Jinzhu came to visit me.

She looked utterly vexed. “Why did Uncle confer the title of Commandery Princess upon Cao Mingyu? What right does a criminal like her have to be a Commandery Princess?”

I smiled and played along. “Indeed, what has she done to deserve it? Perhaps she simply has a good father.”

When the mountains are high and the emperor is far away, it is difficult to ensure someone’s eternal loyalty to the imperial family.

Soldiers in the army are actually more loyal to the generals who have faced death alongside them, shedding blood and risking their lives. If such a general intends to conceal the truth and incite emotion, those men are easily manipulated.

Jinzhu only half-understood, but she wasn’t particularly interested in the politics of it anyway.

“Don’t worry, Cao Mingyu is currently under house arrest. There isn’t a single servant in her courtyard; she has to handle her own food, clothing, and daily chores. That’ll be enough to make her suffer.”

“Let’s not talk about her. I have something to ask you. Mother wants me to marry Li Chun. Do you think I should?”

She let out a long, wistful sigh, clearly unwilling.

I was startled. Why? When did my aunt set her sights on Li Chun?

Without waiting for my answer, she tilted her head back proudly. “I’m not marrying him. Why should I marry someone even Cao Mingyu refused?”

“You probably don’t know this, but Li Chun’s reputation among the noble young ladies has long been in the gutter.”

“His two side consorts haven’t even officially married into his household yet, but he’s already had improper relations with them. If he doesn’t even care about the reputations of his own consorts, how could he possibly care about any other woman’s?”

“Many officials in the capital have been sending him concubines to curry favor. I heard he already has fifty-three concubines in his manor.”

“Tell me, could I live a good life if I married him? Why is Mother insisting on this?”

“Fuyun, I really envy you. You can marry whoever you want, and refuse whoever you don’t.”

Jinzhu left.

I immediately ordered an investigation.

It turned out Jinzhu’s numbers were low.

Li Chun now had fifty-eight concubines. The five new ones were sent by Cao Shun as an apology.

I was so shocked by this fact that I couldn’t compose myself for a long time.

I had thought Li Chun was merely a vain, somewhat rebellious youth. I believed that as long as he was guided properly and kept from straying, he could still become a mediocre emperor.

Who would have thought that in private, he had become this decadent…

The empire was like a crumbling mansion. Here I was, exhausting myself and struggling against the constraints of my status as a woman.

Yet he, as a man, clearly had the opportunity to be more responsible and take action, but he was squandering his youth on wine and women.

At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to rush down the mountain and slap him across the face.

After a long while, I gradually calmed down.

It wouldn’t be easy to hide such ridiculous behavior from the palace. His mother, Consort Chen, must have gone to great lengths to keep it a secret.

Consort Chen’s love for her son was deep, but using it in this way was utterly foolish.

Since she couldn’t manage Li Chun, I would let someone who could take over.

I pondered for a moment, then whispered a few instructions into the ear of my accompanying governess.

The governess was greatly surprised, but seeing my determined expression and realizing I wasn’t joking, she hurriedly descended the mountain with a solemn look.

A few days later, word reached me that Li Chun had damaged his health through excessive indulgence. After an examination, the imperial physicians ordered him to abstain from alcohol and sex, warning him against further debauchery.

Father Emperor was furious. He harshly reprimanded Consort Chen and Li Chun, and then dismissed all fifty-eight concubines from the manor.

Later, Li Chun recovered from his illness.

But Father Emperor’s attitude toward him had changed. Not only did he lecture him daily, but he also scolded him at every turn.

Several Grand Tutors took turns watching over him, performing their duties with the utmost diligence.

His schoolwork became so heavy that he no longer had time for a life of pleasure.

Hearing that his life had become difficult made me feel exceptionally cheerful.