Chapter 3
Chapter 3
I spent over three months in the palace in peace and safety.
During this time, my Imperial Mother recovered well. With three wet nurses taking turns caring for me, I grew at a gratifying rate.
My favorite thing was looking in the mirror. Seeing my reflection-as beautiful as a child from a New Year painting-filled me with pride.
It seems my reincarnation this time wasn’t bad at all.
Aside from my father being a bit unlikable, everything was perfect.
My two older brothers were also fresh-faced and handsome; it would be very prestigious to be seen with them in the future.
It was just a bit annoying how they loved to stare at me while drooling.
When I was in a good mood, I’d let them look.
When I wasn’t, I’d give them a slap across the face and then cry for good measure.
One day after my hundred-day banquet, Father Emperor entered Imperial Mother’s palace, grumbling and cursing.
“Is my governance of the world not good enough? To think someone would actually want to rebel! It is truly hateful. If I do not execute this traitor, it will be hard to vent the hatred in my heart.”
Imperial Mother offered a few words of comfort and then asked for the details.
It turned out a man had been speaking wildly and deluding the public, claiming the Emperor lacked popular support and that the world would soon fall into chaos with everyone rising in rebellion.
That man had been arrested. Zhang Shihuai, the Dali Temple Assistant, was currently presiding over the case. Barring any surprises, the man would be executed for the crime of rebellion.
However, my Father Emperor always prided himself on being a wise ruler. Hearing that someone wanted to rebel felt like a challenge to his majesty, and he was livid.
As soon as I heard this, I snapped awake.
[Here it comes, here it comes. Father Emperor is going to kill Zhang Shihuai because of this, creating the most tragic case of injustice in history.]
[Poor Zhang Shihuai. So young, with a photographic memory, and he’s about to be ‘kacha-ed’ by my Father Emperor just like that.]
[So tragic. But don’t worry, even though I can’t save you, I can help by cursing my Father Emperor a few more times for you.]
I babbled and cooed my insults.
Imperial Mother smiled. “Look, our Qingzhi is talking to her Father Emperor. She likes her Father Emperor so much, doesn’t she, Little Qingzhi…”
[Ah, yes, yes, yes. Everything my mother says is right. I am happily cursing him right now.] I blew a few raspberries.
Father Emperor slapped his thigh hard.
It gave me a fright.
He hooked his hands under my armpits, lifted me up to face him, and looked at me with a serious expression.
“I will absolutely not kill Zhang Shihuai.”
Me: [?]
[Why are you telling me?]
[If you kill Zhang Shihuai, I’m not the one who won’t be able to find closure.]
[Besides, I don’t even attend court!]
However, early the next morning, Father Emperor actually carried me to the morning court session.
I was roused from my sleep, completely dazed. When I realized what was happening, I was in utter disbelief.
[Are you insane? In my last life, I was a corporate slave. In this life, I finally managed to be reincarnated as a princess with no worries about food or drink, and you’re actually taking me to work?]
[After I died, I worked for Yama, and now that I’ve finally been reborn, why do I still have to go to the office?!]
[What kind of decent person takes a baby to court…]
My little mouth puckered, and I burst into tears.
Father Emperor’s face darkened.
“Cry again, and I’ll execute your wet nurse.”
I stopped.
[See, I told you he’s a tyrant. And yet the history books say you were a wise ruler.]
[Oh, wait, those history books were compiled by your grandson. Never mind then.]
Father Emperor looked utterly depressed. He ignored me and looked at the man kneeling on the floor, saying, “Zhang Shihuai, step forward. How is the investigation into the Zhao Zhende case proceeding?”
I was just about to poke my head out to get a good look at what the protagonist of this tragic injustice looked like.
Father Emperor pulled my blanket up a bit.
Me: [?]
[I’m not cold! Why are you pulling up my blanket? Put it back down!]
Father Emperor smiled and even tucked the corner of the blanket down a bit further, completely covering my eyes.
Me: […]
[Aaaaah! If you’ve got the guts, get closer next time so I can spit all over your face.]
*Pfft pfft pfft pfft…*
I eventually tired myself out from the struggle.
Listening to the sounds of the court session, I drifted off into dreamland. I finally looked forward to the end of court, only to be moved into the Imperial Study.
Father Emperor handled official business all day.
After finishing his work, he walked over to my swaddling clothes, looked at me, and reached out to poke my little cheek.
“This Zhang Shihuai is quite good. He has already helped me clarify that Zhao Zhende suffers from epilepsy. I intend to pardon Zhao Zhende and release him in a few days. Zhang Shihuai has done well in investigating the case; I plan to reward him!”
The head eunuch smiled and said, “Your Majesty is right. Master Zhang is young, promising, and discerning. He is a blessing to the common people.”
Just then, Imperial Censor Sun Zhen arrived in a hurry.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, I have an urgent matter to present. I have just discovered that the Dali Temple Assistant, Zhang Shihuai, is a fellow townsman of that Zhao Zhende. He is currently in the prison drinking and making merry with the prisoner, and has already informed the prisoner of his imminent release.”
“Your Majesty, I suspect that Zhao Zhende’s epilepsy might be a sham. Zhang Shihuai is using his power for personal gain; the two have shared interests. Zhang Shihuai is deliberately letting a guilty man go free. I implore Your Majesty to punish him.”
Upon hearing this, Father Emperor flew into a rage and immediately roared, “As the Dali Temple Assistant, he should act according to the law! How dare he inform a prisoner of my words in advance? Someone, come and bind him for me…”
My spirit jolted.
[Here it comes! The moment to witness Father Emperor’s greatest stain with my own eyes has arrived!]