Chapter 4
Could a person enjoy being scolded?
That was new to me.
But the man’s reaction was certainly unlike anyone else’s in the room.
There was something vaguely familiar about it.
I felt as though I had seen it somewhere before.
Meeting my gaze, he suddenly stiffened and introduced himself. “Ye Mingzhou, deputy general of the Dragon Roar Army. My congratulations on your recovery and return to the capital, Your Highness!”
His expression was solemn, his voice loud as a bell.
His movements, however, were hurried.
He thrust the gift box in his hands into my arms, then fled before I could react.
Even after we boarded the carriage, I was still puzzled.
“Ye Mingzhou? Who is he?”
My fourth sister did not know much either.
“A deputy general who came back to report with old General Qin last month. I hear he only joined the army five years ago. You know what the Dragon Roar Army is like. To reach that rank in five years… he’s no ordinary man.”
She did not sound as though she had invited him.
I frowned slightly. “You don’t know him?”
“Huh? Should I?”
We stared at each other.
Her eyes were clear and utterly clueless.
After a while, her gaze began to wander, and she swallowed.
“Sis… aren’t you going to see what he gave you?”
Eagerly, she opened the exquisite wooden box on the table.
The moment she saw what was inside, she let out a “Wow.”
My eyelid twitched too, and my lips curved despite myself.
“An uninvited guest, but he does bring an interesting present…”
It was a small, neat dagger.
Its keen blade gleamed coldly.
The design was plain, save for a clear blue gemstone set into the hilt.
Not bad.
Very much to my taste.
The welcome banquet had been unpleasant.
But thanks to that dagger, I did not feel particularly put out.
I slept very well that night.
The next morning, I rose early. As the hour for court approached, I had a stool brought out and sat down at the palace gates.
Whenever someone arrived, one of my maids called out to him.
“Lord Li, yesterday at the welcome banquet, your daughter mocked our princess for still being a sickly invalid after three years of recuperation.”
“Vice Minister Zhao, your son said at yesterday’s banquet that our princess had a vile temper and nothing to recommend her beyond her face.”
“And Minister Wang…”
The maids who attended me had trained on the drill grounds since childhood.
They were all sturdy, with powerful voices.
Thus, even when the ministers took a detour at the sight of me, every word reached their ears.
Morning court ought to be lively today.
And sure enough, no sooner had it ended than Father summoned me into the palace.
The Crown Prince was kneeling outside the imperial study.
At the sight of me, his jaw clenched.
His aggrieved expression turned sullen in an instant. He looked thoroughly unconvinced of his own wrongdoing.
“What are you doing here?”
I smiled. “Certainly not pleading for you.”
Perhaps my smile provoked him. He snapped back through gritted teeth, “What are you so pleased about? You’re only relying on Father’s affection for you.”
“You’ve been pampered and cherished since childhood. Sister Meng suffered all those years on the estate. When has she ever enjoyed a single day like yours? Why start making things difficult for her the moment you return?”
Still calling her Sister Meng.
Hopeless.
I had no wish to look at my stupid brother’s foolish face any longer.
I walked straight past him and pushed open the study door.
“Father, this crown prince is useless. Depose him.”