The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 877 - 877 405 Slap in the Face (Two in One)_2

Chapter 877: 405 Slap in the Face (Two in One)_2 Chapter 877: 405 Slap in the Face (Two in One)_2 The Hundred Flowers Pill was not actually made from a hundred fresh flowers, but it did contain quite a few petals, so the pills themselves carried a hint of floral fragrance.

However, this medicinal pill… or perhaps tablet would be more appropriate, was plain white, colorless, and tasteless.

If it weren’t for its miraculous effects, Princess Xinyang would have suspected the crown princess had bought a fake Hundred Flowers Pill.

“It seems rumors cannot be entirely trusted,” she said, and after receiving the warm water offered by Yujin, she swallowed the Hundred Flowers Pill.

As a royal princess returning to the capital, it was both proper and expected for her to visit the Imperial Palace to pay her respects to Empress Dowager Zhuang and the Empress. The past few days had been tiring because of her travel, and her health had not been well, but now she had recovered a great deal and naturally needed to prepare for entering the palace.

After breakfast, Princess Xinyang, bringing local specialties from Fengdu Mountain, took a horse-drawn carriage to the Imperial Palace.

The emperor was in the Imperial Study Room, reviewing memorials.

Eunuch Wei bowed as he entered the room and said, “Your Majesty, Princess Xinyang requests an audience.”

The emperor was slightly surprised and set aside the memorial he was holding, saying, “Let the princess come in at once.”

“Yes.” Eunuch Wei personally went out to invite Princess Xinyang inside.

Princess Xinyang stood in the Imperial Study Room, raised her arms, placed her crossed hands before her forehead, and bowed deeply, “Your servant sister pays her respects to Your Majesty.”

“Dispense with the formalities!” the emperor extended his hand, “Please rise.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Princess Xinyang straightened up.

“Ah… please be seated!” the emperor said to Eunuch Wei.

“Yes,” Eunuch Wei brought a chair over without glancing elsewhere, “Princess, please sit.”

Princess Xinyang did not stand on ceremony and graciously took her seat.

The emperor felt an itch to rub his hands together.

Embarrassingly enough, although Princess Xinyang was his sister, whenever he interacted with her, he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was more like an elder sister to him.

Others might not see it, but only the emperor knew that among all the late emperor’s children, Princess Xinyang resembled their father the most.

She had his likeness and even more so his gaze.

Her tactics…

He had never before considered the women of the Imperial Harem to have any real tactics, except for Empress Dowager Zhuang.

But ever since the incident with Noble Consort Jing, he dared not underestimate any woman in the harem.

Moreover, he had given careful thought these past days: Princess Xinyang lost her mother’s protection at the age of thirteen and wasn’t close to either Empress Dowager Zhuang or Noble Consort Liu, making self-preservation a difficult feat under such circumstances.

Yet, he had never heard of her being bullied by anyone.

Later, when she married into the high-profile House of Marquis Xuanping, no one dared to bully her anymore.

It was rumored among the people that Princess Xinyang was his most beloved sister, otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen such an excellent match for her—after all, many princesses had coveted the Marquis of Xuanping.

Who would have thought that this match had been decided by the late emperor long ago, and he was merely following his father’s last wishes.

Collecting his thoughts, the emperor asked her, “Weren’t you ill? Why have you come to the palace?”

Princess Xinyang replied, “It was nothing serious, I came to pay my respects to Your Majesty.”

“Ah…” the emperor lifted his teacup and took a sip, “Glad to hear it’s nothing serious.”

On the other side, Eunuch Wei offered Princess Xinyang tea as well, but she faintly refused, “I have taken medicine, so I won’t have tea.”

“Yes,” Eunuch Wei quickly removed the tea.

The emperor felt somewhat awkward interacting with this sister of his, and after drinking several sips of tea, he asked, “How have you been living on Fengdu Mountain these past years?”

Princess Xinyang replied calmly, “All is well, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.”

And then, the conversation died once again.

The emperor drank his tea in embarrassment.

Princess Xinyang broke the silence, “I have heard that Nun Jingan has passed away, my condolences, Your Majesty.”

Was calling him brother too hot to handle?

The emperor inwardly grumbled and hummed vaguely in response, “I am fine.”

The emperor did not publicize Noble Consort Jing’s crimes for two reasons: firstly, he did not want to alarm the remnants of the previous dynasty’s forces stationed at the border; secondly, he did not wish for Ning An to be burdened by Noble Consort Jing’s reputation.

Empress Dowager Zhuang had no objection to this.

Now, it was the emperor who had let the conversation die.

The emperor felt that the entire Imperial Study Room was filled with an awkward atmosphere.

He had to make more conversation…

A sudden idea struck the emperor, and he asked, “Speaking of which, didn’t Marquis Xuanping go to find you? Why didn’t he return with you?”

“I don’t know,” Princess Xinyang said succinctly.

The emperor: “…”

The emperor was not too surprised by this answer; their relationship had been discordant to begin with, and after Xiao Hen’s death, it had become even colder.

Thinking of Xiao Hen, the emperor finally found his voice, “Have you paid a visit to the Empress Dowager?”

Upon hearing this, Princess Xinyang showed a flicker of emotion for the first time, giving the emperor a peculiar look, “I have been there already, but the Empress Dowager was not at Renshou Palace.”

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