Chapter 9: 9. Chapter 9: He Really Is My Biological Father

Chapter 9: Truly My Own Father

Cuizhu looked at Cheng Jin, who had been dressed up to look exceptionally pretty in the mirror, and couldn't help but laugh.

"Your Ladyship was born with a face that could topple cities and a beauty that rivals the flowers; now that you are dressed up, you look even more beautiful."

Cheng Jin looked at herself in the mirror; it was indeed as Cuizhu said.

The book described Noble Consort Rong’s appearance more than once.

With a face like jade and vermilion, even though she was a cannon fodder character, she was the most beautiful one, even being labeled a "femme fatale who brought ruin to the country and its people" after her death.

This original owner was beautiful. Unlike the quirky and playful beauty of Qu Wanxin, Cheng Jin’s beauty carried aggression and tension; her wilfulness radiated from the inside out.

She was the only daughter in her family, raised in the palm of their hands. Even after entering the palace and becoming an unfavored consort, her brother and father, who were far away outside the palace, had pulled many strings for her.

Otherwise, the original owner wouldn't have been able to fight until the very end; she would have long since died in the palace and been thrown into a mass grave.

Actually, it was very close. When the original owner’s father entered the palace and died before Chu Chengye, besides protecting the Emperor, he had actually wanted to beg Chu Chengye to let him take Cheng Jin, who was in the Cold Palace, back home.

He simply couldn't bear to see what kind of life his daughter was living in a place like the Cold Palace. He was willing to give up everything and take his whole family to retire to their hometown, but he died before Chu Chengye without even seeing Cheng Jin.

Seeing Cheng Jin lost in thought, Cuizhu thought she would say something to ease the atmosphere.

"Your Ladyship, you don't know, but when I saw Noble Lady Hui this morning, I was truly angry, yet I didn't expect the Emperor to vent our frustrations for us."

[On the surface, he vented our frustrations, but in reality, he’s made it so we won't be able to breathe in the future.]

"The Emperor asked Your Ladyship to serve before the imperial presence; this is the only instance in the harem. This blessing is truly unique, so why is Your Ladyship not happy?"

Cheng Jin looked up at Cuizhu. "If I gave this blessing to you, would you want it?"

Cuizhu spoke in a panic, "This servant absolutely does not have such thoughts."

"I know you don't, and neither do I."

Cuizhu: "?"

How could someone be unhappy about being favored in the harem when it happened to Cheng Jin?

Although Cheng Jin didn't want to go at all, it wasn't long before Chu Chengye sent someone to urge her.

After Cheng Jin arrived at Chu Chengye’s imperial study, she stood beside him, meticulously grinding ink for him.

She didn't dare to look around even once.

The more you know, the sooner you die.

Chu Chengye suddenly slammed the memorial in his hand onto the table.

"These freeloaders, every day they submit memorials about useless things. I’ve already said, I don't eat bananas."

Cheng Jin glanced over. Five identical memorials were laid out together, all asking whether Chu Chengye liked to eat bananas.

Cheng Jin lowered her head, wanting to laugh, but she sensed Chu Chengye’s cold gaze.

Cheng Jin stifled her laughter: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

Just as Chu Chengye was about to lash out, Wei An came in to say that Grand Tutor Cheng requested an audience.

Chu Chengye felt a headache coming on just thinking about how Cheng Yishou had tried to force his hand by threatening to hit his head against a pillar during the morning court session. He was just about to refuse when he remembered Cheng Jin’s inner voice from earlier, saying that Cheng Yishou died before the imperial presence.

He nodded. "Invite Grand Tutor Cheng in."

Cheng Jin was a bit puzzled. Why did her father come?

As soon as Cheng Yishou entered the hall, after performing his salutations, he noticed the woman standing beside Chu Chengye.

He immediately knelt down and said righteously to Chu Chengye, "Your Majesty, how can a consort of the harem accompany you in reviewing memorials? This is improper."

Chu Chengye rubbed his temples. "She can."

"No one can. These memorials contain the political affairs of the previous dynasty; harem consorts cannot participate in politics. This has been the case since ancient times. How many emperors in history books have been ruined by indulging in beauty and allowing women to participate in politics? Your Majesty, take history as a mirror; do not repeat the same mistakes!"

"Grand Tutor Cheng, are you determined to go against me?"

Cheng Yishou bowed, his words clear and resonant. "Your Majesty, my loyalty to you is known to heaven and earth. If Your Majesty does not believe me, I am willing to die to prove my sincerity."

"Therefore, I implore Your Majesty to let this consort withdraw."

Cheng Jin: "..."

[Dad, why don't you look up at me?]

Hearing his daughter’s voice, Cheng Yishou looked up. It was indeed Cheng Jin, but she hadn't opened her mouth.

Could it be that he had misheard?

Before he could think too much, Cheng Jin stood up and bowed to Cheng Yishou. "Father, may you be well."

Cheng Yishou nodded sternly. "Jin'er, I have some political matters to discuss with the Emperor. You should withdraw first; women of the harem cannot listen to state affairs."

Cheng Jin sighed.

[Truly my own father.]

[If I’m not mistaken, he’s going to impeach Minister Gao again.]

Cheng Yishou heard Cheng Jin’s voice again, but the Cheng Jin in front of him had truly not uttered a single word. Though shocked, he dared not show it.

If he asked now, he and his daughter would surely be dragged out and executed as monsters.

He couldn't implicate Cheng Jin.

However, he hadn't seen Cheng Jin for many days and hadn't been in contact with her; how could Jin'er know that he was here to talk to the Emperor about Minister Gao?

Cheng Yishou gathered the memorials in his hands.

Chu Chengye waved his hand. "It’s fine. Since Grand Tutor Cheng is here to discuss matters, we are all family. It is fine for Noble Consort Rong to be here. Tell me, what is the matter?"

"The matter I wish to discuss concerns Minister Gao."

Cheng Yishou replied, somewhat distracted.

Chu Chengye cast an imperceptible glance at Cheng Jin.

Sure enough, Cheng Jin knew everything that was happening.

Chu Chengye nodded, signaling for Cheng Yishou to continue.

"Minister Gao was disrespectful to Your Majesty in the court, and the words he spoke were crude and unbearable..."

Hearing Cheng Yishou’s words, Chu Chengye took a deep breath, frowning, unable to listen any further.

Although this Cheng Yishou was loyal to him, he only ever said these same things every day.

Cheng Jin felt a little dizzy.

[Here we go again, here we go again. Dad, with you impeaching this person today and that person tomorrow, it’ll be a miracle if our whole family survives until the finale. If we anger this tyrant, we’ll all go to the afterlife together.]

[Although what Minister Gao did was indeed against etiquette, that’s not what’s important. What’s important is the flooding in Jiangtang that you need to talk about.]

[It’s precisely because you insist on talking about Minister Gao’s disrespect to the Emperor first that Chu Chengye can’t stand to hear anything else you say. He’ll send someone else to manage the Jiangtang floods, and not a single word about the suffering of the people in Jiangtang will reach Chu Chengye’s ears.]

[Instead, that person will use this as an excuse to sow discord between you and Chu Chengye. Being demoted is a small matter, but being suspected of being part of the Fifth Prince’s faction when the Fifth Prince rebels is a big one.]

Cheng Yishou was shocked. He really hadn't expected the Fifth Prince, who was always kind and uninterested in politics, only caring about leisure, to be planning a rebellion.

He was truly hiding deep.

Cheng Yishou thought to himself that he had indeed put the cart before the horse; the Jiangtang flood was the real priority.

However, he had already said half of what he had to say about Minister Gao. Was Chu Chengye already displeased?

Cheng Yishou looked up, but saw Chu Chengye pondering something, with no trace of anger or impatience on his face.

Cheng Yishou bowed. "Your Majesty, I truly have an urgent matter to report."

(End of chapter)