Chapter 8: Someone from the Palace Arrives

Haitang wanted to persuade her young mistress, but Qiao Niannian had already sat down at the vanity, waiting for her to come over and help style her hair.

Haitang thought that since her mistress had just recovered, her mood was of the utmost importance, and styling her hair wasn't such a big deal anyway.

Once she realized they couldn't actually enter the palace, she would give up on her own.

Haitang walked over to Qiao Niannian and raised her hands to style her hair in a simple, everyday look. Qiao Niannian glanced at her, her voice flat: "Style it for the palace."

Haitang didn't know how to tell her mistress that it was impossible for them to enter the palace.

But seeing her mistress's serious expression, Haitang sighed heavily in her heart.

Could it be that when her mistress jumped into the river, she had injured her brain, and the doctor just hadn't diagnosed it?

Regardless of what she thought, her hands moved with practiced efficiency.

Soon, a *huixin* bun was finished.

Haitang chose a set of "Blue Stream Flying Flower" hair accessories to match her mistress's outfit, along with matching earrings. This attire and the accessories immediately added a touch of cold elegance to Qiao Niannian's delicate little face.

"Miss, you look so beautiful."

Haitang looked at Qiao Niannian's face and couldn't help but pick up a *huadian* (floral forehead ornament) and press it between her brows.

Now, her entire face looked even more vivid and bright.

Qiao Niannian took a look, saw that nothing was amiss, and stood up.

"Let's go!"

Haitang's expression tightened: "Miss, actually, we can't even enter..."

Haitang chased her to the door, but before she could finish her sentence, she saw the butler leading a eunuch hurriedly toward Qiao Niannian. Both of them bowed to Qiao Niannian.

The eunuch spoke first.

"Second Miss Qiao, the Emperor summons you."

Haitang was stunned.

No way, they were actually going to the palace.

She subconsciously glanced at her mistress, only to see her face calm and composed, indifferent to favor or humiliation.

Haitang was shocked. How did her mistress know the Emperor would summon them?

Before Haitang could think too much, Qiao Niannian followed the eunuch and left.

Haitang followed in a daze.

On the way, Qiao Niannian spoke to the butler: "Butler Zhu, Shiliu's face is injured. Have the doctor look at it later and use the best medicine so she suffers less."

Butler Zhu's expression sharpened. He had gone out that morning to handle affairs for the Marquis.

Could it be that in the half-day he wasn't watching, someone in the manor had been causing trouble?

Butler Zhu didn't dare delay: "Don't worry, Miss, I will have someone fetch the doctor immediately."

Behind her, Haitang was even more confused.

Shiliu had been standing at the door and hadn't entered; had her mistress seen it through the window?

Haitang was now full of questions, but she had no chance to voice them.

Qiao Niannian left the manor, boarded the carriage, and traveled all the way into the imperial palace. This time, by the Emperor's grace, the carriage was allowed to enter the inner palace; otherwise, the walk would have taken half an hour.

Qiao Niannian stepped out of the carriage and walked a short distance to the Xuanzheng Hall.

After the eunuch went in to report, Qiao Niannian entered, while Haitang was left outside.

She stepped through the door and passed through the archway into the inner chamber.

In the inner chamber, the Emperor sat in the seat of honor, with the Crown Prince in his court robes standing to his right.

To the left stood the Marquis of Mingyuan and Lady Huo.

Qiao Niannian walked into the inner chamber and was about to bow, but the Emperor waved his hand first.

"No need to kneel, you may rise."

After speaking, the Emperor scrutinized Qiao Niannian. Although she was only ten years old, her small face had exquisite features; once she grew up, she would undoubtedly be a rare beauty.

Beyond her appearance, her steady demeanor and unflappable behavior were even more striking.

"Are you the one who copied the Buddhist scriptures?"

Qiao Niannian bowed: "Replying to Your Majesty, the scriptures were indeed written by this humble girl."

The Emperor's tone deepened: "Why did you place the scriptures on the rafters, nearly causing a loss of life? Do you know your crime?"

The Marquis of Mingyuan's heart skipped a beat.

This was the Emperor's usual tactic to intimidate people. He had been intimidated for so many years, but every time the Emperor scolded in that deep voice, he still couldn't help but be startled.

His precious daughter had been pampered since childhood and had only just jumped into the river a few days ago; he hoped she wouldn't be frightened out of her wits.

Just as the Marquis was about to reply, Qiao Niannian spoke first.

"Replying to Your Majesty, my eldest brother and the soldiers at the border are true heroes for defending our country. Although I cannot fight alongside them, I wanted to contribute my own meager strength, so I specifically sought out the scriptures to copy and pray for their safety. As for placing them on the rafters, I was guided by a master. As for the misunderstanding, perhaps it was heaven's will—perhaps my brother will soon quell the war and return in triumph."

Her words were neither servile nor overbearing, her tone calm and steady.

The Emperor, who had been scowling a moment ago with unreadable thoughts, was suddenly filled with joy.

"Marquis of Mingyuan, I never knew you had such a clever and beautiful daughter. You are truly blessed!"

"This matter was a misunderstanding; you have been wronged. It is rare for Qiao Niannian to have such character at such a young age."

"How about this, I will grant you two days off to go home and spend time with your family."

"In addition, I grant Qiao Niannian one hundred taels of gold and two bolts of fine silk. I see your calligraphy is excellent and full of spirit, so I also reward you with a set of top-quality stationery."

"I see it is getting late; why don't you join me for a meal at noon? The Crown Prince will accompany us."

Qiao Niannian was secretly delighted. With the Crown Prince present, her spiritual power might be able to recover some more.

During these days, she had been cultivating every day, but the progress was not obvious—it wasn't even as much as the spiritual power she absorbed just by staying near the Crown Prince.

Qiao Niannian was happy, but the Marquis of Mingyuan was shocked.

When had the Emperor ever cared whether his subjects were hungry?

In the past, when they had court sessions and the monarch and ministers disagreed, the Emperor would even deliberately set out a table of delicacies in the court to drag out the time.

The Emperor would eat until his mouth was oily, while they stood below, hungry and dizzy.

Now that the Emperor was concerned about their hunger, the Marquis only felt there was a conspiracy.

The Emperor remained calm, waiting for the meal to be served. The Marquis's heart was pounding, and Lady Huo was reserved, but the Crown Prince, Xia Rongyu, and Qiao Niannian remained calm.

Qiao Niannian had already decided to "mooch" off the Crown Prince's purple aura and seize the time to absorb more spiritual power.

However, once they were at the table, Qiao Niannian realized she couldn't get close to Xia Rongyu at all.

The table was large, and there were many dishes; Qiao Niannian and Xia Rongyu were separated by several meters.

She used to think it was an exaggeration when she saw it on TV, but seeing it now, it was incredibly real.

Although it wasn't as extravagant as over a hundred dishes, there were still more than twenty.

Because their family was eating with him, the Emperor had added a few more, and now there were thirty-two dishes on the table.

[Extravagant, this is too extravagant. This is all the fat and blood of the people.]

The Marquis of Mingyuan suddenly heard his daughter's inner voice, and his hand shook violently.

He hurriedly looked up at the Emperor, and finding the Emperor's expression calm, he breathed a sigh of relief.

His daughter was truly daring; she actually dared to say the Emperor was eating the fat and blood of the people. If that got out, it would be a capital offense.

Fortunately, the Emperor couldn't hear her.

Just as the Marquis was about to pick up his chopsticks, he heard his daughter's inner voice again.

[This Emperor is actually quite diligent and loves his people, but his life is short, and he is about to face a great catastrophe.]

The Marquis was so frightened that his chopsticks fell to the floor!