APSIL -Chapter 158 Doing Things Her Own Way

Zhu Ying had always disliked attending banquets and social gatherings. Yet for two or three days in a row, she unexpectedly began taking the invitations that were normally sent to the Zhao State Duke Manor merely as a matter of courtesy and personally attending various gatherings.

In the afternoons, she would then visit the Zhu family’s shops to inspect accounts and conduct audits.

This unusual behavior naturally caused quite a stir among the circles of noblewomen and young ladies in the capital.

Combined with the fact that Lady Zhao, who had always secluded herself in temples, had suddenly returned home, many people began speculating whether Duke Zhao had suffered setbacks on the battlefield, forcing the Zhu family to reconnect with allies and review their financial affairs.

There were even some madams and young ladies who had always been jealous of Zhu Ying who privately spread unpleasant rumors about her.

However, Zhu Ying never heard those whispers, so she naturally ignored them.

But when the usually aloof Second Miss Zhao, the daughter of the Vice Minister of War, could not stand it anymore and openly mocked Zhu Ying at a tea gathering, things immediately escalated.

Zhu Ying directly brought out the exact words Lu Sanlang had once used to criticize her brother Zhao Ying: “If you’re stupid, don’t make excuses for yourself.”

She threw the words right back at Second Miss Zhao, leaving the woman so angry that she covered her face and stormed away.

After witnessing this lesson, those noble ladies who had originally wanted to say something immediately fell silent.

Everyone knew this eldest daughter of the Zhao State Duke Manor was a special case.

She entered the imperial palace as casually as entering her own home. Before the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, she was almost treated with more familiarity than the princesses themselves.

Even if no one understood why she had suddenly started attending gatherings everywhere, the smart thing was simply to keep their distance.

Trying to insult her and ending up being mocked instead was simply not worth it.

Therefore, when the Emperor’s younger sister, Princess Qingning, celebrated her birthday, Zhu Ying attended as usual.

Even those madams and young ladies who disliked her arrogant and willful personality only dared to whisper behind her back. In front of her, every single one wore a warm smile, not daring to reveal even the slightest trace of hostility.

Princess Qingning, who had practically watched Zhu Ying grow up, immediately smiled when Zhu Ying approached to pay respects.

“No need for formalities.”

She then directly pulled Zhu Ying to sit beside her.

Zhu Ying casually sat down next to her imperial aunt and explained: “Grandmother has been feeling tired lately and doesn’t want to move around. Mother is staying home to take care of her, so she cannot come out either. That means I can only come here and show some filial respect to Third Aunt.”

She grabbed a small knife from a nearby maid’s hand and skillfully began peeling a crystal pear for Princess Qingning.

Princess Qingning immediately laughed.

“Oh? Yingying, it seems you’re about to get married. You’ve become much more considerate than before!”

“Third Aunt, it’s not that I wasn’t filial before,” Zhu Ying replied while placing a freshly peeled slice of pear into her mouth. “It’s just that you weren’t celebrating your birthday every day.”

After feeding her another slice, Zhu Ying looked around curiously and asked: “Eh? Where is Princess Yongping?”

Although the crystal pear was juicy and sweet, Princess Qingning felt that Zhu Ying’s words were even sweeter.

She reached out and pinched Zhu Ying’s delicate cheek affectionately.

“You and Yongping have always exchanged sarcastic remarks whenever you meet. The sun must have risen from the west today. You’re actually thinking about her?”

“No one is here to argue with me. I actually miss her a little.”

Zhu Ying glanced at the surrounding noblewomen and young ladies who were desperately trying to appear elegant and dignified, then smiled.

“Two days ago, someone even called herself a talented woman and mocked me for lacking literary ability.”

“I simply asked her whether she could write eight-legged essays. She immediately became speechless.”

“If it were Princess Yongping, she could casually write ten or eight of them.”

Her words both mocked those foolish young ladies who looked down on her and criticized Princess Yongping’s Moon Pavilion literary gatherings.

For a moment, nobody dared to respond.

Princess Qingning, however, had always liked Zhu Ying’s lively personality. In fact, she preferred it over Princess Yongping’s constant dignified and restrained demeanor.

She smiled.

“Who is like you? At home, your grandmother and parents spoil you, and you also have a fiancé who tolerates you.”

“You should still learn some skills to rely on yourself.”

“Once you choose an auspicious day, bring Zhang Shou here so I can meet him.”

Unlike other young women who would become shy and embarrassed upon hearing such words, Zhu Ying answered openly: “That will have to wait until he has a day off.”

“He is currently managing Half-Mountain Hall and Nine Chapters Hall at the Imperial Academy. He has classes both morning and afternoon. He’s incredibly busy.”

“I hardly even get to see him.”

“The Emperor truly understands that talented people should take on more responsibilities and has piled so many duties onto him!”

Hearing this, most of the noblewomen and young ladies present felt displeased.

Although many families had sons whose official ranks and status far exceeded Zhang Shou’s, Zhang Shou’s current position was exceptionally prestigious.

After all, how many children of powerful families were still studying under him at Half-Mountain Hall?

As for Nine Chapters Hall, most people still did not understand its significance.

Princess Qingning listened to Zhu Ying’s words—which sounded like complaints but were clearly boasting—and could not help laughing.

She was only thirty years old this year.

When her father, the previous Emperor, passed away, she had only been a four-year-old child. Although the Empress Dowager was her biological mother, she was busy handling government affairs as regent and caring for her most important son, the Emperor, so she rarely had time to discipline Qingning.

As a result, Princess Qingning grew up with a rather wild personality.

When she reached marriageable age, she did not passively wait for someone to select a husband for her.

Instead, she pestered her imperial brother until he personally intervened.

She hid behind him while observing potential husbands, judging their appearance, character, and temperament.

Eventually, she chose a husband she truly liked.

Because of this, the Empress Dowager considered her behavior improper and refused to speak with her properly for three full years.

The reason was simple.

Her chosen husband was neither a noble descendant nor from a scholarly family.

He was merely an ordinary recommended scholar.

Later, her husband did not even participate in the imperial examinations. Instead, he devoted himself entirely to studying ancient inscriptions and archaeology.

Princess Qingning enjoyed researching stone carvings and ancient texts with him.

Whenever others mocked her husband for lacking ambition, she would proudly retort against them.

Because she had such a scholarly husband, she was naturally very curious about Zhu Ying’s fiancé—the reportedly exceptionally talented mathematician Zhang Shou.

What interested her even more was how her usually cautious imperial brother had so easily granted Zhang Shou the prestigious position of Imperial Academy Doctor.

Seeing Zhu Ying looking pleased with herself, Princess Qingning suddenly picked up a grape and stuffed it into Zhu Ying’s mouth.

“Empty words don’t count.”

“Next time, bring him here and let me see him.”

After successfully stopping Zhu Ying from continuing her bragging, she ordered: “Send word. Begin the banquet and start the performance!”

Zhu Ying pleaded and acted coquettishly for a while, and finally managed to leave Princess Qingning’s main seat.

However, instead of returning to her original position, she was given the first seat on the right side.

As for the first three seats on the left, the first one was empty, while the other two were occupied by two princesses she was familiar with.

It was obvious that the person who had arrived late was Princess Yongping.

Thinking about how Princess Yongping had not left the palace since being provoked by her that day, Zhu Ying could not help feeling slightly curious.

Only after three rounds of wine had been served did this imperial daughter finally arrive.

After apologizing repeatedly, she even voluntarily punished herself by drinking three cups.

Princess Qingning was not someone who held grudges. She simply waved her hand and allowed Princess Yongping to take her seat.

But Zhu Ying, who had been playing with her small wine cup, suddenly stood up without hesitation.

She ordered someone to bring over another chair and boldly sat down right beside Princess Yongping.

Seeing this scene, the opera on stage continued singing in its melodious tones, but most of the invited madams and young ladies immediately stopped talking.

Their eyes occasionally glanced toward Princess Yongping’s table, while their ears were quietly raised.

However, at this moment, Princess Qingning suddenly slapped the table.

“So many people have gathered today. What fun is there in only watching the performance?”

“Other than Yingying, all of you young ladies must compose a poem suitable for today’s occasion.”

“I’ll make myself clear—I don’t want flattery.”

“Whether it is good or bad doesn’t matter. What I want is everyone’s sincerity.”

“Someone come! Stop the performance first. Have the drums beat and begin timing!”

When Zhu Ying saw the large group of madams and young ladies instantly become dumbfounded, she immediately clasped her hands together and bowed toward Princess Qingning in thanks.

She was grateful that her aunt had helped divert everyone’s attention.

After noticing that even Princess Yongping’s loyal maidservants had been called away by Princess Qingning’s attendants, Zhu Ying finally turned and smiled at Princess Yongping.

Princess Yongping was so annoyed by Zhu Ying’s arrogant behavior that her teeth almost hurt.

“What exactly are you trying to do again?”

“You tell me.”

Zhu Ying lightly shook her wrist.

The amber-colored wine inside her cup shimmered beautifully.

“If you don’t want to talk to me here, perhaps my hand might accidentally slip and spill this wine onto your beautiful new dress.”

“Then we’ll have no choice but to go to Third Aunt’s private room and have a heart-to-heart conversation.”

Princess Yongping’s ability to control her emotions was excellent.

After only a moment, she calmed herself down.

In a stiff voice, she said: “I know what you want to ask.”

“The assassin you mentioned before was beaten nearly to death by someone from your beloved’s side a few days ago.”

“I used every method I could to force the truth out of him.”

“It was the Empress who ordered him.”

“She only wanted to frighten you two.”

“But after I finished questioning him, that person died the next day.”

At this point, Princess Yongping looked coldly at Zhu Ying.

Her eyes were filled with anger.

“Do you understand what this means?”

“Now this accusation has become impossible to wash away!”

“Whether I actually silenced him or not, everyone will believe that I did!”

Although their conversation was filled with hostility, their voices were extremely low, and the sound of drums covered them.

Therefore, only the two of them could hear each other.

Zhu Ying completely ignored Princess Yongping’s anger.

Instead, she smiled.

“As long as A-Shou and I believe you did not silence him…”

“As long as the Emperor and Empress Dowager believe you did not…”

“That is enough.”

“Who cares what everyone else thinks?”

The “everyone else” she referred to included the Empress, the First Prince, and the Second Prince.

Princess Yongping was shocked.

But after thinking carefully, she had to admit something.

As the daughter of Consort Yu, she had never been particularly favored by the Empress.

So why should she care about the Empress’s opinion?

After remaining silent for a moment, she finally lowered her voice.

“What do you plan to do?”

“If someone wanted to frighten A-Shou and me…”

“Then naturally, I should frighten them back.”

Zhu Ying gave a cold smile.

Yet at the same time, she reached out and grabbed Princess Yongping’s wrist like they were close friends.

The wine cup in her hand moved closer.

“How about it?”

“Are you interested in acting out a little play?”

“A scene where I accidentally spill wine on your dress, you become furious, and storm away?”

“You are the talented princess everyone praises.”

“If you remain here, no one else can show off their abilities.”

“If you leave, wouldn’t everyone be happier?”

Princess Yongping knew very well that Zhu Ying was deliberately creating the appearance that the two of them were still enemies.

Otherwise, outsiders might suspect that they had joined forces.

Even so, she still felt both embarrassed and angry.

She immediately snapped: “Stop wasting time.”

“Tell me what you actually want.”

After hearing the few words Zhu Ying whispered into her ear, Princess Yongping was completely shocked.

But before she could react—

Splash!

Zhu Ying directly poured the wine from her cup onto Princess Yongping’s skirt.

Immediately afterward, the beautiful eldest daughter of the Zhao State Duke Manor blinked at her mischievously.

“Ah! I’m so sorry.”

“My hand accidentally slipped!”