Chapter 194: Trap (2) (2/2)
Imperial Concubine Wei had no other choice but to accept her punishment.
The Emperor’s gaze swept across the entire Tingyu Pavilion before he ordered, “Forget it. I no longer have any interest in this. Jinyi, go to your grandmother over at the Empress Dowager’s palace.”
Chu Lian respectfully bowed and answered in agreement.
However, before the crowd started to leave Tingyu Pavilion, a bell-like voice called out from outside the entrance. “Father, Father! Yao’er has come to greet you!”
When he heard that voice, the dark clouds in the Emperor’s expression dissipated a little. He turned to the entrance, and in a short moment, a little girl in a pink court dress came running in like a little butterfly. Following that, she threw herself into the Emperor’s welcoming embrace.
The Emperor bent down slightly, his face full of tender love as he patted Imperial Princess Leyao’s hair gently. He asked her, “Leyao, why have you come all the way here?”
Imperial Princess Leyao coquettishly answered, “Yao’er missed Father, so Yao’er asked the eunuchs and came over! Yao’er hasn’t seen Father for two whole days! Did Father miss Yao’er?”
The Emperor burst out into laughter, enjoying such a warm exchange with his daughter. “Father misses you too.”
Imperial Princess Leyao let out a bright smile. “Yao’er knows that Father loves Yao’er the best!”
The Emperor pinched his daughter’s cheeks gently.
Imperial Concubine Wei had been kneeling at the side. When she saw her daughter entering the hall, her expression relaxed and she heaved a sigh of relief in her heart.
Imperial Princess Leyao looked around Tingyu Pavilion and ran into Imperial Concubine Wei’s embrace next. “Mother, what’s wrong? Why are you kneeling on the floor?”
Imperial Concubine Wei showed a slightly fatigued smile and combed through Imperial Princess Leyao’s slightly messy fringe. “Yao’er, Mother made a mistake. Mother has to kneel on the floor in repentance.”
Imperial Princess Leyao’s eyes widened and she tried to pull her mother up from the ground. However, Imperial Concubine Wei didn’t move. Imperial Princess Leyao ran up to the Emperor and hugged his arm, shaking it. “Father, Mother didn’t do it on purpose! Could you forgive Mother just this once?”
The Chengping Emperor looked into Imperial Princess Leyao’s eyes and finally gave in. “Alright, get up. If there’s a next time, you won’t be able to make up for it even if Leyao pleads for you again.”
Delight bloomed on Imperial Concubine Wei’s face. She quickly said, “This humble one wouldn’t dare. There won’t be a next time.”
Empress Shen was about to grind her teeth down from frustration. She couldn’t believe that the Emperor had completely let go of his anger and pardoned Imperial Concubine Wei’s crime just because of two simple sentences from Imperial Princess Leyao!