Xiaosuisui, holding Xiaobai, nodded at Xie Pan’Er’s words.
"I understand. I’ll remember what beautiful big sister said."
Xie Pan’Er continued to instruct, "In the Palace, you must not speak carelessly, especially when it comes to cursing. Moreover, you must never casually speak of life and death. Do you understand?"
Xiaosuisui looked puzzled and asked, "What do you mean by life and death? How am I supposed to tell the difference?"
After a moment’s thought, Xie Pan’Er said, "I’ll give you an example. Just listen, but don’t repeat it out loud."
Xiaosuisui nodded. Ever since her beautiful big sister had prayed for rain to cool the intense heat, she had begun to vaguely understand certain things.
"Okay! I will!"
"For example, if someone suddenly curses at you, saying things like, ’You’re going to die!’ or ’Are you blind?’ or ’You’re a fool!’ or ’Your leg is broken!’... and so on, you must not repeat their words. Do you understand?"
Xiaosuisui blinked. "If I can’t curse back, then what should I do?"
Xie Pan’Er smiled gently.
"You are the Eldest Princess. What is the purpose of your status? It’s for punishing those who lack manners. If they dare to curse you like that, you can directly reprimand them for their lack of decorum and have their parents take them home for proper guidance. Just ensure they don’t appear before you again."
Hearing this, Xiaosuisui pondered for a moment. After mentally picturing the scenario Xie Pan’Er described, she nodded gently.
"I’ll try that next time. But what if it doesn’t work?"
Xie Pan’Er thought for a moment and said, "Then, do you remember what I told you when we were at the City God Temple?"
Xiaosuisui immediately thought of Zhao Fei, who had been beaten by her beautiful big sister, and a smile spread across her face.
"Then I’ll beat them until they don’t dare to curse me anymore!"
Xie Pan’Er’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch. This won’t do, she thought. If the Eldest Princess continues down this path, won’t she grow up to be a violent maniac?
"You can’t beat them like that. What if you accidentally kill someone? Do you even realize how strong you are?"
When Xiaosuisui heard Xie Pan’Er mention her strength, her large, blinking eyes filled with sadness.
"I can’t hit them, and I can’t curse back. Am I supposed to just let others bully me? That’s not what His Majesty, my foster father, said."
Hearing Xiaosuisui’s words, Xie Pan’Er was rather surprised.
"What did His Majesty, your foster father, tell you?"
Xiaosuisui recalled what the young Emperor had said when he was admonishing her Second Aunt at the Xun’an County Yamen.
"His Majesty, my foster father, said that I am a Royal Princess. If those insolent fools dare to provoke me, their lives and deaths are mine to decide. If I want to kill them, I can kill them!"
When Xiaosuisui finished speaking, Xie Pan’Er felt a chill run down her spine. Is the royal dignity truly so inviolable? But those are human lives! This won’t do! Xiaosuisui’s power is too great; she mustn’t be allowed to believe that human life is worthless.
So, she said to Xiaosuisui, "Everyone has only one life. We are all born of parents, have flesh and blood, and possess thoughts, just like us. Just imagine, can a human life be killed at will?"
Xiaosuisui thought for a moment and naturally recalled the time at the Li Family when she was nearly beaten to death by Old Madam Li. That feeling of being on the verge of death was terrifying.
"No!" Xiaosuisui answered crisply.
Xie Pan’Er gently stroked her head, a smile appearing on her face.
"The Eldest Princess is truly a kind-hearted person!"
Seeing the smile on Xie Pan’Er’s face, Xiaosuisui also smiled. She asked Xie Pan’Er, "Does not killing people make one a good person?"