Chapter 402: Chapter 402: Cross-Dressing Female General VS Enchanting Femme Fatale (24) Chapter 402: Chapter 402: Cross-Dressing Female General VS Enchanting Femme Fatale (24) The Emperor, in a fit of rage, struck with tremendous force, causing Princess Shu He to fall directly to the ground.
She covered half of her face, and without looking, it was already swollen.
“Father?” Princess Shu He looked at the Emperor incredulously, as if unable to believe that he, regardless of his status, had actually hit her!
“You, you have truly disappointed us!” The Emperor gazed at his daughter, beautiful as a flower, graceful as jade.
He had many children, over a dozen princesses alone, and among them, Princess Shu He’s noble birth and outstanding beauty had always earned her his favor.
But, an Emperor’s favor has its limits.
“We see now that it is our excessive favor that has spoiled you, turning you into someone who knows not the heights of the sky, nor the depths of the earth!” said the Emperor coldly as he looked at Princess Shu He.
“Do you think marrying Yunzhen was beneath him? Go ask any princess in the palace if they wouldn’t wish to marry Yunzhen!”
“We can tolerate your petulant moods and your pride, for you are our daughter, and naturally you should carry yourself with pride. However, you have failed to recognize what truly matters!” said the Emperor with disappointment as he looked at his daughter, “You dared to bribe an assassin to take the life of a key minister, our Great General Who Defends the Country!”
At this point, Princess Shu He, who had been feeling somewhat wronged and confused, finally realized the gravity of the situation–her father, the Emperor, was aware of what she had done.
Her heart sank to the depths; she knew her father well. He was a true Emperor, which meant that even her favored status could not compare to his realm and its people.
She quickly scrambled to her feet, making her way on her knees to the Emperor’s side, clutching at the hem of his robe: “Father, your child admits her mistakes; I was simply blinded by foolishness. I truly recognize my wrongdoing. Moreover… General Fu wasn’t harmed, was he?”
Seeing her still making excuses, the Emperor’s heart grew colder. After two assassination attempts, had she really recognized her mistakes?
He flung off the sobbing Princess Shu He with a cold indifference, “You stay put and reflect on your actions. If you truly know your mistake, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to atone for your sins on behalf of the court! Hmph!”
With a cold snort, he turned and left.
Noble Consort Fang, who rushed over upon hearing the news, was initially stopped by the guards overseeing Princess Shu He outside the palace hall. When she tried to seek an audience with the Emperor, she was also barred from entry, which made her realize the seriousness of the matter.
But no matter how much she pondered, she could not fathom what terrible mistake her daughter could have made.
Gu Shengyin was summoned to the palace by the Emperor.
“Those assassins entered the Ministry of Justice and, one by one, took poison and killed themselves. We were unable to detect the mastermind behind the scenes,” the Emperor said to Gu Shengyin with a hint of apology.
“We are fortunate that His Royal Highness Prince Rong remains unharmed.” Gu Shengyin was not at all surprised by the Emperor’s pressing down on the matter, as such incidents would bring disgrace upon the entire Imperial Family if they became public.
The Emperor could not afford to lose such face.
“By the way, we have drafted a decree already. Princess Shu He has suddenly fallen severely ill and is now recuperating in Ganquan Palace. It seems she is unfit to marry you, so the marriage between you two is hereby canceled,” said the Emperor, seemingly tired. He gestured for her to leave and dismissed her after speaking.
Not long after Gu Shengyin returned to her estate, she indeed received the imperial edict from the palace, along with a heap of generous rewards. The extent of these honors and favors astounded many who had sneered at Fu Yunzhen for his marriage arrangement with the princess being canceled.
Only Gu Shengyin herself understood that this was merely the Emperor’s way of offering her a different form of compensation.