Jiang Wenxun cried out for justice. Before the Emperor could even comprehend the situation, Lin Qinghe, weeping and sobbing, threw herself into his arms. He frowned, growing even more confused.
The Emperor, naturally doting on Lin Qinghe, hastily comforted her. "Qinghe, what is it? Don't cry, what wrong have you suffered? Tell me, and I will see justice done!"
Lin Qinghe sniffled, remaining silent. She turned to look at Jiang Wenxun, who was kneeling on the ground, then wailed again, burying her face in the Emperor's embrace and crying even harder.
Though Lin Qinghe said nothing, her meaning was abundantly clear.
Jiang Wenxun was stunned, a mixture of anger and fear gripping him.
"Your Majesty, it was the Princess who deliberately made things difficult for this servant over a mere slave. She even ordered that slave to strike me. Look at my face, it was beaten by that slave... I harbored no disrespect towards the Princess, nor did I utter any insults as she claims. I beg Your Majesty to investigate!"
The Emperor frowned and asked, "Qinghe, stop crying. Tell me, what exactly happened?"
Lin Qinghe sniffled and said, her voice full of grievance, "My palace servants were peacefully present here. They bowed to him, losing no proper etiquette. Yet, he, the scoundrel, ordered You Rong to clean his boots. You Rong complied. When he was done, the man escalated, demanding You Rong lick his boots clean before he would be satisfied!"
Jiang Wenxun quickly interjected, "Your Majesty, You Rong is but a slave. The Princess actually ordered me to lick her shoe clean! This... this is clearly intentional harassment!"
"Hmph! What you order others to do is acceptable, but when it comes to you, it becomes intentional harassment!" Lin Qinghe retorted sarcastically.
"This... Your Majesty, I am the heir of Marquis Wuan. How can I be compared to You Rong, a mere slave? He..."
"Why can't you be compared? Your life is precious, but are the lives of eunuchs and palace maids not? Do they not count as lives!"
Jiang Wenxun was speechless, his mouth shut tight. He could only cast a pleading look at the Emperor, "I beg Your Majesty to do me justice! The Princess clearly, clearly... intentionally made things difficult!"
"You... you say that again, who are you calling intentionally difficult?!"
The Emperor held back the furious Lin Qinghe, gently patting her shoulder. "Alright, Qinghe, calm down. I mostly understand. You claim Jiang Wenxun insulted you, but it doesn't seem to be the case."
Upon hearing this, Lin Qinghe's imperious demeanor immediately shifted to one of utter grievance. "Father Emperor... You Rong is my person! If he insults my person, is that not equivalent to slapping my face? Is that not equivalent to bullying me? Wuwu... Father Emperor, you actually aren't helping your daughter, wuwu..."
From the memories of her original body, Lin Qinghe knew that the Emperor doted on her the most. With a cry and a bit of coaxing, there was nothing the Emperor would refuse her.
As expected, her tearful grievances immediately resonated with the Emperor.
"Qinghe's words are reasonable. This matter is the fault of Duke Jiang from the start!"
Jiang Wenxun was burning with anxiety. He opened his mouth to explain, but found himself unable to articulate his plight. He couldn't help but regret his actions. Knowing how much the Emperor doted on the Fifth Princess, why had he deliberately provoked her?
Lin Qinghe's eyes lit up, and she quickly pressed, "Father Emperor! Since it is Jiang Wenxun's fault, then he should be punished, right!"
The Emperor said with a hint of helplessness, "He should be punished, but Duke Jiang's offense is a minor one. You cannot punish him too harshly."
The implication was that the punishment should not be excessive.
Lin Qinghe's dark eyes rolled around. "Alright then, I'll listen to Father Emperor. I will give Duke Jiang a small punishment as a warning. Let him kneel in the Imperial Garden for a full hour. What does Father Emperor think?"
"This..."
The Emperor looked hesitant, but he couldn't withstand Lin Qinghe's threat of tears if he refused. He mused that kneeling for an hour wasn't an excessive punishment and agreed.
"Yes, as Qinghe suggested, Duke Jiang showed disrespect to the Fifth Princess. He is to be punished by kneeling in the Imperial Garden for one hour."
"Your Majesty..." Jiang Wenxun tried to protest, but upon seeing the Emperor's slight frown of displeasure, he immediately caved, "Yes, I obey."
Jiang Wenxun was ordered to kneel.
The Emperor pinched Lin Qinghe's nose, affectionately saying, "Are you satisfied now?"
Lin Qinghe replied sweetly, "Thank you, Father Emperor. Father Emperor truly treats me the best!"
"You know I treat you the best? You haven't come to Qianqing Palace to pay your respects for quite some time."
"Your daughter has been feeling unwell lately and has seldom left Yaohua Palace. From tomorrow onwards, I will certainly come to pay my respects to Father Emperor every day, and I will bring the pastries I made myself!"
"If you are feeling unwell, then stay well in Yaohua Palace. After I finish my work, I will come to see you. Now, I must go to the Imperial Study to discuss state affairs with the ministers."
"Very well, your daughter bids Father Emperor farewell." Lin Qinghe curtsied and bowed.
You Rong and the others also bowed, "We bid farewell to His Majesty."
Before the Emperor left, his gaze fell upon You Rong. His eyes held a hint of pity, but in the end, he said nothing and departed.
As soon as the Emperor left, Lin Qinghe immediately dropped her demure act. She sneered at Jiang Wenxun, who was kneeling on the ground, "Keep kneeling, Duke Jiang. This Princess warns you, if you dare to be rude to You Rong again, I will retaliate tenfold for what you did to him!"
Jiang Wenxun's face flushed with anger, but he dared not utter a word.
You Rong's gaze was deep, his hands clenched slightly.
Something seemed to well up in his heart. When he tried to examine it, it felt as if nothing was there.
Lin Qinghe turned to You Rong and the others. "Let's go, we're returning to Yaohua Palace. My good mood has been completely spoiled by a fly."
You Yue and Mei Lan exchanged glances and quickly responded, "Yes, Your Highness."
Lin Qinghe walked ahead. After a few steps, she suddenly stopped, causing You Yue to ask in confusion, "Your Highness, what is it?"
Lin Qinghe caught sight of the blooming, vibrant peonies nearby and a wicked smile curved her lips.
She plucked a peony and walked back, placing it on Jiang Wenxun's head.
Jiang Wenxun froze for a moment. By the time he came to his senses, he felt utterly humiliated and tried to remove the peony from his head. Lin Qinghe coldly warned, "Duke Jiang, during this hour of kneeling punishment, if you dare to remove it, this Princess will go and beg Father Emperor again, and he will surely have you flogged!"
Jiang Wenxun gritted his teeth, believing that Lin Qinghe was truly capable of such an action, and given the Emperor's doting nature, he would likely agree.
His hands remained stiff, his face contorted with rage, but he dared not remove the peony from his head.
A man wearing a peony on his head was, no matter how one looked at it, a comical sight. Not only You Yue and Mei Lan couldn't help but chuckle, but the noble sons accompanying Jiang Wenxun also couldn't help but laugh.
This made Jiang Wenxun feel even more disgraced.
Lin Qinghe smiled with satisfaction and clapped her hands. "This Princess will leave now. Duke Jiang, remember to kneel for the full hour, or even a moment less will be considered defiance of imperial will!"
With a cheerful mood, she returned to Yaohua Palace. Lin Qinghe found an excuse to send Mei Lan and You Yue away.
She looked at You Rong with concern and asked, "I'm sorry about what happened in the Imperial Garden today. If I hadn't insisted on going, you wouldn't have encountered Jiang Wenxun and his men..."
You Rong's emotions stirred. He pursed his lips. "This servant is fine... Your Highness must not act this way again in the future. If word of this gets out, and they say the Princess acts arrogantly, it will damage your reputation."
Lin Qinghe looked into You Rong's clear eyes. "This Princess does not care about her reputation... You are this Princess's person! No one can bully you!"
You Rong met Lin Qinghe's clear gaze, and his heart skipped a beat.