CHAPTER 327: CHAPTER 327: AFRAID TO CRY

Zhou Kangping became more agitated as she spoke.

The more she spoke, the fiercer her expression became.

Everything she did was for Emperor Jing.

"But how did you repay me? Even knowing that I disliked An Changle, you still showed favoritism towards An Changle. I liked Zhao Ting, yet you not only didn’t grant him to me as my Prince Consort, but you also made his countrywoman a County Princess!"

"You indulge Noble Consort An’s defiance against me! You sided with Zhao Ting and Meng Yao!"

"You mercilessly sentenced my retainers to exile!"

"Do you think you are treating me fairly?"

Zhou Kangping was hysterical.

Emperor Jing looked at her incredulously, unable to believe how his imperial sister had turned into such a person.

"Everything you have, it was me who gave it to you!"

"You didn’t treat me well, is it wrong for me to want to take it back?"

Zhou Kangping accused Emperor Jing like a madwoman.

Emperor Jing watched her madness with cold indifference.

In the Imperial Study Room, after more than two hours of turmoil, Zhou Kangping was taken to the Heavenly Prison, awaiting execution.

The ministers gave Emperor Jing no chance to hesitate, submitting a joint memorial demanding Zhou Kangping’s execution.

Indulging retainers could be forgiven.

But the assassination of the emperor could not be covered up.

The family of Noble Consort Jing was also involved; the men were beheaded, the women and children sent to the Music Bureau, condemned to servitude for generations.

As for the daughter of Noble Consort Jing, Emperor Jing was conflicted for days before sending her to Noble Consort An’s palace.

The child was already aware, so Emperor Jing did not hide anything from her and told Huanyan the truth about Noble Consort Jing’s actions.

"Father has to attend to state affairs and might not be able to look after you. Your Aunt An will take care of you for Father! Father will also come to visit you often!" Emperor Jing said to Princess Huanyan.

Huanyan hung her head and remained silent.

Her mother consort and Noble Consort An had always been at odds, how could she lead a good life if she was placed with Noble Consort An?

Yet Huanyan dared not say anything, her mother consort having committed the crime of attempting to assassinate Father, a sin that doomed nine generations.

Zhou Huanyan knew that no matter where she went, her life would not be easy.

"I understand, Father." Zhou Huanyan said softly, raising her head.

Looking at the face that was seventy percent similar to Noble Consort Jing’s, Emperor Jing was inexplicably annoyed, "You need to be obedient and sensible, don’t disappoint your Aunt An."

"I understand, Father." Zhou Huanyan promised.

"Shuangxi, personally escort her there." Emperor Jing ordered.

Shuangxi responded, bowed, and left.

"Forget it, I’ll personally take Huanyan over." Emperor Jing said impatiently.

Noble Consort Jing was guilty; he should not transfer his anger to the child.

If he did that, the child would have no good life in the palace in the future.

What he had experienced in the past, he didn’t want the child to go through again.

Before making this decision, Emperor Jing had not informed Noble Consort An.

Thus, An Changle was very surprised to see Emperor Jing bring Princess Huanyan over.

"Arhat, from now on Huanyan will be raised in your palace." Emperor Jing spoke plainly, "I don’t feel comfortable leaving her with someone else."

"Does Huanyan agree?" An Changle asked.

Emperor Jing turned to ask Zhou Huanyan, "Your Aunt An is asking you a question!"

"I agree." Zhou Huanyan replied softly.

An Changle nodded slightly and directly arranged for her to stay in the side hall, instructing palace servants to take her there.

"Your Majesty, there must be many people in the palace who are willing to raise Huanyan?" An Changle asked.

"I’m not comfortable with them. Although Noble Consort Jing... Huanyan, after all, is my daughter, I hate Noble Consort Jing, but I cannot transfer that hatred onto Huanyan." Emperor Jing said earnestly.

"Your Majesty might not be afraid that I would treat Huanyan poorly, even though the concubine and Noble Consort Jing have always been at odds?" An Changle questioned Emperor Jing.

"Arhat, if it were someone else, I wouldn’t doubt in the slightest that they would criticize Huanyan behind her back. But you, I know you won’t. You are not someone who seeks to publicly settle personal grudges!" Emperor Jing replied sincerely.

"Your Majesty trusts the concubine so much, the concubine will never betray that trust." An Changle responded cheerfully, "It’s just that girls are naturally sensitive, having been through this, Huanyan will likely be emotionally low for a long time."

"You should look after her more, guide her more, let her know that she doesn’t have to bear the burden of her mother consort’s mistakes." Emperor Jing advised.

"Alright." An Changle responded.

Emperor Jing had to attend to government affairs, instructing palace servants to move Huanyan’s belongings to An Changle’s place.

After Emperor Jing left, An Changle went to the side hall.

Zhou Huanyan sat alone on the Arhat Bed, frightenedly standing up to salute when she saw An Changle approach, calling her ’Aunt An.’

"Huanyan, where are your original attendants?" An Changle asked.

"All of Mother Consort’s attendants have been taken away." Zhou Huanyan answered cautiously.

It was true, all the people around Zhou Huanyan had been arranged by Noble Consort Jing.

Even if, after interrogation, those people were not implicated, they could not be placed around Zhou Huanyan again.

"Tomorrow Aunt An will have the Internal Affairs Bureau select some people to send over, Huanyan can choose the attendants herself, is that good?" An Changle asked her.

"Huanyan will listen to Aunt An." Zhou Huanyan answered meekly.

"Good child, then what do you want for dinner?" An Changle asked again.

"Huanyan doesn’t have preferences, whatever Aunt An eats, Huanyan will eat." Zhou Huanyan replied.

An Changle patted Zhou Huanyan’s head, "Huanyan, although Aunt An’s relationship with your mother consort was strained, Aunt An has never belittled others. Plus, your father entrusted you to Aunt An, Aunt An will certainly treat you well. So, you don’t need to be too reserved; however you lived in your mother consort’s palace, you should live in Aunt An’s place the same way."

Zhou Huanyan was no longer a child, so An Changle didn’t intend to use coaxing tactics, but rather laid everything out in the open for easier communication.

Zhou Huanyan hesitated.

"You see, if Aunt An guesses your thoughts, it’s fine if she’s right, but if she’s wrong, you’re too shy to tell Aunt An, then the mistake can’t be corrected, and you’ll keep enduring grievances. Huanyan, Aunt An wants to tell you, girls should never let themselves be mistreated." An Changle gave Zhou Huanyan her first lesson.

Zhou Huanyan looked up at An Changle, her eyes filled with uncertainty.

An Changle looked back at her, her gaze peaceful and somewhat tender.

"Aunt An, I don’t like eating eggs, don’t like radishes, or green vegetables, and I love crystal trotters and steamed pork. I like sweet foods and spicy ones too, although Mother Consort said I couldn’t eat spicy things because it’s bad for the skin." Zhou Huanyan said bravely.

"Good, Aunt An will remember that. Do you have anything else you want to tell Aunt An?" An Changle asked.

"I’m afraid of thunder; every time it thundered, Mother Consort would be with me." Zhou Huanyan said with tears in her eyes.

An Changle waved, and the palace servants in the hall retreated, An Changle sat on the Arhat Bed, and spoke gently, "Huanyan, do you want to cry?"

Zhou Huanyan tried hard to keep her lips closed, preventing the tears from falling.

"If you want to cry, just cry, no one will laugh at you." An Changle said.

The little girl was though more sensible, but in the end, she was still a child; her beloved mother consort was gone. Even if everyone said she deserved to die, in her heart, her mother consort was still the one who loved her.

"Can I cry, Aunt An?" Zhou Huanyan choked up.

"You can cry, but you can’t cry all the time. The things your mother consort did, Aunt An cannot judge, but don’t doubt your mother consort’s love for you. Your sorrow and tears over her loss are natural." An Changle said.

After Noble Consort Jing’s incident, before her attendants were taken away, they all said, ’Princess you can’t cry, it’s not right to cry,’ and similar words. So, Zhou Huanyan had been holding back, and didn’t dare to cry.