CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 27: UNBECOMING OF FEMALE VIRTUE

"This Miss Ye from the Ye Family is quite pampered."

This remark successfully halted Shen Chen’s departure, his cold face remaining expressionless.

The one who spoke was the Crown Prince, Li Changnian, with a look of disdain: "As the daughter of a First Grade minister, she ought to be well-read and understanding, but her behavior just now was no different from a shrew cursing on the street.

The Minister of Rites conducts himself with propriety usually and is a pillar of our dynasty, but his family discipline is lacking, unfit for the grand hall."

The Ministry of Rites. A singular Chief of Staff, a First Grade position.

Their primary responsibilities range from the construction scale of buildings to major state sacrificial ceremonies, all within the scope of the Ministry of Rites, and the Minister of Rites is also responsible for serving as the chief examiner of the national examination, also known as the "Metropolitan Examination." Those who pass are called "Imperial Examination Graduates," and following the Imperial Examination, the next is the palace examination personally supervised by the Emperor.

Those who pass will be ranked as Zhuangyuan, Tanhua, and Bangyan, in three grades.

It can be said to be immensely glorious.

The number of First Grade officials in the Daqing Dynasty can be counted on one hand, and the Minister of Rites is interconnected with more than half of the court officials, extremely important, and the family’s reputation must be given extra attention.

The daughter of a major minister should have been dignified, graceful, and wise. Instead, she behaves grotesquely, surely a breach of conduct.

Liu Qingxi shared the same sentiment, agreeing with the Crown Prince: "The girl from the Ye Family is nothing impressive. At first glance, I thought she was extraordinary, but one cannot judge by appearances."

The legitimate second daughter of the Ye Mansion is merely so!

After this incident, the Crown Prince must have a very poor impression of her, without any need for close association.

She just got knocked slightly and should have endured it, yet she acted like a little monkey, losing all sense of feminine decorum.

Even her sister Liu Qinglan concurred with the Crown Prince: "She appears to be a delicate beauty, but her behavior is improper. It won’t do when she gets older."

She is nine years old this year, the same age as the Crown Prince, and her family hires a private tutor while the Crown Prince attends the Imperial College.

Since she finally got to meet the Crown Prince today, she must present herself well.

The Liu Family motto, constantly reiterated by Mrs. Liu, is her hope for her daughters to honor their family by marrying someone with high rank and power.

Now the Crown Prince is standing right in front of her.

She cast a sidelong glance at her half-sister, hoping she would not be sensible and compete for the Crown Prince’s favor too.

Liu Qingxi, catching her sister’s unfriendly gaze, smiled lightly, returning a provoking look: I’m going to compete; the Crown Prince is mine.

"Ah Zhi can indeed be a bit willful sometimes."

Li Du, who had remained silent, finally spoke a word. Without saying something, he seemed out of place.

Ever since Ye Zhi left, it was evident this place had almost turned into her public trial. If she knew, she probably wouldn’t care either.

Because her eventual cause of death was brought about by Shen Chen, not speaking ill of her was already enough from Shen Chen...

Several people continued to chatter loudly, trampling on Ye Zhi relentlessly.

Li Qinglian really did not want to listen, so she gently requested: "Brother, Qinglian would like to return to the palace by herself first. The sun is high, and I find nothing interesting."

With that, she bowed slightly.

It was her way of bidding farewell.

Li Changnian did not urge her to stay and instructed the two guards behind him to escort her back to the palace.

The people beside him were experts from the Imperial Palace, capable of taking on ten men single-handedly, and within the Imperial City, at the foot of the country, security was excellent. Two guards were more than enough to escort a princess.

"Your Highness, why don’t we go to Jingxin Building for lunch?" Liu Qingxi smiled with dimples on her cheeks, her red dress making her appear radiant.

Her smile dazzled not only the Crown Prince’s eyes but also captivated Li Du beside them.

Both Li Du and Li Changnian spoke in unison: "Yes."