CHAPTER 22: CHAPTER 22: HE DOESN’T TREAT YOU WELL

Leaving Changxing Village, returning to the Pingyang Princess Mansion.

The front courtyard was bustling with carriages and horses; all the guests had already arrived.

Chatter filled the air, but upon noticing Pingyang Princess’s expression, the room fell silent, nobody daring to ask questions.

Luckily, as the music and dance commenced, the tension eased.

While others felt less awkward, Tang Xiaobai still found herself feeling awkward.

She couldn’t understand why Pingyang Princess was so fond of her, insisting on holding her close while watching the performance. She could only cast beseeching glances towards Tang Jiaojiao for help.

Tang Jiaojiao glanced at her but offered no assistance.

Instead, Pingyang Princess noticed the glance from Tang Jiaojiao, and in a show of defiance, hugged the young girl even tighter, playfully saying, "Your sister always bullies you, how about you be my little sister, Xiao Bai?"

Tang Xiaobai, still upset with her sister’s indifference, nodded in agreement, "Sure! Being a sister for anyone is still being a sister!"

Tang Jiaojiao rolled her eyes at this, making Pingyang Princess laugh loudly.

With the Princess’s laughter, everyone beneath finally breathed a sigh of relief, and the performance became even more lively.

Tang Xiaobai sighed quietly, wanting to advise Pingyang Princess but unsure of the appropriate approach. After some thought, she chose to remain silent.

However, Pingyang Princess, after feeding her a few bites of food, couldn’t hold back her own curiosity: "Xiao Bai, what do you think of the Prince Consort?"

Taking her time to chew and swallow, Tang Xiaobai cautiously replied, "He looks very handsome."

Pingyang Princess chuckled, "You even know what’s good-looking?"

Tang Xiaobai was indignant, "I’m nine years old, not nine months!"

Pingyang Princess laughed, "And aside from looking good?"

Tang Xiaobai, noting her sister’s warning gaze, shrugged and said, "The Princess’s taste must be superb!" With that, she turned her attention to finding some pastry to eat.

Given Pingyang Princess’s disposition, it’s clear she’s accustomed to enduring Zhao Jing’s cold shoulder, as it’s not the first time she’s faced such silent treatment.

Tang Jiaojiao wisely chose not to intervene.

Pingyang Princess, hearing her remark, fell silent for a long while.

Suddenly, with a soft sigh, she rested her chin on Tang Xiaobai’s shoulder and spoke quietly, "Zhao Jing... did you know he was once an Outer Mansion soldier?"

"What’s an Outer Mansion soldier?" Tang Xiaobai was clueless.

"There are three types of soldiers: those stationed long-term in the Capital City are called Inner Mansion, those recruited by each State Mansion are Outer Mansion, and those in border garrisons are garrison troops—your father commands the garrison troops—"

Tang Xiaobai nodded, as she preferred Pingyang Princess’s clear explanations, unlike Tang Jiaojiao, who always had a "how could you not know this" look and never explained anything properly.

"Zhao Jing used to be an Outer Mansion soldier, and they have to take turns guarding the Capital City. In the spring before last, when he entered the Capital City, he was assigned to guard Chunming Gate..."

It’s quite an unoriginal story.

Outer Mansion soldier Zhao Jing entered the Capital City to guard Chunming Gate. He encountered a suspicious person trying to enter the city and demanded identification. The person not only refused but made a scene at the gate, leading Zhao Jing to dutifully apprehend him.

When his superior arrived, they were shocked and frightened, kneeling and pleading for mercy from the Princess.

Surprisingly, the Princess forgave him and found the guard’s assertive stance quite impressive, secretly developing feelings for him.

What followed was a gender-swapped version of a bossy CEO falling for me. The Princess visited the gate daily, making excuses to talk, and just before the guard was due to finish his term and leave the Capital City, she managed to have him transferred to stay. Then from an unknown soldier to a squad leader, then to a captain, he rose to the rank of Fifth Rank General.

By early this year, the imperial decree was issued: the newly appointed Left Army Leader General Zhao Jing would marry Pingyang Princess Li Yao, with the wedding set for July.

At this point, Pingyang Princess paused for a long time, then started laughing, "Zhao Jing’s nature is like that; he’s always cold at the Imperial Court, too."

Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help but interject, "I’m also stern at the Imperial Court!" Should one act the same way before the Emperor as they would with family?

Pingyang Princess paused, then continued, "Zhao Jing is courageous and honorable; even Your Majesty praises him greatly—"

"Yes, I also said that the Princess’s taste is excellent." Can’t you understand it was all just polite talk?

Pingyang Princess pursed her lips and added, "In this recent hunt for the assassin, Your Majesty specifically sent him to the Zhenzhou Imperial Court. You know about the Zhenzhou Imperial Court—"

"I know, just looking at that court official, you can tell the Zhenzhou Imperial Court is unruly."

"Unruly hahaha..." Pingyang Princess burst into uncontrollable laughter at her description.

Tang Xiaobai gave her a quick glance and said, "That court official seems quite formidable."

It was hard to say if Zhao Jing was competent, but Su Shunqing definitely showed talent.

Although she didn’t need to see to know Su Shunqing was talented, as she was someone who had entered the book’s world!

But Pingyang Princess didn’t catch her underlying meaning, dismissively chuckling, "The Prince Consort is also remarkably distinguished—" then began enumerating Zhao Jing’s wisdom and valor.

Tang Xiaobai listened in silence for a while until she couldn’t help but interrupt, "But he doesn’t treat you well!"

Pingyang Princess’s smile faded.

"Xiao Bai?" Tang Jiaojiao, though not hearing their conversation clearly, sharply sensed the change in atmosphere and immediately scolded, "What mischief are you up to again? Get over here now!"

Tang Xiaobai glanced at Pingyang Princess.

Pingyang Princess released her, lifted her chin slightly, and raised her brow with haughtiness, "He wouldn’t dare!"

...

"Who wouldn’t dare? Dare not what?" After the banquet ended and guests had departed, as soon as they were in the carriage, Tang Jiaojiao couldn’t resist asking.

Tang Xiaobai hesitantly recounted the conversation she had with Pingyang Princess.

Predictably, Tang Jiaojiao smacked her on the back of the head, "Can’t you stay out of trouble? How they are together is none of your business?"

Tang Xiaobai clutched her head without a word.

Indeed, it was none of her business; indeed, she had spoken out of turn; indeed, she couldn’t hold her tongue.

She simply didn’t care for such tragic love stories.

"Sister?" Tang Xiaobai couldn’t resist, "Don’t you think the Princess is quite pitiful?"

"Pitiful how?" Tang Jiaojiao shot her a glance, "She took a liking to a man, and got him just like that. Even His Majesty couldn’t oppose her. Is it your place to pity her?"

From that perspective, she wasn’t wrong...

Yet Tang Xiaobai thought of something else, hesitantly asking, "Sister, if it were you, what would you do?"

Tang Jiaojiao gave her a look suggesting what kind of pointless question is this, "What would I do? Just the same! If I want him, I’d go get him. What else? The ancients have said—" Suddenly she trailed off.

Noticing her sister still eagerly waiting for more, she waved her hand in annoyance, "Even if I told you, you wouldn’t understand!"

Tang Xiaobai wasn’t ready to drop the topic, continuing to argue, "If it were an inanimate object, you could just take it. But that’s a living person. Even if you forcefully get him, he wouldn’t like you!"

Her sister’s thinking was truly dangerous!

No wonder later she stubbornly insisted on marrying the book’s Crown Prince, and even saw the female lead as a rival to be relentlessly attacked!