TICIEC Chapter 26.1

The Emperor, along with Zhuang Fei and a group of princes and ministers, went hunting early in the morning.

Ning Wanyin, who was not skilled in riding or archery, stayed behind in the imperial palace.

Although these women are all daughters of noble families, the prevailing social norms value gentleness and consider martial arts to be vulgar.

Even the daughters of military families are taught music, chess, calligraphy, painting, etiquette, and rules, but not riding or archery.

Occasionally, women from humble backgrounds, who are not bound by so many rules, will have the opportunity to learn riding and archery.

Of course, Ning Wanyin did not think Zhuang Fei was vulgar; on the contrary, she envied her skill.

She was more likely to survive an assassination attempt than she was.

Ning Wanyin now lived in the same palace as the Emperor, but she could only go to the main hall to serve him when the Emperor summoned her. She usually stayed in a warm pavilion on one side of the main hall.

Ning Wanyin specifically sought permission from the Emperor and received his permission to meet with her family in the warm pavilion.

“Master, the Old Madam and Madam have arrived!” Xiao Guizi said happily as he led the group in.

In the center was the smiling Old Mrs. Ning.

On the left was a beaming Cheng Shi, while on the right, supporting Old Mrs. Ning, was a beautiful young woman of similar age to Ning Wanyin.

“Wan’er…” Cheng Shi saw Ning Wanyin and was about to speak.

Old Mrs. Ning glanced at the room full of palace maids and eunuchs out of the corner of her eye, coughed, and said, “First, pay your respects to Ning Meiren!”

“Grandmother and Mother, there’s no need for formalities. Xiao Guizi, you can all go down now. Lian Rui, stay and serve.” Ning Wanyin understood the implied meaning.

Xiao Guizi and the others bowed and withdrew.

Only her own people remained in the room.

Old Mrs. Ning’s expression changed instantly, and she stared at Ning Wanyin with a stern look.

“Ning Wanyin, you have shown great disrespect to the Empress Dowager! Do you know your mistake?”

“This is all thanks to His Majesty’s favor, and Wan’er cannot refuse such imperial grace…” Cheng Shi defended her.

“Hmph! I never expected you to be such a shallow person. You were so cautious before, but now that you’ve gained His Majesty’s favor, you’ve become arrogant! Such disrespect for the Empress Dowager—do you know that offending the Xue family will bring you no good end, and your entire family will be implicated?”

Old Mrs. Ning’s eyes were sharp, her words like knives.

“Because of you alone, you have harmed the entire clan. You are a scourge to the Ning family! Your mother raised such a wicked daughter as you. She is also a sinner of the Ning family!”

Upon hearing the word ‘sinner’, Cheng Shi’s face paled slightly, but she still tried her best to defend Ning Wanyin.

“Wan’er must have had many unavoidable circumstances in the palace…”

Ning Wanyin knew that her grandmother would come to settle accounts with her.

Having offended the Xue family, her grandmother was filled with immense fear.

But how could the Ning family want such a good deal, wanting both the Emperor’s favor and a good relationship with the Xue and Cen families?

Her choice of the Emperor was a last resort born of desperation. Even without such dire circumstances, of the three, the Emperor was the best option.

If she lives, the Ning family will be safe. If she dies, the Emperor, out of consideration for her loyalty, will likely spare the lives of her family.

“Then what advice does Grandmother have for me?” Ning Wanyin asked calmly.

A harsh scolding was bound to have a follow-up.

The Old Madam couldn’t have come specifically to argue with her.

“It’s also because your father has done a good job and the Cen family has honored us. As long as you follow Cen Jieyu’s lead in the palace from now on, the Cen family will naturally protect us.”

Old Mrs. Ning looked at Ning Wanyin, her eyes softening slightly.

Ning Wanyin pursed her thin lips slightly, a hint of unsurprised mockery flashing in her eyes.

The Ning family once tried to curry favor with the Xue and Cen families, but they looked down on them.

Now that she was the Emperor’s new favorite and had severely humiliated the Xue family, the Cen family extended an olive branch to them.

But would she dare to accept the offer?

Accepting would make her the next Wen Baolin.

Once she fell out of favor and lost the Emperor’s favor, what would she rely on to compete with the Xue family?

What use would she be to the Cen family then?

Would the Cen family still protect her?

 

 

 

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