The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 148 - 131, a loud slap

"What did you say?"

Princess Yunyang suddenly stood up, her red sheer dress trembling; beneath her elaborate hairstyle, her face showed astonishment.

Zhao Douan led a group of eunuchs to the door?

This undoubtedly sent a bad signal.

Yet she couldn’t immediately understand why, but at her side, Li Shuping’s smile that had just begun to lift instantly disappeared.

It was him!

Li Shuping’s pupils constricted, recalling the fear he felt when Zhao Douan had threatened him at Lihua Hall.

Although he didn’t want to admit it, since that incident, he had developed a fear of this newly prominent "Little King Yan."

"Why would he bring people here to our mansion? Could it be that he even dares to force his way in?" Li Shuping mused unconsciously.

He stopped mid-sentence, lowering his voice.

Because he suddenly thought that with Zhao Douan’s lawless nature, it was indeed hard to say.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

After all, just last night he had dared to burst into the Three Legal Departments, disregarding Third-Rank Officials.

For him, powerless and merely holding a nominal title, it seemed not unusual at all to be stormed in on.

Thinking this, panic crossed his face and he instinctively turned to his wife beside him:

"Yunyang, could this scourge have come because he knows about you..."

He believed that Zhao Douan had come seeking vengeance.

Princess Yunyang thought so as well, but something felt off, she frowned and asked a house servant:

"Did you say he led many eunuchs?"

"Yes," the servant nodded, unable to provide a clear explanation.

Indeed, in the stereotypical view, it was hard to associate Zhao Douan, a mere official from outside, with carrying imperial orders.

Princess Yunyang knitted her brows and coldly instructed the servants to clear away the breakfast, clean the courtyard, and observe quietly.

Expressionless, she said:

"Do not obstruct him. If he wants to enter, let him. I want to see what he intends."

At this moment, there was nothing frivolous about her; instead, she exuded the dignity of royalty.

Shortly after,

noisy sounds came from outside the mansion gates, Zhao Douan, too impatient to wait for an announcement, dismounted and led a procession of eunuchs boldly into the central courtyard.

The mansion, still imposing, entered the spacious central courtyard, he was surprised to see the orderly sweeping and cleaning by the household staff.

Inside the main hall, a couple sat in high-backed armchairs, with landscape paintings hanging behind them.

At first glance, he saw Li Shuping, who looked pitiful before but now sat upright, portraying the air of a host.

Zhao Douan didn’t bother to look at him again. His gaze shifted and rested on the beautiful woman in a red dress beside him, his eyes slightly brightening.

He couldn’t help but envy the consort’s good fortune... well, ignoring the number of hats.

"Master Zhao hosts a grand sight by visiting without sending a visitation card in advance, truly treating the Capital as the Zhao family’s backyard," said Li Shuping in the presence of outsiders, his tone subtly furious, his gaze probing the eunuchs.

Unable to see the purpose.

The couple did not even budge, just sat upright in the main hall like a lord sitting under the bright panels of a government office.

Zhao Douan’s lips curved upwards, before he could speak, an eunuch behind him stepped forward, held up the imperial decree with a stern face, and loudly said:

"By the Saint’s decree, Consort Li Shuping, Princess Yunyang, receive the decree!"

An imperial decree?!

This shout not only shocked the servants within the mansion but even the aloof and noble Grand Princess was startled.

According to history after the Ming Dynasty in Zhao Douan’s previous life, the requirement to kneel to receive a decree evolved.

The process of issuing a decree was also complex, but it was quite similar to the rules seen in movies in the Great Yu Dynasty.

Princess Yunyang’s pretty face changed, reluctantly she stood up, lifted her red dress, and quickly walked to the courtyard.

She glared hatefully at Zhao Douan but still knelt down, squeezing out through clenched teeth:

"Yunyang... receives the decree."

After setting the example, Li Shuping also hurriedly knelt down, followed by all the servants in the courtyard, a wave of kneeling ensued, fearing being accused of "disregarding the Imperial authority and disrespecting the rites."

Ha... still putting on airs, yet they still obediently rolled out... Zhao Douan curled his lips.

Gazing down at the kneeling couple in front of him, he raised the decree, unfolded it, and said indifferently:

"Today, I have heard that the elder princess Yunyang is restless and anxious, hence the abbot of Jizhao Temple is asked to prepare a meditation room, a single lamp, and a meditation mat; starting today, Princess Yunyang will enter Jizhao Temple for self-reflection and cultivation. Let it be known."

The content of the decree was brief and casual, Zhao Douan finished reading it in one breath.

However, this light phrase, falling into the ears of Princess Yunyang, struck like a thunderclap on a clear day.

She suddenly raised her head, her eyes widened, beneath her dark, bewitching hair, her face turned white!

Though still kneeling, her body staggered, incredulous.

A nunnery!

Her dear niece, truly leaving no room for sentimentality.

No word "punishment" was mentioned in the decree, but who couldn’t hear the Empress’ intentions?

"A nunnery... To send Yunyang to a nunnery?"

Consort Li Shuping also froze; at this moment, not a trace of joy appeared on his face, his mind buzzed, anger showing on his face as he suddenly shouted:

"It was you! What did you tell Her Majesty?"

Though he ranked low at home, Li Shuping knew better, that if the Princess fell, he would not fare well either.

What good place is Jizhao Temple?

Even if it wasn’t exactly a cold palace, it was not far from being one.

Zhao Douan’s expression was indifferent, looking down disdainfully, he casually rolled up the imperial decree, glancing at the pale-faced Princess sitting on the ground, he smirked,

"Princess, you should really keep your man in check. Don’t let him run loose and bite others."

Li Shuping was furious yet dared not retaliate.

This reminded Zhao Douan of the dog his family raised in his previous life, which barked loudly when chained but once unleashed and without its master around, it would only cower and whimper.

"Princess, please stand and receive the decree."

Princess Yunyang finally calmed down, she pursed her lips and slowly stood up to take the scroll of the imperial decree.

She unfolded it and glanced at each character inked on the fabric, each one piercing through her like a barrage of arrows.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and then reopened them:

"Yunyang, receiving the decree."

A gust of wind blew, her large red sheer skirt fluttered, deeply slit, its loose robe rippling like water.

Zhao Douan closely examined this woman who had caused him not a small amount of trouble, only now seeing her face for the first time, suddenly he laughed,

"Princess, won’t you offer me a glass of water?"

...

...

Inside the mansion.

In a room styled like a meditation chamber, cool mats laid on the floor with a full set of tea utensils.

With the door shut, only Zhao Douan and Yunyang were left inside.

Outside the door was the Prince Consort pretending to be the door god, further outside were the eunuchs patiently waiting in the courtyard.

Zhao Douan sat cross-legged on the cool mat, his gaze traveling over a tea tray crafted from dark purple sandalwood, quite hefty, and the complete set of expensive purple clay pots placed on it.

He lifted a delicate tea pet sculpted like a jade toad, played with it for a moment, and laughed,

"The belongings in the Princess’s residence indeed bear exquisite quality, many times better than those Mr. Zhao uses to entertain his guests."

Opposite him, Princess Yunyang sat on the floor, her legs longer and fairer than Zhao Douan’s own, curved up. Despite the circumstances, her grace remained untouched as she sat expressionless.

Trained by the palace etiquette officials, her upper body, back, and long proud neck were held straight.

Her cold gaze swept over his hand, she spoke disdainfully,

"Has Lord Zhao come here to beg, if you like it, take it with you, lest I need to have my maids smash and throw it away later."

Zhao Douan feigned surprise, "Why throw it away?"

Princess Yunyang stared at him and said, "I find it dirty."

Zhao Douan couldn’t help but chuckle, "It seems the Princess knows what dirty is, in my view, this tea pet is much cleaner than certain people."

The empress’s aunt and the Old Emperor’s sister did not acknowledge his mockery, she coldly said,

"What exactly do you want to say? Did you seek me out just to idle this trifling talk or to revel in the triumph of the victor?

You’ve beaten my son, and you’ve beaten my husband.

I hear even Hee Zheng, who slighted you slightly, was injured by you, and Marquis Xiajiang has been thrown into the Imperial Prison, soon to lose his head...

Now, I am to be confined to a nunnery indefinitely, you must feel quite pleased."

She paused then continued,

"Or is it that you are still not satisfied?"

Zhao Douan gently put down the tea pet, smiling,

"There’s an old saying, ’every debt has its debtor,’ but I am not one to hold petty grudges. It’s just that, although I’ve beaten all the men around you, I still feel somewhat unsatisfied, hence, I thought to collect some interest from the Princess herself.

After all... once the Princess enters the nunnery tomorrow, it might become difficult for me to seek you out."

Interest?

Princess Yunyang paused, then looked at him profoundly, as if she understood something, disdain and contempt hidden in her eyes, she suddenly laughed, her gaze carrying an indescribable implication.

She thought: Ah, men of the world are all the same shade of dark.

Unexpectedly, she stretched her body, pulled a cushion from the ground to her lower back, and leaned back comfortably.

Her legs, like white pythons, stretched out adopting a more relaxed position, she bit her red lips, smiled seductively, biting her pearl-like teeth lightly, and motioned with her fingers to Zhao Douan, invitingly,

"If you dare, then come. Li Lang has offended you, would you like his mother to apologize in person?"

Her smile was clear, her posture seductive, yet her gaze was cold and indifferent.

It reminded Zhao Douan of a phrase: half volcano, half ocean.

Then he laughed, stood up, circled the tea table, and approached Princess Yunyang, slowly squatting down.

With plier-like hands, he grasped her sharp chin, his eyes full of laughter, meeting her gaze.

Princess Yunyang closed her eyes.

"Slap!"

A crisp sound rang out.

Princess Yunyang opened her eyes in shock, feeling the fiery pain on her cheek, unbelievingly she covered her reddened cheek.

Zhao Douan withdrew his hand, whispered in her ear,

"Out of respect for His Majesty, I’ve only slapped you once this time, if you provoke me again, I’ll spank you."

With that, Zhao Douan stood up, laughed heartily, and walked towards the door.

Leaving only Princess Yunyang sitting on the floor, her cheek covered, silent.