Was she really that ugly? He had thought she looked all right before, but beside Shen Qingqing, the difference was a yawning chasm.
[Look, her face is covered in spots. She must be in her thirties, at least. Her face is sagging, too, and that powder is way too thick.]
[My beautiful mommy has the figure and the face. How did she end up spending twelve years in the Cold Palace? Is this deadbeat dad of mine actually blind? Hahahaha, no wonder he ended up a blind emperor.]
Ye Tangtang covered her mouth, struggling to hold back her laughter.
Ye Yubei: "...!"
He raised his eyes to Consort Shu's face. It was indeed covered in a dense scattering of spots, with wrinkles as well. Although powder concealed them, they were still quite obvious.
He had not seen her for several years, and she really had aged considerably.
Then he looked at Shen Qingqing. Her skin was delicate, with a faint, rosy-white glow. Her features were exquisitely soft and lovely, and her eyes glistened, their slightly upturned corners lending her a touch of allure.
Ye Yubei's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he watched her. With so many women in his harem, what sort had he not seen? Yet he had never seen a woman this delicately beautiful.
"Your Majesty, you must give me justice! It was this Ninth Princess-she even twisted my ankle. It hurts so much... And Lady-in-Waiting Shen, she... she indulged her daughter and let her bully me."
"The two of them, mother and daughter, bullied me so terribly. Please give me justice, Your Majesty!"
Consort Shu wept like pear blossoms drenched in rain, crying off the powder on her face and leaving herself a bedraggled mess. Ye Tangtang could only shake her head.
[They say ugly women are always stirring up trouble, and they're absolutely right. She's this ugly and still comes over to make trouble. My deadbeat dad really has terrible taste.]
[Congratulations on your new title: blind deadbeat dad! Hahahaha.]
Ye Yubei: "..."
"Consort Shu, go back for now. I am aware of the matter."
Consort Shu said in a soft, affected voice, "Your Majesty, you haven't punished the two of them yet. Look, my ankle is sprained. It really hurts."
She deliberately pinched her voice into a coquettish whine for Ye Yubei, making him feel rather sick. A woman in her thirties or forties, dressed all in pink and still acting coy with him?
Shen Qingqing lowered her eyes. "Your Majesty, this was indeed my fault. Please punish me."
"Qingqing, get up. I never said I would punish you. Explain this clearly. What exactly happened?"
Ye Yubei personally helped Shen Qingqing up. How could he bear to punish her? She looked so delicate and frail-what punishment could she possibly withstand?
Shen Qingqing began slowly, "Today, Consort Shu and Lady Shen came to the Palace of Gathered Elegance together and took a liking to the things you had bestowed upon me. They wanted my belongings, and I dared not refuse, so the two of them took more than half."
"I had no complaints about them taking those things. But then she called Tang Tang a fool. When Tang Tang heard that, she... she acted a little rashly. Your Majesty, please don't blame Tang Tang. It was all my fault."
Shen Qingqing gently bit her lip, her almond-shaped eyes shimmering with tears. This was the very picture of a beauty weeping.
Ye Yubei personally helped her up, gently wiping the tears from her face with his warm fingertips.
"I know. This was neither your fault nor Tang Tang's. Don't cry."
For some reason, seeing this woman cry made his heart ache a little.
"Emperor Father, it was this woman. She called Tang Tang a fool. But Tang Tang is Emperor Father's daughter! Emperor Father is brave and skilled in battle, with wisdom beyond compare. How could his daughter possibly be a fool? She wasn't insulting me-she was insulting you."
Ye Tangtang blinked her big, innocent eyes at Ye Yubei. "Emperor Father, am I right?"
Consort Shu's face went pale. She trembled in fright and immediately dropped to her knees.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I meant nothing of the sort. I merely felt that the Ninth Princess was rather too spoiled and willful. If she isn't disciplined now, she'll become even more lawless in the future."
"Emperor Father, Tang Tang didn't! Those were things Emperor Father gave Mommy. Why did these people come to steal them? When Tang Tang lived in the Cold Palace, she could only eat dry flatbread... Tang Tang's hands got frostbite, too. Tang Tang is so pitiful."
Ye Tangtang held out her frostbitten little hands. They were red and really did look swollen.
Looking at the little girl, Ye Yubei genuinely felt a little sorry for her. She was already twelve, yet he had not even known he had such a daughter. He felt a trace of guilt toward her as well.
"Tang Tang, Emperor Father doesn't blame you. Let Emperor Father see your hands."
Tang Tang held out her little paws, which still had chilblains on them. Ye Yubei asked in a low voice, "Do they still hurt?"
"Yes. Tang Tang hurts so much."
Ye Tangtang even squeezed out two tears. She was certainly dedicated to her performance.
[Hahahaha, looks like deadbeat dad still has a little conscience. I am his own daughter, after all. Little Useless System, how's my acting? Look how thoroughly I've fooled my Emperor Father, that deadbeat dad! Hahahaha.]
Ye Yubei: "..."
Sure enough, he should not feel sorry for this little girl.
Shen Qingqing: "..."
Tang Tang actually dared to fool even His Majesty.
[But, Little Useless System, my hands really do hurt •́‸ก]
Ye Yubei touched the little girl's hands and said to Eunuch Wang beside him, "Eunuch Wang, go and fetch the best Frostbite Ointment in the palace in a moment."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Ye Yubei said coldly, "Consort Shu, you insulted an imperial princess and used your position to bully others. You were outright challenging my authority. Consort Shu shall be demoted to Lady Shu immediately. Lady-in-Waiting Shen shall be promoted to the rank of Lady and granted the title Chen."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Eunuch Wang left the hall with his fly whisk in hand. It seemed the balance of power in the palace was about to shift again.
[Wow! Mommy got promoted, and she even got a title! Has deadbeat dad found his conscience? But even if he has, I won't forgive him. He's the one who made my beautiful mommy suffer out there for all those years.]
Ye Yubei pressed a hand to his forehead. He did not need anyone's forgiveness. He had done nothing wrong. He was the Son of Heaven; whatever he did was right.
"Thank you for your gracious concern, Your Majesty. However, it is getting late. You should return and rest early. Tang Tang should rest as well."
Ye Yubei froze slightly.
Was this woman throwing him out? Everyone else fawned over him when they saw him, yet this woman actually dared to send him away.
Fine. Just wonderful!
The tenderness Ye Yubei had felt moments before vanished instantly. He was the sovereign of an entire nation-had he still not done enough? This woman simply did not know how to appreciate a favor.
Shen Qingqing dipped into a slight curtsy. "Farewell, Your Majesty."
Ye Tangtang watched Ye Yubei leave and yawned.
[Deadbeat dad is finally gone. Time for bed! Tonight, I'm going to sleep hugging my beautiful mommy. My beautiful mommy has a slim waist and long legs... so fair and soft...]
The image of Shen Qingqing lingered in Ye Yubei's mind. So fair and soft... His throat tightened, and he stopped in his tracks.
After all these years, she was the first person to arouse his interest.
"Your Majesty? Shall we go back?"
Ye Yubei said, "No. I'll wait for her to come beg me."
Before you continue