If She Wouldn't Be a Commandery Princess, So Be It
When the princess walked to Zhou Wanwan's side, she realized that the child had already fallen asleep.
She looked down at Zhou Wanwan and said, "Auntie Qinghe, look at this child's eyes and eyebrows, don't they look like my mother's?"
Auntie Qinghe nodded and said, "They look very alike. The current Emperor looks exactly like your mother, so this child also looks very much like him."
The eldest princess chuckled and said, "I'll take her to the palace tomorrow."
Auntie Qinghe said softly, "I think it's best not to go to the palace. If Noble Consort Ning causes any more trouble, it could be a real problem."
The eldest princess sighed and said:
"It's because her temper is exactly the same as the Empress Dowager's that she now controls the entire court."
Auntie Qinghe, the reason I didn't fight or compete before was because I didn't care about anything.
But things are different now. I have my own bloodline, and I will fight for the greatest benefit for my own bloodline.
Auntie Qinghe said, "Yes! I think this little girl is really good, very capable."
The eldest princess touched Zhou Wanwan's forehead and said, "I plan to take her to the palace tomorrow and ask the Emperor to bestow upon her the title of Princess. What do you think?"
Auntie Qinghe nodded and said, "This isn't a big problem."
The eldest princess nodded, lay down next to Zhou Wanwan, and her heart softened more and more as she looked at her.
The next morning, Zhou Wanwan woke up and saw the Princess looking at her as soon as she opened her eyes.
Zhou Wanwan blinked and looked at the princess, saying, "Grandma, you didn't sleep all night, did you?"
The eldest princess laughed heartily, "That's right! I haven't slept all night, and the more I look at you, the more I like you. Grandma will help you wash and dress up, and then take you to the palace."
Zhou Wanwan was also quite excited; she could finally enter the palace.
The eldest princess helped Zhou Wanwan with her hair and makeup, and Zhou Wanwan looked at herself in the mirror with great satisfaction.
The eldest princess truly loved her and gave her everything the child could possibly need.
She brought Zhou Wanwan into the palace, and the princess's sedan chair was carried all the way to the imperial study.
She pulled Zhou Wanwan into the imperial study. Zhou Wanwan looked at the furnishings of the imperial study; they were luxurious, simply too luxurious.
Pushing open the door, one is greeted by a scene of opulence that is so captivating that it's hard to look away.
All four sides are made of rosewood bookcases, carved with dragons and auspicious clouds, and inlaid with pearls and jade.
The interior was neatly stacked with ancient books, the covers of which were either gilded and embossed or wrapped in silk gauze, each worth a fortune.
The walls are lined with layers of gleaming display cabinets, where jade ornaments, imperial porcelain, and jade carvings are arranged in a staggered fashion, each a rare and precious item.
Twelve gilded glass Liuli lanterns hung overhead, and a soft couch to the side was covered with a snow-white fox fur coat, a tribute from the Western Regions.
The matching side table is made of ivory inlaid with gold; any one of the decorative pieces is a treasure that an ordinary family could not afford in several lifetimes.
Zhou Wanwan swallowed hard, thinking to herself, "As expected, emperors are the richest."
Now, compared to that, her imperial study looks like a knock-off.
The emperor would be leaving court for quite some time, so Zhou Wanwan picked up a book and started reading to pass the time.
The eldest princess looked at the book in her hand and said, "You actually like reading ' The Strategies of the Warring States '? It's really boring. The Emperor never reads these kinds of books."
She had barely finished speaking when she saw the emperor's bright yellow figure. Zhou Wanwan stared at his face, paused for a moment, and exclaimed, "Wow! He really does look quite like him!"
The figure in bright yellow looked at Zhou Wanwan's face and said, "Her face looks just like my mother's! They're about 60% similar."
The eldest princess looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "Aren't you going to call him uncle?"
Zhou Wanwan said with a grin, "Uncle."
The Emperor looked at Zhou Wanwan's face and said, "This child really looks like me, Imperial Sister. What brings you here today?"
The eldest princess looked at him and smiled, "Didn't you just bring my son home? I'm thinking of bestowing a title upon my little granddaughter."
The emperor laughed heartily and said, "Then let it be a princess! What do you want? Let's call her Commandery Princess Returning Pearl!"
Zhou Wanwan almost burst out laughing. Commandery Princess Returning Pearl? She suddenly thought of Princess Returning Pearl.
Zhou Wanwan looked at the emperor and said, "Uncle, do you like watching the ' Princess Returning Pearl ' series?"
The emperor's eyes lit up and he said:
Hey! You little rascal like watching this too?
"Oh dear, I've been watching this for so long, and they still haven't released the sequel. It's driving me crazy!"
Zhou Wanwan hadn't expected the emperor to discuss this matter with her.
The eldest princess coughed, and was about to say something when she heard a eunuch's shrill voice announce, "Noble Consort Ning has arrived."
Noble Consort Ning walked in from outside; this was the first time Zhou Wanwan had ever seen Noble Consort Ning.
Noble Consort Ning was nearly thirty, but looked no more than twenty. Her skin was smooth and delicate, and her eyes and brows were clear and beautiful.
She rose with a smile and curtsied, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty; greetings, Princess."
She turned to look at Zhou Wanwan and said:
Who is this beautiful young girl with such lovely features?
She looks very unfamiliar; I've never seen her before.
The emperor laughed and said, "This girl is my elder sister's granddaughter, named Zhou Wanwan. I plan to bestow upon her the title of Princess."
Noble Consort Ning said calmly, "It's still too early to say whether this child is the Princess's granddaughter. I think we should wait and see, in case there's a misunderstanding."
The emperor frowned and said, "This child looks a lot like me."
Noble Consort Ning shook her head and said, "I've already sent people to investigate. I heard that this child used to be a bandit in the mountains..."
The emperor was slightly taken aback. "Huh? What for?"
Noble Consort Ning repeated, "Bandits, that is, mountain bandits, the kind who rob and plunder."
Zhou Wanwan looked at Noble Consort Ning and said:
"Your Highness, what bandits and brigands are you talking about, robbing and plundering?"
I don't understand at all! Our village relies on farming for a living.
Noble Consort Ning sneered, "Are you kidding me? I know exactly what your stronghold is like."
Zhou Wanwan looked at her and said, "I wonder how Noble Consort Ning knew what our mountain stronghold was like?"
Noble Consort Ning snorted coldly:
"Your stronghold has been attacked by countless soldiers, there must be something fishy going on."
Your Majesty, I think we should send men to attack the mountain stronghold now, lest things get complicated.
I think Zhou Wanwan wants to rebel.
Zhou Wanwan rolled her eyes. This Noble Consort Ning really dares to say anything.
But the emperor looked hesitant. What was wrong with her maternal uncle?
The Emperor sighed and said, "My elder sister just found her granddaughter, let's take another look! I think Zhou Wanwan is quite cute."
Noble Consort Ning smiled faintly and said, "Cute? You think she's cute? I think she's full of scheming and has a wicked heart."
The Emperor suddenly fell silent, and the Princess, her face flushed, said:
"It's none of anyone else's business to talk about my granddaughter. If she doesn't want to be a princess, then she doesn't want to be one. I don't care anyway!"
Wanwan, let's go home!
Noble Consort Ning looked at the Eldest Princess and said:
"Elder sister, don't be angry. Actually, you don't really understand this child."
I know her better than you do. She's not a simple person; don't let her fool you.