Two Children

One who knew no better said, "The Xiao family really did offend Grand Secretary Wen, and the whole household was convicted..."

Eunuch Huang's vision went dark. Had Her Highness not been there, he would have wanted to kick this fool to death.

"How dare you!" Xichun shouted sternly.

The palace attendants trembled all over, pressing their foreheads to the ground.

Zhao Huiluan spoke coldly. "Grand Secretary Wen is loyal to the sovereign and devoted to the state, utterly impartial and selfless. How could he take lives unjustly over a private grudge?"

Having said something she did not mean, she paused uncomfortably for a moment. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the person by the wall clench his fists at her words.

"The Xiao household was convicted because he broke the law and committed an unforgivable crime. That this boy alone was spared is because Heaven cherishes life, and also because His Majesty's imperial grace is boundless. You have shown contempt for imperial authority. That is your first offense."

"You slandered an important minister of the court and tarnished a grand secretary's good name. That is your second offense."

"During the period of national mourning, you gathered to commit acts of violence. That is your third offense."

"Xichun, take them to the Department of Cautious Punishments to receive their punishment."

Xichun obeyed and left with the palace attendants.

Zhao Huiluan went to the wall and bent down to look at the boy, who was about her cousin's age. She asked him,

"What is your name?"

"Th-this servant is Xiao Qinglan."

The boy flinched. His hair hung loose and disheveled, and he lay on the ground, not daring to look at her.

"You don't accept what I just said?"

"This s-servant wouldn't dare."

He didn't mean it.

Zhao Huiluan smiled and lowered her voice. "Good. That's right. Bottle up all that resentment."

Just like her.

The boy was deeply shaken. He gathered his courage and raised his head, only to see the little girl's retreating back.

"Well, I didn't expect you to be so kindhearted."

Beneath the corridor outside the hall, Zhang Yunchi, the young heir presumptive of the Marquis of Jingwu's residence, leaned against a pillar with his arms folded and a food box in one hand.

He grinned as he watched her... He looked rather silly.

Chapter 6: Two Children

"Tch."

Zhao Huiluan rolled her eyes, ignored him, and walked away.

Zhang Yunchi followed her with a grin. When he first heard the commotion, he had meant to step in himself, but Zhao Huiluan had appeared instead.

He was starting to see his princess cousin in a slightly different light.

She might be spoiled and willful, but she was kind enough.

It was just that the words she had used to describe Grand Secretary Wen grated on his ears.

Although his grandfather and father always avoided discussing their affairs in front of him, he knew that their family had been impeached by Wen Hong's people.

"Hey, Your Highness."

Zhang Yunchi swung the food box in his hand. "These are pastries from our Northern Frontier. Their style and flavor are one of a kind in Yan Capital. Grandfather sent me especially to bring you some to try."

"What kind of pastry haven't I eaten? You ill-mannered country bumpkin, do you think everyone is as ignorant as you?"

"You!"

Rude and arrogant, insolent and unable to tell good from bad!

Incensed by her attitude, Zhang Yunchi stepped in front of Zhao Huiluan, blocking her path.

"So Your Highness is well-informed?"

"May I ask Your Highness, have you ever seen the Gobi Desert, where the sun sets over a great river and a lone plume of smoke rises? Have you ever seen the vast wilds, an endless sweep of green where riders wheel their horses and draw their bows? Have you ever seen snow on the Heavenly Mountains in the fifth month? Have you ever drunk grape wine from a luminous cup? Have you ever heard the piercing cry of an eagle spreading its wings, startling the heavens and halting the clouds?"

"You are the honored princess of Great Yin, yet you know nothing of the vastness of its lands and have never seen the beauty of its mountains and rivers. You should be ashamed of how little you know."

At first, Zhao Huiluan was stunned by his words. Then shame turned to anger.

"Zhang Yunchi! How dare you mock me!"

With that, she punched Zhang Yunchi in the stomach.

Caught off guard, Zhang Yunchi landed hard on his backside, and the food box crashed to the ground.

"Zhao Huiluan, you're being unreasonable! You couldn't win the argument, so why did you hit me?"

"That's what you get for speaking so disrespectfully!"

Zhao Huiluan was walking in a hurry and stepped on a pastry. Then she tripped over the food box and fell, scraping her knee.

This is bad, Zhang Yunchi thought. The little princess's punch hadn't hurt him at all, but now she had fallen and looked ready to cry. He was in trouble.

"Get up, quickly."

Zhang Yunchi hurried to help her up, only for her to shove him away.

"I don't need your fake kindness."

A palace attendant passing by saw the scene and was scared silly.

He shouted, "Quick, someone come! Her Highness and the young heir are fighting!"

At the same time, he ran over and separated them.

By the time the Yongzhao Emperor and Consort Jing arrived after hearing the news, Zhao Huiluan was already sitting in a pavilion, glaring at Zhang Yunchi with red-rimmed eyes.

Zhang Yunchi's hair and clothes were a mess, and his face was taut.

Consort Jing used a handkerchief to wipe Zhao Huiluan's scraped palm.

Seeing that the apple of his eye was all right, the Yongzhao Emperor secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He put on a stern face and said irritably, "Which of you will tell me what happened?"

At that, Zhao Huiluan pouted and turned her face away.

How willful, Zhang Yunchi grumbled inwardly, even as he knelt.

"I behaved improperly and offended Her Highness. I am willing to accept punishment."

The Yongzhao Emperor's anger eased somewhat, and Consort Jing spoke up at just the right moment. "They're children. A little squabbling is only to be expected."

She also said to Zhang Yunchi, "Next time, remember to hold back a little. It wouldn't be good for anyone to get hurt. Do you understand?"

"Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness Consort Jing."

The Yongzhao Emperor waved a hand. "Go home."

He would not go so far as to punish a child. He supposed the boy would not dare conceal the truth when he got home, and his grandfather and father would see to teaching him a lesson.

"I take my leave."

Zhang Yunchi cupped his hands in salute and left the imperial palace.

"Imperial Father, will you send the Zhang family back to the Northern Frontier? He's so annoying."

Zhao Huiluan tugged at the Yongzhao Emperor's sleeve and wheedled.

"Nonsense."

"I don't care! Zhang Yunchi offended me, and he's finished!"

The Yongzhao Emperor looked at his pampered daughter and shook his head helplessly. "I've spoiled you until you think you're above heaven and earth."

Zhao Huiluan jumped down from the stone stool and hugged the Yongzhao Emperor.

"Imperial Father is the best."

"You!"