flstandardbreds Chapter 1415 Discord
Chapter 1415 Discord
He shouted angrily: "Everyone in the court knows that the late emperor was heartless. Knowing that I was at odds with Zhan Yan, he still let him hold the power to protect the city! Now that the late emperor has passed away, that brat Xiao Li has secured the throne and trusts Mo Lingyue even more. But you, you're siding with outsiders and focusing all your attention on the Mo family. Do you still have any respect for me, your uncle, or for the dignity of the royal family?"
His words were like a knife to the heart, but Princess Youyi remained calm and composed.
She slowly explained, "The ascension of Emperor Li to the throne is what everyone expects. As an elder of the royal family, Uncle Wang should assist the monarch instead of complaining every day."
She paused for a moment and then continued, "As for my marriage into the Mo family, it was my own choice. Ling Yue treats me with respect and consideration, and Ziyu has grown up peacefully in the City Lord's Mansion. There is nothing wrong with that. If Uncle Wang is mindful of our past relationship, then please come and sit at Ziyu's birthday banquet. If you are unwilling, I will not force you. I just want you to know that I still respect you very much."
The Prince of Dongping scoffed, his disdain almost overflowing. "Easy for you to say. I won't go to the banquet! You'd better give up on that idea. Either sever ties with the Marquis of Zhanyi's mansion and return to the royal residence, or don't ever set foot on my Prince of Dongping's door again, lest you defile my land!"
These words were extremely harsh, and Qingdai could no longer hold back. She stepped forward to protect Princess Youyi and said angrily, "Your Highness! How can you speak to the princess like that? The princess came to deliver gifts in person because you are her elder, and she was very courteous. Even if you do not agree, you should not humiliate the princess like this!"
Prince Dongping glared at Qingdai, his eyes filled with malice. "How dare you! When did it become your place to interfere in the affairs of my manor? Guards, drag this ill-mannered lowly maid away, give her twenty strokes of the cane, and throw her out of the manor!"
Two burly servants rushed in from outside and reached out to pull Qingdai away.
Princess Youyi immediately stepped aside to shield Qingdai, her eyes instantly turning cold, and her tone becoming more authoritative: "Uncle, Qingdai is my personal maid. If you want to harm her today, you must first get past me! I respect you as an elder of the royal family and have always been tolerant of you, but you cannot go so far as to bully me like this!"
The Prince of Dongping raised an eyebrow, his tone becoming increasingly arrogant, "So what if I bully you? You're a married princess of the imperial family, living under the thumb of Mo Lingyue in the Mo family, and you still have the nerve to put on airs in front of me? Let me tell you, Youyi, don't even think about making me bow down to Marquis Zhanyi. You unfilial daughter, if it weren't for him, the throne of our Sheng Dynasty would never have fallen into Xiao Li's hands!"
Princess Youyi looked directly at him, her words clear and forceful, "Whether I am doing well or not after marrying into the Mo family is none of your business, Uncle. Ling Yue treats me sincerely, everyone in the manor respects me, and Ziyu is healthy and intelligent—that is enough."
"But Uncle Wang, you are trapped in past grievances every day, resenting the late emperor, resenting His Majesty, and resenting Marquis Zhanyi. Why live such a twisted life? When the late emperor was alive, although he disagreed with you politically, he still ensured the stability of your title of Prince of Dongping. After His Majesty ascended the throne, he still gave you a full salary and regalia and did not mistreat you. What more could you possibly want?"
These words struck a nerve with the Prince of Dongping. His face turned bright red, and he pointed at Princess Youyi, speechless for a long time.
After a long pause, he said sternly, "What do you know! If it weren't for Xiao Li holding military power, who knows who would be on the throne!"
Princess Youyi spoke calmly, yet with an undeniable confidence: "Uncle, do not be so stubborn. If you truly care about the country, you should wholeheartedly assist His Majesty in stabilizing the court, rather than being obsessed with personal gains and losses and complaining all day long."
"You unfilial daughter!" The Prince of Dongping was speechless with anger, his chest heaving violently and his fingers trembling.
He gritted his teeth and muttered, "Fine, very well! You've grown too big for your britches and dare to lecture me! It seems Mo Lingyue has really taught you well, made you forget your royal lineage, forget the late emperor's kindness, and forget who truly cares for you!"
Princess Youyi lowered her eyes slightly, her tone tinged with melancholy: "I haven't forgotten. When I was a child, my uncle took me to pick locust flowers and taught me calligraphy. I remember all of that. But my uncle should also understand that one must look forward. The late emperor has passed away, and past grievances should be put aside. Ziyu is innocent. He is just a six-year-old child, eagerly hoping that you could attend his birthday banquet. Why should my uncle disappoint the child?"
The Prince of Dongping sneered, his tone resolute, "I will never give him that face. Princess Youyi, you can leave now!"
Princess Youyi raised her eyes and looked at the obsession and determination in the eyes of the Prince of Dongping. The last bit of hope in her heart was completely dashed.
She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and said no more, "Since Uncle Wang has made up his mind, I will not force you. I have troubled you today, so I will take my leave."
After saying that, she turned and left, and Qingdai quickly followed.
As Princess Youyi passed by the table, she no longer looked at the two boxes of carefully prepared congratulatory gifts. They were the pre-rain Longjing tea that Prince Dongping loved, which she had personally selected. Now that they were placed on the table, they had become a joke.
Just as they reached the central courtyard of the Prince's residence, they heard the angry shouts of the Prince of Dongping behind them: "Throw those two boxes out! I don't care about her things, and I don't care about her hypocritical filial piety!"
Qingdai's eyes reddened with anger, and she stopped in her tracks: "Princess, the Prince has gone too far! How could he be so ungrateful? Why did you insist on inviting him to the young master's birthday banquet?"
Princess Youyi did not stop walking, but a cold glint flashed in her eyes. Her tone was calm and unwavering: "It's alright. It's his loss if he doesn't want to go. I originally thought that I could use this opportunity to ease the conflict between him and the Marquis of Zhanyi's mansion, but I didn't expect that I was naive in the end!"
After all, the Prince of Dongping was a member of the Xiao family's imperial clan.
He was also her closest uncle in the world, besides His Majesty.
She really didn't want to see them one day turn into soldiers.
Then, there really won't be many people left in the Xiao family.
Despite saying that, Princess Youyi paused for a moment when she reached the gate of the Prince's Mansion.
The cold wind swirled up the withered leaves on the ground, hitting her brocade skirt. She remembered the image of Prince Dongping holding her in the courtyard when she was a child, flying a kite. Back then, her uncle had a dignified air about him, but he always had a gentle heart hidden in his eyes. Now, however, all that remained was resentment and narrow-mindedness. He was no longer the same person he used to be.
Qingdai helped her into the carriage and gently advised, "Princess, don't take it to heart. The prince is just being stubborn for a moment. Once he understands things, he might change his mind!"
Princess Youyi closed her eyes, leaned against the carriage wall, and rubbed her temples wearily: "I hope so. Since he looks down on the Mo family and me so much, we should have less contact in the future to avoid upsetting each other."
The carriage moved slowly, passing through the bustling streets of the capital, heading towards the Marquis of Zhanyi's residence.
Princess Youyi lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the people coming and going outside the window, her mind gradually becoming clear.
She just needs to do her best; as for the future, she can only leave it to fate.