Chapter 139: Entering the Palace to Meet the Emperor

After breakfast, Xiang Xinyao followed her father and Mo Jinnan into the palace.

As soon as they passed through the palace gates, Xiang Xinyao couldn’t help but glance around.

Hmm, the palace was much different than what she had imagined.

It was grand and imposing, with numerous palace maids and eunuchs visible along the way.

Every time these maids and eunuchs saw Mo Jinnan, they would greet him, but Mo Jinnan remained indifferent, casually waving them off.

These maids and eunuchs served the Emperor, Empress, and the Empress Dowager, so it was natural for Mo Jinnan not to be particularly polite to them.

As they walked, Xiang Xinyao quietly asked, “Mo Jinnan, can I visit your mother today?”

Mo Jinnan was momentarily stunned, then smiled and nodded. “Of course, I haven’t visited her since I came back. I’ll take you there later.”

Xiang Xinyao nodded, not saying anything more, and continued to look around.

The Emperor’s summons, of course, took them to the Imperial Study.

When they arrived at the door of the study, Mo Jinnan had the eunuch standing outside go in and announce their arrival.

After a short while, a deep voice came from inside: “Let them in.”

The eunuch returned to the door and said, “Your Highness, Lord Xiang, the Emperor invites you in.”

Mo Jinnan didn’t even spare the eunuch a glance and stepped into the study.

Mo Jinnan cupped his fists in greeting. “I, your brother, greet you, Your Majesty.”

Xiang Taifu immediately knelt, saying, “Your humble servant greets the Emperor, long live the Emperor!”

The Emperor looked up and turned his gaze to Xiang Xinyao.

Xiang Xinyao mimicked Mo Jinnan’s gesture and cupped her fists in greeting. “This humble servant greets Your Majesty and wishes you good health.”

The Emperor furrowed his brows, displeased, and looked at Xiang Taifu. “Hasn’t Lord Xiang taught his daughter how to greet me properly?”

Xiang Taifu bowed his head and answered, neither overly humble nor aggressive, “Your Majesty, forgive her. My daughter was injured yesterday, and after court today, I brought her to the palace. We haven’t had the chance to teach her the proper etiquette yet.”

The Emperor’s gaze turned cold. “It takes at least a quarter of an hour to walk from the Taifu residence to the palace. Couldn’t you have taught her on the way here? How can she not know the basic etiquette when meeting me? She must have eyes, doesn’t she?”

Xiang Xinyao rolled her eyes inwardly and chose to feign ignorance.

Mo Jinnan stepped forward and spoke up. “Your Majesty, Xinyao is my fiancée, and she will be your sister-in-law in the future. I can skip the kneeling when I meet you, so why can’t she?”

The Emperor’s expression darkened, fury flashing in his eyes. “How dare you! Even the Empress kneels before me, let alone her? She is not yet virtuous!”

Mo Jinnan’s face also grew stern. “Your Majesty, Xinyao grew up in the countryside. Until now, the highest-ranking official she’s met was the village head. She just returned yesterday, and today you summon her to meet you. It’s already quite remarkable that she can greet you as I do. Please, don’t have too high expectations.”

The Emperor’s temper flared. “What do you mean by that?”

Mo Jinnan’s face was cold. “Your Majesty, you are the sovereign of the land, the ruler of the kingdom. You shouldn’t bully a girl who grew up in the countryside. If word of this gets out, the world will mock you!”

The implication in Mo Jinnan’s words was clear: the Emperor was bullying a girl from the countryside.

The Emperor’s face turned red with anger, his veins bulging. “How dare you! Even if she’s from the countryside, does she not know that in the entire Lingxiao Kingdom, everyone who sees me must kneel and pay respects? I am the Son of Heaven! Does she not understand that I am the ruler of the people?”

Xiang Xinyao rolled her eyes again in her mind and glanced at her still-kneeling father. She immediately changed her expression, putting on a look of fear and humility.

She raised her head with great care. “Your, Your Majesty, I… I grew up in the countryside… my foster parents were cruel and heartless, never treating me as a person. I am illiterate and do not understand the proper rituals and etiquette…”

—

The tension in the room was palpable, as Xiang Xinyao tried to navigate the delicate situation, her words slow and unsure as she explained her background. She felt the weight of the Emperor’s gaze and knew she had to tread carefully.

“Your humble servant… This is the first time I’ve traveled so far, the first time I’ve come to Bianjing, the first time I’ve entered the palace, and the first time I’ve seen the Emperor’s majestic yet kind face.”

Xiang Xinyao stammered deliberately, her face showing an expression of terror, making her nervousness, fear, and helplessness all too apparent.

The Emperor rolled his eyes inwardly, his mouth twitching uncontrollably.

Then he looked at Xiang Xinyao’s exquisite face, which had turned pale from fear. Unaccountably, a sense of guilt arose within him.

At the same time, he was shocked by her beauty.

This young girl must still be underage, right?

To be so stunning at such a young age—what will she be like in a few years?

Even though the Emperor had many women in his harem, not one could compare to Xiang Xinyao.

Even Qi Ruyuan, Bianjing’s most renowned beauty, would pale in comparison before her.

Looking at Xiang Xinyao’s delicate, flawless face, the Emperor felt a pang of envy.

He envied Mo Jinnan for having such a beautiful fiancée.

Though this girl was uneducated and came from the countryside, now that she wore luxurious clothing, she looked so stunning—who would dare say she was just a village girl?

No, she was nearing the age of adulthood, and the Emperor needed to find a way to bring her into the palace.

Such a breathtaking beauty could not be allowed to belong to Mo Jinnan, that rascal.

The Emperor’s eyes shifted, and he looked at Xiang Taifu. “Lord Xiang, please rise. Your daughter must be nearing adulthood, right?”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Xiang Taifu stood up and replied, “Your Majesty, my daughter will come of age on the ninth of the third month, a little over a month from now.”

The Emperor nodded slightly. “Since she is almost of age and is the fiancée of the Virtuous Prince, she will eventually join the royal family. It is only right that she learns the proper etiquette and rituals. How about letting her stay in the palace? I will have the Empress personally teach her.”

Xiang Xinyao inwardly cursed, thinking: … I thank your whole family!

Mo Jinnan frowned. “Your Majesty, Lord Xiang has been separated from his daughter for eleven years, and they’ve only just been reunited. It’s not right to separate them so soon.”

The Emperor glared at him. “I haven’t said she should stay in the palace immediately, why are you in such a hurry? Am I not compassionate? Since the Xiang family has just been reunited, of course I want her to spend time with her family first.”

He paused before continuing, “I will allow the Xiang girl to stay with her parents for a month. On the first day of the third month, she will come to the palace to learn the rituals and etiquette.”

Xiang Xinyao, not daring to anger the Emperor, could only agree, “Yes, Your Majesty. I thank you for your grace!”

Mo Jinnan spoke again. “Your Majesty, Xinyao has just returned and has not yet met my mother. Today, I would like to take her to meet my mother.”

The Emperor, fearing that Mo Jinnan might see through his intentions, and also worried that Xiang Xinyao might form a bad impression of him, quickly adopted a sympathetic expression.

“Of course, take her to meet her. It’s been a while since you’ve seen your mother, too.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. We take our leave!”

The Emperor waved his hand, signaling for them to leave.

Xiang Taifu hurriedly cupped his fists and bowed. “I take my leave, Your Majesty.”

Xiang Xinyao mimicked him and said, “I take my leave, Your Majesty.”

The three of them exited the Imperial Study.

The Emperor raised his eyes, watching Xiang Xinyao’s slender figure as she left, his thoughts seemingly lingering.