The Whole Dynasty Spoils the Tyrant's Beloved Youngest Daughter-Chapter 121: Where Is the Reward?

Chapter 121: Chapter 121: Where Is the Reward?
After a moment of silence, he summoned the Imperial Physician from the Imperial Hospital to perform a blood test as the final verification.
The result of the blood test was unsurprising, proving they were indeed father and daughter.
And this woman before them, after some interrogation, was finally revealed to be a famous singer from Jiangnan.
For years, during Emperor Yongning’s visits to Jiangnan, he had heard her sing. Her voice was as melodious as a nightingale, and her singing was quite pleasing, very much to Emperor Yongning’s taste.
When she mentioned that Emperor Yongning would always enjoy her songs, the Emperor seemed to recall some memories of listening to music from those years. But it was limited to just listening to music. Of other matters, the Emperor had no recollection at all.
As for when a child appeared, he had no idea.
It was Xiao Lizi, however, who remembered her, "Your Majesty, this person is actually Hongniang!"
"Hongniang?"
Emperor Yongning looked at Xiao Lizi with surprise and doubt.
He hadn’t expected that this sycophant would even remember the woman’s name.
The woman, recognized, nodded joyously and chimed in, "This official is right, commoner as I am, I am indeed Hongniang. Back when Master Wu Ji visited Jiangnan, it was this official who served by his side and even spoke a few words with me."
Emperor Yongning gave a couple of ambiguous coughs towards Xiao Lizi.
In a hurry, Xiao Lizi said, "She’s not wrong, it indeed happened like that. Back then, Your Majesty did favor her."
Being the eunuch serving Emperor Yongning, Xiao Lizi knew these matters better than anyone.
And when Hongniang mentioned that Xiao Lizi spoke with her, she was referring to his words about taking care of matters for Emperor Yongning.
A bowl of contraceptive safflower was personally overseen by Xiao Lizi to ensure that the favored women of the Emperor drank it, then he would help redeem them, providing two thousand taels of silver as settlement expenses, to ensure they would have no worries for the rest of their lives.
Xiao Lizi had done this numerous times, never making a mistake.
The sudden appearance of a child was the first instance.
If this had happened before the 18th Princess, His Majesty might not have pursued it and would have been overjoyed instead.
But now...
His Majesty obviously had his heart set on the 18th Princess, and now suddenly a real princess appeared, immediately placing the cross-dressed 18th Princess in an awkward position.
His Majesty’s mood could not be any better, and as for himself...
Xiao Lizi uneasily glanced at Emperor Yongning.
Coincidentally, Emperor Yongning was also looking at him, his gaze full of complex meanings.
Xiao Lizi wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he felt the Emperor’s gaze was terrifying, as if ready to devour him. The way he was examined made his legs weak and cold sweat break down his spine.
"Your Majesty, this surely is your little princess who wandered among the people. You’ve waited for her so long, now you finally have her," the Empress giggled as she helped up the girl named Yao Yao, pinching her cheek, "She looks so much like Your Majesty, I find her so endearing."
Emperor Yongning showed no reaction.
The Empress continued, "Your Majesty no longer needs to deliberately have others pretend to be a princess, for now, you truly have a little princess."
It was clear who "others" referred to without further explanation.
Everyone understood.
Especially the Empress, she couldn’t be more aware.
"Heeheehee...heeheehee..."
The Empress became more and more delighted as she thought about it, laughing wantonly, sensing she had found a reason to crush Jun Ning in this.
Meanwhile, there emanated from her a sense that, as the authentically noble Empress personally appointed by Emperor Yongning, she was far superior to Jun Ning’s ambiguous situation regarding gender.
Her words became even more uninhibited.
"Look, Your Majesty, where shall we bestow the residence for the princess? The closest to the Imperial Study Room is either Weiyang Hall or Furong Pavilion, shall we have the little princess stay in Weiyang Hall!"
Emperor Yongning shot a glance at the Empress.
Seeing this, the Empress promptly changed her tone, "Look at my memory, Weiyang Hall is already occupied now. The little princess should stay in Furong Pavilion."
Emperor Yongning said, "This matter should be arranged by the Imperial Concubine."
The meaning behind this statement was clear: Empress, you don’t need to meddle. The power to manage the palace is in the hands of the Imperial Concubine, and you have no authority.
Upon hearing this, the Empress’s face turned ashen instantly.
Emperor Yongning’s words clearly hit the Empress hard.
The Empress almost lost her temper, nearly cursing why the Imperial Concubine had occupied her position of power over the palace affairs for so long? Was it because she was more beautiful or her family background was better?
But she was stopped by Marquis Zhongyong.
With his eyes, Marquis Zhongyong signaled the Empress to refrain.
The Marquis Zhongyong Mansion had the merit of finding the little princess whom the Emperor had been longing for. Soon, the Emperor would definitely reward the deserving, and perhaps this would also be a chance to lift the Empress’s house arrest.
Thus, at this moment, it was crucial to control one’s emotions and not cause a fuss. Otherwise, even great credit will dissipate in dispute, let alone any reward.
The Empress also thought of these. She strained to suppress her emotions, making no disturbance.
Yet—
Where’s the reward?
Where’s the reward?
Next, Emperor Yongning just said one sentence to Marquis Zhongyong.
"Marquis Zhongyong, you’ve been laboring over the days, you should head back and rest early!"
Marquis Zhongyong was taken aback, this was not the result he had anticipated? Where is the merit reward?
Just as he was about to ask, Emperor Yongning cast a cold glance at him, making him too frightened to utter another word, leaving quietly.
Once Marquis Zhongyong retreated, naturally the Empress had no reason to remain and followed to leave.
Emperor Yongning said nothing about lifting her house arrest.
The Empress received no answer, feeling very unwilling, but in the end, dared not to say a word more.
She and Marquis Zhongyong left the Imperial Study Room with complex emotions, and when they reached a secluded place near the Imperial Garden, making sure no one was around, they exchanged a glance and spoke in unison.
"Could it be that the Emperor doesn’t like the little princess we found? Otherwise, why would he have such an attitude?"
Finished, both sighed.
They had thought of the same thing.
Ignoring the blazing sun overhead, the Empress halted her steps and said, "Father, I think it’s not that the Emperor dislikes the little princess we found, but that he’s still conflicted about suddenly having two princesses."
"After all, Jun Ning was the first to capture the Emperor’s eyes, and the Emperor has devoted all his true feelings towards her. Expecting the Emperor to immediately lose favor with Jun Ning and then focus his attention on another little princess—that’s impossible."
"Why not, let’s fan the flames a bit more?"
"How do you plan to fan them?" asked Marquis Zhongyong.
"This, let me think a bit more after I return."
In fact, the Empress already had an answer in her heart.
She intended to do something during the upcoming visit from the envoy of a neighboring country, but the risks involved were enormous, she needed to carefully contemplate further.
"Alright." Marquis Zhongyong patted the Empress on the shoulder, "Jiao Jiao, the same still goes: whatever you wish to do, do it boldly. With your father backing you, you need never fear, you’ll forever be the most beautiful and dignified woman in this world."