After they left the Palace Ming Shu finally warmed herself in the carriage. Once they found out why their daughter was with her lips purple, her parents were enraged. Madam Ming almost went back to put some sense in that stupid Princess's head. If not Ming Peizi holding his wife she would have jumped out of the window and run to the palace.
Ming Peizi knew he couldn't directly touch the Princess but it didn't mean he couldn't scheme a small lesson to her. Already thinking about how he would let his daughter gas out, he let out a laugh that could rival any villain.
Ming Peizi also informed his Eldest Daughter that unfortunately, the Emperor decreed that she should start her duty as a study partner for the Princess the next day.
"But if you want, Father can say that you were sick and couldn't go. It's a plausible outcome due to the punishment the Princess passed"
"You don't need Father. I'll have to go someday, it's better to get over as soon as possible"
Ming Peizi patted his daughter's head. If he could he would let her go, but unfortunately, he was just a second rank minister. However, because of this event a dream that had long died after he saw the true face of the Imperial Court, revived again. He is going to try to become a first-rank minister no matter the costs. This way his descendants won't be subject to this kind of humiliation again. Remembering how the Emperor refrained himself after being remembered that Ming Shu was General Li's granddaughter, the flames of determination that burned inside Ming Peizi's eyes got even stronger.
Ming Shu looked puzzled to her Father that was pumped suddenly, but let it aside once he started to pat her head in a happy mood once again. Looking outside the window she started to think about the preparations that needed to made for her visit to the Palace.
———
Ming Shu was standing outside of the Yonghe Palace. It has been already 30 minutes since she arrived and no servants came to announce her arrival.
She knew that this was a play that the Princess needed to put for the others in the Palace to see, but she was sick and tired to be out in the cold. Couldn't Jinghua think in any other type of punishment? Was the same thing yesterday.
Just as Ming Shu thought if she should just kick the doors to enter and pull the naive child card, the Palace's doors opened.
"Miss Ming, the Princess is waiting for you, don't make her way for too long"
The maid that came to greet her didn't even slightly bow to show a thread of respect for her. This made Ming Shu raise her eyebrows. The maids in the Yonghe Palace were too overconfident for their own good. Although their Mistress has the Emperor's favor it doesn't mean that they can afford to offend someone. Rats are still rats, it doesn't matter who they serve. The Princess was not too smart and was surrounded by stupid people. Ming Shu was sure that the only way she made alive until she died in the past life because Yifeng must have some kind of deal with Song regarding her.
Once she entered the room that the maid guided to, Ming Shu saw the Princess who was lazily sat on a chair.
"The Ming Eldest Miss greets Princess Jinghua"
Jinghua didn't acknowledge or looked at Ming Shu. She lazily ate the grapes that were brought by one of the maids. After 10 minutes or so, she directed her eyes to Ming Shu.
"Oh, I didn't see you, Ming Shu, you should have announced your arrival properly"
"Yes, is this subject mistake, I hope that the Princess will be magnanimous and forgive me for my lack of manners"
Ming Shu smiles without betraying the tiredness that she was feeling for having to accompany this stupid play. She wondered if she needed to do every day.
"No worries, this Princess knows that you are young and ignorant and will overview this once. You all can retreat. Jun'er bring my guqin for me and another to the Eldest Miss Ming"
After all the servants left the room all the brattiness in Jinghua face faded. Although it still had some arrogance, it was the arrogance displayed by any member of the Imperial Household.
"Now, should we talk about the real reason you are here?"