The Farm Girl's Charismatic Fortune-Chapter 307 - 303 Princess?

The Empress had not yet spoken when a majestic voice sounded from behind her, "There’s nothing wrong with it, just plum blossoms. If they’re not plucked, they’ll wither all the same."

The Empress smiled.

He agrees, is that okay?

Of course, it’s fine!

Who doesn’t know he is the prince most dearly loved by the Emperor?

From childhood to adulthood, has there been anything he couldn’t do?

What’s not permissible? He could get away even with murder and arson.

The Emperor and the Crown Prince are utterly indulgent towards him, granting his every request!

Others can’t, but they can!

When my royal son visited the Plum Grove and broke a branch of plum blossoms to place in a vase for me, he was punished to copy the "Classic of Filial Piety" a hundred times.

Now, he brings an outsider and picks all the blossoms in the Plum Grove, and there’s nothing wrong with it.

Of course, the Empress didn’t think about the fact that the Tenth Prince was punished for skipping classes to play in the Plum Grove.

At this moment, the Empress’s heart was filled with anger and grievance.

She turned slowly and knelt down with a bend of her knees, "This concubine pays respect to the Emperor."

The others also followed with their salutations, "This filial son/concubine/servant, greets Father Emperor/the Emperor."

"You are excused from the formalities."

The Emperor was on his way to Cining Palace to escort the Empress Dowager to the great hall and took a detour to check on Princess Wuyou.

Then he heard from Kangyi that Princess Wuyou and Xiaojiu had come to the Plum Grove, and so he made his way here.

Ruo Xuan curiously sized up the Emperor, what a commanding dragon qi!

She hurried closer, eager to bask in more dragon qi, and sweetly mimicked others by performing a curtsy, "Xuanbao pays respect to the Emperor, may the Emperor be auspicious."

Although Divine Lord Xuanyuan said she need not perform the formalities, greeting is basic courtesy, and given that the Emperor had graced her with so many gifts, it was all the more reason to foster good relations!

The Emperor glanced at the little girl, who was as delicate as a porcelain doll—so beautiful, so adorable!

His son’s taste was indeed discerning!

The Emperor laughed and picked up Ruo Xuan in one smooth motion, "Hasn’t Our decree spared you from formalities? Why do you still curtsy?"

The Empress and the consorts behind her all glanced at the Emperor.

The Emperor had never before held any child of a high official.

Even with the imperial princes and princesses, except for holding them at birth, the Emperor had never proactively held them at other times.

Only those lively ones who pounced on their own accord would he hold up, but even that was when they were three or four years old and knew no better. Once they reached five and started learning manners, no one dared to do so.

The Empress glanced at her son beside her.

The Tenth Prince was gazing up, watching Ruo Xuan intently, admiration in his eyes.

This Princess Wuyou’s courage is too great, not even afraid while being held by the Father Emperor!

Her heart couldn’t help but clench—her royal son had been held by the Emperor only once.

Ruo Xuan honestly replied, "I like the many things the Emperor has rewarded me with, so I just wanted to curtsy!"

"Haha..." The Emperor couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

No wonder the Empress Dowager likes her—so pretty, so innocent; who wouldn’t find such a child endearing!

She could melt one’s heart!

Having such a beautiful son as Xiaojiu, the Emperor suddenly also wanted to have a daughter just as beautiful.

But thinking of the consorts in the harem, his desire waned.

He glanced at his son standing there with furrowed brows, deciding that it didn’t matter if he couldn’t have a daughter that beautiful; having a granddaughter just as beautiful in the future would be nice too.

The Emperor, pointing to the baskets upon baskets of plum blooms scattered on the ground, curiously said, "What are you two using so many plum blossoms for?"

Ruo Xuan replied, "For fragrance making."

Only then did the Emperor remember, Xuanbao might be young, but she was a master of fragrance, the rouge and face powders she developed earned him a thirty percent share of the profits, and that rouge shop in Capital City was his private property.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the shop made a fortune every day!

The Emperor asked, "Is that enough? If it’s not, I will have someone pick more for you."

Ruo Xuan answered, "It’s enough for now, if it’s not, tomorrow I’ll have Brother Xuanyuan pick some more for me."

Xuanyuan Que watched a certain well-deserving blossom with an expressionless face.

"Haha... alright, let your Brother Xuanyuan pick them for you." The Emperor laughed as he looked at his intelligent but aloof son, his expression almost rolling his eyes.

She had him wrapped around her little finger!

The Emperor then spoke, "The royal banquet is about to start, shall I take Xuanbao to eat something, would that be alright?"

Ruo Xuan nodded her little head, "Good, I heard that the Imperial Chef is the most skillful cook in the world, is there rabbit meat? I wonder if the Imperial Chef’s rabbit meat is tasty."

Hearing this, the Emperor glanced at his son. So that’s how it was!

He smiled and said, "There is."

"Then is there mutton?"

"There’s that too."

"Then let’s hurry and call Empress Dowager grandma and my mother to go eat! Rabbit and mutton aren’t good once they’ve gotten cold!"

The Empress glanced at the Emperor, realizing that he had added several dishes of rabbit and mutton to the royal banquet menu because Princess Wuyou liked them.

True to her rural upbringing, she favored foods that lacked refinement.

"Haha... right!" The child was commendable, still keeping her own mother in mind.

The Emperor carried Ruo Xuan straight to the main hall.

As for the Empress Dowager and the women of the Ruo family, they had already made their way to the main hall; he had come in person to fetch Xiaojiu, and to casually observe Princess Wuyou.

The Emperor left carrying Xuanbao, with Xuanyuan Que at his side.

The Empress and everyone else followed behind, their emotions complex.

Upon arriving at the main hall, the civil and military officials of the full court, seeing the Emperor holding a girl as delicate as a carved jade, were so shocked they widened their eyes: That little girl was too beautiful!

They all wondered internally which noble had given birth to this princess?

She was so beautiful, she would undoubtedly be a nation-toppling beauty when she grew up.

With curiosity in their hearts, they all bowed in respect.

When Princess Kangyi saw the Emperor holding Ruo Xuan, she was so shocked that she even forgot to greet him!

Why hadn’t the Emperor banished her from the palace?

The Crown Princess of Protectorate Duke hastily pulled her, prompting her to kneel, but she still couldn’t comprehend.

The Emperor should have banished her from the palace and stripped her of her Commandery Princess title.

The Emperor set down Ruo Xuan, had Xuanyuan Que sit with her at a small table beside him, then he himself sat in the dragon throne, lifting his hand to address the festive hall, "My officials may dispense with the formalities."

Although not every imperial banquet was attended by all the princesses — it was common for young children to fall sick — some princes or princesses would not show up at the banquet. Today, some of the younger princesses and princes were absent as well.

The Empress’s father, the Prime Minister, had seen all the royal offspring and guessed Ruo Xuan’s identity. He deliberately asked, "May the Emperor forgive your humble servant’s poor sight, may I ask which princess is beside the Ninth Prince? Could it be that the Emperor finds the Little Princess so endearing he hasn’t wanted us to see her, hiding her all this time?"

The Empress glanced at Ruo Xuan, who was looking curiously around, and lightly pursed her lips: A princess? Which princess would be so indecorous? She had already punished her by making her copy the "Women’s Precepts" a hundred times.

As the example for all children in the world, the imperial sons and daughters had to behave with proper decorum, thus if any prince or princess acted even slightly improperly, she would rigorously instruct them to prevent any blame that she, as their mother, hadn’t fulfilled her duties.

But her father had asked a good question!

Listening, the Ruo family felt a chill run down their spines.