Emperor Pingzhao genuinely doted on his daughter, and their relationship soon softened. After the original host completed her mourning period, Emperor Pingzhao even bestowed upon her the title of Zhenguo Princess.
Furthermore, she was granted a county as a fief, meaning she would receive all the land taxes from it.
This was only slightly less prestigious than being enfeoffed with land as a king.
The Jing Kingdom, excluding the imperial capital and secondary capital, had a total of nine provinces and seventy-two counties. Even princes, when enfeoffed as亲王 (Qin Wang - Prince of the First Rank), rarely received a fief with full tax rights. At most, they were allowed to collect a portion of the taxes from their designated territories for personal use, while the actual control of the land remained firmly in the hands of the imperial court.
It was fortunate that Emperor Pingzhao had added a specific restriction.
The county fief granted to the original host was only valid during her lifetime. It could not be inherited by her sons after her death; it would revert to the state.
This clause appeased the civil and military officials, preventing them from opposing the grant too vehemently.
As a result, the original host smoothly obtained the fief of a county.
It was inevitable that she would be the target of much envy afterward. Some even speculated that if the original host had been a male instead of a female, she might have been named Crown Prince.
However, regardless of what others thought,
The original host lived a remarkably carefree and unrestrained life, relying on the favor of her imperial father. She fully embodied the role of an elder sister to her half-brothers and sisters, treating them as she would a mother. None who offended her escaped her scolding, and their relationships were extremely strained.
Her worst relationship was with the Second Prince.
This was because the Second Prince was the Empress's only son.
Although the Empress had already met an untimely death, the original host had not forgotten that it was the Empress who had ordered the murder of her mother and brother. If she hadn't known that she could never deceive her imperial father, she would have longed to kill the Second Prince long ago to avenge her unborn brother.
Since she couldn't take his life,
She could only bully him and cause him trouble!
As for the Second Prince, he likely knew that his mother's death was suspicious. It was even possible that his mother had told him many things before she died, and had even passed on hidden forces to him. Therefore, he had endured patiently, feigning weakness and being bullied.
This situation continued until the original host's marriage.
Her imperial father chose a consort for her.
Qin Xuming, the youngest legitimate son of the Duke of Qin's household.
Although Qin Xuming was not known for any particular talent, appearing rather mediocre in both literary and martial pursuits, he was exceptionally handsome and his family background was respectable.
Most importantly, he was exceptionally well-behaved and never engaged in philandering. He didn't even have any concubine maids.
This point satisfied both the original host and Emperor Pingzhao.
Thus, he was naturally appointed as the consort.
Out of affection for his daughter, Emperor Pingzhao specifically elevated the title that the consort was supposed to receive. He was directly promoted from the customary title of驸马都尉 (Fuma Duwei - a title for consort) to the marquisate of Anping.
The Fuma Duwei was technically a rank between count and marquis, but since the title did not require any meritorious service, its prestige was even lower than that of a count.
It was even jokingly referred to as the "soft-rice title" by outsiders.
Emperor Pingzhao's promotion to marquis was certainly a significant honor for the original host and a way to make the world recognize how much he doted on his eldest princess, implying that she should not be offended.
After marriage, although the original host had her own family, she continued to visit the palace every few days to maintain her relationship with her father. Anything interesting she encountered outside the palace, or new pastry recipes she learned, she would personally make and send to the imperial palace.
Therefore, even though the original host moved into the princess's mansion,
It did not significantly affect their father-daughter relationship.
After giving birth, the original host would often bring her children to the palace. Even her offspring were regarded favorably by Emperor Pingzhao, much better than his own grandchildren.
However, as time passed and Emperor Pingzhao grew older, his sons gradually stepped into the spotlight, engaging in power struggles. The original host then had to consider her future, pondering whether to support a particular brother to ascend the throne, thereby preserving her own influence.
Having an emperor father was fundamentally different from having an emperor brother. This was even more so when considering a doting father versus a brother with whom she had animosity.
Consequently, the original host eventually painstakingly chose the Sixth Prince, whom she had never bullied, as her chosen candidate. Simultaneously, she made every effort to suppress and oppose the Second Prince in private. Her principle was straightforward: any prince of her father could become emperor,
But the Second Prince absolutely could not.
Setting aside the enmity between the Second Prince's mother and herself, and her own constant confrontation with the Second Prince, the mere fact that the Second Prince might already know the cause of his mother's death was sufficient.
The original host did not believe he would remain indifferent.
Nor did she believe that his ascension to the throne would mean she would not face repercussions.
Therefore, the original host's targeting of the Second Prince was utterly relentless. If any of the Second Prince's subordinates accidentally committed an offense, she would immediately find ways to publicize it and crush their morale.
Within a few years,
Their relationship had deteriorated to the point of being irreconcilable.
However, the original host was, after all, only a princess, and the scope of matters she could intervene in was quite limited. Furthermore, the Sixth Prince she supported was incompetent and timid, and dared not step forward. As time went on, fewer people were willing to assist the original host. Coupled with Emperor Pingzhao's failure to establish a new Empress, the Second Prince was the most legitimate son of the Empress. The number of court officials willing to support him grew, and soon the original host began to suffer continuous defeats.
If it had only been this matter,
The original host would have been at most angered and vexed.
She would not have been terrified to death or anything similar.
But the crucial point was that after Emperor Pingzhao suffered a serious illness a few years prior, his health had never fully recovered. The officials began to actively petition for the establishment of a Crown Prince. After much deliberation and hesitation, Emperor Pingzhao could only apologetically inform the original host that he had no choice but to name the Second Prince, who had the most supporters, as the Crown Prince. This was then formally announced to the world.
Subsequently, the original host's life became undoubtedly more difficult.
The newly appointed Crown Prince, the Second Prince, although he did not overtly target the original host, engaged in constant clandestine maneuvers. This was while Emperor Pingzhao was still alive. If Emperor Pingzhao were to die, she could only imagine that she would not have a good outcome. From then on, the original host grew increasingly anxious and worried.
She was unsure whether she should try to mend their relationship or to go all out and find a way to kill the Second Prince.
To completely resolve the matter and avoid further trouble.
However, before the original host could make up her mind, her imperial father fell gravely ill again. He was so ill that the Crown Prince was appointed to oversee state affairs.
He was so ill that the imperial physicians dared not speak openly.
They only vaguely hinted that his days were numbered.
The impact of this news on the original host was immense. At this point, whether she wanted to mend their relationship or attempt an assassination, it was likely too late. Therefore, how could the original host not be terrified, not be fearful and apprehensive?
And then, Ding Yun arrived.