Princess Xinyue actually hugged a young eunuch in public?
Was the Fifth Prince worried about this young eunuch? Did the Fifth Prince have some unspeakable feelings for this young eunuch?
No way, right?
On the high platform and in the training grounds, hundreds of officials and generals witnessed this scene.
They were all shocked and made all sorts of guesses in their hearts, but not a single word dared to escape their lips.
If this was truly royal gossip, it was best to silently enjoy it. Speaking out could cost them their heads.
Before long, Princess Xinyue returned to the high platform.
Seeing Princess Xinyue looking somewhat guilty, the Third Princess walked up to her and chuckled softly, "Fifth Sister, your hurried demeanor just now, could it be that you've taken a liking to a little eunuch?"
"How is that possible! Third Sister, don't spout nonsense!"
Princess Xinyue immediately denied it, "Little Chenzi is so capable, I was just concerned and went to see him. Is that not allowed?"
"Is that so? But I saw you hug him just now. How do you explain that?"
The Third Princess smiled enigmatically.
"Uh~ I just won against Third Sister and was too excited to see Little Chenzi. I ran too fast and couldn't stop, so I luckily used Little Chenzi as a human shield."
Princess Xinyue explained with a hint of embarrassment.
She then continued with a triumphant smile, "Third Sister, I won this competition, didn't I? You didn't think Little Chenzi, a eunuch, could lead troops and defeat your personal guard's deputy commander, Zhou Cheng, did you? What do you say now?"
"So what if Commander Zhou has been on the battlefield? My Little Chenzi still won. I wonder what Third Sister thinks?"
"Hee hee!"
"Hmph, this was just your good luck this time."
The Third Princess's face was unsightly. She uttered these words and turned away.
Yay! One down, next is Empress Mother.
On the way back to the high platform, Chu Chen specifically instructed her on how to handle the situation, having played her part well and angered the Third Princess.
It was truly a joy for body and soul~
"Empress Mother."
"Hmph, why did you hug a little eunuch in broad daylight? Even if I agreed to let him be your personal eunuch, this is disgracing the royal family, do you know that?" the Empress scolded in a cold voice.
"I'm not the first to disgrace the royal family anyway."
Princess Xinyue pouted, then ingratiatingly grabbed the Empress's arm and shook it.
"Oh, Empress Mother, I was so happy to win against Third Sister that I ran over to see him, and I couldn't stop. I almost fell, so I grabbed Little Chenzi in front of me as a human shield. What's the big deal?"
"When I was little, I used to ride on eunuchs' backs and have them carry me around!"
"...Can that be compared?" the Empress asked with a cold face.
"The time I grabbed Little Chenzi as a human shield was shorter than the time I rode on eunuchs as horses when I was little."
"Which of the eunuchs in Qingming Palace who are now older hasn't been ridden by this princess like a horse?"
Was Princess Xinyue this mischievous when she was young? It seemed she was still quite mischievous now.
Thinking about it this way, it seemed like just grabbing and hugging that Little Chenzi wasn't a big deal. They were all eunuchs.
At least being held as a human shield seemed to be a better treatment than being used as a horse?
The surrounding ministers stared at the ground or the patterns on their clothes, their ears perked up, listening clearly. Their minds were racing.
"Presumptuous! You were young before, and those incidents in the palace were understandable. Now that you're so grown up, why are you still acting like before, making trouble without regard for rules? This is outside, not inside the palace!"
The Empress flew into a rage, shaking off Princess Xinyue, who was clinging to her arm. She pointed at her and said, "You, get back to your palace immediately and copy the palace rules three times! You are not allowed to let eunuchs or palace maids help you. Otherwise, you will never be allowed to leave the palace again!"
"Only when you have finished copying and learned your lesson will I permit you to leave the palace."
"Copying is copying, what's the big deal."
"When I get back, I'll torment all the eunuchs around me!"
"Hmph!"
Princess Xinyue ran off in anger.
After all, she was actively admitting fault, but not repenting!
"You!"
The Empress became even angrier. She looked at Princess Xinyue's retreating back, wanting to say more, but was stopped by the three princesses beside her.
"Empress Mother, don't be angry. You know Fifth Sister's temperament. She'll settle down in a couple of days when she's tired of copying."
"Yes, Empress Mother, Fifth Sister is just speaking in anger. We'll help you talk to her later."
"Empress Mother, please calm down."
Except for the Third Princess, the other three princesses spoke up for Princess Xinyue.
This gradually calmed the Empress down.
"Alas."
The Empress sighed and turned to the Third Princess, asking, "Yunting, you saw the results of the competition between your and Xinyue's new recruits."
"I declare Princess Xinyue the winner. Do you have any objections?"
"Replying to Empress Mother, your daughter has no objections."
"Good, then it's settled."
The Empress nodded and said to the old eunuch beside her, "Eunuch Mu, announce the result on my behalf. I am tired and will go back to rest."
"Your servant obeys."
The Empress left first, accompanied by the three princesses.
"Phew~"
After the Empress left, the officials, who had been forced to witness a major royal drama, finally dared to lift their heads and speak in hushed tones.
"Princess Xinyue went a bit too far today. It's been a long time since I've seen His Majesty so furious. I thought we spectators would be implicated."
"Indeed. Alas."
"I feel like this place is not suitable for lingering. The Third Princess lost, and we are still watching. I feel uneasy. Fellow colleagues, I'm leaving first."
"Hey~ Wait for me, let's go together."
Soon, except for the first and second-rank officials, all other officials had fled.
The remaining high-ranking officials looked at each other.
After a moment of thought, they realized there was no point in staying and also left.
Soon, only the Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial and a few generals guarding the barracks remained on the high platform.
"Um, Eunuch Mu, perhaps we should just announce the result directly?"
"Mmm, then this servant will announce it directly."
Chu Chen, who was leading his troops and waiting in front of the high platform, looked somewhat bewildered as the Empress left first, followed by the officials.
He didn't know what had happened above and was unsure whether to listen or just return.
Just then, a sharp voice echoed from above: "Today, His Majesty inspected the new recruit drills at the Grand Training Ground and was very pleased. With the addition of excellent new recruits like yourselves, the national prestige is enhanced, and we look forward to the future."
"We hope that after you return, you will not be restless or arrogant, but will maintain your discipline and await the day you serve the country."
"By imperial decree, the competition between the new recruits under the Third Princess and the Fifth Princess has concluded. The victorious party is the unit led by the Fifth Princess's eunuch, Eunuch Chu Chen!"
"By order!"
With that, the Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial also slipped away. He didn't want to interact with Chu Chen, a colleague, in this place, feeling that this fellow was too much of a troublemaker.
"Is that it? What exactly happened just now?"
Chu Chen stared blankly at the empty high platform.