Chapter 49: Clear Rewards and Punishments

At this moment, the elders from each family also arrived.

Among the six children present were the Seventh Prince and the Eighth Princess, both offspring of the Empress.

The eldest among the six was Yue Zhengxing, the Fourth Young Master of the Marquis of Ning’an’s residence.

There was also Cao Jinrui, the youngest grandson of Old Lord Cheng from the Prince Cheng Mansion.

From the Prince Huai Mansion came Cao Jincheng, the third grandson of Old Lord Huai.

And lastly, there was Qin Yue, the Empress’s niece from her natal family.

Most of the children were between eight and twelve years old.

“Speak! Who took the lead in going out to row the dragon boats?” The Emperor asked solemnly, addressing the four boys kneeling before him.

They all shifted blame onto one another, no one daring to be the first to speak.

At this moment, every child was clearly afraid.

The heads of the families also stepped forward and knelt.

“Father, it was I who wanted to row and asked the others to keep me company,” said the Seventh Prince, showing responsibility by stepping forward when others hesitated.

“No, Your Majesty, it was I who first suggested it,” Yue Zhengxing also took responsibility, unwilling to let the eight-year-old Seventh Prince bear the blame alone.

Both were the most favored sons in their families, accustomed to getting their own way.

Upon hearing this, Marquis Yue Jinsong of Ning’an trembled with fear.

He vowed to discipline his son properly once home; the boy had just barely escaped harm and hadn’t learned his lesson.

“Your Majesty, I admit my failure in teaching my son properly and accept the punishment,” the Marquis said sincerely.

The other family heads also confessed their mistakes in turn.

They had allowed the princes and princess to play, nearly causing a fatal accident. Had the rescue not been timely, it was possible that not a single person from the boat would have survived. The mere thought sent chills down their spines.

No, it nearly cost them half their lives.

“Where are the attendants?” The Emperor’s anger deepened.

The two young eunuchs serving the Seventh Prince and the two young palace maids attending the Eighth Princess were already waiting outside the hall.

Upon hearing their names called, they lowered their heads and entered to kneel properly.

They were fifteen or sixteen years old, already considered adults.

“Speak! Why did you allow your charges to be in danger?” The Emperor thundered.

“We know our mistake, we know our mistake,” the four servants only knew to admit fault, not daring to plead for mercy. Indeed, they had been negligent.

“Father, I told them not to follow us. The lake was crowded with other visitors, so I wanted to play and left the four of them on the shore with Eighth Sister,” the Seventh Prince again took responsibility when the Emperor turned his anger towards the attendants.

The Emperor shot his son a stern glare; the boy was truly spoiled by his indulgence.

Utterly unruly.

“Take them out and administer thirty lashes each, then hand them over to the Empress for further handling,” the Emperor ordered decisively.

“You four little rascals, given today is a festival, I’ll reduce it to five lashes each; Qin Yue, two lashes. Their fathers will each receive ten lashes. Be sure to discipline your sons well. If such an incident happens again, they will be exiled for two years,” the Emperor pronounced punishments for all.

But as the Seventh Prince’s father, shouldn’t he also be punished? None dared to voice this thought.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

They had been punished and still had to express gratitude.

The punishments were carried out just outside the hall.

Each child received their lashes but was still able to stand and walk.

The Seventh Prince gritted his teeth in pain.

The executioners knew their limits and treated the children gently; it was a festive day, after all, and they could not be beaten to the point of incapacitation.

Inside the hall.

“Yu Yuanzheng.”

“I am here,” Yu Yuanzheng responded with a start. Why was the Emperor calling her?

“You performed a great service today. What reward would you ask for?” The Emperor was true to his practice of clear rewards and punishments.

“Uh, Your Majesty, it was just a coincidence. No reward is necessary. I’ll be content with eating two extra rice dumplings later,” Yu Yuanzheng replied modestly.

“Not greedy for merit, I see. The Yong’an Earl’s household really knows how to raise daughters. Who else is in your family?”

“Your Majesty, my father, mother, a fourteen-year-old younger brother, and a ten-year-old younger sister,” Yu Yuanzheng answered promptly.

Could her actions today possibly benefit her family?

“Does your brother study?”

“Yes, he is preparing to take the imperial examination this year.”

“Convey my decree: tomorrow, have him report to the National Academy. As for your ten-year-old sister, bring her to the palace to see the Empress in due time, to be a companion and study partner for the Eighth Princess.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Yu Yuanzheng immediately knelt and expressed sincere gratitude. This was an incredible boon.

“You all should prepare ample gifts to present at the Rongwang Mansion in thanks,” the Emperor said, glancing at the family heads who were still unsteady on their feet.

Two were the Emperor’s cousins—the Earl of Yong’an and his royal uncle.

Each was of distinguished status but all bowed their heads in shame.

It had been many years since any father had been punished by the Emperor for the mischief of their child.

“Yes, Your Majesty, we will certainly pay our respects in person,” they replied in unison.

Standing nearby, Yu Chaoyang felt a surge of jealousy.

How could Yu Yuanzheng, with her merits from a rescue, bring such great benefits to the second branch of the family?

Yet she dared not say a word. The Emperor had not pursued the matter of the branch household’s marriage exchange—she considered herself lucky.

The Emperor was no fool; there was no way he did not understand the underlying significance.

“Those involved in the rescue will each receive one hundred taels of silver as a reward,” the Emperor added.

The two young masters and the eldest prince’s guards, Yue Yuting and Yu Chaoyang, stepped forward to express thanks.

After leaving the Minghe Hall, Cao Jinxuan finally had a chance to pull Yu Yuanzheng aside to ask questions.

“Yuanzheng, how did you know that artificial respiration technique? I only heard Father mention it once, saying it was proposed a hundred years ago, but few have ever seen it.”

Yu Yuanzheng found this strange. Could it be that a time traveler had already come? But she had not noticed anything modern in this era.

No wonder the Emperor had not questioned her on this point; perhaps he already knew.

From now on, she must be careful not to reveal anything unfamiliar to this time.

“It just came to me while I was sitting and embroidering, my mind wandering,” she said.

Then she repeated what she had said earlier at the Marquis’s residence.

“You’re really clever. Come on, let’s go see the Eighth Princess,” Cao Jinxuan suggested.

“Let’s go,” Yue Yuting agreed, feeling it necessary to apologize to the Eighth Princess on behalf of his younger brother who had caused the danger.

When they arrived at the Eighth Princess’s chamber, she was already asleep after drinking a calming tonic.

The Empress was still present.

“Greetings, Your Majesty,” the three girls bowed together.

“You’ve arrived,” said the Empress.

“Aunt Empress, how is the Eighth Princess now?” Cao Jinxuan asked.

“She has never suffered such hardship in her young life. Thankfully, she was saved. Yuanzheng, I thank you,” the Empress said kindly, showing no airs.

To prevent conflict within the harem, the Emperor had deliberately elevated a woman of humble background as the heir consort, justifying it by the fact she bore twins.

The Empress’s own children were too young to pose any threat and lacked influential natal families, so her position was secure.

Thus, she was gentle and approachable to the consorts and palace maids alike.

“Your Majesty is too kind. It was but a small effort. The Emperor has already rewarded me; I dare not accept double,” Yu Yuanzheng said with a smile.

“The Emperor is the Emperor; I am I,” said the Empress as she removed a jade bracelet from her wrist and placed it on Yu Yuanzheng’s.

A gift from the Empress could not be refused.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Let us go. It is almost time. We should all proceed to the Tai Ming Hall,” the Empress said, seeing that her daughter slept soundly and noting the time.

The Tai Ming Hall was the main venue for today’s palace banquet.

The three girls set off again toward the Tai Ming Hall.

Along the way, they encountered someone once more.