Emperor Jingxi continued, “Dening, you were born into the imperial family, noble beyond measure. Your Mother naturally protects you and thinks for you. Although I am busy, I will plan for your entire life—giving you the richest dowry and the best husband. When I ride the dragon carriage at the Dinghu, you have your Imperial Brother. If you suffer any grievances, you can come to the palace and cry. Who would deny you?” Â
Princess Dening’s voice was hoarse, “Father, your humble daughter understands.” Â
Emperor Jingxi said, “But Dening, have you thought that if heaven is not kind, and your father and brother pass away early, one day when your cousins inherit the throne, what will become of you?”
Princess Dening was slightly shocked.
“H-how could that be?” Â
Emperor Jingxi slowly looked at his daughter, his gaze cold and stern.
“Why not? Life is uncertain. Why would you think otherwise?” Â
Princess Dening opened and closed her lips, suddenly at a loss for words.
In her heart, she had always thought her father was a godlike figure—majestic and solemn as a towering mountain, eternal and unshakable—the sky over the palace.
She never imagined the day he would pass would come.
That would be… the sky falling? Â
But now, hearing these words from her father, many thoughts flashed through her mind.
She recalled the various events over Dahui’s 120 years.
Such things… were not unheard of. Â
Emperor Jingxi said, “Your Mother may have told you that once I have other children, I won’t love you as much and will divide my affection. But I want to tell you, this woman you see, she carries my Yong Clan’s bloodline. She is bearing my children—your younger siblings. Our royal line is thin. If anything were to happen, it would be isolation and chaos. To secure the kingdom, we need many offspring. Noble Consort Ning’s children and you are all my children, though not by the same mother.” Â
Princess Dening was shocked and suddenly enlightened.
She was not the Imperial Son but a princess, so she did not need to contend for the throne.
Since she did not need to fight, she would not lack her rightful titles, rewards, or dowry.
Therefore… she naturally needed more brothers and close nephews to ensure the future emperors were her father’s true descendants.
Even if they weren’t close, with that status, she would not be wronged.
That was why her father said she had never truly been wronged in life. Â
If the throne fell into the hands of her cousins…
Princess Dening dared not think further.
Her princess cousin would then rise above her?
She would have to bow to her?
How could she bear it? Â
She murmured, “Your humble daughter understands. Mother Consort will give birth to my younger siblings. In the future… we must support each other because we are all Father’s children.”
Emperor Jingxi said, “Noble Consort Ning is to bear my children. How many more can she have? I don’t have dozens of children for you to fight over. At most, just a few. What is there to compete for? What you deserve, you will still have. But they better guarantee your lifelong wealth and peace.”
Princess Dening bowed her head and said, “Your humble daughter was wrong before. I was foolish.” Â
Emperor Jingxi’s gaze swept lightly over her.
He understood that only now was she truly aware of her mistake. Â
He went on, “As for what your Mother said about Noble Consort Ning…” Â
He sneered dismissively, “You were foolish to believe it.”
An emperor is an emperor.
He need not say much; a slight smile was enough to make Princess Dening blush with shame and reflect hard on her errors. Â
She once thought her father was biased, but now she knew he was right.
Her mother… was always instigating her, making her unhappy, forcing her to do things she never wanted.
In truth, she had long been afraid of her mother.
Who wants to hear such worries day after day?
She just wanted to be a comfortable princess, not to compete or compare.
She should have been the most carefree princess in the world. Â
Emperor Jingxi’s gaze returned to A wu, who seemed to be teasing the little bird, chirping happily as she bent over with a smile.
Emperor Jingxi said, “Look, she is about your age, just a year older.”
Princess Dening nodded, “Yes, Your humble daughter knows.” Â
Emperor Jingxi said, “You are a princess, exalted. She is not. You have the privilege to choose; she does not.”
Princess Dening was momentarily stunned.
Emperor Jingxi lowered his eyelids and continued, “She was originally a fisherman’s daughter from the Eastern Sea. Due to floods, she was displaced and must have gone through many hardships. Later, she met your Imperial Brother and followed him to the capital, hidden away in the Taizi Mansion.” Â
Princess Dening dared not speak.
Such shocking matters were never mentioned in the palace. Â
Emperor Jingxi said, “Afterward, I intervened forcefully. She was tossed about like driftwood. By a twist of fate, she became entangled with me. I didn’t want to let go, so I forcibly brought her into the palace.”
Princess Dening’s breath caught.
She never imagined her father would speak of these things.
She didn’t know how to respond. Â
Emperor Jingxi smiled faintly, tinged with sorrow and regret.
“Dening, do you think any of this was her choice? Could she refuse?” Â
Princess Dening was stunned at first, then looked again at A wu in the distance.
A wu was letting a little bird perch on her fingertip, sunlight spilling over her nearly translucent, pink-tinged finger.
She was too beautiful—like pink jade, radiant and lustrous.
Princess Dening recalled the first time she saw her—not in the palace, but that day at her brother’s residence, kneeling on the steps before her sister-in-law’s door.
Though she was so beautiful it made Dening look twice, she never once lifted her head while kneeling.
At that moment, what was this young woman, almost her age, thinking?
Did she know she was seen as a bewitching demon who seduced the Imperial Son?
Such a rare beauty—every man would admire her—but without a noble status to protect her, who would guard her?
Princess Dening suddenly realized something.
Which daughter would serve her son first, then her father?
Any girl with parental protection would never fall so low. Â
So she could never have done this deliberately!
She must have been forced into it.
A buzzing sound filled Princess Dening’s head, like a sudden enlightenment.
She suddenly realized the things she thought she knew were not so.
White wasn’t white, black wasn’t black.
Her mother’s deep disdain and nagging were all wrong! Â
She had blindly blamed and harshly judged a helpless woman.
How could her mother do that!
Tears welled up as she looked again at A wu—the graceful young woman, delicate and charming as a flower of jade.
She thought of her brother, her father…
Princess Dening’s fingers trembled.
Her nose stung and her eyes reddened; tears threatened to spill.
She had lived fifteen years indulging her every whim, enjoying wealth and glory, proud of her status as a princess, yet she had never truly thought that it wasn’t as beautiful as she imagined.
Emperor Jingxi did not look at his daughter; his gaze remained on A wu.
His voice was cold and deliberate, “It is my fault as a ruler to have taken my son’s concubine, to have forcibly brought her into the Imperial Harem and asked her to bear my children. That is my mistake.”
Princess Dening cried and almost knelt.
She trembled, “Father, please don’t say that.”
Emperor Jingxi said expressionlessly, “If one day you ask me which I favor more—my own children or her—I can only say it is her.”
Previously, Princess Dening would have been furious and hateful upon hearing this, but now she barely reacted.
At this moment, she seemed to understand her father.
He was not a god, but a man.
He had made mistakes but did not regret them.
He would take responsibility and make amends. Â
Emperor Jingxi lowered his eyes.
“Dening, today we have talked freely. I must tell you the truth. When Noble Consort Ning gives birth, perhaps I will indeed favor the younger ones. It’s unavoidable—having children in middle age, especially from a beloved woman, naturally brings some partiality.” Â
Princess Dening looked down.
“Children… are always endearing, aren’t they?” Â
She understood and had seen it herself.
Her birth mother nagged endlessly about this—her biggest worry. Â
But now, hearing it from her father’s mouth, she felt reassured.
Maybe because of his frankness, or because, at worst, it wasn’t a big deal. Â
Emperor Jingxi glanced warmly at his daughter, “But what you deserve, Father will not deny you. Our father-daughter bond will last a lifetime. I will do my best to find time to be with you before your marriage.”
Princess Dening’s tears fell silently.
Emperor Jingxi asked, “You like horseback archery too, don’t you?”
Princess Dening blushed and nodded.
Emperor Jingxi said, “Good. Today you can compete with Father.”
Princess Dening wiped her tears and muttered softly, “How can I possibly compete with Father!”
Emperor Jingxi chuckled and said, “Dening, you are my daughter, the Grand Princess of Dahui, and one day the eldest sister. You will also have to protect your younger siblings for Father, won’t you?”
Dening hurriedly nodded, “Your humble daughter understands. I will.”
She didn’t know what else to say but vaguely understood her father’s concerns.
Emperor Jingxi handed her a pure white handkerchief.
Princess Dening was momentarily stunned.
She bowed her head in thanks, then respectfully took it with both hands.
Emperor Jingxi’s voice was gentle but firm, “Don’t cry so easily.”
Princess Dening wiped her tears, feeling both honored and shy.
“Yes, Your humble daughter understands.”