Blame the Villain – Chapter 206

Villainous Emperor (6)

Song Xuyi finally realized that after her sleep, half a month had passed in the real world.

Although the Emperor rose from military ranks, as a princess, one must master some literary skills. The Emperor recalled the words of the Goddess in his dream about “proper upbringing,” and considering that the palace maid Sixteen’s mother was known as a talented scholar before the fall of the Dong Kingdom, perhaps Sixteen had a natural gift for studies…

Thinking that Sixteen was now of suitable age, the Emperor issued an edict allowing Jiang Ruyu to enter the Chongwen Hall to study alongside the princes and princesses, demonstrating his care for Sixteen.

The Chongwen Hall had existed since ancient times, originally a place where princes and children of high officials studied literature and etiquette, where women were not allowed. The women’s division of Chongwen Hall was established during the previous emperor’s reign. Although the previous emperor neglected his duties and immersed himself in literature all day, he believed that royal daughters should not be illiterate, thus establishing the women’s division.

Before age eight, boys and girls studied together in Chongwen Hall. After eight, they were separated – boys studied statecraft and policy, while girls learned household management and etiquette.

Though the Emperor disapproved of many of his predecessor’s policies, he agreed that establishing the women’s division at Chongwen Hall was necessary.

Thus, with the Emperor’s command, Jiang Ruyu’s enrollment at Chongwen Hall was settled.

After Royal Eunuch Wang read the Emperor’s decree, surprisingly, her mother also approved of the Emperor’s decision. She even stayed up all night to embroider a beautiful book bag for Jiang Ruyu. However, her mother kept cautioning her: “Ruyu, you must conceal your talents. Don’t let others know you can memorize things after seeing them once, and don’t appear too clever…”

Jiang Ruyu nodded, half-understanding.

Due to her mother’s attitude, Jiang Ruyu felt more anticipation about attending school. Before bed, she clutched the embroidered book bag her mother made, reluctant to let go. Though afraid of annoying Elder Sister Goddess, she couldn’t help but tell her about this in her heart.

Since learning that Elder Sister Goddess could hear her thoughts, Jiang Ruyu had been extremely restrained, not wanting to burden her with additional troubles. Yet during this time, she still couldn’t help missing her – torn between not wanting to disturb her and being unable to suppress her longing…

But Jiang Ruyu discovered that longing seemingly couldn’t be transmitted, for although she thought of Elder Sister Goddess every day for over half a month, she never appeared.

The night before attending Chongwen Hall, Jiang Ruyu called out to Elder Sister Goddess in her heart, but she didn’t appear. Despite her disappointment, early the next morning, Jiang Ruyu respectfully went to Chongwen Hall carrying her book bag.

She arrived earliest, before anyone else. Jiang Ruyu took out paper and brush to practice writing earnestly. When her mother was lucid, she had taught Jiang Ruyu characters. Her mother’s elegant small script (“hairpin flower small script” – a traditional calligraphy style) was extremely beautiful. Though Jiang Ruyu knew how to write some characters, due to the lack of writing materials in the Cold Palace, her handwriting wasn’t attractive.

While Jiang Ruyu was concentrating on writing, she didn’t notice Fifteenth Princess Jiang Xin sneaking up behind her—

This time, Jiang Xin had come specifically for Jiang Ruyu.

Jiang Xin had seen Jiang Ruyu last year when she wandered into the Cold Palace and saw Jiang Ruyu, who was like a jade person. She couldn’t accept that a wild child from the Cold Palace could be more beautiful than her, and remained dejected until her mother sent some sycophantic (meaning to flatter the powerful and bully the weak) eunuchs to console her, saying that wild child was destined to die in the Cold Palace with no one to compete with her for princess’s glory, and she was destined to be Jiang Kingdom’s most talented and beautiful princess. Only then did Jiang Xin gradually come to terms with it.

But Jiang Xin never expected Father Emperor would take this child out of the Cold Palace!

She had been unhappy since hearing the Emperor had acknowledged the wild child from the dog courtyard of the Cold Palace, but she dared not show her dissatisfaction before the Emperor. She had been looking for a chance to teach the wild child a lesson, and before she could decide how to punish her, this wild child actually entered Chongwen Hall!

Jiang Xin was overjoyed—who didn’t know that Chongwen Hall was her territory?

Though Jiang Xin was overbearing, she studied diligently and composed poetry at age five, earning the Emperor’s favor. As a princess with no possibility of competing for the throne, both princes and teachers were happy to maintain good relations with her. Jiang Xin was one of the most popular people in Chongwen Hall.

Jiang Xin came so early intending to gather her companions to isolate Jiang Ruyu, but unexpectedly found Jiang Ruyu practicing calligraphy…

Jiang Xin immediately ordered her eunuchs to snatch Jiang Ruyu’s writing.

Despite Jiang Ruyu’s fierce resistance, Jiang Xin had brought six palace maids and eunuchs, while Jiang Ruyu only had one honest and loyal palace maid, making it impossible to resist Jiang Xin’s force.

Finally, Jiang Ruyu’s writing fell into Jiang Xin’s hands. Jiang Xin glanced at Jiang Ruyu, examining her handwriting, and exclaimed with feigned surprise: “Sixteenth Sister may look fine, but this writing is quite… unique!”

Jiang Xin smiled triumphantly, “dragging” Jiang Ruyu to stand at the doorway, stopping every arriving student to show them Jiang Ruyu’s writing…

Those students, being Jiang Xin’s usual playmates, naturally understood her intention and began mocking and ridiculing Jiang Ruyu’s writing… When the teacher saw Jiang Ruyu’s writing, he directly seated her at the very back and threw her a calligraphy copybook.

This was just the beginning.

In the following days, led by Jiang Xin, some students began calling her a “flower vase” (meaning someone who is beautiful but useless), deliberately arranged for her to sit with a troublesome royal relative’s son, “accidentally” cut her hair, tore up her writing assignments before she could submit them to the teacher…

Because Jiang Ruyu was too forbearing, and with Jiang Xin’s deliberate spreading of rumors, everyone came to know that the Sixteenth Princess from the Cold Palace was just an “embroidered pillow” (meaning beautiful but empty inside). Even the teacher would say about her: “Sixteenth Princess is like rotten wood that cannot be carved (meaning someone who cannot be taught or reformed), disrespectful to teachers, neglecting practice, all appearance and no substance…”

Even the honest maid who came with Jiang Ruyu couldn’t bear it anymore and privately suggested that Jiang Ruyu tell the Emperor about this…

But Jiang Ruyu just shook her head.

Jiang Ruyu always remembered her mother’s teachings: not to quarrel with these people, not to attract the Emperor’s attention, and to endure what could be endured. Moreover, these minor bullying acts were nothing compared to the abuse she suffered from previous eunuchs. She could sense that some eunuchs and palace maids were actually afraid while bullying her, remembering those eunuchs who were killed as scapegoats in the Cold Palace. Although knowing these people didn’t deserve sympathy, Jiang Ruyu still didn’t want to see anyone else die because of her.

It wasn’t that she sympathized with these people, but she had promised Elder Sister Goddess to become someone who protected the common people. These palace maids and eunuchs, though existing like wild grass (metaphor for insignificant beings) in the palace, were still common people. Jiang Ruyu wanted to fulfill this promise to the utmost, so Elder Sister Goddess would realize she was the most obedient and wouldn’t seek other children.

However, Jiang Ruyu hadn’t expected them to burn her book bag.

This was the first gift from her mother, and Jiang Ruyu had always treasured it dearly…

With reddened eyes, Jiang Ruyu pushed Jiang Xin to the ground, and by coincidence, just as she pushed Jiang Xin, the Emperor walked through the door—

Jiang Ruyu instantly understood everything: this was Jiang Xin’s planned scheme.

Seeing Jiang Xin sitting on the ground crying silently like a “little white flower” (meaning appearing innocent and pure), the Emperor became furious and immediately slapped Jiang Ruyu!

The Emperor, with his military background, though weakened by years of indulgence (referring to wine and women), still had considerable strength. With one slap, Jiang Ruyu’s lip bled, and she fell to the ground…

The Emperor hadn’t expected his slap to be so forceful, and his eyes showed obvious discomfort. Thus, when Jiang Ruyu stood up again and walked before him, the Emperor, slightly uncomfortable, began speaking: “If you apologize to Fifteen, I shall spare you…”

However, before the Emperor could finish speaking, Jiang Ruyu raised her hand and delivered a hard slap to Jiang Xin’s face, then immediately knelt down without a word!

This slap stunned everyone present, as Jiang Ruyu had always appeared submissive. No one expected her to have the courage to strike Jiang Xin. The Emperor, observing Jiang Ruyu’s demeanor, narrowed his eyes, and his anger gradually dissipated…

The Emperor questioned others, and soon the truth came to light. Jiang Xin had thought the Emperor would sympathize with her without investigating thoroughly, but hadn’t expected him to personally investigate. She stood frozen, not even daring to cry loudly—

Meanwhile, the Emperor also learned of all the difficulties Jiang Ruyu had endured during this time.

“They say you’re foolish, but you’re not, knowing to retaliate in my presence,” the Emperor scrutinized Jiang Ruyu for the first time: “They say you’re not foolish, yet you were a coward before…”

As Jiang Ruyu expected, the Emperor ultimately dealt with the matter lightly. Since no servants were involved, he only punished Jiang Xin by making her copy books three times and sentenced Jiang Ruyu to three days of repentance at the Goddess Temple, without implicating others.

While others feared the cold Goddess Temple, for Jiang Ruyu it was an ideal place: her mood was terrible, and if she told her mother everything, her mother would surely blame herself. The only person Jiang Ruyu could think of to confide in was Elder Sister Goddess.

When the attendants escorted her to the Goddess Temple, Jiang Ruyu noticed the Emperor’s gaze. His eyes contained a subdued gleam (meaning concealed shrewdness), clearly hiding calculations.

But Jiang Ruyu didn’t want to concern herself with these matters.

She felt utterly dejected: she had intended to endure everything, but she already possessed so little, while those people who had so much still insisted on taking what little she had. In that moment, endless violence surged in her heart, and she even wanted to destroy this world—

Jiang Ruyu was startled by her own thoughts.

Actually… she could have handled this situation much better.

After the escorts locked her in the Goddess Temple, Jiang Ruyu looked at the familiar temple, and belatedly, endless anxiety welled up in her heart: had Elder Sister Goddess stopped visiting her because she thought she was disobedient and handled matters foolishly?

Jiang Ruyu hadn’t cried when being bullied in the Cold Palace, hadn’t cried when being tormented by classmates, and hadn’t even cried when the Emperor slapped her to the ground… However now, looking at the Goddess statue that seemed both within reach yet as distant as heaven, Jiang Ruyu couldn’t help but shed tears: she realized how useless she was, always wanting to cry when seeing Elder Sister Goddess during times of grievance…

“Ah—” Originally, Jiang Ruyu thought there would be no response, but this time she heard a familiar sigh. The Elder Sister Goddess she had been yearning for slowly descended from her divine seat and once again crouched before her: “Why so many tears?”

“I’ve been bringing rain to the south of Jiang Kingdom. Do you know of Fengjun? It used to be a place of beautiful mountains and rivers, like a painting, but recently there’s been months of drought. Fengjun has become a place where people can barely survive, filled with suffering. I’ve seen many families – parents selling their flesh and blood for food, elderly people eating dirt, and many bones of those who starved to death lying by the roadside…”

Song Xuyi described the tragic scenes from Fengjun. She hadn’t thought too deeply about it, only wanting to divert Jiang Ruyu’s attention and help her understand the common people’s suffering to prevent future mistakes. Unexpectedly, as Jiang Ruyu listened, her tears subsided, and she shyly tugged at Song Xuyi’s clothes, burying her face in her embrace—

Jiang Ruyu suddenly felt she shouldn’t cry: there were so many people in the world suffering in desperate conditions, and Elder Sister Goddess had so many people needing her help. Not only could she not help, but she was also holding her back…

“I didn’t intentionally avoid visiting you. I spent too long bringing rain, my divine powers were depleted, and I needed time to recover.”

When Song Xuyi saw Jiang Ruyu had calmed down and wanted to ask why she had been crying, Jiang Ruyu just shook her head and buried her face deeper in Song Xuyi’s embrace: “I just missed Elder Sister Goddess so much!”

Jiang Ruyu realized then: Elder Sister Goddess wasn’t omnipotent after all. She had things she didn’t know and times when her powers were depleted. But knowing these things made Jiang Ruyu feel even closer to her.

Song Xuyi looked thoughtfully at Jiang Ruyu without pressing further, patted her head, and smiled: “I know you missed me. You probably don’t know that people’s longing transforms into sweet clouds, and when I woke up, the clouds around me had almost piled up into a mountain…”

Song Xuyi only meant to make Jiang Ruyu smile, but unexpectedly, Jiang Ruyu took it seriously, lowering her head and smiling happily: “Then I’ll think of Sister more often, gathering thoughts into a mountain, so whenever Sister sees mountains, she’ll remember me…”

Before Jiang Ruyu could finish speaking, her stomach began to growl. She embarrassedly covered her stomach, realizing it was past noon, and no one had brought food. Even the offering fruits on the altar had been cleared away…

Jiang Xin didn’t have such authority to arrange these matters; it must have been her mother, the Noble Consort, who had intervened.

Jiang Ruyu understood this but currently had no means to contend with the Noble Consort.

However, with Song Xuyi present, how could she let Jiang Ruyu go hungry?

Many places in the palace enshrined the Goddess, and with a wave of her hand, Song Xuyi produced a plate of desserts that had been offered as tributes…

After eating, Jiang Ruyu took out paper and brush to continue practicing calligraphy. Her writing, after more than half a month of practice, had actually become quite presentable, but due to Jiang Xin and others’ interference, her work had never reached the teacher’s desk…

“Ruyu has written such beautiful characters in such a short time, that’s really impressive!” Under Song Xuyi’s deliberate praise, Jiang Ruyu’s eyes sparkled, and she practiced even more diligently. Meanwhile, Song Xuyi, using cultivation as an excuse, returned into the divine statue—

Song Xuyi hadn’t planned to cultivate; she intended to enter the Emperor’s dreams to understand what had happened.

To Song Xuyi’s surprise, when she entered the Emperor’s dream, he seemed to have anticipated her arrival, wearing an expression of “early knowledge” (meaning having expected something)—

“Goddess, I confined Sixteen in the temple precisely hoping you would see,” the Emperor smiled broadly: “You came as expected!”

Song Xuyi didn’t know what medicine the Emperor was trying to sell in his gourd (meaning what hidden agenda someone has), and frowned silently, but the Emperor continued speaking: “No wonder the Goddess favors Sixteen. Though this child isn’t likable, she has a certain ruthlessness in her nature…”

Before Song Xuyi could inquire, the Emperor revealed everything that had happened.

“Sixteen resembles me in my youth,” the Emperor remarked afterward: “I finally understand why she is the ‘Imperial Companion Star.’ With constant regional unrest and all capable generals fighting abroad, I need a blade!” The Emperor’s tone was extremely pleased: “A blade of sufficient noble status to execute traitors!”

“Goddess, forgive my candor, but the other princes and princesses are too weak. They only know how to scheme within their small world to please me, while being overly diplomatic and fearful outside…”

“Such behavior is acceptable for ordinary princesses,” the Emperor narrowed his eyes: “But Sixteen is different. She is the Imperial Companion Star, born to help me achieve longevity and national prosperity.”

“Moreover, her mother has no relatives, and Sixteen has suffered before. She would likely be eager for even the smallest benefits…”

The Emperor, accustomed to doing as he pleased all his life, naturally didn’t notice Song Xuyi’s cold gaze. Knowing she was the guardian Goddess, he happily showed her his planned arrangements…

It must be said that this Emperor’s ability to maintain his position for so many years showed he had some real skills, particularly in personnel appointments, where he had extremely strong ideas.

But in all his calculations, he overlooked one point: even gods can have personal preferences.

Song Xuyi’s personal interest lay with Jiang Ruyu.

However, even with this personal interest, Song Xuyi said nothing after hearing the Emperor’s weighing of advantages and disadvantages.

The Emperor wanted to use Jiang Ruyu as a blade, but conversely, Jiang Ruyu could also use the Emperor for tempering (referring to strengthening through experience)—

The Emperor’s arranged plan could easily spoil someone (meaning to render someone useless through excessive indulgence). In his vision, Jiang Ruyu only needed to recognize characters in books without deeply understanding principles. He planned to remove her from Chongwen Hall and send her to learn horsemanship and martial arts, making her into his most convenient blade that would only listen to him.

If it were the previous Jiang Ruyu, she might have fulfilled the Emperor’s wishes, but now…

Song Xuyi, with confidence from an unknown source, was absolutely certain that Jiang Ruyu wouldn’t become just a cold, mechanical blade as the Emperor planned. Jiang Ruyu would have her own principles.

But learning horsemanship and martial arts outside would actually be the best option for the current Jiang Ruyu—she could avoid other princes and princesses while learning self-protection.

“Let’s see then!”

Song Xuyi finally tacitly approved the Emperor’s words, giving him a meaningful look. The Emperor, immersed in the joy of his plans, didn’t notice the significance in Song Xuyi’s eyes.

One day, the Emperor would deeply regret this decision!

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The author has something to say:

Awoo, adding the 3000+ words from daytime, I’ve written 8000 words today.

It nearly killed me.

Tomorrow I’ll see if I can write 6000.

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LP: Re-translated on November 30, 2024

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