jdhmnovel Chapter 122 If you don't want to kneel, then don't kneel.
Chapter 122 If you don't want to kneel, then don't kneel.
Before she could even squeeze out a few tears from her narrow, fox-like eyes, Lou Shenghan interrupted Yun Zhaozhao's accusations.
"So, Consort Yun ordered people to bully Yan Yan?"
"What? What did the Prime Minister call her?"
Yun Zhaozhao thought there was something wrong with her ears. She remembered that last year when she and Yuan Huaixue made fun of Xin Moyan to her face, they happened to run into Lou Shenghan who came to the palace to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager. He even made a few sarcastic remarks about Xin Moyan, which made her cry.
Lou Shenghan strode up to them, disregarding the difference between men and women, and pulled Xin Moyan and Hua Buyu aside with both hands, his tall figure blocking Yun Zhaozhao's way.
"Your Highness, Yan Yan is kind and honest, and although Hua Buyu is cheerful, she is not an unreasonable person. In your opinion, Your Highness should not be too petty. It is just a matter of bowing. Let's make a big deal out of a small matter and a small matter disappear, so as not to cause trouble for the Empress Dowager when she comes later."
"Am I petty?"
“Since Your Majesty is not petty, there is no need to argue with this commoner. Hua Buyu is not familiar with palace rules and etiquette, while Your Majesty has grown up in the palace and should also have a magnanimous and tolerant heart to demonstrate the broad-mindedness of our Yuanqi Dynasty.”
Yun Zhaozhao's face instantly turned extremely ugly. This Lou Shenghan actually spoke to her like that in front of the Emperor and everyone else.
Just as she was about to retort, Yuan Huaize quickly chimed in to agree.
“That’s right! Consort Yun, Hua Buyu isn’t a member of the palace. Even the Empress Dowager didn’t ask her to bow. Your Highness shouldn’t be so harsh. Besides, Yan’er is so adorable, how could you possibly hurt her?”
After saying that, Yuan Huaize walked to their side and asked gently, "Cousin Yan'er, are you alright?"
Xin Moyan shook her head. Entering the palace is like entering a deep sea. Every time she enters the palace, trouble arises for no reason. If there's nothing to do, she should come less often in the future.
"Hua Buyu, what about you?" His tone was slightly teasing. Where there was Hua Buyu, there was always a good show to watch. No wonder Brother Ling insisted on not letting her enter the palace that day!
"I'm fine, it's just that I've caused trouble for Yan Yan and made her suffer."
Hua Buyu's expression was extremely aggrieved. She pursed her lips and looked up at everyone with a thin mist in her eyes, completely different from how she had slapped the palace maid earlier.
Of course, Lou Shenghan, Xin Moling, and Yuan Huaize all knew her true nature perfectly well, so they wouldn't be easily fooled by her.
"Your Highness and the Prime Minister's words make it sound as if I hit the Princess. And you, woman, when have I ever let the Princess suffer any injustice?"
"I refuse to kneel before you, so you have people push Yan Yan and order the Imperial Guards to arrest us."
"That's what I meant!"
"enough."
With just two deep words, the king's imposing aura silenced everyone instantly. Yuan Huaijun's eyes turned slightly cold as he glanced around the room before finally fixing his gaze on Yun Zhaozhao. His voice was steady yet somewhat distant.
"Consort Yun, you know that the Empress Dowager has always governed the six palaces with virtue. Now that Consort Ning is pregnant and Consort Yun is unwell, there are only you and Consort Rou left in the harem. You should work even harder to assist the Empress Dowager in governing the six palaces. As for who was right and who was wrong today, let it go and don't mention it again. Anyone who is dissatisfied will be severely punished by me!"
The words summed up the matter, serving as both reassurance and warning.
Yun Zhaozhao pouted, still feeling unconvinced, but dared not say anything more, not even daring to raise her head, and could only reluctantly reply with a "yes".
Then, he turned his gaze to Xin Moyan's face, where he saw that she was calm and fearless, with eyes that were neither humble nor arrogant, showing no awe or fear of the monarch.
Yuan Huaijun's gaze lingered for only a moment before shifting to Hua Buyu beside her.
"what's your name?"
With the same fearless attitude as Xin Moyan, Hua Buyu softly replied, "Your Majesty, my name is Hua Buyu."
"Flowers do not speak? Famous flowers do not understand words, yet they are moving even without feeling."
"Yes, Your Majesty, this is the meaning behind my name."
Hua Buyu raised her captivating eyes, and the look in her gaze towards him was no longer as frivolous as before, but rather held a hint of appreciation.
Why are you unwilling to kneel?
Upon hearing Yuan Huaijun's question, Hua Buyu was momentarily stunned, then quickly lowered her eyes, her thoughts somewhat chaotic. After a long while, she calmly replied.
"Buyu has wandered alone for many years, always kneeling to heaven and earth. Whether they are royalty or commoners, in Buyu's eyes they are all equal beings of flesh and blood. If they are equal, why should they kneel?"
Yuan Huaijun raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her answer. He suddenly remembered that from the day Xin Moyan entered the palace to annul the engagement until now, she had never knelt down once.
"Does Yan'er think so too?"
"Yan'er doesn't want to kneel before anyone?"
"what?"
Xin Moyan was suddenly called out and hurriedly looked up at Yuan Huaijun. His cold eyes were fixed on her with a slightly scrutinizing and probing look.
"Yes, Mo Yan is unwilling to kneel before anyone." She answered without thinking, only to suddenly realize that the Emperor had called her Yan'er?
Everyone present was stunned. They never expected that these two women would show such contempt for the emperor's authority and dare to say such treasonous things as not kneeling before the emperor.
Hua Buyu then thought that he was, after all, an emperor. If she and Yan Yan directly said they wouldn't kneel before him, it seemed like they were being disrespectful. What if the powerful figure got angry...
She instantly put on a bright, ingratiating smile, and said in her usual affected voice, "Your Majesty, I just let something slip: apart from heaven and earth, I am willing to kneel before a wise ruler. Your Majesty, you are so wise, powerful, and noble. You are the most magnificent man I have ever seen. You must be the greatest ruler. Yan Yan, do you think so too?"
After Hua Buyu finished speaking, she turned around and, in front of everyone, openly gave Xin Moyan a wink.
Xin Moyan understood instantly and nodded vigorously.
"This humble servant, Yan Yan, will kneel down and pay her respects."
The two men bent their knees, as if they were about to kneel on the ground.
"Hehehe~ Alright, if you don't want to kneel, then don't kneel," he waved his wide coat, making them stand up straight to speak. "Wang Si, issue an edict: Princess Danhua and Hua Buyu are hereby exempt from kneeling before anyone within the territory of Yuanqi Kingdom, including me."
"Yes...yes, Your Majesty."
"Hehehe~" Yuan Huaijun's eyebrows relaxed and he chuckled again. This was the first time he had been so happy. He originally thought that Xin Moyan was already a pleasant surprise, but he didn't expect that birds of a feather flock together and that Hua Buyu was also quite interesting.
Everyone was stunned. The emperor not only did not blame the two for their disrespect, but also issued an edict granting them the privilege of not having to kneel!
Most importantly, the emperor, who was never one to smile, smiled, and smiled very happily!
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has arrived at the Moon-Folding Terrace."
"Well then, you may all proceed to the Moon-Folding Platform. Let us not mention this matter again!"
"As you command, Your Majesty!"