Chapter 86: 86. Chapter 86 Imperial Demeanor

86. Chapter 86 Imperial Demeanor

What's the use of decorations looking nice?

Wasting money for nothing, showy but useless!

I still think this is a bit stupid!

The Joyful Princess simply couldn't understand why, for such a small matter, they had to spend more money; no matter how nice the decorations looked, they weren't something to look at every day.

Xie Zijian listened to the Joyful Princess's childish words, merely smiled, and no longer bothered to explain.

From a purely monetary perspective, this is indeed quite stupid.

But the imperial bearing forces them to suffer this loss.

At first, Xie Zijian also thought this was pretty stupid.

But after sitting in the Empress's position for a long time, she could roughly understand why.

Put simply, it's still that phrase: imperial bearing!

Sometimes you might think this word is stupid, but in the eyes of the common folk it's a lofty term. Even to nobles, officials, and even aristocratic families, imperial bearing is filled with a sense of the sacred that can be admired but not reached.

But if you really try to say that imperial bearing is something extraordinary, Xie Zijian feels it's just a joke.

"Alright, if you think it's a bit stupid, then let it be a bit stupid!"

"After all, this is a rule set by our Qi family's ancestors; if you have any complaints, you might as well try to chat with them in your dreams tonight."

"Um, then never mind!"

As soon as she heard Xie Zijian say that, the Joyful Princess instantly wilted.

Dreaming of ancestors?

Stop joking!

The Qi family's ancestors wrested this empire from millions of troops; to say they killed people like hemp is no exaggeration. If such an ancestor knew they were badmouthing him here, they'd surely drag them down for a serious talk.

Can't afford to provoke them, can't afford to provoke them!

Shen Yunyao watched Xie Zijian teasing the Joyful Princess, and for the first time realized that the imperial family could be just like an ordinary household.

How wonderful!

With such a family and such a family tradition, it's no wonder that Dayong has maintained popular support for so many years since its founding!

Imperial bearing, admittedly looks ridiculous.

But it is precisely this bearing that keeps the royal family ever aware of the common people's hardships.

Think of the emperors she knows from history, the concubines in the harem: as soon as they gain power, they spend money like water, indulging their private desires while ignoring the common folk.

In the end, when the people rebel, they are labeled as troublemakers.

As members of the royal family, having enjoyed the people's tribute, if they do not think more for the people, then overthrowing their rule would be just and reasonable, wouldn't it?

What's with saying there are no loyal ministers, no capable ministers, and that court officials can all be killed?

Heh, it's simply that the royal family itself has long lost the people's hearts; don't blame officials for being incompetent—even if Guan Zhong and Zhang Liang were resurrected, facing such a lack of popular support, what could they do?

Xie Zijian didn't linger long with Shen Yunyao; after settling the cooperation with Qingsha, she hurried back to the palace.

The Joyful Princess, however, stayed behind, saying the palace was too boring and that Qinyuan Ju here was more fun.

What to play?

Naturally, fishing!

This princess is absolutely childlike at heart.

After learning that the big pond only had one big black fish, she had people buy fish fry before she came; this is long-term planning.

And to ensure there would be fish to catch in the near future, she also had people buy some large fish that fishermen were preparing to sell at the market.

Of course, they were the kind without obvious injuries, large fish that could be kept alive for a long time.

"You're idle too!"

"If you want to fish, let's just go to the riverbank!"

Shen Yunyao was really speechless.

Putting the perfectly good fish back into the pond just to fish them again—doesn't that count as being bored out of one's mind?

"Hehe, Seventh Sister, can it be the same?"

"If we go fishing by the river, we'll definitely cause a big commotion; who knows how many people will gather there!"

"I'm really not being pretentious!"

"The last time I went fishing, before long, a bunch of people inexplicably showed up around me!"

"Especially those aristocratic young masters—they're so annoying!"

"Each one of them has little talent but loves to put on airs!"

"Reciting poetry and composing couplets, they don't fear getting sunburned under the blazing sun!"

Hearing the Joyful Princess's complaints, Shen Yunyao suddenly realized that this younger sister had reached the age to choose a prince consort.

Looks like many people have had designs on her.

You know, this younger sister has earned the affection of two generations of emperors; marrying her is like marrying an ancestor back home.

But likewise, the benefits that such an ancestor could bring to the family are plainly visible.

"Zhenzhen, what kind of person is your beloved?"

Shen Yunyao is also curious.

The Joyful Princess thought for a moment, blinked, and said: "First, I can't tolerate a man who is better-looking than a woman, like Xie Zian."

"My beloved must first not be better-looking than me!"

Alright, hearing this younger sister's words, Shen Yunyao understood: this younger sister is also a looks-oriented person. It's just that her standards for looks fluctuate quite a bit.

"Furthermore, my beloved must be a towering hero!"

"What is your so‑called standard for a towering, world‑shaking great hero?"

Shen Yunyao feels that Huanxi Gongzhu's understanding of a partner is still at a conceptual level; she herself doesn't even know what kind of husband she wants to find.

"With literature, one can lift the brush and pacify the world; with martial skill, one can ride a horse and settle the realm!"

"My demands aren't high, right!"

"Uh, not high, really not high!"

Shen Yunyao raised her hand and tapped Huanxi Gongzhu's little head, "By your standard, I guess your ideal partner probably only exists in dreams!"

"Why is that?"

"Is it that hard to find?"

"Anyway, it can't be someone like Zheng Si Que. I really don't know what the imperial brother was thinking; on what grounds does that person become a top scholar?"

"He looks average, his literary talent is just so‑so; to be blunt, if this princess entered the imperial examination, she might even outscore him!"

"That impressive?"

Shen Yunyao stared at Huanxi Gongzhu in astonishment, feeling the younger sister was bragging a bit.

Although Shen Yunyao also thought Zheng Si Que's top scholar wasn't a big deal, she was judging from the perspective of a transmigrator.

But speaking of the whole Dayong, Zheng Si Que becoming a top scholar certainly wasn't a run‑of‑the‑mill achievement.

"Qi Jiejie, I'm definitely not bragging!"

"Let me tell you quietly, Zheng Si Que's literary talent is even lower than that of the second‑place and third‑place scholars; the third‑place scholar is the most strikingly handsome among this batch of jinshi."

"And the second‑place scholar? Too ordinary!"

"I was thinking, the imperial brother chose Zheng Si Que as top scholar simply because he was the most suitable person, not because he truly possessed top‑scholar talent!"

"It can be done like that?"

Shen Yunyao suddenly recalled that a similar incident appeared in history: someone without top‑scholar talent was appointed top scholar merely because of good looks by the emperor of the time.

Judging by appearance, that actually happened quite a few times in history.

For example, during the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Song was rejected by Cao Cao because of his poor looks; had Cao Cao recruited Zhang Song then, perhaps the later developments of the Three Kingdoms would have been different.