The Entire Court Urges the Princess to Tone It Down

Princess Xiao Mingtang of Zhaohua had been able to do whatever she pleased in the Great Heng Dynasty for more than twenty years.

Her father was the Retired Emperor, her mother the Empress Dowager, her younger brother the emperor, and her closest friend from her maiden days the empress.

Born to wealth and privilege, she never learned to rein herself in as she grew up. Instead, she became ever more spoiled and outrageous.

One day she would buy out half a street to build a mansion and keep a coterie of idle guests; the next, she would pick a handsome envoy from a foreign delegation to entertain her. The day after that, she might detain a young censor at her residence for tea.

The censor called her extravagant, the noble families called her wanton, and the court officials accused her of meddling in politics.

Every day, the entire court urged her to show restraint.

So she did.

She took the Censorate's residence, the account books recording the noble families' hidden silver, the hostage prince sent by an enemy state, and, while she was at it, several sons of senior officials who had cursed her most viciously.

Impeachment memorials against the princess flew to the emperor like snowflakes.

After reading them, the emperor personally delivered them to the princess's residence.

"Sister, they've impeached you again."

Xiao Mingtang said, "They have so much free time? It seems they've been neglecting their duties lately."

The emperor said, "Understood. Your younger brother will have the Censorate go keep an eye on them tomorrow."

Little scene:

The empress was virtuous and dignified in front of outsiders, but as soon as she turned around, she would pore over albums of handsome men with the princess.

When Xiao Mingtang came to the palace, the empress dismissed the attendants and asked, "What did you think of that young general today?"

Xiao Mingtang said, "He has a nice waist."

The empress asked, "And his personality?"

Xiao Mingtang said, "A little fierce."

The empress said, "Fierce is good. That way, you won't get bored of him too quickly."

Xiao Mingtang thought it over. "That makes sense."

Outside the door, the emperor stood holding a plate of pastries, too afraid to go in for the longest time.

Message: Desire is not a stain, and ambition need not hide behind respectability.