With Ling'er's presence, Mei was always smiling and enjoying herself, so she never experienced emotions like she did before. They returned to their routine activities. Mei decided to avoid seeing her father until she was completely sure she could keep her emotions in check.
Meanwhile, the Emperor, who initially wanted to send the Princess away, reconsidered after General Gao informed him about her involvement in Mei's death. He also received a letter from Diguo stating that they were going to send an envoy to the capital, expected to arrive in Da Long after a month due to the distance between the two empires. Mei decided to keep an extra eye on the Princess's movements, so they hired the child ghost again. He was doing a good job of relaying all her movements at the end of the day.
The Emperor went back to spending nights with his concubines and consorts. Mei wasn't interested in watching, and Ling'er had a new obsession with the General, so she stopped watching the Emperor.
They now had a new routine, which was to watch the morning court in session. Ling'er wasn't much interested in "old men fighting with words," but Mei was. It was a space where women were not allowed, but they were able to enter because they were unseen. It was also a learning experience to see how the Emperor ruled and his policies; she could see he cared about his people.
At first, Ling'er was adamant she wouldn't waste her time on that, but when she found out General Gao also attended the morning courts, she changed her mind fast enough. So every morning, she would drag Mei to court, and while Mei listened and learned new things, Ling'er would stare at the General, circling him and concentrating on him. The two of them were there for different reasons.
Mei always got to see her former husband in a different setting. In court, he was always quiet and never had his own opinions. Mei was embarrassed that she ever loved someone like that. In the presence of the Emperor, he paled in comparison. Although he was her choice at one point and she loved him, she just realised he was useless; his position as Duke was purely because of his family; otherwise, he would never have attained it.
It was very clear the Emperor was making things hard for the Duke, as he would ask for his opinion every time and chastise him for those opinions.
Her father was also in court, but she avoided looking wherever he was seated.
This morning they were late for court due to Ling'er getting distracted by a fight between a concubine and a consort. But Mei got shocked the moment she stepped into the court as she saw someone she didn't expect to see in a long time: her maternal grandfather was in court, kneeling at the centre of the hall.
Ling'er looked at Mei and asked, "Who is that?" Mei explained, "My Maternal Grandfather," she said, looking emotional. Although she didn't meet him much, as he was a General stationed outside the capital even before she was born, she rarely saw him. The moments she did, she had nothing but good memories of him. And he was there today, looking worn.
"Your Majesty," he said, his voice deep and commanding, "My ancestors and I have always been loyal to the Da Long Empire and have always been at the borders defending it." He continued, "Your loyal servant was only blessed with one daughter, who unfortunately passed away at a very young age," he said, sounding emotional.
The Grandfather she knew and heard about was a very commanding man whose sight made enemies' legs tremble, but he was feeble, almost at the point of crying.
"I gave her hand to Sun Di, sitting there," he said, pointing at her father, "but she passed away after leaving one daughter whom I have requested multiple times to let me raise, but he denied each time. As I was away and didn't want to interfere with his family's affairs, I let him raise my granddaughter. And after reaching of age, he married her to the Duke of Chiang," he said, pointing at her former husband.
"And a few days ago, I was informed that she had died, and I have been on the road all those days and just arrived," he said, almost at the point of tears.
"Today, I kneel before this court to beg Your Majesty to seek justice for my granddaughter," he pleaded. "I don't know how I will face her mother when I die," he asked, hitting his head on the floor.
It was as if lightning had hit the court; everyone got quiet, and Mei looked at her grandfather, her hand trembling. She felt like bursting into tears.
The Emperor rushed from his throne to help General Ma up from the floor. He looked at the Duke and her father, asking them both to come forward and explain themselves.
The Duke was the first to kneel. "Your Majesty," he started, "My wife was caught in bed with her guard by all the nobles in the capital." He continued, "She was punished as per our family law."
Mei could see both her grandfather's and the Emperor's hands tightening. "This General here is maligning my name! I beg you to seek justice for me!" he said, prostrating as well.
The Duke also kneeled. "Your Majesty, it's very hard to lose a child, but my daughter shamed me and her husband by committing adultery, and she became the Duke's person when he married her. It is not in my nature to interfere in other families' matters."
How dare you, Sun Di!" General Ma thundered, pointing at him. "I regret ever betrothing my daughter to a coward like you! I would rather she'd shaved her head and become a nun; then maybe she'd still be alive!"
Mei sat there, shocked to the core, frozen as her grandfather's words rang in her ears.