Xiaosuisui, holding Xiaobai, nodded at Xie PanâErâs words.
"I understand. Iâll remember what beautiful big sister said."
Xie PanâEr continued to instruct, "In the Palace, you must not speak carelessly, especially when it comes to cursing. Moreover, you must never casually speak of life and death. Do you understand?"
Xiaosuisui looked puzzled and asked, "What do you mean by life and death? How am I supposed to tell the difference?"
After a momentâs thought, Xie PanâEr said, "Iâll give you an example. Just listen, but donât repeat it out loud."
Xiaosuisui nodded. Ever since her beautiful big sister had prayed for rain to cool the intense heat, she had begun to vaguely understand certain things.
"Okay! I will!"
"For example, if someone suddenly curses at you, saying things like, âYouâre going to die!â or âAre you blind?â or âYouâre a fool!â or âYour leg is broken!â... and so on, you must not repeat their words. Do you understand?"
Xiaosuisui blinked. "If I canât curse back, then what should I do?"
Xie PanâEr smiled gently.
"You are the Eldest Princess. What is the purpose of your status? Itâs for punishing those who lack manners. If they dare to curse you like that, you can directly reprimand them for their lack of decorum and have their parents take them home for proper guidance. Just ensure they donât appear before you again."
Hearing this, Xiaosuisui pondered for a moment. After mentally picturing the scenario Xie PanâEr described, she nodded gently.
"Iâll try that next time. But what if it doesnât work?"
Xie PanâEr thought for a moment and said, "Then, do you remember what I told you when we were at the City God Temple?"
Xiaosuisui immediately thought of Zhao Fei, who had been beaten by her beautiful big sister, and a smile spread across her face.
"Then Iâll beat them until they donât dare to curse me anymore!"
Xie PanâErâs mouth couldnât help but twitch.
This wonât do,
she thought.
If the Eldest Princess continues down this path, wonât she grow up to be a violent maniac?
"You canât beat them like that. What if you accidentally kill someone? Do you even realize how strong you are?"
When Xiaosuisui heard Xie PanâEr mention her strength, her large, blinking eyes filled with sadness.
"I canât hit them, and I canât curse back. Am I supposed to just let others bully me? Thatâs not what His Majesty, my foster father, said."
Hearing Xiaosuisuiâs words, Xie PanâEr was rather surprised.
"What did His Majesty, your foster father, tell you?"
Xiaosuisui recalled what the young Emperor had said when he was admonishing her Second Aunt at the Xunâan County Yamen.
"His Majesty, my foster father, said that I am a Royal Princess. If those insolent fools dare to provoke me, their lives and deaths are mine to decide. If I want to kill them, I can kill them!"
When Xiaosuisui finished speaking, Xie PanâEr felt a chill run down her spine.
Is the royal dignity truly so inviolable? But those are human lives! This wonât do! Xiaosuisuiâs power is too great; she mustnât be allowed to believe that human life is worthless.
So, she said to Xiaosuisui, "Everyone has only one life. We are all born of parents, have flesh and blood, and possess thoughts, just like us. Just imagine, can a human life be killed at will?"
Xiaosuisui thought for a moment and naturally recalled the time at the Li Family when she was nearly beaten to death by Old Madam Li. That feeling of being on the verge of death was terrifying.
"No!" Xiaosuisui answered crisply.
Xie PanâEr gently stroked her head, a smile appearing on her face.
"The Eldest Princess is truly a kind-hearted person!"
Seeing the smile on Xie PanâErâs face, Xiaosuisui also smiled. She asked Xie PanâEr, "Does not killing people make one a good person?"