Chapter 353 Palace Turmoil

Jiang Fenghua was already dressed in her finest attire, and the entire Chenxi Palace was surrounded by guards. She knew that if Su Xuan managed to sneak into the palace tonight, he would definitely come looking for trouble.

At this moment, Ao Xue arrived and said, "Your Highness, the old lady Su wishes to see Su Tingwan. His Majesty has sent someone to invite her."

Jiang Fenghua sneered, "What good would it do to invite her? She has the word 'slave' branded on her face. If we let her see Old Madam Su, we'll really break off all pretense of civility."

"Then what should we do?" Ao Xue asked.

"Delay the time and have someone do Su Tingwan's hair and makeup first."

I just hope Xie Shang is doing well outside the palace. Su Xuan hasn't shown up yet, and I don't know if he's returned to the capital. The news that Ye Susu gave birth has also been out for a while.

In fact, a month ago, Xie Shang sent Peng Fei with the imperial edict to the border in secret. Lin Yu, Tan Wanqing, and Jiang Zhiqin, as well as other elite soldiers selected through the martial arts examination, also went. Jiang Zhiqin also had his own group of subordinates, which he also secretly brought along.

Lin Yu and Tan Wanqing left their people in Shengjing to protect Jiang Fenghua. These people would not show themselves unless absolutely necessary, since Xie Shang's people were also protecting her and the two children.

Jiang Fenghua was quite worried about them and only hoped that they would all be safe. After a year, Su Dehai's health was already at its limit. The most difficult people to deal with were actually Su Xuan and those loyal to the Su family on the border. If they raised an army in rebellion, General Peng and others would also be in great danger.

Meanwhile, Cheng Yong also went to the border. The prestige of Duke Cheng was still there, and he hoped that the soldiers would not do anything foolish. Fortunately, they had been investigating the Su family for many years and knew that those people were the Su family's key ministers. As long as Lin Yu and the others captured these people, the Su family army would not dare to act rashly.

However, Xie Shang needed a legitimate reason to find fault with Su Dehai.

Ao Xue led her people to the Cold Palace, only to find that the guards at the gate were gone. She drew her long sword from her waist and pushed open the door of the Cold Palace, where she saw the guard's body lying inside. She touched the body and found it was still warm, indicating that the murderer was still nearby.

She sensed something was wrong, and suddenly saw a dark figure moving around in the Cold Palace. She said coldly, "Chase after it."

Ao Xue chased after the person but failed and stopped chasing. Protecting the young master and the young princess was far more important than capturing Su Tingwan. She said, "Let's go back to Chenxi Palace and inform the Crown Princess first."

She was unaware that "Consort Su" beside her had also disappeared.

When Ao Xue returned, she told us about the situation in the Cold Palace and then said, "Who rescued Su Tingwan? The Cold Palace was clearly under our surveillance, yet that person managed to bypass our sentries, kill someone, and rescue Su Tingwan."

"It's the fake Consort Su next door." She knew the people inside were not simple when she came out of the Cold Palace that day, but in order not to alert them, she pretended not to know anything.

She kept thinking about how Su Xuan would make his appearance. She was certain that Su Xuan would come back; he would come back to see the fruits of his labor.

A trusted eunuch of Chief Eunuch Cao arrived from outside the palace. "Quickly inform the Crown Princess that the Emperor requests her to bring the Eastern Palace's young mistress to the banquet hall."

A palace maid hurriedly came in to report, and Jiang Fenghua said, "Tell him that I will immediately invite all the ladies to gather at Chenxi Palace."

After the palace maids left, Wuxin entered and said, "This servant greets the Crown Princess."

Jiang Fenghua clenched her fists and said in a deep voice, "Is there anyone suspicious?"

Wu Xin shook his head. "No."

"Have the ministers, the emperor, and the ladies of the palace all taken their seats?" Jiang Fenghua asked again.

Wu Xin said, "We're only missing the people from the East Palace. If we don't go now, we'll have to." The Crown Prince told them to stay in the East Palace and wait for good news from outside before going out. However, the people from the East Palace were nowhere to be seen, and the Crown Prince was also absent. So the Emperor told the Crown Princess to take the people out first.

Jiang Fenghua asked Granny Wang, "Has the child been brought over?"

"Yes, do you want me to bring it now?"

"I will go and hold them myself!" Jiang Fenghua arrived at the side hall and saw Ye Susu's child lying quietly in the cradle. Despite the best efforts of the royal physician, the child looked sickly. Meanwhile, her two children had already begun to babble and were fair-skinned and adorable. Lianye and Hongxiu led two wet nurses, one taking care of each child, as if they were their own eyes.

"How is the situation at Zhongming Pavilion?" she asked again.

Granny Wang said, "Your Highness, please rest assured, all the people I trust are guarding there."

Jiang Fenghua's thoughts raced. It seemed that she could only wait for Su Xuan to show himself. "Withdraw the people from Zhongming Pavilion, leaving only the maids and nannies who serve Ye Susu. Don't leave anyone behind, and be careful not to give anything away."

She was going to wait. She firmly believed that Su Xuan would come looking for her, since Su Xuan had long considered her his rival.

-

At this time, all the concubines were dressed neatly, waiting for the Crown Princess to lead them to the evening banquet. They waited for a long time but no one came to announce their arrival.

Today, Ye Susu was dressed very elegantly, exuding wealth and with exquisite makeup. She looked at her beautiful self in the mirror, knowing that His Highness the Crown Prince would announce her appointment as Consort Ye at the New Year's Eve banquet.

She straightened her posture, showing the manners taught to her by Granny Wang, and couldn't help but smile, "Everyone, please rise."

However, Ye Susu waited and waited but received no news. She opened the door to go out, and Zijuan greeted her, "Consort Ye, please wait in your bedroom! Granny Wang said that the Crown Princess will send someone to inform you."

Ye Susu had been hearing this all day, and she thought that all the guests outside must have already taken their seats!

She added, "Let the wet nurse bring the young master here. This concubine will bring the young master with her."

Zijuan added, "Just now, the young master was taken to the Crown Princess's Chenxi Palace by Granny Wang. Granny Wang said that the young master, the eldest young master, and the young princess should attend together, so please rest assured, Consort."

Ye Susu had no doubts. She thought that for the past month, Granny Wang had taken good care of the child and taught her the etiquette of a concubine in the palace so that she would not lose face in front of the guests.

She closed the door again so they wouldn't disturb her.

She was unaware that the entire palace was shrouded in a dark cloud.

After a moment, another eunuch pushed open the door and came in. "The Crown Princess invites Consort Ye. Consort Ye, please come with me!"

Ye Susu heard a woman's voice, but without seeing who it was, she said, "Didn't you just tell me to wait? Now..."

The eunuch suddenly raised his head, and as if by magic, his face changed. Ye Susu looked at the familiar face in front of her and was so frightened that she almost screamed. She quickly closed the door, "You...you...how could it be you? How did you get in?"

"It hasn't even been a year since we parted ways, how can you not recognize me?" Su Xuan said.

Ye Susu asked again, "Where are the servants from Zhongming Palace? How did you get in?"

"Too much of an eyesore, I had it disposed of."

"You killed them?" Ye Susu said in a low voice. "This is the palace. How could you kill people here? They died in Zhongming Pavilion. Do you want me to die with them?"

"Enough with the nonsense, where's the child?" Su Xuan said coldly.