Chapter 89 Extra: Past Life (Part 5)
Chapter 89 Extra: Past Life (Part 5)
As the winter solstice approaches, the palace is busy preparing for the banquet. Beneath the festive atmosphere, undercurrents are surging.
On this day, in the Imperial Garden, Su Su was admiring a few newly tribute green plum blossoms with Chunlan and Qiuju when, by some twist of fate, she encountered Consort Zhuang, who was dressed in her finest attire.
Zhuang Shuning, supported by a palace maid, swayed gracefully as she approached. Her gaze lingered on Su Su's radiant face for a moment before a mocking smile curved her lips: "Oh, Your Highness is in high spirits. Indeed, with the Emperor's favor so great, everything seems perfect to you."
She abruptly changed the subject, lowering her voice and laced it with malice, "I wonder how long this favor can last? I've heard that the ministers of the previous dynasty are quite dissatisfied with Your Highness monopolizing His Majesty's affections. Indeed, His Majesty is the supreme ruler, how can Your Highness monopolize him? Your Highness's lack of understanding of the principle of sharing favors equally makes you no different from a jealous shrew from the marketplace. Aren't you afraid that one day your beauty will fade and your favor will wane, leading to a miserable end?"
Su Su had no intention of getting entangled with her, but upon hearing this, she became furious and glared at her with her big eyes: "Consort Zhuang, how dare you!"
"I was just telling the truth."
Zhuang Shuning chuckled, stepped forward, and continued to provoke him in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Does Your Majesty truly believe that His Majesty is sincere towards you? It's only because of your face and the Empress Dowager standing behind you. His Majesty has the fate of the nation at heart; how could he truly care about the whims of a mere woman like you? Your arrogance and domineering behavior now are merely due to His Majesty's temporary indulgence. Once His Majesty tires of you, what good do you think you and your Su family, who rely on the Empress Dowager, will have? At that time, I'm afraid you won't even be able to keep your position as a Noble Consort, and will become a laughing stock in this deep palace!"
Her words were like knives, specifically targeting the things that Su Su cared about most and felt most uneasy about.
Su Su trembled with rage. Recalling Li Qianche's recent coldness and the pressure from the previous court, old and new grudges surged into her heart. Her reason was instantly burned away by anger. She pointed at Consort Zhuang and shouted sharply, "Zhuang Shuning! You are nothing but a clown who relies on your father! I will make you pay sooner or later!"
These words were clearly heard by all the palace servants standing around.
A fleeting gleam of triumphant pleasure flashed across Consort Zhuang's eyes, but she feigned a humiliated and frightened expression, covering her face and saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me... I take my leave."
Having said that, he hurriedly left with his palace servants, leaving Su Su standing there, slightly out of breath from anger, unaware that she had fallen into a trap.
On the night of the Winter Solstice, a banquet was held, with toasts and pleasant music playing.
Midway through the banquet, Su Su, whose wine cup had been spilled, was helped by Qiu Ju to a side hall to change her clothes.
At that time, the palace servants who were supposed to be guarding the Prince of Ning in the side hall were sent to the front hall to help out by Fuqu, who had been bribed by Consort Zhuang and placed next to Su Su, under the pretext of the Imperial Concubine and the excuse of insufficient manpower for the banquet.
The palace servants, seeing that it was a maidservant from the Imperial Concubine's side who was delivering the message, dared not disobey and had no choice but to obey and leave.
Qiuju escorted Susu to the empty hall entrance, then hurriedly turned back to retrieve spare clothes.
At that moment, a sudden change occurred!
The Prince of Ning and his wife staggered into the main hall, pounded the ground and wept bitterly, saying that their youngest son had inexplicably died while resting in the side hall!
In an instant, the entire hall erupted in uproar, and the joyful atmosphere vanished. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor were furious and immediately ordered a thorough investigation.
All the clues pointed eerily to Su Su.
A palace servant testified that she personally saw the Imperial Concubine go to that side hall, and that she was the only one who went in and out.
Her argument with Consort Zhuang during the day, and the harsh words "I'll make you pay," quickly spread throughout the palace, becoming her motive for "murdering the imperial heir."
Li Qianche sat high on the dragon throne, listening to the irrefutable testimonies of the palace servants below, his face ashen.
Su Su knelt in the hall, her face pale, and vehemently protested, "Your Majesty, please understand! I only went to change my clothes and did not see the Prince of Ning! I am innocent!"
Li Qianche's gaze fell on her, his eyes unfathomable, filled with scrutiny, disappointment, and a hint of barely perceptible weariness.
Looking at her flushed cheeks from excitement, he recalled her usual spoiled and willful nature, as well as the pressure exerted by Consort Zhuang and the court officials behind her. The thought that "she has become arrogant and unrestrained due to her favor, which has led to today's trouble" became clearer in his mind.
He said in a deep voice, "There are many suspicious points in this matter, and I will continue to investigate it thoroughly. The Imperial Concubine... shall be temporarily confined to Yikun Palace and shall not leave without my decree."
Su Su was helped back to Yikun Palace by the palace servants, like a delicate doll whose soul had been taken away.
She sat there, stunned, the same thought repeating in her mind: Why did it turn out like this? Today's Winter Solstice Palace Banquet was clearly a day she had painstakingly prepared, a day to prove to him that she could not only please him in bed, but also manage the palace for him and demonstrate her virtue.
Her initial anticipation and slight pride now turned into cold irony.
Doesn't he believe her? ...Does he really not believe her? Hot tears silently streamed down her face. Chunlan and Qiuju, their eyes red, surrounded her, choking back sobs as they tried to comfort her, but not a single word reached her ears.
One moment it was a scene of vibrant flowers and brocade, the next it was a bottomless abyss of ice.
In the previous dynasty, officials led by the Grand Tutor jointly submitted a memorial, denouncing Su Su for her immoral conduct, jealousy, and ruthlessness, and imploring the emperor to severely punish her in order to rectify the palace.
Looking at the mountain of memorials, Li Qianche felt even more agitated.
He was both annoyed by Su Su's incompetence and anxious because the investigation was making no progress.
Perhaps... it would be good to take this opportunity to temper her temperament and let her know that in this deep palace, he cannot do whatever he wants just because of his favor and the Empress Dowager's indulgence.
Only by making her suffer a little can she learn to restrain herself and protect herself in this unpredictable world.
The following day, an imperial edict was issued: Consort Su, whose virtue is lacking and who is not a good role model for the six palaces, is hereby demoted to the rank of Lady-in-Waiting and confined to her quarters for one month to reflect on her mistakes.
Upon receiving the imperial decree, Su Su could not believe it. She frantically removed her hairpins and ornaments, crying as she rushed to the imperial study to question Li Qianche about why he did not believe her.
However, on the palace road, he was stopped by Consort Zhuang, who had been waiting there.
"Su Yingying, where are you going?" Zhuang Shuning said with a ferocious face, tearing at Su Yingying's hair with both hands. "You bitch, give me back my nephew's life!"
"Get out of my way!" Su Su said, her eyes red, as she tried to push her away.
A ruthless glint flashed in Consort Zhuang's eyes, and she pushed Su Su hard. Caught off guard, Su Su's head slammed heavily against the cold bluestone slab, and she immediately lost consciousness.
When she woke up again, she was in a simple and remote side hall of Changxin Palace, her head wrapped in gauze and her whole body aching.
Chunlan and Qiuju stayed by the bedside, their eyes swollen like walnuts.
Confined for a month, Su Su spent her days in tears, unable to understand why the world had changed so drastically overnight.
Seeing their mistress suffering so much, Chunlan and Qiuju felt as if their hearts were being torn apart, yet they were powerless to help.
During her confinement, she heard that the Emperor had returned from his travels with a stunningly beautiful woman named Mu Hanyan, whom he had immediately bestowed the title of Consort Wan.
Her heart was breaking. It turned out that... he wasn't busy with politics, nor was he annoyed with her just because of the matter of the Prince of Ning's heir; rather, he already had someone else in his heart and had long been tired of her.
Sadness, anger, resentment, dejection... a mix of emotions almost overwhelmed her.
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