Chapter 23 Plum Blossom Banquet (Part 1)
Chapter Twenty-Three: The Plum Blossom Appreciation Feast
The day of the plum blossom viewing banquet finally arrived. Before dawn, candles were already lit in the sleeping quarters of Changxin Palace.
Su Su woke up very early, or rather, she had hardly slept a wink all night. The night outside the window was still pitch black, but she was already wide awake, staring blankly at the intricate butterfly and flower pattern on the ceiling. Memories of her past life and the sense of crisis in this life intertwined, making her restless.
She knew that what was coming would eventually come. She couldn't escape the trap set by Consort Zhuang, but she absolutely couldn't surrender helplessly like in her previous life and end up dying a tragic and unjust death.
She carefully considered the plan she had made the night before, which was to do everything possible to protect Mu Hanyan's child, or at least give herself a chance to defend herself. Having a royal physician by her side beforehand was the most crucial step. If Mu Hanyan still suffered an accident, the timely treatment by the physician might salvage the situation, at least proving that she hadn't intended to harm her, and perhaps even uncovering some clues on the spot, thus disrupting Consort Zhuang's plans.
However, she also made the worst-case scenario plan: what if... what if Li Qianche still didn't believe her as he did in her previous life and insisted on banishing her to the cold palace...?
Thinking of this, a chill ran through her heart, yet a strange courage, a willingness to burn her bridges, also arose within her. So what if she was in the Cold Palace? In her past life, she had endured those days there; she could do it again in this life! Perhaps, it was even the best opportunity for her to "fake death" and escape the palace! When everyone's attention was focused on the new favorite, wouldn't it be easier for a deposed concubine, banished to the Cold Palace and gradually forgotten, to quietly "die of illness" than to escape now?
But... she looked at the faint light filtering in from outside, a mixture of reluctance and resolve welling up inside her. She sat up and softly called out, "Chunlan, Qiuju."
The two maids, who were already alert, immediately brought in their toiletries upon hearing the noise, their faces filled with confusion.
"Your Highness, it's still early. Won't you rest a little longer?" Chunlan asked softly as she helped her put on her coat.
Su Su shook her head, walked to the dressing table and sat down. Her slightly pale but unusually calm face was reflected in the bronze mirror. She looked at Chunlan combing her long hair in the mirror, and Qiuju preparing hairpins and jewelry beside her. After a moment of silence, she suddenly spoke, her voice soft but carrying an unprecedented solemnity:
"Chunlan, Qiuju, today's plum blossom appreciation banquet may be marred by unforeseen circumstances. If... if I am unfortunately banished to the cold palace after today, would you... still be willing to follow me?"
Her words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the quiet morning. Chunlan's hand, which was combing her hair, suddenly stopped, and Qiuju was so startled that she almost knocked over the jewelry box in her hand.
"Your Majesty!" The two women knelt down almost simultaneously. Chunlan looked up, her eyes already filled with tears, but her tone was incredibly firm: "Your Majesty, why do you say such things! We have followed you since childhood. Whether you are a Noble Consort, a Lady, or... wherever you go, we will follow you to the death! We will never have any disloyalty!"
Qiuju hurriedly added, "Yes, Your Highness! So what if it's the Cold Palace? As long as Your Highness is here, anywhere is a safe haven for us servants! Please don't send us away!"
Seeing the two maids' eager and loyal expressions, Su Su felt a lump in her throat, and a surge of warmth welled up in her heart, dispelling some of the chill. She reached out to help them up, her voice choked with emotion: "Silly girls, how could I send you away... I was afraid of implicating you. The cold palace is bitter and desolate, far worse than what you are now..."
"This servant is not afraid of hardship!" Qiuju said eagerly. "As long as I can serve Your Highness, I am willing to eat chaff and wild vegetables!"
Chunlan nodded emphatically, her eyes resolute.
Su Su grasped their hands, took a deep breath, suppressed the sob in her throat, and looked at them with clear and firm eyes: "Alright! Since you have made up your minds, then I, Su Su, hereby promise you that even if that day ever comes and we, mistress and servant, are sent to the Cold Palace, I will definitely find a way to take you away from this cannibalistic palace and let you see the world outside!"
This was not a consolation, but a decision she had made after careful consideration. If it really came to that, the cold palace would be the starting point for her to escape.
Although Chunlan and Qiuju did not know what her specific "method" was, the promise she made excited them greatly, and they would have followed her even without that promise.
After having breakfast, it was already dawn. Su Su deliberately left much earlier than usual. Her destination was not the Plum Garden, but the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace. She needed to take advantage of the opportunity to pay her respects to find a pretext to make the imperial physician "naturally" appear near the plum blossom viewing banquet.
As soon as Su Su stepped into Cining Palace, she noticed a silence that was different from usual. The palace servants walked lightly, their faces showing some worry.
Granny Duan came forward with a forced smile on her face: "Consort Su has arrived."
"Granny, is Her Majesty the Empress Dowager well? I have come to pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager." A sense of confusion arose in Su Su's heart.
Duan Mama sighed and lowered her voice, saying, "Consort Su is very kind, but... Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has caught a cold recently, has a cough, and is not feeling well. She is resting inside."
Su Su's heart tightened: "Has the imperial physician been consulted?"
“Alas,” said Granny Duan with a troubled expression, “The Empress Dowager refuses to see a doctor, saying it’s an old ailment that will get better on its own in a few days. This old servant has tried to persuade her several times, but she just won’t listen.” The Empress Dowager is stubborn and especially dislikes the pain of medicine, which is common knowledge in the palace.
Upon hearing this, Su Su became truly anxious. The Empress Dowager was already advanced in years, and a cold could be serious or minor; how could she possibly tough it out? She disregarded her original plans and immediately said to Granny Duan, "Granny, the Empress Dowager's health is of utmost importance. How can we conceal her illness and avoid seeking medical treatment? Please go and inform her that Su Su is worried about her aunt's health and has taken the initiative to invite the imperial physician. Please ask your aunt to let the imperial physician examine her pulse so that your niece can be at ease."
Her tone was urgent and sincere. Duan Mama saw this and was moved. She nodded and said, "Your Highness Consort Su is very filial. This old servant will go and report to you right away."
After a while, Granny Duan came out and led Su Su inside. The Empress Dowager was leaning against the warm couch, her face indeed looking tired, with a sickly flush, and she coughed softly from time to time. When she saw Su Su, she forced a smile: "What are you doing here so early in the morning, child? I only coughed a couple of times, is that something to make a fuss about?"
Su Su hurried forward, knelt before the bed, looked up at the Empress Dowager, and her eyes involuntarily reddened: "Aunt! You are not feeling well, how can you force yourself? If it gets worse, how can I be at ease?" She was genuinely worried. No matter how much balancing and scheming between the court and the harem was involved in the Empress Dowager's decision to let her enter the palace, the Empress Dowager's love and protection for her from childhood to adulthood was real, and she could not sever this kinship.
The Empress Dowager looked at her reddened eyes and genuine worry, her heart softened, she sighed, and reached out to touch her hair: "Alright, how old are you, still shedding tears? Get up, your aunt promises you."
At this moment, the imperial physician also arrived as ordered. After carefully examining her pulse, the physician reported, "Your Majesty, it is just a slight cold. Your lungs are a little uncomfortable, which has caused your cough. I will prescribe a few doses of herbal medicine to dispel wind and cold, and to relieve cough. After a few days of proper recuperation, you will be fine."
Upon hearing this, Su Su and Granny Duan both breathed a sigh of relief.
Su Su felt much relieved, and then she remembered another purpose of her trip. She took the opportunity to say to the Empress Dowager, "Aunt, although you are fine, it is very windy in the garden today for the plum blossom viewing banquet. I am really worried. Could this imperial physician accompany you so that he can deal with any discomfort you may feel?" She paused and added, "It would also save... save the Emperor and Consort Zhuang from worrying."
She deliberately mentioned the Emperor and his entourage, which gave her more ample reasoning and allowed her to subtly conceal her true intentions.
The Empress Dowager was in poor health due to her illness, but seeing how thoughtful and considerate she was, she felt comforted and nodded without much thought: "It's kind of you to think things through. I approve, then let the imperial physician accompany you."
With her goal achieved, Su Su felt a little relieved. She personally served the Empress Dowager a light breakfast and watched her drink half a bowl of the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician. Once the Empress Dowager was feeling a bit better, she and Granny Duan carefully supported her as they walked together toward the plum garden where the plum blossom viewing banquet was being held.
Sunlight streamed onto the palace path, bringing a touch of warmth, but it couldn't dispel the growing gloom in Su Su's heart. She took the Empress Dowager's arm, feeling the warmth of her elder, but her gaze was already fixed on the direction of the plum garden.
There, a meticulously planned storm awaits her.
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