Chapter 8: Money is the real deal.
Chapter Eight: Money is the Real Deal
The first day of the Lunar New Year.
The Cining Palace was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, creating a festive atmosphere for the New Year. All the concubines were dressed in auspicious attire and bowed to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, who were seated at the head of the table, in order. Su Su was wearing a pink concubine's dress with only a plain silk flower in her hair. After bowing, she sat quietly in the last corner.
The Empress Dowager was in excellent spirits today, accepting the greetings with a smile. Her gaze slowly swept over everyone in the hall, her fingertips lightly tapping the edge of her teacup, as if appraising each person's demeanor. The Emperor leaned back in his chair, looking languid, but his gaze kept inadvertently falling on that figure in plain pink. He had noticed last time that her hair was bare, without even a decent piece of jewelry.
Consort Wan lowered her eyes and drank her tea, but she took in the Emperor's subtle gaze.
The Emperor seemed to be in a good mood today, ordering many rewards to be brought out. Gold, silver, jade, and jewelry were dazzling. The high-ranking concubines took turns choosing, and soon all the exquisite jewelry was gone. When it was Su Su's turn, there were only a few left on the tray, except for a lustrous white jade hairpin and a plate of heavy gold ingots. All the hairpins chosen before her were gold hairpins. This jade hairpin was relatively ordinary and not as valuable as the gold hairpins, so it was left until last. However, the others did not know that this hairpin was a relic of the Emperor's birth mother. She had seen Li Qianche holding the jade hairpin in a daze, and she asked him about it before she found out. Even though she asked him many times, he never gave it to her.
She didn't know why he took it out today, nor did she care to know. Without a moment's hesitation, she took the gold ingot. If she could leave the palace, money would be the real use.
Li Qianche's gaze suddenly narrowed slightly, his knuckles unconsciously stroking the jade thumb ring. He had specially ordered someone to put that jade hairpin there, thinking she would be as happy as before, but unexpectedly... she chose the gold ingot but not the jade hairpin? Why has she changed...?
This choice drew the attention of the other concubines. The once most fond of luxurious and beautiful objects, the Noble Consort, now chose gold and white rather than jade. Upon seeing this, Consort Zhuang's lips curled into a mocking smile, and she turned to the Emperor in a soft and coquettish voice: "Your Majesty, I quite like that jade hairpin..."
The Empress Dowager tapped her fingertips on the rosewood armrest, the glass nail guards making a clear sound as they touched the wood. She glanced at Consort Zhuang, her phoenix eyes holding a hidden power. Before Consort Zhuang could finish speaking, she said, "Consort Zhuang, is there still room in your jewelry box?" Though her voice was soft, it carried an undeniable authority.
The Emperor did not look at Consort Zhuang, but said calmly, "The Empress Dowager is right, let's put these away for now."
The Empress Dowager nodded slightly and said no more, but her gaze swept over Su Su with a meaningful look.
Consort Zhuang had no choice but to give up, since she had already obtained a gold hairpin, and the jade hairpin... there would be plenty of time to come.
After chatting for a while, the Empress Dowager said she was tired and told everyone to go and have fun, and not to stay with her. The Emperor left first, and the concubines, seeing that the Emperor had left, also tactfully took their leave one after another. Su Su followed last and was about to leave the palace when Duan Mama, who was by the Empress Dowager's side, suddenly spoke up: "Su Consort, stay."
Su Su turned around, knowing that her aunt was anxious. She became even more composed and bowed deeply according to palace rules, her posture respectful and humble, even her voice was soft and gentle: "Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?"—She dared not call her "aunt" again.
The Empress Dowager raised her hand to signal her to rise, her gaze lingering on her for a moment. Seeing that she didn't call her "Aunt," she assumed she was angry at her neglect these past few days, and sighed, "You've lost a lot of weight. Today, you only chose gold ingots as a reward. Is it because your servants haven't served you well enough, and you're short of supplies?" The servants in the palace only care about favor and money. She chose gold ingots, presumably to bribe her servants so she could exchange them for more food and supplies. In this deep palace, life is indeed difficult without the Emperor's favor.
Su Su bowed her head and replied, "Your Majesty, I am well and thank you for your concern."
"After what happened with the Prince of Ning, you should learn to restrain yourself and not act recklessly again," the Empress Dowager said in a stern tone. Seeing that she remained calm and polite, she felt slightly relieved. "Seeing that you are more composed than before, I am at ease."
Su Su looked up at the Empress Dowager and said earnestly, "Your Majesty, I will be careful with my words and actions in the future and will never cause trouble for Your Majesty or my family again." In her heart, she thought that she would ask for permission to leave the palace when the time was right. During this period, she would behave herself and fulfill the meaning of "being careful with her words and actions".
The Empress Dowager nodded and said, "If you can think this way, then my teachings since childhood have not been in vain. Serve the Emperor well and give me a grandson as soon as possible. As for everything else, I will take care of it for you."
"I am grateful for your kindness, Aunt, but... I have no more imperial favor and dare not have any improper thoughts. I only wish to live a peaceful life in Changxin Palace for the rest of my life. I only ask that you be at ease, Aunt." Su Su bowed deeply. Hearing that the Empress Dowager was still willing to help, her heart warmed slightly, and the word "Aunt" returned to her lips, but her tone was calm as water.
The Empress Dowager was slightly taken aback, not expecting her to respond in this way. She was completely different from the competitive niece she used to be. Could it be that she had been so frightened that she had even given up the idea of vying for the Emperor's favor? Well, there's plenty of time in the future. There will always be a way to win back the Emperor's favor.
"Don't worry," the Empress Dowager said gently. "As long as you stay true to your duty and act prudently, the Emperor will eventually change his mind."
Although she finds it increasingly difficult to fathom the emperor, arranging for him to meet Su Su a few times and bestow some favor upon her is not a difficult task. Once she becomes pregnant and gives birth to a prince, even if the emperor's favor fades in the future, having an heir will provide her with support for the rest of her life, and she can make plans for the future.
She gestured to Granny Duan to bring a food box and handed it to Su Su: "Inside are the venison and osmanthus cake that you used to love. You are too thin now, so you should eat well."
Su Su's eyes reddened slightly as she accepted the food box with both hands: "Thank you, Aunt." Her aunt had treated her very well since she was a child, and if she were to leave the palace in the future, she feared she would never have the chance to repay this kindness.
She carried the food box and slowly walked out of the Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager turned her head and whispered to Duan Mama, "Is she scared out of her wits? She used to fight for the Emperor's favor with all her might, but now she seems to be hiding."
Duan Mama bowed and replied, "This servant thinks that Miss Su is probably frightened by the matter of the Prince of Ning's heir. It's not a bad thing that she is behaving herself now."
The Empress Dowager sighed softly, "I hope she has truly changed her ways. In the future... I will certainly take better care of her."
"Yes, Your Majesty is merciful."
Su Su returned to Changxin Palace and instructed Chunlan to carefully put away the gold ingots. Qiuju happily opened the food box: "The Empress Dowager still cares about you, Your Highness. Look, the dishes today are much more plentiful."
Su Su sat down at the table, her gaze sweeping over the venison in the food box. After a moment of contemplation, she said solemnly, "There is something I need to make clear to you first. In a few days, I plan to ask the Empress Dowager for permission to leave the palace to pray for blessings. After that... I do not wish to return to the palace. The world outside the palace is vast, and I only want to live a free and unrestrained life. Whether you wish to come with me or stay in the palace is your own choice."
Chunlan and Qiuju were both taken aback upon hearing this. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with astonishment. Although they had noticed that their mistress's temperament had changed recently, and she was no longer quarrelsome, they had never imagined that she would have the idea of leaving the palace. But then they thought about it again, and realized that their mistress's expression had indeed become much more relaxed than before. If she could really leave these palace walls, it would be a relief.
The two women knelt down together and pleaded, "Wherever you go, my lady, we will follow. Please don't abandon us!"
Su Su reached out to help them up, her voice gentle yet solemn: "Have you thought this through? After leaving the palace, there will be no more luxurious food and clothing. You may have to work hard and even... we may never be able to return to the Su residence."
A smile appeared in Qiuju's eyes: "Even in the palace, we only eat simple meals and have to follow rules everywhere. How can it compare to the freedom outside the palace?"
Chunlan nodded firmly: "No matter what decision Your Highness makes, this servant will follow you to the death. Whether in the palace or outside, we only want to be by Your Highness's side."
Su Su grasped their hands, a warmth rising in her eyes: "Alright, then let's start preparing slowly from today."
Autumn Chrysanthemum and Spring Orchid exchanged a smile and replied in unison, "Yes!"
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