Chapter 43 The Emperor's Anger
Chapter Forty-Three: The Emperor's Anger
Li Qianche entered Shu Ning Palace with a simmering, suppressed anger. A nameless fire burned within him; since Su Su always pushed him to others, then he would come instead!
He arrived with a swift and powerful stride, the hem of his dragon robe bearing a sharp curve, which frightened the palace servants so much that they knelt on the ground, not daring to utter a sound.
Upon entering the inner hall, he ignored everyone, his gaze not even glancing at Mu Hanyan, who was quietly reading a book on the soft couch by the window. He walked straight to the main seat, a rosewood chair, and sat down. His face was gloomy, his eyes were dark and uncertain, and he exuded a low pressure that kept strangers at bay.
Mu Hanyan put down her book, slightly surprised. Pei Xuan's matter was nearing its end, and the situation in the southwest was gradually stabilizing. She felt that there were no more urgent matters between her and the emperor that required private discussion. Why had he come with such a fierce aura, yet remained silent? She dismissed the palace servants around her, leaving only the two of them in the hall.
An unspoken tension hung in the air. Mu Hanyan hesitated for a moment, then tentatively spoke softly, "Your Majesty...did you have a falling out with the Imperial Concubine?"
Li Qianche's tense jawline twitched. After a moment of silence, he suddenly realized that Mu Hanyan and Pei Xuan were also mutually in love and had gone through many trials; perhaps they understood the ways of a normal married couple better. Since he was puzzled, he thought he might ask her; perhaps he could gain some insight. He looked up at Mu Hanyan, his voice still low, but less harsh than before, and more inquisitive:
“I…I even softened my stance, promoted her father and brothers, and bestowed honors upon her, so why…why does she still push me away time and time again, even pushing me towards others?” His voice was low, carrying a hint of grievance that he himself was unaware of. “I have promised to protect her, so why won’t she trust me anymore, or rely on me even a little bit?”
Mu Hanyan understood; so this was the crux of the problem. Her clear gaze calmly met the troubled emperor's eyes, her voice still gentle, yet each word clear and distinct, like ice water striking stone:
"Then, has His Majesty ever fully trusted the Imperial Concubine?"
Li Qianche was taken aback.
Mu Hanyan continued, "For example... why doesn't His Majesty frankly tell Consort Gui about my affair with Pei Xuan? Is it because he's worried she'll use it to interfere in court affairs? Or... does he feel she's not trustworthy enough to keep such a secret?"
She paused slightly, her tone carrying a hint of worldly wisdom, "But Your Majesty, the foundation of a marriage should be trust. Since Your Majesty harbors doubts about the Consort and has not given her complete trust, how can you expect her to trust and rely on Your Majesty without reservation?"
She looked at Li Qianche with a frank gaze: "As far as I know, Your Highness, whether in your former arrogance or now in your quietude, has never seemed to show much enthusiasm for power. She may have fought and made a scene, but what she seemed to be fighting for was only Your Majesty's attention and favor. Even last time, she was willing to leave the palace and give up her position as Your Highness... This is enough to show that in her heart, some things are far more important than power and status. Your Majesty's concern about interference from the empress's family in politics, in my humble opinion, may not... happen with Your Highness."
Mu Hanyan's words were like a precise key, probing into the lock in Li Qianche's heart that had never been opened to anyone before.
He suddenly recalled Su Su's various actions—indeed, as Mu Hanyan said, no matter how mischievous she had been in the past, smashing teacups and punishing concubines, she had never crossed the line or interfered in the affairs of the previous dynasty in the slightest.
It was he who, because of the Empress Dowager and because of his father's dying words about maternal relatives, prejudicially labeled her as "not to be fully trusted." He regarded her as a "niece of the Empress Dowager" who needed to be guarded against and kept in check, rather than a wife with whom he could wholeheartedly dedicate himself.
His meticulous protection of Mu Hanyan, even leading to her "pregnancy" (though it was an illusion), seemed to Su Su as proof that he had given all his love to others.
Previously, he thought that not telling Su Su the truth about Mu Hanyan and Pei Xuan was for the sake of the bigger picture, and that she would understand in the future. But now, thinking about it, wasn't this also a deep-seated distrust? Subconsciously, he had never regarded her as someone who could share the storms of the court and the secrets of the world with him.
Having figured this out, Li Qianche felt a mix of emotions surging within him—a sense of sudden realization, regret, and an indescribable heaviness. He sat there silently, motionless for a long time.
Knowing that he had taken her words to heart, Mu Hanyan said no more. She picked up her book again and sat quietly beside him. She knew that this was all she could do.
………………
After Li Qian left Changshou Palace, she slept until late afternoon before slowly waking up. Her whole body felt as if it had been disassembled and reassembled, especially her waist and legs, which were extremely sore and weak.
"Chunlan, prepare water, I wish to take a bath." Her voice was hoarse from just waking up.
Soaking in the warm water, the gentle fragrance dispelled her fatigue. Su Su completely immersed herself in the flower-strewn bath, closed her eyes, and felt the warmth permeate her entire body.
Chunlan served her from the side, gently wiping her back with a soft cotton towel. Her gaze fell on the ambiguous marks, some bluish-purple and some crimson, covering her snow-white skin, and she couldn't help but tear up, muttering softly, "The Emperor... the Emperor is too unrestrained..."
Upon hearing this, Su Su didn't even lift her eyelids. Her tone was flat and indifferent, carrying a sense of resignation: "As a palace concubine, serving the emperor is her duty. She's not his beloved, so how could he know how to restrain himself?" Her words revealed neither resentment nor sorrow, but rather seemed to be stating a fact that was irrelevant to her.
After a relaxing hot bath, most of the aches and pains were relieved, and I felt much better. At dinner time, the small kitchen in Yongshou Palace had already prepared a dazzling array of dishes.
A dozen exquisite dishes were laid out on the table: a bowl of golden fish maw soup, the broth was rich and golden, the fish maw thick and soft, a nourishing delicacy; a plate of three-delicacy lotus pastry, the pastry layers blooming like lotus flowers, the filling of chicken paste, bamboo shoots and ham bits, elegant in appearance, color and taste; a dish of chicken marrow and bamboo shoots, the tenderest bamboo shoots of spring, simmered in chicken broth, then stir-fried with freshly picked chicken marrow, exceptionally delicious; a plate of braised sea cucumber with scallions, the sea cucumber plump and soft, coated in a rich scallion oil sauce, savory and delicious; a bowl of clear stewed lion's head meatballs, the meat delicate and tender, the broth clear yet incredibly delicious; there was also cherry meat, bright red like a gemstone, ham and bamboo shoot soup clear and pure, shrimp and asparagus with white and green stripes, braised fish slices tender and fragrant with wine, and osmanthus-flavored lotus root as dessert... all kinds of dishes, perfect in color, aroma and taste, far exceeding the portion for an imperial concubine.
Looking at the table full of delicacies, Su Su's mood finally brightened. She dismissed the other palace servants, leaving only Chunlan and Qiuju, and said with a smile, "It's just the three of us today, let's eat together, no need to stand on ceremony."
Chunlan and Qiuju initially declined, but seeing their master's insistence, they happily agreed and sat down on either side of the table.
The three of them, master and servants, chatted and laughed as they ate heartily. Su Su especially loved the Three Delicacies Lotus Pastry, admiring not only its delicate lotus-like shape but also savoring the delicious flavor of the chicken paste, bamboo shoots, and ham bits inside. Qiu Ju, on the other hand, raved about the bright red, melt-in-your-mouth cherry meat, eating several pieces in a row.
Chunlan was very attentive. First, she served Su Su a bowl of warm and nourishing fish maw soup, and then she added some refreshing chicken marrow and bamboo shoots. The dinner was enjoyed by everyone, and the room was filled with a delicious aroma.
After finishing her dinner and rinsing her mouth, Su Su picked up the unfinished indigo purse again and, by the bright candlelight, continued threading the needle. The silver needle moved across the brocade, making a soft rustling sound.
Before long, the purse for her brother was finished. She carefully put it away, but the melancholy look in Li Qianche's eyes as he stared at the purse yesterday unexpectedly surfaced in her mind. Her fingertips unconsciously caressed the smooth, empty satin surface, and she finally sighed softly.
Well then, she thought, she'll embroider one for him too, just to avoid the trouble of him making a fuss about it later.
Having made her decision, she no longer hesitated. But what pattern should she embroider? A dragon and phoenix would be too solemn, while flowers, birds, fish, and insects would be too frivolous. She pondered for a moment, a faint, almost self-deprecating smile playing on her lips.
Then let's embroider dragon patterns.
The design was simple, and the meaning was straightforward, perfectly suited to his status, and... nothing more. It had nothing to do with love; it was merely a helpless measure taken within the deep palace to maintain a semblance of peace and avoid trouble.
She picked up a shimmering gold thread and began to carefully outline the totem symbolizing the supreme ruler, a profound tranquility settling within her.
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