Chapter 18: I just want to escape immediately.
Chapter 18: I just want to escape immediately.
Mu Hanyan sat quietly to the side, holding a cup of warm cloud tea in her hands, her gaze subtly shifting between Li Qianche and Su Su.
Although she had only been in the palace for a short time and her personality was rather aloof due to her background in medicine, she was not incapable of reading people. She had witnessed too many emotional exchanges between patients and their families, and she had an almost instinctive sensitivity to subtle changes in people's hearts.
The Emperor appeared to be sipping tea, his gaze occasionally drifting to the scenery outside the pavilion. However, the oppressive aura surrounding him and his almost uncontrollable, repeated glances directed at Su Su were like silent declarations, revealing the turmoil within him. His eyes were complex, containing scrutiny, inquiry, anger at being ignored, and even... a hint of stubbornness, similar to a child's sulking, that he himself was unaware of.
This anger was not directed at her, nor was it because of the court; the source was clearly Consort Su, who had been restless and anxious ever since entering the pavilion, wishing she could disappear as a wisp of smoke.
Mu Hanyan lowered her eyes, concealing a knowing smile in them. So that's how it is. This young emperor, she probably hadn't even figured it out yet. His inexplicable emotions weren't disgust, but rather... concern. It was the disappointment caused by the other's estrangement, the restlessness born from not being able to understand him, the intense discomfort of someone accustomed to being adored and suddenly being ignored. How could this be dislike? It was clearly liking someone but not saying it, or rather, being unwilling to admit it.
She found it somewhat amusing; the relationships between men and women in the deep palace were sometimes like a pathological condition, with appearances and inner truths often being completely opposite.
Su Su could feel Li Qianche's burning gaze and unpleasant pressure. Her back stiffened even more, her fingertips curled slightly, and she just wanted to escape this suffocating little place immediately. Every breath seemed long, and the exquisite tea and snacks on the table tasted like wax in her mouth.
She had to repeatedly remind herself to control the urge to get up and leave immediately, so as not to be impolite or give him any excuse to lash out.
Amidst her chaotic thoughts, a more urgent idea seized her: in a few days, the Empress Dowager would be hosting a plum blossom viewing banquet! The conspiracy that had brought her utter ruin in her past life had unfolded under the guise of the plum blossom viewing banquet, leading to Mu Hanyan's miscarriage, Consort Zhuang's framing, and irrefutable evidence… She couldn't repeat the same mistake! She had to find a way to avoid it, absolutely not attend. Feign illness? Or… Her mind raced as she pondered a way to escape, almost oblivious to the brief silence in the pavilion.
Seeing her absent-minded and clearly lost in thought, Li Qianche felt the nameless fire in his chest burn even brighter. He forced himself to look away and looked at Mu Hanyan, deliberately keeping his tone calm: "Consort Wan, the imperial physician instructed you to rest and recuperate. It's windy in the Imperial Garden. If you feel cold, go back early."
As he looked at her, he thought of Pei Xuan. Pei Xuan and he had grown up together since childhood and were close friends, like brothers. When they were young in the palace, Pei Xuan was his study companion and the only person he could let his guard down a little. Whether it was studying literature or practicing martial arts, Pei Xuan was always by his side. Now, in order to eliminate the remaining enemies in the southwest and investigate deeper secrets for him, Pei Xuan was willing to risk his life to go undercover. This matter was related to the stability of the court and was a top secret.
That's why he brought Mu Hanyan into the palace, nominally as a concubine, but in reality to protect her. It was to safeguard his close friend's beloved and to reassure Pei Xuan. Mu Hanyan's fainting spell in the Imperial Study a few days ago was also due to excessive worry... He couldn't say these things out loud, especially not in front of Su Su.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your concern. I don't feel cold yet." Mu Hanyan nodded slightly. She had just been talking to the Emperor in a low voice about Pei Xuan's recent situation in the Southwest. Her conversation was interrupted by Su Su's arrival. The Emperor's seemingly ordinary words of concern were actually a continuation of their previous conversation. They were meant to reassure her and to remind her that taking good care of herself was the greatest support she could give Pei Xuan. She understood this instruction in her heart.
Although Su Su kept her eyes down, she still heard Li Qianche's instructions to Mu Hanyan. The natural concern in his words contrasted sharply with the icy atmosphere on her side. She felt no jealousy, only a chilling realization: this was the difference between love and indifference. One was being carefully instructed, the other was being coldly scrutinized.
Their conversation in the Qinfang Pavilion had already been observed by a pair of eyes that had been spying on them from behind the artificial rock not far away.
Those were palace maids from Changxiu Palace. She carefully concealed herself, and after seeing the situation inside the pavilion, a smug look appeared on her face. Then she quietly retreated and quickly ran back along the path she had come from towards Changxiu Palace to inform Consort Zhuang.
After a long silence, just as Su Su was about to muster her courage to say goodbye and end this ordeal, a soft voice, yet deliberately raised in pitch, rang out:
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects! From afar, it looked like Your Majesty and my two sisters were here. I didn't expect it to be you! You seem to be in such high spirits, why didn't you invite me to enjoy the scenery with you?"
Su Su's heart tightened suddenly!
Before she finished speaking, Consort Zhuang, dressed in a rose-red palace gown and adorned with jewels, walked over gracefully, supported by a palace maid. A bright smile graced her face, but her gaze, like a poisoned needle, swept quickly over Su Su and Mu Hanyan, finally settling on Su Su's face.
Upon seeing her enter, Su Su and Mu Hanyan rose from the stone benches according to palace rules, bowed their heads, and greeted her: "Greetings to Consort Zhuang."
Consort Zhuang paused slightly, her gaze, filled with undisguised superiority, slowly sweeping over the two women's lowered heads. She looked at Su Su, who had once been her equal, or even slightly superior, and more powerful than her, and Mu Hanyan, who was now enjoying the Emperor's favor. Both were now forced to stand respectfully before her, bowing their heads in greeting. The resentment she felt due to Su Su's promotion finally dissipated somewhat, and a satisfied yet restrained smile appeared on her lips. This tangible pressure from their status was far more pleasing to her than any verbal mockery.
"Get up, all of you." She spoke slowly, her tone carrying a condescending tone. Her gaze first swept quickly over Li Qianche, with a hint of ingratiation that was barely perceptible, but when she saw Li Qianche looking at Su Su, her venomous eyes were fixed firmly on Su Su once again.
"It's been a few days, and Consort Su's complexion... has really recovered quite a bit. It seems that although Changxin Palace is a bit remote, it's quite nourishing." She deliberately emphasized the word "remote," mocking Su Su for being demoted to such a corner.
Su Su didn't even lift her eyelids, and simply said, "Your Highness, Consort Zhuang, flatters me."
Seeing her so calm, Consort Zhuang's anger flared, but her smile grew even brighter: "Speaking of which, it is the Emperor's grace that my sister was promoted this time. However, I heard that in Changxin Palace, my sister was raising chickens and growing vegetables. Those who know say that my sister is experiencing the lives of ordinary people. Those who don't know might think that our royal family is mistreating my sister, making a palace lady personally do such lowly work! Isn't that making us a laughing stock?"
She covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her eyes almost overflowing with malice. The air in the pavilion instantly grew colder. Chunlan and Qiuju, behind Su Su, were so angry their faces turned pale, but dared not utter a sound.
Li Qianche paused in his cup-holding hand. He had naturally heard Consort Zhuang's extremely harsh words. He subconsciously looked at Su Su, and a faint expectation arose in his heart. He hoped that she would look at him with red eyes when she was wronged, just like before, even if it was just a hint of pleading.
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