The next day, at the Brocade Palace.
Because no letter had arrived from home, Su Tiyue worried that something might have happened, so she sent Qingwu out early in the morning to inquire.
Qingwu and Liuwan were both her personal maids whom she brought from her mansion to the palace.
Liu Wan is calm, composed, intelligent, and meticulous.
Qingwu is lively, outgoing, and very good at socializing.
Within the palace, Qingwu was usually the one who moved around the most. She knew many palace maids and eunuchs, so it wasn't difficult for her to gather information.
But after waiting for most of the day, she still didn't come back.
Su Tiyue's heart inexplicably began to panic.
Qingwu didn't return to Jinxiu Palace until evening.
As soon as Qingwu entered, she didn't even have time to drink some water before she said impatiently, "Your Majesty, I've asked around and found out that Master is no longer in the Ministry of Justice prison. He's been transferred to the Zhenfu Division."
"The Garrison Command?" Su Tiyue and Liu Wan said in unison.
Su Tiyue sat up straight, frowning, and said, "Qingwu, don't be anxious, tell me slowly, what exactly happened?"
Qingwu said, "I don't know the specifics of what happened. I only know that it seems to be an imperial decree that the man was taken away by people from the Ministry of Justice. But he is currently being held in the Zhenfu Division."
"Your Majesty, the Zhenfu Division belongs to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. I've heard that the people there are ruthless and never speak politely. They only know how to torture people... They don't care whether you're guilty or not. Once you enter the Zhenfu Division, you'll definitely be skinned alive when you come out."
Su Tiyue's heart tightened; the more she listened, the more frightened she became. "When will the Zhenfu Division release them?" she asked.
Qingwu shook her head: "This servant doesn't know either."
"The Empress Dowager is seriously ill... It seems that if we want to save my father, we can only ask the Emperor again?" Su Tiyue said this as if she were talking to herself. This matter was actually ordered by the Emperor himself.
Liu Wan understood her meaning and felt sorry for her, fearing she might be wronged. She said, "Your Majesty, let's think of another way. Let alone whether we can see the Emperor... even if we do, he might not help us. What if he harbors ill intentions towards Your Majesty?"
Qingwu nodded emphatically in agreement.
That tyrannical emperor is no good person. If Su Tiyue goes, she'll definitely be taken a liking to him. If she has to serve him in bed, she'll surely be tortured beyond recognition.
"Oh, right, there's one more thing!"
Suddenly, Qingwu seemed to remember something and exclaimed, "Your Highness, this servant has also inquired about something else, concerning the Zhenfu Division."
"What is it?"
Qingwu said, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard of today is not the same as the Embroidered Uniform Guard of the past. I heard that their superiors have changed."
Su Tiyue frowned slightly, not understanding Qingwu's meaning for a moment: "What does this mean?"
“Half a month ago, Director Xiao of the Directorate of Ceremonial merged the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, and gave it a very unpleasant name, ‘Depot and Guard.’” Qingwu scratched her head. “This Director Xiao is obviously a person with no taste.”
Xiao Heye?
If Qingwu hadn't mentioned him, Su Tiyue would have almost forgotten about him. Su Tiyue and Xiao Heye had met several times in the past few days, but Su Tiyue hadn't thought of him even once when her father was in trouble. It was probably because she subconsciously didn't want to ask him for help.
Su Tiyue gave a wry smile; she couldn't figure out whether the news was good or bad for her.
No matter how hard she tried to hide, she couldn't escape it in the end.
Within this deep palace, things that Su Tiyue could not control seemed to have been predetermined.
"Liu Wan, come with me to Nanyuan." Su Tiyue stood up, walked to the dressing table, and slowly sat down: "And do my makeup again."
"Yes," Liu Wan replied softly.
Qingwu, standing beside her, looked puzzled and asked, "Going to the South Garden? Does Your Highness mean you're going to ask Master Xiao for help?"
"Yes, saving lives is the priority, no matter what."
"But I've heard that the one in Nanyuan is extremely cunning and malicious... Your Highness, please don't go. Let's think of another way."
What other options are there?
Su Tiyue knew better than anyone that she was just an unfavored concubine. In the past, she was proud and unwilling to compete for favor, and only wanted to hide in this small Jinxiu Palace and live a peaceful life.
But now, with one mishap after another, she has finally realized that in the inner palace, to protect herself and those around her, she truly needs a powerful backer.
If you want a powerful backer, you'll become a pawn in Xiao Heye's game.
A few days ago, Su Tiyue might have been hesitant, but now, to solve her immediate problem, she had no choice but to agree to Xiao Heye's conditions.
She was willing to be the chess piece, but did the person holding the piece actually want it? What was Su Tiyue's true desire?
Su Tiyue seemed to have made up her mind. She picked up the lip rouge from the dressing table with her delicate hand and pursed it to her lips. Her long eyelashes drooped slowly, making it impossible to see the determination and ruthlessness in her eyes.
"Qingwu, don't worry, our Empress knows what she's doing." Liu Wan glanced back at Qingwu and continued:
"Besides, Your Majesty, I'm here with you. You've been busy all day, so get some rest today. With me here, don't you feel at ease?"
Qingwu nodded with some doubt: "Then come back soon."
*
It didn't snow all day, and the sun even came out for a while at noon, making it warm and cozy.
But as night fell, and the two of them had only gone halfway out, it suddenly started snowing, as if playing a cruel joke.
Liu Wan carefully pulled up the brim of her cloak, trying to shield her from the falling snowflakes.
“Your Highness, if Master Xiao is unwilling to help later, we will think of other ways. This servant does not want Your Highness to suffer any injustice.”
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