Chapter 11 My Words Are the Rules
Su Jingyu raised her head as instructed, her gaze respectful and neither humble nor arrogant.
The Crown Princess scrutinized her, her gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping from her stunning face to her slender figure, and sneered inwardly: She really is a vixen!
He remained outwardly calm: "Indeed, he has a handsome appearance. I have heard that Magistrate Su has a good reputation, so his family must have been very strict in his upbringing. Now that you have entered the Eastern Palace, you must abide by the palace rules and behave yourself. Do not take advantage of His Highness's pity and lose your sense of propriety, lest you cause trouble."
These words were veiled in barbs, both pointing out her humble origins and implying that she was spoiled and arrogant.
Su Jingyu lowered her eyes, her voice clear and gentle: "This concubine will remember Your Majesty's teachings and will certainly abide by the palace rules and serve Your Highness and Your Majesty wholeheartedly."
"Hmm." The Crown Princess responded noncommittally, "Rise, and have a seat."
As soon as Su Jingyu sat down at the end of the table, the Crown Princess spoke again, seemingly in casual conversation, yet every word was sharp: "Younger sister, you are new to the palace and are probably not yet familiar with the rules. The daily morning and evening greetings are an ancestral rule, which must be followed without fail, rain or shine. You must remember this well. In addition, extravagance, seduction, and gossip are forbidden in the palace. I suppose Magistrate Su has not taught you these things. The instructing matrons will explain them to you in detail in the future."
These words were practically an open remark that she came from a humble background, didn't know the proper etiquette, and needed to relearn it.
Some of the concubines in the hall covered their mouths and chuckled, while others looked on with sympathy. Consort Zhang spoke up directly, saying, "Your Majesty is right. There are strict rules in the palace. It's not a place where people from humble backgrounds can act as they please. Sister Su, you must study hard."
Su Jingyu's palms were slightly sweaty, but she still maintained a proper smile: "Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness and Sister Zhang. I will definitely study hard."
She knew she couldn't argue at this moment; the more she argued, the more ammunition people would have to criticize her.
Just as the atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense, a eunuch's shrill voice suddenly rang out from outside the hall: "His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived—"
Everyone in the hall was startled and quickly stood up, straightened their clothes, and knelt down to greet them.
Xiao Jingzhan strode into the hall, dressed in an apricot-yellow robe with dragon patterns, his face cold and stern. His gaze swept over the women kneeling on the ground, finally settling on the Crown Princess in the main seat, his tone flat and emotionless: "What are you all doing here?"
The Crown Princess quickly stood up and respectfully replied, "Your Highness, Sister Su just entered the palace today, and I was just explaining the palace rules to her."
Xiao Jingzhan turned his gaze to Su Jingyu, who had just stood up and whose face was somewhat pale, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. He naturally understood the meaning behind this "talking about the rules".
He didn't wake the others, but walked straight to Su Jingyu, reached out and naturally took her arm, helping her up. His tone was gentler than ever before: "Why is your face so pale? Are you feeling unwell? Didn't I tell you to rest properly in the Liuli Pavilion? Why did you come here?"
This series of questions was full of concern and protection, which contrasted sharply with his previous coldness towards the Crown Princess.
The faces of everyone kneeling in the hall, especially the Crown Princess and Consort Zhang, instantly turned extremely ugly.
Su Jingyu felt the warmth and strength from his hand, and her heart warmed. She said softly, "I am here to pay my respects to the Crown Princess. This is the proper etiquette."
"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible." Xiao Jingzhan's voice was not loud, but it clearly echoed throughout the entire hall. "You have had a long journey and are in poor health, so these formalities should be avoided if possible. In the future, unless there is something important, you don't need to come to pay your respects every day. Just rest and recuperate in the Liuli Pavilion." These words were almost a direct rebuttal to the Crown Princess's admonition to "come rain or shine".
The Crown Princess suddenly looked up, her face drained of color: "Your Highness! The morning and evening greetings are an ancestral tradition..."
“I know it’s an ancestral rule,” Xiao Jingzhan interrupted her, his gaze sweeping over her coldly. “But within the Eastern Palace, my words are the rules. If the Crown Princess is bored, she might as well copy a few more Buddhist scriptures to calm her mind.”
These words were a severe blow! The Crown Princess swayed, almost losing her balance, her nails digging deeply into her palms.
Xiao Jingzhan stopped looking at her, put his arm around Su Jingyu's shoulder, and said in a gentler tone, "Let's go back with me. The Imperial Clothing Bureau has sent over some new fabrics, go and pick out what you like."
After saying that, he embraced Su Jingyu in front of everyone and left Changchun Palace as if no one else was around.
The hall was left filled with women of varying expressions, and a deathly, oppressive silence.
After this incident, everyone in the Eastern Palace finally understood: this newly arrived Consort Su was not only the Crown Prince's darling, but also the very rule that the Crown Prince had established that no one could shake.
Since that day at Changchun Palace, Xiao Jingzhan has never set foot in the palaces of any other concubines.
He seemed determined to make up for the days they had been apart, staying at the Liuli Pavilion every night. When reviewing memorials, he always needed Su Jingyu by his side, or he would hold her in his arms, playing with her soft, boneless hands while handling official business. During meals, he would hold her on his lap, personally serving her food and feeding her, as if caring for a fragile porcelain doll.
"Your Highness, this is against etiquette..." Su Jingyu was initially embarrassed and tried to refuse.
Xiao Jingzhan merely raised an eyebrow and held a piece of tender bamboo shoot to her lips: "I am the best. Open your mouth."
He was infatuated with everything about her. He was infatuated with the coquettishness of her eyes reddening when she was being affectionate, with the dependence she unconsciously showed when she snuggled into his arms in her sleep, and even more so with the occasional liveliness and wit she revealed that seemed out of place with her delicate appearance.
That afternoon, Xiao Jingzhan saw Su Jingyu staring blankly at a game of chess and became interested in playing against her. Su Jingyu's chess skills were only rudimentary; she had only intended to keep the Crown Prince entertained. However, after a few moves, Xiao Jingzhan discovered that although her chess style was rudimentary, she occasionally had ingenious ideas and played unconventionally, which required even a skilled player like him to take her seriously.
"That move... was quite ingenious." Xiao Jingzhan placed a piece, his eyes filled with admiration. "Who taught you that?"
Su Jingyu's heart skipped a beat. This wasn't something someone had taught her; it was just something she had read in her spare time in her previous life, remembering some standard opening moves from modern Go, which she had unintentionally used.
She lowered her eyelashes and mumbled, "It's...it's just my imagination."
Xiao Jingzhan gave her a deep look, but did not ask any further questions. He simply said, "If you can do this with just random thoughts, wouldn't you be able to beat me if you studied diligently?" His tone even carried a hint of pride and joy.
Su Jingyu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time felt a touch of warmth. He did not delve into her "difference," but instead accepted it gladly.
However, the warm atmosphere inside the Glazed Pavilion made the rest of the Eastern Palace seem even more desolate.
Inside Changchun Palace, Crown Princess Li smashed the second tea set. The palace servants fell silent, kneeling on the ground.
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