The Imperial Concubine was escorted out of the dungeon, immediately sent to guard the Imperial Mausoleum.
The Concubine didn’t resist at all, she accepted the outcome quite calmly. She did not, like Yan Li, make a fuss about wanting to see the Emperor.
It would be false to say that she wasn’t moved by the Emperor’s ten-year favoritism, her youthful romantic feelings kept her heart on guard against falling in love with the Emperor.
Even more extreme was that sometimes, she longed for the Emperor’s early death. Only then could she leave the palace to reunite with her lover.
She never thought that everything was a plot by Zhang Ping, and she never thought that the man she loved would betray her for wealth and status. Even when she learned he had a harem, she thought he simply gave in to his humanity and could not live a barren life, alone.
She felt that her many years had been a joke.
After discovering that she was a joke, she was too ashamed to face the Emperor and did not want to see him. Even the possibility of dying near the Imperial Mausoleum seemed easier to accept.
So, when the Emperor heard in the palace that Yan Lin was making a fuss about wanting to see him, he instead asked, "Where is Shen Yi?"
Yu An had returned to serve the Emperor. He had a unique skill; he could massage the Emperor’s head to ease his headaches. His unparalleled expertise made him irreplaceable among the eunuchs in the palace. Despite numerous people attempting to replace him, none were successful.
Although he was now ranked as a second-class eunuch, as long as he was by the Emperor’s side, with his unparalleled skills, he would once again gain the Emperor’s trust.
The Chief Eunuch elevated by the Emperor, Zhao De, was recommended by the Empress.
Zhao De glanced at Yu An, who was concentrating on his massage, performing the tasks of a second-class eunuch, no longer arrogant. He bowed to report, "Your Majesty, the concubine did not say anything when she left. There was no uproar."
The Emperor nodded, "She does carry my child. Send a couple of her favorite wet nurses to attend her at the Mausoleum."
Zhao De complied.
After the carriage escorting the Concubine left the Capital City, Yun Ze’s men quickly found her. Now that the Crown Prince was in power, the Eastern Palace had the advantage.
Upon hearing the Crown Prince’s words, the Concubine’s face underwent a series of changes, revealing a hint of hatred.
She wouldn’t hate people? It’s impossible that she wouldn’t hate them, right?
The Crown Prince, Yan Huisheng, was indeed adept at manipulating people. He knew about her deep-seated hatred, suppressed because of her inability to act, yet it never would disappear. She had been able to stay beside the Emperor for fourteen years while secretly working for Zhang Ping. She was not easily deceived, and it was impossible for her to pretend that nothing had happened and forgive Zhang Ping and Duan Xiao.
She slowly nodded and calmly asked, "So, what does the Crown Prince want me to do? Just say it."
The messenger replied: "It will be enough if you agree, Concubine. Wait for our Prince’s message."
The Concubine nodded, "Fine. I’ll wait."
After the man from the Eastern Palace left, it wasn’t long before the two wet nurses sent by the Emperor caught up with the party escorting the Concubine. The two bowed to the Concubine and continued to address her as "Her Majesty."
Even though the Concubine’s title had been stripped, she was still the Emperor’s woman. The term "Her Majesty" was not incorrect.
The Concubine glanced at the two wet nurses, nodded, and didn’t say anything more.
Fen Ling brought Ning Yao and Ning Ze back. When the carriage arrived at the hutong entrance of the Eastern Fourth street, Fen Ling stopped and asked the two to get off.
Ning Yao took Ning Ze’s hand and stepped down from the carriage.
Looking at the plaque of the Xie Residence at the Eastern Fourth Hutong, Ning Yao knew that this used to be Xie Yuan’s residence. Now it was occupied by the Su family. The Crown Prince had once wanted to use Su Xingze to strike against the Eastern Palace, but Su Xingze had fled to the Shen Residence. One wrong step led to many, leading to the present situation.
The biggest mistake was hers, underestimating the siblings of the Su family. Each one of them was extraordinarily cunning and formidable.
Fen Ling led the pair into the residence, taking them directly to Su Rong’s yard.
On the way, they encountered the wife of the Doctor. She looked puzzled and asked, "Who are these people?"
Fen Ling bowed to the Doctor’s wife with great respect, "Madam, these are siblings from the Ning family. The former Crown Prince’s concubine and her younger brother."
The Doctor’s wife suddenly understood. Fen Ling must have brought them back under Su Rong’s orders, so she didn’t ask any further questions, merely nodding. "Go ahead, Xingze is with Xiaoqi."
Fen Ling nodded and continued on with the siblings.
Su Rong was talking with Su Xingze. The conversation revolved around the straightforward choices of their three younger sisters for their potential husbands. Su Rong hadn’t visited anyone after her return, but Su Xingze had and held no objections; each of the future brothers-in-law had their strengths.
Su Rong commented to Su Xingze, "Oh, are our elder sisters in a rush to get married? It’s all happening so fast. It’s only been a few days, and suddenly all three of them are engaged. Even I’m still adjusting to it. My mother probably has it worse."
Su Xingze replied, "Mother is actually okay."
Su Rong continued, "Once our fourth, fifth, and sixth sisters have all found their future husbands, and each of our sisters get married one after the other, and then I leave, there won’t be anyone left to keep my mother company."
She looked at Su Xingze,"Big brother, you need to hurry up. You must find a daughter-in-law for our mother as soon as possible. There’s a clear difference between having daughters leave and having daughters-in-law enter the family."
Su Xingze glanced at her, "The one our mother is most reluctant to part with is you. She doesn’t really want a daughter-in-law that much. Once our sisters are married, she would probably prefer a few quiet years by her side."
Su Rong unconvinced, speculated with Su Xingze, "Actually, I am quite reluctant to part with mother as well. How about this, once I settle down in Nanchu, I will take her over?"
"What about our father?"
Su Rong blinked slowly, "Father still has his sisters, mother probably wouldn’t want to bring him along."
"What about me?"
"You can’t come. There’s no place for you in Nanchu. Daliang and the Crown Prince need you more." Su Rong was completely serious, "I can’t take Zhou Gu away and take you too, not leaving any useful people by the Crown Prince’s side. That would be too unfair."
Su Xingze snorted coldly, "After all said and done, brother-sister affection means nothing to you. We’re all disposable."
Su Rong giggled, "That’s not quite true."
She offered a rather insincere reason, "Big brother, home is where the heart is. If you stay in Daliang, I would have a reason to come home."
Su Xingze huffed in dissatisfaction, no longer engaging with her.
As the siblings were talking, Fen Ling led the others into the courtyard. Hearing footsteps, Su Rong peeked out the window and broke into a smile, "Ning Yao isn’t stupid, she knows she could survive if she comes to me. If she went to the Second Prince’s Residence, she’d probably have no way out."
After all, it wouldn’t be easy to live in peace and safety just because the Emperor has delivered a verdict. They still had a father who is Marquis Nanping.
Fen Ling opened the door and stepped in. He reported to Su Rong, "Sister, I brought them over. We didn’t harm them. They came willingly."
"I can see that." Su Rong had no intention of meeting Ning Yao and Ning Ze. She waved at Fen Ling, "Settle them in the yard. Assign some people to serve them, and tell them we’ll leave tomorrow. They should just rest today."
"Understood." Fen Ling responded and exited the room.
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