Chapter 6 Who said I was seriously ill?
The next day.
Su Ci opened her eyes and yawned, listening to the faint sounds of footsteps and voices outside.
"Aunt?"
Eeyore.
Aunt Lan pushed the door open and came in with a look of anxiety on her face.
"Is Ci'er awake?"
Su Ci stood up and took her into the back room. While washing her face, she asked, "What's wrong?"
Aunt Lan clutched her handkerchief nervously. "Just now, I was paying my respects in the main courtyard when Yanyu came in to report that Xueliu had also caught the Third Young Lady's rash. The mistress scolded her and immediately sent the housekeeper to take Xueliu to the farm outside the city."
"Well, finally we're gone. We don't have to say a word and act like thieves."
"...Ci'er, you've made such a big deal out of this. If word gets out that there's an infectious patient in our family, then His Majesty..."
Su Ci spat out the scented tea leaves in her mouth, took the handkerchief from her hand and gently wiped the water droplets off her face.
"Don't worry, Auntie. Zhao Yu won't let anyone spread a single word. She's the head of the family and cares about the Su family's reputation more than we do. She's fully responsible for anything that happens."
Aunt Lan was still uneasy.
"But I heard that old woman Liu tell the mistress that there were dirty bugs biting people in Shuiyun Pavilion, and that you were seriously ill with a severe cough. What if the mistress uses this excuse to send us to the manor as well?"
"Who said I was seriously ill?"
Su Ci turned her head, and a smile appeared on her beautiful and delicate face, her skin was fair with a hint of pink, and her lips were red and her teeth were white.
"Even if she wanted to send me away, it was too late."
Aunt Lan was stunned and raised her hand to stroke her daughter's slightly wet hair.
"Why?"
"Because the Su family only has two unmarried daughters."
Su Ci said as she walked out of the clean room, opened the wardrobe and picked out a dress. "This is exactly what I want. Although Zhao Yu is domineering and mean, he values the family's reputation and her son's future the most. Father will be home at noon. Su Yin's rash hasn't subsided yet. If she dares to appear before the emperor, it would be an offense. To protect the Su family, Zhao Yu can only let me see him."
“…I see, Ci’er, you’re so smart.”
Aunt Lan blinked suspiciously as she spoke: "How do you know your father will be home at noon? The letter didn't mention it."
"I guessed it by calculating the time."
Su Ci took out a chiffon dress in a vibrant red and green hue and tried it on herself with a smile, "Does this look good?"
"Uh, it looks good."
Aunt Lan was very surprised: "This dress was specially made by your father at Jinyun Pavilion when you came of age, but you only wore it once and said that the color was too gaudy."
"What's wrong with being gaudy? As long as it's pretty, that's all. Auntie, help me put it on. I need to do my hair and put on makeup later."
"Ah? Putting on makeup? Don't you always dislike rouge and powder..."
"Oh, Auntie, please stop asking."
Su Ci pushed Silly Bai Tian behind the screen with amusement: "Clothes make the man, and the saddle makes the horse. I am meeting His Majesty. It is disrespectful to go without makeup. Hurry and put on some clothes for me."
"Oh, but you haven't had breakfast yet?"
"I'm not eating any staple food today. I want to be in the best condition and make a dazzling appearance!"
…
Just as Su Ci expected, before noon, Uncle Wu, who was by Su Yan's side, rushed back with a team of eunuchs and imperial guards. They were busy laying the carpet and carefully checking whether there were any objects that might offend the emperor.
Zhao Yu knew that he could not reverse the situation, so he could only hold back his breath, force a smile, and diligently follow the eunuchs around with his son.
Su Rong came to her parents' home again in the morning. At this moment, she was in the room with a gloomy face and a handkerchief clutched in her hand.
"That little bitch is so lucky. There's nothing we can do now..."
“Why not?”
Although Su Yin's rash no longer hurt or itched after taking medicine, the thick layer of makeup on her face could not cover the dense and watery rash. Her red and swollen eyes were full of jealousy and resentment.
"Isn't she dying? Why not take this opportunity to send her to the manor? Even if I'm unlucky enough to not enter the palace, I can't let that little bitch succeed. Since His Majesty hasn't arrived yet, why not let Mother say that she died of illness and that I caught a cold..."
“Nonsense!”
Su Rong said sternly, "Keep those words to yourself and don't say a single word!"
"Eldest sister!"
"Do you know how much effort father put into obtaining this reward? This is our Su family's best chance to climb the ladder. If we fail, not only will our entire family become a laughing stock in Zhuo Jingcheng, but we will also anger the emperor. Father and your brother's careers, as well as the Su and Zhao families, my husband's family, and your future marriage plans will all be ruined!"
“…But, but I’m unwilling…”
Su Yin fell back into her chair, crying and shaking her head: "Now that Su Ci has entered the palace, I will never have the chance to win over her. I can't accept this, elder sister..."
"What's the rush?"
Su Rong's expression was grim as she curled her lips. "Even if His Majesty appoints her today, according to the rules, she still has to stay at home and learn the palace rules from the maids sent by the palace. It will take some time before she can enter the palace."
“Yes, yes!”
Su Yin stood up with spirits raised: "Yes, as long as she dies of illness during this period, my face will be healed, then, then father can go to His Majesty to plead for mercy. After all, we are both daughters of the Su family, I can do it too!"
"So you better keep your mouth shut and stay in your room. Don't let His Majesty or the eunuchs see your face, otherwise things will become even more difficult later."
"Okay, I know..." Su Yin nodded repeatedly, biting her lip excitedly.
Su Rong exhaled slowly.
"Besides, that little bitch is so sick and skinny that she looks completely unlucky. Even her beautiful appearance has been diminished by half. The emperor may not be interested in her this time. He just wants to reward my father and take her back to the palace."
"When the rash on your body has healed, I'll find a nanny to take care of you. Make sure your whole body is flawless. That way, when we get rid of that little bitch, you can go to the palace with your father to plead for mercy. If you catch the emperor's eye, things will be much easier."
“…Well, I always listen to my eldest sister.”
Su Yin let out a long sigh and narrowed her red eyes slightly.
Yes, the Su family has only two daughters waiting to get married. As long as Su Ci dies, she will be the only one to enter the palace!
…
Water Rhythm Pavilion
Yanyu held the basin of water with her eyes wide open.
Aunt Lan took out a jade hairpin from her head and gently pinned it into her soft and shiny black hair. Her eyes were slightly red with pride.
"My porcelain is so beautiful."
The beauty in the mirror smiled sweetly, stood up, moved lightly with lotus steps, swayed her slender waist, turned around gracefully, the rouge veil fluttered and fell, and the faint fragrance filled the air, as if dancing with the wind to the ethereal and silent rhythm.
She has fair skin, black hair, sparkling eyes, slightly raised plump red lips, and is captivating. Her jade hands are shaped like flowers, and she is full of charm and beauty, which makes people mesmerized.
After Su Ci finished dancing, she bent her knees slightly, shrugged her shoulders, nodded, and glanced out with her slightly lowered eyes, casting a coquettish glance.
"Does it look good?"
“…Slurp!”
Yanyu came back to her senses and wiped the corner of her mouth: "Girl, this is not called beautiful, this is called a fairy descending to earth!"
…
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