Finally, the meeting ended, and everyone's expressions were more and more strange. Sun Miaoqing, not knowing what was going on, just thought that as long as she ran fast enough, trouble wouldn't be able to catch her.
On the way back, we passed by Yikun Palace. The palace, which used to be filled with singing and dancing, was now deserted because the Empress was ill. Even the little eunuchs guarding the gate had serious expressions and no longer stood tall and proud as usual.
A strong medicinal smell wafted from Yikun Palace, and even Sun Miaoqing found it bitter.
"It's unclear when Consort Hua will fully recover from this illness."
Liuli said, "The other ladies-in-waiting all wish that Consort Hua would recover more slowly. You are the only one in the entire palace who is genuinely worried about her."
"You should only say this in private. Don't let the other ladies know. Otherwise, they might develop a rift with you."
Sun Miaoqing said, "Although Consort Hua is indeed not a good person, she has never wronged me in any way."
"Not only that, but she treated me like her own sister, caring for and loving me in every way."
“Everyone in the palace has seen all of this. If I don’t care at all, they might not say it to my face, but who knows what they’ll say behind my back that I’m ungrateful.”
"Since you can't have it both ways, just follow your heart and have a clear conscience."
Having lived in the palace for so many years, I've witnessed quite a bit of how Consort Hua suppresses others. Although Liuli is just a palace maid, even cats have their ways, and dogs have theirs.
Many things that the empresses and concubines didn't know might not be hidden from the old servants who had served in the palace for years. Take Liuli, for example. She came from a family of bondservantes. Although her family wasn't an important one, they still had some connections.
Spending some money to be assigned to serve Consort Cheng was the best thing she ever did. For a servant, meeting a good master is a matter of life and death, no different from marrying a good man.
Sun Miaoqing knew that Liuli was doing this for her own good. She was worried that the Empress and others would see her as one of Hua Pangpang's henchmen, and that she would be implicated for no reason.
She was afraid, but whether she would be seen as part of Consort Hua's faction was important, but not so important.
The real issue lies outside the palace. If she were to oppose Hua Pangpang, Nian Gengyao could easily take Sun Zhuhe's life.
If they secretly pledged allegiance to the fat orange and surrendered, they could then coordinate an attack from within and without when the time was right, thus escaping this calamity.
But considering the fates of those meritorious officials in the drama who had served Geng Yao well, Sun Miaoqing felt that directly pledging allegiance was not a viable option.
A person who wavers between two sides will please neither. A traitorous lackey will not have a good end, nor will a traitorous subject.
The saying "A good minister chooses a good tree to perch on" is not something that everyone has the ability to say or do.
Sun Miaoqing felt a terrible headache and wondered if her brother and sister-in-law had taken the letters she had sent back seriously.
*
Sun Garden, Suzhou
After reading the letter in his hand, Sun Zhuhe put it into the incense burner and watched it turn to ashes.
Zhao felt a sense of pride, as if her daughter had just come of age. "After entering the palace, Miaoqing is truly different from before. She sees things much more clearly than ever before."
Sun Zhuhe was also quite moved. He always felt that his younger sister was spoiled and didn't have the ability to live in the palace.
After learning that Sun Miaoqing had been chosen, Sun Zhuhe sent a considerable amount of lubricant to Yikun Palace. Of course, he also sent a lot to General Nian.
It was only with him that the Sun family truly prospered. Despite their apparent wealth and status, they were like a reed on a wall—top-heavy, shallow-rooted, and with virtually no connections in the palace.
Therefore, when she learned that her younger sister had entered the palace and received great favor, she was made a Noble Lady after serving the Emperor for only a few days.
While overjoyed, she couldn't help but feel a little puzzled. Although she knew her own child was the best, Miao Qing's appearance was definitely not the type of woman men would like. The Emperor's tastes were truly unfathomable.
However, the lady said that the tutor from the palace was very talented and had transformed Miaoqing in just two months.
In addition, girls blossom into beautiful young women, becoming more and more lovely with age. Miaoqing is now as tender as a scallion, so delicate she seems to burst with moisture. It's no wonder the Emperor is fond of her.
Although Sun Zhuhe felt that his wife's words were somewhat exaggerated, they were not too far-fetched. He was filled with joy and pride, and couldn't help but think that if Miaoqing could give the emperor a prince, then he would have nothing to worry about in the future.
Upon reading the secret letter that had been sent back, Sun Zhuhe sighed with relief that his younger sister had grown up, but at the same time, he couldn't help but frown.
How could Miaoqing, who has only been in the palace for a few days, know about such a secret matter?
Seeing that Sun Zhuhe remained silent, standing there motionless like a wooden statue, Zhao impatiently nudged his shoulder, pulling him back from his reverie.
"I'm talking to you, can't you hear me? You haven't uttered a single word in ages, I don't know what you're thinking!"
Sun Zhuhe said, "It is my fault for neglecting my wife. I apologize to you."
After saying this, Sun Zhuhe stood up, bowed to Zhao Shi, and said words of apology until he made Zhao Shi laugh.
Zhao said, "We've been married for so long, why are you still using this trick? But what were you thinking about just now, sir? It seemed like you were having some kind of trouble?"
Sun Zhuhe said, "You've already read the letter from earlier."
Zhao nodded. She had overheard Sun Miaoqing's thoughts about most of those matters before. During her time back, she hadn't directly discussed these things with Sun Zhuhe.
After all, this matter was too bizarre. Even now, she sometimes feels dazed about it, wondering if she remembered it wrong or if she was possessed by a demon.
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