The Crown Prince's expedition went more smoothly than Lin Qingwan had imagined.
Perhaps the emperor truly had no better choice, and fearing that his son might not return, he ordered the garrison troops in all directions to prepare for nearby support.
Over the years, the Xiongnu had seen through Da Ning's tactics and knew that the emperor valued power more than territory. At first, they didn't take it seriously. But when they retreated to the vicinity of Cangning Mountain, they realized that the distance they had gained in the past twenty years had returned to square one.
The Xiongnu panicked, resisting while trying to repeat their old tricks, but now Consort Ning and Jiang Su were no longer in the court.
The Eastern Palace.
"Madam, Consort Su has come to pay her respects," Mu Xue announced, waiting until Lin Qingwan finished her meal. "She's been waiting outside for a little while."
Lin Qingwan said, "Why didn't you say so sooner?"
Mu Xue: "I was afraid of disturbing your meal. It's rare that you've gained some weight in the East Palace."
Lin Qingwan got up and rinsed her mouth. "Is she cured?"
Mu Xue helped her change her clothes, saying, "She said she's better. But she herself said she was sick, and no one has paid any attention to her lately."
"Logically, the Crown Princess should send someone to inquire."
Lin Qingwan, thinking of Tang Yun's temper, couldn't help but say, "It's good enough that the Crown Princess didn't hit Su Yun that day, why did she even greet her?"
This was the first time Lin Qingwan had formally met Su Yun.
She has the gentle and delicate features of a woman from the Jiangnan water towns, with pretty almond-shaped eyes and red lips, but her smile seems soulless.
To put it bluntly, it's very fake.
"This concubine greets Madam." Su Yun was still wearing the same clothes she wore the day before when she met the Crown Princess. They were so grand and gorgeous that they were even more eye-catching than the sunlight streaming into the room.
"I should have come to inquire after you earlier, but unfortunately I was unwell and had been bedridden for many days before I recovered. I dared not delay and came to pay my respects to you immediately."
"Please forgive me, Madam."
She performed a grand salute, her forehead touching the floor, the gold thread on her clothes reflecting light into Lin Qingwan's eyes.
Lin Qingwan turned her face away and did not tell her to get up. "Did the imperial physician say what the illness is?"
Su Yun said calmly, "A few days ago, when it got hot, I ate too much ice water and caught a cold."
Lin Qingwan: "I thought you were exhausted from handling my marriage with the Crown Prince."
Su Yun didn't dare to raise her head. "I failed in my duties and caused a conflict between you and the Crown Princess at the jewelry shop, which made the Crown Prince lose face. I deserve to die."
"Please forgive me, Madam."
Lin Qingwan raised her eyelids slightly. This Consort Su was the most apology-apologetic person she had ever met since entering the palace.
"The Crown Prince has already dealt with this matter, and I have not blamed you. Instead, I should ask Consort Su what her intention is in bringing up this old matter again."
Lin Qingwan didn't beat around the bush with her.
Su Yun suddenly realized, "I dare not, I feel ashamed. I am restless and uneasy."
"Please punish me, madam."
His guilty and ashamed appearance was truly pitiful, but his intentions were also quite wicked.
Lin Qingwan gave a forced smile, "The Crown Prince hasn't punished Consort Su, so how could I have the right to punish you? This is our first meeting, yet I'm bringing up past matters to make things difficult for you. Does Consort Su think the Crown Prince is getting too much credit?"
Su Yun's little trick was seen through, which was not surprising. She immediately burst into tears, saying, "I am really stupid."
Lin Qingwan agreed and was about to advise her not to come out unless necessary when a tabby cat suddenly jumped in through the window.
"Ah!" Su Yun screamed in fright and hid behind the maid Cui'er.
Lin Qingwan was also startled, but quickly recognized that it was Tang Yun's cat.
Seeing that Muxue and Qiuhong were about to pounce on it, she reminded them, "Don't hurt it."
The cat was clever and knew that Lin Qingwan would protect it. Its tall tail slowly lowered, and it walked in a straight line toward the table in front of her.
"Madam, be careful it doesn't grab people," Mu Xue said nervously.
Lin Qingwan remained calm and composed, saying, "It's alright."
The cat walked to the table and stopped. It looked at Lin Qingwan, then at the table, and then stretched its front paws out over the edge of the table, peeking out its round little head to stare at the snacks.
Lin Qingwan looked into its eyes and could see a hint of ingratiation on the cat's face.
It licked its tongue at Lin Qingwan.
"Madam, it came because it smelled the aroma of the pastries." Qiu Hong was afraid it might actually hurt someone. "This servant will take it out."
"Meow."
The cat meowed at Lin Qingwan.
Lin Qingwan was soft-hearted, "She even acted coquettishly towards me for a piece of pastry."
She couldn't resist reaching out to pet it, but Tang Yun came in. Seeing his cat so affectionate with Lin Qingwan, his face fell. "Idiot! You dare eat her food!"
Without saying a word, she picked up the cat and said, "Be careful, or I'll poison you to death!"
"Meow~" The cat's paw pressed against her chest, and it even looked back at the plate of pastries, which almost made Tang Yun furious.
"I've been short of food and clothes for you, and you come here early in the morning begging for food!"
"If you call again, I'll take away your dried fish from lunch!"
The cat listlessly turned its head and meowed twice in a muffled voice.
Tang Yun clicked his tongue, pinched the cat's ears, and said irritably, "I'm doing this for your own good, to save your little life."
"Your Highness, there's no need to be upset. The cat likes Madam's snacks, and Madam intentionally feeds them to it," Su Yun said with a kind smile. "Besides, how could Madam's snacks kill the cat?"
Tang Yun seemed to only notice her presence in the room now, and upon seeing her attire, he sneered, "Are you the only one with a mouth in this room?"
Su Yun was used to the complicated etiquette and rules of the palace, and even when she scolded someone, she would do so in a roundabout way. Suddenly being mocked by Tang Yun in such a blatant way, she not only felt embarrassed, but also didn't know what to say for a moment.
"She didn't even say anything, what's it to you?" Tang Yun continued to criticize, and even rolled his eyes at her.
Su Yun forced a stiff smile, "I only hope that the Crown Princess and the Madam can get along harmoniously."
Tang Yun: "Who do you think you are? What's the point of your hopes? Or are your hopes like an imperial edict?"
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