The man gently pulled her into his arms, his lips pressed against her forehead, and a tenderness unconsciously appeared on his face.
"From now on, let's talk things out calmly and not argue, okay?"
A tingling sensation shot from his lips straight to her heart.
At this moment, they are like an ordinary couple who have just had a fight, slept it off, and made up.
There was a hint of deep affection between them.
Su Wanwan pressed her body against him, her body limp and soft, and obediently replied, "Okay."
"Wait for me to have lunch together."
He didn't let go, and added another sentence.
Su Wanwan looked up at him.
A ridiculous thought flashed through my mind—
He's a bit clingy.
It was nothing like his usual calm and composed, yet cold and indifferent nature.
I don't know which one is the real him.
"Okay, sure."
Su Wanwan casually agreed.
However, these words soon became empty words.
On their way to Ning Shou Palace, someone blocked Su Wanwan and her party's path.
A palace maid who appeared to be around forty years old knelt down obsequiously and bowed.
“This servant is the sworn sister of He Ding, a former eunuch in the Qianqing Palace. I have some old items that I would like to present to Her Majesty the Empress.”
Su Wanwan frowned.
He Ding has been dead for over ten years, so why does a sworn sister suddenly appear looking for her?
Is he deliberately trying to curry favor and seek refuge, or is there really something wrong?
She simply told the middle-aged palace maid to wait at Kunning Palace until she returned, and then they would discuss it further.
The Empress Dowager was very warm and kind, and invited Su Wanwan to have breakfast together.
Around mid-morning, Su Wanwan suggested going to Cikang Palace to serve the Empress Dowager her meal, and only then was she able to leave.
Empress Dowager Zhang was also very kind. Although she didn't hold Su Wanwan's hand and ask about her well-being, her kind and gentle demeanor made Su Wanwan feel uneasy.
When they finally returned to Kunning Palace, the middle-aged palace maid who had blocked their way was no longer there.
Su Wanwan found it a bit strange and had someone go and search for it.
The palace servant reported, "That palace maid said she was caught stealing and has been beaten to death."
Su Wanwan's breath hitched, and she clenched her fists, asking, "Who did this?"
"It's Zhang Yong, a eunuch from the Imperial Household Department."
Su Wanwan's pupils contracted slightly.
She instinctively remained wary of this powerful eunuch who held military authority and did not want to provoke him.
"Never mind, what is this palace maid's identity?"
"She was a palace maid who swept and cleaned the Anle Hall in the Bee-keeping Alley, north of Shenwu Gate."
Su Wanwan's heart skipped a beat.
It is said that the late emperor secretly grew up in Anle Hall until he was six years old before being recognized by Emperor Xianzong.
Zhang Yong was also a eunuch who served Emperor Xianzong in the Qianqing Palace for many years.
He Ding was the late emperor's close attendant since childhood.
There might be some old grudges or royal secrets between them.
She didn't want to get involved.
When the eunuchs and palace maids who came from all over to report trivial matters and request decisions heard about the middle-aged palace maid being beaten to death, they all looked terrified.
Many people immediately shrank back and quietly took their leave.
Zhang Yong's stern warning was too harsh.
This was clearly a warning to everyone in the palace about the consequences of siding with the new empress.
Who would dare risk offending Zhang Yong to flatter this empress whose position was not yet secure?
However, He Jin, the head eunuch of the Xixin Division who was at the very front of the line, was not so lucky.
Just as he was about to leave, He Ying called him back:
"Her Majesty is waiting. Eunuch He, please come in."
He Jin had no choice but to bite the bullet and go in to report, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
Su Wanwan didn't make things difficult for him, and listened to his report as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. She simply gave the following instructions:
"Just handle everything as usual."
He Jin secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly took his leave.
At this moment, Yanruo arrived and said with a smile:
"The Empress Dowager invites Her Majesty the Empress to have lunch with her."
Su Wanwan paused for a moment, then said, "His Majesty said he would like to come and dine here. Please ask Miss Yanruo to apologize to the Empress Dowager."
Yanruo smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager said that I should invite the Emperor to dine with us."
This is meant to show that the family is harmonious and united.
As a new bride, Su Wanwan could not refuse her elders' loving gestures, so she had no choice but to agree.
Watching Yanruo gracefully head towards the Qianqing Palace, Heying felt somewhat annoyed.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager clearly intends to use you as a stepping stone to matchmake Miss Yanruo with the Emperor."
Su Wanwan spoke indifferently, not seeming to care much.
"Sooner or later, the Emperor will have a new concubine by his side. If it's not Yanruo, it will be someone else."
"Your Majesty, are you really willing to be used by others?" He Ying retorted indignantly.
They're only married for five days and they're already trying to force people into their marriage; their behavior is really unseemly.
Even He Ying couldn't stand it.
If it were the Emperor himself who took a liking to Yanruo and wanted to get close to her, that would be one thing.
Using the empress to get close to the emperor and deliberately seduce him is another matter entirely.
They're just taking advantage of their queen's good temper; she doesn't fight or compete.
That's really going too far.
Su Wanwan pulled He Ying down to sit and patted her back to calm her down.
"Look at all the powerful and influential men in this world, which one doesn't have several beautiful concubines?"
He Ying immediately retorted, "Master Su does not take concubines."
"Those are just a tiny fraction. The most important thing is to stay true to ourselves and gradually gain a foothold."
Su Wanwan was trying to persuade Heying, but in doing so, she was also trying to persuade herself.
Currently, her relationship with Lu Xingjian is going well.
But after a few months, once the novelty wears off and the passion fades, it's time for the newlyweds to make their grand entrance.
All she can do is stay true to herself and not get too caught up in love.
Otherwise, when a man seeks new excitement with other women, she will be heartbroken and miserable, and others will not only fail to sympathize with her but will also laugh at her for being jealous.
Su Wanwan rushed to Renshou Palace around lunchtime, but Yanruo and Lu Xingjian never showed up.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
