Su Su now felt an overwhelming wave of exhaustion crash over her, as though that brief confrontation had drained every last ounce of her strength.
She no longer wished to speculate about Li Qianche’s inscrutable attitude, nor did she have the energy to respond to the probing look in Mu Hanyan’s eyes. All she wanted was to escape this place of tangled right and wrong, to return to Changxin Palace remote, perhaps, but safe enough to her cushioned rocking chair, where she could think of nothing at all, curl up quietly, and let her taut nerves finally relax.
She rose to her feet, her movements carrying a faint but unmistakable urgency. Facing Li Qianche and Mu Hanyan, she performed a proper curtsey. Her voice was deliberately steady, yet the distance in it could not be concealed: “Your Majesty, Sister Consort Wan if there are no further instructions, this concubine will take her leave.”
An inexplicable irritation surged in Li Qianche’s chest, yet he could find no reason to vent it. In the end, he forced out a single cold syllable from his throat:
“Mm.”
Hearing this permission, Su Su felt as though she had been granted amnesty. She did not linger for even a moment, nor did she look back at anyone again. Taking Chunlan and Qiuju with her, she turned and hurried away along the pebble-lined path by which she had come.
From the suffocating Qingfang Pavilion in the Imperial Garden back to Changxin Palace, Su Su felt as though all the strength had been sucked from her body. That brief half-hour of maneuvering had been more exhausting than walking back and forth across the palace grounds not merely physically, but in terms of sheer mental fatigue.
Consort Zhuang’s every word that struck straight at the heart, Li Qianche’s cold, detached silence, Mu Hanyan’s unexpected intervention, and the guillotine-like threat of the imminent Plum Blossom Banquet hanging over her head together, they wove an invisible net that bound her tightly, leaving her almost unable to breathe.
Upon returning to Changxin Palace, she waved away the newly arrived maid who stepped forward to help her change clothes, leaving only Chunlan and Qiuju at her side. The moment she entered the inner chamber, she collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut, sinking directly into the thickly cushioned rocking chair by the window. She closed her eyes, not even wanting to move a single finger.
“Empress Dowager…” Chunlan called softly, worry etched on her face as she looked at Su Su’s pallor and the fatigue lingering between her brows. She exchanged a concerned glance with Qiuju. Both of them knew just how provocative and vicious Consort Zhuang’s words had been in the Imperial Garden and that the Emperor had allowed her to treat their mistress this way. How could Her Ladyship not be heartbroken?
Su Su did not open her eyes. She merely lifted her hand slightly, signaling that she was fine. She needed quiet needed time to think.
The Plum Blossom Banquet. Consort Zhuang had deliberately singled her out, invoked the Empress Dowager, and forced both her and Mu Hanyan to attend. The malice behind it was already plain to see. The taste of that poisoned wine from her previous life seemed to surge back up her throat icy and searing. She could not simply sit and wait for death!
But how was she to respond? Consort Zhuang was hidden in the shadows; she herself stood in the open. Consort Zhuang wielded immense power within the palace, and if she truly intended to scheme, there would be no guarding against her.
Amid her tangled thoughts, she suddenly remembered something she had earlier asked Chunlan to investigate through her elder brother. Her eyes flew open. Turning to Chunlan, she spoke in a hoarse voice tinged with exhaustion:
“Chunlan, the matter I asked you to have my brother look into about Consort Zhuang’s family ties with the Princess Consort of Prince Ning has there been any news?”
Chunlan hurried forward and answered in a low voice: “In reply to Empress Dowager, Young Master happened to send word into the palace today. He has already confirmed it. The Princess Consort of Prince Ning, née Zhuang, is indeed Consort Zhuang’s half-sister by the same father. Her birth mother was originally a singing girl in Grand Tutor Zhuang’s household, of very humble origin. The Princess Consort was raised from childhood under Consort Zhuang’s legitimate mother. On the surface, it appears she was brought up by the legal wife, but her relationship with Consort Zhuang, her legitimate elder sister… is said to be quite ordinary.”
“A half-sister? Raised under the legitimate mother?” Su Su murmured, a sharp glint flashing through her eyes.
Consort Zhuang was arrogant and domineering she had not even spared Su Su herself, the Empress Dowager’s niece and a former Noble Consort, showing no hesitation in striking with deadly intent. How could such a person truly treat kindly a half-sister born of a mere singing girl?
Moreover, the scene from that day was still vivid in her mind Consort Zhuang yanking her hair, shoving her viciously to the ground, screaming that Su Su must repay her nephew’s life. That twisted, frenzied hatred if it were truly for the child of a half-sister she scarcely regarded, it was simply too hard to believe.
There had to be something wrong here.
Consort Zhuang’s reaction to the death of the Prince Ning’s heir had been far too extreme so extreme it bordered on irrational. Unless… the child’s death had something to do with her in the first place? Unless she was crying thief while being the thief herself, using this as a pretext to grind Su Su completely into the dust?
The thought sent a chill racing down Su Su’s spine. If that were truly the case, then Consort Zhuang’s cruelty was beyond reprehensible.
But for now, she had no evidence. She could not strike back with mere speculation. What mattered most was how to protect herself at the Plum Blossom Banquet and avoid being framed once again.
She frowned in deep thought, her fingers unconsciously tapping against the armrest of the rocking chair. Mu Hanyan’s miscarriage was bound to happen Consort Zhuang would certainly make a great spectacle of it and pin the blame squarely on her. She could not stop the event itself from occurring, but perhaps… she could change what came after?
A thought slowly took shape in her mind.
She could not predict what precise methods Consort Zhuang would use, nor could she keep watch over Mu Hanyan at all times but she could place a chess piece in advance.
An imperial physician.
If, on the day of the Plum Blossom Banquet, she could find a way to have an imperial physician nearby, just in case…
Mu Hanyan is unwell; immediate aid could be given to ensure her and her child’s safety. This move might break the stalemate, catching Consort Zhuang off guard and leaving her no way to frame anyone. Moreover, having the imperial physician present would itself be the strongest defense who plotting to harm the imperial heir would prepare someone to treat them in advance?
Thinking this, Su Su felt a bit more at ease. Yet how to proceed still required careful consideration. Perhaps, when paying respects to the Empress Dowager, she could also “conveniently” ask the imperial physician to check the Empress Dowager’s health, and then happen to stay nearby? This method wasn’t foolproof, but it offered at least a small chance of maneuvering.
“Phew…” she let out a long breath, feeling her taut nerves finally relax somewhat. Having a preliminary plan was far better than being a headless chicken.
With her mind a little steadier, the hunger in her stomach made itself known. After an afternoon of mental and physical strain, she was completely empty. No matter what else happened, eating came first; even if the sky were falling, she had to fill her stomach before anything else.
“Chunlan, serve the evening meal,” Su Su said, sitting up straight, her tone regaining a bit of vitality. “I’m quite hungry today bring a few extra dishes.”
“Yes, Your Highness!” As soon as Qiuju heard that the meal was to be served, her face lit up with joy. She answered eagerly and went out lightly to give the orders.
Soon, palace attendants entered in an orderly stream, each carrying food boxes. Following Su Su’s special instructions, tonight’s dinner was more lavish than usual.
First came a dish of braised venison tendon with wild mushrooms in golden soup. The thick, golden broth was served in a white porcelain bowl, exuding a rich and mellow aroma. The venison tendon was tender yet slightly springy, rich in gelatin, paired with the earthy freshness of the mushrooms. A sip sent warmth spreading from her stomach to every limb, soothing her exhausted body and mind.
Next was lotus leaf steamed pork with rice flour. The green lotus leaf wrapped fatty and lean pork along with fragrant toasted rice flour. Steamed to perfection, the moment the lotus leaf was unfolded, a refreshing aroma mixed with the scent of meat filled the air.
The pork melted in the mouth, rich but not greasy; the lotus leaf’s freshness perfectly balanced the richness. The rice flour, soaked with the pork juices, was soft and savory.
The main dish was braised sea cucumber with scallions. The large sea cucumbers were cooked to a glossy red-brown, tender yet with just the right amount of bite. The rich aroma of scallions penetrated the dish completely, and the sauce was savory with a sweet aftertaste a perfect accompaniment to rice.
There was also a clear-braised crab meat “lion’s head” (meatball). The large meatballs were slowly simmered in a clear broth, resulting in extremely soft and delicate meat that almost required no chewing. Pressing lightly with a spoon made it fall apart, revealing a filling of fresh crab meat. The broth was clear yet incredibly flavorful.
For vegetables, there was chicken mushroom sautéed with asparagus. The tender chicken mushrooms were fried in chicken fat to release their aroma, then stir-fried with crisp, refreshing asparagus. The dish was visually appealing and offered a rich, layered taste.
In addition, there were several delicate side dishes and snacks: a plate of marinated cucumbers, crisp and refreshing; a plate of osmanthus-scented sweet lotus root, sweet and fragrant; and a small basket of shrimp and pork soup dumplings, with thin skins, generous fillings, and rich, savory broth.
Finally, there was a cup of red date and longan stewed pigeon, with a clear broth that nourished the blood, calmed the mind, and soothed the heart.
Looking at the table full of color, aroma, and flavor, Su Su temporarily cast all her worries aside. She picked up her silver chopsticks and first took a spoonful of the golden soup with venison tendon. The rich taste melted in her mouth, as if also dispersing the afternoon’s pent-up tension. She then took a piece of steamed pork, savoring the soft, savory flavor spreading between her teeth.
“You two don’t just stand there sit down and eat with me,” Su Su invited Chunlan and Qiuju. In the depths of the palace, only delicious food and the sincerity of those who truly cared for her were not to be wasted.
The three lady and attendants sat together, happily enjoying the evening meal.
They temporarily forgot the flashing blades and swords from the pavilion earlier, set aside worries about the upcoming plum-blossom banquet, and focused on the warmth and satisfaction of the moment.
Only when full could they gather strength to face the stormy days ahead.