What was meant to come would come in the end. That he would bring the woman he favored back into the palace was something long expected. Chunlan and Qiuju exchanged glances, both holding their breath, afraid to say anything more. They only saw Su Su’s expression remain calm, her hands never pausing in their work of wrapping dumplings.
“My lady…” Chunlan’s throat tightened as she forced out a word of comfort. “His Majesty may only be indulging in a momentary novelty. After some time, he will surely remember how good you are.”
Su Su did not lift her head. She merely picked up a dumpling wrapper, her tone light and indifferent. “He is the emperor. Whom he favors is only natural. Which emperor throughout history didn’t have three palaces and six courts? It’s only a matter of sooner or later.”
Seeing that she had taken it so open-heartedly, the two felt a little relieved, yet they could not help sighing inwardly: had their mistress never entered the palace and remained the bright, candid young lady of her natal home, with such a temperament and bearing, why would she ever have had to suffer such grievances here? She should have long since found a considerate husband, living a peaceful and harmonious life.
When the dumplings were cooked, white steam filled the room. As usual, Su Su called the two of them to sit down together. Since her confinement, she had insisted on this for more than a month. At first Chunlan and Qiuju had refused again and again, daring not overstep their station, but in the end they could not resist her persistence. Now, though it still felt improper, there were no others in this remote wing hall besides the three of them. All those rules and watchful eyes were shut outside the door. Chunlan and Qiuju had grown accustomed to it and no longer refused, sitting lightly down on either side of the table. The three gathered around a plate of steaming dumplings, chatting and laughing, and in this desolate side hall, a warmth like that of an ordinary household slowly spread.
As they were eating, Xiao Dezi from the Empress Dowager’s side suddenly hurried in and bowed to report, “Attendant Su, the Empress Dowager issues an order: tomorrow is the fifteenth. Your confinement is lifted. Please resume paying your respects early in the morning.”
Hearing this, Su Su’s fingers paused slightly, a trace of understanding flashing through her eyes.
So Mu Hanyan’s entry into the palace had indeed unsettled the Empress Dowager.
“I understand. Thank you for relaying the message, eunuch. I will arrive on time tomorrow,” she replied calmly, though she sighed softly to herself. Tomorrow she would have to step once more into that land of right and wrong, facing a crowd of insincere consorts. Just thinking about it was exhausting. So be it she would turn in early tonight. Tomorrow was likely to be a hard battle.
Early the next morning, Chunlan attended to her grooming, holding a jade comb and slowly smoothing her long black hair, speaking in a low voice of reminder: “My lady, you must be cautious when paying respects today. I’ve heard that Consort Zhuang, who was punished with a month of confinement for pushing you last month, will also be present today… She may not dare be too outrageous, but there’s no guarantee she won’t seize the chance to stir trouble.”
Chunlan had always been steady, and what she said matched Su Su’s own thoughts.
Even so, Su Su adjusted her collar before the mirror, her expression indifferent. “It’s fine. Today is Consort Wan’s first appearance. Everyone’s attention will naturally be on her.”
Chunlan nodded in understanding, deftly arranging her hair into a neat coiffure. She then brought out three prepared outfits: one in bright rosy hues, one in fresh pale green, and one in plain moon-white. Su Su paused briefly, pointed to the moon-white one, and added a simple sleeveless over-vest, giving quiet instructions: “The more inconspicuous today, the better. Ideally… no one should notice me at all.”
“I understand,” Chunlan replied at once, efficiently helping her dress.
Master and servant set out an hour early.
Changxin Palace lay in a remote area, and the road to Cining Palace was long and quiet. The morning dew had yet to dry, soaking the hem of her skirt and bringing a chill that seeped into the bones. Su Su had been born into wealth when had she ever walked such a long distance on foot? Barely halfway along, her breathing had already grown uneven, fine beads of sweat appearing on her brow, her cheeks flushing an unnatural red from the exertion.
Chunlan supported her with concern and whispered, “My lady, rest for a moment.”
Su Su shook her head and lifted her gaze to the seemingly endless palace walls. If she were still the noble consort she once was, there would have been a sedan chair to carry her why suffer such grinding hardship? But her rank had been reduced; now she could only walk step by step.
Hurrying as best she could, Su Su finally arrived outside Cining Palace. She pressed a hand lightly to her chest to steady her breath, then walked slowly into the hall.
Inside, pearls and jade glittered everywhere, faint fragrance drifting through the air. The consorts stood in ranks on either side, yet the new arrival, Mu Hanyan, was nowhere to be seen. Zhuang Shuning reclined askew on a carved rosewood chair, idly playing with a jade bangle between her fingers. Seeing Su Su enter, she deliberately lifted her chin, her voice falling like shattered jade:
“Well, isn’t this Attendant Su? The rules of Cining Palace could it be that Attendant Su still thinks herself a noble consort, making all of us wait? Tsk, it seems palace rules have grown quite unfamiliar to you.”
Her tone lifted at the end, mockery filling her eyes and brows.
The consorts at the front gathered in small clusters, smiles on their faces yet unable to hide the ridicule in their eyes. One gaze after another, like hidden needles, pricked toward Su Su as she walked in slowly. And yet, though she wore only plain attendant’s attire, she seemed like an orchid in a secluded valley, untouched by dust. Her black hair bore no pearls or ornaments; her jade-like face was free of powder, yet that face looked as though carved from moonlight brows like distant mountains tinged with green, eyes like rippling autumn waters, a nose bridge refined as if sculpted, lips naturally pale crimson. Even the small mole at the corner of her eye lay perfectly placed, adding a cool, elegant charm. More striking still was her figure: a waist slender as a willow, her steps light as though borne by a gentle breeze, stirring secret envy in many hearts, stealing even their breath.
Consort Liu Zhaoyi leaned against a pillar in the corridor, her nails digging deep into the silk handkerchief in her hand, a flash of jealous hatred passing through her eyes.
The once lofty and exalted Noble Consort had now fallen to such a state… yet that face of hers was still, in the end, painfully eye-catching.
In her previous life, Su Su would surely have snapped back with sharp words. But now she merely lowered her eyes in silence, drawing all her sharpness back into her heart. This was the Empress Dowager’s palace no matter how arrogant Zhuang Shuning was, she would not dare go too far here. Su Su only wished to pass her days in peace, quietly waiting for the time she could leave the palace, and had no desire to tangle with these people any more than necessary.
Seeing her remain silent, Zhuang Shuning felt slighted and raised her voice again. “Since Sister Su has already moved to Changxin Palace, she ought to learn to follow the rules. Arriving so late today could it be that you’ve even forgotten the hour for paying respects?”
Her confidence came from having a powerful backer: her father, Zhuang Shijie, the current Grand Preceptor of the court a senior statesman who had served two reigns and helped both the late emperor and the present one purge the influence of imperial in-laws. It was precisely this family background that had earned her a consort’s rank the moment she entered the palace.
The Lady Song, who stood close by, immediately nodded in agreement, her tone laced with sarcasm. “If she didn’t forget the time, then she must be deliberately neglectful, showing no regard for palace rules.”
Lady Song’s father was merely a fifth-rank assistant director in the Ministry of War; she relied entirely on the Zhuang family to gain a foothold. Naturally, after entering the palace, every step she took followed Consort Zhuang’s lead. Moreover, Su Su had punished her to kneel several times before the grudge was still fresh so now that she had the chance, she was more than willing to add insult to injury.
Su Su, however, was unhurried and composed. She bent slightly in a courteous salute, her voice clear and cool as water. “Consort Zhuang is joking. I have only just moved to Changxin Palace, and the palace paths are winding and unfamiliar. That is why I was delayed a little. If I caused any offense, I ask my elder sister to be magnanimous.”
Zhuang Shuning froze for a moment, not expecting her to be so calm and so proper. Gritting her teeth, she decided to tear away all pretense.
“Hmph! You harmed Prince Ning’s son, and you still have the face to come to Cining Palace? In my view, you should confess your guilt yourself and go to a temple to recite scriptures and pray for the little heir that would be the proper thing to do!”
Before her words had even finished, a stern voice came from the inner hall:
“Who is making such a racket here?”
At the sound, everyone stiffened and fell silent, bowing in unison. “Greetings to the Empress Dowager!”
From the side, Liu Zhaoyi had been watching Su Su ever since she entered. She frowned slightly, unconsciously twisting the silk handkerchief in her fingers, a trace of impatience flashing through her eyes.
This Consort Zhuang truly couldn’t keep herself in check! Liu Zhaoyi had originally thought she would surely get to see Su Su humbled today.
Who would have thought Zhuang Shuning would be so eager to launch an attack, only to draw the Empress Dowager into it and spoil the whole affair? Just like that, the good show was gone.
The Empress Dowager slowly took her seat, phoenix eyes half-closed as she lightly massaged her temple, her tone tinged with fatigue. “So early in the morning, and all this noise what does it look like? Sit down, all of you.”
Zhuang Shuning pressed her lips together and swallowed back the sharper words on the tip of her tongue. The Empress Dowager’s interruption just now had been an obvious act of protection. Zhuang Shuning had only just been released from confinement; if she pushed too hard now, the Empress Dowager would surely seize on her fault again, and the loss would outweigh the gain.
In any case, after this incident, Su Su’s prospects were clearly finished. A rift had already formed in the emperor’s heart; it would be hard for her to ever rise again. She was no longer worth wasting effort on, much less risking her own security.
But still…
Zhuang Shuning’s gaze slid coldly toward the palace doors. The corner of her lips curved soundlessly, darkness stirring in her heart.
The one she truly needed to deal with now was that Consort Wan, who had just entered the palace and already stolen all the limelight.
They had barely taken their seats when the announcement rang out:
“Consort Wan has arrived”
The eunuch’s shrill call sliced through the quiet hall, and everyone turned to look.
Mu Hanyan entered in plain robes, walking with measured steps, her sleeves fluttering lightly, like an immortal descending to the mortal world.
Su Su paused slightly this was the woman who had once captured the emperor’s heart in her previous life, and in this life she was still just as aloof and untainted by the mundane.
In an instant, the gazes of the assembled consorts turned into icy arrows, shooting straight at Mu Hanyan. They envied her, hated her hated that she monopolized the emperor’s favor the moment she entered the palace, hated that she once again drew the emperor’s eyes away from the six palaces.
Zhuang Shuning clenched her handkerchief tightly, her knuckles turning white. This woman might not be as dazzlingly beautiful as Su Su, but that refined, elegant air of hers still stuck in the throat like a bone.
Another bewitching temptress…
Mu Hanyan followed the rules, bending to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager did not immediately tell her to rise. She merely lifted her teacup unhurriedly and took a light sip.
Anyone with eyes could see that this was a deliberate show of authority a warning to Consort Wan, after all, she had arrived late.
The consorts kept their faces neutral, but in their eyes flickered unmistakable hints of schadenfreude.
Su Su lowered her gaze, shrinking quietly into a corner like an ostrich, waiting for the storm to pass.
Yet at that very moment.
“His Majesty arrives!”
The eunuch’s shout crashed like a sudden thunderclap, and in an instant the hall fell deathly silent.