24: Crisis
The moonlight melted into the night; all sounds were hushed.
Inside the bedroom, several lamps burned brightly. Qiao Shilian sat dazed on the bed, hugging her knees and curling into a ball, completely unaware of how the maids had helped her bathe and change. Only the stark black characters on white paper from the letter repeatedly surfaced before her eyes, occupying all her thoughts.
“The Eastern Palace will hold the Crown Princess selection in the near future. If you are unwilling, I can help you.”
Crown Princess selection—in her past life, this happened in March of next year. Now, not only had it been moved up, but it was also imminent.
That meant she would be internally chosen by Qin Shuo, and when the imperial marriage decree arrived, she would be powerless to do anything.
Past events flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern. Qiao Shilian felt she could see the end of her remaining life at a glance. She would waste this lifetime in that dark, lightless, cold, and painful cage.
Everything she had fought so hard for since returning to this world, everything she had strived to obtain—all for nothing.
“If unwilling… can help me…” Qiao Shilian bitterly recited the latter half of the sentence from the letter, yet the corners of her eyes curved, and tears fell from them.
“How are you going to help me… Afraid I won’t be able to go through with it myself, so you’ll end this life for me?” Her voice choked, unsure who she was asking.
The handwriting on the letter was unfamiliar, not written by Su Zhuoguang.
She thought perhaps someone who knew she had been involved with Su Zhuoguang lately had borrowed the name of the young general’s servant to send her this letter. After all, the house steward didn’t know Fenglai.
Now that Su Zhuoguang was disgusted with her, how could he have sent her a letter in such a short time?
Even if she steeled herself to beg Su Zhuoguang this time, how could he possibly help her? Under imperial authority, no one could defy it. Perhaps he might even bring disaster upon himself by helping her.
Though in the midst of a blazing summer night, Qiao Shilian felt extremely cold. She closed her eyes, trying hard to suppress the trembling throughout her body.
This slow torment through the long night was more like a crushing knife, slowly piercing the heart inch by inch—painful, suffocating, despair-inducing.
“What should I do? What on earth should I do?” She opened her eyes and asked the night in a hoarse voice. The intense biting of her lips brought the taste of blood, and she raised her hands to fiercely pound the thin quilt, filled with indignation.
Why, after living a second life, could she still not avoid tragedy?
She had great difficulty escaping that cage; she didn’t want to go back… She didn’t want to be trapped inside for the rest of this life!
Looking up, she gazed at the enclosed bedroom and suddenly felt her chest tighten unbearably. She shakily stood up, staggering to the window side. But just as she tried to push open the window, she accidentally knocked over a nearby lamp.
The moment the lamp overturned, the clattering sound drew Qiuying inside.
“Young Miss!” Qiuying hurriedly cleaned up the lamp on the floor. Fortunately, she arrived in time to smother the fire that hadn’t yet caught.
Qiao Shilian sat slumped on the floor, withdrawing her fingertips burned by the flame. That real, scorching pain calmed her somewhat.
To break free from this predicament, one must cut off the firewood to stop the fire.
She had to find a way to sever any possibility of her becoming the Crown Princess.
“Young Miss… are you still going to the Lotus Appreciation Banquet Consort Li is hosting in the palace tomorrow?” Qiuying asked worriedly.
She wasn’t blind to Qiao Shilian’s despondency since returning to the residence. However, Consort Li in the palace had sent a personal invitation to the young lady for the first time; it wouldn’t be good to refuse her face. Moreover, such banquets had a relaxed atmosphere. If the young lady went, perhaps her mood would improve.
“I’ll go.” Qiao Shilian allowed Qiuying to help her back to the bed.
That Lotus Appreciation Banquet—in her past life, Consort Li had merely sent the invitation to the Qiao family. This time, she was invited alone, which showed great favor. She also knew this change stemmed from Su Zhuoguang. Consort Li in the palace was General Su’s younger sister, also Su Zhuoguang’s aunt.
The news about the Eastern Palace moving up the Crown Princess selection likely came from within the palace. Perhaps she could glean other information there, seeking a turning point?
The next day, Yaoguang Palace in the imperial palace, with its green tiles and vermilion roof ridges, carved pillars, and emerald railings.
Qiao Shilian arrived fashionably late, seeing scattered figures under the corridor amidst layers of gossamer curtains. Most of those coming and going were noblewomen, but there were also many young talents from prominent families. Laughter and chatter filled the air.
Inside the hall, the emerald pool shimmered slightly, ripples leaping with gold, reflecting lotuses of various colors.
It was said the current Emperor, to win a beauty’s smile and knowing Consort Li loved lotuses, had expanded and renovated Yaoguang Palace, constructing this lotus pond. He also specially permitted Consort Li to hold a Lotus Appreciation Banquet here every year when the lotuses were in full bloom.
Qiao Shilian gazed absently at the clear, round water surface. Compared to the playful commotion of companions not far away, this spot, with only herself, counted as quiet.
Originally, she didn’t have many close friends. In her past life, because Fang Yaoyao accompanied her in everything, she knew many people but had formed deep bonds only with Fang Yaoyao. Thinking about it now, it seemed Fang Yaoyao had intentionally isolated her in such an environment, blocking all those who wanted to become closer friends.
Fortunately, in this life, she had met Zhou Shu. Occasionally troubled, she could confide in her. But after returning to the capital, Zhou Shu had been confined to her residence by Madam Zhou because of the Forest Hunt incident and was not allowed out, nor even to receive guests. Thus, facing a major event like the Crown Princess selection being moved up, she couldn’t seek Zhou Shu’s counsel.
With furrowed brows and a downcast heart, Qiao Shilian walked along the small path by the pool when she suddenly saw a woman in splendid attire standing by the lotus pond, accompanied by two palace maids.
The woman held a palm-sized white rabbit in her arms, stroking its soft fur as she lowered her head, the hairpin on her hair swaying slightly in the breeze. As if hearing Qiao Shilian’s approaching steps, she lifted her gaze—a glance like autumn waves, a thousand pecks of bright pearls seeming insufficient. Her dignified grace was beyond compare.
“Second Young Miss Qiao.”
That voice was quite pleasant, like polished jade, carrying a natural affinity.
Qiao Shilian curtsied. “Consort Li.”
Perhaps Consort Li’s location happened to be hidden by overlapping shadows of branches, so few noticed. Otherwise, the guests attending the Lotus Appreciation Banquet, upon seeing the hostess, would certainly not have let the scene remain so quiet.
“You don’t look well today. Is something troubling you?” Consort Li examined her.
Actually, Consort Li had spotted Qiao Shilian lingering by the lotus pond earlier from another secluded, shaded spot. She deliberately chose a winding, hidden path here to avoid being noticed by guests, solely to meet Qiao Shilian.
“Thank you for your concern, Consort. Shilian is quite alright.”
Qiao Shilian evaded. Today, to attend the palace banquet, she had concealed her weariness, applying much more powder and rouge than usual. But afraid of being seen through, she pretended to focus on the white rabbit in Consort Li’s arms.
Consort Li smiled. “Second Young Miss Qiao seems to really like Xiao Bai.”
Qiao Shilian was taken aback.
This name… Xiao Bai. She instinctively thought of Su Zhuoguang, whose courtesy name was Fubai.
“Xiao Bai is this rabbit. Because it’s adorable and lively, it was also favored by the Empress. But perhaps it was destined for me. Before the Empress could claim it, it ran to Yaoguang Palace on its own and refused to leave. Seeing Xiao Bai had chosen its master, the Empress couldn’t very well take it back.” Consort Li’s smile held an ambiguous meaning.
Qiao Shilian suddenly understood Consort Li’s intention. She was using the struggle over the white rabbit to enlighten her.
—To escape the fate of an imperial decree marrying her into the Eastern Palace, she simply needed to marry herself off before that.
When she lifted her gaze, she saw only the open daylight amidst the varying shades of red and green. On the opposite bank of the lotus pond stood a figure in white robes—it was Su Zhuoguang.
**