Su Yuewu’s words truly struck Lady Qi’s heart.
She had genuinely feared that this esteemed sister-in-law might exploit her mother-in-law’s loyalty to force the entire family to risk their lives for her.
A few days ago, when her husband took their hard-earned savings to help his sister prepare for entering the palace, she knew about it and had no objections—it was to repay a debt of gratitude.
They could tighten their belts and reduce expenses, but risking their lives and fortunes was unacceptable.
Not only did she have a daughter still in infancy, but Lady Qi herself had been cherished by her parents since childhood. Her husband might be incompetent, but he was obedient and compliant, and now he was even striving to study and prepare for examinations. Why should she jeopardize such a stable life?
After hearing Su Yuewu’s words and realizing it was all her mother-in-law’s unilateral wish, Lady Qi finally felt relieved.
After escorting the Edict-Announcing Eunuch away, Su Ziyuan returned only to learn that Concubine Yun had fallen ill again.
Currently overwhelmed with tasks, he couldn’t attend to her personally. He instructed a servant to relay a message to his eldest son to summon a physician, while he hurriedly arranged everything needed for his daughter’s entry into the palace.
Money was not the priority; crucial items were clothing, jewelry, and hiring an experienced female instructor to teach the secrets—these were essential for pleasing the emperor.
He took a few days’ leave from the Imperial Academy. His colleagues, aware that it was for his daughter’s palace entry, showed unprecedented enthusiasm, even boldly joking and calling him the “Imperial Father-in-Law.”
Su Ziyuan verbally declined the title but inwardly felt immensely gratified.
He felt this daughter had not been raised in vain and, for once, reminisced about his deceased wife. After dinner, he visited the ancestral hall and offered three incense sticks.
Time passed swiftly, and soon it was June eighteenth.
The Su family gathered at Peach Blossom Residence, with even Concubine Yun dragging herself there despite her illness, but Su Yuan was conspicuously absent.
Su Ziyuan frowned: “Where has he gone? What could be more important than his own sister entering the palace?”
Su Yuewu understood perfectly.
A few days earlier, Su Yuan insisted on talking with her, but his so-called conversation merely reiterated his paternal elder-brother sentiments, blaming her for being unreasonable and saying those words had wounded his brotherly heart.
The only difference from before was perhaps his slightly improved attitude—no longer resorting to harsh, scolding reprimands as he once did.
If it were the young Su Yuewu, softened by his coaxing, she would likely have instantly shed all grievances, buried herself in his embrace weeping, and then obediently clung to him as his little shadow again.
But people grow up; no one remains a puppet doll forever.
Su Yuan, failing to get the desired response, felt disappointed and angry. He declared that since she was so immature, he would henceforth consider Su Yuewan as his only sister. Whether she gained glory and wealth or suffered neglect and hardship in the palace, it would no longer concern him.
Su Yuewu hoped he would keep his word.
Yet she knew this was merely his tactic to force her submission.
It had always been like this: whenever she “misbehaved,” Su Yuan would deliberately cold-shoulder her, then openly display affectionate indulgence toward Su Yuewan in her presence. When Su Yuewu grew furious and ran off crying, he would reappear at the right moment, asking coldly: “Do you realize your mistake?”
“Everyone prefers gentle, well-behaved young ladies. If you keep acting unruly, no one will like you.”
“Even your brother.”
Su Yuewu emerged from her memories, feeling that her past self was laughably foolish.
She absentmindedly smoothed the wrinkles on her sleeve and said to Su Ziyuan, “Father, we must not miss the auspicious hour for entering the palace. I should be on my way.”
“Ah, yes.” Su Ziyuan wore a forced smile. “Your brother must have been delayed by something. Let’s go out first.”
“Sister, won’t you wait a little longer for Second Brother? He has always doted on you so much. If you leave like this, he will surely be heartbroken.”
Su Yuewan supported the pale-faced Concubine Yun, blinking her innocent doe-like eyes as she spoke.
Su Ziyuan frowned with displeasure. Entering the palace was a matter of utmost importance. Even if the legitimate son were absent—or even kidnapped by bandits—it could not delay his daughter’s entry into the palace!
However, before he could speak, Concubine Yun weakly chided first, “Wan’er, don’t talk nonsense. Matters have their priorities. Do you think everyone is as childish as you, only knowing to look for Father and Brother every day? Our Wu is a sensible child who naturally prioritizes important matters.”
Only then did Su Ziyuan’s expression soften slightly.
Su Yuewan hurriedly admitted her mistake, “It’s all my fault. I care too much about Brother and fear he will be hurt.”
Su Yuewu watched their coordinated performance calmly.
She had already glimpsed the corner of a bamboo-green robe at the doorway.
It was obvious whom these words were meant for.
But Su Yuewu didn’t care in the slightest.
She even smiled, speaking to Su Yuewan with interest, “Awan, I remember you told me when we were young that Second Brother liked you the most, didn’t you? Well, from now on, I give this brother to you.”
At the doorway, the bamboo-green robe corner jerked violently, then vanished from sight in an instant.
Su Yuewu calmly withdrew her gaze. “Let’s go.”
According to the dynasty’s regulations, imperial consorts selected for the palace rode in their family’s carriages to the Xuanwu Gate, where they were then escorted into the inner court by matrons and eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department.
At the main gate of the Su residence, Su Ziyuan tearfully led the family in performing a kneeling bow to Su Yuewu.
“After today’s parting, we do not know if we will ever have the chance to see our flesh and blood again. We only pray that Your Highness treasures herself, serves His Majesty with reverence, and does not worry about us, your humble subjects.”
This display of deep father-daughter affection caught the attention of passing commoners, who couldn’t help but stop to watch, sighing with emotion.
Su Yuewu looked at the sea of bowed heads before her, and a strange feeling suddenly rose in her heart. Her long, delicate eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath her eyes.
Was this the taste of power?
Even though she had only barely touched the outermost fringes of it, it could make her own flesh and blood—who had once discarded her like worthless trash—prostrate themselves on the ground, and make her enemies pale with fear.
Su Yuewu lowered her eyes slightly. With others present, she put on the act of a dutiful daughter, gently helping him up. “Father, please rise quickly. I will remember your words, and I hope you take care of yourself as well.”
Su Ziyuan immediately performed an expression of being moved to tears.
Su Yuewu tugged at the corner of her lips, saying no more. She took Luzhi’s hand and turned to board the carriage.
Before the carriage curtain fell, she glanced at the blue bricks and vermilion gates outside the Su residence, at the red-lacquered plaque, as if seeing scenes of joy and sorrow from her youth; as if seeing the naive girl who, at her coming-of-age ceremony, stubbornly ran home from the Eastern Palace, clinging to the dream of “one love for a lifetime”; and seeing the despair that followed, when her closest kin shattered her foolish illusions…
The slender, delicate hand withdrew, and the carriage curtain embroidered with entwined lotus patterns slowly fell back into place. Inside the compartment, darkness enveloped the space. The vermilion-lacquered wheels rumbled as they rolled, drowning out the clamor of pedestrians on the bustling streets, carrying the carriage into the most prosperous, yet most mysterious and turbulent part of the Divine Capital.