After closing the door, Qing Wu trotted over, her face filled with surprise as she asked, “Your Ladyship, are we really moving to the Rain Listening Pavilion?”
“Yes.” Su Tiyue nodded as if she had made up her mind.
Liu Wan was also somewhat puzzled. “But Your Ladyship, just yesterday you said Chief Eunuch Xiao had bullied you…”
Qing Wu chimed in from the side, “Exactly, exactly! Your Ladyship, that place is right under Chief Eunuch Xiao’s nose. He’s wicked, sinister, and cunning—who knows when he might go mad and kill us all…”
Liu Wan shot Qing Wu a glare. “It’s not that exaggerated, but Chief Eunuch Xiao is indeed a very dangerous person. Your Ladyship, why are you doing this? If he targets us everywhere after we move to the Rain Listening Pavilion, what will we do?”
“Exactly! Moving to the Rain Listening Pavilion is too conspicuous and unsafe. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
“…”
Regarding the agreement between Su Tiyue and Xiao Heye, Liu Wan knew a little, so when Su Tiyue proposed moving, Liu Wan was merely surprised, not as opposed as Qing Wu.
Su Tiyue quietly listened to their alternating objections before speaking calmly, “But for me now, the most dangerous place is the safest place.”
“Ah?!” Liu Wan and Qing Wu exclaimed in unison, their mouths agape.
She thought for a moment and said, “Although his reputation isn’t great, at least he hasn’t done anything to harm me… As for yesterday’s incident, it can’t all be blamed on him.”
Su Tiyue couldn’t fully explain the purpose of this decision to them, but she knew very well in her heart: the more Xiao Heye cared about the incident at the Wen Hui Pavilion, the more it meant she still had a sliver of hope.
Everyone said that Xiao Heye was indifferent to worldly desires, free from greed, and kept his distance from women—even he himself thought so.
Although Su Tiyue wasn’t entirely certain, upon careful consideration, in terms of the transaction between them, the best outcome for her was not having to serve the Emperor; conversely, the worst outcome was having to serve him.
Since she had already prepared for the worst, what was there to fear?
Rather than waiting passively for Xiao Heye to send her to the Emperor’s bed, it was better… to struggle desperately for one more month before that, fighting for that one-in-a-million chance.
Su Tiyue also realized one thing: the reason Xiao Heye was so furious, deliberately arranging for her to meet the Emperor and using His Majesty to intimidate her, was to cut off her inappropriate thoughts.
To put it plainly, it was still that age-old truth: lies don’t hurt people; the truth is the sharpest blade.
Because Su Tiyue moved to live in the Rain Listening Pavilion, the Night Silence Pavilion suddenly seemed to become somewhat noisy.
The banging and clattering from next door continued from noon until dusk. Having already been sleepless all night, Xiao Heye was irritated by the noise, unable to sleep or even read half a word.
Although Xiao Heye said nothing, Li Xun was constantly on edge, fearing his master might suddenly erupt in rage and involve innocent people…
So Li Xun took it upon himself to send a few people to the Rain Listening Pavilion, following along to see if there was anything he could help with.
There weren’t many servants in the Brocade Palace, but there was a lot to move. Standing in the center of the courtyard, Su Tiyue smiled radiantly when she saw Li Xun bringing people through the gate.
At that time, she was still wearing that set of purple palace attire, only wrapped in a thick dark green cloak on the outside. Her petite figure was enveloped by the cloak that dragged on the ground, its hem slightly dampened by melted snow.
Li Xun approached her with a bow, flattering with a smile, “The weather outside is cold, Your Highness should take care of your health. Such matters can be left to the servants.”
Su Tiyue responded with an “Oh,” saying, “Don’t worry, I can’t be of much help anyway. I’m just looking around.”
A gentle breeze blew, tousling the dark strands of hair on her forehead. It hadn’t snowed today, and the entire palace felt warm and cozy. Peering through the dark red courtyard wall, Su Tiyue glanced at the pavilion next door and asked, “Is your Director still angry?”
Su Tiyue thought to herself that she had been here for quite some time, yet Xiao Heye hadn’t come out to greet his new neighbor. As neighbors who would see each other often, if Xiao Heye remained cold and distant, it would make things difficult for her in the future.
With this in mind, Su Tiyue casually asked Li Xun.
Li Xun paused for a moment, following her gaze, and deliberately inquired, “This servant does not know which matter Your Highness is referring to?”
To recount, what stirred Xiao Heye’s emotions were three things: first, Su Tiyue’s commotion in his room yesterday, where she shattered his cherished Helan inkstone; second, Su Tiyue’s decision to move into the Listening Rain Pavilion without consulting him; and third, the noisy disturbance caused by her move, unsettling Xiao Heye’s peace of mind.
Yet, Su Tiyue was completely unaware of all this.
“Which matter?” Su Tiyue furrowed her brows and repeated the question.
Li Xun replied, “Is Your Highness perhaps asking about yesterday’s incident… in the Director’s room?”
“Hmm, did he get angry after I left yesterday?”
Li Xun crossed his hands in front of him, looking somewhat flustered as he said, “Yesterday, it seemed Your Highness was the one with greater temper, wasn’t it? The Director… wasn’t particularly angry.”
Well, the Director wasn’t angry. He just stayed up late and left the palace. When he returned, the entire Xue family had been wiped out…
This was something Li Xun dared not tell Su Tiyue.
Moreover, even if Xue Yu had committed a crime, he should have been tried by the Dali Temple before being sentenced. Even if he deserved death, following proper procedures, he could have lived a little longer. But Xue Yu was unlucky, having crossed Xiao Heye at a time when the Director was already in a foul mood…
This, too, Li Xun kept from Su Tiyue.
Hearing this, she smiled awkwardly, her face flushing as she asked, “I was rather out of sorts yesterday. Did I frighten you, Eunuch Li?”
Li Xun shook his head. Frightened wasn’t quite the word—more like astonished.
This Consort Shu, despite her small stature, had quite the temper. And to dare make such a scene in front of the Director… If it were anyone else, by this time next year, the grass on their grave would likely be three feet tall.
“Oh, by the way, Eunuch Li, I had someone bring some Xiangshan Yunwu tea, thinking of gifting it to your Director for him to savor. I wonder if he would like it.”
Li Xun let out a soft “hiss,” thinking for a long while but unable to recall the name of this tea. He then whispered, “Yunwu?” What kind of tea is this? Li Xun had never even heard of it…
Su Tiyue nodded and explained, “Yunwu is produced on Xiangshan in the Jiujiang region. Though not particularly famous, I find that the tea brewed from Yunwu has a bright liquor, a mellow and sweet flavor, and a lingering, refreshing aroma that stays on the palate.”
“Your Highness is also knowledgeable about tea appreciation?”
“Not an expert, just something I’ve been tinkering with. When you return later, take some back for your supervisor.”
Li Xun replied, “Yes.”