After the Prince Rong case was resolved, the rumors blew for a few days before both inside and outside the palace, few people mentioned it again.
Su Tiyue was also deliberately avoiding everything related to Xiao Heye.
As for the condition Xiao Heye had proposed, Su Tiyue naturally had no intention of agreeing to it, but she couldn’t think of a way to refuse either, so she kept putting it off, delaying her response.
Until that day, a letter from home was delivered from outside the palace.
The letter mentioned that her father had been taken away by officials from the Ministry of Justice.
Although it was only for questioning, Su Tiyue still felt a faint unease in her heart.
Why would the Ministry of Justice arrest someone for no reason? Her father had lived a life of integrity and loyalty—how could he face such a calamity?
Who in Yong’an City didn’t know that Su Tiyue’s father was Su Sui, the Minister of Revenue in the current court, an upright and loyal man?
Su Tiyue’s status was noble: her father was a high-ranking court official, her mother, Lady Yang, was a descendant of the Yang clan of Gusu, and her maternal grandmother came from the same clan as the current Empress Dowager. Even though she lacked favor in the harem, her reputation as a daughter of a prestigious family and the Empress Dowager’s care allowed her to live comfortably in Jinxiu Palace.
She had two older brothers. The eldest, Su Lin, was the renowned General Zhenyuan, but he was stationed far at the border, and she rarely saw him more than a few times a year.
As for the second brother, Su Lang? He was no longer young but had yet to marry or have children. He was neither skilled in literature nor martial arts, clever but not in a proper way—a true wastrel, indulging in drinking, gambling, and all manner of vices.
Now that her father was in trouble, the Su family had lost its pillar. To get her father out of the Ministry of Justice’s prison as soon as possible, Su Tiyue went to Cining Palace early in the morning, hoping to seek the Empress Dowager’s help. Unfortunately, the Empress Dowager had caught a chill due to the recent snowfall and was bedridden, so Su Tiyue did not get to see her.
Su Tiyue even swallowed her pride and went to Changsheng Hall, intending to plead with the Emperor. Sadly, she didn’t even get to see the Emperor, stopped outside the door by a young eunuch.
Who could blame her lack of favor? Those serving in the palace were all opportunists. If she were favored, everyone would flatter and curry favor with her. On the contrary, someone like Su Tiyue probably couldn’t even get an audience with the Emperor.
Thinking about it carefully, it made sense. With three thousand beauties in the Emperor’s harem, if every family’s troubles led to tearful pleas to the Emperor, he would have a headache just dealing with these trivial matters. Where would the Emperor find time for pleasure?
Being turned away at both Cining Palace and Changsheng Hall finally left Su Tiyue disheartened.
Little did she expect that on her way back, by the edge of Taiye Pond, she would run into Xiao Heye.
The two came face to face, and Su Tiyue had no time to avoid him, so she steeled herself and quickened her pace.
“Your Highness, please stay. This servant has something to say.”
Xiao Heye called out to her, his eyes glancing slightly at Liu Wan beside her.
Su Tiyue understood his meaning and had Liu Wan return to Jinxiu Palace first.
“What does Chief Eunuch Xiao wish to say?” Su Tiyue looked at him, her tone gentle.
Su Tiyue was beautiful, with delicate features and a slender waist. Even wrapped in this white fox fur coat, it was not hard to see her graceful figure.
With lightly brushed brows and a touch of makeup, her bright eyes and pearly teeth stood out even more, as captivating as a celestial maiden.
Xiao Heye strode up to her, bending slightly as he offered his arm. “This servant wishes to ask, how are Your Highness’s injuries?”
Su Tiyue hesitated for a moment, then gently placed her hand on his arm.
Speaking of this, Su Tiyue had to mention that the medicine Xiao Heye gave her was truly miraculous. In just a few short days, the wounds on her body had almost completely healed.
Logically speaking, the injuries on Su Tiyue’s back were quite severe, and the ointments from Jinxiu Palace would certainly be ineffective. Moreover, due to the Prince Rong case, Su Tiyue could not obtain wound-healing medicine from the Imperial Hospital.
“Thanks to Chief Eunuch Xiao’s ointment, my injuries have mostly healed.”
“Wound healing is simple, but those scars are not easy to remove. Your Highness is of noble birth, and it would be unfortunate if scars remained on your body.”
As he spoke, Xiao Heye took out an exquisite pink-white box from his robe and handed it to her: “This is scar-removing ointment. After Your Highness’s wounds have healed, apply it every night. Although it works slowly, if Your Highness persists, it should yield results.”
“This… I never imagined Chief Eunuch Xiao would even have something like this?” Su Tiyue smiled softly as she accepted it: “Then I thank the Chief Seal Keeper.”
Xiao Heye merely smiled in response without saying a word.
He supported Su Tiyue as they slowly ascended the stone bridge.
Taiye Pond divided the entire imperial palace into two halves. The northern side was mostly palaces and residences, where the Emperor primarily conducted his activities—this was the North Garden.
The southern side was densely wooded with few palaces, making it quieter—this was the South Garden. Of course, most of those living here were eunuchs, all under Xiao Heye’s command.
“I heard Your Highness visited Cining Palace earlier?”
Indeed, nothing could escape the eyes and ears of his subordinates.
Su Tiyue nodded, her voice low: “The Empress Dowager has been unwell these past few days. I thought to visit her, but unfortunately, I did not get to see her.”
“The Empress Dowager is advanced in years, and her health is no longer as robust as before. Consort Shu is thoughtful.”
Xiao Heye was the Chief Seal Keeper of the Directorate of Ceremonies. Matters of the inner court and affairs of the court, big or small, were all under his control. Not only did he know about the Empress Dowager’s illness, but he was also aware of Su Sui being taken away by the Ministry of Justice the other day.
He also knew Su Tiyue’s thoughts, but since she did not bring it up, he did not mention it.
After descending the small stone bridge and walking a few steps, Su Tiyue suddenly halted. Somehow… through the few bare, snow-covered tree trunks, she caught sight of the incense hall at a glance.
Perhaps because Xiao Heye was by her side, the sight of the incense hall always reminded her of that night.
The blood covering the ground and the tragic state of Prince Rong before his death.
Su Tiyue’s body trembled. In such cold weather, a fine layer of sweat actually formed on her palms.
Xiao Heye only felt the fingers on his arm tighten slightly around him. Sensing her unease, he followed Su Tiyue’s gaze and also saw the incense hall.
He frowned, inexplicably irritated.
“Does Your Highness have something on your mind?”
He withdrew his gaze, his eyes calmly fixed on Su Tiyue’s slightly pale fingertips—slender as scallion stalks, smooth as polished jade.
Su Tiyue snapped back to reality, realizing she had lost her composure, and quickly denied it: “No, nothing.”
“A few days ago, someone gifted this servant some tea called ‘Jieyou.’ I wonder if Your Highness would be willing to honor me?”
Xiao Heye loved tea and was skilled at brewing it. Everyone knew that to please this Chief Seal Keeper of the Directorate of Ceremonies, one only needed to offer fine tea.
Jieyou—the name was quite fitting. But whether drinking it could truly dispel one’s worries remained to be seen…
With such a warm invitation, Su Tiyue naturally understood Xiao Heye’s intentions. However, she truly dared not agree to his proposal.
Mutual use, each taking what they needed—it sounded tempting, but Su Tiyue had no ambition in that regard.
Let alone competing for favor—just the sight of that debauched and foolish emperor disgusted her, making her feel nauseated.
Even if, by some remote chance, she managed to win that favor, the Emperor had three thousand beauties in his harem. Who could guarantee that such favor would last forever?
By then, if she became a discarded pawn in Xiao Heye’s hands, her fate would likely be too tragic to imagine.
Thinking this, Su Tiyue shook her head slightly and directly declined his invitation.
“I’ve been out for quite a while and feel somewhat tired. Chief Eunuch Xiao need not escort me far. After all, the Brocade Palace is quite close.”
Seeing her withdraw her hand, Xiao Heye lowered his head and chuckled softly, not pressing the matter further. “Then this servant will not escort Your Highness. The snow makes the path slippery, so please walk carefully.”
“Mm.”
After replying, Su Tiyue hurriedly departed.
Though she never spoke of it, Su Tiyue truly feared him. Every time she was alone with him, time seemed to drag, the air grew heavy, and his overbearing presence stifled her breath.
Prince Rong’s matter, the conditions Xiao Heye had proposed, and her father’s affairs… one after another, they left her at a loss.
Lost in thought, she paid no attention to the path beneath her feet and slipped, nearly stumbling into the snow.
Jinx!
Su Tiyue cursed him silently in her heart.
Xiao Heye stood motionless, watching her retreating figure. Seeing her stumble and nearly fall, he found it rather endearing. A faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered in his unfathomable eyes.
He had extended an olive branch to Su Tiyue several times, hoping to recruit this Virtuous Consort as his ally, yet she repeatedly evaded him.
Why would Xiao Heye grow anxious if the fish refused to bite?
He was in no hurry. He had patience aplenty. And methods to spare.