The next day, at Brocade Palace.
Since no letter had arrived from home, Su Tiyue worried that something might have happened. Early in the morning, she sent Qing Wu out to make inquiries.
Both Qing Wu and Liu Wan were her personal maids brought from her family estate.
Liu Wan was steady, calm, intelligent, and meticulous.
Qing Wu had a lively personality, was straightforward and carefree, and was more skilled at socializing.
Within the imperial palace, it was usually Qing Wu who moved around the most. She knew many palace maids and eunuchs, so gathering information was not difficult for her.
However, after waiting for most of the day, there was still no sign of her return.
Su Tiyue’s heart inexplicably began to panic.
It was not until evening that Qing Wu finally returned to Brocade Palace.
As soon as Qing Wu entered, without even taking a sip of water, she eagerly reported, “Your Ladyship, after asking around with several people, I finally learned that the master is no longer in the Ministry of Justice prison. He has been transferred to the Imperial Guard’s Prison.”
“The Imperial Guard’s Prison?” Su Tiyue and Liu Wan exclaimed in unison.
Su Tiyue straightened her posture, furrowing her brows. “Qing Wu, don’t rush. Speak slowly. What exactly is going on?”
Qing Wu replied, “I don’t know the specifics of what happened, only that it seems to be by the Emperor’s decree. The people who took the master away were from the Ministry of Justice, but now he is imprisoned in the Imperial Guard’s Prison.”
“Your Ladyship, the Imperial Guard’s Prison is under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Guards. I’ve heard that the people there are ruthless and cruel. They never speak kindly, only resorting to torture and interrogation… They don’t care whether you’re guilty or not. Once you enter the Imperial Guard’s Prison, you’re bound to suffer greatly.”
Su Tiyue’s heart tightened, growing more fearful the more she listened. “When will the Imperial Guard’s Prison release him?” she asked.
Qing Wu shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“The Empress Dowager is gravely ill… It seems that to save Father, I can only beg the Emperor again?” Su Tiyue murmured as if speaking to herself. This matter was actually decreed by the Emperor himself.
Liu Wan understood her meaning and felt uneasy, fearing she would compromise herself. “Your Ladyship, let’s think of another way. Not to mention whether we can even see the Emperor… even if we do, he might not help us. And if he were to develop ill intentions toward Your Ladyship, what would we do then?”
Qing Wu nodded emphatically in agreement.
That foolish ruler was no good man. If Su Tiyue went to see him, she would surely catch his eye. If summoned to serve him, she would undoubtedly be tormented beyond recognition.
“Oh, right! There’s one more thing!”
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Qing Wu exclaimed loudly, “Your Ladyship, I also learned something else about the Imperial Guard’s Prison.”
“What is it?”
Qing Wu said, “The Imperial Guards today are not the same as before. I heard the person in charge has changed.”
Su Tiyue frowned slightly, not immediately grasping Qing Wu’s meaning. “What does that mean?”
“Half a month ago, Chief Eunuch Xiao from the Directorate of Ceremonies merged the Imperial Guards and the Eastern Depot, giving them a rather unpleasant name: ‘Depot Guards.’” Qing Wu scratched her head. “Chief Eunuch Xiao clearly has no taste.”
Xiao Heye?
If Qing Wu hadn’t mentioned him, Su Tiyue might have almost forgotten about this person. She had met Xiao Heye several times over the past few days, yet when her father encountered trouble, she had not once thought of him. It seemed that subconsciously, she did not want to seek his help.
Su Tiyue let out a bitter laugh. She couldn’t quite tell whether this news was good or bad for her.
No matter how she tried to hide, she could no longer escape it.
In this deep palace, the things Su Tiyue could not control seemed to have been predestined long ago.
“Liu Wan, accompany me to the South Garden,” Su Tiyue stood up and walked to the dressing table, sitting down slowly. “And help me put on some nice makeup.”
“Yes,” Liu Wan replied softly.
Qing Wu, standing nearby, looked puzzled and asked, “The South Garden? Is Your Ladyship planning to seek help from Chief Eunuch Xiao?”
“Mm, no matter what, saving people is urgent.”
“But this servant has heard that the one in the South Garden is ruthless and cunning… Your Ladyship, please don’t go. Let’s think of another way.”
What other way could there be?
Su Tiyue understood better than anyone else. She was merely an unfavored consort. In the past, she had held herself aloof, unwilling to compete for favor, only wishing to hide away in the small Splendor Palace and live peacefully.
But now, with one incident after another, she had suddenly realized that in the harem, to protect oneself and those around her, one truly needed a patron.
To have a patron, she would have to become a pawn in Xiao Heye’s hands.
A few days ago, Su Tiyue might still have been hesitant, but now, to resolve the urgent crisis, she had no choice but to accept Xiao Heye’s conditions.
She was willing to become a pawn, but did the one holding the pieces truly understand what Su Tiyue desired in her heart?
As if having made up her mind, Su Tiyue picked up the rouge from the dressing table with her delicate hand and pressed it lightly to her lips. Her long lashes drooped slowly, concealing the determination and ruthlessness in her eyes.
“Qing Wu, don’t worry. Our lady knows what she’s doing,” Liu Wan glanced back at Qing Wu and continued, “Besides, isn’t your lady still with me? You’ve been busy all day. Rest early today. With me here, aren’t you reassured?”
Qing Wu nodded, half-convinced. “Then come back early.”
It hadn’t snowed all day. In fact, the sun had even shone for a while at noon, warm and bright.
But as night fell, when the two of them had only walked halfway, the sky suddenly began to snow, as if playing a mischievous trick.
Liu Wan carefully pulled up the hood of her cloak, trying to shield her from the falling snowflakes.
“Your Ladyship, if Chief Eunuch Xiao is unwilling to help later, we’ll think of another way. This servant doesn’t want you to compromise yourself.”
On the night Prince Rong had his accident, Liu Wan had waited outside the Night Pavilion for a long time. She didn’t know what Su Tiyue had experienced inside, but she had a premonition… a very bad one.
“Liu Wan, I’ve been thinking these past two days about other paths, other ways… Now that Father is in trouble, the Empress Dowager is seriously ill, and my eldest brother is far away at the border, our family has no other patrons left. Could we rely on my second brother?”
Su Tiyue tightened her cloak and continued, “I have only three paths to take. First, wait for the Imperial Guard to release him. Second, beg the Emperor. Third… go to Xiao Heye.”
None of these three paths was the best choice.
Her father was old, yet he had encountered imprisonment. The Imperial Guard’s dungeons were cruel and harsh—she couldn’t wait.
The current Emperor was licentious and tyrannical, lost in debauchery day and night. Su Tiyue was already unfavored, and it was uncertain whether she could even see the Emperor. Even if she did… would he help her just because she asked?
Therefore, seeking out Xiao Heye to plead for her father’s mercy was a choice she made after careful consideration.
Liu Wan said, “Your Highness, everyone is saying that Chief Eunuch Xiao… is a treacherous minister with ulterior motives. I fear you might suffer a loss.”
“I’m not afraid of suffering a loss. I know that in this palace, only interests matter, not loyalty. If enduring a small loss can save my father from the Imperial Prison, then it is all the better.”
“Your Highness speaks wisely,” Liu Wan replied, bowing her head as she carefully supported her, continuing their walk toward the South Garden.
Su Tiyue glanced at the pavilion not far away.
The Night Pavilion.
Somehow, ever since the incident with Prince Rong, Su Tiyue had only wanted to stay away from this place, away from the master of this pavilion.
Yet reality repeatedly pushed her toward Xiao Heye, inescapable and unavoidable.
If that was the case… then she would not run anymore.
Su Tiyue, on the contrary, had come to accept it.