Thus, after Su Qingyao attended the bedchamber, The Emperor no longer summoned her for the night.
For the first three days, the Imperial Kitchen still showed some courtesy, but starting from the fourth day, everything returned to how it was before, and she could no longer enjoy such delicacies.
Su Qingyao was not particularly fixated on food, but Liu Ye, seeing her as useless, began to neglect her duties as before.
However, Su Qingyao had no time to concern herself with her. Recently, Hui Pin, the mistress of the rear hall of Biyun Palace, perhaps due to having too much free time, insisted on summoning her and Sun Xuanshi every morning to pay respects, and being late was not allowed.
Originally, Changxin Palace did not have such a rule of morning greetings. Even when the Empress Dowager was still the Empress, she did not summon imperial consorts to Kunhe Palace every day to pay respects. Hui Pin was merely a Pin-ranked consort, yet she put on such a grand display, which would be laughable if word got out.
However, no one among the mistresses and palace maids in Biyun Palace dared to offend her lightly. Both Sun Xuanshi and Su Qingyao were under her jurisdiction, so they had to obey whatever she said.
Thus, every morning before dawn, Su Qingyao would rub her eyes and rise, dress simply, and wait at the entrance of the rear hall. Sun Xuanshi, a few months older than her, appeared more composed, arriving earlier each day with a calm expression, seemingly without any dissatisfaction.
In her previous life, Su Qingyao had lived with her for two years and knew her to be the most gentle and peaceful person. Later, when both were promoted to Jieyu and moved to separate residences, they still maintained contact.
However, Sun Xuanshi was prone to overthinking. She often missed her family and passed away before reaching thirty, which was truly pitiable.
Thinking of this, Su Qingyao felt a touch of melancholy. After today's dull and awkward morning greetings ended, she returned and said to Sun Xuanshi, "After the afternoon nap, sister, why not come to my place for some tea?"
Sun Xuanshi, with her gentle temperament, smiled and replied, "Alright, I'll trouble you this afternoon, sister."
After the afternoon nap, Su Qingyao instructed Liu Ye to prepare tea and snacks, while she went to Sun Xuanshi's room in person to invite her.
On ordinary days when nothing significant was happening, the doors on both sides were left open, with only thick gauze curtains hanging over them to block the view. As Su Qingyao approached Sun Xuanshi's door, she saw that she was already prepared and about to leave.
Su Qingyao smiled slightly. "Sister and I truly share a connection of hearts."
Sun Xuanshi also smiled, and the two sat directly in the hall. On the table were tea and snacks, which Su Qingyao had specially arranged from the Imperial Kitchen, clearly showing her thoughtfulness.
After chatting idly for a while, Su Qingyao said, "It has been over two months since we moved in, and we haven't spoken much before. Now that we are somewhat familiar, I notice that sister seems troubled. Is something weighing on your mind?"
Sun Xuanshi pursed her lips and did not answer immediately.
Su Qingyao then dismissed the palace maids and added, "I'm not afraid of being laughed at, sister. I was also pampered at home, and now that I've entered the palace, I miss my mother the most. I often think that if I remain stuck as a Xuanshi, I don't know when I'll be able to see my mother again."
Sun Xuanshi did not expect her to confide first and couldn't help but tear up. They were both in the same situation, and Su Qingyao's simple words easily resonated with her.
"Me too," Sun Xuanshi said softly. "Since entering the palace, there hasn't been a day when I don't miss home. But it's difficult to advance in rank, and there are many things I dare not hope for."
Su Qingyao comforted her, "Sister Sun, don't dwell on it too much. Think about it—if we had married directly into a family, we wouldn't be able to see our relatives every day either. Entering the palace just means seeing them a few times less; in essence, there isn't much difference."
Sun Xuanshi gently shook her head: "No… I can't go back."
Her voice was mournful, carrying an inconsolable sorrow. Su Qingyao stared at her blankly before noticing her eyes were red and tears had already fallen.
"Sister Sun… try to think more positively," Su Qingyao sighed.
A person's character cannot change overnight. Seeing Sun Xuanshi like this, there must be other regrets she couldn't openly discuss. Su Qingyao could only slowly guide her, striving to make her days more comfortable.
At sunset that day, it was Liu Ye again who went to fetch the evening meal. As soon as she left, Su Qingyao said to Liu Qin, "Take some silver and go to the Eastern Six Palaces Corner Room. Ask if they have any silk cords in prettier colors. I want to make some knotting."
The Eastern Six Palaces Corner Room was a service office. Usually, requests for water, parking, summer ice, and winter charcoal were all handled from here to the various palaces. Palace consorts who wanted items beyond their allotted provisions could also use silver to bribe the Zhong Jian here—with money, anything could be bought.
In her previous long life, Su Qingyao had taught herself many skills. In needlework, whether it was Su embroidery, Shu embroidery, or knotting, she excelled at everything. Academically, having nothing else to do but read, she was not exactly erudite but no less knowledgeable than the average scholar or imperial examination candidate.
Moreover, due to years of copying sutras and practicing calligraphy, her handwriting was quite refined. Whether it was Buddhist sutra regular script or slender gold script, she could produce them effortlessly. Even the official script could be written neatly and precisely—her calligraphy skills were truly outstanding.
Originally, she hadn't felt particularly enthusiastic, but today, upon hearing Hui Pin mention that The Emperor's birthday was in June, she suddenly remembered this important event.
In her later years in her previous life, she lived during the Xingwu era and had grown accustomed to Emperor Xingwu's birthdays, naturally forgetting the birthday of the current "late emperor." This was somewhat understandable.
Since waking up that day, many things from her youth had become hazy, and she had no recollection of what birthday gift she had originally prepared. For now, the only solution was to hastily make a time-saving auspicious longevity knot to get through the occasion.
After clarifying who it was for, Liu Qin took a full twenty taels of silver before leaving. Su Qingyao remained alone in the bedchamber, intending to read for a while, when she looked up and saw Liu Ye's figure returning outside the window.
Usually, it took her nearly half an hour to go to the Imperial Kitchen. Why had she returned in just two quarters today? Su Qingyao noted this in her mind but noticed Liu Ye hesitating at the courtyard gate for a moment before dawdling her way in.
Su Qingyao frowned slightly. Her heartbeat suddenly quickened, and a faint sense of crisis arose, sending a momentary chill down her spine.
This had never happened before.
Su Qingyao's heart sank. She picked up her book, pretending nothing was wrong, and continued reading.
Over the past few days, Liu Ye had indeed returned from fetching meals about a quarter-hour later than usual. However, she had always been lazy and cunning, enjoying verbal sparring with maids from other palaces, so the slight delay wasn't a big issue.
But today's incident suddenly made Su Qingyao feel something was amiss.
However, with Liu Qin absent, she couldn't immediately confront the situation. She had to patiently wait for Liu Ye to come in and assess the matter before deciding what to do.
In the meantime, Liu Ye entered carrying the food box. She first glanced into the bedroom a few times, and seeing that Su Qingyao hadn't noticed her, she lifted the door curtain and stepped inside.
Since the side hall was not large, it was only partitioned into a small tea room, furnished with a somewhat worn small round table where she usually took her meals.
For the first time, Liu Ye properly set down the food box, carefully taking out each dish of the evening meal before circling around the screen to say, "Mistress, the evening meal is served."
Su Qingyao softly hummed in acknowledgment, adding only, "Liu Qin has gone out. We'll eat when she returns."
Liu Ye seemed somewhat anxious, but as she was usually less familiar with the mistress than Liu Qin, she found herself at a loss for words to persuade her now. She could only pale slightly and retreat to the side, her brow furrowed with worry.
She was not a clever person—full of ambition but lacking the skill and wit to match. Now, it was unclear which "noble person" she had managed to attach herself to, only to turn around and scheme against her.
If she had returned at the usual time, Su Qingyao might not have noticed anything amiss. But the journey from Biyun Palace to the Imperial Kitchen took at least three quarters of an hour, and today she had returned in just half an hour. Clearly, she hadn't gone to the Imperial Kitchen.
Seeing that her mistress seemed unaware of her hunger, Liu Ye couldn't help but speak up again: "Mistress, today there are dumplings, your favorite. I specially pleaded with the Imperial Kitchen for them. Have a couple to tide you over."
Su Qingyao had always loved dumplings. Aside from southern specialty dishes, she spent the most silver on dumplings. Recently, however, she had changed her ways, eating whatever the Imperial Kitchen provided and no longer being as picky as when she first entered the palace.
Still, whenever dumplings were served, Su Qingyao was quite delighted.
Hearing Liu Ye's words, Su Qingyao glanced at her. "You certainly know me well."
Liu Ye, not the sharpest tool in the shed, took this as praise and immediately grew smug. "This servant cares for the mistress, so of course I understand you."
Seeing the eager look on Liu Ye's face, Su Qingyao leisurely uttered two words: "No rush."
Liu Ye: "…"
Another half hour passed before Liu Qin hurried back, only to find Liu Ye had already returned.
Unaware of what had transpired earlier, she asked, "Why are you back so early today?"
Liu Ye couldn't answer. She stammered for a while before replying evasively, "I've always been loyal."
Though not particularly clever herself, Liu Qin was no fool like Liu Ye. Hearing this, she sensed something was off. Ignoring Liu Ye's shifty gaze, she went straight into the bedroom.
Su Qingyao was sitting there with a smile, neither reading nor drinking tea, but instead fiddling with a silver hairpin.
Liu Qin approached her and asked softly, "Has the mistress noticed something amiss?"
Su Qingyao nodded, gesturing for her to be quiet. Once Liu Qin understood, she spoke: "Is the matter settled?"
Liu Qin instinctively replied, "It's settled. That Zhong Jian is actually from my hometown. The silver you gave was more than enough, so I asked him for some extra thread. We can use it for embroidery ourselves."
"Mm, you've worked hard. But there's still some unfinished business—you'll have to make another trip," Su Qingyao seemed to be deep in thought. "But then you'd have to serve me dinner… What a dilemma."
Outside, Liu Ye perked up at the mention of silver. With little regard for propriety, she poked her head in and said, "Mistress, let this servant go. Sister Liu Qin just made a trip; she must be tired."
Su Qingyao replied amiably, "Wouldn't that trouble you?"
Liu Ye quickly said, "How could it? Serving the mistress is no trouble at all."
So Su Qingyao pretended to sit at the table, instructing Liu Qin to fetch ten taels of silver for Liu Ye and telling her to buy some good tea from the Corner Room to enjoy.
Liu Ye was indeed greedy for money, but she could not afford to offend the source of this lavish meal. Her small eyes involuntarily fixed on the dumplings on the table, and her steps toward the exit grew increasingly hesitant.
Su Qingyao acted as if she hadn’t noticed her gaze. Picking up her chopsticks, she selected a dumpling shaped like a gold ingot, dipped it lightly into the vinegar dish, and brought it directly to her mouth.
Seeing this, Liu Ye’s heart settled.
She hurried out of the bedchamber, unable to conceal the smile on her face.
Once Liu Ye had left, Su Qingyao spat the entire dumpling into an empty bowl and said coldly, "Ungrateful wretch."
The moment the dumpling entered her mouth, she had discerned what was going on.
It was a purslane-filled dumpling, but the seasoning was so heavy that the taste of purslane was barely distinguishable. If Su Qingyao hadn’t been particularly fond of all kinds of dumplings, she might not have noticed it either.
Under Liu Qin’s puzzled gaze, Su Qingyao said calmly, "The Compendium of Materia Medica states that purslane disperses blood stasis, reduces swelling, benefits the intestines, and promotes miscarriage."
"If a woman in early pregnancy experiences physical imbalance and consumes too much purslane, it can easily lead to miscarriage."
Author’s Note: Xuanshi Su: Heh, such a petty trick.