The entire bedchamber fell silent in an instant. Everyone held their breath, as if someone had passed gas and they were afraid to inhale the odor.
Prince An’s bloated face also flashed with anger. This daughter-in-law truly had no sense of propriety.
Upon hearing this answer, Xiao Jinyao, for some reason, felt rather pleased.
He naturally understood that this biased imperial grandmother of his intended to support Consort Tian’s side.
Su Yunxiu was dumbfounded. How dare Su Yunzhao act so boldly before Empress Dowager?
“Xiao Su, is this the Consort of the Heir Apparent you chose for Yao’er? What kind of behavior is this!”
Empress Dowager, having regained her composure, slammed her palm on the table.
Hearing Empress Dowager call him by his name, Prince An felt even more frustrated.
Xiao Luofan, however, secretly rejoiced. Imperial Grandmother did not like this temporary Consort of the Heir Apparent.
Once Xiao Jinyao died, she would likely be used for burial sacrifice, posing no threat to him or Su Yunxiu.
“Mother, please calm your anger…” The Emperor spoke up at this moment.
Today, he had only summoned Xiao Jinyao and Su Yunzhao to the palace. Prince An, fully aware of this, had deliberately brought Xiao Luofan and Su Yunxiu to see Empress Dowager, clearly intending to provoke his elder brother.
“Calm my anger? Does Your Majesty think she was right or wrong?” Empress Dowager instantly redirected her fury.
Meanwhile, Su Yunzhao, kneeling on the ground, wore a bewildered expression as she watched the powerful figures above her begin to quarrel.
“Imperial Grandmother, is it not this matter? I have only been married into An Wangfu for two days and have not had time to accomplish any other significant deeds.”
Her tone made Empress Dowager, whose anger had just been ignited, regard her with even greater displeasure.
Su Yunzhao understood clearly in her heart: with Prince An present, and Xiao Luofan—whom Empress Dowager favored even more—even Xiao Jinyao, the legitimate grandson, had to step aside, let alone herself, a mere nominal Consort of the Heir Apparent.
“Hmph, you are indeed glib-tongued and disrespectful to your elders. You arbitrarily dealt with the nanny by Consort Tian’s side, and when Yunxiu kindly went to deliver clothing to you, you also picked a fight and had her humiliated. You, as Consort of the Heir Apparent, truly wield great authority!”
Empress Dowager’s words made The Emperor glance once more at Su Yunxiu beside him.
This second young mistress of An Wangfu was indeed restless.
After hearing this, Su Yunzhao glanced at Xiao Jinyao, whose expression remained unchanged.
Such neglect was something he must have grown accustomed to.
“So this is what Imperial Grandmother is referring to… Ah, very well. Since Imperial Grandmother says this is my fault, then it is. After returning, I will take the initiative to kneel and apologize to Consort Tian. If Imperial Grandmother is still unsatisfied, perhaps I should kowtow to my sister-in-law right now and admit my mistake?”
Though Su Yunzhao spoke of admitting fault, her tone was unbearably grating.
Hearing this, The Emperor was inwardly amused. How was this sixth daughter of the Su family so completely different from the rumors?
Su Yunxiu covered her mouth, feigning a shocked expression.
“Sister-in-law, you must not say such things. I cannot bear it… However, regarding Mother Consort, I do believe that as a junior, I should have gone…”
Su Yunzhao then let out a cold laugh and said, “Sister-in-law, you know you cannot bear it, so why do you think Consort Tian can?”
Her unpredictable attitude left Empress Dowager uncertain as well.
“Su Yunzhao, what exactly are you trying to say?”
Seeing the Empress Dowager's impatient expression, Su Yunzhao adopted a look of sudden understanding. "It's nothing. The most important thing in life is to know one's place and recognize reality. Thank you, Imperial Grandmother, for deliberately intercepting us from His Majesty today to teach us this lesson."
The Empress Dowager was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
Su Yunzhao remained as composed as ever. "On the wedding day of the heir apparent of An Wangfu, his old illness flared up again. Even Elder Mo personally went but couldn't suppress it. Though I acted recklessly, I ultimately saved my husband's life. I originally thought that upon entering the palace today, the court would rejoice at seeing hope for the heir apparent's recovery. I was even practicing how to thank His Majesty for his rewards…"
Su Yunzhao deliberately paused, observing the increasingly awkward expressions of those present, then continued, "I never imagined that saving the heir apparent's life would be less important in the eyes of the Empress Dowager than punishing a few presumptuous lowly servants… Those two matrons of Consort Tian—one refused to let me, a daughter of a concubine, enter through the main gate of the mansion, forgetting that I am the Consort of the Heir Apparent. The other directly sent me contraceptive soup. As the rightful Consort of the Heir Apparent, I still handed them over to Consort Tian for punishment. That was my mistake…"
Her tone held no questioning, no complaint—only statement.
"Yunxiu's personal maid brought a set of shabby ceremonial robes and ordered me to wear them, just like back in the Su family. In the end, I still handed the person over to Yunxiu and the managing Consort Tian. That was another mistake of mine…"
She took a deep breath and glanced at the Empress Dowager. "Imperial Grandmother, as a lowly daughter of a concubine who has suddenly risen to prominence, I'm still not quite accustomed to it. My actions are reckless. Please instruct me, Imperial Grandmother—what should I have done appropriately in such a situation today?"
The scene fell silent once more. Xiao Jinyao clearly saw the upturned corners of Su Yunzhao's mouth, not even hidden by her lowered head.
Su Yunzhao had taken the path of the green tea, leaving Su Yunxiu with nowhere to go, ultimately forcing her to kneel on the ground, continuously admitting her mistakes.
"Imperial Grandmother, it was Yunxiu who failed to express clearly earlier. Indeed, the maidservant beside me didn't understand the rules and offended sister-in-law with her words… However, sister-in-law never displayed any medical skills in the Su family. This time, being able to hit the mark by accident, besides luck, must also be thanks to Elder Mo's superb medical skills…"
Su Yunzhao sneered inwardly. Since they couldn't crush her with rules, they now wanted to directly undermine the very foundation she would rely on in the future.
She gave Su Yunxiu no further chance. "Naturally, Yunxiu wouldn't know. After all, all the medicinal meals I sincerely developed for the family over the years were carefully fed to dogs by my cautious younger sister to test for poison…"
Su Yunxiu's heart grew even more panicked. Was this Su Yunzhao planning to sever ties with the Su family?
Having already offended the Empress Dowager, she still dared to mention the Su family?
The expressions of those above varied greatly.
The Empress Dowager and Prince An were extremely displeased, the Empress wore a gloomy, probing look, while the Emperor appeared quite intrigued.
Xiao Jinyao, sitting to the side, suddenly changed color, clutching his chest as cold sweat broke out.
"Someone, summon the imperial physician immediately!"
Without any hesitation, the Emperor called out.
"No need… let the Consort of the Heir Apparent handle it…"
Xiao Jinyao's voice had grown faint, but his words shocked everyone.
Su Yunzhao glanced at the Empress Dowager. "Imperial Grandmother, may I rise now?"
The Empress Dowager felt a tightness in her chest, already unwilling to see this disrespectful Consort of the Heir Apparent any longer.
"Yao'er's health is of utmost importance. Since you possess this ability, you should naturally devote yourself wholeheartedly."
As Su Yunzhao walked toward Xiao Jinyao, she murmured, "Your Majesty is right. Now that I have married into this family, as long as the heir apparent remains well, I, as the Consort of the Heir Apparent, can hold my position securely…"
In her heart, Su Yunxiu seethed with helpless fury—that wretched woman.
Su Yunzhao checked Xiao Jinyao's pulse and found that he was not seriously ill.
Noticing Xiao Jinyao's slightly evasive gaze, Su Yunzhao felt a warmth in her heart. Indeed, the heir apparent was not unfeeling—he had begun to protect his wife.