Lu Huaijin had left just like that. What if that old eunuch came looking for her again?
Her body couldn’t help but tremble slightly, a chill rising from the soles of her feet straight to her heart.
In the dimly lit room, Su Yao pulled the quilt fiercely over her head. She didn’t know how much time had passed, or perhaps she was truly too exhausted, but she fell into a deep, heavy sleep.
When she woke again, Chun Tao entered the room carrying a steaming basin of water.
“Miss, are you awake?”
Su Yao’s entire body ached, and she didn’t even have the strength to lift her hand. “I’m awake…”
“Please wait a moment, Miss. I’m still preparing the water; it’ll be ready soon.” Chun Tao busied herself with nimble hands and feet.
“Did the master ask you to prepare this?”
Chun Tao shook her head and replied, “It was Nanny Chang. She said this would make you feel more refreshed.”
Su Yao smiled self-deprecatingly. She had overestimated herself again.
That man merely saw her as a plaything; there was no genuine affection, so why would he care about such things?
“Miss, what about Eunuch Hai?” Chun Tao asked with a worried expression, her brows tightly knit together.
“He’s not a good person, Chun Tao. We must stay far away from him.”
Chun Tao’s eyes reddened, her voice trembling with tears. “It’s all because of me that you offended him. I’m afraid he’ll cause trouble for you again.”
Su Yao reached out and gently patted the back of Chun Tao’s hand.
On the other side, after venting his anger, Eunuch Hai suddenly remembered to question the little eunuch about how exactly this matter had been botched.
He quickly walked over to the little eunuch, who was already on the brink of death, lying on the ground without even the strength to speak, emitting only faint gasps.
A moment later, his eyes filled with a fierce, ruthless glare. Gritting his teeth, he stared at the motionless figure, then waved his hand. Several of his subordinates stepped forward, wrapped the body in white cloth, and dragged it away to Luanzang Gang.
By the afternoon, Su Yao carefully carried a tea tray to serve tea before the Empress Dowager.
As soon as she stepped into the main hall, her heart tightened sharply, for she saw that person again—the one who filled her with dread.
As soon as Eunuch Hai spotted Su Yao, his gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, his expression dark and gloomy.
He thought to himself:
What a pity that this little wench managed to escape yesterday.
But he wasn’t in a hurry. In this deep palace, they had plenty of time. There would be many days ahead.
Su Yao kept her head lowered, not daring to meet Eunuch Hai’s eyes. She stood quietly to the side, watching as Eunuch Hai leaned close to the Empress Dowager’s ear, whispering something in a fawning manner that filled her with disgust.
Listening to Eunuch Hai’s words, the Empress Dowager laughed heartily, covering her crimson lips with fingers painted with red nail polish. “Very well, very well. I’ll leave this matter to you.”
The Empress Dowager sat upright on Feng Ta, scrutinizing Su Yao inch by inch.
After a long while, she finally spoke again. “Come closer.”
Su Yao’s heart tightened. With light, graceful steps, she slowly moved forward and saw a register spread open on the table.
The scroll at the very top, tied with bright yellow silk ribbons and adorned with peony patterns, suddenly caught her eye.
That was the standard for Zongshi Guinu.
“Huaijin has spent all these years supporting me and my son, refusing even to take a concubine.”
The Empress Dowager’s fingertips gently rubbed a jade bead.
“You are the one by his side. You must know what kind of woman he likes. Help him choose.”
Su Yao kept her head lowered, her long lashes trembling slightly, lips pressed tightly together. A faint metallic taste rose in her throat. The bite mark Lu Huaijin had left on her shoulder during their intimacy yesterday still burned, yet now she had to personally push another woman into his bed.
“This servant does not dare.”
“I told you to choose, so choose. Why hesitate?”
Su Yao tremblingly picked up the album and began flipping through it, secretly examining the portraits. She had to admit, each was a beauty with enchanting eyes and graceful figures.
But the more she looked, the more she felt like laughing. Was it appropriate for her to be the one choosing?
“Mother Empress.”
Beaded curtains suddenly rustled as the Little Emperor swept in, the hem of his bright yellow dragon-embroidered robe carrying the morning dew.
Su Yao hurriedly moved to kneel, but her eyes first caught the golden-thread embroidered Xiezhi divine beast on Lu Huaijin’s black court robes. The beast glared fiercely, mirroring the intensity of his gaze now fixed on the scroll in the Empress Dowager’s hands.
Yet, she quickly lowered her head again, continuing to stare at the album in her hands, her fingers unconsciously tightening on the hem of her garment.
The Empress Dowager took in everything with a glance and suddenly spoke, “Huaijin, you’ve arrived just in time. We were looking at the selection of portraits for you. Miss Su was just saying the daughter of the Libu Shilang caught her eye the most.”
The Empress Dowager abruptly tossed the scroll into Su Yao’s lap. “Look at those willow-leaf brows. They even bear a slight resemblance to yours.”
Su Yao’s wandering thoughts were sharply yanked back by the Empress Dowager’s words.
The green jade scroll rod dug painfully into her palm.
She saw Lu Huaijin’s Adam’s apple move once within the coiled dragon-patterned mandarin collar—a precursor to his anger.
Her heart clenched violently. She bowed her head even lower, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Even without looking up, she could feel a chill creeping up her neck.
“Enough, put the album aside for now. Since Huaijin is here, let him choose for himself. You prepare Dian Cha for us,” the Empress Dowager waved a hand lazily.
“Yes,” Su Yao replied hoarsely, lowering her head and curtsying.
She had been meticulously taught the art of Dian Cha by a senior maid. Now, her hands moved deftly among the tea utensils, pouring water, whisking—each motion fluid and practiced.
Soon, the delicate fragrance of tea began to rise, permeating the entire hall.
“You’ve trained this one well. I am quite satisfied. Are you in a hurry to have her back?” The Empress Dowager glanced at Lu Huaijin, asking offhandedly.
Lu Huaijin’s gaze fell upon Su Yao, distant and cold, as if looking at an utterly insignificant stranger. “If Your Highness does not find her foolishness a nuisance, it is good. Let her remain in the palace to serve Your Highness. Learning more decorum would benefit her.”
A pang shot through Su Yao’s heart.
Yesterday, he said he couldn’t take her out of the palace. Now it seemed it wasn’t that he couldn’t, but that he didn’t want to.
She saw it clearly now.
Hypocrite!
Heartless!
Lu Huaijin’s expression remained placid, not sparing Su Yao another half-glance. “This subject has safely delivered His Majesty to Your Highness. Burdened with official duties, it is inconvenient to linger. I shall take my leave.”
“Every time we discuss your marriage, you act as if you can’t wait to escape.”
Lu Huaijin’s demeanor remained unchanged, calm as still water, as he replied unhurriedly, “This humble subject’s marriage is entirely at Your Highness’s discretion.”
The Empress Dowager was slightly taken aback. The words she had prepared to continue persuading him instantly caught in her throat.
In the past, whenever marriage was mentioned, Lu Huaijin would always refuse outright. Last time, when she deliberately tested him with that noble lady’s birth chart, he hadn’t even glanced at it.
But what had he just said?
To let her decide? Could it be he agreed?
Her vermilion nails dug into her palm, and it took a long while before she found her voice again.
“Then I must carefully select someone for you—a young lady of both talent and beauty, a perfect match in status and family.”
Lu Huaijin bowed and took his leave.
After Lu Huaijin departed, the Empress Dowager’s expression instantly darkened. Filled with anger, she found Su Yao increasingly displeasing.
“Get out!”
Her gilded fingertip guards swept across the tea stains still wet on the table, splattering Yuqian Longjing tea, which bloomed into brown flowers on Su Yao’s moon-white skirt.
Her face flushed crimson as she swallowed all her grievances, backing out of the grand hall step by step.
But no sooner had Su Yao left the main courtyard than Lu Huaijin’s personal guard, Chang Ting, leaped down from a tree.
“Miss Su, the master requests your presence.”