Su Yao glanced back and saw Lu Huaijin had already turned his back to her.
She pursed her lips and said nothing more, following Chang Ting away with quiet, delicate steps.
Back in her room, Su Yao immersed her hands in the copper basin. The surface of the water was dotted with gardenia petals that swirled with her repeated scrubbing motions.
Only when she had washed until her knuckles turned white did she feel somewhat more at ease.
Nanny Chang hurried in with quick, small steps and asked, “Where have you been? You took so long to return.”
Su Yao’s fingers trembled, splashing water droplets onto the bamboo scrolls on the table. She hastily took a cloth and carefully wiped them dry.
She opened her mouth, but the words caught in her throat. Unable to answer, she changed the subject instead: “Did the Empress Dowager summon me?”
“Not at all.”
Nanny Chang waved her hand and continued, “I just heard from Eunuch Hai that the Empress Dowager is planning to host a Flower Banquet. We’ll be busy from now on. You just returned from the Empress Dowager’s side—do you know why she’s holding this banquet? Usually, it’s only held in spring. This is quite unusual.”
Su Yao naturally knew. This Flower Banquet was likely arranged to find a suitable match for Lu Huaijin.
Her eyelashes fluttered slightly. After a moment of hesitation, she gently shook her head.
Soon, the day of the Empress Dowager’s Flower Banquet arrived.
Given Su Yao’s status, it should have had nothing to do with her. However, the Empress Dowager had specifically requested that she stay by her side, which meant she wasn’t particularly busy today.
The guests attending the banquet were divided into two groups: the men in the front hall and the women in the garden pavilion by the water.
As soon as the Empress Dowager arrived at the pavilion, the noble ladies present all bowed in greeting.
“Rise, everyone. Let’s dispense with formalities today.”
The young Empress Dowager wore a dignified yet gentle smile as she raised her hand to excuse them from further courtesies.
Her gaze swept slowly across the crowd before finally settling on a woman standing in the corner.
She discreetly signaled to Su Yao, who understood immediately and walked steadily toward that person.
As she drew closer, Su Yao froze in surprise.
The person before her was none other than Zhao Zhirou.
Seeing Su Yao, Zhao Zhirou was equally astonished and instinctively blurted out, “Ah Yao? What are you doing here?”
“Miss Zhao, the Empress Dowager requests your presence,” Su Yao quickly regained her composure and replied calmly.
“Are you serving the Empress Dowager now?” Zhao Zhirou took a step forward and grasped Su Yao’s hand. “How have you been?”
Su Yao was momentarily speechless at this sudden concern, unsure how to respond.
The Su and Zhao families had always been close, and the two had known each other since childhood. Zhao Zhirou was four years older than her and now twenty-two.
By convention, a woman of that age should have long been married.
If not for the incident at the Ministry of Personnel years ago, this eldest Miss Zhao would have already become her sister-in-law.
Fate truly played cruel tricks, and it was her own eldest brother who had delayed this woman’s life.
Su Yao gently withdrew her sleeve, cleared her throat, and replied with distant politeness, “Miss Zhao, this way, please.”
Su Yao kept her distance only because the place was crowded and her own status was awkward. She feared that associating too closely might harm Zhao Zhirou’s reputation.
Understanding that this was not the time for reminiscing, Zhao Zhirou silently followed Su Yao to the Empress Dowager.
“Your subject, Zhao Zhirou, pays respects to the Empress Dowager.”
“So this is General Zhao’s daughter.” The Empress Dowager smiled, taking Zhao Zhirou’s hand and first engaging her in casual conversation.
Nanny Chang leaned close to Su Yao and whispered, “This Miss Zhao truly lives up to being a daughter of a noble family; every gesture and movement exudes a likable charm. It’s just a pity she’s a bit older.”
Su Yao followed Nanny Chang’s gaze to Zhao Zhirou’s gentle appearance and gave a slight nod.
How good Zhao Zhirou was, she knew all too well—otherwise, her brother wouldn’t have insisted on breaking off the engagement back then, fearing he would bring her down.
But Su Yao suddenly thought of the fate of the Libu Shilang’s family and felt extremely anxious.
What if the Empress Dowager truly took a liking to Zhao Zhirou? What should be done then?
The Empress Dowager led everyone to admire the flowers. At the corridor, they happened to run into Lu Huaijin and Lu Chuyao.
Lu Huaijin truly hadn’t expected to see Su Yao on such an occasion today, while Lu Chuyao appeared even more excited.
Su Yao stood with her head bowed beside the Empress Dowager when, amidst the tinkling of jade ornaments, a thunderous voice rang out.
“Sister Ayao!”
That person called out from afar, his voice echoing through the corridor.
This form of address immediately piqued the Empress Dowager’s interest.
She raised an eyebrow slightly, her gaze sweeping toward Su Yao, and asked, “You two know each other?”
Only then did Lu Chuyao realize his slip of the tongue, looking rather troubled as he glanced at Lu Huaijin.
Lu Huaijin, however, remained composed and unhurried as he said, “Your servant pays respects to the Empress Dowager.”
Seeing this, Lu Chuyao quickly followed suit with a bow.
“Chuyao? You’ve returned?” The Empress Dowager waved her hand and said, “Today is meant for leisure and enjoyment, so you may dispense with the formalities.”
Lu Huaijin’s gaze inadvertently swept past Zhao Zhirou, who stood beside the Empress Dowager. Instantly, Zhao Zhirou’s cheeks flushed crimson. She lowered her head, her hands unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.
From the moment Su Yao appeared, Lu Chuyao’s eyes had been fixed on her, unable to look away.
Having finally found an opportunity to see her, his heart was filled with many questions that urgently needed answers. He couldn’t wait to ask, “Empress Dowager, is she your maid?”
A smile played on the Empress Dowager’s lips as she spoke unhurriedly.
“Not at all. Miss Su’s tea art is exquisite and has deeply pleased me. That is why I have invited her to stay in the palace for a few days. With so many people here today, why not let her brew a pot of tea for everyone, allowing all to appreciate Miss Su’s fine skills?”
Su Yao lowered her head and was about to reach for the teacup when she heard the Empress Dowager instruct again, “Go to my bedchamber and fetch the prized Pu’er tea from Yunnan that was presented as tribute.”
Su Yao accepted the order and left.
Along the way, her heart was filled with worry.
Seeing Lu Chuyao again only added to her fluster, as she pondered how to explain her current situation to him.
Before she knew it, she had already arrived at Cining Palace.
Recalling where the Empress Dowager had said the tea leaves were kept, she headed straight for the Empress Dowager’s bedchamber.
Incense had been lit inside the room, but the scent was completely different from what she usually smelled.
It was strong and somewhat cloying.
Su Yao had only taken a few steps forward when she suddenly felt dizzy, her vision spinning. Her body lost control and she pitched forward.
With a crash, she knocked over the teacups on the table, sending them shattering to the ground.
Outside the door, a dark figure lay in wait, having waited for a long time.
That person thought that no matter what, the time should be sufficient by now. With the amount of knockout incense in the room, not to mention a woman, even an ox would have obediently collapsed.
Yet he still felt uneasy, pressing his ear tightly against the door, holding his breath as he listened intently for any movement inside.
The room was utterly silent, without a single sound.
It seemed the deed was done.
The door was slowly pushed open, and the old eunuch, holding a handkerchief tightly over his nose, tiptoed quietly into the room…