The air in the room was very still—so still that only the soft sound of breathing could be heard.
Su Tuan’er had already burrowed herself into the blanket and fallen into a deep sleep, while the man on the soft couch kept his beautiful phoenix eyes open, studying his bandaged fingers by the few slivers of cool moonlight that slipped into the room.
He couldn’t help but glance toward the inner chamber, then gently closed his eyes…
The next day.
Su Tuan’er was shaken awake from her dreams by Cuicui, who said they needed to go pay respects to the Empress Dowager.
Still bleary-eyed, she sat on the edge of the bed with a mess of tangled hair, yawning several times in a row.
She had gone to sleep with her hair still damp last night, and now she woke with a slight headache, looking utterly listless.
Suddenly remembering something, she lifted her gaze toward the soft couch outside and saw that it had been restored to its original state—Gu Yanbei was long gone.
Su Tuan’er let out a long sigh of relief. He had finally left.
But then she thought about having to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, and her head throbbed at the very idea.
That night, the Empress Dowager had been ready to have her beaten to death on the spot. She had only escaped by sheer luck, and the Empress Dowager’s face had been so green with fury it was unsightly to behold. Going to pay respects today—how could there possibly be any good outcome waiting for her?
Cuicui came over to help Su Tuan’er to the vanity to wash up, and when her eyes landed on the brightly stained handkerchief on the bed, she was overjoyed.
She sidled up to Su Tuan’er with a sly look. “Hehe… Niangniang, the clothes I prepared for you yesterday were pretty good, weren’t they? Hehe…”
Just hearing this made Su Tuan’er furious. She shot Cuicui a glare. “Good, just wonderful—so wonderful you nearly got me killed!”
Cuicui was momentarily taken aback.
It seemed last night’s battle had been quite intense. She had originally worried that her mistress’s body might not be able to handle it, but judging by the current state of things, her mistress seemed to be doing just fine.
“It was this servant’s fault,” Cuicui said, barely suppressing a laugh. “His Majesty is in the prime of his youth with vigorous blood and energy, and Niangniang is so breathtakingly beautiful… ahem… I’ve already ordered the kitchen to prepare a nourishing soup. Niangniang should drink plenty of it later to replenish your strength.”
Su Tuan’er: “…”
Cuicui draped a cloak over Su Tuan’er’s shoulders and pressed her down in front of the vanity to begin fussing over her. The palace maids Caier and Xing’er came in to bow and pay their respects, then went to make the bed.
When the two reached the couch, they saw the blood-stained handkerchief. Their movements froze, and they exchanged a glance, subtle expressions flickering across their faces.
Su Tuan’er happened to catch this scene through the bronze mirror. She twirled a strand of hair around her fingertip, remaining perfectly composed.
Those two girls’ expressions looked a little strange…
After washing up, Cuicui studied her mistress with a stern face for quite a while. She was annoyed that Su Tuan’er hadn’t listened to her and had dressed too plainly.
Su Tuan’er didn’t say much. She simply instructed Cuicui to bring the prepared gifts and set off for Yongshou Gong.
Her very entry into the palace had already displeased certain people, and then Gu Yanbei had made her a Guifei, and on top of that, there was the little show Gu Yanbei had put on last night…
Su Tuan’er felt that was enough to get her killed several times over. If she were to dress up in all her finery today, it would only invite more resentment. Keeping a low profile could never hurt.
What she needed to focus on now was how to get out of Yongshou Gong alive.
The sky was clear and cloudless, the blazing sun hanging high above, spreading a layer of golden light across the earth.
At Yongshou Gong, the consorts seemed to have all agreed upon a time—they had arrived in full force, each one dressed more extravagantly than the last.
The Empress Dowager sat upright in the seat of honor, staring at a black box beside her with a displeased expression.
Inside that box was the bridal cloth that had been sent over from Chang’an Dian…
Li Manman kept twisting the handkerchief in her hands, her brows never once relaxing.
The atmosphere throughout Yongshou Gong was heavy and oppressive.
When the announcement sounded from outside the door, everyone’s gaze turned toward the entrance in unison.