In front of others, Prince Hao bestowed the hairpin to me and permitted me to enter the imperial palace. Although this is a tremendous honour in everyone else’s eyes, only I know the bitter feelings associated with it.
Ruo Yuan saw He Xiangyu’s dejected expression and couldn’t bear to watch any longer. Hence, she remarked to Hong Li softly, “She’s rather pitiful. Despite being taken into the Beauty Palace and having a period of glory, it seems like Prince Hao doesn’t care about her anymore. As the days pass by, she’s going to lose her youthful looks. At that time, she will be even more pitiful. Let’s not disparage her any further.”
In fact, Ruo Yuan was completely unaware that she had inadvertently ‘stabbed’ He Xiangyu. Hong Li could no longer hold her laughter in and giggled. She had actually been prejudiced against Ruo Yuan in the past. But now that I look at her again, she’s actually so adorable.
Su Xi-er’s expression didn’t change as she suppressed the smile that almost reached the corners of her mouth.
He Xiangyu’s expression abruptly darkened. I’m actually being ridiculed by a fat woman. No matter what my plight is, I’m still better than a fat woman.
However, this is not the time to be madly quarrelling with them. He Xiangyu understood this point very well.
Hence, she said, “Su Xi-er, I haven’t seen you in a very long time. There are some words I would like to have with you in private.” He Xiangyu paused at this moment to look pointedly at Hong Li and Ruo Yuan.
Su Xi-er passed her cloth bundle to Ruo Yuan. “You two return to the room first and tidy it up. I’ll go over later.”
Hong Li glanced at her before casting a meaningful look at Ruo Yuan and heading off.
After the two left, He Xiangyu walked closer to Su Xi-er and stopped roughly three metres away from her. “In the past, you were timid and afraid of getting involved. When you were bullied and hurting from your injuries, I carefully waited upon you by your side and braved dangers to steal medicine from Old Maidservant Zhao’s room for you. Every time, I would work as fast as possible so that I could help you. Afterwards, when I provoked someone I shouldn’t have, it was you who willingly went to take the blame. I didn’t force you.”
Su Xi-er watched He Xiangyu silently. Without the memories of the previous Su Xi-er, there’s little point in He Xiangyu telling me all this.
“All human hearts are made of flesh. After taking the blame, your work changed from sweeping the palace path to scrubbing the chamber pots. I, on the other hand, happened to meet Prince Hao while sweeping the palace path. I also didn’t forget about you after entering the Beauty Palace. But you…aren’t you clear about what you have done? Coming back to bite the hand that feeds you, you’ve caused me to be bitterly disappointed. How could I continue to treat you well?”
He Xiangyu’s eyes were overflowing with a pained look.
Since she’s playing this move with me, I have to give her some face. Su Xi-er sighed. “I remember all about how you have treated me well in the past. Since I had taken the blame for you, we shall write off our past gratitude and grudges once and for all.”
He Xiangyu harrumphed loudly. “Write off once and for all? How can it be that easy? Su Xi-er, you have had a radiant and beautiful appearance since you were young, and you have gotten even more beautiful with time. If Prince Hao sees you, he will definitely take you into the Beauty Palace. If you come here, you and I will be complete arch-enemies.”
He Xiangyu’s expression suddenly changed once she reached this point before she switched to a commanding tone. “That’s why you must leave the Beauty Palace. No matter what it is, you are not allowed to be here! Someone has actually died in this room!”
Su Xi-er’s intonation was raised as she replied with an “oh”. Then, she pretended as if she had suddenly realised something. “It can’t be that Shi Liu was killed by you, right?”
He Xiangyu was taken aback, but quickly refuted, “Su Xi-er, don’t slander me venomously! How could I have killed her when I was in my own courtyard that day? Su Xi-er, you have surprisingly gotten eloquent. On account of our old friendship, let me remind you of one thing: it isn’t so easy to stay in the Beauty Palace.”
In He Xiangyu’s eyes, the Beauty Palace was everything; but in Su Xi-er’s eyes, it was nonsense.
All the women in it get jealous and fight each other just for the sake of winning Prince Hao’s favour. However, how long does it take before Prince Hao would even step into one of their rooms?
I’m afraid that only his personal bodyguard, Wu Ling, as well as Eunuch Sun, who is in charge of the Beauty Palace’s order, would know. After all, Eunuch Sun had mentioned that he has to make a record every time Prince Hao enters a beauty’s room.
Yet, all the records are empty even now. There’s no sign that this will ever change either.
Eunuch Sun must naturally know that there is not the slightest meaning in every beauty in the Beauty Palace vying against one another, as well as the fact that Prince Hao treats this as little more than an entertaining show. Perhaps he could also be hiding something else, which attributes to why he only collects them but doesn’t let them warm his bed.
Su Xi-er smiled at He Xiangyu. “Alright, I have accepted your reminder. I won’t stay in the Beauty Palace. If you want to fight, fight with the other women.”
Su Xi-er than walked towards her room, leaving a perplexed He Xiangyu behind.
She really won’t remain in the Beauty Palace? She really won’t snatch Prince Hao from me?
~~~
Su Xi-er surveyed the room that she had been assigned. The decorations were simpler, but also refreshing and elegant. There were three rooms altogether ー the inner chamber, the outer chamber, and the side chamber.
Ruo Yuan came running out from the inner chamber and joyfully exclaimed, “I have tidied the place up for you. You will be sleeping on a huge bed inside! Its size is double of those in the Palace Side Quarters! There are even decorative carved patterns beside the bed!”
Ruo Yuan’s eyes were brimming with excitement as she elaborated.
Su Xi-er replied, “If you like it, I’ll let you sleep on it.”
Ruo Yuan shook her head. “The bed is already laid, and it’s for you to sleep on. Hong Li and I will be sleeping in the side chamber. Although that bed isn’t as big as the one in the inner chamber, it’s still very large enough for Hong Li and me to sleep on.”
At this moment, Hong Li lifted the flowery curtains and made fun of her, “Make sure you stay still while you sleep at night and refrain from kicking me to the floor. I can’t bear your leg martial arts!”
Ruo Yuan waved her hand repeatedly. “I am very still when sleeping. I don’t budge at all.”
Su Xi-er smiled. “Alright, that’s enough. We will be secretly slipping out tonight. Didn’t you say you wanted to visit the night market?”
At the mention of the night market, Hong Li and Ruo Yuan became even more excited.
On the other hand, Su Xi-er was mulling over how they would secretly sneak out of the Beauty Palace.
~~~
Meanwhile, on the road to Nanzhao.
Seeing that the sun was setting, Pei Qianhao led his imperial guards into an inn in the province. They would be resting for the night before hurrying on with their journey the next day.
At this moment, Wu Ling passed a letter to Pei Qianhao. “Your Highness, this is from Ye Qingzhu’s messenger pigeon. Something major has occurred in the imperial palace.”
Pei Qianhao reached out his hand to take it, the corners of his lips lifting as he perused it. Wu Ling secretly sneaked a glance and didn’t understand. Why is His Highness revealing such an expression? Ye Qingzhu wouldn’t have sent a messenger pigeon if it wasn’t a major matter.
Pei Qianhao handed the piece of paper to Wu Ling. “Burn it. It’s nothing really major.”
Wu Ling took it and accidentally caught a glimpse of the words ‘Su Xi-er’. Hm? The matter is related to Su Xi-er?
Unable to suppress his curiosity, Wu Ling looked at the letter and was flabbergasted!
Su Xi-er has been transferred into the Beauty Palace by the Empress Dowager? The Empress Dowager clearly harbours that kind of intention towards Prince Hao. Moreover, Su Xi-er is an extremely beautiful woman. What is she trying to accomplish by doing this?
“Your Highness, aren’t you against transferring Su Xi-er to the Beauty Palace? Why aren’t you stopping it?” Wu Ling asked.
“I am indeed not going to keep her. Immediately turn back to the capital, secretly go to the Beauty Palace, and bring Su Xi-er here for this prince. If she’s unwilling to come, knock her out.”
Pei Qianhao’s tone indicated that he was serious, causing Wu Ling to be unable to fathom Prince Hao’s intentions.
