“Prince Hao…” Ruo Yuan’s breath hitched. Soon after, she became flustered and grasped Hong Li’s wrist firmly. “Did Su Xi-er offend Prince Hao? What should we do? Will she die?”
As Hong Li gazed at the direction the horse carriage left in, her lips pursed before as she put on an earnest expression. “She won’t die. I believe in her. Ruo Yuan, let’s go and check if the Beauty Palace has a back door where we can slip in secretly. We will wait here for Su Xi-er’s return!”
Right after her proclamation, an imperial guard from the Beauty Palace suddenly appeared. “Eunuch Sun has ordered for you two to be taken in through the Beauty Palace’s side door. As for the other young lady, just treat it as if she is still in the Beauty Palace.”
Hong Li immediately understood what the imperial bodyguard was implying. Pretend that Su Xi-er is still in the Beauty Palace. Ruo Yuan and I have to put on an act. We must keep ourselves busy with ‘serving’ Su Xi-er while also deflecting the other beauties who come to disturb us.
“Are you two still not coming?” The imperial guard saw that the two didn’t respond and couldn’t help but call out to them again.
Hong Li pulled Ruo Yuan, who had yet to regain her senses. “Let’s quickly follow.”
Ruo Yuan nodded, still worrying about Su Xi-er in her heart. Everybody knows that Prince hao is headed to Nanzhao. Why did he order Imperial Bodyguard Wu to bring Su Xi-er along with him?
Could it be that he’s getting Su Xi-er to wait upon him by his side? Aren’t there maidservants in the Prince Hao Residence?
Many questions flooded Ruo Yuan’s brain, and she couldn’t help but shake her head. There was only one thing ー Su Xi-er must come back safely.
~~~
At this moment, Wu Ling sat next to an imperial guard who was driving the carriage to the capital gates. Separated by the horse carriage’s curtain, he advised Su Xi-er, “I don’t know Prince Hao’s true intentions, but judging from his expression, it doesn’t look too good. You must be more prudent.”
These words are considered a reminder. After all, Su Xi-er is also a pitiful person. Prince Hao’s mood is unfathomable. Even though he is a bit interested in Su Xi-er now, who knows if he would kill her in the future?
Su Xi-er nodded and replied calmly, “Many thanks for your reminder, Imperial Bodyguard Wu.” She was then absorbed in her thoughts, her hands tightly clenched together.
I didn’t expect that I would be going to Nanzhao so soon. Her expression slowly changed as she recalled the memories of that night that were seared into her mind like a branding iron.
Su Xi-er shut her eyes for several moments. When she reopened them, gone was the distress that had been plaguing her until now. In its place was a profoundness and a fierceness that would’ve intimidated any who saw it.
The horse carriage travelled to the city gates where it was greeted by the imperial guards on duty. Once the two of them had seen Wu Ling however, the gates were opened without any questions asked.. Once they were out of the capital gates, their field of view became even greater, as did the speed of the carriage.
The night breeze blew the horse carriage’s curtain open, revealing Su Xi-er who was leaning against the wall of the horse carriage with her eyes closed. It looked like she was actually asleep, yet also contemplating something.
Hardly anybody knew about Su Xi-er leaving the capital. Even Pei Yaran thought that she was in the Beauty Palace, not even bothering to have people monitor the situation.
Given her temper, if Pei Yaran was to find out that Prince Hao had ordered for people to take Su Xi-er away, she would definitely not stay in the Compassionate Peace Palace peacefully. She may have even dispatched people to bring Su Xi-er back.
~~~
Pei Yaran was currently sitting on the main seat in the Compassionate Peace Palace’s hall, waiting for Matriarch Pei to enter the palace.
“He Ying, boil a pot of spring tea of the highest grade.” Pei Yaran massaged her forehead gently and instructed the palace maid at her side without even sparing her a glance.
The palace maid became nervous and mumbled falteringly, “Empress Dowager, you have already transferred Miss He out of the imperial palace and back to the Pei Residence.”
The palace maid noticed that the Empress Dowager’s expression was strange, and became even more terrified. He Ying has always served the Empress Dowager, and was brought here from the Pei Residence by her. Now that she no longer here, the Empress Dowager is definitely displeased in her heart.
Right at this moment, a eunuch announced with his sharp voice. “Matriarch Pei has arrived!”
Pei Yaran immediately cast a meaningful look at the palace maids beside her and instructed them to be dismissed.
Lu Xiangning, otherwise known as Old Madam Pei, stepped into the hall of the Compassionate Peace Palace as soon as the palace maids had withdrawn,
Although Lu Xiangning was over 50 years old, she had taken good care of her health. Her skin didn’t sag, and Pei Yaran features resembled hers greatly.
“This subject’s wife pays her respects to the Empress Dowager. Wishing good fortune and health to you, Empress Dowager.” Lu Xiangning bent her knees as she paid her respects respectfully.
Pei Yaran immediately stood up and supported Lu Ningxiang to rise. “Mum, what are you talking about? There are no outsiders here, yet you still keep using ‘this subject’s wife’ to refer to yourself.”
“We still can’t dispense with the necessary formalities so as to avoid inviting gossip.” Lu Ningxiang smiled and patted her daughter’s hand gently.
“I don’t dare. Before I am the Empress Dowager, I am your daughter. In the whole world, where is there a mum who speaks politely to her daughter?”
“Alright, your mum can’t win against this mouth of yours. Did you hurriedly summon me into the palace because Prince Hao…” Lu Ningxiang paused, and observed her daughter’s expression, sighing deeply in understanding as she saw the wronged look on her daughter’s face.
“It has also been tough on you to enter the palace. You are young, and although your position is high… I feel a lump in my heart.” Lu Ningxiang raised her hand to wipe her tears.
“Mum, don’t cry. It was your daughter who was willing to enter the palace back then. Look, if your daughter hadn’t entered the palace, the Pei Residence wouldn’t have risen to power so quickly. Now the Pei Residence is at the summit of its power, and is Beimin’s largest clan!”
Lu Ningxiang gazed at her daughter. “Although you did contribute, the Pei Residence is here today all thanks to the efforts of Prince Hao. If it wasn’t for him…”
“Mum!” Pei Yaran yelled, before she lowered her voice again. “If Dad hadn’t accepted Pei Qianhao into the Pei Residence, how could he have risen to his current position? Similarly, if your daughter hadn’t helped him put things in order in the imperial palace, would his rise to power have been so simple?”
“Mum knows that, but you know even better than I that his contribution is even greater than either of yours. Since you are already Beimin’s empress dowager, it’s better for you to bury some love affairs and feelings at the bottom of your heart.”
“Mum, I’m only eighteen years old, and I have no blood relations with Pei Qianhao, so why can’t we be together? Success depends on one’s efforts!”
Lu Ningxiang immediately became solemn. “You’re acting willfully! Doing this will cause the Situ Imperial Household to be humiliated! You don’t behave like the Empress Dowager at all. If you want to be together with Prince Hao, you should wait for your next lifetime and stow away those thoughts and feelings.”
Pei Yaran pursed her lips. There’s no choice. I have already sunk into it. Long ago, before I even entered the palace, I had already fallen for Pei Qianhao. My wish for this lifetime is to be together with him.
Entering the palace and fighting in the imperial harem were all for his sake.
As long as the imperial household is toppled, everything will be within my reach. Let me see who dares to spout nonsense then!
But right now, I need to know exactly what thoughts Pei Qianhao harbours towards Su Xi-er.
I’m not scared of anything else. I’m only scared that Pei Qianhao will fall in love with another woman! However, I also know that there are very few women in this world who could cause Pei Qianhao to become enamoured with them.
