Daiyan Garden

  Su Jingxi has been quietly waiting for the imperial decree to return to the palace, but five days have passed and there is no news coming out. Similarly, she hasn't seen him in these five days either.

  "Master, your wound has healed," Ling Yao exclaimed excitedly as she pulled down her skirt.

  Su Jingxiao also smiled, "The imperial gift of Snowflake Skin Cream uses all sorts of precious medicinal materials, so its effects are naturally good."

  "You know everything, Master"

  Su Jing swept a glance at the small bottle placed on the table, only about two thumbs in size, but the medicinal materials used were all precious, and even if one was sold, the silver would be enough for an ordinary family to use for a lifetime, or even priceless.

  Perhaps she has been in this world for a long time, so long that she has already identified with this hierarchical system and does not feel sad or sympathetic about it. Being born into different families and having different lives is just the natural course of things.

  Perhaps sometimes I envy the ordinary life of ordinary people, perhaps sometimes I feel tired when facing these intrigues and struggles, but no matter what, those are just thoughts, not reality. It's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it's hard to go from luxury to frugality, this is not just a cliché, it's the truth.

  If she were to become an ordinary person, worrying about her livelihood every day, or a servant girl trying to please her master in every way possible, if these things had been so from the beginning, perhaps she would have accepted them and tried to make herself more comfortable.

  However, now she can't and has no way to do so, but at the same time, she will still think of ways to make herself more comfortable, live more freely, worry less, and be less afraid.

  So she still has to fight for favor and never stops.

  "Master, Su Gonggong has arrived," Xiang rushed in and announced.

  Su Jing nodded, "Let him in quickly."

  "This humble servant greets Master Zhen."

  "Governor Su, no need for excessive courtesy. Please take a seat and have some tea," Su Jing said with a wave of her hand. "I don't know what brings you here today."

  Su Shunan carefully sat on the edge of the stool, not daring to sit fully, "The Emperor has ordered me to come over, please ask Master Zhen to meet at the Star-Gazing Pavilion tonight."

  Su Jing raised an eyebrow, "I wonder if there are any other sisters traveling with you"

  "Zhen zhuzi good dress up then is," Su Shun said nothing in response, only vaguely mentioned, "Slave still have to go back to serve the emperor, slave bid farewell."

  "Oh, right, this is the venison obtained by His Majesty himself during the hunt, sent over for Master Zhen to taste the freshness," Su Shun said as he stood up and took a step forward, pointing at the small eunuch holding something by the door.

  Su Jing swept a glance and smiled, "Thanks to Su Gonggong for thanking the Emperor on behalf of Benpin."

  "This is natural," Su Shun said with a slight bow and walked out.

  "Take the venison to the kitchen, let's have it for lunch today."

  Jiangxuezhai

  "Master, the informant has come to report that Su Gonggong has gone to Daiman Garden, and he also brought venison, which is said to be hunted by the Emperor himself," a palace maid beside Shangguan Mei came over to report.

  Shangguan Mei, now known as Xi Xiao Yi, was furious. "My maternal grandmother gave me those clues not to know these useless messages, I want to know about the Emperor, the Emperor, do you understand?"

  The palace maid involuntarily shrank back, "Your servant understands, your servant knows her mistake, begging master to spare her life."

  She was assigned to the Crystal Pavilion by the Empress Dowager, originally with three others. Now only she remains in attendance on their lord and master, while the other three are said to have gone elsewhere. What that elsewhere might be, everyone understands in their hearts.

  Shangguan Mei took a sip of tea and composed herself, "Alright, put away that useless look on your face. Who do you want to cry for? This unlucky expression is annoying just to look at."

  The palace maid hastily wiped her face and knocked her head again, bowing even lower, not daring to make a sound.

  "Alright, I'm fine now. Go out and get some food, I'm starving."

  The palace maid responded with a sound, as if she had received a great pardon, and hastily retreated.

  Xiao Han Zhai

  "Your Majesty, Su Gonggong has just gone to the Daiyan Garden," said Zi Zhu, a palace maid beside Xiang Yu.

  Xiang Xieyu put down her embroidery and asked, "Do you know why she left?"

  "Returning to the main topic, our people didn't dare get close, and the people around Zhen Niang were too tight-lipped, only knowing that after Su Gonggong left, they took the venison to the kitchen."

  "Lu Rou hummed, I suppose the people of Yu Ling Zhai and Qi Wei Yuan would like to know," Xiang Jieyu gave a hint with her eyes, as for Jiang Xue Zhai, she automatically ignored it.

  No matter how useless a person is, they can't beat the powerful backer behind her - the Empress Dowager. For almost all women who entered the palace, becoming the Empress Dowager was their lifelong goal of struggle.

  "Don't worry, master, I know what to do," she said as she backed out.

  Daiyan Garden

  "Master, you look great in this outfit," Xiang said, serving her as she finished dressing and standing aside to praise.

  Su Jing smiled and didn't respond.

  Ying Yao helped her dress her hair, "You look good no matter what you wear."

  "Alright, alright, you two talk too much."

  Su Jing dressed up and took Ting Yao to the Star-Viewing Pavilion, there were not many people on the way, in the distance were mountains, lights flickering vaguely, trees scattered, quiet and a bit eerie.

  Master

  Su Jing took a deep breath, steadied her nerves, patted her hand and said, "Nothing's wrong, let's go."

  "Master Zhen, you've finally arrived, His Majesty is already here," Xiaozhu said as she walked over and curtsied.

  Su Jing saw the person and knew she had probably been schemed against earlier. "Take Ben Pei in."

  "Yes, as long as His Majesty has given the order, it is enough for just one person to go in."

  Su Jing furrowed her brow, then smiled faintly. "The Emperor's orders, I dare not disobey. Listen, Yao, you just stay outside."

  Xiang Yao looked somewhat worried, "Master, this..."

  "Listen, Yao Niang, the Emperor is inside, what can we servants do by going in? Don't worry, nothing will happen," Xiaozhi advised from the side.

  Su Jing nodded at Ting Yao and walked in herself.

  A winding stone path, with low flower clusters on both sides, and a palace lantern every few meters, hazy and unclear. Su Jing walked forward in small steps, the lake water rippling and sparkling, the pavilion surrounded by mosquito nets fluttering in the wind, with someone sitting vaguely inside.

  "The concubines pay their respects to Your Majesty."

  "Come over," Zong Zhengjin lay on the soft couch, holding a cup of wine, feeling quite comfortable.

  Su Jing walked in and didn't understand his intention, standing beside him, staring at him blankly.

  "It's been several days since I've seen you, and now even words are hard to come by"

  Su Jing pouted and walked over to sit beside him, "The concubine is not afraid of the emperor"

  Before he could finish speaking, a loud commotion came from outside. Zong Zhengjin frowned, "What's going on?"

  "Sushun Xian didn't know where he came from and said, 'Reporting to Your Majesty, Ning Liangdi of the Rose Garden has been stabbed.'"

  "What" Su Jing exclaimed in surprise and stood up.

  Zong Zhengjin was obviously calmer than her, pulling her down, "What are you afraid of?"

  "Concubine, concubine, isn't this too surprising?" Su Jing whispered.

  Even if her voice was small, Zong Zhengjin still heard it, "Follow me to take a look."

  Rose Garden

  "How is your master?" Zong Zhengjin and others walked in, Su Jing saw that he was just sitting there, not saying a word, so she had to speak up.

  The palace maid next to her was clearly frightened, trembling all over and didn't dare say a word for a long time.

  Su Shun strolled over, "The master is asking questions, why aren't you answering quickly? Don't you want to live?"

  The palace maid knelt down, sobbing quietly, "An assassin came in, the master fought with the assassin, and soon the assassin stabbed the master and escaped. The imperial physician is treating him inside, your servant."

  Su Jing looked up at him, he was still sitting there quietly, without a word, sensing her gaze, and returned a profound glance.

  Su Jingxi felt uninterested and walked over to sit down, secretly sizing up the room.

  For a moment, there was no one speaking in the house, and the silence was somewhat eerie.

  The imperial physician walked out and said, "To report to Your Majesty, Ning Liangyu is no longer in great danger. She will wake up soon, but..."

  "Just how" Zong Zhengjin opened his mouth, four light words.

  The imperial physician adjusted his words and bowed even lower, "It's just that the injury is in the abdomen, with excessive bleeding. In the future, becoming pregnant may be more difficult."

  "So," Zong Zhengjin stood up, coldly uttering two words, and turned to leave. As he was about to exit the gate, "Zhen Niang, come with me."

  Su Jingxiao was still in a daze from the series of events, and upon hearing his words, she looked at him blankly for a moment before following him as he walked away.

  Daiyan Garden

  "Master, you're awake." Jing Yao stood by the side, hearing the noise as she lifted the curtains and asked.

  Su Jing nodded and didn't get up, her head was aching, she had many chaotic dreams last night, fragmented, and she didn't know whether it was a dream or her own wild thoughts.

  Last night, Zong Zhengjin sent her to Daiyuan Garden and didn't follow her in. Instead, he left a sentence, "You don't believe me," and then left.

  Su Jing returned home and went to bed very late.

  She didn't know what had happened, and now that she thought about it carefully, she went to the Star Tower, not knowing why, but on the way there were no guards. After entering for a short while, the two of them hadn't even spoken a few words when news came that Ning Liangdi had been stabbed.

  In the Rose Garden, his attitude was indifferent, as if he had expected it all along, or simply didn't care. In any case, his indifference was somewhat frightening. A woman who cannot conceive and become a mother is equivalent to having her life buried in this deep palace.

  She couldn't help but feel a little dazed, if the person lying there was her, wouldn't he also be able to do so with such nonchalance, as if watching a play, and just like that, her future would be decided.

  He realized he was worrying for nothing, trapped in a dead end, he saw through her distrust, which was very disadvantageous to her. As an emperor, he could distrust others himself, but he couldn't allow others to distrust him.

  He knew, he seemed to know everything. The other day it was their encounter with the assassin, last night it was Ning Liangdi, without enhanced defense or sending someone to track down the assassin, unless...

  If it's like this, then everything makes sense, but in that case, he is too terrifying.

  Palace Concubine (Yi) / 33 / 33265

  Gong Shu