Chapter 179: Volume 1, Chapter 179 — Cousin and Cousin, One Family

When Su Ying received the news to enter the palace, she was reading in the warm pavilion. Hearing this, she frowned slightly and looked at the maid Qingcha who had come to relay the message, saying, "Was it Auntie Yan Yin who came out to deliver the message in person?"

"Yes, Auntie Yan Yin saw the Grand Lady and hurried back to the palace. The Grand Lady sent someone to invite the young lady over." Qingcha said with a bow.

Su Ying was the most exquisitely beautiful among the girls of her generation in the Su family. Her skin was like congealed cream, her dark eyes held a liquid gleam, and her cheeks bore a faint pink as if rouged, her beauty rich and radiant. Especially those eyes, black and white distinctly contrasted, shining brightly as though stars had fallen to the mortal realm.

From a young age, Su Ying had been carefully raised under the Grand Lady's care, personally taught by her since childhood. As Su Ying gradually grew up, she came to understand what the family had in mind. She had always been obedient and well-behaved. Now that this day had truly arrived, rare ripples stirred in her heart.

"Let's go." Su Ying set down the book in her hand and rose. Today she wore a pale pink ruqun, the hem of the skirt trailing on the ground, rippling like green waves with each step she took, all the more accentuating her slender waist, graceful and elegant.

Su Ying curtsied upon seeing her grandmother, wearing a faint smile, her posture graceful. "Granddaughter greets Grandmother."

"Yingying, come sit." Grand Lady Su looked at her granddaughter with a face full of smiles.

Su Ying sat down with a smile, then spoke: "Did Grandmother have granddaughter come over for some matter to instruct?"

The Grand Lady looked at her granddaughter and said softly, "Your aunt wants you to enter the palace to keep her company for a short stay. Pack your things, and tomorrow we will send you into the palace."

A perfectly measured look of surprise appeared on Su Ying's face, and then she said, "Grandmother, Auntie is currently in the mourning period. Would it be inappropriate for granddaughter to enter the palace at this time?"

"You silly child, the Empress Dowager is grieving profoundly because of the Late Emperor's passing. Family members entering the palace to accompany and comfort the Empress Dowager is only natural. Besides, your aunt has always doted on you. Now is also the time for you to show filial devotion to your aunt." The Grand Lady said.

Hearing this, Su Ying said without hesitation, "Then granddaughter will heed Grandmother's words."

"It is good that you understand." The smile on Grand Lady Su's face deepened. "Yingying, you have always been a clever child. You know a thing or two about the current situation in the Hou Gong. Whether you can seize the opportunity is up to you."

Su Ying's face flushed slightly at these words, and she said softly, "Grandmother, I am rather afraid in my heart. In the palace there is Noble Consort Rong, currently at the height of imperial favor. Even though she is a divorced woman, His Majesty still dotes on her deeply. I fear that even if I go, it will be of no use and will only disappoint Auntie. If that were the case, what face would I have to face Auntie?"

"You must not think that way. You must consider that Noble Consort Rong saved His Majesty's life, so it is only right that His Majesty dotes on her. But no flower stays red for a hundred days. How could Noble Consort Rong possibly remain in favor forever? Moreover, with your aunt in the palace, she will surely help and support you. You need only seize the opportunity well." Grand Lady Su instructed gently.

Su Ying lowered her head slightly with a shy demeanor, her face faintly flushed. She paused before nodding. "I understand Grandmother's painstaking efforts, and I understand Auntie's intentions. I will be obedient."

Grand Lady Su nodded slightly. "Go and prepare. Bring more plain-colored garments. During the great mourning period, do not give Noble Consort Rong any handle to use against you."

"Yes." Su Ying rose and took her leave with a smile.

After she left her grandmother's main courtyard, the smile on her face slowly faded. She returned to her own courtyard and looked at Qingcha and Ruixue, saying, "Pack some light-colored garments. They need not be too lavish. For jewelry, just pick a few silver hairpins to bring along."

Qingche and Ruixue hurriedly bowed in acknowledgment, and the two withdrew to pack the trunks.

Su Ying sat before the window, gazing at the flowers blooming in full splendor outside. No flower stays red for a hundred days...

Grandmother's words were so true. Today it is Noble Consort Rong who cannot stay red for a hundred days, but what about the day it falls to her?

I fear no one in the family has ever thought about this question, or even if they thought of it, they did not take it to heart.

Su Ying slowly lowered her eyes. She had no way to retreat. The family had provided her with silks and satins, delicacies from mountains and seas all these years. It was certainly not for her to enjoy for nothing.

Early the next morning, a carriage departed from the Su residence, turning to stop at the side gate of the inner palace. Su Ying, accompanied by Qingcha and Ruixue, alighted from the carriage and, led by the palace attendants at the gate, headed straight for Funing Palace.

Rong Luoge received the news very soon after Su Ying entered the palace.

By this time, Han Xinglan had already gone to the morning court. Matters at the Internal Court Office were progressing smoothly. With Shu Shuyuan's help regarding the release of palace attendants from the Hou Gong, she now had a rare moment of leisure. Hearing this news, she looked at Wet Nurse Zhao and said, "Granddaughter of Prime Minister Su, niece of the Empress Dowager. That is rather interesting."

Wet Nurse Zhao, now wholeheartedly serving the Noble Consort, saw that the Noble Consort was in no hurry and softly reminded her, "Your Ladyship must not be the least bit careless. This Miss Su has a grandfather who is Prime Minister, an aunt who is the Empress Dowager, and an emperor cousin. Right after Your Ladyship spread the news of pregnancy, the Su family sent her into the palace, under the fine name of keeping the Empress Dowager company. What the true purpose is, everyone knows in their hearts. This must be guarded against."

Rong Luoge had not expected the Empress Dowager to use this tactic against her. She had only just become pregnant, and the matter of establishing an empress was not even in sight, yet the Empress Dowager had already brought her maiden family's niece into the palace. What the purpose was, she knew well in her heart.

It was impossible not to mind, but she also understood the current situation. Han Xinglan probably did not have much inclination to entertain this cousin.

But having no time now did not mean having no time later. First becoming a familiar face, then growing closer later, and everything would fall naturally into place.

Since ancient times, cousins and cousin-sisters have had many secret affairs.

However, the Empress Dowager had not made a great show of this matter, which showed that the Empress Dowager could not yet gauge His Majesty's intentions. She slowly calmed herself and decided to wait and see how Han Xinglan would respond.

Vying for favor and being jealous of other women was not her intention. If Han Xinglan wished to abandon his original promise, would she really have to spend her entire life competing with others?

With her temperament, that was naturally impossible.

Thinking of this, she looked at Wet Nurse Zhao. "Since Funing Palace is not making this matter public, Yuzhao Gong shall pretend not to know."

Wet Nurse Zhao was startled, then understood. The Noble Consort pretending this person did not exist was equivalent to not taking Miss Su seriously at all. If the Empress Dowager wanted to discomfit the Noble Consort, she would have to formally let Miss Su appear before others.

Given the current situation, the Empress Dowager probably could not do that yet.

Wet Nurse Zhao grasped the Noble Consort's meaning and also felt that Her Ladyship was truly steady. It was she, at her advanced age, who was somewhat unable to keep her composure.

Yuzhao Gong had no intention of provoking, but Funing Palace refused to stay quiet. The Empress Dowager sent someone to the front hall to invite His Majesty to Funing Palace for the evening meal.

Rong Luoge fell silent for a long time after learning of this. She had not expected the Empress Dowager to be so impatient. The person had barely entered the palace, and already she wanted Han Xinglan to meet this cousin and play matchmaker between the two.

Rong Luoge suppressed her thoughts. She wanted to see what Han Xinglan would do.