Chapter 195: Volume 1 Chapter 195 She Doesn't Care How Noble Consort Rong Looks at Her

Funing Palace.

Su Ying stepped out of the main hall, and recalling her aunt's earlier probing words made the back of her neck tingle; the more she did so, the straighter her spine became, and the smile on her face grew even softer and gentler.

Her aunt had already taken the Empress Dowager's seat; although she hoped another consort from the Su family would become empress, her resolve was not very firm, mainly because of His Majesty's attitude.

Since childhood Su Ying had been different from her other sisters; the family hired tutors especially for her, solely to prepare her for entering the palace.

In fact, when Noble Consort Ming slandered before the Late Emperor to add a beauty to the then Crown Prince His Majesty, she had once suggested to her father that she should seize the chance to enter the Dong Gong, but her father, having reservations, refused.

At that time she realized she had missed the chance to give timely help; now entering the palace could only be adding flowers to brocade, but His Majesty's temperament was aloof and cold. She was still his cousin, yet after being in the palace so long she had never met him, which reflected his attitude toward the Su family, an outside clan.

Su Ying's steps grew heavy; she had no way out and could only fight.

She thought of everything, except that His Majesty actually liked Noble Consort Rong; she had always assumed Noble Consort Rong was merely a front, after all she had once been Princess Consort Qi.

Su Ying took a deep breath; being the Crown Prince's cousin was her greatest support, because it was a natural talisman. Moreover, that cousin status meant they were on the same boat, making it easier for His Majesty to accept her.

But now Noble Consort Rong was meddling, and the emperor's cousin had not met her; even with countless schemes, she could not make it happen.

"Miss," Rui Xue, anxiously staying by her lady's side, asked, "Do you want to return to the manor?"

Su Ying glanced at Rui Xue and gently shook her head, "Once the bow is drawn there is no returning arrow; if I were to limp back to the manor, I would never be able to hold my head up again in the latter half of my life."

She had always been the one the family prepared to send into the palace; in fact, many noble families in the capital knew this. If she could not stay in the palace, even leaving it she would never marry a desirable household, and would become a laughingstock, which to her felt worse than death.

"But..." Rui Xue swallowed the words she was about to say, "I feel so aggrieved for you, Miss."

Aggrieved?

Su Ying smiled; who in this world is not aggrieved? Even His Majesty before his enthronement must have felt aggrieved, right?

The Late Emperor favored Prince Qi even more, and he did not particularly like the Crown Prince His Majesty; to favor Prince Qi he suppressed him openly and covertly. How difficult was the situation in the Dong Gong back then?

The more Su Ying thought, the more she felt resentment; if her father had been decisive and sent her into the Dong Gong as she suggested, she wouldn't now be caught in a dilemma.

His Majesty must have been hurt by the Su family's earlier attitude.

Su Ying's mind raced; Rong Luoge now held great power in the Hou Gong, and her aunt could not win favor for a moment. She could not confront her head‑on; she had to devise another plan.

Don't be anxious; calm your mind.

Back at her own residence, Su Ying looked at Qing Cha and asked, "Is there any news from Zhou Jieyu's side?"

Qing Cha shook her head lightly, "Nothing yet, but I did see Zhou Jieyu's attendant Cang Qing hurriedly leave the palace; I don't know what for."

Su Ying pondered the words, and after a pause began, "Among those sent into the Dong Gong at the time, besides Madam Zhen Shen, Zhou Jieyu held the highest rank, but after His Majesty's enthronement, conferring Zhou Jieyu a title placed her below Xu Shuyuan. She must have been resentful."

"Anyone would feel resentful; Xu Shuyuan only gained her position by aligning with Noble Consort Rong, meaning the position should have belonged to Zhou Jieyu," Rui Xue said with a smile. "Miss, I heard from the madam that the first grand ennoblement after His Majesty's enthronement is the most coveted, because many concubines in the Hou Gong, if they never win His Majesty's favor, may have only one chance in a lifetime to be granted a title."

Su Ying stared at the sky through the window, and after hearing Rui Xue's words, gave a slight nod, "Indeed, the grudge over the throne—Zhou Jieyu will certainly not settle peacefully. Now Xu Shuyuan is under Noble Consort Rong's protection, holding an official post and power; Zhou Jieyu would certainly be unable to defeat her in a contest."

"So Zhou Jieyu aligned with Madam Zhen Shen," Qing Cha added, "Miss, when Madam Zhen Shen confronts Noble Consort Rong, you should just watch from the sidelines; why help Madam Zhen Shen? I don't think Madam Zhen Shen is someone that can be tolerated by Rong."

Su Ying turned her head toward Qing Cha, "Your keen eyes—did you see all that?"

Qing Cha's face flushed, "Miss!"

Su Ying's mood improved a few points, and she smiled, "Just relying on Lord Ning Yuan to topple Noble Consort Rong is probably impossible; for now I'm merely striking a bull across a mountain."

She knew that as soon as the Su family made a move, His Majesty would inevitably notice,

The Late Emperor adored Noble Consort Ming so much; the Hou Gong wasn't lacking in beauties, was it?

Even if the emperor's cousin liked Noble Consort Rong, merely because she was a second wife, attaining the empress's seat is not easy; she can remain composed now precisely because she knows this.

As for Madam Zhen Shen... she had known Song Huihe before, aware of her scheming and abilities, but never expected that even someone like her could not win favor under Noble Consort Rong's hand; therefore she pushed Song Huihe forward, testing Noble Consort Rong's might.

As for Noble Consort Rong's dislike of her?

She doesn't care.

After all, as His Majesty's cousin entering the palace at this moment, not even Noble Consort Rong—let alone any favored concubine—would like her; since they inevitably dislike her, she cares even less about how others view her.

Noble Consort Rong is truly inscrutable, and more importantly His Majesty's protection of her is surprising; to bring her down would require a single lethal strike, and Su Ying couldn't help but think of Rong Dai.

Speaking of it, Su Ying also shares a subtle bond with Yun Shizhuang, for Yun Shizhuang knows she will eventually be by His Majesty's side, and Su Ying knows Yun Shizhuang loves His Majesty.

But who could have imagined that Yun Shizhuang married Prince Qi...

Yun Shizhuang... Rong Dai... Song Huihe... Rong Luoge...

Names flickered through Su Ying's mind, and gradually an idea rose within her.

"Qing Cha, go out of the palace once; if anyone asks, tell them I sent you back to the manor to fetch something, and deliver a letter to my mother, so my mother can discreetly send it to the Princess Consort Qi," Su Ying said, standing and sitting at the writing desk.

Rui Xue hurriedly prepared ink for the Miss, and upon hearing this, said, "Miss, the madam has always opposed your dealings with the Princess Consort Qi; can the letter be delivered?"

"It will," Su Ying replied, picking up her brush to write the letter. If it had been before, her mother certainly wouldn't have done so, but now she certainly would.

Since she entered the palace she hasn't even seen His Majesty, her family will surely be both angry and anxious; she can think of the Princess Consort Qi, and her family will surely guess her intentions and naturally lend a helping hand.