Chapter 61: Imperial Relatives

Yong Wu Dian.

Su Xi took the refined spiritual tea out of the medicine cauldron and packed it into a Storage Bag.

The fragrance of the tea permeated the entire Huang Gong, making those tea lovers feel an unbearable itch in their hearts, and they successively had the audacity to beg Zhou Chuchen for rewards.

Zhou Chuchen had no choice but to ask Su Xi for tea.

Su Xi happened to be in need of tea testers, so she took a portion and gave it to Zhou Chuchen. She repeatedly urged him that if he felt unwell after drinking the tea, he must inform her so she could adjust the formula.

Su Xi is the only one who would use the civil and military officials and the pillars of the imperial court to test tea.

As the day of Su Xi's grand wedding drew closer, Su Zhai became increasingly busy.

Gu Shi, supporting her massive belly, was busy running around with Su Mu. Her youngest son, only five years old and not yet of age to attend school, was also at home helping to stick "Double Happiness" characters on the spiritual tea boxes.

Su Xi returned to Su Zhai and tossed Zhou Chuchen's rewards, along with the Storage Bag, to Su Mu, telling her to handle them.

"Mother, sister-in-law, I have finished making that spiritual tea in the palace. The Emperor has already ordered the Ministry of Rites to prepare uniform tea boxes. If those ministers have no issues using the spiritual tea, we will start having the palace servants pack the gift boxes."

"This is a huge help." Su Mu breathed a sigh of relief, "I didn't even know how much to prepare."

"Indeed." Gu Shi also said, "Ever since people found out we were giving spiritual tea as return gifts, more and more people have come to deliver gifts. Even relatives and friends we haven't seen in years have sent gifts. Sister, take a look at this gift ledger; it's already full."

Su Xi glanced at the gift ledger, which was two fingers thick, and hurriedly looked away, "Thank you for your hard work, Mother and sister-in-law."

"There is one more thing." Su Mu said to Su Xi, "The Emperor bestowed an eight-courtyard mansion. Your father went to see it and said it was too big. We Su family members are few, and Su Zhai still has several empty side courtyards, so I was wondering if we could return that mansion."

"Mainly, a house that big also requires people to maintain it. There's no need for so many unnecessary expenses." Gu Shi was currently in charge of the household accounts for Su Zhai, and all money flowing in and out had to pass through her hands. The maintenance of Su Zhai alone cost quite a bit of silver every month; a mansion that large would surely drain money like water, and her heart ached just thinking about it.

Su Xi said, "I know about the mansion. After the grand wedding, the plaque on the gate of Su Zhai will be changed to Guozhang Fu. The specifications here are not quite suitable. However, you can continue to live here, and just keep that place as a facade. Even if you move in, all expenses will be covered by the palace."

"That wouldn't be appropriate, would it?" Gu Shi looked at Su Mu.

Su Mu also said, "That's right. We should live in our own place; there is no reason for the palace to be responsible for us."

Su Xi laughed, "Mother, sister-in-law, after my grand wedding, you will be imperial relatives. Every word and action will reflect the dignity of the imperial family. Therefore, some things are not just about whether you like them or not; they must conform to the rites and regulations."

It was as if only now did Su Mu and Gu Shi realize that the Su family had produced an Empress! The Holy Empress of Yunze Dalu!

"Heavens! I suddenly feel my status has doubled." Gu Shi patted her belly, her eyes curving into smiles.

Su Xi was startled by her, "Sister-in-law, take it easy; there's another one in there."

Su Mu also said, "Who's to say otherwise. Back when I married Niu'er's father, I was still a servant. However, even as imperial relatives, we cannot rely on our status to do things that are disgraceful or bully others. We must keep our feet on the ground—kill chickens when we need to kill chickens, and do what we need to do. The children must not learn from those dissolute sons who are idle and spend their time cockfighting and dog-racing."

"Mother is right, daughter-in-law will strictly obey." Gu Shi bowed and replied.

……

Xue Fu was desolate and cold.

Lady Xue sat in a wheelchair, looking like a skeleton, but her eyes were startlingly bright.

She gazed at the withered lotus leaves in the lotus pond and the scene of the setting sun, asking, "Has Fuyi returned yet?"

"A message has already been sent." The old nanny serving Lady Xue by her side saw her current state and knew it was the final flash of clarity before death; her time was not far off.

Over these years, the Xue clan, whether direct or collateral, had scattered or died off, leaving only Lady Xue alone in the vast Xue Fu.

She hoped the Second Miss could return in time to see Lady Xue off on her final journey.

"I had a dream last night. Guess who I dreamed of?"

"Was it the Eldest Young Master?"

Lady Xue shook her head, and only after a long while did she say, "It was that girl from the Su family."

The old nanny was somewhat surprised, "Niu'er?"

"Yes, it was Niu'er. The day Fuyi was born, she was born too. The two children were born less than a quarter of an hour apart, but the auspicious signs in the sky only became dazzling and filled with phoenix clouds after Niu'er was born."

"Madam, I don't know how many children were born in Yun Du that day. Everyone just hopes for good luck; no one ever took it seriously."

"How could it not be true? Niu'er is about to become the Empress! The auspicious signs that day belonged to her. *Cough, cough*~" Lady Xue couldn't help but cough twice.

The old nanny hurriedly used a handkerchief to catch the phlegm, but it was bloody red phlegm!

"I have pondered it carefully. When the Xue Fu was at its peak, the Su family were slaves and servants. As the Xue Fu began to decline, the Su family began to rise. It is as if... the fortune of the Xue Fu was snatched away by the Su family!"

When Lady Xue said this, her complexion turned ashen in an instant, her eyes began to grow murky, and hatred and malice welled up.

Seeing this, the old nanny knew Lady Xue's hysteria was about to flare up, so she hurriedly took a Pill bottle from her sleeve and poured out a pill for Lady Xue to take.

"Madam, you mustn't say such things. Now the Su family is the most prominent new noble in Yun Du; many people are scrambling to curry favor with them."

In truth, the Xue Fu had fallen into decline over these years, and the Second Miss, once she entered the immortal sect, looked down on everyone from on high.

Many times, they had only managed to hold on because of the secret relief from the Su family.

Especially for Master Xue's funeral; if it weren't for the Su family not minding Lady Xue's cold sarcasm and insults and busy working for them, no one would have come to pay their respects and give Master Xue his final dignity.

And as for them, the old servants, no matter how strong the master-servant bond was, it could never compare to those few taels of wealth.

And such words that insulted their benefactor must never be spread.

They still had descendants; if one or two of them turned out well, based on the current good relations, perhaps they could secure a future for their children and grandchildren.

"The Su family has wolfish ambitions, why can't I say it? It's just you lowly slaves, with eyes that judge people by their status, thinking that my Xue Fu..." Lady Xue was overcome with drowsiness, and her muddled words were left unfinished as she fell into a deep sleep.

The old nanny sighed and pushed the wheelchair back.

But before they had gone far, she saw Xue Fuyi, dressed in snow-white Dao Robe, descending from the sky.

"Second Miss, you have returned." The old nanny bowed in salute.

Xue Fuyi looked at the sleeping Lady Xue, "How is my mother's health?"

The old nanny took the Pill bottle from her sleeve, "After taking the Second Miss's pill, she just fell asleep."

Xue Fuyi nodded, "I will take Mother back to her room. Tomorrow is Mother's birthday; Nanny, go and prepare."

"Yes, Second Miss." The old nanny replied.