The next day, the carriage sent by the palace arrived early in the morning waiting outside the gate of Gu Mansion.
In order to avoid unnecessary troubles, Su Qing deliberately wore plain clothes, except for the skirt was embroidered with elegant lotus flowers with silver thread, and the vivid silver petals outline the lotus, without losing the grace and attention at all.
In the carriage, Chuntao looked at her anxiously, she wanted to say something, but could not open her mouth. Seeing her being like this Su Qing could not stand it, and asked: "There is only you and me, the servant and master here, do you have anything to say to me?"
Chuntao lifted the curtain and took a quick glance outside. She then sat closer looking at Su Qing"s pale face, which she was specially ordered to be powdered today. Chuntao shook her head and said with worried: "Your Highness, this servant doesn"t understand what you are trying to do, but you look like this, doesn"t it serve Seventh Princess"s intention?"
"I just want her to know that I"m not living well in the Gu Mansion." Su Qing whispered softly.
She doesn"t understand the political tricks of harem fighting, but at least she is smart enough to know how to play safe and protect herself. She remembers that in the book, the female lead Su Yingruo has the distinguished reputation as the first beauty of the capital, she can get all sorts of en to choose from, but unfortunately she took fancy of that Seventh Lord of Gu family, who is like an unavailable white moonlight. As for whether the original body in the book was married to Gu Zifu, it"s not that important, she"s not the real Su Qing anyway. She couldn"t remember the specific story in the book, whatever the plot is she has to take it one step at a time. Only a fool will wait to deliver her head if she follows the original plot. Enter the palace this time, the more she acts pitiful, the more Su Yingruo"s heart becomes happy, and she would suffer less. It"s not a big deal just to cry a few drops of tears.
"Your Highness….." Chuntao said with worried.
Su Qing shook her head: "I"m fine. When we get there, you must follow whatever I say. Remember, be more quick wit."
Chuntao nodded nervously: "Chuntao will try to cooperate with Your Highness with the best of my ability."
There"s a rule of the palace, anyone who entered the palace shall not be allowed to ride in the carriage, and must enter on foot.
Su Qing just got out of the carriage followed behind by Chuntao, she only took a few steps, a young eunuch walked over from the side, flicking the horsetail whisk in his hand, and the disdain in his eyes revealed the unknown convergence. He bowed down and greeted her: "Your Highness, the Grand Consort knew that you must be tired from traveling, so she has already ordered the maids in Qing Luan Palace to brew the tea, and waiting for you to come over."
"I have troubled GongGong." Su Qing took silver ingots from her sleeve, took advantage of the wide sleeve to cover the gap and put it in his hand. That eunuch calmly put away the silver and with a smile on his face, took the two of them towards the Qing Luan Palace.
Su Qing looked at Chuntao"s distress expression and tiptoe pinched her in the face: "Don"t feel bad, I"ll compensate you when go back."
It would be fake if Chuntao doesn"t feel heartache.
When Su Qing got married, the dowry they brought were all handled by the Ministry of internal affairs, and how much practical things were there, no one can be more clear than them? Although, the Ten Princess married into the Gu Family, but never thought that the expenses of the Gu courtyard is separated from the entire Gu mansion.
The Seventh Lord"s reputation is not good, not only Su Qing is afraid of him, Chuntao is also afraid. A few times they met, she didn"t even dare to look at him in the eyes. Fortunately, there is no need to spend money on food and accommodation, but clothing and other necessary small items are all paid out of their own pockets. The money she just gave to the eunuch, it was enough for them to scrimp for several days.
Su Qing has never been to Qing Luan Palace, but looking at the path and the remote direction, she could guess it"s an unknown path in the palace. She thought about it and asked in an innocent tone: "GongGong, is the Grand Consort living comfortably in the Qing Luan Palace? I don"t know if the Seventh Royal Sister has often visited the Grand Consort and relieve her boredom?"
Although that eunuch was young, he quickly realized that Su Qing was inquiring about the news. Because he just received the silver from her, he secretly weighted the silver in his sleeve and whispered: "Your Highness can rest a.s.sured, Her Highness the Seventh Princess always has a kind heart. Before this servant came out, I saw the Seventh Princess was walking in. Presumably, they are having a happy conversation now."
"Oh, I see….." Su Qing secretly thought about the next strategy.
Ze, happy conversation! It"s clearly waiting for her visit.
When she arrived at Qing Luan Palace, the eunuch who lead her the way retreated to the side and Chuntao was also stopped outside: "The Grand Consort has instructed, she wanted to talk about the old days with the Tenth Princess, outsiders must not be disturb."
"Your Highness……"
"Um, You"re waiting for me outside."
Su Qing looked up at the plaque of Qing Luan Palace, took a deep breathed, stabilized her mind, and walked in.
It was quiet inside the palace hall, Su Qing subconsciously eased her footsteps. When she got to the center of the hall, and saw the position in front of the steps, she bowed down and saluted: "Su Qing paying respect to Your Highness Grand Consort."
The Grand Consort Duan leaned on the softe couch , and half closed her eyes.
Su Yingruo"s beautiful eyes turn slightly, glancing over Su Qing"s plain clothes, and stared at her face for a long time. She then chuckled and said with a smile: "I haven"t seen you for a long time, and today seeing that Little Tenth finally learned what etiquette is, it"s really rare."
Since the Grand Consort hasn"t opened her mouth yet Su Qing couldn"t get up, but It"s like she"s not allowed to open her mouth to say anything. She smiled lightly, and the little dimples partly appeared.
"I was able to know the etiquette, all thanks to the Seventh Royal Sister for your careful instruction to me before I married. Even the Seventh Lord couldn"t pick out any flaw, I am also very shocked with myself."
The original body"s reputation in the palace is not very good anyway, if she doesn"t borrow it for a good, it would be wrong to herself.
Upon hearing this, Su Yingruo"s face slightly turned cold and said: "So, is the Little Tenth showing off to this princess?"
"What Seventh Royal Sister said is not right. This marriage was decided by the Imperial father. If your heart feel uncomfortable, why don"t you go ask the Crown Prince? Maybe he knew some sort of secret behind it." Su Qing said with a smile in her eyes.
She had long suspected that bulls.h.i.t imperial edict may have been made up by the Crown Prince Su Shizhou himself, but the seal on the edict was real. Even so, she still wanted to speak it out to stab Su Yingruo.
Sy Yingruo smiled, and nails painted with henna gently swept across the side face, and her bewitching eyes revealed charming appearance. She"s really the name of the number one beauty.
"Su Qing, between you and me, there is no need to pretend," Su Yingruo said as she walked down from below walking around Su Qing a few times, with gracious manner and lotus steps, and said out the compliment truth: "When the Imperial was still alive, you couldn"t even fight against me, now that he"s gone, you are just an ant who only relies on your shamelessness to survive. This princess only need to lift a finger can crush you to death, just like….."
Before her voice died away, Su Yingruo suddenly retreated to the small table behind her, picked up the tea cup on the table and directly smashed at Su Qing.
Su Qing was originally squatting halfway, and the distance was very close. Even if she reacted on time, the spilled tea still splashed into her neck, causing a hot pain.
Su Qing gently touched the burn area with her fingertips, gritted her teeth and immediately retracted her hands back. She stared at Su Yingruo and said: "Royal Sister, don"t forget, I"m the Seventh Lord"s person now, even if he doesn"t care, but it"s hard to ensure that I will not say a few words, and the Seventh sister"s reputation in Seventh Lord"s mind would be bad"
Today Su Qing is clear about one thing, Gu Zifu is a psycho and Su Yingruo is also a psycho. But she"s just going to stick it in, if she"s suffering, she also wants to Su Yingruo to suffer as well.
"You……" She was about to strike forward, but was interrupted by Grand Consort Duan"s voice.
"Ruo"er"
Su Yingruo was unreconciled, lowered her eyes and said: "Consort Mother….."
Grand Consort Duan stretched out her hand, and momo on the side immediately stepped forward to support her, and put soft pillows on both sides. Then she bent back retreated to the side.
It seems as if a farce just now didn"t exist, she didn"t even mention the place where Su Qing was burnt. She sip a cup of tea and said in leisure voice: "Today aijia called you over has something wanted to talk to you. Now that the Crown Prince has just took up his position, the separation of the court is very serious, and the foundation is increasingly unstable. Although you didn"t agree to this marriage, after all, the crown prince has taken you out from this deep palace. No matter what reason is you owe Crown Prince and aijia this kindness favor. Do you clear about it in your mind?"
Su Qing almost couldn"t hold her laugh.
She"s lived two lives, but has never seen such a brazen person.
Arg——
She just moved, the collar of her dress was scratched from the scalded place. Even so, she still has to insist the pain from her neck, and kept her voice steady: "What kind of instruction Grand Consort has for me?"
"Although the Gu Seventh Lord has bad reputation outside, after all, he was personally conferred as the first rake general of north border by the previous emperor. All of his troops are brave and good at fighting, brilliant achievements in wars. You are not only the princess from the royal family but also the wife of the general, and now it"s the time the crown prince in need of using people, you should do your part. You should try your best to persuade the Seventh Lord to pledge allegiance with the crown prince and him stabilize the imperial court." Grand Consort then softened her voice and sighed: "You"re a good child, aijia know your difficulties, and don"t want to use this kind of affection to coerce you, but at this critical moment, aijia has no other choice. Don"t forget, you are now like a gra.s.shopper on the same rope with the crown prince. If the crown prince is defeated, you also don"t have a good ending.
This shameless old women.
Su Qing scolded in her heart and then bowed down her body and said: "Thank the Grand Consort for reminding me, I will keep it in mind."
"En." The Grand Consort raised her hand and rub her eyebrows: "Now that you know it, you can leave. Today is the day you return after wedding, you can go back to see your Jian Zhi Palace."
"Yes, Little Tenth ask to leave now."
Once Su Qing came out from the inside hall, she saw Chuntao came up to greet her with red eyes. That big red area around her neck is too frightened.
"Don"t ask anything, first take me to Jian Zhi Palace." Su Qing whispered.
"Okay, this servant will take you there now."
The moment Su Qing left, Su Yingruo immediately fell on her knees in front of the Grand Consort Duan, and said with sobbing voice: "Imperial Consort Mother, you said that you would betroth Ruo"er to the Seventh Lord, how could you and Elder Royal Brother go back on your own word?"
The Grand Consort Duan frowned in displeased: "Don"t you know what kind of person that Gu Zifu is? If you married him, do you think you will have a good day? What you should do now is to do your part as a princess and the other things aijia will take care of it."
Su Yingruo bowed her head and wept softly.
Beauty"s tears make people"s hearts soften.
Seeing this, the Grand Consort sighed, stretched out her hands to lift her up, and patted her back to comfort her: "Ruo"re, you are my flesh and blood, I want to give you all the best. As for Gu Zifu, wait for your Royal Brother to ascend the throne first, get rid of the dissident and stabilizing the court, aijia will make him to be your toyboy, what do you think?
"This…." Su Yingruo blushed and nodded shyly, "En, Ruo"er will listen to Consort Mother"s arrangement."
But, that Su Qing, she will deal with her personally.