Chapter 134 Inexplicable Embarra.s.sment
After that, the Emperor granted Xia Houzhen and Meng Shushu a marriage. After the two stepped forward to express grat.i.tude, the banquet began.
After returning to her seat, Su Muge felt a cold sight. When she looked up, she found everyone watching the dance.
Then she glanced at Xia Houkun and met his cold eyes. It turned out to be him who was staring at her.
Su Muge looked away and ignored him. In the following banquet, she remained a low-key manner to be invisible.
Xia Houmo changed his armor into a black robe and sat down.
“Mumu, you, you are going to marry the King of Jin?”
Zhao, who was still in a daze, looked at Su Muge in disbelief.
It was said that things changed, but this change was too fast!?
“Yes.”
The people at the banquet all had different thoughts. Halfway during the banquet, the Emperor and the Emperor’s mother were tired, so the Queen and others left the hall with them.
After they left, the atmosphere at the banquet became much more relaxing.
Xia Houzhen picked up his gla.s.s, went to Xia Houmo, and raised it. “Congratulations on your victory, ninth brother.”
When King Dingxi rebelled, Xia Houzhen also followed the troops of Xia Houmo to chase the rebels. But in terms of fighting, his manpower and strength were limited and didn’t help much.
“He is still at large. It’s not a complete victory.”
Xia Houmo took the gla.s.s of wine on the table and drank it up.
Xia Houzhen shook his head. “Ninth brother, don’t belittle yourself.”
“Miss Su, the Emperor’s mother is a little unwell. His Majesty invited you to see her in the Huaxi Palace.” A little eunuch walked to Su Muge and whispered.
After the previous incident of the palace maid, Su Muge looked at him more cautiously this time.
“How do I believe you?”
The little eunuch didn’t expect Su Muge to ask this question and pointed to Eunuch Yi waiting outside the hall. “Eunuch Yi is outside the hall. Miss Su, you can ask him if you don’t believe me.”
As the Emperor’s follower, Eunuch Yi couldn’t be bribed easily.
Su Muge stood up and walked out with the little eunuch.
When Su Muge stood up, Xia Houmo fixed his eyes on her silently.
Seeing Su Muge coming out, Eunuch Yi greeted her.
“Miss Su, this way please.”
Su Muge nodded and walked out of the Orchid Palace behind Eunuch Yi.
When they arrived at the Huaxi Palace, the maid guarding the door bowed to Eunuch Yi. “Thank you, Eunuch Yi. The Emperor’s mother said that His Majesty couldn’t be without your service, so she asked me to wait here and bring Miss Su in.”
Eunuch Yi nodded. “Well, Miss Su, please excuse my departure.”
After Eunuch Yi left, the maid led Su Muge into the Huaxi Palace.
Huaxi Palace was very large. As soon as she entered, she saw a plum forest in the courtyard, surrounded by rockeries and fish ponds. Even if they had been covered with snow, they were still pleasing to see.
“Miss Su, please wait a moment. I’ll go in to report.”
“Okay.”
Su Muge stood in the courtyard where the snow had been cleaned up, but Su Muge couldn’t bear standing outside for long and felt her toes frozen.
The maid who went in to report seemed to have disappeared!
In the hall, the brazier was burning and flaming.
Nangong Ningxin personally made hot tea and delivered it to the Emperor’s mother who was chanting with her eyes closed.
The Emperor’s mother was sitting cross-legged on the cushion and gently turning a string of red tourmaline beads in her hands.
Nangong Ningxin glanced at the hourgla.s.s. It had been more than a quarter. On such a cold day, no matter how much she was wearing, she would be frozen standing outside.
Nangong Ningxin frowned, glanced at the Emperor’s mother, and said softly. “Your Grace, Miss Su has arrived.”
The maid standing at the door who wanted to report gave Nangong Ningxin a grateful look.
The Emperor’s mother paused, gradually opened her eyes, put down the beads in her hand, and looked at Nangong Ningxin. “You are so kind. Since she has arrived, let her in.”
“Yes.”
The maid went out.
“Miss Su, please go in.”
Su Muge stomped her already frozen feet and followed the maid into the room.
As soon as the door was opened, a stream of heat flow hit Su Muge and she couldn’t help sneezing.
“Ah-choo”
Even though she was very quiet, the people in the room could hear it.
When Su Muge was to salute, someone walked towards her and held her hand.
“It’s cold outside. Miss Su, your hands are frozen.”
This voice was really pleasant.
Su Muge raised her eyes and met a pair of extremely beautiful smiling eyes. Wasn’t she the woman who nodded at her with a smile in the hall?
She had a pair of arched eyebrows, a pair of big and bright almond-like eyes, and a plump and ruddy mouth under her exquisite and tall nose. Even if she was not smiling, the corners of her lips were still slightly raised.
With such exquisite facial features on her delicate oval face, she was an alluring beauty whether seen from near or from afar.
While Su Muge was looking at Nangong Ningxin, Nangong Ningxin was also watching her.
The birthmark near Su Muge’s eyes had faded a lot, but it didn’t disappear!
Even without the birthmark, she was not as delicate and exquisite as Nangong Ningxin who was like a beauty coming out of a painting.
Su Muge disliked being touched by strangers and withdrew her hand subconsciously.
“Miss Su, you must have been frozen waiting outside.” The Emperor’s mother’s faint voice came out, without revealing any of her emotions.
Su Muge stepped forward with her eyes lowered. “Your Grace, pay my respects to you.”
Showing her an imposing manner? She wondered if she had offended the Emperor’s mother.
“Get up.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
“As soon as I came back, I heard of your excellent medical skills from His Majesty. I happened to be a little dizzy today, so I want you to come and see me.”
“You are flattering me, Your Grace.” Su Muge stepped forward to take the pulse for the Emperor’s mother.
However, just as Su Muge’s fingertips touched the Emperor’s mother’s hand, the Emperor’s mother subconsciously withdrew her hand with a frown.
Nangong Ningxin revealed a flicker of worry in her eyes and stepped forward to ask anxiously, “Your Grace, what’s the matter with you?”
The Emperor’s mother frowned with her slender eyebrows slightly. “It seems that I’m so unthoughtful to make you wait outside for so long. The maids are so silly. They know that I can’t be disturbed while I’m chanting, but they don’t know to invite you to wait in the wing-room.”
Nangong Ningxin glanced at Su Muge and said to the maid beside her, “Hurry to bring Miss Su a hand warmer.”
“Yes, yes.”
Su Muge raised her eyebrows silently. The Emperor’s mother disliked her cold hand, for fear of freezing herself!
“Miss Su, we are too negligent. Please don’t blame us.” The maid handed her a hand warmer apologetically.
Su Muge took over the hand warmer and smiled carelessly. “Never mind.” Of course, she would mind!
While Su Muge was warming up her hands, the Emperor’s mother asked Nangong Ningxin to wipe her hand where Su Muge had touched with a hot handkerchief.
Su Muge almost couldn’t hold back rolling her eyes.
“Have you warmed up?” After a while, the Emperor’s mother unhurriedly looked at her.
“Yes.”
Su Muge put down the hand warmer and stepped forward. Nangong Ningxin took a step before her and put a handkerchief on the Emperor’s mother’s hand.
Su Muge didn’t care but took her pulse carefully.
The Emperor’s mother was very healthy; she even had no common diseases of the aged. She was just a little weak, which was usually caused by inactivity.
“Your Grace are in good health. Your dizziness may be due to a bad sleep last night.” She might also have pretended to be dizzy!
The Emperor’s mother withdrew her hand silently.
“By the way, are there any more three-leaf sedative pills?”
“Your Grace, there are two left. If you want to …”
“Since you have excellent medical skills, you must be also good at making medicine. I usually take some three-leaf sedative pill. Help me make some more.” The Emperor’s mother interrupted Nangong Ningxin.
“…”
The three-leaf sedative pill was generally used to refresh the mind. Su Muge thought the Emperor’s mother quite spirited and had no need to take the pill at all!
“Your Grace, although I have some medical skills, I’m not very proficient in pharmaceuticals.”
“You don’t want to make it for me?”
Su Muge stood up and lowered his eyes. “I dare not.”
“It won’t take you much time. Send the medicinal herbs to Su Mansion in a while, and take it three days later.”
“Yes.”
“Your Grace, Miss Su is about to get married in three months. I’m afraid there are a lot of things for her to do. How about I make it for you?” Nangong Ningxin walked to the Emperor’s mother, held her arms, and said softly. She looked like a docile kitten.
The Emperor’s mother put on a stern face without answering.
“Your Grace, are you afraid that I cannot do it well?”
The Emperor’s mother reached out to point at her nose and finally smiled. “Of course not. Well, well, since you want to do it, I’ll let you do it.”
After speaking, the Emperor’s mother waved to Su Muge. “Well, you may retreat.”
“Please excuse my departure.” When Su Muge looked up, Nangong Ningxin blinked at her, so Su Muge nodded at her and turned to go out.
As soon as Su Muge went out, Nangong Ningxin withdrew her smile and pouted her plump and red lips, with great disappointment in her big eyes.
“Why? You were trying to be nice just now, but you feel uncomfortable now?” The Emperor’s mother took up the teacup on the table and took a sip, before glancing at Nangong Ningxin.
Hearing the Emperor’s mother’s words, Nangong Ningxin slightly pursed her mouth, seeming to be holding back her tears.
“I’m not …”
“No? You’ve been with me for so many years. I’m clearer about your thoughts than you do. I wanted to ask His Majesty to grant you a marriage at first, but you refused. Now that everything has been decided, you have to endure it even if you are uncomfortable!”
Nangong Ningxin couldn’t help bursting into tears which fell on the Emperor’s mother’s robe.
“Your Grace …”
Seeing her look, the Emperor’s mother felt distressed for her and stroked her soft black hair. “Don’t cry. You still have me. You’ve been with me since childhood. I love you the most. Rest a.s.sured. I’ll help you fulfill your wish.”