“Could Miss Feng be… unwilling?” a voice asked with concern.
The hall was extremely quiet. Though the volume was light, it carried weight.
It was Aluo.
Suzhen slightly gritted her teeth.
At her long lack of response, the Princess Consort Jin had already shot her a look filled with anger and displeasure.
At this moment, someone from the right looked toward her. She secretly glanced over and saw Quan Feitong at the head of the right ranks frowning deeply, his expression very complex, but almost imperceptibly, he seemed to nod at her.
When he left that day, she hadn’t missed seeing something in his eyes grow cold bit by bit. Even what he said in her ear had been quite harsh.
But strangely, even today, she felt this person was more reliable and genuine than Li Zhaoting.
She understood his meaning—accept it first, otherwise, if she angered Li Zhaoting again and lost his last trace of mercy, in this court, in this harem, with tigers ahead and wolves behind, anyone could destroy her!
Quan Feitong couldn’t save her, and Wuqing even less so. Apart from them, this entire hall was filled with enemies, not friends! She couldn’t give people grounds to criticize her.
She instinctively wanted to touch the jade stone and jade pendant at her neck.
“In this lifetime, I can only be Lian Yu’s bride.”
She had said this to him before.
Because she only wanted to be that person’s bride.
If it were only herself today, at worst she wouldn’t revenge herself on Wei Chenghui. Even if it cost her life, she absolutely couldn’t let Lian Yu be humiliated. But finally, lowering her gaze, she quickly stepped forward, raised her hands high while holding her breath and kneeling down, speaking loudly: “I thank Your Majesty for this great grace.”
The old eunuch placed the imperial edict in her hands. According to protocol, she needed to kowtow in thanks to Li Zhaoting and the Princess Consort Jin.
She knelt before Li Zhaoting.
Li Zhaoting’s eyes showed a fleeting cold smile and fury.
Because no woman had ever dared hesitate like her.
But ultimately, he said nothing, only coldly stating, “Rise.”
Since the Emperor said nothing, others naturally didn’t dare to speak up, including the Empress Dowager, Empress, and powerful ministers.
After that, the remaining palace ladies were successively invested, but these were all positions below consort—Noble Concubine, Concubine, Beauty, Talented Lady…
But everyone still showed joy, just like the fathers of Wei and Miao earlier—officials successively stepped forward to give thanks.
When everything was finished, the grand ceremony finally ended. Subsequently, the palace would hold the imperial wedding celebration.
The ministers were invited to feast in the rear palace. After hearing the announcement, they respectfully bowed to the Emperor and Empress.
Then the crowd began moving out. Suzhen followed along, vaguely hearing Wuqing calling softly from ahead. She didn’t respond.
“Judge Li.”
While walking, a figure quickly came to her side. She initially thought it was Quan Feitong, then realized it wasn’t. At this moment, Quan Feitong would never address her this way.
Moreover, this voice belonged to an elderly person.
She looked up and saw Tingyu nodding at her.
“Sir.” She quickly bowed respectfully to this elder.
This great scholar’s eyes held sighs. “This old man was urgently summoned to the palace earlier, first to give my disciple Aluo a reliable status for her investiture, and second—”
“Teacher, please come here.” Just as he reached this point, Aluo’s voice came from behind, apparently asking him to discuss wedding officiating matters. Tingyu turned slightly and nodded but didn’t immediately go over, continuing to speak with her. “Second was for your matter. This old man asked His Majesty to release you from the palace. His Majesty refused, only asking this old man to recommend you as consort before the Empress Dowager, explaining that your fate carries nobility and that having you as consort in the harem would enhance the monarch’s fortune. Because your father had advised His Majesty to abandon his cause, your entry into the harem met fierce opposition from ministers. Some ministers, instigated by certain people with ulterior motives, even proposed to the Empress Dowager, who was similarly displeased with the Feng family, that you be executed. Later, before the Empress Dowager, this old man fulfilled His Majesty’s wish by speaking falsely on your behalf. The Empress Dowager, after hesitation, finally agreed to let you be invested as consort.”
“This old man has heard my wayward disciple Feitong mention your recent affairs with Emperor Wu. This old man understands in his heart that you probably don’t wish to marry my other disciple as consort. But even if you blame this old man, this old man still had to do this. Emperor Wu is the most suitable monarch in this old man’s heart, but he died willingly to protect you. Your father was also a remarkable hero of his time. You were once the top scholar and a good official. Therefore, no matter what, this old man hopes such a person can preserve her life and live well.”
“They say great men can bend and stretch. Judge Li,” he still called her Judge Li, “though you’re not a man, you’ve accomplished things many men couldn’t achieve in a lifetime. Now you must certainly be able to bend and stretch. This old man is useless and cannot help you leave. I can only do this, because only this consort position can temporarily keep you safe. No matter who wants to move against you, they must think thrice.” As he spoke, he glanced at Wei Chenghui, who was still in the hall chatting with Prime Minister Miao. “At the same time, this old man has a personal wish—I hope that even in the harem, you can bring a new wind to this court again. His Majesty acts from necessity, using evil to control violence. Whether it’s my wayward disciple Feitong or that Minister Wei, though both hold first rank, their hearts don’t contain the common people.”
His eyes held helplessness and worry, yet faintly showed expectation.
Suzhen hadn’t expected there was such a story behind this investiture! But she also clearly understood that with Li Zhaoting unwilling to let her leave, this was indeed the last straw that could temporarily preserve her and little Lotus’s lives. But—
“Thank you for your concern, sir. Suzhen remembers your words.” She bowed low, then smiled bitterly. “Look, sir—who among those entering this harem isn’t formidable? Conversely, Suzhen seeks only the most basic preservation of life. But even this life, with the harem’s complexity and court’s treachery, may not be preserved under struggle. How can there be talk of doing anything for court affairs again?”
“In terms of intelligence and wit, these girls are indeed all extraordinary. But this old man sees only one person who once took examinations to become an official. This old man doesn’t dare say humans can overcome heaven, but Judge Li, do you remember that day’s divination? This old man calculated you would die soon, yet here we are still conversing. This shows there are things in fate’s path that cannot be calculated. Strangely, you have a thread of hope only when encountering wood, but Emperor Wu wasn’t… Perhaps Emperor Wu, with his incomparably noble fate, opened new opportunities for you.” Tingyu’s eyes showed puzzlement, then he looked at her kindly as if she were also his disciple. “This old man knows your difficulties. Even if you seek nothing else, this old man hopes you can take good care of yourself. This old man’s lifetime wish is to educate people through learning—the worthy can benefit the world. But the several disciples I’ve taught, though intelligent, their character is… Zhaoting has the wisdom to be emperor, but he may not truly pity this realm. If only you were my disciple.”
When he mentioned encountering wood, Suzhen’s heart also skipped! But hearing this care like from a family elder and remembering Lian Yu’s words before leaving, her heart, which had been ice-cold since earlier, slowly absorbed a trace of warmth.
“Thank you for not abandoning me, sir. These heartfelt words—in Suzhen’s heart, you’re like a teacher. With your vast learning through past and present, having you beside Li Zhaoting to advise—”
Tingyu smiled and shook his head. “This old man once saw celestial changes and feared great trouble in the capital. I forcibly calculated a divination, wanting to notify Emperor Wu to guard against someone surnamed Li, but was unexpectedly imprisoned by my wayward disciple Mu San. Since ancient times, one calculates people but not heaven. Since this old man forcibly predicted heavenly ways, I must pay with my life. This old man’s days are numbered.”
“Teacher, His Majesty and the Empress Dowager are both waiting.”
Suzhen was shocked and about to speak when Aluo called again from behind, her voice slightly tense! Only then did she notice that at this moment, whether inside or outside the hall, everyone had stopped and was watching them with surprise as they whispered quietly in this hall.
One was a great scholar renowned throughout the nations, the other a concubine with a complicated half-life in the deep palace. The disparity in their identities was as strange as could be, yet this Great Scholar Tingyu seemed extremely protective of this junior. One old, one young, chatting and smiling as if they were friends despite the age difference.
Though Suzhen worried about what Tingyu said regarding life and death, she quickly said, “Sir, please go quickly. Suzhen will certainly take care, and sir must do the same.”
Tingyu nodded with satisfaction and turned back.
The Princess Consort Jin’s eyes were already filled with dark displeasure. Wei Wulei and Aluo were saying something, seemingly unconcerned, but Suzhen could clearly feel the hostility emanating from her. Miaoyin was turned sideways, her expression unclear. Li Zhaoting seemed to act as if she didn’t exist at all, only chatting and laughing with Prime Minister Miao and Wei Chenghui, occasionally giving instructions to the old eunuch and the approaching Bureau of Palace Attendants officials about subsequent wedding arrangements.
Suzhen took this opportunity to leave quickly. She understood that whether she attended the subsequent palace banquet or not, no one would care. That was perfect. When she came out, someone patted her shoulder—it was Aunt Li, who had always suppressed her before. She said quietly that she and Uncle felt regret about the Feng family matter. “Ah Feng, though I always thought you weren’t worthy of my son before, you’re someone I watched grow up. I’ve also heard about your affairs in the capital—well done. Take care of yourself. We’re just His Majesty’s adoptive parents. We came today just to receive some rewards and fulfill His Majesty’s filial intentions. We can’t really speak up about anything.”
Suzhen grasped her hand. After all these years, she had misjudged Li Zhaoting and also misjudged this neighboring aunt. Finally, she could smile with her.
That evening, firecracker sounds and drum music filled the palace—another kind of liveliness. Suzhen knew this was the ceremony for Li and Gu’s wedding.
She let little Luzi and all the palace maids go watch the excitement while she curled up on her bed writing and drawing. Beside the bed on a small table were prepared ink and plenty of paper.
Human potential was indeed forced out! This investiture as consort, though only a matter of title—Li Zhaoting with his three thousand harem would never come to her, much less do anything to her—still forced her to think of a new idea.
She wanted to escape from prison.
Still leave through the secret passage. Escape from Lian Yu’s deceased mother’s former residence under everyone’s watchful eyes and heavy guard!
It seemed an impossible task, but with careful planning, perhaps…
“Your Ladyship, Consort Shu…” She was biting her brush, looking at the troop deployment situation on paper, frowning in deep thought when suddenly little Luzi’s flustered voice urgently called from outside: “His Majesty has sent someone requesting you go to the Empress’s palace.”
Suzhen didn’t even turn her head. “He and the Empress are preparing for their wedding night—what’s he calling me over for? Does he think it’s not lively enough and want me to think up some entertainment to make a ruckus for everyone’s amusement?”
Little Luzi had already pushed the door open and entered. He was also puzzled, his expression strange. “This servant also finds it odd. We were watching from afar earlier—His Majesty and the Empress have already been escorted into the room by the aunties. This isn’t the time to prepare for the wedding night—they should be… in the wedding night now.”