Chapter 2, The Aristocratic Family · Su
However, even the most arrogant scions of noble families would show a degree of courtesy when encountering the young Su Ying
No, no, no, it is not that her destiny is too rigid, but rather that she was born in a year that is neither forward nor backward, which has wasted the opportunity of being a daughter
It is no wonder. They are born with so much experience, inevitably leading to a profound and substantial character
Su Ying thought that humble professions such as gardeners, stonemasons, chefs, and musicians, which are passed down from father to son, do not qualify as noble families. Otherwise, her home would be surrounded by the offspring of noble families both inside and outside. It is indeed not easy to gather so many noble families from the inner courtyard to the outer hall. As a result, the young Su Ying once believed that the world classified industries based on family units.
Because she had been in contact with them since childhood, Su Ying understood that prestigious families possess a peculiar sense of pride, as if they alone have a long and illustrious lineage, while the genealogies of others in the world are insignificant. This strange sense of self-importance imbues even the youngest members of these families with an air of haughty arrogance, as if they have already been navigating the world for decades.
It is said that a long, long time ago, a celestial being riding a white horse met a female immortal riding a green deer at the source of the Naluo River. They gave birth to a pair of children, a boy named Rui and a girl named Su. Later, this pair of siblings became husband and wife, but their tribe split into two in a certain year, one named after Rui and the other after Su. Subsequently, the Rui and Su families united again to conquer the world, defeating many tribes. The Rui family has always been the rulers of the nation, while the Su family, sharing their bloodline, provided their daughters to ensure the sanctity of the bloodline. Later, this pair of siblings became husband and wife, but their tribe split into two in a certain year, one named after Rui and the other after Su. Subsequently, the Rui and Su families united again to conquer the world, defeating many tribes. The Rui family has always been the rulers of the nation, while the Su family, sharing their bloodline, provided their daughters to ensure the sanctity of the bloodline.
One could consider finding a minor position close to the Empress, or if that fails, perhaps teach the concubines in the palace when one is older, which might attract the favor of the imperial gaze. However, such opportunities are exceedingly rare
In folk sayings, it is said that the emperor is unaware that there are women in the world with other surnames. This is, of course, merely a saying. During the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty, there was a woman named Tian Guiyuan, who held a lowly status, yet her name stood out among the Su clan in the unofficial history of the court, "Records of the Imperial Concubines." Su Ying admired this woman's ability to establish herself in the palace from the day she first saw her name, as well as the courage of the late emperor. If the country were a person, the Su clan would be half of its flesh, and no one would dare to easily cast it aside. He, however, in the heart of the palace— the very core of the nation— was preoccupied with another woman. Although he could not grant her a noble status, he bestowed upon her a unique place in the history of the dynasty.
Indeed, no one in the world uses the term "noble family" to describe the Su family, but Su Ying finds it quite fitting—after all, they are a family of imperial consorts. It is true that her family does not produce scholars, swordsmen, musicians, or renowned courtesans; they produce imperial consorts.
There are many prominent families in the world. The Guo family of Bohai is a family of legal scholars, whose descendants can eloquently discuss the sacred texts from ancient times to the present. Su Ying often sees the Guo family's children engaging in lively discussions in her father's study. The Li family of Fanyang excels in martial arts, with a long sword that dazzles the entire courtyard when wielded. Su Ying frequently observes them sparring with her elder brother in the martial arts hall. The Feng family of Lin'an is somewhat similar to the Su family—valuing daughters over sons through generations. The women of the Feng family possess enchanting voices and graceful dance moves, their flowing sleeves resembling a group of celestial beings when they sing freely. Su Ying used to often see them singing and dancing in her sisters' performance hall. Despite her sisters' usual haughty demeanor, they would hold their breath and compose themselves at such moments, focusing intently with their eyes.
The women of the Su family are destined for a singular fate—entering the imperial harem. The Danxi Palace, which houses the most noble women of the dynasty, can only belong to the Su family
For example, Su Ying
Even in a place of ill omen, the Su family will not yield easily
In the Su family, both men and women find their rightful places, each with boundless beautiful hopes. There is only one type of person who holds no status: women who cannot enter the palace
The daughters of the Su family possess an exceptional advantage, which is their potential to one day hold great power. Su Ying does not even meet the first criterion for entering the palace, and thus naturally belongs to the category of girls without such potential
Moreover, although the current queen's surname is Su, she is not from the Su Ying branch. The concubines in the harem cannot tolerate anyone trying to gain favor. Furthermore, Su Ying has two younger sisters, one born of the third concubine and the other of the twelfth concubine, both of whom are exceptionally beautiful and just happened to enter the palace at the age of fourteen. With the presence of these two, their father hardly casts a glance at Su Ying anymore, lest he be reminded of her unfortunate timing.
Su Sa strives to be a man worthy of reliance. He protects his sister in this family, and one day, he will find a man for Su Ying who is deserving of entrusting the second half of her life, handing her over to that person for continued care.
She did not see
The history of the Su family is as ancient as that of the imperial family.
It is not because Su Ying comes from a poor background. Her branch of the Su family, several years ago, was also able to command both wind and rain. The first owner of Danxi Palace, Empress Dowager Su, was the sister of Su Ying's great-grandfather. However, since then, with the passing of Empress Dowager Su, the fortunes of this lineage have shifted.
The harem belongs to the emperor, and it also belongs to the Su family.
However, when she was young, Su Ying did not know that as men grow up, another heart grows within them—ambition
This was merely the confusion of Su Ying in her youth. As she grew older, these doubts unraveled on their own: it was not that others also liked this profession, but rather that predecessors had paved the way, making it somewhat easier to walk this path. Over time, simply mentioning that one is from this family makes it particularly easy to navigate this industry. Even if one does not engage in this field, it can still earn a measure of respect from others
Su Ying has always been curious about how there can be such a marvelous phenomenon as a "family lineage" in the world. In a family, when one person develops a passion for something, it is truly remarkable that the others follow suit one after another. It is important to note that a family can consist of at least a hundred people; how is it possible for them all to share a common interest in one thing
However, it is of no concern. Currently, Su Ying's aunt in the palace has been steadily rising in rank, having been honored as Dan Pin three months ago. Her two elder sisters have also established themselves in the palace, and in due time, they need not worry about finding opportunities to stand out. Her elder brother has married the Emperor's eldest daughter, Princess Feng Ye. Other branches of the Su family either eye the Su family covetously or regard them with newfound respect—this is indeed a sign of changing fortunes. Su Ying's background is significantly better than that of certain branches of the Su family that are gradually declining. Other branches of the Su family either eye the Su family covetously or regard them with newfound respect—this is indeed a sign of changing fortunes. Su Ying's background is significantly better than that of certain branches of the Su family that are gradually declining.
The Su family exhibits a slight preference for daughters over sons, though it is not severe: daughters represent the immediate glory, while sons maintain the legacy of that glory. Moreover, the men of the Su family have traditionally intermarried with the royal family; although they may not be as renowned as the sisters in the palace, they can ensure the family's continued honor and prestige.
Only that which is the most exalted in the harem undoubtedly belongs to the Su family
This family is excessively large, with a complex lineage. Even though the numerous concubines in the harem all come from the Su family, their bloodlines are quite distant from one another. When there are no outsiders who can compete with the women of the Su family, they no longer consider the bonds of their shared surname. What the Su family desires is not the glory of the entire clan, but the supremacy of their own branch. What the Su family seeks is for their own lineage to overshadow others of the same surname.
This is merely a beautified legend. The exact truth of the matter cannot be definitively stated by anyone, but it is not difficult to guess nine parts of it: the Rui tribe, with the white horse as their totem, and the Su tribe, with the green deer as their totem, formed an alliance, unified this land, and established this nation. To ensure that future generations remain united in purpose and spirit, they created a myth that the two tribes share the same origin, and they arranged a marriage that would never change.
It is not because she is physically disabled. Although she does not have an excess of luck, she still possesses the small blessings of having a well-proportioned face, sound limbs, and a clear mind—presumably, heaven did not intend to assign her significant tasks, and thus did not subject her to cruel trials.
Women always have to rely on men to survive, just like Su Ying's deceased mother used to say
Her brother possesses such a heart
She is like a son born into a martial arts family who is inherently unable to practice martial arts, or a disabled person born into a family of calligraphers and painters who cannot distinguish colors. She is an extraneous existence in this family of imperial consorts, able to live freely at home, entirely relying on having an elder brother—Su Sa, who is four years older than her, now seventeen, serving as a page in the Eastern Palace.
From the founding emperor's primary consort, Empress Jinghua Su, to the second generation's Empress Yongxiao Su, the third generation's Empress Ruide Su, and the fourth generation's Empress Qiyun Su... Beyond the empresses of each dynasty, the concubines recorded in the annals are none other than Consort Hua Su, Consort Rou Su, Consort Min Su, Consort De, Consort Xie, Consort Shun, Consort Jing, Consort Xian, and Consort Shu... A multitude of titles all conclude with the characters "Su", as if firmly recognizing the Su family name, not granting status to any other family.
Even if it is a place of burial, it is still the burial place of the Su family, not for outsiders
In Su Yinglaodie’s eyes, the only fatal flaw of this daughter is that she was born in the wrong era
Such an event has never occurred again
At the moment of her passing, she spoke these words, though it is unclear whether they were meant for Su Ying or Su Za. In any case, Su Za, the elder brother, had already exhibited a strong sense of masculinity at that time. Su Ying thought that her trust in her brother likely brought him great happiness. Thus, she exerted all her efforts as a child to rely on him and to please him, seeking his care and affection. They resembled a pair of lonely little animals, finding their sense of existence in each other. Therefore, she exerted all her efforts as a child to rely on him and to please him, seeking his care and affection. They resembled a pair of lonely little animals, finding their sense of existence in each other.
It is probably because she also comes from a distinguished family
From a very young age, Su Ying understood that her brother's future was her own future. As for herself, she had no future to speak of
However, not every Su Shi woman possesses such opportunities and abilities
Su Ying happened to be born not at the peak. The last time she was selected as a girl was when she was eight years old. The next time she was eligible for selection, she was fifteen—thus, she had no chance of being chosen. Of course, this does not mean she could not touch the edges of the court. There are still many opportunities to enter the palace: one could leverage connections or alter one's age—however, such lowly means carry great risks and numerous hidden dangers, and one could easily be turned against by others, making it better not to attempt them.
In summary, the history of the dynasty is the history of the royal family, as well as the history of the Su family
The royal family venerates the number "seven". Women entering the palace are selected every seven years, and the age for selection must be "two sevens"—fourteen years old. They undergo three years of training in the palace and officially serve the emperor at the age of seventeen. This is why the country experiences a peak in births of the Su family every seven years