Chapter 2, The Royal Relatives

A gaze that was both plain and profound swept across Su Lan's face, and after a moment of silence, he coldly laughed and said: "Your daughter has been given to me, but she must change her surname to 'Su'—do you wish for her to enter the palace in the future?"

Silently chuckling, "What nonsense are you talking about! The young master of the prime minister's family, we want him, but the prime minister does not allow it."

He no longer spoke plainly, and Su Lan understood well. The most unpredictable phase of the emperor's illness had passed, and the situation was temporarily stable. The empress, Su Ying, handled matters quietly, allowing many taut nerves to relax for the time being. Those who once advocated for her to be given a title began to doubt their judgment—perhaps this young woman would never achieve anything and would not bring them any benefits. ... Others remained vigilant towards her; in their eyes, she was the daughter of the Su family, and unless her entire lineage was completely eradicated, she was no different from her ancestors ... Those who once advocated for her to be given a title began to doubt their judgment—perhaps this young woman would never achieve anything and would not bring them any benefits. ... Others remained vigilant towards her; in their eyes, she was the daughter of the Su family, and unless her entire lineage was completely eradicated, she was no different from her ancestors ...

"Do you still need to explain these matters?" King Ping glanced at his daughter, his expression softening as he sighed heavily, "If only you and your sister could switch places, I cannot imagine how much worry I would be spared."

In the silent hall sat King Ping and his various concubines, with the exception of the King’s primary wife, Lady Rui. The women awkwardly observed the King’s expression, hesitant to initiate conversation. Upon seeing Su Lan enter, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and greeted her. Su Lan approached her father, offered a salute, and smiled, saying: "Father, are you still sulking?"

King Ping said leisurely: "You know that you cannot change your situation—so it is better for each of us to stay in our own place. If both of you can do what you are supposed to do, I will have much less to worry about." He stretched lazily in his chair and sighed: "In the days when your grandmother was alive, my life was good. But I always felt that something was missing; the princes and nobles did not take me seriously, and in the future, no one would write a biography for the son of a princess. Now I realize that the farther I am from the emperor and empress, the better. Having a queen like your sister makes me worry that one head is not enough to use, and it is also not enough to lose."

The steward Su Ping hurriedly wrapped up his affairs and rushed over, only to find the whole family staring at each other with wide eyes, none of them wearing a pleasant expression. Prince Ping held a large red stick in his hand, continuously tapping it on the ground. Upon seeing Su Ping, he sighed and said: "The sacred texts also state that one may take a wife through engagement and a concubine through abduction. Your Fourth Lady was originally not a significant matter, but our little troublemaking Empress found out about it and insists on punishing you with a beating."

Su Lan chuckled and said, "Father used to carelessly raise my sister without putting in any effort to cultivate her. Now he blames her for not having any ambition; isn't that unfair? My sister naturally has her own thoughts, which you and I are unaware of."

King Ping sighed and said: "It is precisely because she is still like this that I am angry—have you ever seen anyone who accomplishes great things, who is as hesitant and fearful as she is?"

She had not taken a few steps when a maid who had been serving beside her mother approached her, joyfully calling out, "Seventh Miss!" Su Lan did not pause her steps and continued walking while asking, "Yuan Qi, has anything happened in the residence recently?"

King Ping was lightly provoked by her words, blinking his eyes and saying: "What major affairs does she have to occupy her mind? Does she think this is some kind of era? Does she need to lead troops into battle or expand territories? Or does she need to rectify the court's affairs and clear the seas? Even if such great undertakings truly existed—what could she possibly achieve?"

Sulun looked at her father and sneered, "That’s true. In my father’s eyes, a daughter like me who has married out is nothing more than this for a lifetime"

Su Lan, having finished her meal, was about to return to the residence. Before leaving, she went to her father's study to bid farewell. She saw Prince Ping moving a chair to face the wall, staring blankly at a painting. As Su Lan approached to take a closer look, she realized it was a painting of Prince Ping's twelve wives, created by a renowned artist in the past

Su Lan sighed, her eyes darting around, and smiled, saying: "Elder brother, there is no need to put yourself in a difficult position. Although I am of no use, I do have three or four children. If you are willing, I can find a way to adopt one for the princess."

Su Lan smiled lightly, not taking it seriously. After passing by her father, she encountered her elder brother Su Chen as she stepped outside, and quickly pulled him away to a distance, saying: "Father is feeling gloomy at the moment, let's visit him later, elder brother."

Su Lan had long wanted to speak about this matter. Coincidentally, he brought it up, and she immediately said: "There has been much talk in the capital regarding Third Brother. Recently, the officials visiting the Prime Minister's residence have also been inquiring about the Prime Minister's stance. It is said that Third Brother will be sent back this month." When she said "sent back," she actually did not want to make her brother seem too pitiful. Su Za, due to his poor military performance, had been stripped of his military position by Crown Prince Rui Xun and was bound and brought back to the capital for sentencing. The memorial drafted by the Crown Prince had already reached the hands of the Prime Minister, and Su Lan could not ascertain its contents, but she heard that the language was sharp and listed several serious charges.

The sound of Su Ping being beaten reached me. Su Chen furrowed his brows and asked, "Father clearly left in high spirits this morning, so why is he back home beating people and getting angry? Did something happen in the palace?"

Su Lan's expression was one of displeasure, "What did Father say about doing these trivial matters?"

Su Chen hummed softly and said in a nonchalant tone, "With your intentions, your daughter need not worry about lacking opportunities"

Su Lan blinked her eyes and said, "Elder brother, do you not feel that being born into our family, this life is destined to be immersed in changes that ordinary people cannot reach, truly a rare experience in several lifetimes?" The brilliance in her eyes made Su Chen smile wryly, saying, "I would rather bear the worries for ten silent Su Yings than be concerned for one of you"

Su Chen wanted to say a few more words, but saw Su Lan smiling at the corner of her lips, and couldn't help but ask in surprise: "What are you so happy about?"

Yuan Qi whispered: "The madam's health is failing. Many doctors have been consulted, and they all say that to delay even a day is to steal a day from the hands of the King of Hell. I fear she may not last until spring."

The two of them talked about some other matters and walked to the outside of the Wangfu Flower Hall. Yuanqi did not dare to enter, while Sulan paid her no mind and stepped through the door on her own.

Her words made King Ping click his tongue in amazement: "A Lan, you are the wife of a prime minister, so it is sufficient for you to manage your own household affairs. Why are you getting involved in matters of the palace?"

In the midst of directing the servants was Su Wei, the youngest son of the steward Su Ping. Seeing this married young lady returning to her parental home to assert her authority, he approached with a smile and said: "Madam Ju, you may not be aware, but there are at least twenty children in that group. With so many little ones rushing in, each writing just one character, before the doorman could even react, they had already finished and run off. However, we did manage to catch a few, and my father is currently finding their parents to discipline them together. We are handling these matters ourselves, how could we dare to trouble Madam Ju and make her angry"

King Ping remained silent, and Su Lan continued: "Fortunately, it is Xie Zhen and Princess Sheng Le who returned with my brother; these two will surely speak well of him." She paused, then said to her father: "The illness of the First Lady must be carefully managed. If one day she suddenly passes away, my brother will enter the mourning period, and his marriage to the princess will be put on hold."

I am only afraid that someone might take this opportunity to drag my sister down as well," Su Lan said softly. "Father, do you not feel that many unfavorable events have been occurring in the capital recently that are detrimental to our family?

Everyone looked at each other in silence, even more afraid to speak. The King of Ping opened his mouth and vented all at once: "Oh dear, I finally understand! I used to hope she would hold the power, but now—forget it! If she really were to take control, I fear even I, as her father, would end up getting beaten!"

Su Ping was taken aback and knelt down, repeatedly pleading. The Prince of Ping threw the large stick to a nearby servant and said to Su Ping: "Enough, enough, Su Ping, you shall receive thirty strokes, and consider it an addition to the righteous deeds of the Empress for those who will write history in the future"

He called her "Madam Ju" in a rather unfamiliar manner, and Su Lan looked at him with a half-smile, asking, "How is your father today?" Su Wei replied, "Thanks for asking," and Su Lan coldly smiled again, saying, "I fear he won't be well in a little while." After saying this, he entered the residence through the west gate.

Su Chen silently took a few steps, sighed sadly, and said: "For so many years, I have been troubled by this matter. It has either been about taking medicine to regulate my health or finding ways to protect the fetus. Yet, fate does not align with my wishes, causing both heartache and physical suffering... She has endured enough hardship over these years. I cannot bear to see her continue like this. If it is destined that we, as a couple, are to have no children, then it would be better to let it go and ensure her well-being. I am already content with that."

Upon hearing the shift in the conversation, the crowd became increasingly hesitant to interject. The King spoke passionately, saying: "Focusing solely on these trivial details, even if one spends a lifetime tidying them up, what difference does it make? She does not put effort into serious matters..." He let out a long sigh, "The greatest thing she can do is to take advantage of the Emperor's improving health and quickly bear a prince. I do not dare to think about succeeding the throne, but even if she were to be granted a title of nobility in the future, it would still greatly benefit our family."

The ladies present noticed the tense atmosphere between the father and daughter, and quickly stepped in to mediate, arranging a banquet to entertain Su Lan. The Prince of Ping stood up, shaking his sleeves to assert his authority: "I still have matters that are troubling me! Go and summon Su Ping."

"Your sister does not understand reason, do you not understand either?" King Ping glared fiercely at his daughter and said, "He has been in this household longer than you, and even he has been beaten to a pulp. In the future, who would be willing to serve loyally? Others follow me only for the sake of 'benefits.' If I truly listened to your sister and offered no benefits but only punishment, would people come running to me looking for a beating?" After venting his anger for a long time, he appeared greatly fatigued and waved his hand, saying, "I won't eat anymore! I will find a quiet place to rest."

Madam Si, standing by, quickly interjected: "The whole family is joyfully waiting for the prince to return for the banquet, yet who would have thought that he would come in with a dark expression and ignore everyone, clearly intending to frighten us to death"

He spoke directly to the point, leaving Su Lan feeling somewhat embarrassed. "How could I dare to have such presumptuous thoughts! Forgetting the Machine is not like being born on the seventh day; it may not necessarily have the same opportunities as Sister Ying.

King Ping sighed and said, "She truly has given birth to two wonderful children"

Su Lan got out of the carriage and immediately caught sight of several servants carrying white powder to paint the walls. Mischievous children, whose origins were unknown, had written a string of words on the outer wall of the Ping Wang Mansion, the handwriting clumsy and chaotic, as if several children had collaborated in this prank. The white powder covered some of the words, but Su Lan could still discern that it was a prophecy that had circulated many years ago: "The Su family of Dongping kills sisters, the Su family of Qinghe gives birth to rebels, the legitimate consort's children often face difficulties..." There should have been another line, which had been completely erased. Su Lan vaguely remembered hearing it in her childhood, but at this moment, she could not recall it. After the current emperor ascended the throne, the three princes who were executed for treason were all born of the Qinghe Su family, and this prophecy had gained some popularity. However, what was circulated at that time was "The Su family of Tai'an kills sisters," subtly indicating that the Empress Dowager Kangyu, from Tai'an, had killed her own sister, Empress Huaimin. Today, it was unclear which malicious person had again shifted this ugly rumor onto the Dongping Su family.

The attendant sitting beside the coachman casually replied: "Everyone recognizes the carriage of the Xiang residence. If they were to harm it, they would naturally come to the door. No news means there is no issue. Such trivial matters are hardly worth the concern of the young lady." Just as he was saying this, the coachman shouted to rein in the horses, and the carriage came to a steady stop outside the west gate of the Ping Wang residence.

She believed that the person her father was gazing at must be the woman in the picture, who possessed a temperament distinctly different from that of the other beauties. That person had an exceptionally delicate appearance, casually seated beside a tree, neither too far nor too close to the other women. Her expression was neither warm nor distant; although she was amidst the crowd, she seemed oblivious to her surroundings. "Is this my sister's biological mother?"

Su Ping, seeing that there was no room for negotiation, left dejectedly. Su Lan observed coldly and then mocked, "The seventy strokes that the Empress ordered, Father has reduced by more than half—Father is truly very lenient towards Su Ping!"

"What kind of banquet is this?" King Ping shouted with exasperation, his cheeks puffed out in anger. "Did you not see the sticks bestowed by the Empress? Is receiving one hundred sticks worthy of a celebratory feast?"

The Empress was originally afraid that the Crown Prince would harm Su Sa, and she put in a lot of effort to take the royal grandson as a hostage. However, Rui Xun was no ordinary person; he directly threw this hot potato back. A defeated general faces the usual punishment of the state. If the Empress pleads for her brother, it would be favoritism and against the law; if she does not plead, she cannot protect Su Sa. As the King of Ping thought of this, he could not help but lightly tap his fingers on the chair, hesitatingly saying: "In any case, the Empress's own brother is also among the eight who are to be discussed, so he should not face severe punishment."

His reasoning is largely misaligned with Su Lan's thoughts. When he paused to ask for tea, Su Lan coldly replied: "Father's thoughts change so quickly. Just a few days ago, you hoped that my sister would seize the opportunity to help our family gain a foothold in the court. In my opinion, even if my sister truly lacks worldly experience, so what? The emperor has only her as his empress; when he is weary, she should assist him from the side. We are the only family of the empress in the world; if she cannot come up with ideas, we will help her. The emperor has only her as his empress; when he is weary, she should assist him from the side. We are the only family of the empress in the world; if she cannot come up with ideas, we will help her. What my sister does not understand, father understands, brother understands, and I understand as well. Is it possible that a whole family cannot support an empress? Should she be like the daughter-in-law of an ordinary family, pondering all day about having children? Isn't that a pity?"

It is not difficult for her to remain calm. "Next time you see the Empress, please convey a few words of comfort on my behalf," he said as he walked slowly. "My father always says that in the palace, the changing situation and the outcomes depend on 'seizing the opportunity' and 'details.' In the most chaotic times, whoever seizes the opportunity will gain the greatest advantage. The closer one is to the Emperor, the more chances there are to seize the initiative. However, my father does not wish for this: everyone knows this principle. The person closest to the Emperor is always a thorn in the eyes of others... Fortunately, the Empress is able to remain composed.

Others did not know which matter he was referring to, but Su Lan was well aware and smiled as she shared it with them. Upon hearing this, Bai Xiaoxiao let out a cold snort: "The princess has always acted this way, preferring to suffer herself rather than give others a chance to gossip. The prince has had this daughter for quite some time; how could he forget?"

As Su Lan's carriage passed through the bustling market, it seemed to have knocked something over, causing a commotion. Su Lan was preoccupied with contemplating Su Ying's behavior today and paid no attention to other matters. After a while, she suddenly realized that the carriage had not stopped for a moment and turned to the driver, saying: "Did we just injure someone? Why are we moving on like this?"

Isn't there still Wangji? Su Lan said with a smile.

Su Lan glared and angrily said: "Who incited the children to do such things? Today, they have dared to come to the Prince Ping's residence, and tomorrow, do they intend to rebel?" She then shouted loudly at the servants: "How do you usually carry out your duties? In broad daylight, you actually let a few children scribble on the walls—if you can't even handle a group of mischievous kids, what use are you?"

This servant does not know.

Su Lan quickly waved her hand and said, "Elder brother, you are straying further and further from the point—your sister did not come here to be mocked."

Su Lan casually replied, "It's a small matter," intentionally diverting the topic: "My sister originally wanted to meet Princess Feng Ye, but she heard that the princess has not been well recently and did not dare to disturb her lightly." She heard from Yuan Qi that Feng Ye had thought she was pregnant again not long ago, but it turned out to be a false alarm. Disheartened, she has since been unwilling to see anyone.

"It really is an untimely illness," Su Lan muttered, and asked, "Has the prince returned and thrown a tantrum yet?"