Chapter 8, the lotus root threads are unbroken

Madam Su was somewhat taken aback and quickly shook her head, saying no, "She is still on duty in the palace, and under no circumstances would she dare to engage in discussions about betrothal or marriage. This is a rule that both we adults and the servants understand."

At this point, Mrs. Su sat there in silence, seemingly engaged in a fierce internal struggle. After a long while, she finally spoke: "How much grievance must Xinghe feel? With a young lady being treated this way, will she still be able to live a proper life in the future?"

He also called her "madam" like everyone else, causing the old lady to feel numb in her hands and feet. In a fluster, she stood up, bowing repeatedly, "No, no, there's no need to trouble yourself. I have always used very little in the morning. You may just call me Mrs. Su Qin, and for any tasks, please feel free to instruct me."

Niu Niu will need to establish herself in the Eastern Palace in the future, as merely attending to daily needs may not suffice

I truly did not expect that her gathering would attract even the Crown Prince. The distance from Lizheng Hall to the West Pool Courtyard is considerable; it cannot be a mere coincidence. Knowing that her mother was to enter the palace today, regardless of how urgent the matter might be, it would be inappropriate to arrive at this moment. It was clearly agreed to lend her the courtyard, so why the sudden change of heart? Madam Su is an outsider, with no familial ties or connections, and given that nobleman's lofty temperament, he would never lower himself to join in the festivities, let alone stop right across the courtyard to openly observe us.

At this moment, even the flesh of Tang Seng could not be swallowed. Madam Su weighed the Crown Prince's words repeatedly, and from the seemingly casual lines, she discerned the trivial romantic feelings that were not worth mentioning to outsiders.

Scholar Su was dressed in a heavenly horse leather coat, lying in the center of the room on a reclining chair with his legs spread wide. Mrs. Su kept murmuring, and he closed his eyes, pretending not to hear. Finally, she could not help but sit beside him and said, "Do you think the Crown Prince has intentions towards our Niu Niu? I heard those rumors from the palace three years ago, and I didn't take them seriously at the time. But today, the Crown Prince came to see us in person, which suggests there might be some truth to it. What should we do? After all, the arm cannot twist the thigh..." Seeing him still resting with his eyes closed, she gently nudged him and continued, "You should at least make a decision. Relying on me, there is a ready high branch to cling to, but depending on Prince Jianping, what good can come of it? After all, he is the Crown Prince, the apple of the late Empress's eye, and the Emperor loves him dearly. I have seen him a few times when he was little; he was truly endearing. Now that he has grown up, he is indeed the heir to our Great Yin Dynasty, and his demeanor and majesty... I truly find it admirable."

This is a large hat; how can there be an empty master’s room while the people below are busy with marriage matters. Mrs. Su was left without a clear stance by his ambiguous remarks, and after returning home, she was still pondering, "What exactly does this mean..."

As for the Milky Way, the losses incurred here are substantial. It does not matter how the palace promotes it, but once the matter reaches the ears of her family, it makes her feel that she has lost all face and dignity.

Madam Su felt increasingly bewildered as she listened. These people, once they wielded power, would scheme against one another, treating everything as a wager. She could not afford to think about the distant matters; the words spoken by the Crown Prince during his visit today kept swirling in her mind, ultimately transforming into a head full of lawsuits, making her feel as if her insides were about to break from worry

It seems that this meeting is about to fall through, with such an ancestor present here, the mother and daughter simply cannot have any intimate conversation. The Crown Prince is well aware of the trouble his presence may cause them, wearing an innocent smile on his face, and his pair of sparkling eyes is filled with sincerity

She did not accept it, and the Crown Prince merely smiled, not bothering to take it to heart. Madam Xu came to her senses, fearing that the Crown Prince might lose face, and hurriedly bent down to tidy herself up, "Your Highness's kindness is overwhelming, I am unworthy of it. Xinghe has always been dull-witted, and during these years in the palace, I have clumsily served Your Highness. Thank you for your tolerance and for keeping me by your side. This time, during the family gathering, you have graciously allowed me to enter the palace. Your Highness's goodwill is such that even if I were ground to powder, it would not be enough to repay it."

Madam Su felt a wave of panic similar to that of Xinghe in response to the Crown Prince's sudden affection. She quickly glanced at her daughter, beginning to doubt whether the rumors held any truth. Over the years that Xinghe had served by the Crown Prince's side in the palace, they had grown up together as childhood friends. She knew her daughter well; she was clear-headed and always aware of what she ought to do. However, the same could not be said for the Crown Prince, a young man who might not be free from wildness. Perhaps, as time went on, Xinghe could not help but develop a genuine relationship with him? If that were the case, it would be a serious matter; if it were true, it would be difficult to explain to Duke Jian and Consort Zhao; and if it were false...! Here was a dignified heir apparent, burdened with state affairs, where would he find the leisure to amuse himself with someone from outside the palace!

"Did you not notice that the Crown Prince has some feelings for the girl?" He fiddled with the bodhi seed, closed his eyes again, and murmured in a dreamlike manner, "Five years ago, he brought her into the Control of Military Affairs, and five years later, he had no objections to promoting her to the position of a brocade-clad envoy. Left Imperial Concubine recommended Xinghe, and on the surface, she said she was the Crown Prince's person, but the meat is still in the pot, and no one is a fool.

Regardless of the circumstances, one must pay respects upon meeting. Madam Su hurriedly brought Xinghe along and swiftly walked to the Crown Prince, stopping three steps away. She adjusted her collar, raised her hand to her forehead in a gesture of reverence, and exclaimed: "I, the servant Su of the Qin family, respectfully wish His Highness the Crown Prince a prosperous and peaceful day."

She wanted to explain, but now was not the time for her to do so. No matter how much she had on her mind, she could not show it on her face; this was a lesson learned from many years of court life. She lowered her hands to express her gratitude to the Crown Prince, saying, "Your Highness is considerate, but we cannot take advantage of your kindness. Thank you, Your Highness, but such words should not be spoken again, lest they deprive me of my resources."

The dormitory now frowned at her, as if unable to comprehend how this woman gave birth to the siblings Xinghai and Xinghe.

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince relaxed his brow and smiled even more elegantly. His gaze shifted, paused briefly, and then flowed away from her face.

"With her brother by her side, half of the power of the Privy Council rests in Xinghai's hands. Once the girl finds her footing, the two siblings will join forces, and apart from the sovereigns, how many in the court will not harbor fear? The Crown Prince... though young, is not a foolish person; he controls the military and is well aware of the political currents in the court. It is impossible to doubt the alliance between the Su family and Prince Jian of Jianjun. Retaining Xinghe will also serve as a constraint on the Su family in the future"

The Crown Prince is very easygoing, and the authority he holds in handling state affairs is left behind in the Chongjiao Hall. Originally, he only needed to respond with a gesture to waive the formalities, and naturally, those standing by would come forward to assist him. However, he did not do so; instead, he bent down his tall figure and personally helped Madam Su up, saying warmly: "There is no need for excessive formalities. You are the mother of the Xinghe, and when we carry each other, we are like a family, so there is no need to be so rigidly formal."

Isn't that situation awkward for Niu Niu? After all, as a loving mother, Mrs. Su cares not for the grand ambitions of men; her only concern is the safety of her daughter

Although Madam Su is a second-rank noblewoman, the rank of a lady differs from that of an official. The Great Yin emphasizes the concept of one family under heaven, with the emperor as the head of the family and the crown prince as the young master. Xinghe refers to herself as "your servant" in front of the crown prince, while her mother insists on referring to herself as a maidservant.

What is there to be afraid of! A father is not the same as a mother; a man carries great responsibilities in his heart, unlike women who are preoccupied with their children all day long. It is said that this girl is not like ordinary girls; what official position does she hold? Two years ago, at the age of twenty, she was already capable of managing half the kingdom. Now that she has secured her official position, her future is limitless. Have you heard the saying, the emperor's daughter has no worries about marriage... Two years ago, at the age of twenty, she was already capable of managing half the kingdom. Now that she has secured her official position, her future is limitless. Have you heard the saying, the emperor's daughter has no worries about marriage...

Taking another glance at my daughter, my heart was in turmoil. I wanted to ask but could not, feeling as if a ball of cotton had lodged in my throat, making it impossible to swallow or spit out, leaving her speechless.

The dormitory scoffed, "What do you think?"

It seems that the prince is not a good-natured person either

The prince let out a sound, casting a fleeting glance at her. The gaze and tone were worlds apart, like a shooting star, passing by without lingering on her any longer

The Milky Way stared blankly, knowing that he came with ill intentions, but did not expect him to go to such lengths to slander her. She felt frustrated but could not refute him, so she patiently said: "My lord, that item belongs to the Fourth Division's storage, and it was put away after the autumn hunt returned last time. Have you forgotten?"

The Milky Way sighed and said so

Making small talk, it seemed lively on the surface, yet it was tinged with awkwardness. The Milky Way remained silent, gently guiding the prince towards the western pavilion. He followed obediently, showing particular warmth towards Madam Su, even offering a light hand to assist her as they passed along the narrow path by the flowing cup channel.

What comes next? One cannot simply dismiss others; there must be a rationale! Mrs. Su lowered her eyes, quietly awaiting the prince's response, and finally heard him say: "Indeed, I am the same age as her, and I have yet to establish a crown princess, so she has no reason to be anxious."

Madam Su, upon hearing this, widened her eyes in shock. Su Yu realized that she had frightened this ignorant woman and helplessly averted her gaze.

The person in the reclining chair lifted half an eyelid, gazing at the dark beams above, and remained silent for a while. Just as Madam Su was about to turn back to her room, he dragged out a long tone and said: "This time, Zuo Zhaoyi will undoubtedly end up shooting herself in the foot. After all, the Control of Military Affairs is firmly in the hands of the Crown Prince. If one wishes to serve in that position for a long time, merely eating a meal is certainly not enough. To please the master, one must clear away the bricks and tiles that obstruct the master's path. After all, the Control of Military Affairs is firmly in the hands of the Crown Prince. If one wishes to serve in that position for a long time, merely eating a meal is certainly not enough. To please the master, one must clear away the bricks and tiles that obstruct the master's path. Zuo Zhaoyi... is merely a stepping stone; mark my words, she will never become the Empress in this lifetime."

Madam Su felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles, completely uncomfortable, trembling as she walked while expressing her gratitude. The Crown Prince, having dealt with her perfunctorily, found a moment to intentionally complain to Xinghe, "This morning, when preparing to meet Madam in the duty room, why didn’t you come to my place? The set of golden dragon saddles that the Emperor rewarded during the autumn hunt... the one with the iron stirrups inlaid with silver... they searched for a long time but couldn’t find it. You must have put it away for me. Where did you put it?"

After the meal, the eunuch in charge brought forth the mouthwash basin and hot towels for the purpose of cleansing the face and rinsing the mouth. Additionally, a young palace maid presented two silver boxes, one containing salted betel nuts and the other containing cardamom. These items are traditionally served after meals for digestion, a customary practice among the nobility in the palace.

Madam Su's breakfast had not yet been finished, but given the current situation, it was becoming increasingly difficult to continue eating. The Crown Prince, showing great consideration, smiled and asked: "Is it not to your taste? Let them bring some fruits and pastries, and you can have some more, Madam."

This can be seen as a mother-in-law observing her son-in-law, pleased to the extent that she disregards her own family's safety and well-being. After listening for a long time, Su Yu let out a sigh: "Your thoughts align perfectly with the Crown Prince's intentions. What do you think? It is easy to board a ship but difficult to disembark. Over the years, the Su family has had numerous entanglements, both overt and covert, with the Duke of Jian's residence, and you are not unaware of this. Factional struggles... do you know what factional struggles are? They can be deadly! Today it's you, tomorrow it's him. Do you think it's as simple as women picking and choosing? If one doesn't suit, you can just switch to another?"

Since my arrival, it seems I have caused you some unease. In truth, I have no other intentions; I merely wish to assure you that Xinghe is by my side and will not endure any grievances. Whatever she likes or loves, as long as I am able to provide it, I will go to great lengths to satisfy her. As for myself, I do not settle for less, and I am selective in my choices. Over these years, only Xinghe has proven to be suitable, and I cannot easily part with her. Having said that, I pressed my lips together and smiled gently, saying, "This year marks the tenth anniversary of her entering the palace, and it is likely that her family is also concerned. She is not young anymore and should be considering marriage. Mrs. Su's return this time, I presume, is to bring good news?"