Chapter 453 - 453 Summoned by The Empress 2
453 Summoned by The Empress 2
“Xiaolu, be careful on the way.”
Su Chong’s expression was serious. He could not help much in this matter.
Su Xiaolu nodded. “Brother, don’t worry. It’ll be fine. The empress won’t dare to do anything to sister.”
The imperial edict had just been issued, so the empress would not do anything stupid at this time. However, it was easy to dodge a spear in the open, but difficult to guard against a hidden arrow. What she was worried about was that Su Xiaoling could not deal with the empress’s traps. She was afraid that she would be tricked in the dark.!!
Su Xiaolu left immediately. Time was tight, and she had to hurry.
Watching Su Xiaolu leave in a hurry, Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao shook hands and sighed.
Su Chong said calmly, “Father, mother, let’s go back to the house.”
He couldn’t help, but he could take good care of his parents.
—-
Su Xiaoling sat calmly in the carriage. Although she was also worried, the journey from home to the palace was enough to calm her down and handle the empress calmly.
She had never met the empress and did not know her well, but she knew how to protect herself.
The empress might not like her, but she would never attack her openly. Therefore, she only needed to guard against things in the dark. She had to be vigilant all the time.
When they reached the entrance of the palace, the carriage could not enter.
“Miss Su, please get off the carriage and enter the palace.”
The eunuch’s voice was sharp and respectful.
Su Xiaoling took out the money bag from her waist. There were more than ten taels. It might not be enough to bribe people, but it was enough to scout the way.
Su Xiaoling alighted from the carriage and placed the money bag in the eunuch’s hand. She asked gently, “Eunuch, this is the first time that I’m meeting the empress. I’m afraid she won’t be happy if I accidentally offend her. I hope you can give me some pointers.”
No one knew the empress better than the eunuchs and palace maids on duty in the palace.
This eunuch looked to be in his forties. Judging from his clothes, his position in the palace was not low.
The eunuch accepted the silver and said with a smile, “Then I’ll thank Miss Su for the reward. The empress is easy-going. Miss, just be gentle and everything will be fine.”
The empress liked people to go along with her.
Su Xiaoling was a commoner. No matter what she did, the empress would never like her. However, it was always better to go along with her than go against her.
Su Xiaoling smiled and nodded. “Thank you for your advice.”
Although it was just a sentence, it was very helpful to her.
“Miss Su, please enter the palace.”
After receiving the silver, the eunuch’s attitude improved a lot. Su Xiaoling did not give him much, but her actions were very comfortable. This meant that Su Xiaoling was a smart and flexible person. She was the Crown Prince’s wife after all, and they would definitely have contact in the future.
After leading Su Xiaoling to Zhengyang Palace, the eunuch’s left.
Su Xiaoling was led in by the palace maids of Zhengyang Palace.
Wei Ling had been waiting for a long time.
Su Xiaoling’s actions were gentle. The empress had seen her the moment she entered the hall. Su Xiaoling walked over confidently. Then, she bowed. “Greetings, Her Majesty.”
Wei Ling did not speak, so Su Xiaoling could only continue bending her legs.
Su Xiaoling’s expression was calm. She could withstand this little pain. The pain she had suffered before was much worse than this.
After a quarter of an hour, Wei Ling said jokingly, “Look at me. I was so focused on looking at you that I forgot that you were still bending down. Sit down. There’s no need to be reserved.”
Su Xiaoling nodded and sat down according to Wei Ling’s instructions.
Wei Ling smiled. “You and Heng’er can be considered childhood sweethearts. Although you’re a few years older than him, it’s fine. If you’re older, you’ll dote on him.”
“Her Majesty is right.”
Su Xiaoling agreed gently.
Wei Ling looked at Su Xiaoling and felt that she didn’t have much of a temper. She lowered her eyes and looked easy to manipulate. She smiled in satisfaction and said, “Xiaoling, you’re really a gentle woman. No wonder Heng’er likes you, but have you ever thought that his liking is a mistake? Perhaps he doesn’t even know if he really likes you.”
Su Xiaoling looked up at the empress in confusion.
Wei Ling explained to Su Xiaoling gently, “Think about it. Since ancient times, women have matured earlier than men. They’re always several years inferior to women in terms of intelligence. Since ancient times, people have respected their older sisters like their mothers. Heng’er left the palace early, and I couldn’t accompany him. You’re gentle and sensible. You often accompany him and make up for my absence.”
Wei Ling smiled slightly. She was just short of saying that Zhou Heng treated her as his mother.
Su Xiaoling was so smart, how could she not understand?
She smiled slightly and said gently, “Her Majesty, you’ve misunderstood. Before we knew his identity, my mother and my brother treated him as a family. What my brothers have, he has too. My mother remembers all the things he likes to eat. If we’re talking about who made up for Her Majesty’s absence, I think it should be my mother.”
Su Xiaoling spoke gently, but she also made it clear to the empress that there was no mother-son relationship between her and Zhou Heng.
Zhou Heng liked her because he liked her, not because he lacked motherly love. Even if he did, Madam Zhao had made it up to him. The empress should thank Madam Zhao.
Wei Ling frowned. Su Xiaoling’s gentle counterattack made her feel like a fishbone was stuck in her throat. She had misjudged. She thought that she would be easy to control, but she did not expect her to be a needle in a haystack.
“Then do you mean that you and Heng’er are in love with each other?”
Wei Ling asked sternly.
Su Xiaoling lowered her eyes and replied calmly, “I’ve never done anything out of line with the Crown Prince, so I don’t understand what Her Majesty means.”
She and Zhou Heng had been bestowed with a marriage. The empress was pursuing this matter now because she wanted to ruin her reputation. How could she admit it?
Wei Ling felt like she had punched cotton, making her very unhappy.
“You glib-tongued thing. I’ve underestimated you.”
Wei Ling’s eyes revealed disgust.
Su Xiaoling lowered her head and did not respond.
“Why don’t you take a look at your status? All the young ladies in the court are better than you. Why should you be the main consort? You were born poor and are not good at zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. How can you compare to others? What can you use to block the mouths of the world? You have no talent or virtue. You’re not worthy of being Heng’er’s main consort. Do you understand?”
“I don’t want to see you ever again. I don’t care if you scram back to your corner or what. Don’t ever appear in front of me. Do you understand?”
Wei Ling stared at Su Xiaoling and said fiercely.
She could not be bothered to deal with Su Xiaoling. If Su Xiaoling was smart, she would know what to do.
Su Xiaoling swallowed. She raised her head and looked at Wei Ling. There was no fear in her eyes. She said calmly, “Your Majesty, please forgive me for not obeying! Brother Heng and I were betrothed by an imperial edict. I also promised Brother Heng that I would accompany him until we both grow old and die.”