"Who would touch your little black dog? It's all black and stupid." He Zhuo jumped in and sneered.
Huang Tao raised her chin. "Your gray-haired dog is so clever, I've never seen you raise one yourself. Isn't it Miss who takes care of it?"
He Zhuo curled his lip, completely ignoring Huang Tao, and turned to Qiu Su, saying, "Su Su, do you need something from me?"
"I heard you're leaving?"
“Yeah.” He Zhuo rubbed his cheeks and chuckled, “I need to find myself a job. I can’t just stay at the Pei family’s house and freeload like this.”
He Zhuo glanced at the oblivious Huang Tao, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Don't you have eyes? Don't you know to serve tea?"
"What a load of nonsense!" Huang Tao was so angry at his arrogant and pretentious manner that she laughed instead. She cursed him and left with light steps.
He Zhuo started staring at Qiu Su's stomach again. Qiu Su subconsciously covered it and said with a smile, "Don't keep looking at it, it's weird."
He Zhuo turned his head away and smiled bitterly, saying, "Susu, Pei Yuan is quite sincere towards you. He didn't let you get involved in some things."
Qiu Su frowned. "What is it? By the way, what have you been busy with lately? And Zi Qing, he always comes home very late."
He Zhuo smiled but did not answer, instead saying, "Do you remember that time we climbed over the wall to go out for drinks?"
How could she not remember? She was feeling depressed that time, but when he held her in his arms with trembling hands, she felt that everything else became insignificant. In any case, she knew his heart that time.
“That time, when you were asleep, I saw him ride past the restaurant. I was selfish; I didn’t mention it or call him. Later, I heard that a woman was arrested by the regent that day, mistaken for a rebel. He must have mistaken her for you. I heard he rode all the way to the city gate and then ran through every street and alley in the capital.” He Zhuo looked at Qiu Su’s hands covering her lower abdomen and smiled self-deprecatingly. “Su Su, no matter what, I’m at ease as long as you’re doing well.”
Qiu Su looked at her toes, which she had been rubbing for a long time, and whispered, "Is going to the military camp Uncle He's idea?"
“I have said that I meant it all along.”
"With whom?"
“General Qin.” He Zhuo shrugged. “That bastard Pei Yuan knows, maybe… Hehe, Su Su, don’t think too much about it, just stay at home.”
Qiu Su was about to give some instructions on the details to be aware of outside the border when she saw Madam Pei leading a person dressed in blue cloth and carrying a duster hurriedly in. Qiu Su stood up, and Madam Pei quickly took her hand and squeezed it tightly, smiling as she said, "Someone from the palace has come, saying that Consort Li wishes to see Su Su. Is Su Su feeling much better?"
Qiu Su glanced at Pei's mother, who squinted her eyes and immediately covered her mouth, gagging. "She's feeling better, but she still can't sit for long. She vomits frequently. This isn't good."
Madam Pei's expression hardened, and she asked Yu Hua, "Which doctor? Why is she still not better after all this time?"
Yu Hua walked over and helped Qiu Su up, bowing her head as she said, "It's Doctor Qi who serves the young mistress. He was doing better a few days ago, but unexpectedly, he's gotten worse again in the last half month."
Ah, faking illness when she wasn't sick, it really is serious. Qiu Su obediently leaned against Yu Hua, closing her eyes to rest, her mind racing. Everyone was keeping it from her, but she still felt that these past few months weren't as peaceful as they seemed. Pei Yuan wasn't as clingy anymore, and now that he held no important position, he had started returning home from afar. And Pei's father, who rarely showed up after the dinner table, and He Zhuo, all seemed to have become busy.
Consort Li was the niece of the regent, and was arranged to enter the palace at the age when the emperor should have been marrying a concubine. Alas, what is destined to happen will happen, and there is no way to avoid it.
"Madam, the Imperial Concubine said that she has a good imperial physician. She has invited you several times before, but you were unable to come due to morning sickness. This time, the Imperial Concubine specially sent a sedan chair from the palace to invite you over for a chat and to have your pulse checked." The eunuch spoke in a high-pitched voice, which made Qiu Su frown.
"Hehe, this is also my daughter-in-law's good fortune." Mother Pei took Qiu Su's hand and walked out. "If Su Su can still hold on, let's go into the palace to take a look. Su Su has never been to the palace before, has she? It's huge inside."
"Oh, so that's what you mean, Madam?"
"Oh~" Madam Pei said with a smile, "It's been a long time since I've been to the palace to see the Imperial Concubine and the Empress Dowager. Let's take this opportunity to go and see them, so that we don't keep putting it off."
"this……"
"What's wrong, Father-in-law? Although it can't compare to the Imperial Concubine's carriage, the Pei family is not short of carriages."
The young eunuch glanced at Madam Pei, who was feigning ignorance, and said with a smile, "Madam, what are you saying? Lord Pei is the prime minister in the court, a very important minister. How could he lack horses and carriages? Hehe, please, Madam and Young Madam."
Madam Pei glanced at He Zhuo and said with a smile, "You can stay in the manor. When Yuan'er comes back, remember to have him go to the palace to pick up the two of us."
*********************************
Qingfeng Theater:
Bamboo Kite: I was just cannon fodder like that, what a regret! It's so unfair.
Qingfeng: (Standing alone against the wind) Alas, the world is ever-changing.
32
32. Entering the palace...
The palace was indeed vast, but Qiu Su had no interest in exploring its grandeur. Supporting her mother, she followed slowly behind the eunuch, her nerves on edge. Her mother, however, patted Qiu Su's arm frequently to offer comfort.
Consort Li lived in Changqing Palace. Despite repeated hints and suggestions from the eunuchs, Pei's mother still insisted on going to Changqing Palace with Qiu Su.
Consort Li wasn't exactly beautiful; her glamour was all makeup. However, her eyebrows were poorly drawn—too thin and sharp, extending all the way to her temples, making her appear less approachable. Her eyes were piercing, and although she always wore a smile, it never reached her eyes. Seeing that Madam Pei was treating her with some courtesy, she shifted slightly from the soft couch, feigning surprise, and said, "The Old Madam has actually come to the palace in person! Quickly, prepare a seat for her."
Madam Pei gave a slight bow and said with a smile, "No need. This time I came to the palace to see the Empress Dowager. I haven't been able to enter the palace for many days. Although I miss her every day, I haven't been able to make the trip. This time, I heard that the Imperial Concubine wanted to find my daughter-in-law to keep her company, so I came along."
"That's quite a coincidence." Consort Li glanced at Qiu Su, who had only raised her eyelids briefly after entering the room and had kept her head slightly lowered, and smiled, saying, "She's a quiet person. I only heard the Emperor mention that the Pei family had a new young mistress. Hehe, I didn't see the Pei family hold a big celebration or prepare any gifts, but they haven't been able to send her out yet."
"Your Highness is too kind." Madam Pei patted Qiu Su's hand, and Qiu Su looked up, smiled, and nodded slightly.
"Then I will entrust my daughter-in-law to the Noble Consort and come to find her later."
"Wan'er, escort the old lady to Xing Le Palace to see the Empress Dowager."
Madam Pei followed the woman named Wan'er out. Qiu Su stood there silently for a long time, feeling her legs go weak, before Consort Li lazily said, "Oh dear, how do you entertain guests? Hurry up and give Madam a seat."
Qiu Su didn't stand on ceremony and said with a smile, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Consort Li nodded, her eyes sweeping over Qiu Su again before she chuckled softly and said, "Sister, don't be nervous. Just treat this palace as your own home. Prime Minister Pei has been an official in the court for almost twenty years. It's not unusual for his family to enter the palace."
Uh, how did you become my younger sister after just a few words? Qiu Su hurriedly stood up, "Your Majesty, this is... How can this servant accept such a title?"
Sigh, isn't it right to call me a servant? Damn this palace, damn Pei Yuan, what does this palace have to do with her? She has to think for so long before she can even say something like that.
"Hehe, little sister, please have a seat."
Qiu Su sat down again without any politeness. When Consort Li saw that she was so unsociable and did not know how to please others, she couldn't help but sneer.
"I heard your sister's hometown is in Pingcheng?"
"yes."