Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 14

“Yun’er, let’s go.”

Just after noon, light rain poured from the sky, enveloping the palace in haze. The limestone road seemed to be coated with a layer of oil, looking shiny and dazzling.

Qin Ling brought Zhu Xin, and headed to Cining Palace.

The distance between Jingyang Palace and Cining Palace was not close. One was located in the east, while the other one in the west, and separating them was the Imperial garden.

When they went past Kunning Palace, Qin Ling unconsciously paused her steps.

Red walls and yellow tiles. Leaves falling down the idle steps, the scene remained the same.

Memories that made it hard for her to breathe were pulled out in a flash.

As the sun descended and the moon rose, it was as if she had gone back to that night of August 15th.

That night, Kunning Palace was in total chaos.

Shangyi Xu was holding a bloodstained kerchief, and said in her ear with a low voice, “This servant’s little brother is called Xu Bing, he is 19 years old this year. He just joined the army last year, and our family had also betrothed a nice girl from a nice family for him. Today, this servant has something to ask Your Majesty the Empress. What has the Su family prepared as compensation for the 60.000 lives lost at the border of Sizhou?!”

She had been aware that Shangyi Xu had provoked her on purpose.

However, she had also questioned herself regarding Shangyi Xu’s words.

Isn’t it true? Nowadays, the inscribed board of Zhen’s estate was completely drenched with blood. How could she compensate for all that blood spilled?

Even now, she still could not figure out why her father, the Great General Su Jingbei, who had achieved great success in numerous battles and had been a first-rate official in Great Zhou, would betray the country.

When the news first came from the Governor of Langzhou, she decided that her father was framed, and her Su family was wrongly accused.

They must have accused wrongly.

However, shortly after, the Imperial guards found evidence of the Su family’s collaboration with the enemy. Inside the Duke of Zhen’s estate, or should she say, her father’s study, was found a decade-long construction of a secret passage.

Such a dark path.

With that evidence, bits and pieces of memories came one after another, making her shudder.

Since the death of her mother, her father had not allowed her and her brother to set foot in the study.

There was a hanging painting in the study, portraying her mother, Su Yunshi.

Father used to sit in front of the hanging painting and stare at it.

Su Líng thought it was her father’s infatuation with her mother, but later felt that this was not the case. Although the Zhen estate had no female master, there were still quite a number of nameless concubines.

She had only sneaked into the study once. On the eve of her marriage to Prince Jin’s residence.

At that time, she always felt that her father, who was admired by all, could do anything. And as she did not want to marry Xiao Yu, she went to the study door and made a scene for half a night.

Father’s backyard was not clean, but he had no other children, so he must have held her in his heart.

However, that night, no matter what she said, her father did not come out.

She couldn’t stand it, so she pushed the door open.

Yet, it was empty inside.

The person she was looking for was not inside, so Su Líng could only close the door helplessly.

She sat on the stone steps at the door and continued to wait. She eventually fell asleep like this.

The next morning, the door creaked open behind her and her father came out of the study fully clothed.

Seeing her fall to the ground, Duke of Zhen laughed and said: “Ah Líng, why did you sleep here? Be careful of catching a cold, get up quickly.”

She rubbed her eyes and half-squinted: “Dad, where did you go yesterday? Why did you walk out of the study?”

Duke of Zhen was stunned: “What are you talking about so early in the morning, you silly girl? I just came from the eastern part of the estate.”

“The eastern part of the estate? Dad, what did you do there?” She rubbed her temples and said, “Aiya, Dad, Daughter has something to tell you.”

Duke of Zhen glared at her: “Ah Líng, Dad will agree with whatever you say, except for one thing. The matter of marrying Prince Jin is not negotiable. No one cares how accomplished I am, as a subject, Dad does not have the ability to resist the decree.”

Su Líng bit her lip, and with a pitiful look in her eyes, said: “Then what if Daughter is sickly, making her unworthy of the prince?”

Duke of Zhen laughed and asked: “Oh, you are too sick to be worthy of the prince, but you can still be worthy of the boy of He family? Don’t mention your marriage again, and don’t mention it to your brother!”

She lowered her head and gave up, then gloomily went back to her room.

As if nothing had happened.

But she remembered unmistakably that the door was opened behind her.

The sound of footsteps also sounded from behind her.

She feared that this whole time she had been living trapped in a small world.

“What is Meiren looking at?” Asked Zhu Xin.

Qin Ling returned to her senses. Everything in front of her was dispersed by the wind, like fine powder.

She stroked her chest and said casually: “This is my first time to see the empress dowager, it is inevitable that I am a little nervous. If I seem lost in thought later, you have to remind me.”

Zhu Xin stared blankly for a while, but soon she smiled and agreed to her words.

In the beginning, when Shanggong Zhu assigned her and Zhu Lan to Shuyu Courtyard, she had been instructed to pay attention to Meiren Qin’s every word and deed, and to tell Gonggong Sheng if there was anything suspicious.

However, so many days had passed, from the way Zhu Xin saw it, Meiren Qin was not a shrew person, casual, and not a suspicious person.

Zhu Xin told her in a lowered voice: “Meiren does not have to be anxious. This servant has been in this palace for many years, and I have never heard about Empress Dowager making things difficult for others.”

“That’s good.” Qin Ling nodded her head, and said: “Right, do you know how did Empress Dowager fell ill?”

Zhu Xin replied: “The Imperial hospital said that she suffered from the wind chill, but there is no longer a serious problem.”

Qin Ling was about to ask if the eldest prince was raised under the empress dowager’s knee when she suddenly remembered Librarian Chen’s words.

“I apologize, but this old one cannot answer regarding the matters of the eldest prince. These words shouldn’t be mentioned to anyone else either.”

“The things you can know, you will know. The things you can’t know, you shouldn’t ask.”

Qin Ling took a deep breath and continued to walk forward.

Wait a little longer, just wait a little longer.

I’m already in the palace, there’s nothing that I can’t wait for.

Half a moment later, they arrived at Cining Palace.

Along the way, the grass, the flowers, the trees, even the stones, were generally the same as she remembered.

The words Empress Dowager once said to her were true after all: “The scenery in this palace never changes, only the people who live in this palace change.”

This was said when the three consorts had just entered the palace.

She was not the only one waiting in front of the Cining Palace front hall, there were also the newcomers Shuyi Xu and Shuyi He.

Qin Ling bowed towards the two, “This concubine has seen Shuyi Xu and Shuyi He.”

The two replied at once: “Meiren does not need to be too courteous.”

Shuyi Xu was dressed in a lake blue satin jacket. Her headdress was also extraordinarily simple, although she could not be considered as an extraordinary beauty, she could be described as graceful and moving.

Standing next to Shuyi Xu, if she remembered correctly, should be He Zichen’s sister.

The sixth young Miss He, her father is the Minister of Revenue, while her mother is the Mu family’s daughter. This identity is no less than Consort Xue of that year.

However, looking at her soft gaze and light tone of voice, her nature should not be as domineering as Xue Lanyi‘s.

In a short while, the young eunuchs escorted them to the main hall, and the sound of talking could be heard before they even entered the door.

It seems like the three consorts have arrived long ago.

The three concubines entered and paid their respects at the same time, “This servant greets the empress dowager.”

And then in turn towards Consort Xue, Consort Liu, and Consort Li to pay their respects.

Empress Dowager Chu laughed and said: “Quickly, quickly get up. Everyone raised their heads and let me take a look.”

As her words fell, the eyes of the crowd undoubtedly fell on Qin Ling.

The moment Qin Ling raised her eyes, the three consorts’ expressions were no different from seeing a ghost.

Consort Xue‘s eyes widened, Consort Liu raised her hand to cover her mouth, Consort Li‘s reaction was the greatest, the cup in her hand slipped to the ground with a clang.

The cups and jars were spun around in the center of the hall.

Even Empress Dowager Chu, who had always been unperturbed, could not help but be stunned.

Although they were already prepared, no one could have guessed that it would be this similar.

Upon seeing her, one would believe that there is really a reincarnation in this world.

It is no wonder that on the day of the draft, the emperor left Jiangxue Pavilion early.

Empress Dowager Chu calmed down, smiled, and said to Gonggong Zhang: “Quickly prepare their seats.”

The three concubines hurriedly said: “Thanking Empress Dowager.”

After Qin Ling took her seat, except for Consort Li who had withdrawn her gaze, Consort Xue and Consort Liu‘s gaze still rested on her.

Consort Xue even looked at her without a blink.

Empress Dowager Chu asked them some questions out of formality.

After asking the two Shuyis, she looked at Qin Ling and said: “I heard that Meiren Qin has moved courtyard earlier today. Are you used to living there?”

Qin Ling rose and replied: “Thanking Empress Dowager for her concerns, this servant is used to it.”

“That’s good.” Empress Dowager Chu rubbed her wrist and continued to smile, “If you have nothing to do in the future, you can come often and sit here with aijia. Speaking of which, this palace has also been cold for too long.”

At the word “cold”, Empress Dowager Chu sighed solemnly.

“The most important thing in this palace right now is to start a new branch for the Imperial family,” Empress Dowager Chu said to Gonggong Zhang, “You go to the Imperial hospital and let them inform Liu Yuanzheng to check on the Imperial concubines pulse tomorrow.”

The empress dowager’s words had undoubtedly released arrows to pierce the hearts of the three consorts.

Qin Ling was unable to pry into the hearts of the three consorts, otherwise, many kinds of improper and disgraceful words might have been said by her.

At that awkward moment, the young eunuch outside the door suddenly said loudly: “Consort Dowager Sun has arrived—”

Consort Dowager Sun?

Qin Ling turned towards the voice.

In this harem, she had a far better relationship with Consort Dowager Sun than Empress Dowager.

The reason was, Consort Dowager Sun is the biological mother of Princess Changning. Had the mishap with Duke of Zhen not happened that year, Su Huai’an would’ve been the prince consort, becoming Consort Dowager Sun’s son-in-law.

Thinking about this, Qin Ling’s heart tightened.

Then, perhaps Yun’er…

The young eunuch immediately followed with: “The eldest prince has arrived—”

Qin Ling’s eyes had not changed, the corners of her mouth were also still smiling, however, her body was trembling.

Before long, following closely behind Consort Dowager Sun was a little child, entering the room.

Consort Dowager Sun had always been in poor health. She coughed lightly twice before saying: “Greetings to the empress dowager.”

Empress Dowager Chu replied: “Do we still need these troublesome courtesies between us, just have a seat.”

Consort Dowager Sun shook the eldest prince’s palm, and said: “Yun’er, pay respect to the empress dowager.”

The eldest prince was dressed in a four clouds patterned robe with a pressing collar, with a white jade crown on his head. He was born fair and handsome, with eyes like his mother and edges like his father.

Qin Ling could immediately recognize this as her child.

Xiao Yun walked step by step to the empress dowager. With folded hands, and lips pursed tightly, he gave a big salute to Empress Dowager Chu.

However, he did not say a word.

Not even a single word from the supposed “Imperial grandson greets the empress dowager” was said.

The empress dowager was not at all impressed by this display of bad manners, but she still beckoned to him with a loving face: “Come here, Yun’er, have you grown taller again?”

Xiao Yun walked past with downcast eyes, not approaching anyone, with the exact same detachment in his eyes as his father.

Empress Dowager Chu stroked his face and lowered her voice: “I heard that your father let you study under Imperial Tutor Yao, have you been diligent?”

Xiao Yun nodded slightly.

The empress dowager smiled: “It’s good then.”

Then the empress dowager asked him many more things. Xiao Yun either nodded or shook his head, but never said a word.

Qin Ling was puzzled.

What made her more puzzled was why everyone did not have the same puzzlement in their eyes as she did.

An hour later, the empress dowager waved her hand and said she was tired and wanted to rest, so the crowd got up.

Consort Dowager Sun said to the eldest prince, “Yun’er, let’s go.”

The young child was only three years old and short in stature, so he should not be able to see Qin Ling. However, it was as if there was a thread that tugged him to look back.

The line of sight was just right.

Xiao Yun stopped, turned around, and came face to face with Qin Ling.

His eyes were dark and shining, and he looked at her for a long moment.

Only then did Consort Dowager Sun lock eyes with Qin Ling.

Then she subconsciously covered her mouth.

Then remembering the recent rumors in the palace, Consort Dowager Sun opened her mouth and asked: “Are you Meiren Qin?”

Qin Ling rose and said: “This servant has seen the consort dowager.”

“You may dispense.” Consort Dowager Sun’s breathing was slightly chaotic as she looked down at Xiao Yun, and said: “Yun’er, let’s go.”

Xiao Yun walked to the door and looked back again.

Only to hear Consort Dowager Sun whisper again: “Yun’er, it’s not her. Let’s go.”

On the way back, Qin Ling asked Zhu Xin in a low voice, “The eldest prince… Why did he not speak just now? Is it because he is sick?”

Zhu Xin sighed, as if she had expected that Meiren Qin would ask this question. In an extremely small voice she said: “It’s not that he doesn’t want to speak, it’s because he can’t speak.”

Qin Ling stopped walking and frowned: “Why can’t he speak?”

“Meiren, please keep your voice down.” Zhu Xin pulled at Qin Ling’s arm, and said: “This is a taboo in the palace. No one can mention this. This servant will explain to you, so you cannot ask again in the future. The Imperial hospital said that the eldest prince caught a strange disease when he was still in his mother’s womb. He cannot speak even after three years, he should be… mute.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Su  Líng was stunned in place.

The word “mute” was like a huge stone that hit her heart with a bang.

Zhu Xin wondered: “Meiren, is there something wrong?”

Qin Ling returned to her senses, her voice slightly trembling: “I’m fine.”