Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 19

Same couch and same dream.

The 36th year of Yongchang era. Spring.

An Imperial decree of marriage was thrown away at the Zhen Estate.

Su Líng was sitting on the couch, sniffing. The rim of her eyes were red, but she didn’t cry.

Fu Ying couldn’t help but say: “Miss, if you want to cry, just cry.”

Unconsciously exerting strength, the fan made of ivory silk in her hand became deformed, “The Imperial decree has been issued, what’s the use of crying?”

Knock, knock.

There was a knocking sound coming from the door.

Su Líng turned her head, only to see a certain man with a faint smile at the door.

This man was her big brother, Su Huai’an, who just returned from the city.

Su Huai’an was wearing a white moon long garment, with a folding fan in his hand. His posture was clear and elegant, and his face could be considered beautiful as jade. To speak in exaggerated words, one did not know which piece of mutton jade had been refined and carved into this beautiful human form by the gods.

“Ah Líng.”

Su Líng glared at him.

Ever since she received the Imperial decree of marriage, she had been feeling miserable at home. Occasionally she’d look at herself in the mirror, she herself thought she looked pitiful. However, Su Huai’an hid in the Supreme Court and did not go home. Showing up here today, what does he want to do?

Which family wants to have a big brother like this?

Su Huai’an  walked in by himself, waved his hand to Fu Ying and said, “You go out first. I will talk to her.”

Fu Ying bowed and retreated immediately as if receiving an amnesty.

Su Líng snorted, “Ha. Is Young Official Su not busy? Now he has time to pay attention to me? Still remember there’s a little sister back home?”

Su Huai’an sat by her side and muttered softly: “Ah Líng, I was really busy for days. I really couldn’t get away from it. But today didn’t I come right away?”

Su Líng murmured, “I think you did it on purpose.”

Su Huai’an looked at her sad gaze and couldn’t help but smile: “Prince Jin’s appearance is magnificent, his demeanor elegant. With his appearance alone, numerous young noble ladies want to marry him. Why is it when it comes to you, Prince Jin Palace almost seems like a pit of fire?”

Su Líng took a deep breath, “You told me that marrying relies on one’s character, don’t be confused by the skin. Why did it change now?”

Su Huai’an: “But in terms of martial arts and talent, Prince Jin is also extraordinary.”

Su Líng looked down at her toes and said nothing for a long time.

Su Huai’an looked at her drooped shoulders and said suddenly: “Okay, since you don’t want to marry, should Brother take you out of the capital?”

Su Líng was so angry at the joke that she kicked him.

However, when she looked up, she found that Su Huai’an’s eyes were extremely serious, as if the things he had said were not a joke.

There was a thud in her heart.

“Ah Líng, tell me the truth. Do you really not want to marry?”

The clouds covered the sun. The room suddenly darkened a bit.

Su Líng raised her eyes and looked at him: “Brother, I have something I want to ask you.”

Su Huai’an: “Say it.”

Su Líng said word by word: “Is it true that once I marry him, our Zhen Estate will be considered a part of his faction, and that you and Father will have to listen to his orders?”

Su Huai’an let out a shallow smile: “Ah Líng, if the world is going to change, no one in the capital can really be left alone. Let alone the Duke of Zhen, who holds military power, as long as he treats you well, I, Su Jingming, will voluntarily serve him.”

Su Líng was silent for a long time and let out a long sigh.

Suddenly, she stretched out her hand, and removed the jade crown on Su Huai’an’s head easily, then took away the folding fan from his hand.

This implied that Eldest Miss Su is going out.

Su Huai’an’s hair was scattered on his shoulder. He was stumped for a while, before he began to frown in disgust: “I must say, Prince Jin willing to marry you is a kind of blessing. If not, who else is willing to marry you?”

As if she did not hear him, Su Líng stretched out her fair, slender hand: “Brother, give me 500 taels.”

“Only now you know to call me brother?” Su Huai’an was annoyed but also found it laughable, “The meager amount of my official salary was already taken by you, and you still want another 500 taels?”

Su Líng moved her 5 fingers, and with a flattering voice said, “Young Official Su is penniless, but the heir of Zhen Estate must have some money.”

Su Huai’an felt itchy to the root of his tooth, however, his hand still moved and handed over his money pouch to her.

Su Líng hurriedly went to the back courtyard, and from a wardrobe made of pear tree, she took out a man’s garment. Once she finished changing, she turned her head to Fu Ying and said: “Is the carriage ready?”

Fu Ying: “Where is Miss going?”

Su Líng: “Qingfeng Pavilion.”

With the rumbling sound of the carriage, she headed to Qingfeng Pavilion.

Inside Qingfeng Pavilion, the atmosphere was boiling with chattering laughter. Shopkeeper Yu greeted the guests with a smile, and suddenly saw a good-natured and handsome man at the back.

She turned around and said, “This gentleman, why did you come to our Qingfeng Pavilion?”

Su Líng walked over and covered her mouth with a folding fan: “Shopkeeper, I’m here to find Mister Zhuang.”

Mister Zhuang, the second son born of a concubine from the Zhuang family, and the only son of Old Duke Zhuang. For unknown reason, he left the estate when he was still weak, and there had been no news of him for several years. But one day out of nowhere, he became a man of prestige.

Hearing that the person before her wanted to see the master, she immediately nodded: “Young Master, follow me.”

Su Líng followed Shopkeeper Yu to the third floor.

She lifted her eyes and saw the sign of Feiniao Chamber, the black plaque outlined with gold and the sentence—Know your past life’s truth, understand your current life’s pain, unravel your next life’s mysteries.

There are rumors outside that as long as there is money, there is no news that the Feiniao Chamber can’t get.

Su Líng was still thinking about whether this second son of the Zhuang family is a swindler at the time Zhuang Sheng gave her an answer.

Wanting to see Prince Jin, Xiao Yu, is not hard. 500 taels will do.

Su Líng looked at the gentle-natured man dressed in white in front of her, and handed him the money with gritted teeth.

What a good Mister Zhuang.

Casually doing transactions with small capital and huge profit.

Zhuang Sheng took the money, held his smile, and gave her the time and place: “Tomorrow at the period of youshi. Qingfeng Pavilion, 2nd floor. Lady Yu will take you to see him.”

[period of youshi: 5-7 pm]

Although Su Líng realized that she had become a fool, these 500 taels cannot be spent in vain. On the next day, she arrived at Qingfeng Pavilion.

The spring breeze was breezy and warm.

Xiao Yu, Lu Ze, Chu Zheng, a scholar from the Hanlin Academy, and Yang Di, an advisor of Prince Jin Palace held a gathering at the 2nd floor of Qingfeng Pavilion.

Food and wine were all prepared, and the music from downstairs gradually echoed. Chu Zheng said: “I heard that on the day His Majesty conferred the marriage decree, He Zichen went to Chengyue Building to get drunk.”

When mentioning He Zichen, everyone had a meaningful gaze. As if not realizing it, Chu Zheng kept going: “This He Zichen is actually not afraid of losing face. I can’t believe he made three poems there, all about Su family’s daughter.

Lu Ze frowned slightly: “Why are you talking about this?”

At this moment, a figure floated silently and unnoticed, landing behind the screen of the partition.

Yang Di glanced at Xiao Yu, who pursed his lips and said nothing, and thought: No matter how fickle a man is, surely he won’t marry a woman who has someone else in her heart.

So he poured a glass of wine for Xiao Yu and smoothed things over: “Your Highness is now bound to the Zhen Estate by marriage. Prince Cheng and Prince Yan will surely become anxious.”

Chu Zheng immediately said: “Able to win over Duke of Zhen is good. However, the reputation of Su family’s daughter is not good, her relationship with He Zichen is ambiguous. This is a troublesome matter.”

Xiao Yu drank the wine.

He lowered his eyes, played with the small cup in his hand, swaying it around. Suddenly, he smiled: “What’s so troublesome? Su Jingbei doesn’t have any other daughter.”

The implication is that if there are other candidates, he also doesn’t want to marry her.

Chu Zheng also drank a cup, and said in a low voice: “The seat of side concubines are still empty. Why doesn’t Your Highness choose two favorites and persuade the empress dowager?”

Yang Di pushed Chu Zheng a bit and said: “Do you want His Highness to slap the face of Great General Zhen and Su Huai’an in the face of the world?”

“Ah, right. I didn’t think about it well.” Chu Zheng scratched his ear, and continued, “If you don’t want to take side concubines, you can just raise a few thin horses from Yangzhou. The women from Yanhuan are lean and fertile. You won’t need anything else!”  

Listening to the “jokes” from the man’s mouth, Su Líng’s heart fell like lead.

The teardrops at the corner of her eyes disappointingly fell on the fan.

She couldn’t help thinking, ‘What about being a noble lady from a high family, isn’t it just being a sharp arrow for others to seize power?’

What do these people think of her?

Since he dislikes her so much, why should he ask for a decree to marry her?

Does he know out of millions of people, she’s one who doesn’t want to marry him?

Behind the screen, Chu Zheng talked more and more vigorously and became more frivolous. Xiao Yu said indifferently: “Chu Qi, we’re outside now. Don’t talk about these.”

Su Líng didn’t want to hear his voice anymore and turned around and left.

Chu Zheng was taken aback and said, “I’m overjoyed to see Prince Cheng and Prince yan dying today, so I have lost control of my tongue. I hope His Highness will forgive me.”

After drinking for three rounds, Chu Zheng and Yang Di left one after another.

Lu Ze sighed in a low voice: “Even a waste like Chu Zheng could achieve a 5th-ranked decree in Hanlin. The empress is amazing.”

Xiao Yu raised his hand for another drink, already slightly drunk, and looked downstairs.

Lu Ze followed his gaze as well—

Silk was floating in the air. 

Along with beautiful and charming willow-like waists.

Lu Ze smiled and teased him: “Don’t tell me. Does Your Highness like such a thin waist?”

“Could it be that… Your Highness is really thinking of accepting a concubine?”

Xiao Yu retrieved his gaze. Exhaled a breath full of alcohol, and said in a low voice: “Yanqing, I’m taking a wife. Even if I don’t like her, I will respect her.”

“As long as she has nothing to do with the He family and Prince Yan, I will treat her well.”

Only then did Lu Ze put down his heart. He poured another glass of wine for Xiao Yu and said: “Then I will wait to drink Your Highness’ wedding wine.”

The cups collided, then Xiao Yu and Qin Ling opened their eyes together.

One did not know how long it took, Xiao Yu suddenly sat up.

He turned his back to Qin Ling. The whole person seemed to have lost his soul.

For three whole years, he had never entered his dream once.

She must hate him so much that she would not give him the opportunity to think about her day by day and night by night.

But what about the dream last night?

In the 36th year of Yongchang era. How could she appear in Qingfeng Pavilion before the wedding?

Not only Qingfeng Pavilion… She also met Zhuang Sheng?

As the emperor’s mind wandered, Meiren Qin beside him didn’t look any better. Her complexion was pale.

Qin Ling clutched her chest, tried to calm her heartbeat, and pinched herself twice.

She quickly got out of the bed, picked up the black dragon pattern brocade robe, and said softly to him: “This concubine will help Your Majesty to change clothes.”

Xiao Yu seemed to have not seen her at all. He merely grabbed the robe and slammed the door on his way out without looking back.

A “bang” rang.

Gonggong Sheng, who had not heard any movement last night, felt withered. Seeing His Majesty walk out in disorderly clothes, thinking that Meiren Qin had touched this Holy One’s anger, he asked in a haste: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what is going on?!”

Xiao Yu’s eyes were dark and unclear. He said in a hoarse voice: “Tell Zhuang Sheng to enter the palace within a shichen. If he’s late even just for a second, I will burn down Qingfeng Pavilion.”

Gonggong Sheng answered with a “yes!”

Less than a shichen later, Zhuang Sheng appeared in Yangxin Hall.

Xiao Yu stood in front of him, his Adam’s apple trembling slightly: “I’m asking you, in the 36th year of Yongchang era, did you meet the late empress in Qingfeng Pavilion?”

In the 36th year of Yongchang era. Zhuang Sheng was taken aback.

Xiao Yu looked at his bewildered gaze. His hand clenched into fist involuntarily, and asked in a deep voice: “Did you sell my whereabouts to her?”

Zhuang Sheng: “How did Your Majesty know…”

Xiao Yu interrupted him directly: “Just answer with a yes or no.”

Zhuang Sheng knelt down: “Yes.”

Xiao Yu asked again: “How much did she give?”

Zhuang Sheng replied: “500 taels.”

500 taels.

Xiao Yu took a deep breath.

It turned out the events in the dream last night,

had really happened.

I’m soooo, sooo, excited! 

First, this scene is already mentioned in Chapter 1. 

Second, look at our first solved misunderstanding! Su Ling left before she heard the whole story, which leads her to believe that Xiao Yu is an a-hole, while Xiao Yu doesn’t know that she was there, making this matter rot in Su Ling’s heart for yearsssss. 

Third, remember back in Chapter 7, Su Ling wanted to buy info about Zhu Ze, that bastard guy who collaborated with that damned concubine, and Mister Zhuang only asked for 10 taels, and Su Ling thought “Since when getting info from Feiniao Chamber become so cheap?” It’s because she paid 500 taels for info in the past XDD But hey, Xiao Yu’s identity is different, it’s just that the hidden comedy is kinda hahaha

We will uncover more misunderstandings in this part! Stay with me guys! I’m already working hard! Tutt tutt!