flstandardbreds Chapter 163 Consort Su is too bold!
Chapter 163 Consort Su is too bold!
Time flies like an arrow, and in the blink of an eye, the annual reunion festival arrives. On this day, the palace and its surroundings are decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and a festive and peaceful atmosphere pervades everywhere.
Inside Su Nuannuan's palace, the palace maid Yaoqin was carefully dressing her up. Holding a jade comb, Yaoqin gently combed Su Nuannuan's hair and softly asked, "Your Highness, this year's Reunion Festival banquet is different from previous years. Would you like to dress up more formally?"
However, Su Nuannuan, sitting in front of the bronze mirror, simply smiled and replied calmly, "There's no need for such trouble. I can simply do my makeup as usual. After all, with Her Majesty the Empress personally presiding over this palace banquet, Her Majesty the Empress is naturally the main focus. Why should I seek the limelight? It's more appropriate to keep a low profile." After speaking, she continued to gaze at herself in the mirror, her expression composed.
Just then, a series of cheerful footsteps came from outside the door, followed by two childish voices calling out, "Mother!" It turned out to be Su Nuannuan's two children—Cang Lan Jingcheng and Cang Lan Jingyao—running in excitedly.
Upon seeing this, Su Nuannuan immediately smiled gently and asked kindly, "Aren't you two going to play on the climbing frame? Why are you running so fast?"
Canglan Jingcheng raised his head, blinked his big, watery eyes, and asked in a childish voice, "Mother, are my sister and I going to attend this banquet too?"
Su Nuannuan smiled and nodded, gently patting the two little ones' heads, and softly replied, "Yes, you'll be attending together this year too."
Hearing this, Canglan Jingyao excitedly raised her little face and eagerly asked, "Then can we see our Crown Prince brother?"
Su Nuannuan was amused by her daughter's innocent and adorable appearance and couldn't help but laugh out loud: "What? You've only been gone for two days and you're already missing your Crown Prince brother?"
After gently reminding Su Nuannuan to sit up straight, Yaoqin continued to focus on dressing her up. With practiced ease, Yaoqin inserted exquisite hairpins into Su Nuannuan's hair.
"Your mother has instructed your Aunt Tingxue to prepare new clothes for you. Hurry up and go downstairs with the nanny to wash and groom yourselves, then change into your new clothes. Come and let your mother see how pretty you are!"
"Yes, Mother!" the two little ones replied in unison, their voices sweet and childish.
As soon as they finished speaking, they eagerly grabbed their respective nannies and, like two happy little rabbits, hopped and skipped back to their rooms to wash up and change into new clothes.
Watching the children's departing figures, Yaoqin couldn't help but smile slightly, her hands moving without pausing. As she carefully inserted the exquisite seven-phoenix hairpin into Su Nuannuan's hair, she couldn't help but laugh, "Your Majesty, you always manage to handle our two adorable little princes so cleverly."
Su Nuannuan looked at the seven-headed phoenix hairpin in her hair and smiled. This seven-headed phoenix hairpin had been specially approved by the Empress. Back then, when Su Nuannuan presented gifts to the Empress, she gave her a nine-headed phoenix hairpin, while keeping this seven-headed one for herself. At that time, the Empress was slightly surprised by this and curiously asked why she hadn't been given an eight-headed phoenix hairpin.
Faced with the Empress's question, Su Nuannuan respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, these eight phoenix hairpins should be reserved for the future Imperial Noble Consort. As for these seven phoenix hairpins, they are what I should wear." Hearing this answer, the Empress nodded slightly.
Immediately afterwards, the Empress spoke softly and asked, "Then, how many phoenix hairpins should the Imperial Concubine wear?" As soon as she finished speaking, the entire palace seemed to fall into a brief silence.
Su Nuannuan nodded slightly, her large, watery eyes sparkling like clear lake water, radiating an innocent and pure light. She gently pursed her lips and said slowly, "Your Majesty, even a Noble Consort wears a seven-phoenix hairpin. It is only because of my title that I am allowed to wear these seven phoenix hairpins." After speaking, she curtsied again, her movements elegant and graceful, displaying the demeanor of a lady from a prominent family.
After Su Nuannuan left, the Empress turned and exchanged a glance with her personal maid Ying Qiu. She couldn't help but chuckle softly and teased, "Look at Consort Zhuang. I wonder how she came up with such a novel and interesting idea. And she's the kind of person who's unwilling to suffer any loss."
Upon hearing this, Ying Qiu's face broke into a rare smile. She bowed slightly and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. Consort Zhuang is indeed a rare and wonderful person." Normally, Ying Qiu always appeared serious and cautious, so the fact that Consort Zhuang was praised so highly by Ying Qiu showed that Consort Zhuang had left a deep impression on her.
The Empress sighed softly, shook her head helplessly, and murmured to herself, "Alas... if all the women in this harem were as intelligent, quick-witted, and understanding as Consort Zhuang, I wouldn't have to worry about this matter every day." At this moment, a faint trace of sorrow and weariness appeared on her dignified and beautiful face.
There are currently six princes and only one princess in the palace. The eldest son born to the Empress is the Crown Prince; the second prince, raised by Consort Li, was born with a disability, and the third prince was also born with one; Consort Qin has a fourth prince; Consort Zhuang not only gave birth to a fifth prince but also took a little princess into her arms and cared for her carefully; and Consort Qing gave birth to a sixth prince.
However, despite the large number of concubines in the palace, the emperor's offspring were few and far between. Everyone knew that this was not the empress's fault, as the emperor rarely entered the inner palace and favored his concubines even less frequently. If this continued, the decline in the imperial lineage would likely be difficult to reverse.
However, it is rumored that Consort Su is pregnant again, but since this has not yet been officially announced to the six palaces, it is not known to everyone.
However, Su Nuannuan and the Empress were not among those unaware of this news.
At this moment, Yaoqin was gazing at Su Nuannuan and asked softly, "Your Highness, what are your plans regarding Consort Su's situation?"
Su Nuannuan narrowed her eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, and then replied, "For now, we just need to keep a close eye on things. We don't need to take any action ourselves. I'm sure Her Majesty the Empress will make arrangements. Our Zhenguo Duke's Mansion has already established its own family genealogy. Even if our family is confiscated and our clan is exterminated, it won't affect us."
Upon hearing this, Yaoqin said, "Your Majesty, this Consort Su is far too audacious and reckless."
Su Nuannuan snorted, a cold smile playing on her lips: "She's never been one to stay put. How could a mere Noble Lady rank satisfy her? Back then, after she falsely accused Consort Qing, who was then Consort Qing, of causing her miscarriage, the Emperor became increasingly cold towards her, rarely setting foot in her palace. Under such circumstances, how could she not be extremely anxious?"
After saying this, Su Nuannuan gently shook her head and continued with a sigh, "People, once they get anxious, are often prone to taking risks and going astray. I really don't know how the Emperor will handle this when he finds out. Fortunately, the Emperor's princes are still young, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable..."