Even if someone took the blame for her, no one said they would lift her house arrest, Su Jing still spent her days cooped up in her Drunken Cloud Pavilion.

  Fortunately, she is usually idle most of the time.

  Zong Zhengjin had many novels and miscellaneous notes sent to her, and from time to time she would set foot in Zuìyún Wù.

  Even if someone had complaints, no one dared to question the emperor, at most they just kept it in their hearts and transferred all their resentment onto Su Jings body.

  "Master, Su Gonggong has brought some palace maids and eunuchs over," said Ting Yao as she walked in.

  Su Jingxi heard this and stood up. A few days ago, Zong Zhengjin saw that there were too few people serving her here, saying that he would send a few more over another day.

  I didnt expect him to be serious about it, rather than just saying it casually.

  "Miss Su, His Majesty has sent some people with me for you to choose from. If you dont like them, we can change," said Su Shun, bowing slightly.

  Su Jing smiled lightly and said, "The people Su Gonggong chooses are naturally all good, its just that for the time being, Im not good at choosing either, so why dont we trouble Su Gonggong to take a look?"

  "I wouldnt dare, I shouldnt," Su Shun said with a smiling face, waving his hand repeatedly.

  They scanned through the people below several times and picked out two palace maids and one eunuch, none of whom were particularly good-looking, but looked very honest.

  "Sister Su, these are all new people assigned to the palace. If they dont work out, just send them away."

  All eunuchs and palace maids were selected through a small selection to enter the palace, first living in the Monitoring Institute, unified teaching, training after passing will be assigned to the Temple Province, and then by the Temple Province uniformly allocated to various palaces and institutes.

  Su Shuns emphasis on the fact that these people were newly assigned to the Imperial Palace also means that they are all very "clean", without any old masters, and can be used with confidence.

  As for saying that they are not used to it and directly sending them back, its not really about going back to the palace to rest, but rather being assigned to the laundry department, doing the most strenuous and exhausting work until death.

  "We slaves will certainly serve our young master well," all three of them knelt down.

  Su Shun smiled contentedly and said, "In that case, Ill take my leave first."

  "Slow down, Uncle," Su Jing hinted and heard Yao hand him a bundle, which he didnt decline.

  In the palace, receiving gifts also has rules. For example, every time Su Jing gave him a purse, he would report to his master when he returned to the palace, rather than keeping it for himself.

  Receiving her purse also represents a kind of recognition.

  Su Jingxiao waited until he left, then swept a glance at the kneeling people, "Did you all hear what Su Gonggong just said?"

  "I understand."

  "I wont say more, you should know what to do and what not to do. Loyalty is the most basic and important thing here, if not, then Da Xias fate will be yours."

  Having seen the fearful look in their eyes, "You two, Ai Xiang, Yun Xiang, you, Xiao Chu Zi, each of you will be rewarded with five taels of silver. Alright, bring them back to serve again."

  "Your humble servant takes his leave," said Little Fu, leading them down.

  Su Jing returned to the inner chamber, "Has anyone found out who replaced Xia yet?"

  "The slave is incompetent, she has been in contact with many palaces, the slave really doesnt know..." Yu heard Yao kneel down and said with some guilt.

  Su Jing waved her hand, "This isnt your fault, what a great move to distract us. Im afraid that person didnt even think of it themselves, a chess piece hidden for so long was wasted just like that."

  With Dai Xia gone, although I still dont know whos behind her for now, at least shes safe.

  Of course, just temporarily.

  And she should think about what to do next too.

  Zong Zhengjins face was cold, and the emperors majesty could not be underestimated. Su Jingfan had to attack his heart.

  He now only spoils her but doesnt love her, and cant understand why he would spoil her, but these arent the most important things, as long as she continues to be herself.

  It seems she made the right first move.

  She never hid anything from him, didnt pull any strings or form cliques, and completely relied on him. She always presented her most genuine and simple self to him, which is probably why he spoiled her so much.

  But she wanted more, and pampering was far from enough. He could also spoil others, like Consort Shu, but love was different - he could only love one person.

  Its easy to say but hard to do, never mind, lets take it one step at a time.

  Time actually passes very quickly, in the blink of an eye it will be Mid-Autumn Festival, which is also one of the bigger festivals in Chu Zhou country.

  "Master, in a few days it will be Consort Shus birthday. What gift should we give her?" said Ting Yao who was standing on the side.

  Su Jing thought for a moment and said, "Lets just follow the rules and send it off, we dont need to add anything extra."

  "Did the empress ask how Consort Shu spent her birthday?"

  Xiang Yao shook her head, "Not yet, I think it will be clear in these two days."

  Su Jing nodded and stopped worrying about the issue, "Go get the needle and thread."

  Zichen Hall

  Su Shun walked in leisurely and bowed, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests an audience."

  "Is there something you want to say?" These days, Chu State has been plagued by a severe drought in some areas, and he had been busy for many days without setting foot in the rear palace.

  "Returning to the Emperor, it seems to be for Shu Guifeis birthday."

  "Shu Gui Fei? So soon?" Zong Zhengjin was stunned for a moment, and in the blink of an eye, a year had already passed.

  "Let her in."

  The queen walked in and curtsied, "Your Majestys concubine pays her respects."

  "Get up."

  After a while, the queen saw that the emperor really didnt intend to speak up, so she had to say, "Your Majesty, in a few days it will be Shus sisters birthday. I came over to ask about your intentions, what kind of ceremony should we have? Should it be like last year?"

  "The north is suffering from a severe drought, what does the Empress think should be done about it?" Zong Zhengjins tone was unpleasant.

  The queens face turned red with embarrassment, and she hastily knelt down, "Your concubine knows her fault, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

  "Hum, get up, you are the queen, and you should think carefully about what youre doing."

  The empress felt bitter in her heart, fearing that if things were done too simply, it would be an insult to Consort Shu. If anything went wrong, she would be the one to blame. Now, she had come specifically to ask about it, but instead, she was met with dissatisfaction.

  "I bid you farewell," the empress curtsied and prepared to withdraw.

  "Just dont wrong Jiaer too much," a voice came from behind.

  The queen turned around, "I understand."

  Eyes reddened uncontrollably, but seeing old scars wet, dont know who to hate in heart.

  Zong Zhengjin never looked up at her from the moment she came in until she left.

  "Your Majesty, slow down," Su Shunyan saw her coming out and hurriedly rolled up the curtain, pretending not to see her reddened eyes.

  The queen held the palace maids hand and said, "Su Gonggong should serve the emperor well," and motioned to the palace maid beside her to hand him a pouch.

  Su Shunxian didnt decline and put it into his sleeve, "This is natural."

  After the queen left, Su Shun let out a sigh and turned around to walk in.

  Picked up a few memorials on the ground, just one glance, found that they were all impeaching the prime minister, no wonder...

  "Driving drunk in the clouds."

  Zong Zhengjin stepped into the Drunken Cloud Pavilion and saw someone lying lazily on the couch, gently closing his eyes, with the gentle breeze blowing by, like butterfly wings, his long eyelashes slightly trembling, exuding an inexplicable tranquility and warmth.

  She furrowed her brow slightly, wasnt she having it too easy?

  Su Jingxiao was sitting by the window enjoying the cool breeze, feeling very comfortable, and almost fell asleep with her eyes closed.

  It doesnt matter if someone suddenly picks you up and scares you into shouting "Ah..."

  Opening her eyes, she smelled the faint dragon musk fragrance on the person beside her. "Your Majesty, why did you scare me again?"

  Zong Zhengjin saw her wronged and delicate appearance, the displeasure in his heart suddenly disappeared by half, pinched her small nose, "Fei Er scared?"

  "Hmph, Im not afraid," she said with a muffled voice as her nose was pinched shut.

  Zong Zhengjin let go of her, but saw that the tip of her nose had already turned red. "How can you be so delicate?"

  "So the emperor is being pampered by his concubines," Su Jing said with a faint smile.

  Zong Zhengjin touched her nose tip, "Youre quite good at currying favor."

  "Thats also what the Emperor gave, a long pole, easy to climb."

  "Haha......" Zong Zhengjin burst out laughing, "Little mouth is so sweet today?"

  "Shall we try it, Your Majesty?" she said, sitting across from him and still on his lap, leaning her head in close.

  "Hmm..."

  Suddenly, there was a rustling sound in the house.

  Ting Yao stood outside, a bit shy, and just stood farther away.

  Su Shun was delighted to hear the news from the wall corner, half an hour ago, the emperors face was gloomy and frightening, but now, as soon as he came to Zuiyun Pavilion, the heavy rain turned into clear skies.

  That night, His Majesty naturally stayed at Zuiyunwu.

  Kunning Palace

  "Your Majesty spent the night at Consort Sus place again," Jin Mu said softly as she walked in.

  The queen swept the white porcelain cup with eight immortals lotus on her side to the ground, "This palace didnt expect that she would be a foxy seductress, hooking up with the emperor..."

  "Be careful with your words," Jin Moumou hastily knelt down on the ground, "Please calm down, Your Highness, and take care of yourself."

  "Hmph, how can I calm down? The Emperor is increasingly disgusted with me, never touching me... " The Empresss two lines of clear tears flowed down her cheeks.

  "Your Ladyship," Jin Moumou didnt know how to persuade her, "you should think further ahead, those personal maids will always be just concubines, and the children they give birth to will all have to call you stepmother."

  "Its time for you to make arrangements too, Du Chang has become pregnant now, why dont you consider... letting the mother go and keeping the child is also acceptable."

  "My father is also somewhat too arrogant, let me think about these things again."

  Jin Momo sighed and said, "Du Chang is still young, Your Majesty should consider more."

  Chonghua Palace

  "Miss, the one from Zuiyunwu..." Green Ribbon said as she entered with a tray holding a cup of tea.

  The Empress Shu sat beside her dressing table, gazing at her reflection in the copper mirror. "Im getting old too..."

  "Mother..."

  "You dont have to comfort me, Ive been married to the Emperor for so many years, its only natural that he would get tired of my face...Im not sad..."

  Sadly, he never really cared about her at all; what he had always been concerned with was the family behind her. She knew it and was willing to be used by him. Now, however, it seemed that he didnt even want to use her anymore?

  "Pass it down, from now on, keep a distance from the people of Zuiyunwu."