The Su family was just a small clan, and their ancestors were very prominent in the previous dynasty. However, the branch of Su Shuan belonged to a side branch of a side branch, and their relationship with other members of the clan was not close enough.

  Su Jings grandfather died early, and no one in the clan helped the orphaned mother and child. It was entirely up to her grandmother, relying on that meager dowry and doing needlework for others, who managed to raise Su Shu-ben and support him in his studies.

  Fortunately, Su Shu Yan studied hard and had a natural talent, relying on himself to climb up step by step. Now he is already a fifth-grade Hanlin Academy attendant.

  In the capital city, they also had a small house, which might be insignificant in other peoples eyes, but the Su family felt very satisfied.

  "Father, Mother," Su Jing knelt down on the ground after they took their seats.

  Su Shuyan quickly stood up, "What are you doing? Hurry up and get up, what will people think if they see this?"

  Su Jing knew that her father had been well-read in poetry and books since childhood, receiving orthodox ideas, and was a bit old-fashioned, to put it bluntly, he was pedantic.

  "Father, these are all our own family members, it doesnt matter," she paused, "the daughter has been selected and will soon enter the palace. From now on, I wont be able to stay by your side for a long time. Please take care of your health, both Father and Mother, so that I can have peace of mind in the palace."

  "What are you talking about? Our family can still be reunited..." Su cried, but she couldnt say another word after that.

  Su Jing wiped away her tears, "Mother said that daughters must take good care of themselves and strive to rise to a high position as soon as possible, so they can reunite with their mothers."

  "We dont expect you to gain imperial favor, nor do we seek wealth and glory. We only hope that you can protect yourself in the palace, remember not to be impulsive when things happen, think thrice before acting," Su Shuxiang solemnly exhorted his daughter, who had been pampered since childhood.

  "Father, dont worry, I know what to do and will find a way to protect myself. No matter what news comes out of the palace, please dont listen to one-sided words and dont act rashly. Just remember, as long as you and mother are safe and sound, I wont give up on myself."

  "Dont worry, we have several brothers of yours," Su Shuan stroked his beard, the clever and wise daughter, perhaps she can really fight out a bloody path in the harem.

  "Brother will definitely take good care of Father and Mother, dont worry, little sister."

  "Yes, yes, and Im here too, little sister can rest assured," Su Junwen also patted his chest to guarantee.

  Su Jingxiao smiled and bowed, "Two brothers, from now on, Ill still have to trouble you to help me fulfill my filial piety."

  "Sister still has some words to say to Father and two elder brothers, no matter what position I will be in this times appointment, nor what position I will hold in the palace in the future, please remember that honor is fleeting, anything excessive is not enough, being low-key in doing things and being low-key in behavior is the best strategy."

  Su Shu Yan Zan looked at her and said, "Dont worry, Father understands this principle. No matter what position you hold, its a gift from the imperial family and has nothing to do with the Su family."

  Su Jing knew that her father was telling her that no matter how high she reached in the future, the Su family would always be just the Su family and nobody would use her name to do anything.

  "Brother knows, its just that if you have any difficulties in the palace, you must send out a message. The Su family may not be well-off, but they can still help you a bit," Su Junde thought for a moment and knew what she meant, and promised with some concern.

  "Brother, rest assured, I know whats best," Su Jing said vaguely, unable to refuse his kindness.

  One day in the palace, if she really encountered any difficulties, it must be that she was disliked by the emperor or had committed a great mistake. The Su family could not help her at all.

  After she entered the palace, whether it was good or bad, had nothing to do with the Su family anymore. At least, on the surface, thats how it seemed.

  "Brother will also take part in the imperial examination next year. Sister must wait for brothers good news in the palace. Here, I wish brother success in advance."

  Su didnt understand any of this and didnt get involved, she just went to the warehouse to fetch a lot of silver notes and prepared some things for her, thinking about what she could take away.

  "Mother, dont work anymore, mother accompany me and talk to me," Su Jingfan entered her mothers room, seeing that she had been busy all the time.

  Sus tears havent stopped since she came back,"Huier, mother is really scared..."

  Su Jing heard the words and felt a bit sour, leaning on her mothers shoulder. "Mother, you always mention that you want to marry me off, dont you? Look, Im getting married soon."

  "Its marrying what kind of person..." Su said, stopping halfway and scanning her face, finding that she didnt have any emotional changes before slightly relaxing.

  Su Jing knew what her mother meant, entering the imperial harem, as long as she wasnt the empress, that would make her a concubine. A more euphemistic term for it was consort or imperial noble consort.

  "Your mother has prepared a lot of dowry for you, starting from the time you were born, accumulating one piece at a time. Now theres quite a bit. Here, and this is also prepared as your birthday gift, Ill give it to you ahead of time."

  Su Jing took it over, opened the box, and a crystal rose hairpin appeared. She had always been particularly fond of crystal ornaments since she was young, and her mother would often make her crystal-style accessories.

  "Mother, dont worry, this time entering the palace is all my own will," Su Jing said, feeling that it was better to tell her mother the truth.

  Su Shi is a traditional lady of elegance and refinement, embodying the gentle weakness typical of women from Jiangnan.

  Su was taken aback, then became somewhat angry, "Didnt mother tell you not to be so picky? If you get rejected and come back home, will mother still arrange another good marriage for you? Dont you trust mother or..."

  Su Jing let out a sigh, "Mother, listen to me first."

  "My daughter has always admired the love her father has for her mother, and hopes that one day she will have a husband like her father, who loves her as a treasure. But how many men in this world can be like her father?"

  Su Shi never took a concubine in his life. Previously, there was a maid who served as a substitute for a wife, but she died of illness later on. Since then, Su Shi had only one woman, his wife.

  "It will be found eventually, mother will definitely help you find it," Mrs. Su was indeed very happy, her mother-in-law had been living in the temple for a long time and didnt interfere with household chores, nor would she push people into her sons room.

  Her husband respects and loves her, they have a son and a daughter, and their family is harmonious and filial. This life of hers can be said to be fulfilling.

  Su Jingxi personally poured a cup of tea for Su Shi and handed it to her, "Mother, I think that in this life, I wont meet him. Since I wont meet him, then even if Im destined to compete with others for a husband, Id rather marry the most noble man in the world and be the most noble person."

  Su took over the teacup and was stunned for a moment. "Tell me the truth, Mother, have you had these ideas for a long time?"

  So every time I told her about someone, she was always unwilling and made excuses. She thought she was being shy like a young lady.

  Su Jing smiled and did not deny these thoughts, which she had almost since she came to this dynasty.

  She couldnt serve two masters, but if one of them was the emperor, she had no choice.

  At Sus place, the whole family had dinner together and walked through the small garden. From a distance, they saw the three big characters of "Fei Feng Yuan", which were still written by her father after she was born.

  As she walked in, everything here was very familiar to her. She liked eating peaches, so Sus family had planted several peach trees at the entrance, with a swing beside them. After all these years, they were still there.

  "Miss, youre back," Ling Yao and Ling Qin said as they saw her enter, hastily putting down what they were doing to come over.

  Su Jingxi sat on the chair, "En, back."

  Ting Yao and Ting Qin exchanged a glance, then knelt down in unison before her, "Your servants congratulate Miss on getting what she desired."

  Others may not know whether Su Jing was really hoping to be chosen or not, but the two maids who attended her were the clearest about it.

  "Well, this month your allowance will be doubled. Consider these two butterfly hairpins as a gift from me to keep as a memento." Su Jing walked over to the dresser and took out two hairpins from the jewelry box.

  "The slave is willing to swear to follow the young lady to death," both of them did not take the things in her hand, but instead knocked their heads and said.

  "After a few breaths, Su Jingfan finally spoke up, Get up."

  "Taking both of you into the palace is definitely impossible. If I had to choose one, Id want to take Ting Yao. Do either of you have any opinions on this?"

  Yao is much more stable in temperament compared to Qin, and she also understands human relationships and worldly affairs. Moreover, she has some knowledge of medicine.

  Compared to that, listening to Qin is too simple and naive, easy to believe others, the character is completely unsuitable for living in the deep palace.

  "I have no opinion, I am willing to die following the young lady, serving the young lady," Yao Fu said, knocking his head again.

  "The slave also has no opinion, the slave believes that Ting Yao is more capable of serving the young lady than the slave," Ting Qin also followed with a bow.

  Su Jing herself got up and helped them both up, they had been serving her since childhood, the emotional bond between them was naturally not shallow.

  "Listen to the zither, your parents are all at the Sus house. After I leave, you can go to my mothers room to serve her," then turned his head and said to Ting Yao, "If I cant bring you into the palace, you can also go to my mothers room."

  "I, a servant, have no parents, if I cannot follow you into the palace, I will definitely serve Madame well, please dont worry," said Yáo, she naturally knew what Su Jingxian was most worried about.

  Su Jing nodded, and under their service, she finished washing up, lay in bed, and couldnt fall asleep for a long time.

  Looking at the flower pattern on the light green bed curtain, I suddenly felt a bit unreal. For so many days, everything that happened seemed like it was in a dream.

  Its been fourteen years since she came to this world, and in modern times, she was also an orphan with no parents, alone by herself. So she had always been very grateful to the Su family for giving her the warmest home, loving and caring for her as much as they could.

  So from now on, she must live well, not just for herself, but also for them.