"Just think about it, what if she intentionally leaked the news to us?"

  Xiang Yao is not foolish, on the contrary very clever, a hint is enough, "Masters wisdom, I am ashamed to be inferior."

  The master actively confessed to the emperor, which might have brought the emperors anger, but it was only temporary. At that time, the emperor had a deep affection for the master and would eventually forgive him. On the contrary, if the master did nothing and was exposed by others, he would be guilty of deceiving the emperor.

  Since ancient times, this has been what emperors and kings could least tolerate.

  "Why is she helping us again this time? Doesnt that also prove that last time she was genuinely helping us?"

  "I dont know, I just confirm this person is not the queen."

  Although Huilins words were telling her that this was the queens kindness, but with her understanding of the queen, she feared that the queen hoped she would be locked in Zuiyun Pavilion for a lifetime.

  How could I have thought of letting her go?

  The clothes and jewelry sent over were also referred to as "rewards", naturally also the empresss intention, warning her of her humble status, remembering the favors.

  What about Shu Gui Fei?

  Last time she heard that something happened in Yanqing Pavilion, when she got up and washed her hair, she heard a hollow carved crystal hairpin appeared in Yaos room, along with a small note, "Be careful of Pei Er", she naturally immediately handed it over to her.

  There was no choice but to present it directly in front of Su Jings face, whether it was inconvenient to take action or let her relax her vigilance, and she couldnt help but know.

  That hairpin is nothing special, but throughout the palace, its well-known that she likes crystal, and as soon as someone mentions it, they immediately think of her.

  And she also had an identical hairpin.

  So she let Xiaofuzi go find Peier, using family ties as a threat, which is why Peier later changed her statement.

  Today, I thought of Shu Gui Fei purely because in the entire palace, there are truly only a few people with the power and ability to do this. The Empress Dowager is at odds with her and afterwards tried every means to pin the crime on her head. Xian Fei and Shu Fei obviously arent either. As for the likes of Xiang Yu Yu, they probably wouldnt be willing to leave behind a handle to help her, also leaving behind someone who can share their favor.

  The remaining one is likely Shu Gui Fei.

  "Never mind, lets take it one step at a time. Well be careful, I dont want to be confined again," she said as she got up and entered the inner room.

  Xiang Yao sighed and said, "Master, werent these two instances of house arrest something you yourself were willing to accept?"

  "Ill take a rest first, call me when its time."

  Cining Palace

  The empress dowager sat in front of a desk, copying Buddhist scriptures.

  "Empress Dowager, Gui Guiren has arrived," Liu Momo walked in and said softly from one side.

  After a long while, the empress dowager put down her brush, "Let her come in."

  "The concubine pays her respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."

  "Get up, why did Mei come at this time?" The empress dowager took the Qinghua longevity tea cup handed over by Liu Momo and asked after taking a sip.

  Shangguan Meis temperament was originally impatient, before entering the palace, her father repeatedly warned her to be calm and not reckless. After entering the palace, the Empress Dowager also restrained her, without giving her any preferential treatment. The Emperor himself, except for the first time he let her serve him in bed, never summoned her again.

  Besides, it didnt even count as serving in bed that time.

  "Grandma, Meier misses you, why dont you come and see her? Meier made a little something for you, try some," Shangguan Mei knew her own advantages, in this palace, the only one who truly cared about her was the person in front of her with whom she shared blood ties.

  The empress dowager has lived to this age, and she no longer judges people by appearance. In her heart, there is some ridicule, but thinking again about her only daughter, no matter what, this person still shares her bloodline.

  "What have you learned from these days?"

  Shangguan Meis face showed a hint of grievance, "Maternal grandmother..."

  These days, she really cant be said to be good, every night is empty, those slaves although they dont dare to neglect her, but she knows that in their hearts they look down on her.

  Even if there is an empress dowager but no emperor, everything is empty.

  "You should also change your temper, otherwise I wont be able to protect you," Ugly words have to be said upfront, this kind of impatient temper cant survive for long in the palace.

  "Grandma, Meier has changed, Meier knows she was wrong, Grandma, you must help me," Shangguan Mei clung to the Empress Dowagers side and coquettishly said.

  The empress dowager took a bite of the peach kernel pastry that had been handed over to her, nodded and said, "You are the granddaughter of the Ai family, so naturally the Ai family will help you. However, you must also know when to act."

  The most words were said with a mix of scolding and beating, and Upper Official Meis small face stiffened for a moment before quickly recovering to its original expression. "Meier knows, Meier will definitely not disappoint Grandmothers kindness."

  The empress dowager saw how knowledgeable and interesting she was, and looked at her with approval, "Thats good."

  Drunken Cloud Villa

  "Master, are you really going to wear the dress sent by the Empress?"

  "Wear it, why not wear it? This fabric is really hard to come by," Su Jing said as she sat in front of the dresser selecting accessories, responding to Ting Yaos words.

  Dai Man hastily said, "Master, you..."

  "Alright, alright, good Dai Man, good Xiang Yao, you can rest assured, I have it in mind," Su Jing chuckled and said, "This dress is really pretty, the queens intention I naturally cannot disappoint."

  She wore a pink cloud-patterned silk skirt with a lotus-embroidered underskirt, and Su Jings face was rosy and smooth. She had the shy beauty of a young girl, quiet as a flower reflected in water, moving as gently as a breeze swaying willows. Her simple lily hairstyle was elegant and touching.

  "Master, would you like some butterfly powder?"

  Su Jing took it over and smelled it, "Forget it, youre naturally beautiful, no need for these powders to adorn yourself."

  Yao laughed out loud, "Yes, yes, yes! Masters skin is as white as snow, and his looks are like those of Xi Shi. No one can surpass Master in terms of beauty."

  "Hehe, you really have an eye for things," Su Jing said with a smile, not showing any embarrassment at all.

  The three masters and servants laughed and joked together, the atmosphere inside the house was warm and harmonious.

  Taihe Hall

  "The Princess of Su arrives..." The eunuch sang in a shrill voice.

  Su Jing walked in with a calm and composed demeanor, her footsteps steady on the red carpet that stretched for dozens of meters. She knelt down and bowed, "I offer greetings to all the noble ladies."

  "Please get up, Imperial Noble Consort Su," said Consort Shu, who was of the highest rank here and naturally spoke first.

  Su Jing stood up and sat down in her own position without looking around, and some discussions vaguely started around her, which she ignored even more.

  Im going to see that person soon, Im really excited.

  "The Emperor has arrived, Her Majesty the Empress has arrived," a eunuchs voice echoed at the entrance of the palace.

  Everyone knelt down, "Greetings to Your Majesty, may Your Majesty live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, and forever. Greetings to the Empress, may the Empress live for a thousand years, a thousand years, and forever."

  This is the feudal hierarchy of ancient times. No matter how much favoritism the emperor showed to his concubines, only the empress could appear alongside him in such a setting.

  The queen is his wife, they are just concubines.

  "Please be at ease," said Zong Zhengjin, standing on the steps and waving his hand. "Today is a family banquet, so theres no need for formalities. Just enjoy yourselves."

  "Yes," everyone should be.

  It is said that one can dispense with etiquette, but in reality, no one dares to truly disregard it; whoever really believes this will meet their demise today.

  "Your Majesty, I think its getting late, why dont we head to the viewing platform first? The other sisters can also take a look at the moon," the Empress said with a smile, her heart feeling quite delighted.

  The queens dignity can only be truly revealed at this time, no matter how these people under her have taken away her husbands favor in their daily lives, but after all, they cannot surpass her.

  She is the queen, she is his wife.

  "Lets move to the viewing platform."

  The viewing platform, although called a viewing platform, is not just a simple platform. It has everything it should have. Su Jing followed the crowd and walked forward, but she could only see the hem of the persons skirt in front of her, and she didnt know what was on her mind either.

  Zong Zhengjin walked ahead, and the figure that had just flashed by in a hurry appeared in his mind. A pink dress, a face that was somewhat blurry, but he knew it was her.

  After sitting down, "This fifteenth moon is round, the concubine looks at it, and it seems to be different from usual," Xiang Yuyao said coquettishly to the person at the top.

  "Yes, I think so too," the Empress took over, speaking to Xiang Yu, still willing to give her a few points of face.

  Everyone spoke one after another, trying every means to attract the attention of the only male present, especially for those imperial concubines who seldom saw the emperors face.

  "Its a pity that Du Mei cant join us sisters," Xian Fei said, looking at Du Changjin who was sitting at the lower end.

  Xiang Xieyu asked in a smooth tone, "But why is this?"

  Xian Fei glanced at Shu Gui Fei sitting opposite her, looking embarrassed, hesitating and reluctant to say more.

  Zong Zhengjin is bored and has nothing to do, "speak freely without worrying about anything."

  Xian Fei took this opportunity, with a look of pain and distress, "Du Cairen offended Shu Gui Fei, was punished to kneel, but ended up hurting herself, and is still recovering today."

  "Is it?" Zong Zhengjin said lazily.

  The Empress Shu also couldnt fathom his thoughts and responded, "Indeed it is."

  The queen was delighted, about to say something, and add some vinegar, when she heard the emperor slowly come up with a sentence, "Since it was her who didnt keep an eye out and collided with Zhener, let her continue to rest."

  The queen and Xian Fei were both stunned, completely beyond expectation. The emperor didnt even ask for the reason and directly chose to support Shu Gui Fei. Was it that Du Cai Ren was too unimportant in the emperors heart, or did Shu Gui Fei really have a place in the emperors heart?

  The emperors sentence of quiet retirement did not specify a time limit, Du Cairen, which is equivalent to being abolished.

  Previously still in a daze, everyone also thought that she would really have good luck afterwards, after all, being able to snatch someone from the hands of Shu Guifei was a first in so many years.

  Su Jing moved her gaze to the top for a moment, seeing him smiling and talking to Shu Gui Fei about something, without noticing her at all, so she quietly focused on the mooncake in front of her.

  She loves chestnut-flavored mooncakes, and eating them now is also great.