Read Novel Full Chapter 1671: Entering the Palace
Chapter 1671: Chapter 1671: Entering the Palace
Su Wanshan knew that his young woman had no heart for competing. So he and his son would live a simple life.
A servant came to report that the palace had already sent someone to fetch her.
Su Wanshan looked at the sedan chair carried by four people, and his heart felt even more uncomfortable, knowing his young woman would never have the chance to sit in a grand sedan carried by eight.
The dowry for a concubine could consist of only three boxes. They were packed full, filled with the most practical and necessary items.
Su Yuanyuan came out with a maroon veil over her head. She was helped into the sedan chair by Cui Shanggong.
If it were someone else’s family, there would definitely be a lot of fanfare and excitement. Only in the Su Family’s household, the courtyard was quiet and deserted.
Although the Su Family was not the most prominent, it should not have been this way.
The residence was a bestowed reward. Naturally, the neighbors were also officials.
Although no one dared to come out to watch the commotion, they all ridiculed the Su Family and laughed at Su Wanshan.
But no one dared to show it openly. The young woman from the Su Family was entering the palace as a concubine, and although they didn’t know which concubine she would be, she was ranked in the top five in the palace.
Some people were quite dismissive of this. How could a young lady from the Su Family, merely fifteen years old in the summer, just a little girl, attract the Holy Emperor’s favor?
The women who had seen Su Yuanyuan knew she was just an ordinary girl. They wondered what kind of fortune she had to have such an opportunity. If it were the end-of-year selection, she probably wouldn’t stand a chance.
Most families would want to send their young women into the palace. Who wouldn’t want to become the royal father-in-law? Who wouldn’t want their own bloodline in the next Emperor?
The two Su Family men and all the servants stood at the door watching. Only when there was no sign of the procession did Su Wanshan turn to go back into the house.
"General Su, please stay."
To the east, the neighbor was a cabinet scholar, a civil servant.
"Mr. Qian, what instructions do you have?" Su Wanshan, now a second-grade military general, spoke to the cabinet scholar, who was a second-grade official.
Although civil and military officials were different, the ranking was just like that.
"General Su, on such a joyful day, I should at least be invited for a drink, shouldn’t I?"
Su Wanshan was already utterly fed up but couldn’t show it. He felt utterly depressed.
"Mr. Qian, I sincerely apologize. My young woman asked not to hold a banquet; I will invite Mr. Qian for a drink in a while.
I have only this one young woman. Now that she’s entering the palace, it will be hard to see her. Truly I feel heartbroken. My apologies, Mr. Qian."
The young woman had anticipated this, suggesting he deflect the invitation onto her decision, not breaching any rules, conveniently so.
Qian Cheng laughed and cupped his hands, "I understand General Su. I will invite General Su for a drink in the future."
Su Wanshan also paid his respects. Truth be told, he really didn’t want to recount things to these civil officials. Watching Qian Cheng leave, the father and son finally went inside.
The home was eerily silent. The servants knew that the General was in a bad mood, and no one dared to disturb the peace at this time.
The neighborhood looked at Su Wanshan’s demeanor earlier, all snickering. He hadn’t even gained favor and was already acting lofty.
Su Yuanyuan sat in the sedan chair, swaying side to side.
She wondered if she was too heavy. The sedan chair bearers must surely feel quite tired carrying her?
Anyway, her thoughts wandered aimlessly throughout the journey. Otherwise, she thought she might just run away.
What if, upon arriving at the Imperial Palace, there was no one in the sedan chair? Would her family suffer consequences?
Su Yuanyuan wore a bitter smile, knowing she often overthought things. She would always want to return others’ goodwill towards her multifold.
Running away with no responsibility, what would it lead to? Especially now that many eyes had seen her enter the sedan chair.
She feared these twenty people beside her might suffer because of her. Without law enforcement, these twenty might lose their lives because of her, which was unbearable.
She sighed. Just let it be. Judging by her current looks, the Emperor probably lacked any desire to act on her.
Besides, she had no dreams for her ideal life, and here everything was the same; she would take it one step at a time.
Life would pass anyway. Frankly, this place wasn’t bad; she had all she needed without lifting a finger.
Su Yuanyuan kept comforting herself. She didn’t know how much time had passed when she finally heard voices outside.
Of course, the guard outside her sedan chair had no right to investigate, so after a brief pause, it continued moving forward.
From inside the sedan chair, she couldn’t see anything. Everything was steady, and she had no idea where they arrived.
It seemed like a long time before the sedan chair stopped.
Cui Shanggong called to her softly, asking her to exit.
With Cui Shanggong’s assistance, she got down. With the veil over her head, she still couldn’t see anything.
"Noble lady, please follow me this way."
Su Yuanyuan knew this was to pay respects to the Empress.
The classical scenario of a mistress meeting the wife; it was quite an expectation.
Cui Shanggong was trained; each of her steps was the same size and pace.
"Please announce to the Empress that Su Yuanyuan from the Su Family is here to pay her respects."
As soon as Cui Shanggong finished speaking, a eunuch’s voice rang out, "The Emperor arrives."
Su Yuanyuan felt Cui Shanggong’s hand tighten slightly.
She just needed to wait there, smiling, ensuring she didn’t make any mistakes; then there would be no danger.
Following Cui Shanggong’s movement, she knelt down and listened as the servants hailed, "Long live the Emperor."
Su Yuanyuan mused on the ancient saying, how "long live" was meant for turtles.
A pair of yellow shoes passed by her vision. Cui Shanggong helped her up, but she still stood waiting outside for the summons from inside.
Su Yuanyuan counted to three thousand before she was invited in. However, the invitation’s tone sounded quite contemptuous.
She couldn’t care less what they thought; a bunch of women gathered together was already bizarre enough.
Guided by Cui Shanggong, Su Yuanyuan entered and then knelt down.
Su Yuanyuan softly said, "Greetings to the Emperor and the Empress." She stayed kneeling, waiting for the word from above.
"Sister, please rise quickly. Sun Shanggong, help sister up."
"Thank you, Emperor, Empress."
After getting up, she heard a woman laugh, "Your Majesty, you should unveil her."
"Cui Shanggong, you take care of it."
Hearing the man’s voice, Su Yuanyuan found it pleasant yet so cold. It wasn’t just cold towards her; his nature seemed cold and indifferent.
She didn’t feel any discontent that the Emperor wasn’t unveiling her. Honestly, she didn’t care about this at all.
In an instant, everything brightened, and Su Yuanyuan squinted momentarily. She knew the rules; she couldn’t look directly at the two above her.
She followed protocol, knelt again, "Su Yuanyuan from the Su Family pays her respects to the Emperor and Empress."
"Arise."
Using Cui Shanggong’s help, she rose. With her head slightly lowered, she stood in the center for the two dignitaries to observe.
"Hehe, sister is truly obedient."
Su Yuanyuan thought to herself that there truly weren’t words flattering enough for her.
"Sister’s comportment is quite impressive. However, you should lift your head so you may recognize the Emperor," followed by a girlish snicker.
Su Yuanyuan slowly lifted her head, looking at the two above.
As for the Emperor, what could one say? Her first impression was that he was quite thin, his gaze sharp, clearly someone cold and heartless, but he did possess striking looks and seemed to be quite tall.