Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Favoring Outsiders
The next morning’s court session saw a major development.
Xiangcheng, a county bordering the Capital City, was discovered to have a hidden iron mine. The County Magistrate and City Lord were stripped of their positions and imprisoned for concealing the information.
The Emperor issued an edict, instructing the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs and the Ministry of Justice to handle the case, while the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue were to take over the mining operations, with work commencing next spring.
Su Li learned of this news while trying on clothes personally delivered by Madame Liu of Ruyi Pavilion in the Main Courtyard.
"This red dress truly suits the Princess. It’s noble, grand, and strikingly beautiful. This commoner has never seen any noble lady wear this color so splendidly," Madame Liu’s tongue was like honey, showering her with continuous praise.
Mother Su also nodded repeatedly, saying, "Yes, Li’er truly looks beautiful in red. Let’s go with red then."
Su Li nodded. She really liked this fiery color.
"It’s wonderful as long as the Princess likes it. If you ask me, with the Princess’s appearance, anything looks good on her," Madame Liu smiled benignly.
Su Li said, "It’s your excellent craftsmanship. Your skill is truly unique in the Capital City."
Mother Su also nodded in agreement; Madame Liu’s craftsmanship was indeed impeccable.
"Butler, take Madame Liu to settle the payment and give her a generous tip."
"Yes, Madam."
Madame Liu smiled and thanked them, "Then I thank Madam for the reward."
Butler Xu said, "Please come this way."
After Madame Liu left, Mother Su took her daughter’s hand and said, "Li’er, be careful by yourself at the banquet the day after tomorrow. There are quite a few people who are envious of you now, so you must be cautious."
Su Li helped Mother Su sit down and said, "Don’t worry, Mother. I have my maids with me, and besides, Maternal Aunt and Elder Female Cousin will also be there."
Mother Su felt a little relieved but still admonished, "Then you must stick close to your Maternal Aunt."
Su Li nodded, indicating she understood.
Mother Su sighed, "It’s a pity I can’t go."
Her own daughter, she would only feel at ease if she could personally keep an eye on her.
"Mother, the roads are slippery in this snowy weather, and you are pregnant, so you must be careful. Don’t worry about your daughter; I will stay by Maternal Aunt’s side every step of the way."
Mother Su patted her daughter’s hand.
After comforting her mother, Su Li returned to her courtyard with her maids.
She didn’t know why, perhaps influenced by her mother, but she also felt a sense of unease.
She decided to go into the Side Chamber and prepare more self-defense medicines—it couldn’t hurt.
...
The next day passed in a flash.
Su Yue woke up early to get ready, putting on the new clothes Zhao Huaian had specifically bought for her, and even wearing a pearl hairpin.
Although she looked down on these cheap items, this was the best Zhao Huaian could currently offer her.
Looking at the delicate beauty in the mirror, Su Yue curved her lips.
Compared to a few months ago, there wasn’t much change in her face, but after being nourished by intimate moments, her figure had matured.
With the shyness of a young maiden and the charm of a woman who had experienced intimacy, Su Yue was confident that no man could escape her grasp.
Last night, she had worked hard for a long time to persuade Zhao Huaian to agree to take her to the banquet. She absolutely had to seize this opportunity!
Hearing movement from the bed, Su Yue put on a smiling face.
"Young Master, are you awake?"
Zhao Huaian opened his eyes and looked at the charming woman before him, smiling. "Yue’er, you are truly beautiful. I’d believe it if someone said you were the daughter of a wealthy family."
Su Yue inwardly scoffed, She was originally the daughter of a Minister’s Residence.
"Young Master, it’s getting late. Shall we get up?"
Seeing her approach, Zhao Huaian pulled her into his arms.
He buried his face in her neck, taking a deep breath.
"Yue’er smells so good!"
Su Yue pushed him gently. "Young Master, I just finished styling my hair. Don’t mess it up for me."
Her voice was soft and enchanting.
Zhao Huaian laughed. "If it weren’t for today’s event, Yue’er would probably have to redo her hair again."
"Young Master~"
Zhao Huaian laughed heartily. "Alright, alright, this young master is getting up."
Su Yue diligently helped him get dressed.
The two walked out together.
Zhao Yuyan saw them both dressed so elegantly, truly looking like a young master and his wife from a wealthy family.
"Su Yue, where did you get such pretty clothes?! And where are you two going dressed so nicely?"
Su Yue smiled. "Young Master bought them for me."
Zhao Huaian said coldly, "Tell Mother we’ve gone to a banquet."
Zhao Yuyan immediately chased after them, shrieking, "What?! A banquet? Brother, why are you taking her to a banquet?! I’m your real sister!"
Zhao Huaian looked at Zhao Yuyan, who was blocking their way, and said impatiently, "Get out of the way. Look at you, how uncouth!"
Zhao Yuyan froze, then craned her neck and yelled towards the house, "Mother, come quickly! My brother is going to a banquet and not taking me, he’s taking that vixen instead!"
Mother Zhao had just gotten up. Half-asleep, she heard her daughter call her and quickly put on her clothes before coming out.
"An’er, are you confused?! With such a good opportunity, why are you taking a maid instead of your own sister?"
Su Yue’s face darkened, but she quickly put on a smile. "Madam, Yue’er used to be from a scholarly family and knows the rules of noble households. It’s Young Master’s first time attending such a banquet; it’s more appropriate for me to be by his side. As for Miss..."
She didn’t continue her sentence, but everyone understood the meaning in her eyes.
Zhao Yuyan bristled, stomping her foot and pointing at Su Yue, cursing, "You little hussy! What’s wrong with me?! This young lady is unparalleled in beauty; if I went, I could surely capture the hearts of all the princes and young masters! How dare you look down on this young lady..."
Su Yue interrupted her cursing, looking at Zhao Huaian. "Young Master, it’s getting late. It wouldn’t be good to arrive late."
Zhao Huaian said coldly, "Get out of the way!"
"I won’t! If you don’t let me go today, I won’t move!"
Zhao Huaian said, "If you don’t move, I won’t acknowledge you as my sister!"
Zhao Yuyan shrieked, "Brother!"
"If you want to go, learn some manners. If you keep yelling and spouting vulgarities, don’t say you’re my, Zhao Huaian’s, sister. I can’t afford such a disgrace!"
With that, he pulled Su Yue’s hand and walked out.
Zhao Yuyan gritted her teeth, glaring hatefully at Su Yue’s retreating back.
Su Yue turned back and gave her a provocative smile.
Zhao Yuyan immediately stomped her foot and cursed, "Little hussy! Cheap whore..."
She stopped mid-sentence under Zhao Huaian’s icy stare.
Zhao Yuyan looked at Mother Zhao, crying, "Mother, look at my brother, favoring outsiders, boohoo..."
Mother Zhao saw Su Yue’s attire today and felt pained that her money was spent by the little hussy, but she also saw the difference between her daughter and the other woman.
Just now, when her daughter stood next to Su Yue, she was overshadowed and looked like a tiny blade of grass.
Back in the countryside, her daughter was the most beautiful girl within ten villages.
Even an orphaned girl in the Capital City looked like this. How beautiful must those true noble ladies be?
"Yan’er, your brother is right. We are different now from before. We are now a wealthy family, and you should indeed learn some manners."
Once her daughter learned manners and she bought her a few outfits like the one that little hussy was wearing, her own daughter would surely marry into a good family!
"Mother! Hmph!"
Zhao Yuyan stamped her foot and stormed back into the house.
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