Chapter Ninety-Five: Threat

The next day, Su Liluo was awakened early. Liuzhu leaned close and said in a low voice, “Miss, the master sent word that he wants you to enter the palace with him today.”

Su Liluo’s heart gave a jolt. After having herself dressed and made up, she clasped her hands tightly together and walked in small, graceful steps to Su Hong’s study.

When Su Hong saw his eldest daughter arrive, he thought at once of the lively birthday banquet from the day before. The scandal between Prince Yi and the Su family’s young miss had become a laughingstock among the guests, leaving him deeply humiliated.

The moment Su Hong saw Su Liluo, he recalled the shame he had suffered yesterday and immediately said with a dark expression, “Come. You will go with me to the palace and meet His Majesty. You will explain yesterday’s matter properly.”

Su Liluo seemed not to notice his foul mood. She followed him at his heels, and the moment she lagged even a little, Su Hong shot her a furious glare. It was plain how angry her father was; in his eyes, even the smallest fault of hers was a grave offense.

Su Hong and Su Liluo waited outside the Imperial Study. Soon they saw a man in the distance approaching with a jade crown on his head. As he came closer, they recognized him as Prince Yi, and the two of them immediately bowed.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Lord Su, there is no need for such courtesy. Is Miss Su feeling better?”

Su Liluo touched the bridge of her nose. She very much wanted to question him: what benefit was there in stabbing her in the back like this?

Carefully and with exact enunciation, she said, “This subject’s daughter is well.”

Su Hong’s brows drew together. Sensing his impatience, Su Liluo promptly straightened her posture, no longer daring to say or do anything.

Not long after, an eunuch in a dark red robe emerged and cried in his shrill voice, “His Majesty summons Prince Yi, the Grand Chancellor, and Miss Su to the audience.”

Su Hong and Yun Yanyi entered together. Su Liluo followed behind them. When the Emperor saw the three of them come in, his gaze settled on Su Liluo beside Su Hong. Today she wore a pale lilac dress edged with silver, with a half-blooming peony at her waist, as if still holding a bud. Her figure was slight and delicate, her features refined and clean, and the bearing about her seemed faintly familiar.

“Your servant greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand more, and yet ten thousand again.”

The three of them knelt on the ground, but after the Emperor looked at them for a long while without speaking, none of them dared rise.

Yun Yanyi kowtowed and said, “Your Majesty, this minister is willing to marry the eldest daughter of the Su family and make her the principal consort of Prince Yi’s Manor. I beg Your Majesty to grant it.”

Only then did the Emperor seem to stir from his thoughts. Looking down at the three of them, he called for them to rise. “There is no need to rush. Stand first, and speak slowly.”

After thanking him, the three of them stood at once. Yun Yanyi repeated what he had just said. The Emperor’s face showed some difficulty. “This... I should first ask what exactly happened yesterday with Miss Su.”

Yun Yanyi stood to one side and acknowledged him. The Emperor stared at Su Liluo for a few more moments before asking, “Su Liluo, what exactly happened yesterday? Tell me everything, truthfully and in detail. If I learn that you have the least intent to deceive me, I will charge you with disrespect to the throne.”

“This subject’s daughter would not dare. Yesterday was only an accident. When I woke, I saw Prince Yi before me. I truly do not know how it came to be.”

As she spoke, Su Liluo looked straight ahead. Her head was lowered, and she did not glance at Yun Yanyi even once.

The Emperor gave a surprised sound. “Then why were the two of you on the same bed, and why did people say you were in disarrayed clothing at the time?”

Su Liluo shook her head. “This subject’s daughter truly does not know. Prince Yi only risked himself to save me, and because of that there was such a scene. Who knew it would be misunderstood by others?”

As Su Liluo spoke, she seemed on the verge of tears. Seeing that he could not pry anything out of her mouth, the Emperor turned to look at the Grand Chancellor. “Lord Chancellor, you tell me. Just what happened? And as for Prince Yi saying he wishes to marry your daughter, what is your opinion?”

Seeing that the Emperor was not making a swift decision as he usually did, but instead kept asking for both his and Su Liluo’s views, Su Hong understood at once that the Emperor had no intention of granting the marriage. He composed himself and said, “Your Majesty, I also do not know what happened yesterday. It is only that Liluo is still young. It would be no late matter for her wedding to be delayed a few more years.”

Yun Yanyi gave a soft snort. “Lord Su’s words are rather unreasonable. Your second daughter, as the younger sister, will soon become the Crown Prince’s secondary consort. Must the elder sister remain unmarried? Could it be that she means to be an old maid for the rest of her life?”

Su Hong wiped at his old face and ground out, “Your Majesty, I am guilty. My daughter has acted without chastity and thus fallen to such a state. I have failed in discipline. I beg Your Majesty to punish me.”

Su Hong cursed himself again and again, and Su Liluo listened with great pleasure. “Father, please do not say any more. Even if Younger Sister Zhi’er is such a person, Father should not speak of it before His Majesty.”

When Su Hong saw the Emperor’s dark eyes fixed upon him, he burst into tears, snot and all. “Your Majesty is wise. I have not raised my daughter well, and she has troubled Your Majesty. Since she has shown no sense of chastity, I can only pretend I never had such a daughter.”

Su Liluo’s mouth fell open. Watching Su Hong grow more and more spirited in his lies, she felt deep admiration for him. His skill at twisting truth and falsehood was no small thing; he must have practiced this well in private.

She had even wanted to follow along with a few words, but seeing Su Hong go further and further, she also felt a little chilled. He was truly ruthless. If he could be so heartless toward his beloved daughter, what of her? At that thought, the joy she had felt moments before vanished.

The Emperor comforted him gently. “Lord Su speaks too gravely. Since Su Liluo says it was an accident, then there is no issue. I have now learned the truth, and I will make an announcement to the realm on her behalf to clear her name. By then those outside who sought to stir trouble will certainly not dare speak recklessly. What does my loyal minister think?”

“Your servant thanks Your Majesty for your boundless grace. Long live Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty, long, long live Your Majesty.” Su Hong kowtowed in gratitude and even dragged Su Liluo to do the same. Su Liluo could only bow deeply to the Emperor in forced submission.

Su Liluo remained puzzled. Today, the behavior of both the Emperor and Su Hong was truly odd. Why would the Emperor rather issue a decree to cleanse her of scandal than marry her to Prince Yi? Could there be some hidden reason behind this? Gradually, her expression grew cold.

With her head lowered, Su Liluo watched as the Emperor and Su Hong exchanged flattery. The exchange between sovereign and subject was most curious indeed. Su Liluo could not help thinking more deeply, especially since she had once been betrothed to the Crown Prince; it was said that the engagement had been arranged long ago. Suddenly, she was startled. Fearing someone might notice, she lowered her face at once and tightened both hands into fists.

A possibility sprang into her mind: the military tally. If it was because of that item, then everything would make sense. The more Su Liluo thought about it, the more shocked she became, and the more determined she was to bury the matter in the deepest part of her heart. The hems hanging at either side of her robe trembled faintly. She drew in a deep breath, trying to suppress the growing tension in her expression.

She could not help thinking further. Quietly, she lifted her eyes to the Emperor seated above. Seeing that he had not noticed, she immediately lowered her head again and stood in a posture of reverence. Could the Emperor already know of the military tally’s existence? Su Liluo’s heart pounded wildly. The tally on her person must not be known to anyone. She repeated that thought to herself several times before at last forcing down the countless thoughts surging in her mind.

Su Hong spoke with the Emperor for a long while, then bowed and took his leave. Su Liluo followed behind him like a wandering spirit, frightened and unsettled, as they exited the palace gates.

Yun Yanyi stood unmoving. The Emperor looked at him with a headache coming on, as though he would not rest until he achieved his goal. “Does Prince Yi still have business here? If not, you may withdraw. I am somewhat tired.”

Yun Yanyi ignored the Emperor’s last words entirely and asked in confusion, “Why does Your Majesty not agree to my marrying Miss Su?”

The Emperor had not expected him to remain fixated on this matter. He could only bring up Su Hong’s earlier reasoning to block him. “Prince Yi, after all, this is a family matter of the Grand Chancellor’s household. Besides, Su Liluo is still young. Lord Su’s love for his daughter is understandable; even I cannot force the issue, can I?”

Inwardly, the Emperor thought, I will not let anyone marry Su Liluo. Even if there must be someone, it must be one I approve. Behind her lies a tremendous secret. If it falls into Yun Yanyi’s hands, it will only become a troublesome affair.

The Emperor thought of Su Liluo’s mother, a proud beauty. The secret she had hidden had still not been found by him to this day. Su Liluo’s marriage was an important opening through which to break the matter wide open. His expression grew even colder. How could he let Yun Yanyi gain such a bargain for nothing? That would be the greatest threat to him.