Chapter 28: Su Yingxue looked down upon the restrained man with the contemptuous attitude of one watching a monkey show.
Qiushuang softly advised, “Your Highness, if you’re tired, you should rest. Don’t prick yourself with silver needles anymore. You are of noble birth – even if you don’t enter that Juxian Elegant Lodge, it cannot change your esteemed status as the imperial descendant and blood relative of the emperor, Her Highness the Eldest Princess of Da Sheng Kingdom.”
“Your Highness, you remain the most revered imperial presence in the entire royal city, destined to enjoy endless wealth and luxury in this lifetime.”
“Even if you later take a fancy to some talented young man, you can simply request His Majesty to bestow the marriage. Why must you demean yourself like ordinary women?”
“Do you need to prove yourself through this heavenly ladder called Juxian Elegant Lodge?” Qiushuang always felt that Her Highness was acting unusually these days.
Perhaps it was because of that talented young man whom Sidong had been investigating a few days ago. Rumor had it he was a scholar from Dongli Academy, handsome and exceptionally learned – indeed a talented youth, though his origins were said to be somewhat humble.
Hearing this, Su Yingxue smiled faintly, as if answering yet also murmuring to herself. She said softly, “Qiushuang, do you believe it?”
“Even though This Palace is of imperial lineage now, those people bow to This Palace because of status – out of fear for imperial authority, not because they willingly submit to This Palace.”
Su Yingxue gazed calmly at Qiushuang and said gently, “In the eyes of the world, the Eldest Princess appears willful, arrogant, domineering, and completely lacking in talent and etiquette. No matter how respectfully they bow to This Palace, in their hearts they might despise This Palace deeply.”
“This is probably not what This Palace desires either.” Su Yingxue stood up and opened the window.
It was just the beginning of year’s end, with winter winds rising and the weather turning severe. As the wooden window opened, the garden outside appeared desolate, with only the bright lanterns hanging along the corridor like winter fireflies, emitting soft, faint light.
Looking at that faint candlelight, Su Yingxue said softly, “So This Palace studies not for other reasons, but only to tear off the labels that the world, palace staff, and censors have stuck on This Palace.”
“This Palace hopes that one day, those kneeling palace staff, common people, and censors will kneel and kowtow out of genuine admiration for This Palace, not under coercion of imperial power.”
“This Palace hopes that one day, when people mention This Palace, they will no longer think of words like willful, arrogant, or domineering, but rather imperial descendant, dignified and proper, truly deserving of the title.”
“Therefore, this return to Juxian Elegant Lodge is merely the first step This Palace wishes to take.” Gazing at the faint light in the dark night, Su Yingxue’s expression and eyes showed incomparable determination and persistence.
Su Yingxue had not yet emerged from last night’s memories when her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, deep and magnetic male voice beside her.
“Greetings to Your Highness, and to Mr. Qingming. This humble student Chu Xingchen, unworthy as I am, honored by Her Highness the Eldest Princess’s favor and Mr. Qingming’s acceptance, have come to report.”
Chu Xingchen wore a blue brocade robe that Su Yingxue had sent to the Side Hall a month ago. Embroidered with silver thread cloud patterns, it was simple yet elegant, neither overly elaborate nor conspicuous.
Indeed, dressed in such fine robes and jade crown, with his fair complexion and handsome features, Chu Xingchen needed only this light adornment to appear peerlessly elegant.
A gentleman like jade, peerless in the world. That demeanor was truly present, as if the male lead had stepped out of an anime. It must be said, if the noble ladies of Dasheng Capital were to see Chu Xingchen in this state, who knows whose dreams would be stirred.
Su Yingxue gazed at Chu Xingchen before her and, for some reason, suddenly thought of the original work’s male lead Chu Xingchen’s official match, the female lead Su Liyue.
It had been several months since Zhang Susu transmigrated into Su Yingxue’s body, but due to various reasons, she had yet to see Su Liyue in person. She only remembered the description of Su Liyue from the original book.
She was a girl as pure and flawless as the bright moonlight, like the most beautiful tender peach blossom on a spring branch, or like a flawless piece of jade. Every frown and smile carried the unique innocence and romanticism of a young maiden.
Su Liyue had lively eyes, clear and pure as a spring. Her skin was as white as snow, her features delicate, like a porcelain doll that evoked pity and affection. Slender and graceful, gentle and dignified, poised and proper, well-read and exceptionally talented.
Like the fairy Chang’e descending from the moon, like a celestial maiden entering the mortal world, her beauty was unlike that of any earthly woman.
Thus, in the original novel, Su Liyue and Chu Xingchen met at Su Yingxue’s birthday palace banquet half a year later.
In the original work, Your Majesty would hold a grand birthday palace banquet for Su Yingxue every year. From Your Majesty and the empress down to the concubines and princesses of every palace, all would bring lavish gifts to attend the banquet.
Su Yingxue’s birthday celebration was held with extravagance and opulence each year, so much so that even the empress, the head of the six palaces, never received such grandeur. This showed how much Your Majesty cherished and favored this unique youngest sister.
As for the encounter between Chu Xingchen and Su Liyue at that birthday banquet half a year later, it was all thanks to the villainess Su Yingxue.
Su Yingxue, that fierce, cruel, and arrogant woman, provoked by a few scheming concubines’ mockery and instigation during her birthday banquet, demanded that Chu Xingchen, the young man, perform the unique sacrificial drum dance of the Great Qi Dynasty at the banquet.
At that time, Chu Xingchen had just lost the only servant he cared about, who had been severely beaten by some Cold Palace attendants after accidentally bumping into a palace maid and had passed away the night before.
Chu Xingchen already harbored deep hatred for Su Yingxue at that moment, yet Su Yingxue, emboldened by a bit of wine, chose such an inappropriate time and occasion, even displaying a domineering and arrogant attitude.
With a contemptuous, mocking demeanor, she looked down upon the stubborn young man whose eyes were bloodshot, holding back tears that refused to fall, as he was forcibly dragged and pinned to the ground by several attendants.
“I heard from the noble consort that you people of Da Qi are most skilled at performing the drum dance. Today is This Palace’s birthday. Since you are This Palace’s servant, dance a sacrificial drum dance to entertain This Palace!”
Su Yingxue, half-drunk and half-sober, had a face that was bright and captivating, yet her words were utterly infuriating.
The sacrificial drum dance of Da Qi was indeed a dance that every citizen of Da Qi knew. Every child, regardless of gender, could perform it after the age of four.
However, this dance could only be performed at specific sacrificial occasions and auspicious times, as an offering to the heavenly deities. Violating this would be considered disrespectful to the gods.
Therefore, as a man of Da Qi with unyielding integrity, Chu Xingchen would never, and could never, perform this dance meant as an offering to the gods for Su Yingxue, or even for the entire Dasheng Royal Palace—the very people who had once humiliated and tormented him.
Especially since, not long ago, in an attempt to curry favor with Su Yingxue, the palace servants from the Cold Palace had brutally beaten to death the only servant who had ever shown him kindness—the sole attendant he had brought from Da Qi.
The only servant who had accompanied Chu Xingchen through decades of bitter life within the Dasheng palace.