After Transmigration, I Snag a Stunning Bigwig as My Husband
Chapter 122 Entering the Palace (Extra - for 240 Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 122: Chapter 122 Entering the Palace (Extra Chapter for 240 Monthly Tickets)

A good night’s sleep.

Waking up in the morning, feeling refreshed.

Su Jin stood by the window and stretched, the breeze brushing her face, bringing a faint scent of fresh grass.

Xingxing stood by her side and said, "The weather is great today, not too hot or cold, just right for us to enter the palace to find an Imperial Chef."

Su Jin, "...."

This maid really has an excellent memory.

"The Emperor executes five or six chefs a year; we might not see one even if we wait for a month," Su Jin said.

"It doesn’t matter; we have easy access to the palace. There’s nothing fun in the Duke Mansion anyway. You could stroll around, wait for the Emperor to have lunch, then go out and shop some more," Xingxing said cheerfully.

"...."

It’s a well-thought-out plan.

It just feels a bit off.

Su Jin looked at Xingxing and said, "Why do I feel like you’re hoping the Emperor takes his time before getting rid of a chef?"

"There’s just a little bit of hope for that," Xingxing admitted honestly.

"...."

"I am more hopeful that the Emperor invites you for lunch, and you take the chance to win his favor, so he grants you the title of princess. When the Marquis returns, he’ll be so happy he’ll fly," Xingxing said with a dreamy look.

"...."

Su Jin imagined the scene of her father flying with joy.

She couldn’t stop her mouth from twitching, shaking her head to rid the images Xingxing’s words conjured in her mind.

The idea of fetching an unwanted Imperial Chef wasn’t bad, but to wait outside the Imperial Study was something she couldn’t bring herself to do.

Su Jin thought it too embarrassing.

But for Xingxing, it was no big deal. Back on Qingyun Mountain, they had often waited in the grass for passersby; the palace was bound to be better than the foot of the mountain.

Su Jin thought for a moment and said, "Eunuch Fu should be someone from my father’s side, right?"

"I don’t know if he’s from the Marquis, but the Marquis must have threatened him," Xingxing said carefully.

"...."

Su Jin’s face darkened, "Are you sure?"

Xingxing nodded earnestly, "The Marquis said the Emperor is soft-hearted, and Madam said Eunuch Fu is shrewd. The Marquis laughed just like that when he set his eyes on someone; I couldn’t have been mistaken."

This maid really had an eye for observation.

Since he had been threatened by her father, asking him for help to find a chef shouldn’t be difficult.

Su Jin pondered whether she should go to the palace herself or send someone to pass a message to Eunuch Fu.

After all, the fact that Princess Shouning had to be carried back to the palace was troubling, and since she was the apple of the Empress’s eye, it was best to avoid the palace whenever possible.

However, Su Jin still went to the palace.

After breakfast, she pondered how to spend the day, whether to soak in the pharmacy or go for a stroll — she was undecided until someone made the decision for her.

That person was none other than the current Empress Dowager.

The maid reported that the Empress Dowager summoned her.

Su Jin rolled her eyes.

Indeed, the matter of the Purple Jade Bracelet would not be resolved easily.

The Purple Jade Bracelet was a reward from the Empress Dowager; now that it’s broken, Xie Jinyu would surely enter the palace to apologize. The Empress Dowager would undoubtedly be furious once she learns of it.

Xingxing kicked the Purple Jade Bracelet, and Su Jin defended her. Combined with the issue with Princess Shouning and Duke Chong, the Empress Dowager had only been waiting for a chance to deal with her, and such a perfect opportunity was not to be missed.

Su Jin felt a headache coming on.

Xingxing worriedly asked, "Can you pretend to be sick and not enter the palace?"

"The Empress Dowager is already angry; pretending to be sick will only infuriate her more. You can hide today, but not forever," Su Jin took a deep breath.

As for the matter of the Purple Jade Bracelet, Xingxing made a mistake but not one that warranted death, and even the Empress Dowager couldn’t be unreasonable.

Su Jin got up and walked out.

Xingxing asked, "Should we bring the Master-in-law?"

"No need to call him," Su Jin said.

Sometimes the bandit identity was handy. If she ends up playing rogue before the Empress Dowager, Xie Jingchen would have to stop her. Wouldn’t he then be a liability in the palace?

After leaving the house, Su Jin took Xingxing to the front yard.

As soon as she stepped out of the courtyard, the maids began to gossip. "The Empress Dowager is angry; the Eldest Young Madam will be in trouble."

"The Empress Dowager adores Princess Shouning the most. To dare let Princess Shouning be carried back to the palace and now the Eldest Young Madam’s maid broke the Purple Jade Bracelet, the Empress Dowager will surely have them thrown out," a maid said confidently.

"I doubt it; the Eldest Young Madam once saved the Emperor’s life. The Emperor wouldn’t not protect her," replied another maid.

"But Princess Shouning is still the Emperor’s daughter," retorted the maid.

"That’s true; the Emperor lost face, so he certainly won’t be happy. As long as he turns a blind eye, the Eldest Young Madam and maid won’t stand to gain anything," another maid remarked.

"If the Eldest Young Madam can return unscathed this time, then from now on, I’ll heed her every word," a maid whispered.

"...."

Even the Empress Dowager can’t do anything to the Eldest Young Madam — to not listen to her would be self-doomed.

Meanwhile, Su Jin took Xingxing to the front yard, where a carriage was waiting.

The eunuch waiting grew impatient and said, "Hurry up and get on the carriage, don’t keep the Empress Dowager waiting."

Xingxing replied, "What’s the rush? Drive the carriage faster later, and we won’t delay entering the palace."

The eunuch thought this was a good idea — he would surely drive quickly later.

However, Su Jin was waiting for the Duke Mansion’s carriage.

No matter how quickly the eunuch’s carriage was driven, it couldn’t shake Su Jin and Xingxing more than the Duke Mansion’s.

After getting on the carriage, they headed straight to the palace.

Inside the Imperial Study.

The Emperor was reviewing memorials.

Eunuch Fu stood beside, attending him.

A little eunuch quietly approached, whispered a few words into Eunuch Fu’s ear, and Eunuch Fu frowned.

After the little eunuch left, Eunuch Fu hesitated to speak.

The Emperor closed the memorial, glanced sideways at him, and said, "If you have something to report, spit it out."

Eunuch Fu paused and said, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has summoned the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion to the palace."

"Why is the Empress Dowager summoning her?" The Emperor frowned deeply.

"It’s said that the maid of the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion kicked and broke the Purple Jade Bracelet that the Empress Dowager had bestowed upon the first young lady of Duke Zhen’s Mansion," Eunuch Fu replied.

Even a maid could cause such trouble; they really didn’t give one peace of mind.

The Empress Dowager had given a Purple Jade Bracelet to the eldest young lady of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, a matter well-known both inside and outside the palace.

Because that Purple Jade Bracelet was one the late Emperor had given to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager wanted the Emperor to bestow the title of Commandery Princess on the eldest young lady of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, but the Emperor disagreed.

In a fit of pique, the Empress Dowager gifted the Purple Jade Bracelet to the eldest young lady of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, showing her favor.

Now—

The Purple Jade Bracelet had been kicked and broken.

There’s no need to go to guess the Empress Dowager’s anger.

The Emperor held his forehead, "Causing such trouble, and still daring to enter the palace?"

Eunuch Fu replied, "By now, they are probably already at Yongning Palace."

"Send someone to keep an eye on things; don’t let them anger the Empress Dowager too much," the Emperor said.

"...."

Eunuch Fu was speechless.

The one who made the mistake was indeed the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion and her maid; would they still dare to anger the Empress Dowager?

But thinking of Marquis Dongxiang and the fact that he didn’t recognize his own daughter, Princess Shouning, until she was carried back, Eunuch Fu quietly swallowed his previous comment back.

The Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion was Marquis Dongxiang’s darling; if something happened to her in the palace, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Eunuch Fu quickly dispatched a little eunuch to Yongning Palace to keep watch, and to report back immediately if anything went wrong.