Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 50 - 49: The Old Emperor Really Is a Womanizer
New Year’s Eve was approaching, and the civil and military officials were given holidays, while the royal family members all entered the palace with their families for a feast.
Prince Jing had been waiting for the warm clothes from Su Juan for several days, but even on New Year’s Eve, they had not arrived.
As the family prepared to enter the palace, Su Juan put on her new clothes made from materials previously gifted by the Empress, and wrapped herself in the white fox fur given by Duke Ping, perfect for keeping out the cold of New Year’s night.
Over the past six months, she had grown taller and her features more refined; her face was no longer as round as before. With makeup applied, her fair face had a rosy tint, and her lips were coated with lipstick, giving her the appearance of a pampered young girl from a well-to-do family.
Prince Jing coughed twice, "It’s getting colder and colder these days, even wearing several layers doesn’t seem enough."
As he spoke, he cast a glance towards Su Juan, afraid she hadn’t heard him.
However, Su Juan was only eager to leave, impatient to enter the palace, [wondering what delicious foods might be there today, just thinking about it made her hungry.]
Prince Jing felt disappointed. Wasn’t it said that the warm clothes would be delivered in these couple of days?
Even the Emperor was wearing his!
Could his daughter-in-law have forgotten? Surely not, with him standing there, alive and breathing, how could she forget?
Song Qianhang came over just in time to see his father gazing longingly at the gate, while Su Juan, afraid of the cold, had already gotten on the carriage, "Father, what are you looking at?"
Prince Jing’s voice was chilly, "Hang, do you think your sister-in-law has forgotten about her father-in-law?"
Song Qianhang: "?"
Isn’t it just because she’s afraid of the cold and got on the carriage first, does it really warrant suspicion of forgetting?
Prince Jing sighed deeply, "You wouldn’t understand."
Song Qianhang: "..." Without saying anything, who would understand?
...
Passing through the many palace gates, Su Juan finally got off the carriage, by then, night had fallen, and snowflakes were softly descending.
Song Qianhang dismounted, and as Su Juan got off the carriage, he instinctively helped her. She stumbled slightly, bumping into Song Qianhang, causing Dongdong to drop the umbrella in panic, rushing to help.
Su Juan: "Sorry, I lost my footing."
Song Qianhang bent down to pick up the fallen umbrella, holding it over her, "It’s alright."
Unconsciously, Su Juan stretched out her hand to catch the snowflakes. This year’s first snow, [how beautiful.]
Song Qianhang was slightly taken aback, seeing her staring in a daze not far away, he followed her gaze. Red palace walls, falling snowflakes, his heart stirred... indeed, it was beautiful.
Seeing the carriage’s curtain lift behind them, he let go of the umbrella and took a step away from Su Juan.
Su Juan furrowed her brows slightly; after the New Year, the Capital would be embroiled in another round of bloody political strife.
Prince Heng exiled, Song Qianfan revealing his edge, family rivalry and partisan strife creating chaos in the court.
[There aren’t many days like these left.]
Song Qianfan got off the carriage behind Song Qianhang, catching sight of this scene, he was slightly surprised; the snow indeed made the woman look prettier.
He suddenly realized he hadn’t ever closely looked at Su Juan; this woman was actually not unattractive.
But as soon as he had this thought, Song Qianfan knitted his brows, was he losing his mind to think this crazy woman was pretty.
He sneered, "Wrapped up like a bear, hideous."
Su Juan: "???"
Song Qianhang: "..."
Su Juan’s brow twitched, [I’m ugly, I’m ugly, but what does that have to do with you!]
Just as she thought that, she heard Song Qianhang’s voice in her ear, "Not ugly, very pretty."
Su Juan immediately squinted her eyes, "You have good taste, unlike your brother, no future in that."
Song Qianhang remained silent; he and his elder brother were naturally different.
Seeing Song Qianhang walk away, Su Juan was immediately puzzled, "Dongdong, don’t you think Second Young Master has been acting strange lately?"
Dongdong blinked, "Second Young Master has indeed spoken less and hasn’t been coming to find the master to play cards."
Strange or not she didn’t know, only that Second Young Master had indeed changed a lot recently, not even going to brothels.
Su Juan looked puzzled, [What happened to Song Qianhang, a change of temperament?]
[Isn’t it said that only suffering a serious illness or catastrophic pain can change one’s nature?]
[He reads and goes to brothels every day... could he have read himself sick?]
Up ahead, Song Qianhang cried out inwardly: didn’t you say Master I would be poisoned to death!?
So wouldn’t I do something cautiously to prepare, instead of foolishly waiting for death?
Over the past few days, he first spent money to have someone follow his brother, discovering that his actions were indeed suspicious, but that was of no use.
So he thought hard and concluded that the simplest and most effective way was to separate and move out, he didn’t even want the Prince Mansion, everything could be left to Song Qianfan, saving his life was more important.
But he had been looking at several houses and hadn’t found a suitable one yet.
...
At the palace banquet, only the Empress and the imperial concubine could attend from the harem, but recently Su Meiren had been very favored, just promoted, and with the Old Emperor’s approval, she also appeared at the feast.
It wasn’t Su Juan’s first time seeing Su Pin, but each time she still couldn’t help but sigh, [looks really similar, very youthful.]
The imperial family members cast puzzled glances her way, what’s the Heir Consort talking about, who’s youthful? 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Song Qianfan’s brows creased, having a vague uneasy feeling, he suppressed it, convincing himself that it was impossible for Su Juan to know everything.
Song Qianhang took a sidelong glance at Su Pin, whom Su Juan had mentioned was youthful, his brows furrowed, curious, he felt that Su Pin’s features resembled the Empress a bit?
Su Pin blushed as she poured wine and served the Old Emperor, who indulgently watched her with a smile, occasionally touching her small hand.
On the other side, the imperial concubine, being neglected, was almost gnashing her teeth in anger. This little girl who emerged out of nowhere, how could she compete for favor!?
"Empress, look at Su Pin, too unruly!"
The Empress, however, didn’t even glance, "As long as His Majesty is willing to dote on her, even if a bit unruly, as long as His Majesty is happy."
The imperial concubine’s face turned livid, this Empress was too indifferent, was she truly becoming a Buddhist devotee?
The Empress merely continued eating the vegetarian dishes in front of her, recalling when the imperial concubine first entered the palace, she too had received some favor, behaving much like Su Pin nowadays.
Over these decades, she had long seen it all, men’s affections were too light, a breeze could disperse them.
The imperial concubine wouldn’t be the last, and neither would Su Pin.
She had already seen through it back when her bedside companion, in pursuit of power, sent her away while pregnant.
Su Juan had several dishes, drank quite a few glasses of wine, her little face turning red, looking quite endearing.
Song Qianhang spaced out several times, she truly was different from six months ago.
Yet Song Qianfan didn’t spare her even a single glance.
Just then, Su Juan’s lazy voice rang out, [The Old Emperor is truly fickle...]
This statement startled many of the royal family members, making them drop their chopsticks and spill their wine.
Heir Consort, such words aren’t to be spoken lightly!
