frightfiction Chapter 124 Call me Aunt
Chapter 124 Call me Aunt
Mooncake Festival.
People and the moon are reunited.
As August arrived, the once solemn and austere Imperial Palace began to radiate a festive atmosphere. The undercurrents of turmoil gradually retreated underground, replaced by a festive and peaceful atmosphere.
In the evening, Prince Heng, as the eldest son, would go up to the Tongtian Tower on behalf of the elderly emperor to light the first palace lantern.
At that time, lanterns all over the city will light up one after another, making the entire Shengjing city as bright as day, showing the prosperity of the Daqi era. Citizens from all over the city will flock to the streets to watch the lanterns.
When Su Li and her family arrived at the palace gate, the square was already filled with carriages from various mansions, and passengers were arriving one after another.
Lian Cheng carefully carried the sick Pei Heng out of the carriage and placed him on a wheelchair. Su Li carefully handed him a blanket to cover his legs.
As soon as the family appeared, they immediately attracted the attention of everyone in the square. People stopped to watch. Immediately, a young eunuch came forward and bowed to Pei Heng, saying in a shrill voice:
"Your servant greets General Pei. Eunuch Shun has specifically ordered me to wait here and to accompany you to the Emperor as soon as General Pei enters the palace."
After saying that, he waved his hand and a sedan chair appeared in front of everyone.
With the precedent of going to the Duke of Qi's Mansion, Su Li's family was more comfortable cooperating with Pei Heng today. Su Li was busy stuffing red envelopes into the eunuch's pockets, saying:
"My dear eunuch, the general is in poor health. Please bear with me on the journey!"
The young eunuch calmly took the handful of gold ingots and stuffed them into his sleeves, his eyes gentle as he said:
"Don't worry, madam. The servants who carry the sedan chair are carefully selected and will definitely not shake the general." After saying that, he asked two young eunuchs to help Pei Heng get on the sedan chair, and another young eunuch followed behind pushing the wheelchair.
Huan Ge'er and Xi Jie'er, one on each side, tucked the thin blanket around Pei Heng's legs and said in unison, "Father, take care of yourself."
This thin blanket was Su Li's idea.
Men in wheelchairs are provided with a thin blanket as standard.
Su Li pulled Pei Heng and stuffed a small porcelain bottle into his mouth, saying:
"Husband, this is a fast-acting heart pill. If you feel unwell, take one immediately. It will save your life. Ah!"
Pei Heng's eyes drifted over and he said silently, "It's passed!"
Su Li pretended not to see it: "I'll ask the father-in-law to wait. If there is anything wrong with my husband, please send someone to find me."
Pei Heng also said to Huan Ge'er with deep affection:
"Take good care of your mother and sister, okay?"
Huan Ge'er agreed obediently.
Inwardly, I thought, "Father, you really underestimate Mother. You've never seen her engage in a verbal battle with a group of scholars!" That devastating blow, crackling. I'm sure the noble ladies of Shengjing City are still terrified.
After watching Pei Heng leave, a palace maid came forward:
"Madam Pei, it's still early for the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet. The Imperial Concubine has prepared refreshments in Xinqing Palace. Please come in."
Before arriving at Xinqing Palace, I could hear the melodious sounds of stringed instruments, bamboo harps, and zithers coming from inside, and the place was filled with laughter and joy, making it very lively.
"General Pei's wife has arrived."
The young eunuch who was in charge of the meeting at the door had a happy face, as if he had met a long-lost relative, and even his voice became much clearer.
Su Li straightened his back and stood up.
I didn’t get this treatment the last time I entered the palace. It turns out that Pei Heng’s name is really useful.
As Huan Ge'er had expected, the moment the eunuch announced Su Li's name, the room instantly fell silent. Everyone watched as Su Li leisurely entered with her two children.
Many people recalled the bad memories of the Dragon Boat Festival and became disheartened.
Many people thought of the personal belongings they had hidden in their visiting cards and invitations, which were burned by Su Li at the door of the general's mansion. The look in her eyes was poisonous.
Many people had heard the news from the Duke of Qi's Mansion and knew that Pei Heng was no longer as strong as before, so they had already given up their thoughts. Now, the look in their eyes towards Su Li was only pity.
In short, the ladies and wives in this room all have different thoughts.
"You came."
Su Li saw that everyone was quiet for a while, and then pretended not to see her and chatted about their own things. However, the eldest princess next to her was the first to greet her.
"Su Li greets Her Royal Highness the Princess."
After not seeing each other for a long time, Su Li saw that the eldest princess had lost a lot of weight.
Logically speaking, the princess should have been the first to get restless when news of Pei Heng's recovery spread. However, it had been over a month since she moved to the general's mansion, and the princess hadn't sent anyone to inquire about the news.
I have been hoping day and night that my loved one would get better, but when I suddenly heard the news, I felt both happy and sad. This may be the feeling similar to "homesickness".
Want to know but afraid to know.
And even if I knew, I would still feel helpless and powerless.
I'm afraid only Su Li can understand the pain involved.
Su Li walked up to the eldest princess and before she could speak, she took the initiative to say:
"Thanks to Her Royal Highness the Princess's concern, my husband is much better now. He is now going to see the Emperor. I believe we will be able to meet at the banquet."
The eldest princess was stunned, a mist flashed across her eyes, and then she raised her head proudly.
"When did this princess ask you this?"
Su Li saw her raise her eyes calmly, knowing that she was secretly suppressing her tears, and said:
"I was rude. I thought Her Royal Highness was genuinely concerned about her husband, so I acted on my own initiative. Since Her Royal Highness is not happy to hear it, I will not say anything more."
After saying this, he sat upright beside the eldest princess, like a gourd with its mouth sawed off, without saying another word.
The eldest princess became anxious.
She wants to hear it.
She wanted to hear it so badly.
Many times she couldn't help wanting to rush to the general's residence to see Pei Heng, but her reason told her not to.
He is already married and she is already married, and neither rules nor morals allow it.
She could only listen to the scattered rumors outside day and night, and imagine some of Pei Heng's daily life in her own mind. After finally hearing Su Li talk about Pei Heng, she stopped talking in the end. She felt more uncomfortable than if her heart was scratching.
She glared at Su Li and said:
"You are usually very eloquent, why are you so silent today?"
Su Li laughed out loud, turned around and said with a smile:
"Your Highness, Princess, don't you think I'm too nosy?"
"Humph, I've never seen you speak so sharply!"
Su Li then said, "Princess, I only speak harshly to those who harbor evil intentions. To those who are truly kind to my husband and me, I will be doubly kind in return."
The eldest princess was stunned again when she heard this.
Her first impression of Su Li was very bad, and she felt that she was not worthy of Pei Heng at all. But now she finally understood why Pei Heng, such a proud man, could tolerate this "idiot".
It turns out that Su Li is not stupid at all.
She loved Pei Heng deeply, but she also treated him well with all her heart. They couldn't be husband and wife, but the friendship they had grown up with over a decade as childhood sweethearts could not be faked.
Su Li said earnestly, "Princess, the general suffered for three years, and you suffered for three years too. Now that the general is better, you should be better too."
The eldest princess could no longer hold back her tears, and they flowed down.
Fang Gu, the palace maid behind him, said:
"Your Highness, the imperial physician said you are depressed and cannot cry."
"Stop talking too much!" the princess scolded softly.
Fang Gu shut up awkwardly, but looked at Su Li for help.
Su Li nodded at her to show that she understood.
After thinking for a moment, he picked up the chubby Xi Jie'er and said, "Xi Jie'er, tell Her Highness the Princess what your father told you about Her Highness the Princess before you entered the palace."
Xijie'er's big eyes were crystal clear, and she looked at the eldest princess cutely and said:
"Father said that when Her Royal Highness was my age, she was already learning to read and write with him. She was very smart. Others would have to read aloud more than ten times, but Her Royal Highness could memorize it after just one reading. She's a genius, just like my brother."
While hugging her brother, Xijieer did not forget to praise him and continued:
"Father said that Your Highness and Father are like my brother and I. We grew up together and are as close as siblings. Father told me to call the princess Aunt when I see her."
What? Aunt?
The Princess's eyes widened in surprise, and Su Li was also stunned. She swore that Pei Heng had never said "Auntie"!
Xijie'er, why are you adding your own lines?
Xi Jie'er, however, smiled and opened her chubby little hands, shouting to the eldest princess, "Aunt, hug me."
For a moment, Su Li and the eldest princess were at a loss as to what to do.
Brother Huan on the side raised his eyebrows and said that he was not the one who taught him in response to Su Li's silent questioning.
However, the eldest princess only hesitated for a moment, then reflexively opened her arms and took Xijie'er over.
Wow, it’s so heavy!
Xi Jie'er huddled in the eldest princess's arms, stole a glance at Su Li, and said silently, "Mother, am I good enough?"
Su Li could only laugh.
It is said that children are the best props to bring people closer together and create an atmosphere, and it is true!
With Xijie'er's coquettish behavior, the eldest princess was visibly happier, and even Fanggu behind her was stunned. She hadn't seen the eldest princess smile for many years.
At this moment, she curled the corners of her lips and looked at Xi Jie'er with gentle eyes. Her hands and feet were a little at a loss, but she still held the meat ball in her arms steadily.
Fang Gu was extremely pleased and her gratitude to Su Li was beyond words. She simply took the cakes and candies and stuffed a whole bag of them for Huan Ge'er and Xi Jie'er.
So when Song Ci and the Ninth Princess came in, they almost fell out of their eyes when they saw this extremely incredible scene.
"Sister Su, when did you become so close to her?"
The Ninth Princess secretly poked Su Li's waist.
Su Li chuckled.
She hadn’t thought of this before coming… hehe… hehe…
The eldest princess, however, glanced at the haggard-looking ninth princess and said unhappily:
"Humph, a concubine has forced you into this state. What a shame! Aren't you very capable?"
Under normal circumstances, the Ninth Princess would have retorted long ago.
But now, her reputation has been ruined by the imperial concubine and Liu Xu. Everyone says that she is narrow-minded, treats and criticizes her illegitimate son harshly, which led to the young illegitimate son falling into the water and dying.
When she entered the palace today, everyone avoided her.
Only Song Ci and Su Li didn't care about these things and were willing to interact with her.
Seeing that her sister, who used to be like a tigress, was now like a quail, the eldest princess became angry and glared at her fiercely, saying:
"That Imperial Concubine Wen is the tyrant in the harem, one thing is for sure, but now she's even reaching out to the Marquis' Mansion to mess with you. Does she really think she can rule over all women as the mother of the nation? And that Liu Xu, a concubine, is she worthy of attending the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet?! Just wait and see how your elder sister will help you vent your anger today!"