Chapter 20: You Know Them Too?

Su Yao glanced back once and saw Lu Huaijin already turning his back to her. She pressed her lips together, ultimately choosing not to speak further. With small, measured steps, she quietly followed him away from the long pavilion.

Back in her room, Su Yao soaked her hands in a copper basin. Gardenia petals floated on the water’s surface, swirling gently with her repeated scrubbing motions. Only when her knuckles turned white from washing did she feel some relief in her heart.

Nanny Chang hurried in with quick, small steps. “Where have you been? You’ve been gone so long.”

Su Yao’s fingertips trembled, droplets splashing onto the bamboo slips on the table. She hastily grabbed a handkerchief to carefully wipe them clean. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Unable to answer, she changed the subject instead. “Did the Empress Dowager call for me?”

“No, not exactly.” Nanny Chang waved her hand, then continued, “Just now, Eunuch Hai said the Empress Dowager is hosting a flower appreciation banquet. It seems there will be plenty to keep busy. You just came from her side, do you know why she’s holding this banquet? Usually, it’s held in spring, so this is unusual.”

Su Yao naturally understood; this flower banquet was likely arranged for Lu Huaijin’s marriage proposal. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly. After a moment’s hesitation, she shook her head gently.

Soon, the day of the Empress Dowager’s flower appreciation banquet arrived. Given Su Yao’s status, she ought to have no concern with it, yet the Empress Dowager had specifically instructed her to remain nearby. Because of this, she wasn’t very busy that day.

The guests attending the banquet were divided into two groups: the men gathered in the front hall, while the women assembled at the garden’s water pavilion. When the Empress Dowager arrived at the pavilion, the noble ladies present all bowed in greeting.

“Everyone, please rise. Let’s not be so formal today,” said the young Empress Dowager with a dignified, gentle smile, raising her hand to dismiss the etiquette.

Her gaze slowly swept over the crowd, finally resting on a woman standing in the corner. Without showing it, she gave Su Yao a subtle signal. Understanding immediately, Su Yao steadily approached that person.

As she drew near, Su Yao was taken aback—the woman before her was Zhao Zhirou.

Zhao Zhirou’s face mirrored Su Yao’s surprise. She instinctively blurted out, “A Yao? What are you doing here?”

“Miss Zhao, the Empress Dowager requests your presence,” Su Yao quickly regained her composure and spoke calmly.

“Are you now serving the Empress Dowager?” Zhao Zhirou stepped forward, grasping Su Yao’s hand. “How have you been lately?”

Su Yao was momentarily at a loss for words, unable to respond to this sudden concern.

The Su and Zhao families had always maintained close ties; the two had known each other since childhood. Zhao Zhirou was four years older and now twenty-two. By all rights, a woman of that age should have been married.

If not for the incident at the Minister of Works’ mansion, this Miss Zhao would have already been her sister-in-law. Fate was cruel, and her eldest brother’s actions had delayed things.

Su Yao gently pulled back her sleeve, cleared her throat, and said distantly, “Miss Zhao, this way, please.”

She maintained a certain distance because of the many onlookers and her awkward position, fearing she might sully Zhao Zhirou’s reputation.

Zhao Zhirou understood this was no time for nostalgia and silently followed Su Yao to the Empress Dowager.

“Your servant Zhao Zhirou pays respects to the Empress Dowager.”

“Oh, the general’s eldest daughter,” the Empress Dowager smiled and took Zhao Zhirou’s hand, beginning to chat about mundane matters.

Nanny Chang leaned close to Su Yao, whispering, “This Miss Zhao truly lives up to her noble upbringing; every gesture exudes a kind of charm. Pity she’s a bit older.”

Su Yao looked where Nanny Chang’s eyes fell, taking in Zhao Zhirou’s gentle demeanor, and nodded slightly.

She knew all too well how admirable Zhao Zhirou was; otherwise, her brother would not have insisted on breaking off the engagement to avoid dragging Zhao into trouble.

But suddenly, Su Yao thought of the fate of the deputy minister’s family and felt deeply uneasy.

If the Empress Dowager truly favored Zhao Zhirou, what would happen then?

As the Empress Dowager led the group to admire the flowers, they happened upon Lu Huaijin and Lu Chuyao in the corridor.

Lu Huaijin had not expected to see Su Yao at such an occasion, while Lu Chuyao appeared even more excited.

Su Yao lowered her head, standing beside the Empress Dowager, when amid the clinking of jade pendants, a thunderous voice rang out.

“Little sister A Yao!”

That call echoed through the corridor, instantly piquing the Empress Dowager’s interest.

She raised her eyebrows slightly, scanning Su Yao before asking, “You know each other?”

Lu Chuyao realized his slip, looking awkwardly at Lu Huaijin.

Lu Huaijin remained composed and unhurried. “We pay respects to the Empress Dowager.”

Lu Chuyao quickly followed suit with a bow.

“Chuyao? You’re back?” The Empress Dowager waved her hand. “Today is just for enjoyment; no need for formalities.”

Lu Huaijin’s gaze casually swept past the Empress Dowager to Zhao Zhirou, whose cheeks immediately flushed crimson. She lowered her head, nervously twisting her sleeves.

From the moment Su Yao appeared, Lu Chuyao could not take his eyes off her. He had struggled to find this chance to meet and was eager to resolve many doubts, hastily asking, “Empress Dowager, is she your maid?”

The Empress Dowager smiled gently, answering calmly, “No. Miss Su’s tea skills are exquisite and have won my favor. That is why I have kept her here for a few days. There are many guests today; it would do well for her to serve tea so everyone can appreciate her craft.”

Su Yao bowed her head, reaching to take a tea cup.

Then the Empress Dowager instructed, “Go to my chamber and fetch the Pu’er tea that Yunnan recently sent as tribute.”

Su Yao accepted the order and departed.

Along the way, her heart was heavy with worry.

Seeing Lu Chuyao again unsettled her even more as she pondered how to explain her current predicament.

Unconsciously, she arrived at Cining Palace.

Recalling the Empress Dowager’s directions, she headed straight to the chamber.

The room was filled with incense, its scent quite different from before—rich and somewhat cloying.

After only a few steps, dizziness overwhelmed her, and her body lost control, collapsing forward.

With a crash, the tea cup on the table fell and shattered.

At the door, a shadow lingered silently, waiting a long time.

He thought no matter what, this was enough time. With such a heavy dose of intoxicating incense in the room, not even a woman but a cow would have fallen to the ground.

Still uneasy, he pressed his ear to the door, holding his breath to listen carefully.

Inside, there was complete silence.

It seemed the plan had succeeded.

The door was slowly pushed open. The old eunuch tightly pressed a handkerchief over his nose and tiptoed quietly into the room...