Chapter 007: Beautiful Dream

Yuesang Palace

The Sang Ruoshui had fallen ill.

She lay on her bed, her beautiful face pale, lips cracked and dry, coughing as she looked outside the palace and asked sadly, "Has the Emperor come?"

The palace maids and eunuchs knelt throughout the hall, none daring to speak.

The Emperor had not come.

Since that day he left, he had not returned.

In the past, it wouldn't have mattered much if the Emperor did not visit the harem.

But times had changed, and he went to Youlan Pavilion every night.

Even though Xiangxiu had sent someone to inquire and heard that the Emperor had not truly favored Lan, the fact that she was promoted without favor, from Lan to Noble Princess Consort Lan, and risen two ranks, still filled her with unbearable envy.

Sang Ruoshui and Zhou Jinglan had entered the palace together. They had been at odds even in their boudoir days, so how could she bear to see the other rise step by step?

Moreover, it was only a matter of time before Lan received genuine favor, and by then, everything would be too late.

"I can't."

"I cannot lose."

"No matter the cost, I cannot lose."

She closed her eyes, tears streaming down, fingers tightly clutching the bedsheet, muttering resentfully.

*

Sang Mansion

Sang Yan visited the courtyard of her original mother again.

This time, she unexpectedly saw her original father, Sang Kun.

Sang Kun was past his fortieth year, handsome – clearly, the Sang sisters' good looks came from him.

It was said that he had entered Ms. Lin's eye with his good looks and then earned Mr. Lin's favor.

However, with a finely grown beard, things were more complicated.

"Father, Mother—"

Sang Yan looked away and with a graceful bow, paid her respects.

Sang Kun sat in the main seat, looking at his daughter, beautiful as a flower, smiling warmly, "Sang Yan, please sit."

Sang Yan sat down.

Quietly, she waited, ready to respond to whatever came her way.

Sang Kun did not make her wait long before he spoke, "Sang Yan, your mother, in her foolishness, sent you to the estate. Do you bear her any resentment?"

He did not think that Sang Yan catching the Emperor's eye was a bad thing.

Since ancient times, fortunes have been sought amidst dangers.

If Sang Yan could be the first to bear the heir, it would be a great achievement for the country, the people, and especially a change of fortunes for the Sang Family!

The maternal family of the future Crown Prince!

Wasn't the whole court urging this, all for this great fortune?

Sang Yan, unaware of her original father's thoughts, responded with a faint smile and courteous words, "How could I? Whatever Mother does, she has her reasons. As children, if we cannot share our parents' worries and add to their glory, it would already be a great disloyalty, how could I hold any grievance against my parents?"

Hearing her say this, Sang Kun stroked his beard and smiled with satisfaction, "Good child. I know your filial piety. There is indeed something now for which we need your devotion."

Sang Yan: "..."

This was bad.

She seemed to have taken the wrong path.

Excessive obedience was foolish piety.

"You should have never left the palace."

Sang Kun's words made her heart sink bit by bit.

"Your sister has fallen ill; you should return to the Imperial Palace once more."

It was still about Sang Ruoshui.

"How could she suddenly fall ill, completely out of the blue?"

Sang Yan did not want to enter the Imperial Palace nor did she fully trust his words.

Was it possible that Sang Ruoshui had encountered trouble?

Given her temperament, any small trouble would be too simple for her.

Sang Kun did not hide the facts and sighed, "Your sister has been spoiled by us, sensitive and frail, hard to make it big. You have always been intelligent; go to the palace and comfort her."

As for the Emperor taking an interest in her, it was only a possibility, better left unspoken and allowed to take its natural course.

"Can I not go?"

Sang Yan thought it over and still did not want to go.

Sang Kun, puzzled, asked, "Why not?"

Sang Yan explained, "She doesn't like me. When I was in the palace before, she had issues with me. She won't listen to me."

Sang Kun, having read Sang Ruoshui's letters, knew of the sisters' disagreements and replied, "This time will be different. She personally wrote the letter asking for you to come to the palace. You'll understand once you're there. Sang Yan, we are a family. She's your own sister."

This was emotional blackmail.

Sang Yan knew it clearly yet also knew she could not refuse.

In this patriarchal society, she was a mere salted fish, unlike the all-powerful female leads in novels who could do anything, and she could only strive to accept the rotten hand dealt to her.

"I understand."

"Good child."

Sang Kun laughed heartily as he stood up, walked over to Sang Yan, and patted her shoulder with solemn words, "I believe that you and your sister will certainly make something of yourselves in the palace."

Sang Yan: "..."

Thank you.

Her heart was resistant.

Sang Kun started calling people to pack things up.

Ms. Lin was meek and did not dare speak against Sang Kun while he was present, only daring to whisper a reminder after he left, "This time you enter the Imperial Palace, remember to stay away from the Emperor. He is not someone we can aspire to. Your father is blinded by power and influence, but you must not follow in his footsteps."

"I understand, Mother."

Sang Yan was relieved that there were still people in her family who genuinely cared about the original host.

For the sake of the original host's mother, she too would make a trip to the Imperial Palace to help Sang Ruoshui.

*

Imperial Palace

Youlan Pavilion

He Ying sat by the window at the tea table, savoring the flower tea brewed by Noble Princess Consort Lan, praising, "Excellent tea. A sweet taste upon the palate, with a lingering rich fragrance. My consort indeed has the grace of a gentle orchid, truly capturing my heart."

"The Emperor is too kind."

Noble Princess Consort Lan blushed slightly with a shy smile, saying softly, "This flower comes from Min State, all thanks to the Emperor for reclaiming the lost territory, allowing this consort the opportunity to brew this tea and share its taste with the Emperor."

She was the daughter of the Assistant Minister of Rites, Zhou Mao.

A few days before, her father had presented the Dahe Territory Map, which provided her with an opportunity to catch the Emperor's eye.

Noble Princess Consort Lan, Zhou Jinglan, true to her name, was serene and beautiful, with a heart as pure as an orchid.

"My consort, your way with words—"

He Ying picked up his teacup and emptied it in one gulp.

Then, smiling, he ordered rewards to be distributed.

All the palace maids and eunuchs in the hall were delighted, kneeling in gratitude.

Zhou Jinglan did the same.

No one noticed that there was no real smile in the Emperor's eyes.

A moment later.

The imperial eunuch Pei Muyang entered, kneeling before the Emperor and whispering a low message, "Emperor, the Heir's wife has entered the palace."

He had recently been promoted.

Young and handsome, with a sweet-tongued flattery that almost usurped the power of the Chief Eunuch, Yu Huai De.

Upon hearing this, He Ying truly smiled.

His brows relaxed, and his usually cold eyes were like a gentle spring breeze, with tender smiles twinkling within them.

His whole presence seemed to glow.

"What has made the Emperor so happy?"

Zhou Jinglan had never seen He Ying smile like that and couldn't help but ask.

He Ying, upon hearing her voice, dampened his smile, saying indifferently, "It's nothing."

It was just his hare returning.

"I just remembered I have matters to attend to, I'll take my leave."

He stood up and left abruptly.

He hadn't even stayed long enough for a cup of tea.

It was very sudden.

In the past, he would stay for half a day at a time.

Zhou Jinglan didn't know what she did wrong and was very nervous, subconsciously reaching to grab at his sleeve, "Emperor—"

"How dare you!"

He Ying looked at the hand that almost touched his sleeve, his expression icy, his eyes filled with severe coldness, no sign of the warmth from moments ago.

Zhou Jinglan paled with fear, "Forgive me, Emperor."

He Ying's face remained cold, saying nothing, and strode out of Youlan Pavilion.

Seeing the Emperor turn his face so heartlessly, Zhou Jinglan's body weakened, and she fell into Mingtao's arms, murmuring, "Ming... Mingtao, I feel... I'm done for."

Mingtao was Zhou Jinglan's trusted palace maid, who now helped her sit on the silken couch, softly consoling, "Lady, you must not speak such words. Who in the palace does not know that aside from the Empress in name only, you have the highest position and are the most favored? Just now... perhaps the Emperor snapped at my lady because he was afraid of getting ill."

"Is that so?"

Zhou Jinglan thought of the Emperor's icy gaze, her heart dropped cold, and she felt that the recent favor was nothing more than a beautiful dream.

Now, the dream was over.