Chapter 130: The Little White Horse

Chapter 130: The Little White Horse

"Su Jiaojiao, you never take the initiative to come find me, do you?"

Of the Imperial Consorts attending the autumn hunt, there were only two—Su Jiaojiao and Noble Consort Lan.

But in Su Jiaojiao’s mind, Noble Consort Lan had the coldest demeanor and was unlikely to make bold moves like Noble Consort Shu. Yet, against expectations, it was her.

Su Jiaojiao withdrew her hand from the lifted curtain and smiled faintly. "So it’s Noble Consort Lan."

Noble Consort Lan nodded in greeting, her voice clear and cool. "Bowing in the carriage is impractical. Please forgive my impropriety, Your Highness."

"No need." Su Jiaojiao glanced behind her and asked, "Is your carriage also having issues?"

Noble Consort Lan paused briefly, then shook her head with a soft smile. "Not at all. I only wanted to speak with Your Highness."

"Your Highness has been His Majesty’s sole favorite lately. Yet, in recent days, His Majesty visited my quarters several times. Some say His Majesty has tired of you, but I know better—he merely sat for a while."

Her tone was gentle as she continued, "I don’t compete for favor, nor have I seen His Majesty during this time. So his visits must mean you spoke to him about me."

"I care little for favor. But your thoughtfulness is rare. When I fell ill recently, you were one of the few who came to see me. With everything happening so suddenly, and now this chance, I felt compelled to thank you in person. At the same time, I wished to ask—why?"

Su Jiaojiao lifted her gaze to meet Noble Consort Lan’s.

Noble Consort Lan was dressed in a pale green palace gown today, adorned with jade hairpins, her face like a lotus blossom, her skin fairer than snow, her posture poised and dignified.

Born into the scholarly Zhong family, Noble Consort Lan had been raised among books and poetry.

Just sitting there, she radiated serene elegance, cool and refined.

The only blemish was the faint pallor of her lips, still bearing traces of illness, lending her a fragile softness.

Su Jiaojiao withdrew her assessing gaze and spoke warmly. "I like you, and knowing you were unwell, I encouraged His Majesty to visit you. We sisters in the harem should look out for each other. It’s only natural."

"Your Highness isn’t being sincere. I cannot believe such words." Noble Consort Lan smiled faintly. "There are only the two of us in this carriage. Your Highness may speak plainly."

Noble Consort Lan was perceptive. Su Jiaojiao knew that beating around the bush with someone like her would only diminish goodwill, so she spoke candidly. "I like you. I admire you. This isn’t flattery—it’s the truth. As for why I urged His Majesty to visit you, there’s another reason: I wished to earn your favor, to make you remember my kindness."

Noble Consort Lan chuckled softly. "But what use is kindness? Books alone are enough for a carefree life."

"I believe, Your Highness, that such intentions would be better spent on anyone else in the harem. Though I’ve been helped by you a few times and genuinely admire you, this kindness is wasted on me."

Su Jiaojiao stared at her intently and murmured, "You may not want favor, but does the Zhong family share your indifference?"

Noble Consort Lan’s expression darkened. "What does Your Highness mean by that?"

Su Jiaojiao smiled without answering.

The carriage sped down the main road, the rhythmic clatter of hooves and the rumble of wheels over Chang’an’s cobblestones filling the air. Even inside, they could feel the dust kicked up outside.

She lifted the curtain again and looked out. The people of Chang’an lined the road on their knees, respectfully seeing off the imperial procession. The normally lively streets were now silent and solemn, the sea of bowed heads receding swiftly past the carriage window.

Su Jiaojiao said, "Noble Consort Lan, look outside."

"Since His Majesty ascended the throne, his decisive governance has brought order to the court and prosperity to the people. The realm is at peace, and he enjoys universal acclaim."

"But beneath this peace, His Majesty’s greatest concern is likely the lack of talent in the court."

Noble Consort Lan’s delicate brows furrowed. "Your Highness is mistaken. The court is full of rising stars and capable officials. How could there be a lack of talent?"

"Oh?" Su Jiaojiao looked at her with a smile and asked, "Are there as many young scions from noble families as numerous as ox hairs, or are there as many truly talented and ambitious individuals?"

Noble Consort Lan's lips parted slightly, but she was momentarily falling silent.

Su Jiaojiao smiled faintly and said, "For over a century, noble families in our dynasty have entrenched themselves, their influence deeply rooted. Among them, the Yin, Wang, Zhong, and Xiao families are the most prestigious. These families intermarry, their offshoots innumerable. When one member becomes an official, the entire clan benefits—officials covering for one another, passing it down through generations."

"Noble families have profound foundations. While there are those with genuine talent, there are even more who rely solely on their connections. Such people lurk in the court, sapping its vitality and occupying official positions. Tell me, could an enlightened ruler like His Majesty, who acts decisively and tolerates no wrongdoing, overlook this?"

Noble Consort Lan tightened her grip on her handkerchief and murmured, "So the rumors this past year about His Majesty’s intent to reform the noble families and elevate commoners were true—he’s dead set on it."

Seeing her grave expression, Su Jiaojiao withdrew her gaze and said, "You’re engrossed in poetry and books, so it’s natural you wouldn’t pay much attention to outside affairs. This matter won’t be resolved overnight, but progress is being made. With His Majesty’s methods, once commoners gain enough influence, the noble families will inevitably decline."

"And you—as the only legitimate daughter of the Zhong family to enter the palace—if you lack the ability to preserve your family from complete ruin, you’ll be the one they blame, tormented by guilt daily."

Su Jiaojiao spoke calmly, yet her tone was subtly persuasive: "So accepting my goodwill and drawing closer to me will only benefit you, not harm you."

"Worst case, between you and me, we could become friends, couldn’t we?"

The curtain was drawn, and the wind howled inside, sending a shiver through Noble Consort Lan. Her face paled slightly as she wrung her handkerchief and looked at Su Jiaojiao. "But currying favor isn’t my forte. Asking me to flatter and charm His Majesty—I cannot do it."

"You don’t need to go against your own wishes to court His Majesty’s favor. Just be yourself," Su Jiaojiao said lightly. "I want your loyalty—for you to stand by my side."

"No matter what happens."

A glimmer of emotion flickered in Noble Consort Lan’s clear, composed eyes. "Is that all?"

Su Jiaojiao broke into a radiant smile. "To be friends, sincerity is all that’s needed, isn’t it? What I value is your character."

With that, she effortlessly changed the subject, asking with concern, "You still don’t look well. Has your illness not fully healed?"

Noble Consort Lan paused for a moment before lowering her gaze. "Since autumn began, I’ve been lethargic and out of sorts. I thought it was just seasonal discomfort, but then I fell ill. Shaking it off has taken time. Though I’ve improved, the autumn winds are harsh, and a draft still leaves me sweaty."

People inevitably fall ill, and even Su Jiaojiao often felt unwell, so she thought little of it.

But since Noble Consort Lan was now willing to warm up to her, she couldn’t neglect the necessary concern. She added, "I’ve never heard of you being frail before. Seasonal changes are normal—why hasn’t your illness fully cleared?"

Su Jiaojiao gently patted the back of her hand and said warmly, "Once we return to the palace, I’ll have Imperial Physician Liu examine you. Perhaps the medicine wasn’t quite right, or maybe you need tonics to build you up."

Noble Consort Lan nodded faintly. "My thanks, Your Highness."

At this point, the two ran out of things to say, neither speaking for a long while.

Both Noble Consort Lan and Noble Consort Shu were cold beauties.

But while Noble Consort Shu had a striking, icy beauty, her personality was straightforward. Noble Consort Lan, however, was naturally reserved, immersed in books and disliking idle chatter.

Su Jiaojiao, being indifferent by nature, found herself at a loss for words after discussing serious matters with Noble Consort Lan.

By evening, the imperial procession halted to rest, and Noble Consort Lan seized the opportunity to return to her own carriage.

Su Jiaojiao leaned against the window, gazing outside. The sunset burned like wildfire, painting the sky in brilliant hues.

At the foot of the mountain stretched an open plain, covered in endless golden wheat.

Farmers harvested the ripe crops in the twilight, while beneath a distant tree stood a man and a woman side by side.

It was His Majesty and the Empress.

Su Jiaojiao smirked mockingly.

The people live peaceful, prosperous lives, and the lush wheat fields are probably the most beautiful scenery in His Majesty's eyes at this moment.

As the empress, it is only natural to accompany His Majesty at such times.

The hunting grounds for the autumn hunt are not far from Chang'an, just two days' travel away.

The hunting grounds border a dense forest, with grasslands nearby. Palace servants are stationed here to tend the grounds, feeding the horses and maintaining cleanliness.

According to palace rumors, this year’s hunt might bag plenty of game.

During the year of His Majesty's ascension, the autumn hunt did not venture deep into the forest. This year, however, it is said that a tiger pack has been spotted in these woods. The dense forest is already teeming with game, making the hunt all the more dangerous.

After the tents at the hunting grounds were set up, Su Jiaojiao and Yu Ying wandered the grasslands.

Spotting the stables, Su Jiaojiao recalled the words Jia Xi had spoken that night.

Afterward, Su Jiaojiao had ordered her people to watch closely over the stables, but over the past month, nothing unusual had occurred.

Eyes on the distant stables, she asked Yu Ying, "Are the grooms here the same as the palace’s?"

Yu Ying nodded. "Some are stationed here permanently, while others come from the palace. But both groups are managed by the same department."

"Are the arrangements I asked you to make still secure?"

Yu Ying replied softly, "As Your Ladyship commanded, we have remained vigilant. We’ve already placed someone in the stables. If anything unusual happens, we’ll know."

The sky was a deep indigo, and the stars over the grasslands seemed exceptionally bright.

Su Jiaojiao massaged her brow and looked up at the stars. Without a word, Yu Ying retreated a few steps.

When she lowered her gaze, she saw a figure leading a horse toward her.

The moonlight was faint, and the light from the stables behind the figure left only a shadowed outline.

It wasn’t until the figure stood before her that Su Jiaojiao recognized His Majesty.

He led a snow-white horse toward her, his icy demeanor barely masking his anger.

"Su Jiaojiao, if I don’t come to you, you won’t seek me out?"