Chapter 144 Double Act

Chapter 144: Playing Both Sides

"You've crossed the line."

"What?!" Su Jiaojiao widened her eyes in disbelief, rage boiling up inside her as she broke into a violent coughing fit.

Yu Ying anxiously patted Su Jiaojiao's back while urgently asking, "How dare Beauty Xiao, a mere Beauty, act so recklessly against Your Highness's people? Even if our mistress has fallen out of favor, she is still a Third-Rank Zhaorong! How could she be humiliated so casually?!"

Ling Xiao was Su Jiaojiao's trusted confidante, long regarded as family by everyone in Yaoxian Palace. Now, for no reason other than going to request leave, she had been subjected to such an outrageous disgrace—it was completely unacceptable!

Yu Ying, her face flushed with anger, couldn't hold back: "Mistress, don’t worry. I'll go right away to verify the truth. If it is indeed as reported, I will confront the Empress. If the Empress shields her, I will seek an audience with His Majesty—does falling out of favor mean the law no longer applies?!"

The young palace maid who had brought the news was terrified, tears welling in her eyes. The air in the chamber turned ice-cold, thick with tension.

Su Jiaojiao clutched Yu Ying’s hand tightly, taking deep breaths to steady her coughing before gritting her teeth and saying, "It won't help."

"Didn’t you hear? Beauty Xiao has detained her and intends to have her caned—right now, inside Fengyi Palace."

"Beauty Xiao has suffered losses at my hands before, and I hold evidence against her. She wouldn’t dare act so boldly on her own. But if the Empress is there, openly or covertly backing her, do you think she’d hesitate?" The more critical the situation, the calmer Su Jiaojiao became. Analyzing the circumstances swiftly, she steadied herself.

Her eyes icy, she stared toward the door and said coldly, "The Empress is at the peak of her power now. She wouldn’t make such an obvious move at this moment."

Yu Ying was confused. She paused before asking, "Then... what do you mean? Is Ling Xiao unharmed?"

Su Jiaojiao threw off the covers, her already delicate appearance now tinged with the pallor of illness. "She's probably using Beauty Xiao as a blade—to force me to go personally."

Whether to force her to personally request leave or witness the Empress's triumph, Su Jiaojiao couldn’t say.

But one thing was clear: if she didn’t go today, the innocent Ling Xiao—even if originally just a pawn in the Empress’s scheme to lure her out—would face false charges simply because Su Jiaojiao refused to comply.

Now that His Majesty loathed her and the Empress saw her as a thorn in her side, countless would trample her to win the imperial couple’s favor.

Even if Su Chang remained a trusted minister in court, no matter how influential he was, how could he rival the imperial couple?

Besides, Su Chang had never been close to her. When she was in power, they cooperated for mutual benefit. Now that she had lost her value, he might no longer spare a thought for this so-called daughter of his.

The Su family still had two legitimate daughters and one legitimate son—those were his true favorites now.

Seeing that her mistress intended to rise and go to Fengyi Palace, Yu Ying immediately knelt at her feet, eyes red as she pleaded, "Mistress! You’re ill and mustn’t expose yourself to the cold wind. If you go out now, your fever will surely spike again. Even if Ling Xiao knew you risked your health for her, how could she live with herself?"

Those around them all knelt as well, looking up and urging, "We beg Your Highness to protect your health and not endanger yourself."

Su Jiaojiao gently pushed Yu Ying’s hand away and turned to change her clothes, speaking softly, "You're all dear to me. How could I sit idly by in such a situation? If I get sick, I'll recover. The Empress won’t truly risk a life over this."

"There's no time to lose. Hurry and help me—the sooner we go, the less danger Ling Xiao faces." Her gentle voice contrasted with her fever-flushed face.

Yu Ying cried in distress, but she knew her mistress was stubborn. Once she made a decision, no one could change it. Gritting her teeth, she stood and helped Su Jiaojiao layer on extra undergarments before wrapping her in the thickest cloak. "Mistress, this servant will accompany you."

Yesterday had brought heavy snow; today, it had stopped.

The thaw brought the bitterest cold. No matter how many layers one wore, the chill was inescapable.

Yu Ying, torn between grief and fury, felt nothing but hatred for the Empress’s faction.

With this crisis unfolding, Yu Ye and Ling Yun also stepped forward, insisting on accompanying Su Jiaojiao.

Bringing one more or one less made little difference, but their presence would ease their worries, so Su Jiaojiao didn’t refuse.

As the palace gates opened, an icy wind whipped through, carrying the icy sting of melting snow. It seeped through collars and sleeves, chilling her to the bone and making her shiver uncontrollably.

The distance from Guanju Palace to Fengyi Palace wasn’t far, but Su Jiaojiao's weakened body, now running a slight fever, made the journey exceptionally arduous.

She forced herself to walk over and had someone announce her arrival. From afar, she could already hear peals of laughter inside.

The maid who announced her took a full fifteen minutes before returning, curtsying and saying, "Consort Zhen, Her Majesty the Empress invites you in."

By then, Su Jiaojiao had already been standing in the bitter cold for fifteen minutes. In such freezing weather, even the hand warmer she carried had turned ice-cold.

Yu Ye beside her glared fiercely at the announcing maid, supporting Su Jiaojiao as she said, "Lazy good-for-nothing! Consort Zhen is unwell, yet you dared to make Her Ladyship wait so long!"

Su Jiaojiao gave a subtle pat to Yu Ye’s hand in reassurance. As she stepped over the threshold, a wave of warmth rushed over her, and her nearly frozen fingers began to thaw.

Inside, other imperial concubines in colorful palace dresses sat in a circle—all familiar faces. Lowering her gaze, she spotted Ling Xiao, forced to kneel in a corner, guarded.

Seeing Su Jiaojiao enter, Ling Xiao's defiant expression faltered in shock, her eyes welling with tears. "Your Ladyship is still ill—why would you come at a time like this?"

Beauty Xiao, seated among the others, felt a twinge of guilt when she saw Su Jiaojiao arrive, recalling the incident with Xiao Fuzi. But with so many people present and the Empress seated at the head, her courage returned. She tilted her head mockingly, "Perhaps Consort Zhen heard her personal maid had made a mistake and rushed here to plead her case. How touching—such loyalty between master and servant."

Though visibly ill, Su Jiaojiao's gaze was sharp. She shot a brief glance at Beauty Xiao, the hidden edge in her eyes like a blade, making Beauty Xiao shiver involuntarily.

Unhurriedly, she removed her cloak and handed it to Yu Ye before stepping forward to greet the Empress, fighting back a cough. "Your humble consort pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress."

The other imperial concubines also greeted Su Jiaojiao in unison before the Empress smiled and said, "It was only a few improper words from your maid. Why trouble yourself to come in person while unwell?"

The Empress's smile was gentle, as if deeply concerned for Su Jiaojiao. "I heard yesterday you were too unwell to attend the First Snow Banquet and hadn’t yet sent anyone to inquire after you. Now you look even worse—have you seen the imperial physician? Sit and speak."

"Yu He, serve tea."

Su Jiaojiao bowed slightly and retreated to her seat before replying coolly, "Yesterday, I felt exhausted, and by nightfall, a fever took hold. This morning, the physician diagnosed a cold—rest while avoiding chills should suffice in a few days."

She deliberately emphasized the words "avoiding chills," her gaze icy as she looked at the Empress.

Yet the Empress pretended not to hear, saying, "If it’s not serious, that’s good. Winter is harsh, and illness strikes easily. Young ladies must take care of their health."

With that, she smiled and waved for the guards holding Ling Xiao to release her. "Earlier, your maid misspoke a few words in Fengyi Palace, upsetting Beauty Xiao. Beauty Xiao has a quick temper and had her detained in a moment of anger. Before I could address the matter, word somehow reached you, troubling you to make the trip while unwell."

Before the Empress, even Beauty Xiao wouldn’t dare overstep by detaining a maid without permission. Such audacity could only happen with the Empress's tacit approval.

From the moment Su Jiaojiao received the news to her arrival, and then being deliberately kept waiting outside—was there truly no time to resolve such a trivial matter? The Empress was a master of empty courtesies, and Su Jiaojiao wasn’t fooled.

But today, Su Jiaojiao had no patience for verbal sparring. She only wanted to secure Ling Xiao’s release and leave this snake pit. Calmly, she said, "Your Majesty’s magnanimity is deeply appreciated. Upon returning, I will discipline my servants strictly to avoid further trouble."

The Empress smiled without comment, but Beauty Xiao at her side snorted. "Her Majesty is kind and benevolent, but if Ling Xiao’s disrespect goes unpunished, others may follow suit. In my humble opinion, Her Majesty must punish her severely—and in Consort Zhen’s presence—to set an example and ensure all palace maids are kept in line."

"This…” The Empress pretended to be surprised, hesitating. "Though Ling Xiao misspoke, it was only words. I’ve decided to let Consort Zhen handle it. Let the matter rest."

But Beauty Yu and Junior Attendant Miao spoke up, insisting on harsh punishment.

Weighing their opinions, the Empress, fearing the consorts might think her too lenient toward Consort Zhen’s people, sighed and said to Su Jiaojiao, "Consort Zhen, you see the consensus. If I don’t punish her, grievances may fester."

"Thus, your maid Ling Xiao must endure some corporal punishment."

So this was their game.

Su Jiaojiao laughed coldly to herself as she abruptly lifted her gaze to the Empress, her eyes blazing.

She had intended to avoid conflict, taking responsibility for Ling Xiao’s "crime" to settle things quietly. But the Empress’s faction was putting on an act—not only gaining the upper hand in words but forcing her to watch Ling Xiao suffer.

The Empress despised her utterly. Now that she had the chance, she would humiliate Su Jiaojiao thoroughly. On the surface, it was Ling Xiao being punished, but everyone knew a servant’s disgrace reflected on their master—this was a slap to Su Jiaojiao’s face.

"Ling Xiao once served the Empress Dowager—steadfast, meticulous, and never once erred in the palace. I fail to see what treasonous words she could have uttered to provoke so many consorts that beating her is now unavoidable." Su Jiaojiao’s voice was frigid as she lifted her chin defiantly. "Is Ling Xiao truly at fault, or is someone exploiting this to stir trouble? As the master of the inner court, Your Majesty must be impartial."

The Empress’s tone softened instantly. "The details haven’t been fully explained—sister, there’s no need for such anger—"

Before she could finish, the Emperor’s icy voice interrupted from the doorway: "As an Imperial Concubine, you must respect the Empress. Consort Zhen, you’ve overstepped."