Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots-Chapter 1437 - 256, Argument (53)

The Emperor’s laughter echoed throughout the hall, "Indeed, worthy of being Zhen Xiuming’s disciple, truly extraordinary! Alright, I agree to let you visit the Book Pavilion to read. However, the Book Pavilion is no ordinary place, I cannot allow you to enter freely. So, here is my condition—I will only give you one month, and within this month, how much you can read will depend on your own ability."

It was not that the Emperor was stingy and did not allow Xiao Linshuang to read for long, but rather, he saw that Xiao Linshuang was young and feared she might give up halfway or dawdle, so he intentionally set a deadline to pressure her.

Xiao Linshuang happily kowtowed, "I thank Your Majesty for your graciousness! I will definitely read thoroughly and study hard!"

The Old Imperial Doctor waiting at the doorway couldn’t help but shiver when he heard the three words ’Zhen Xiuming.’ My goodness, this girl is actually Elder Zhen’s disciple!

Good heavens, this was the most exciting news he had heard today! No, it was the most exciting news he had heard this month, even more thrilling than when he first heard that Zhen Xiuming had returned to the capital. How many young talents had queued up to become Zhen Xiuming’s disciples back in the day? Unfortunately, that old fellow simply refused!

The Old Imperial Doctor could not help but take a few more glances at the small figure, pondering when he might use the opportunity when the girl was reading to exchange a few words with her.

Empress was already in poor health and left the banquet early. Princess Cuiwei had a bad relationship with the Empress and naturally would not care for her. Thus, the responsibility naturally fell on Su Qiuyu’s shoulders.

However, unlike when she had first entered the door, Su Qiuyu now felt this duty was not a coveted assignment at all.

After escorting Empress Su back to her palace chamber, Su Qiuyu couldn’t help but pout and complain, "Aunt, did you forget what you just promised Qiu Yu? How come as soon as we arrived at the royal banquet, you let that wretched girl off?"

Empress Su was truly tired. These years, she had been troubled at heart and unable to rest or eat well. If it were not for the thick makeup she applied today, she would have probably attended the royal banquet with a haggard face that resembled a female ghost.

Half-reclining on the soft couch, Empress Su slightly closed her eyes, her arms hanging listlessly by her side—an eerie gesture that looked particularly uncomfortable, but at this moment, she had no energy to move her arms anymore.

The little palace maid by her side looked on for a long time, seeing that Su Qiuyu kept questioning the Empress without noticing her arm’s odd posture, felt a rush of pity and quickly stepped forward to adjust the Empress’s arm to a more comfortable position.

A faint smile then appeared on the Empress’s lips, but listening to her niece’s incessant chatter, she couldn’t help but sigh, "Oh, after what happened with your cousin, do you think your aunt still has the courage to interfere with other’s affairs?"

Su Qiuyu was stunned and closed her mouth.

The Empress’s long eyelashes trembled as she spoke with deep emotion, "Qiu Yu, listen to your aunt’s advice. What is meant to be will be, what isn’t meant to be should not be forcibly pursued. Your relationship with Xia Zheng might have reached its end; do not cling to it any longer."

If previously the Empress thought Su Qiuyu might still have a slight chance, seeing Lin Yuan today and how Princess Anle and Xia Yuan defended her made her realize, the Xia family did not mind Lin Yuan’s background, and background was the only area where Lin Yuan was inferior to Su Qiuyu. Perhaps it could now be said in reverse, that this was the only advantage Su Qiuyu had over Lin Yuan.

But given future changes, with Lin Yuan transforming from a village girl into a Commandery Princess and Consort Shu’s adopted daughter, if one were to really investigate, who held the higher status was indeed hard to say.

"Aunt! Are you really going to ignore me? You are all I have now!"

Su Qiuyu’s eyes widened, the bloodshot in her eyes making one feel goosebumps.

The Empress shifted slightly and softly said, "Retire," before slowly falling into a deep sleep.

"Aunt!"

Su Qiuyu wanted to say something else but a little palace maid standing next to the Empress had already stepped forward to ask her to leave, "Miss Su, the Empress is too tired today, please be understanding."

Even a little palace maid dared to send her away!

Su Qiuyu, frustrated and on the verge of despair, stamped her foot and, without even performing a courtesy kneel, turned around and walked away huffily.

The Empress, pretending to sleep, let out a gentle sigh, as soft as a feather touching the ground.

Having left the Empress’s palace, Su Qiuyu felt an emotional block in her heart that she couldn’t articulate, and she had even less desire to go back to the hall to watch those fickle people flattering Lin Yuan.

She roamed aimlessly through the garden, then noticed ahead what seemed to be two people arguing—though it wasn’t exactly a quarrel, it certainly wasn’t pleasant.

Su Qiuyu found it boring, turned around wanting to leave, and then recognized familiar voices.

Weren’t those her elder brother and cousin?

Su Qiuyu paused, looked again, and by then Princess Cuiwei had decisively walked away, leaving only her elder brother standing there, dazed, longing at the back of Cuiwei.

Su Qiuyu couldn’t help but shake her head, sighing, "Oh, why bother?"

But right after sighing, she suddenly remembered the advice the Empress had just given her earlier: There’s a time for everything in life, don’t force what is not meant to be. She had almost forgotten, there was another person in the Su family who was even more infatuated!

Considering she had nothing better to do, Su Qiuyu took a couple of steps closer to Su Tianyou and spoke softly, "Elder brother, about cousin, she’s still..."

Hearing his little sister’s voice, Su Tianyou suddenly chuckled bitterly, a cold sound that seemed to echo eerily in the spacious garden.

"Elder brother, don’t be like this. There’s plenty of fish in the sea, and with your qualities, there are plenty of good women waiting for you!"

Su Tianyou’s laughter grew louder suddenly, until as he looked towards her while laughing, Su Qiuyu noticed, perhaps for the first time, the corners of Su Tianyou’s eyes twinkling faintly—was her brother crying?

"There’s plenty of fish in the sea?" Su Tianyou laughed sorrowfully: "Little sister, tell me, if I comforted you like this, would you give up on Xia Zheng and search for another flower, one that others speak of as prettier and better? Would you?"

Confronted with Su Tianyou’s consecutive questioning, Su Qiuyu suddenly found herself speechless. Indeed, if today’s roles were reversed and it was Su Tianyou comforting her, would she let go?

The two siblings, afflicted with similar sorrows, sat in the garden surrounded by the fragrance of various flowers, yet they couldn’t feel any of its refreshing beauty; instead, they felt increasingly suffocated.

After some time, Su Tianyou’s mood finally began to improve. He stood up, his back to Su Qiuyu, not wanting her to see the loneliness on his face.

"Earlier at the banquet, I noticed you and Cuiwei talking happily together. What were you discussing?"