Consort of a Thousand Faces - Chapter 394

Chapter 394

CHAPTER 394 (1): STOP COMPETING AND I WILL BE OBEDIENT

“Don’t worry, Su Xi-er won’t die . ” Xie Yun stowed away his solemn expression as he closed the door behind him, raising a hand to caress his sister’s hair .

However, Xie Liuli suddenly took a step back, leaving Xie Yun’s hand awkwardly hanging in the air .

Stunned for a moment, he glanced at Xie Liuli again before sighing . “Liuli, be obedient . ”

“Elder Brother, I’ll be obedient if you don’t fight for things that don’t belong to you . ” Xie Liuli gazed at Xie Yun with a serious expression .

She had read numerous history books from the various countries, and had seen time and again that those who tried to seize power had never met with a good end . She didn’t want her beloved elder brother to go down the same wrong path and meet a tragic end .

If Elder Brother meets with misfortune, my whole world will collapse .

“Liuli, you have only met Su Xi-er a few times; how can you be so sure that she’s a good person? The world is perilous . How many times do you need me to say that?” Xie Yun couldn’t help but become stern .

It wasn’t until his gaze found its way to her bare forehead that she realised that something was missing . He immediately harshly chided her . “Where’s the pandora glass bead that you wear? It’s a memento from mum . How could you just throw it away?”

“I didn’t throw it away . I carefully placed it in a box . ”

Xie Yun softened his tone . “Why did you suddenly put it away?”

Xie Liuli instantly became embarrassed as she muttered, “I want my future husband to put the pandora glass bead on for me . ” At the mention of a husband, she couldn’t help but remember the tall man who saved her .  Although he was clad in coarse clothes, he was a very good person .

She had discovered the toughness and strength of a man in him .  He managed to defeat so many bad guys just by himself .  He was a hero in her eyes, even if she didn’t know his name .

Xie Yun discerned his younger sister’s bashfulness .  Women are different from men in that they begin searching for the right match as soon as they turn 15 . Liuli is already 18, and long past the marrying age .

“Liuli, since you’re not interested in Prince Hao, I will find another suitable person for you . ”

Xie Liuli immediately raised her head . “Elder Brother, I don’t want you to find someone for me; you will only look for a noble young master from a matching family . What’s good about those people? How good can the sons be when their fathers have so many concubines?”

Hearing the annoyance in her tone, Xie Yun heartily laughed . “Don’t worry, I will make sure to pick someone appropriate for you . Just don’t leave your courtyard or eavesdrop on me anymore . ” Without giving her a chance to reply, he turned to leave the room .

Upon walking outside, Xie Yun saw Xie Liuli’s personal maidservant and instructed her, “Guard the Commandery Princess; she’s not allowed to leave her courtyard . Otherwise, you will bear the consequences . ”

The maidservant repeatedly nodded in terror . “This servant will bear that in mind . Please rest assured, Commandery Prince . ”

Despite her reply, Xie Yun still couldn’t be at ease, and ordered some guards to watch over his sister as well .

Inside her room, Xie Liuli’s thoughts had moved away from Feng Changqing . She was now thinking about the conversation that she had overheard between Xie Yun and Pei Zheng .

How should I inform Su Xi-er? After ruminating for a long while, she pushed her room door open, preparing to leave the courtyard .

Just as she walked out however, she saw her personal maidservant waiting outside . “Commandery Princess, what do you need? This servant will get it for you . ”

“I am going out for some fresh air . ” Xie Liuli casually came up with an excuse . However, before she could step forward, the maidservant knelt down .

“Commandery Princess, this servant begs of you, please don’t go out . If you do, this servant will lose my life . ”

Xie Liuli’s body froze as she stared at the maidservant .  It must be due to Elder Brother’s orders .  She raised her head again, only to notice guards stationed at the entrance to her courtyard . Her heart immediately dropped .

CHAPTER 394 (2): STOP COMPETING AND I WILL BE OBEDIENT

There’s no way for me to leave the residence and inform Su Xi-er . Even if Su Xi-er escapes death on the day of the wedding, she will still meet with a calamity .

~~~

Meanwhile, Su Xi-er had arrived at the Imperial Library . Hong Li and Ruo Yuan had also come, having been assigned to bring red silk to decorate the Imperial Library .

As Grand Tutor Kong didn’t have an estate outside the palace, the Imperial Library was considered his house . Thus, as his goddaughter, Su Xi-er would be marrying from the Imperial Library .

The red silk had to be hung up on a bright and sunny day, but now that the sky was darkening, they could only decide to do it tomorrow .

Hong Li carefully stowed away the red silk in the wardrobe in Su Xi-er’s room .

When Su Xi-er realised that Ruo Yuan had been showing a foolish smile ever since they reached the Imperial Library, she couldn’t help but ask, “Ruo Yuan, what’s wrong? You have been wearing that foolish smile for a long time . ”

“That’s because I’m happy . ” Ruo Yuan laughed before winking at Su Xi-er . “Prince Hao instructed Hong Li and me to wait upon you after you become Princess Consort Hao . ”

Su Xi-er knew that there were no maidservants in the Prince Hao Residence . According to the rules, she had to have maidservants accompanying her when she married . Rather than selecting new servants, Hong Li and Ruo Yuan were the best options .

However, she had never treated them as maidservants . She grabbed their hands and said, “All of us come from the Palace Side Quarters . You may still dispense with the formalities in front of me in the future . ”

Ruo Yuan widened her eyes, her cheeks flushed red as she uncontrollably sobbed . “Su Xi-er, you are so nice . I have long seen you as a part of my family, but I will still be respectful to you in front of others once you become Princess Consort Hao . ”

Hong Li nodded in agreement . “We can’t disregard the rules, but we can still act the same in private . ” Hong Li felt her heart suffused with warmth . She had noticed the changes in herself ever since she decided to follow Su Xi-er . Despite initially doing so because she had her own agenda, Hong Li now went along with Su Xi-er purely because she wanted to . Her outlook had changed drastically, feeling as if she had returned to the person that she was before entering the palace .

“I’ll be staying in this room, so don’t wander around . Make sure you stay here while I go visit Tan Ge . ” Su Xi-er walked out of the room .

Hong Li and Ruo Yuan knew who Tan Ge was .  The maidservant who was responsible for sweeping in the Imperial Library . She also blocked an arrow for Su Xi-er . It seems like she’s a good person .

Just as Su Xi-er arrived outside of the door to Tan Ge’s room, she spotted Imperial Physician Zhao rushing over . “Imperial Physician Zhao, what are your findings?”  

“Miss Xi-er, please come to the side; I will explain in detail . ” Imperial Physician Zhao wore a grave expression as he gestured for her to follow .

Su Xi-er nodded, heading to the main hall of the Imperial Library with him .

When Tan Ge happened to overhear their conversation, her hand that was holding the bowl of medicine shook .  Did Imperial Physician Zhao discover something? Although I was the one who added the poison, Xie Yun was the one who gave it to me .

I have already come so far . There’s no way I can back out now .  Tan Ge’s gaze deepened, and she raised her head to finish drinking the medicine .

“Are you feeling better?” The palace maid who was sent to serve Tan Ge softly asked .

“Yes, though my chest still hurts a little . ”

“Not only are you a woman, you also suffered a blow from an arrow; it’s only expected that you would be in some pain . Do rest . ” The palace maid helped Tan Ge lie down before she walked out of the room, closing the door behind her .

~~~

In the main hall of the Imperial Library, Su Xi-er’s eyebrows were slightly scrunched up after listening to what Imperial Physician Zhao had to say . “It's roughly the same as the poison that killed Old Maidservant Liu, but there’s something else added . More importantly, this matter is related to the Empress Dowager . ”

Imperial Physician Zhao’s expression grew even more grave before he spoke again . “The Empress Dowager and Commandery Prince Xie are definitely related . The arrows that hit Tan Ge and Prince Hao were shot with similar techniques . Chao Mu’s death has brought many people into the picture . ”