Consort of a Thousand Faces

 CHAPTER 598 (1): UNHAPPY

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Situ Li’s weakness is none other than his deceased mother empress, but the sishi and soldiers who have sworn loyalty to him are another problem.
Even Chu Linglong fell to Dongling’s new emperor due to the latter’s sishi.

 

Noticing that Xie Yun looked rather apprehensive, Su Xi-er continued.
“The sishi are still human; we don’t have to be afraid of them.”

 

Situ Lin nodded.
“Imperial Aunt is right.
Go ahead and discuss the specifics without me for now; I have to go visit Yinyin.”

 

Su Xi-er then turned to leave, but Situ Lin called out to her, “Imperial Aunt, Yinyin isn’t in a good mood lately.
Now that you’re back, could you help cheer her up for me?”

 

Su Xi-er turned and gave Situ Lin a strange look. Taking care of Liu Yinyin is my responsibility in the first place, but now he’s acting like he’s the one who should be doing it.

 

“Imperial Aunt, what’s the matter?” Situ Lin was confused by her reaction. Did I say something wrong?

 

Su Xi-er smiled and replied, “It’s nothing.” before setting off down the hallway and heading towards Liu Yinyin’s repose palace, leaving the three men to continue their discussion.

 

However, before Su Xi-er could enter Liu Yinyin’s room, she found a palace maid rushing out.

 

“What’s going on? What’s wrong with Yinyin?”

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The palace maid bowed respectfully upon seeing Su Xi-er and answered, “We don’t know either.
Miss Yinyin hasn’t been feeling well since morning, and has been vomiting out everything she eats.
This servant worries that she may have caught a cold, and is on the way to get an imperial physician.”

 

Su Xi-er nodded.
“Go quickly.”

 

When Su Xi-er arrived at the entrance of the compound, she saw a lonely looking Liu Yinyin leaning on the table with her back towards the door.

 

She walked in and softly called out to her, “Yinyin.”

 

Surprised at the voice, Liu Yinyin sat up and turned around, her eyes widening in disbelief when she realised it was Su Xi-er.
She ran up to the latter and hugged her tight.
“Fairy Elder Sister, I thought you abandoned me.
You haven’t visited in so long.”

 

“Is it because Prince Hao thinks I’m too noisy and he doesn’t like it when I stay at the Prince Hao Residence? Is that why I was sent to the imperial palace?”

 

Su Xi-er patted her on the head.
“Prince Hao thinks you’re adorable, so why would he chase you out? It’s just that I only returned to Beimin a few days ago.
Are you not happy in the palace?”

 

Yinyin began to nod, but then shook her head.
“I’m happy.
The palace maids and guards play with me all the time, I’m able to get everything I ask for, nobody talks bad about me here, and there are no xiunü[1] training to be consorts here.”

 

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Elder Brother Lianchen has probably already taken a consort by now.
There were so many xiunü who entered the palace for that very purpose, and all of them wanted to get into his good books.

 

Yinyin had heard the Beimin palace maids chatting about how males here started thinking about taking a wife when they were fifteen.
Ning Lianchen himself was almost eighteen, and it was only natural that he would have already taken a consort in Yinyin’s mind.

 

I’m still too young, and would have to wait another four or five years before I come of age.

 

“Yinyin, tell me if you’re unhappy about anything.
Since you call me your Fairy Elder Sister, I’ll surely be able to magically resolve your problems for you.” Su Xi-er took her hand and led her into the main hall.
Sitting down, she poured a cup of hot tea for Yinyin.

 

“I… I’m useless.
I’m supposed to only return to Nanzhao after I come of age, but I already miss Elder Brother Lianchen despite it only having been a few months.”

 

“Oh, you miss him? Even when he treats Fang Lingdang better than you? Doesn’t Beimin’s Emperor treat you nicely? It’d be nice if the two of you could grow up together since the both of you are of similar age.”

 

“Fairy Elder Sister, I don’t know if I should be telling you about some things.” An unnatural look flickered in Liu Yinyin’s eyes for a moment.

 

“You can tell me anything, even things you can’t tell Lianchen.”

 

Liu Yinyin nodded and said, “Fairy Elder Sister, you’re just like my mother.”

 

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Su Xi-er laughed; she was only sixteen in this body, while Liu Yinyin was eleven. Even if I was still Ning Rulan, my age would be similar to Pei Qianhao’s.

 

Liu Yinyin then shook her head.
“You’re so young and pretty, Fairy Elder Sister.
There’s no way you would have a daughter like me.
What I wanted to say was…”

 

The palace maid came in with an imperial physician at this very moment, causing Liu Yinyin to fall silent.

 

The imperial physician bowed to Su Xi-er in greeting.
“This humble subject pays his respects to Princess Consort Hao.”

 

Though Su Xi-er was able to command respect from court officials in the past, her identity as the Western Region Imperial Princess naturally made everyone a bit more fearful.

 

Part of the reason was because females from the Western Region were known to be a lot stronger and fiercer than those in Beimin, even capable of sending man sprawling on the ground.

 

Su Xi-er waved a hand and said, “You may rise.
Quickly take a look at Yinyin.”

 

“This humble subject obeys the order.” The imperial physician started taking Yinyin’s pulse after placing a silk handkerchief over the girl’s wrist.

 

After a short while, he got up and bowed towards Su Xi-er.
“Princess Consort Hao, there is no need to worry.
Miss Yinyin has caught a cold, and hasn’t been in a good mood lately, so that has caused some internal heat to build up.
This subordinate will provide a prescription, and she’ll safely recover with three days of rest.”

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So it’s because Yinyin has too many things on her mind, thought Su Xi-er.

 

“This subordinate will leave to get the herbs required.” The imperial physician bowed as he spoke.

 

Su Xi-er looked at the palace maid nearby and instructed, “Go to the Imperial Physician Institute to get the medicine.” Nodding, the palace maid quickly bowed before following after the physician.

 

Su Xi-er held Yinyin’s hands and said, “Yinyin, you should take your mind off things.”

 

“Fairy Elder Sister, I miss Elder Brother Lianchen.
Can I write a letter to him?”

 

Instead of answering her question, Su Xi-er asked, “What did you want to say earlier?”

 

Liu Yinyin hesitated for a while before answering.
“I’ve only been here for a few months, and I see Beimin’s Emperor as a playmate.
But, he told me he’ll make me empress in future.
He’s just joking about that, right?”

 

Reminded of what Situ Lin said in the study, Su Xi-er understood the situation immediately. I see.
I’m afraid he didn’t mean it as a joke.

 

“Fairy Elder Sister, he’s joking right? I won’t stay in Beimin, but His Majesty looked unhappy when I said that to him.”