Chapter 165: Master and Servant

Chapter 165: Master and Servant

After entering the residence, Xiao Xing first went to her room to put away her purchases, removed her hairpin, wiped off her lipstick, straightened her dress, and then hurried to the main house.

Approaching the door, she heard the faint sound of a guqin. A woman dressed as a palace maid stopped her at the entrance.

"The Countess is practicing the guqin. If Miss Xiao Xing has business, it might be best to wait a moment."

Xiao Xing didn't dare to show any disrespect, responding with a smile, "You're right, Liu Gu Gu."

She waited to the side for a while until the guqin music stopped, then entered the room, bowed respectfully to the woman seated at the guqin, and said, "Countess, I have news. The Emperor's carriage has arrived at the Prefectural Governor's residence."

The girl addressed as 'Countess' had a delicate figure, dressed simply, with her hair in a maiden's style. She tilted her head slightly, revealing half of her ethereal face, and said softly, "I am aware."

"Countess?" Xiao Xing, surprised by her calm demeanor, quickly asked, "Aren't you planning to visit the Prefectural Governor's residence?"

"Visit the Prefectural Governor's residence?" Song Ran glanced at her with a cold expression, "Currently confined in Xiu Rong County, I fear I'd be summoned back by Minister Sui before I even reach there."

"What should we do then?" Xiao Xing, growing anxious, looked back at Liu Gu Gu guarding the door and whispered, "Countess, Liu Gu Gu was sent by the former Queen Wang. She must have a way."

"Xiao Xing, Wang has been deposed, where does this Queen Wang come from?" Song Ran spoke calmly, "But indeed, she now has no choice but to follow me."

"What do you mean, Countess?" Xiao Xing was unsure of Song Ran's intentions.

Song Ran, without explaining further, instructed, "Call Liu Gu Gu in, and you go to the county office to find out if Lady Sui has already left for the city. Minister Sui cannot leave his post, but his wife must visit the city."

"Alright," Xiao Xing nodded eagerly and quickly left the main house.

Soon after, Liu Gu Gu approached Song Ran quietly, bowing before asking, "Countess, did you call for me? Is there an important matter?"

Song Ran spoke softly, "Liu Gu Gu, the Emperor has arrived at the Prefectural Governor's residence, you must have known this news already."

"Yes," Liu Gu Gu didn't deny, saying directly, "Why the hurry, Countess? You have one more year until you reach the age of maturity. Appearing too early isn't wise."

Standing up, Song Ran walked past the silk screen to sit at the dressing table, staring at her reflection and mused, "Liu Gu Gu always thinks my age is a disadvantage, even if I learn to behave perfectly, it's still not the same as the real person. Have you ever thought why the Emperor favors Empress Jiang so much?"

Liu Gu Gu's expression changed slightly but replied, "The Emperor and Empress indeed share a childhood bond, but I heard that Empress was not like this in her youth. Plus, the Emperor has never shown interest in underage girls. If you insist on your way, it might backfire."

Song Ran turned to look at Liu Gu Gu for a long moment before slowly saying, "I know, ever since Wang was deposed, your heart has changed. You want me to quietly wait for my coming of age, to be casually married off by the Ministry of Rites, and then you can enjoy your later years without being involved in any struggle, right?"

After a long stare, Liu Gu Gu sighed, "Do you really want to confront Empress Jiang? She is the legitimate daughter of the Grand Princess Cheng Ping and Marquis Ning Yuan, and has borne a son and a daughter for the Emperor. You cannot win against her. Even if the Emperor momentarily favors you and brings you to the palace, what then? Do you think Empress Jiang is kind-hearted? In the deep palace, there are many ways to wear people down."

"I know my aunt means well for me, but look at my face," Song Ran pointed to her reflection in the bronze mirror, "With this appearance, it wouldn't matter if the Emperor didn't know, but now that he does, how can I marry smoothly? I fear that after my coming of age ceremony next year, the Ministry of Rites wouldn't dare to betroth me to anyone. My fate will just be to remain trapped in this small Xiuyong County, or even just in this mansion. What meaning is there in that?"

Aunt Liu looked at Song Ran's face and knew she was right, but still said, "Spending your life here, being waited on, without worries for food or clothing, isn't that good? County Princess, don't forget, your status is as the Empress Dowager's adopted daughter. If you step out of line, you'll be accused of being shameless!"

"So," Song Ran interrupted Aunt Liu, "I obviously can't take the initiative. I have to be the one who's wronged, full of shame and indignation, driven to hang myself."

Her bright eyes fixed on Aunt Liu, she enticed, "Aunt, you've watched me grow up. Can you bear to see me bashing my head and bleeding? Tell me, who are the consorts accompanying the Emperor this time?"

Aunt Liu turned her head away, not looking at her, and advised, "County Princess, you can't leave Xiuyong County."

Song Ran chuckled softly, "Aunt, stop making excuses. The Empress Dowager passed away at Wutai Mountain in Xiuyong County, and since the Emperor is already in Jinzhou, there's no reason for him not to come here to pay his respects."

Aunt Liu asked in a low voice, "Did you deliberately send Xiao Xing away?"

Since Song Ran had already guessed that the Emperor would come to Xiuyong County, she naturally didn't need to inquire whether Lady Sui had left for the capital.

"Xiao Xing is ambitious," Song Ran said coldly, "It's good that she has this aspiration. When the time comes, she can be of use."

Aunt Liu closed her eyes and remained silent for a long moment before finally saying, "The ones accompanying the Emperor include Princess Huaiqing and the Second Princess. There are only two consorts, Consort Yishun and Lady Fu. Consort Yishun raised the Second Princess and was previously under Queen Wang. She has some conflicts with Queen Jiang and is quite a stable person; Lady Fu entered the palace in the fourth year of Jianzhao, and as for her temperament, I'm not sure."

Xiao Xing, having left the Song residence, headed straight for the county office, circling around to the small side gate of the residence where the Sui County Magistrate lived, and knocked on the door.

Soon, a woman dressed as a servant opened the side door. Recognizing Xiao Xing, she asked, "Miss Xiao Xing, what brings you here?"

Xiao Xing replied, "Mother Su, my mistress wishes to invite Miss Sui to our residence to enjoy the flowers. We heard Miss Sui hasn’t been to school these past few days and feared she might have gone on a long journey, so she sent me to inquire. If Miss Sui is not here, we can arrange another day."

Hearing this, Mother Su smiled and said, "Miss Xiao Xing, please tell the County Princess that my mistress has taken Miss Sui to the capital city, and they won’t be back for a while."

"I see, thank you, Mother Su!" Xiao Xing nodded, pulled out a sachet from her bosom and handed it to Mother Su, "This is for tea, I'll take my leave now!"

"Ah, alright!" Mother Su chuckled and closed the side door.

Xiao Xing turned back to retrace her steps, and halfway there, she saw Li Huolang, a merchant, selling goods under a willow tree. Her eyes twinkled with an idea, and she approached him after the crowd had dispersed, whispering, "Li Huolang, I need something, and I'll pay five taels of silver. Are you interested?"