newbobooks Chapter 495 The days ahead are long, Miss Su can adapt slowly.
Chapter 495 The days ahead are long, Miss Su can adapt slowly.
Upon arriving at Tingzhuxuan, the courtyard was quiet and elegant, with swaying bamboo and the interior spotless.
"Miss Su, this is Tingzhu Pavilion where you will be staying temporarily. Is it to your liking? If there is anything inappropriate or if you need anything, please feel free to instruct the servants," Chu Ruohan said softly.
Su Wan looked around, a genuine joy appearing in her eyes.
"This place is very nice, I like it very much, thank you for your trouble, Madam."
Her voice, like her name, is gentle and melodious.
Seeing the ease on Su Wan's face, Zhao Yunci felt much relieved as well.
"I have always trusted the Duchess to handle things. Wan'er is new here, so if she feels uncomfortable, I hope you will be understanding."
"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will take good care of Miss Su," Chu Ruohan solemnly promised.
Zhao Yunci whispered a few more words to Su Wan, nothing more than telling her to settle in and not to feel awkward.
Chu Ruohan and Gu Junze tactfully stepped aside, not wanting to disturb them.
After Zhao Yunci left, only Chu Ruohan, Su Wan, and a few maids remained in Tingzhu Pavilion.
Chu Ruohan dismissed everyone else and personally poured Su Wan a glass of water: "Miss Su, you must be tired from your journey. Please have a cup of tea first."
"Thank you, Madam." Su Wan took the teacup, held it in her hands, and said softly.
The atmosphere became somewhat quiet for a moment.
Chu Ruohan broke the silence first, smiling and saying, "Miss Su, there's no need to be so reserved. Since His Majesty has entrusted you to me, please make yourself at home here."
"If there's anything you want to eat or use, just tell me."
Su Wan raised her head and looked at Chu Ruohan, her eyes filled with gratitude.
“Madam has treated me very well, Su Wan… Su Wan is deeply grateful. However, I grew up in the countryside and do not know many rules. If I have been impolite, I hope Madam will not take offense.”
"Miss Su, you flatter me." Chu Ruohan smiled gently. "True character is the most precious thing. I don't think you're a coy person, so I'm sure we'll get along well."
She paused, then said, "I've heard that you once helped His Majesty when he was in danger. Such kindness and courage are beyond the reach of ordinary women."
"It is truly a blessing for the Great Jin Dynasty that Your Majesty has such a virtuous and intelligent woman by your side."
Chu Ruohan spoke these words sincerely.
Upon hearing this, Su Wan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head somewhat embarrassed.
"Madam, you flatter me. It was just a small favor, I never expected..."
She didn't finish speaking, but Chu Ruohan already understood what she meant.
An ordinary country woman's fate is turned upside down because of an act of kindness, and she is about to become the most honored woman in the world.
One can imagine the anxiety and unease they felt.
Looking at her, Chu Ruohan felt her heart soften even more.
This future empress, though not as adept at political maneuvering and scheming as noble ladies, was also unaware of the unpredictable power struggles within the harem.
But her unadorned simplicity, kindness, and understanding of the hardships of ordinary people were qualities that many women who had lived in the deep palace for a long time did not possess.
Such a woman might not be able to immediately dominate the harem.
But she will surely be able to warm the emperor's heart with her sincerity and kindness, subtly influence the court, and become a truly good empress who understands the people.
"There's still a long road ahead, Miss Su, just take your time to adjust," Chu Ruohan said gently. "If you encounter any difficulties, you can tell me."
Su Wan looked up and gazed into Chu Ruohan's sincere eyes, and the unease and fear in her heart seemed to dissipate considerably.
She nodded gently, a faint but sincere smile blooming on her lips: "Thank you, Madam, Su Wan will remember."
Just as Chu Ruohan had predicted, the news that the future empress would be temporarily residing in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion spread like wildfire, reaching every residence in the capital within half a day.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the area in front of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was already bustling with carriages and people coming and going in an endless stream.
Invitations from various mansions poured in like snowflakes, with all sorts of reasons. Some said they were there to visit the newly appointed adopted sister of the Duke of Zhenguo, while others congratulated the Duke on another happy occasion.
Even more extreme, some people directly stated that they came to pay their respects to "Miss Su" and to catch a glimpse of the future First Lady.
Chu Ruohan knew that these people were all relatives of the imperial concubines. They said they came to visit, but in reality, they came to test the waters.
She first reassured the slightly nervous Su Wan: "Miss Su, there's no need to worry. Today's guests are all ladies and young women from various households in the capital. It's just a formality."
"Just sit still, I'll take care of everything."
Looking into Chu Ruohan's calm and gentle eyes, Su Wan's anxiety lessened slightly, and she softly hummed in agreement.
When everyone saw Su Wan, their eyes were filled with undisguised scrutiny.
This woman wasn't particularly beautiful, so how did she manage to capture the emperor's heart?
"Oh my, this must be Miss Su? She is truly a woman of exceptional talent and beauty; no wonder she has won His Majesty's favor." Lady Pingjin spoke first, her tone warm, but her eyes lingered on Su Wan.
Su Wan felt a little awkward, stood up and gave a slight curtsy: "You flatter me, Madam."
Chu Ruohan stepped forward with a smile, naturally took Su Wan's arm, and let her sit down next to her.
"What Lady Wang says is true. Our Miss Su is naturally beautiful and has a gentle and charming personality. Who wouldn't like her?"
Another princess, holding a teacup, slowly spoke: "I heard that Miss Su grew up in the countryside? That's truly remarkable, unlike us who have been confined to high-class mansions since childhood and have limited knowledge."
These words, though seemingly self-deprecating, actually implied that Su Wan came from a humble background and was ignorant of etiquette.
Su Wan's face paled slightly, unsure how to respond.
Chu Ruohan gently patted the back of her hand, picked up the conversation, and her smile remained unchanged.
"Your Highness is too modest. Although Sister Su grew up in the countryside, she has a heart full of love and a pure character. His Majesty once said that the suffering of the common people cannot be known without experiencing it firsthand."
"Sister Su's rare insight is a blessing to the royal family and something that we young ladies should learn from."
Her words not only transformed her "rural background" into an advantage of "understanding the people's sentiments," but also incidentally flattered the emperor.
The Princess Consort was speechless for a moment, and could only laugh awkwardly: "What the Lady of the State says is very true. I was just being shallow."
Then, the wife of a high-ranking official asked Su Wan with a smile, "Miss Su, what are your hobbies? Have you ever studied music, chess, calligraphy, or painting?"
This was a test of Su Wan's talent. What refined hobbies could a commoner woman possibly have?
Just as Su Wan was about to truthfully answer that she had never systematically studied these things, Chu Ruohan spoke first: "Our Su sister's greatest hobby is kindness."
"When His Majesty was in his humble beginnings, if it weren't for Sister Su's selfless rescue, there would be no you today. This kindness and courage are more precious than any musical instrument, chess, calligraphy, or painting."
"As for the skills of ordinary young ladies, the palace has the best teachers to teach them. What His Majesty values is Sister Su herself, not those embellishments."
The ladies and young women exchanged glances, each with their own thoughts.
The Lady of the State's words were all reasonable, and they also effectively deflected their probing.
Moreover, everything is attributed to His Majesty's "divine will," so who would dare to say anything?
They originally thought that a country girl, even if she gained the emperor's favor, would surely be timid, ignorant, and easily manipulated.
Unexpectedly, with this shrewd and sharp-tongued Lady Zhenguo protecting him, he couldn't gain the slightest advantage.
Chu Ruohan maintained a polite smile throughout, moving gracefully among the ladies.