CHAPTER 236: CHAPTER 236 WASTE

One offers incense to the heavens in bundles.

Another curses the heavens for being blind.

Comparing the two, it’s obvious which one the heavens would favor.

But you can’t really blame Xie Jinyu for being so furious.

It’s really because Su Jin’s luck is just too good.

Ever since the Old Madam’s foot got swollen, Su Jin hasn’t taken a single step into Qihao Hall.

She found out in the garden that Xie Jinyu and her group were going to the Great Buddha Temple to pray.

Of course, they deliberately said it for Su Jin to hear.

To prevent a repeat of last time, where Su Jin also went and things ended up unpleasant.

Xingxing heard it and looked at Su Jin, saying, "Miss, the eldest girls are also going to the Great Buddha Temple."

Su Jin then said, "Then we’ll go another day."

Just like that—

Su Jin changed her mind.

Xie Jinyu felt like she had the upper hand and was smug.

In the end, they went yesterday instead of the day before, and nearly got crushed by the throngs of worshippers.

Su Jin went today, and there was no one competing, and she even saved the Emperor.

Just two days late.

Really, comparing to others is infuriating.

Already filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred, yet Xingxing added fuel to the fire.

"It’s fortunate the eldest girls went to the Great Buddha Temple the day before, and Miss avoided them, otherwise there’d be no chance to save the Emperor," Xingxing cheerily said.

This stab went deep.

Xie Jinyu nearly spat blood.

If it weren’t for Xingxing’s back turned to them.

They’d really suspect this maid of being intentional!

Even if it was unintentional, it was enough to burn them inside for half a day.

Su Jin returned to Agarwood Pavilion, drank a cup of tea, and the palace’s rewards were delivered.

The little maid stood outside the beaded curtain saying, "Eldest Young Madam, someone from the palace has come to reward you."

Xingxing looked at Su Jin, "Hasn’t the Emperor already rewarded you, Miss?"

Su Jin, "..."

That could only be considered her father rewarding her on behalf of the Emperor.

"Too many rewards?" Su Jin asked.

"Of course not too many, the more the better," Xingxing smiled, her eyebrows turning into crescents.

Su Jin took Xingxing to the front courtyard.

An unfamiliar eunuch sat there drinking tea.

Upon seeing Su Jin enter, a glint of cold light flashed in the eunuch’s eyes.

This gaze—

Didn’t seem like someone from the Emperor.

Princess Nanzhang walked in, and the eunuch greeted her with a face full of eager smiles.

Even if Su Jin was slow, she guessed it was either someone from the Empress Dowager or the Empress.

The eunuch held an imperial decree and said, "Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, kneel to receive the Empress’s decree!"

So it was the Empress.

Su Jin’s lip curled.

She straightened her back and said, "At the Great Buddha Temple, I bumped my knee and can’t kneel."

Princess Nanzhang’s face sank, "Is it really so serious you can’t kneel?"

"If Mother doesn’t believe it, she can have someone ask the Emperor," Su Jin calmly stated.

"If kneeling is a must, then I must trouble the eunuch to come again another day."

Just saying this so politely.

Princess Nanzhang’s face stiffened.

The eunuch was visibly uncomfortable.

The Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion had just saved the Emperor’s life; it was the Emperor who had the Empress prepare rewards.

Actually, whether or not to kneel wasn’t important.

He was doing it for the Empress and Princess Shouning, deliberately making her kneel.

Su Jin left a comment and turned to leave.

The eunuch’s face turned white.

He dared not return to the palace with the Empress’s decree like this; if word reached the Emperor, he wouldn’t live another day.

The eunuch looked at Princess Nanzhang, eyes filled with pleading.

Princess Nanzhang coldly said, "Stop!"

Su Jin stopped walking, turned back, and said, "I’ve just saved the Emperor, Mother surely wouldn’t have a maid kick me to kneel for the decree?"

Princess Nanzhang’s gaze flared.

Xingxing glared at the eunuch and said, "My Miss is already angry, why don’t you quickly apologize, do you want to be carried out of Duke Zhen’s Mansion?"

The eunuch, terrified, knelt on the ground with a thud.

He still held the Empress’s decree in his hands.

Princess Nanzhang’s face turned green.

Su Jin’s mouth twitched.

This imperial eunuch was truly stupid to the core.

Asked to apologize, he knelt, lowering the Empress’s decree, it was an insult to the Empress.

But—

She liked it.

Su Jin reached out to receive the decree.

Casually flipped it open and glanced at it, saying, "I understand."

She closed the decree, glanced at the eunuch, and said, "Get up, I’ll visit the palace another day to thank the Empress for her rewards."

The eunuch, slow on the uptake, had legs too weak to stand.

Embarrassing the Empress like this, he feared his life was over.

He quickly withdrew.

The other eunuchs placed the rewarded items down and took their leave.

Su Jin looked at the rewards placed on the table.

Twenty-four bolts of brocade, ten strings of pearl necklaces, two pairs of Jade Ruyi...

The rewards were quite plentiful.

After all, she saved the Emperor.

For such a deed, no amount of reward could suffice.

Looking through it all, Xingxing was increasingly delighted.

Although Miss’s dowry isn’t much, the rewards received are plentiful, giving plenty of face.

Apart from the items beloved by young ladies, there were sixteen types of various palace pastries, whetting people’s appetites.

Su Jin glanced over, saying, "With so many pastries, I can’t eat them all, I’ll just borrow flowers to offer to the Buddha and give these twelve plates of pastries to the Old Madam."

"Recently, I didn’t manage well and caused the Old Madam’s foot to swell, I’ve reflected these days, it won’t happen again."

"Please help explain to the Old Madam that I’m a bit embarrassed to see her," Su Jin instructed the maids.

The maids, "..."

Truly amazed at the Eldest Young Madam’s ability to lie with open eyes.

How lacking in judgment to squeeze the Old Madam’s foot like that.

The Old Madam must have been utterly unthinkable for there to be a next time.

Absolutely dare not have a next, time, again!

Under Xingxing’s reluctant gaze, the maids silently carried the pastries to Qihao Hall.

Looking at those pastries, the Old Madam was seething with anger.

But to say send the pastries back, the Old Madam dared not.

The lady saved the Emperor twice.

If not for the monk, look at the Buddha, for the sake of the Emperor’s face, she had to forgive her this once.

Not eating the pastries she sent would mean not forgiving her.

Furthermore, these pastries were the Empress’s reward.

The Old Madam waved her hand.

Let the maids distribute the pastries to the third branch.

Inside Agarwood Pavilion.

The maids arranged the pastries on the table.

Xingxing looked at Su Jin and said, "These pastries look beautiful, Miss, why don’t you taste them?"

"I won’t eat," Su Jin replied.

"Really not eat?" Xingxing asked.

"Really."

"Then can I have a piece?" Xingxing’s eyes glimmered.

"...."

"If you truly want to eat, then have several, if you get poisoned later, I’ll detoxify you," Su Jin said lightly.

Xingxing, "...."

Miss can say such frightening things so lightly.

"Are all these pastries poisoned?" Xingxing looked alarmed.

"All of them," Su Jin laughed.

Xingxing stared at the pastries for a long time.

"Such a pity, all wasted," Xingxing lamented.

Su Jin looked at those pastries.

The crystalline pastries, like stacks of jade, emitted an enticing sheen.

"It is quite a pity, why not give them to the master to eat, he isn’t afraid of poison anyway," Su Jin said.

Outside the beaded curtain.

Xie Jingchen, "...."

His wife was truly good to him.

In this world, surely there’s no one better at managing household affairs than her, right?