In her past life, she had also lain in this bed. In fact, she had spent a long time like this.
The difference was that back then, no one came to treat her wounds or apply medicine. Instead, they just let her wounds fester and suppurate until she was on the verge of death.
And what was Su Hele, who had benefited so much from her, doing at that time?
Maybe she was reciting poems under the moon, or hosting banquets with friends in the mansion. In any case, she never came to visit her.
As Su Nansheng recalled, her eyes were as black and gloomy as a raven's feathers, and a chill emanated from her whole body.
Probably sensing something amiss, Su Hele slowly turned her head. When she saw that it was Su Nansheng, her voice immediately turned shrill:
"What are you doing here? Who let you in?"
Coming to watch her make a fool of herself when she was in a sorry state was truly a despicable act.
As she spoke, Su Hele reached out to grab the brocade quilt to cover herself, but accidentally pulled the wound on her back.
In an instant, cold sweat broke out on her forehead again, and her body froze there. She didn't dare to move a single muscle.
Looking at Su Hele's stiff movements and her ashen face, a cruel and cold smile slowly appeared on Su Nansheng's face.
"I heard you got beaten, so I came here specifically to watch you make a fool of yourself."
Su Hele suddenly turned back, but let out a scream of pain. It took her a while to come to her senses. She stared at Su Nansheng viciously:
"Shameless!"
Su Nansheng gave her a mocking look, reached out to pour herself a cup of tea, and said coldly:
"I've taught you the process and introduced people to you, but you still managed to mess up the banquet like this. Su Hele, you're really stupid."
"You! Sumo, Sumo!"
Su Hele's face was distorted. Coupled with her bloodless white face, she looked quite terrifying.
"Besides watching you make a fool of yourself, I also want to tell you one thing."
Su Nansheng was completely unaffected by Su Hele. She lowered her head to take a sip of tea, looking leisurely, and her voice was calm and unhurried.
"I've never wanted to interfere in your affairs. From now on, don't even think about getting the slightest bit of benefit by using my name."
Su Nansheng's voice suddenly turned cold, and her expression became gloomy and fierce.
"Ridiculous! You're just a low - class concubine. Why would I need to use your name? Don't flatter yourself."
Su Hele tried to raise her head, but as soon as she moved, her waist burned with pain, almost making her unable to breathe.
Helplessly, she had to turn her head sideways and force a sneering smile. The contempt in her tone was obvious.
Su Nansheng didn't get angry. She just looked coldly at Su Hele's distorted face and said:
"In that case, please don't pour dirty water on me at every turn in the future. If there's a next time, I won't let you off easily."
After saying that, Su Nansheng stood up and walked out. But when she reached the door, she stopped and didn't look back:
"Su Hele, this is your true self now. You're as venomous as a snake, vicious and hypocritical, yet you consider yourself elegant. It's always been you who's been flattering yourself."
...
When He Xun returned to the mansion, he was surprised to see Su Nansheng in the bedroom.
She was standing in front of the glazed fish tank, feeding the fish. But her fair hand was resting on the edge of the fish tank, motionless for a long time. The koi were swimming in circles under her hand.
Today she was wearing a light yellow dress, with a shawl of the same color loosely draped over her shoulders.
She hung her head low, and the peacock - tail hairpin between her hair buns also hung low, blocking her side face, making it hard to see her features.
He Xun stood there with his hands behind his back for a long time, but Su Nansheng didn't notice him.
Helplessly, He Xun took a step forward and said, "I've heard about it."
Su Nansheng trembled and looked back with a blank look on her face, saying:
"Heard about what?"
He Xun sat down on the beauty's couch beside him, stretching his legs, and said:
"The banquet for a hundred people. Didn't it turn out to be a mess?"
When he went to work in the morning, he noticed that the mansion was very lively, but he didn't know they were holding a banquet for a hundred people.
Later, when it was almost time to get off work, he saw some of his colleagues chatting excitedly about something. After asking in detail, he found out that it was about his own mansion.
Fortunately, the main character being discussed was He Jin. He just didn't know how the affairs of the inner courtyard had spread to the workplace.
"Su Hele organized it. If it's a failure, so be it. What does it have to do with me?"
Su Nansheng wiped her hands and said indifferently.
He Xun raised his eyebrows. If it wasn't because of this, then why was she unhappy?
In fact, Su Nansheng's expression was the same as usual, but He Xun just inexplicably felt that she was a bit down.
He glanced at Su Nansheng, who was still standing there teasing the fish, and then at the sky outside. He Xun said:
"Accompany me fishing."
Su Nansheng's movements froze, and she slowly turned back. "Now?"
"Yes. In a few more days, the weather will get even colder. It's just the right time to check if your fishing skills have gotten rusty."
He Xun stood up and seemed about to walk out.
Su Nansheng was helpless. Rusty? Had she ever been proficient?
"The sky is really getting late today. How about another day? Choose a day when the wind is gentle, the autumn is crisp, and the mood is refreshing..."
Su Nansheng's voice got lower and lower because He Xun had been staring at her with a smile on his face, as if he could see that she was making excuses.
This made her recall the result of the previous fishing trip again - she had caught nothing.
Su Nansheng covered her forehead. The past was too embarrassing to look back on. She didn't want to go.
Seeing this, He Xun didn't wait for Su Nansheng to say any more words of refusal. He grabbed her wrist and walked out.
...
In the Willow - Hanging Garden, the noisy cicadas of summer had faded away, and the garden was now completely quiet.
The weeping willows on the shore had turned from green to pale gold. They hung low over the water, and occasionally swayed gently with the wind, creating a few ripples on the water surface.
Some of the lotus flowers on the lake were in full bloom, while others had withered. The scattered petals floated on the water, moving with the waves.
Among the scattered lotus flowers, there were also vibrant water lilies. They were in bud, just waiting to bloom at night.
Between the lotus and water lilies, a small boat was quietly moored.
He Xun on the boat was full of energy, while Su Nansheng on the boat wanted to doze off but didn't dare, for fear of falling into the water.
He Xun glanced at Su Nansheng, who was in a daze looking at the floating feathers, and said in a deep voice:
"The emperor intends to promote me to the position of the Guard Commander. The imperial edict will be issued in a few days."
Su Nansheng stirred and turned to look at He Xun, a smile appearing on her face:
"Then I should congratulate you, Linchuan, on your promotion."
He Xun also looked at her. Her smile was neither bright nor dazzling, but it was sincere, yet also a bit listless.
"But judging from the look of the Guard Commander's wife, it doesn't seem like you're really congratulating me."
Su Nansheng was stunned for a moment, and then realized that He Xun was referring to herself. She couldn't help but laugh:
"So how should I, the Guard Commander's wife, congratulate you? Perform a dance?"
He Xun averted his gaze. "That's fine."
"Fine my foot. It's you who got promoted, not me. If anyone should perform a dance, it should be you."
Su Nansheng secretly stepped on the corner of He Xun's robe. Where did he get such a strange request?
He Xun noticed her little action but didn't care. He just raised his eyebrows and said:
"You really dare to imagine me performing a dance."
Su Nansheng snickered. No, she didn't dare to imagine. That scene should be quite horrifying.