The Legend of Concubine Su

Chapter 144 Su Jingyue's Kindness

Deep within the bustling and mysterious imperial palace lies a tranquil and peaceful palace, home to a noble concubine named Su Jingyue. Her beauty isn't the kind of stunning, instantly captivating beauty, but rather a gentle, flowing beauty that grows more and more appealing the more you look at her. Her clear eyes, especially when they flicker, seem to hold endless tenderness and kindness, capable of unwittingly touching the softest part of a person's heart.

Though Su Jingyue came from humble origins, her kindness and gentleness, like a spring breeze, caressed every corner of the imperial palace, leaving a deep impression. In this resplendent and brimming palace, other concubines vie for attention, pursuing a life of lavish luxury, as if only this could prove their worth. However, Su Jingyue, like a refreshing stream, always upholds a frugal lifestyle, clinging to a pure and tranquil heart.

The palace she inhabited resembled a fresh and elegant ink painting, devoid of any ostentation or extravagance. There were no mountains of gold and silver treasures, no dazzling silks and satins, only a few simple, unadorned pieces of furniture and a few pots of vibrant green plants, emitting a delicate fragrance that spoke of the peaceful passage of time.

She often sighed: "Luxury things cannot fill the emptiness in my heart, they will only make people lose themselves in endless desires." Therefore, although her bed was covered with fine fabrics, the bedding that had been used for a long time was never replaced. As long as they were still usable, she would never throw them away easily.

The palace often gave her precious spices as gifts, but she always used them with great care, fearing that these hard-earned treasures would be wasted. More often, she would give these spices to the palace maids and eunuchs who needed them most, hoping that these small gifts could bring them a touch of warmth and care.

When it came to clothing, Su Jingyue was practically stingy. Whenever a festival or important occasion approached, the other concubines would eagerly order the palace maids to work overtime to create brand new, opulent garments. These garments were often woven from precious silk and gold thread, and inlaid with pearls, jade, and other costly gems. They were the height of extravagance, as if she wished to embody the brilliance of the entire imperial palace. However, Su Jingyue always chose to wear hand-me-downs, clothes she had worn many times before. While her clever styling gave them a unique flair, it couldn't disguise the fact that they were already outdated. For her, these hand-me-downs were not only a way to save money, but also a remembrance of better times.

Furthermore, Su Jingyue's jewelry box is mostly filled with simple, delicate pieces, such as a thin silver necklace or a pair of small silver earrings. In contrast, overly extravagant jewels are kept closeted, rarely ever seeing the light of day. In her eyes, true beauty lies not in outward splendor or ostentation, but in the purity and kindness of the heart. Only in this way can one exude an unparalleled charm. This charm relies neither on material wealth nor on outward appearance, but rather on a person's inner qualities and cultivation. Therefore, even Su Jingyue's simple attire cannot conceal her pure and refined temperament.

It was a sunny day with a gentle breeze. The palace was filled with the fragrance of flowers and the sound of melodious music. A grand banquet was taking place, and the palace was ablaze with lights and dazzling decorations.

The concubines in each palace were dressed in gorgeous clothes, wearing gold hairpins and emerald pearls, and their makeup was exquisite. They competed with each other for beauty, each one as gorgeous as a blooming spring flower, as if they wanted to embrace the spring beauty of the entire palace. They used all their tricks to attract the emperor's attention and win his favor.

Yet, among this throng of gorgeous women, one figure stood out. It was Su Jingyue. Unlike the other concubines, she wore neither heavy makeup nor lavish clothing. Instead, she wore a light pink dress embroidered with delicate floral patterns, flowing and graceful like peach petals in bloom in spring. Her hair was styled in a simple bun, adorned only with a pure white jade hairpin. Like a fresh and refined lily, she quietly blossomed among the crowd.

This attire made Su Jingyue appear quite low-key among the many lavishly adorned concubines. Some people couldn't help but whisper, "This Imperial Concubine Su is so shabby! Why doesn't she seize the opportunity to win the Emperor's favor?" Others sarcastically said, "She still thinks she's so noble! She's just putting on an act."

Su Jingyue remained unfazed by these rumors. Undeterred by the ridicule, she smiled and chatted with those around her. Her smile was like a spring breeze, warm and inviting; her voice was clear and melodious, like the sound of a flowing spring. The grace and elegance that emanated from her every move, along with her unique inner qualities, made those who mocked her seem vulgar.

When it came to food, Su Jingyue always upheld the principles of thrift and economy, avoiding extravagance and waste. Every morning, as the morning light streamed through the windows of the palace, Su Jingyue would rise early and personally head to the imperial kitchen, carefully instructing the chefs to arrange the ingredients appropriately to ensure there were no large amounts of leftovers.

Whenever mealtime arrived, Su Jingyue would carefully observe the dishes on the table. If she noticed any leftovers, she would unhesitatingly call the palace maids over and have them distribute the delicacies to the servants. She knew that these servants, though of low status, were also members of the palace and deserved due care and respect. Therefore, she hoped that through this method, everyone would feel her kindness and consideration.

As time went by, Su Jingyue's good deeds spread throughout the palace, and everyone was full of respect and gratitude for this gentle and kind queen. All of this made the atmosphere in the palace more harmonious and the relationship between everyone became closer and closer.

Su Jingyue's kindness extends beyond her care for small animals. It's also evident in her meticulous care for the palace maids and eunuchs. She understands the hardships these servants face, so she never scolds or scolds them, instead guiding them with gentle yet firm guidance. Whether dealing with palace maids or eunuchs, she maintains a warm and welcoming demeanor, patiently and wisely teaching them how to best perform their duties.

Once, a palace maid accidentally made a small mistake, but Su Jingyue didn't get angry. Instead, she smiled and told her to be more careful next time. This tolerance and understanding warmed the maid's heart and motivated her to work even harder. Another time, a eunuch accidentally broke a precious vase in the Queen's palace. This incident angered the Queen, who ordered severe punishment for the eunuch. However, upon hearing about this, Su Jingyue decided without hesitation to go to the Queen's palace to plead for mercy. Although she knew that doing so might anger the Queen, she went anyway.

When Su Jingyue arrived at the Queen's palace, she respectfully paid her respects to the Empress and earnestly pleaded with her to spare the eunuch. She said, "Your Majesty, Xiao Shunzi didn't mean to break your vase; he was simply careless. Please forgive him." The Empress, seeing Su Jingyue's sincere expression, was moved. Although she had her share of dissatisfaction with Su Jingyue, she also had to admit that her kindness was touching. Finally, the Empress granted Su Jingyue's request and spared Xiao Shunzi's suffering.

This incident quickly spread throughout the palace, and the people were filled with admiration for Su Jingyue's bravery and kindness. Even the palace maids and eunuchs who had once looked down on her began to change their minds and praised her as a kind person. From then on, Su Jingyue became the object of admiration for everyone in the palace. Her kindness and courage not only won everyone's hearts, but also ensured her increasingly stable position within the palace.

Su Jingyue's thriftiness and kindness gradually became legendary throughout the palace, attracting the emperor's attention. He developed a deep interest in this unique concubine, eager to delve deeper into her inner world. One day, by chance, the emperor passed by Su Jingyue's palace and saw her personally mending clothes for the palace maids. Sunlight streamed through the window, and her focused expression and deft fingers seemed to weave beautiful dreams. Deeply moved by this scene, the emperor entered the palace to engage in conversation with her.

The emperor helped Su Jingyue, who was paying her respects, to her feet and said affectionately, "My beloved, you are so frugal and hardworking, you are truly a role model in the palace!" Su Jingyue lowered her head shyly and said softly, "I just did what I thought was my duty. I don't dare to be a role model." Her humility and kindness made the emperor love her even more and her position in the palace even more stable.

From then on, the emperor's favor for Su Jingyue grew, often rewarding her with precious items and delicacies. However, this favor did not make Su Jingyue arrogant or extravagant; she remained true to her original heart and kindness. Her actions influenced everyone around her, causing them to gradually reflect on their own behavior and stop blindly pursuing luxury and desire.

Under Su Jingyue's guidance, a culture of thrift and diligence gradually emerged within the palace. The other concubines also began to reflect on their behavior, focusing less on emulating beauty and more on cultivating inner self-cultivation and improving their moral character. They began to emulate Su Jingyue's lifestyle, dressing simply, eating frugally, and treating their servants with kindness. The entire palace seemed to be imbued with a new vitality and energy.

However, Su Jingyue's actions also sparked jealousy and resentment in some quarters. Consort De, known for her extravagance, resented Su Jingyue's favor due to her thriftiness. She rallied with like-minded concubines and attempted to falsely accuse Su Jingyue of being pretentious in order to curry his favor. They fabricated rumors, alleging that Su Jingyue was privately extravagant and frequently verbally abused servants, in an effort to discredit her.

But the Emperor knew Su Jingyue's noble character, kindness, and innocence. He trusted his own judgment and ignored these slanderous accusations. The Emperor understood Su Jingyue's inner world and knew that everything she did was sincere and well-intentioned. Seeing their plan fail, Concubine De and the others devised a more vicious scheme to frame her.

One day, Concubine De deliberately fell down in front of Su Jingyue and cried for help. When the emperor arrived, Concubine De accused Su Jingyue of pushing her down. The emperor was confused for a moment, but when he saw Su Jingyue's innocent look, he immediately understood the truth.

The Emperor questioned Concubine De about her accusation against Su Jingyue, but she flatly denied it. The Emperor resolved to investigate the matter thoroughly, ultimately uncovering the truth. It turned out to be a farce orchestrated by Concubine De to discredit Su Jingyue. Furious, the Emperor reprimanded Concubine De and the others for their actions, warning them against further petty schemes.

They deliberately poisoned Su Jingyue's food and drink, attempting to kill her. Fortunately, a maidservant noticed something was wrong and promptly summoned the imperial physician, saving her from disaster. Despite this incident, Su Jingyue remained undeterred and unrepentant towards her victims. She understood the complexities and power struggles within the palace, but she remained convinced that good and justice would ultimately triumph over evil. She became more cautious in her life, while continuing to influence those around her through her actions.

Over time, Su Jingyue's kindness and thriftiness gained widespread recognition and praise not only within the palace but also among the common people. The common people were filled with respect and admiration for this imperial concubine, and her deeds became a popular legend. Whenever her name was mentioned, people couldn't help but reveal a look of admiration and yearning.

And what about Su Jingyue? Amidst the intrigues and struggles of the imperial palace, she remained steadfast in her heart and her beliefs. Through her kindness and thriftiness, she wrote her own legendary story, one that will be forever remembered by future generations.