Chapter 31 Chapter 31 My Heart is in Turmoil

Yuan Chaolu walked towards the sleeping quarters, the palace lanterns shining brightly along the way. As she passed the Yeting Palace, she heard a distant cry. The cry was plaintive, but suddenly became sharp and shrill, coming from a woman, as if she were suffering a great torture.

"It was the female official who was beating Miss Helan with a cane. She received a total of fifteen strokes, which would probably leave her half-dead."

The palace maid leading the way whispered, "Since Miss Helan dared to do such a thing, she brought this suffering upon herself today."

With countless eyes watching in the palace, what happens in Penglai Palace cannot be hidden.

"Second Miss, please proceed slowly. Your bedchamber is just ahead."

Yuan Chaolu smiled slightly, her gaze shifting from the dark inner palace. Helan Zhen's cries accompanied her until she entered the sleeping quarters and then disappeared from sight.

Even at this point, Helan Zhen was still hiding behind his elder brother, trying to use his brother to intimidate others...

Inside the Luoxia Palace, there was still one person waiting for her judgment.

The third young lady of the Yuan family knelt tremblingly in the hall. When she saw Yuan Chaolu return, she immediately crawled to her side and cried, "Second sister!"

Yuan Chaolu ignored him and went to talk to Heyi on the side.

He Yi said, "Are you alright? I heard about that during the day, so I immediately went to the gate of Penglai Palace..."

Yuan Chaolu smiled and said, "I'm sorry to have worried you, sister."

Since He Yi was poisoned, Yuan Chaolu was really worried about her health, so she didn't let her do any more work and just let her rest quietly in Luoxia Palace.

During this time, He Yi managed to contact her elder sister's senior sister, Qi Yu, who worked at the Imperial Medical Bureau. After examining He Yi's pulse, Qi Yu coldly said that this poison was vicious, carefully refined from a rare and bitter poison. Those poisoned would suffer unbearable pain in the later stages. He Yi's condition was not yet severe, but in comparison, the poison in Yuan Zhaobi's body was probably already deeply entrenched and difficult to reverse, penetrating to the bone marrow.

Qi Yu said, "I might be able to give this poison a try, but it would take too long. If we could find a sample of the poison, we could achieve twice the result with half the effort."

Right now, He Yi told Yuan Chaolu: "You asked Huli Lan to give you the medicine, and she really did. The medicine worked very quickly. The next day, Li Niang and her two children fell ill. When the head of the family heard the news, he was furious. That night, he had a fight with the second madam. I heard that it caused unrest in the whole mansion, and it has not been resolved yet."

“It’s the medical book left by my elder sister that’s so powerful,” Yuan Chaolu said with a smirk. “Just as I expected, the second couple knew the inside story of the poison. They can’t escape responsibility for my elder sister’s poisoning.”

Now the two of them have their daughter in their own hands.

Yuan Chaolu's gaze shifted slightly, landing on the kneeling figure in the outer hall. Yuan Yan raised her head, her face streaked with tears, her eyes red and swollen like peaches: "I truly didn't want to harm my sister, Second Sister, please let me explain..."

“Okay.” Yuan Chaolu slowly walked over and sat down. “Let’s talk.”

The sobbing stopped abruptly.

Yuan Yan raised her head hesitantly, hesitated for a moment before sitting down at the table, her gaze wandering, never daring to look directly at Yuan Chaolu, and lowering her head like a frightened quail.

A freshly brewed cup of tea was handed to Yuan Yan.

Yuan Yan murmured, tears welling up in her eyes again.

Yuan Chaolu raised her hand, "Have some tea."

Yuan Yan held the teacup with trembling hands and took a small sip: "Second sister, please listen to me."

Yuan Yan cried until her voice was hoarse. She saw Yuan Chaolu sitting on the table, one hand holding her cheek, the other hand playing with the jade pendant she was wearing, as if she wasn't listening to her sobs at all.

After a short while, Yuan Yan lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground. The teacup in her hand slid down and rolled all the way to Yuan Chaolu's feet before stopping.

Yuan Chaolu and He Yi stood by the table, looking down at the unconscious person at their feet, and said softly, "I personally prepared this medicine. I wonder what my second aunt will think when she sees the mottled spots on Miss Yuan's back tomorrow?"

The candlelight cast a dim glow, making the curve of her lips appear even deeper.

However, in Madam Yuan's view, some things were by no means coincidences.

The next day, news of the Yuan family's third young lady's crime reached the Yuan residence. Yuan Erfu felt that disaster was imminent and entered the palace with a heavy heart. He was led to his daughter by the palace servants, only to find her unconscious on the bed. She had fainted from excessive fear the night before and had not woken up since. Imperial Physician Qi raised his hand to signal her to come over and showed her the mottled marks on Yuan Yan's back caused by poisoning. Yuan Erfu immediately collapsed to the ground, trembling all over.

"Could you please ask the Imperial Household Department for mercy and allow me to bring Yan'er back to my residence for treatment?"

Yuan Chaolu said, "Second Aunt, this won't do. You insisted on sending Yan'er to the palace back then, and now that she has committed a crime, how can she go unpunished?"

"I'll take the blame for her!" Li Qing'e cried, tears streaming down her face, tightly embracing her unconscious daughter. "I'll take whatever happens to Yan'er, I only beg the Imperial Guards to show mercy and let Yan'er go..."

Yuan Chaolu sighed, "A few days ago, after my second uncle finished court, he came to call Yan'er to talk, but my sister came out crying after only a short while. Does my second aunt know why?"

Madam Yuan's expression changed: "He made Yan'er cry?"

Yuan Chaolu said, "Yes, I asked Yan'er what it was about, but she remained silent. Does your aunt know about this?"

Li Qing'e's pupils were bloodshot, then a strange light gradually appeared as she murmured, "Of course I know he's looking at Yan'er... but he's done this for that woman..."

Her palms, damp with sweat, grasped Qi Yu's hand. "I beg Physician Qi to take good care of Yan'er... In a few days, when I have the opportunity, I will definitely enter the palace to save Yan'er." Before she finished speaking, she knelt down heavily and kowtowed three times to Qi Yu.

Before leaving, Li Qing'e bent down and gently stroked her daughter's pale face, pressing her face against Yuan Yan's cheek, tears soaking the intertwined hair of the mother and daughter.

Yuan Chaolu coldly observed this tender scene of paternal love. After Li Qing'e left, he finally couldn't help but let out a muffled laugh.

**

Within three days, something will inevitably happen to the Yuan family.

Today happens to be a day of rest for the academy, which should have been a rare moment of leisure. However, due to yesterday's turmoil, even the mist above the academy seems to linger and darken.

In the afternoon, several princes and ladies came to apologize to Yuan Chaolu. Yuan Chaolu sat upright in the reception room, her expression stern, as she accepted their apologies in turn.

Heyi whispered to her not to offend the powerful and influential, but Yuan Chaolu was simply too stubborn.

If a palace servant were to pass by Luoxia Palace, they would see the strange scene of the princes standing outside the gate, exchanging apology letters with each other.

Prince Anle, Prince Qinghe, and several princes' heirs entered one by one.

Among the princes, there were naturally those who harbored resentment. However, Yuan Chaolu was not one to hold a grudge. In fact, upon hearing the merits of their apologies, she would softly praise their excellent writing. She was so beautiful, her clear eyes blinking gently as she looked at them with a tender smile. The young man apologized a few more times. Only after leaving did he remember their agreement not to give Yuan Chaolu a good look. They exchanged a glance, coughed, and tacitly agreed not to discuss the matter further.

Yuan Chaolu glanced at the sky and said, "Let's stop here for today. We can talk about the rest tomorrow."

The remaining people were reluctant to leave, but seeing her firm attitude, they had no choice but to give up and wait for her to leave one by one.

After everyone had left, she changed her clothes and headed straight for the Xuande Hall. There were still some hours until evening, and she planned to go early and return early so that she could meet with the Prince of Yan.

The air inside the Xuande Hall was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and the emperor was discussing matters with his officials. She moved with her flowing robes, making a very soft sound, and after entering, she placed the Duanhong Qin (a type of zither) on the table. Then she raised her head and looked towards the inner hall where the emperor was discussing matters.

Several ministers sat below the desk, while a figure leaned casually behind it, dressed in a snow-white robe embroidered with gold. Seemingly aware of her prying gaze, the figure glanced at her almost imperceptibly, while still discussing matters with her ministers.

Yuan Chaolu's heart pounded twice, and she slowly sat up straight.

After all the officials in the hall had left, the tall and slender figure slowly walked in, his snow-white robes casting a clear shadow beside her.

"I have been waiting for a long time, but Lord Lu has not come to teach me the zither. Has he been delayed by important matters?"

Xiao Zhuo said, "You really don't know?"

Yuan Chaolu shook her head, and then she saw him lower his body. The sudden closeness of his masculine presence made her subconsciously step aside and move aside from the zither table. He said, "You forget so completely when you're doing your own thing."

These words evoked unpleasant memories. Yuan Chaolu suddenly recalled that day at Chanxu Temple, when she skipped Lu Xuanmo's class in order to see the emperor.

She even kissed the emperor's cheek.

Xiao Zhuo tuned the strings for her and said calmly, "Lu Xuanmo was angered by you and left a letter criticizing me for being too lenient with you."

His white fingertips caressed the strings, producing a melody from his palm. He then picked up a handkerchief and wiped the strings for her. "The strings are very tight, almost exactly the same as before you left Chanxu Temple. It seems you didn't practice the zither properly at Yuan Mansion."

Yuan Chaolu's cheeks flushed slightly. "Back then, I was thinking about His Majesty every day, wondering how to apologize to him. How could I have been in the mood to caress this thing? It disturbs my peace of mind."

Upon hearing the words "disrupting my heart's music," Xiao Zhuo stopped tuning his zither, lifted his eyelids, and looked at her.

Yuan Chaolu, however, did not notice his subtle change in expression. She placed her hands on the zither and began her practice for the day.

Even knowing that the person beside her was the emperor, and even though her body still instinctively resisted, she still sat up straight and tried to remain calm and composed.

In the past, when her mind wasn't on the zither, she felt that it was like a torture instrument. But now that she's completely immersed in it, she finds that she learns very quickly and can soon play a decent piece.

“Excellent.” He tapped the table lightly with his finger, instructing her to change her finger technique.

When he did this, he was not like an emperor, but like a young master from a noble family in brocade robes and jade belts. It was as if he was born with such elegance. From the first time Yuan Chaolu met him, she could feel that this person was more noble than ordinary people. Even the Prince of Yan, who came from the same family as him, could not cultivate such demeanor.

After the song was finished, an hour had passed without anyone noticing.

Xiao Zhuo suddenly leaned down, grasped her wrist, and gestured for her to raise it a little higher. She raised her eyes, her voice as gentle as waves.

"Your Majesty, I am a little tired. I have been practicing the zither for an hour now. May I end my lesson now?"

The aura lingered around the emperor's ears. Xiao Zhuo turned his face to the side, stood up and said, "Recite the latest chapter of the 'Treatise on the Qin' once, copy it once, and then play today's piece once before you can leave. I can hear you from the inner palace."

With so much homework, she was really going to miss her meeting with the Prince of Yan.

Yuan Chaolu was unwilling and rose to speak, but other officials were already paying their respects outside the hall. She watched as the gauze curtain fell, separating the two halls, and sighed softly.

As the curtains were lifted and lowered, Grand Marshal Cui Ming and another important minister entered.

The two reported the border war situation to the emperor.

Xiao Zhuo's expression was calm as he picked up the teacup and brought it to his lips. The faint fragrance left by her sleeve on his fingertips made him think of her tilting her head back, her warm breath so close to his face, and the subtle, delicate touch of her hair brushing against his cheek.

"Your Majesty?" Cui Ming's voice came through.

Xiao Zhuo hummed in agreement, then looked up and smiled, "What did you say just now?"

It was extremely rare for Cui Ming to see the emperor so lost in thought.

However, this momentary daze did not cause much of a ripple, and the sound of conversation soon resumed inside the hall.

Whispers lingered in the palace until long afterward—

It was interrupted by a piano melody.

Xiao Zhuo looked outside with displeasure, and Cui Ming also looked up and cast his gaze outside. Separated by two layers, it was impossible to see who was playing the zither.

The sound of the zither indicated that Yuan Chaolu had finished her studies.

Yuan Chaolu carefully remembered the emperor's words, copied them down, recited them from memory, and then played the zither once before leaving.

In the past, these things would have taken her at least an hour, but today they only took the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

All this painstaking effort was for the purpose of seeing the King of Yan.

Xiao Zhuo withdrew his gaze and did not speak again, his fingertips gently twirling the memorial in his palm.

Cui Ming studied the emperor's expression, remaining silent. The hall fell into a deep silence as the emperor and his minister listened to the lingering sound of the zither.

As the music ended, the sound of a woman hurriedly walking down the steps to say goodbye could be heard.

"Then we shall not disturb His Majesty's meeting any longer."

Finally, when the ear-splitting sound was gone, Cui Ming breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that the emperor also seemed displeased and had lost his previous gentle demeanor, he could only smile and ease the atmosphere, saying, "Such a mocking and unpleasant sound, Your Majesty must be feeling very sorry for yourself. The musicians sent by the Music Bureau are becoming less and less than before."

Behind the table, a low, cold laugh suddenly came from the emperor.

"Cui Ming, mind your own business."

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Author's Note: Yuan Chaolu: But Lord Cui, your superior praised my zither skills, saying they've improved a lot and that's very good.