At the Prince An's residence, after learning that her father and brother had returned, Lu Xiaoyun and Zhu Yu took a bath and then told Zhu Yu about the many things the original owner had left her about the Duke of Zhenguo's residence.
Zhu Yu never imagined that the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion would be living such a life.
As night fell, after having dinner with Zhu Yu, Lu Xiaoyun returned to the study, holding the "Letter of Divorce" that Zhu Yu had placed on the desk a few days earlier, and gently stroking the words on it.
After thinking for a moment, he took out Zhu Yu's private seal and stamped it on.
Her father and brother had already returned to Shengjing. She had the original owner's memories and knew that although the Duke of Zhenguo and his son only returned to Shengjing once every three years, they were genuinely good to the original owner.
It's just that in the past, the original owner was bewitched by the second wife, Fang, and became estranged from them.
"My lord, your subordinates have retrieved Zhang Mama's remains from the dry well in the Cold Palace."
Xi Yi's voice rang out from outside.
Lu Xiaoyun quickly folded the "Divorce Agreement" and stuffed it into the book she was casually flipping through. She went outside and asked, "Where is it?"
Xi Yi: "Wu Chuan went and bought a fine coffin, and has already collected Zhang Mama's remains and placed them on the estate."
Lu Xiaoyun nodded and led Xi Yi to Yunmei Courtyard.
Inside the Yunmei Courtyard, Consort Duan was learning how to make walnut cake from Chunfang.
Yu'er loves to eat, but in the past twenty years, she has never cooked it for him even once.
"Mother."
Consort Duan and Chunfang looked up and saw their tall and upright son standing at the door.
Chunfang hurriedly greeted Lu Xiaoyun.
"Yu'er, come in. Your mother is learning to make walnut cake with Chunfang. In half an hour, the first batch will be ready. Have a couple of pieces before you go to sleep."
Lu Xiaoyun glanced at Chunfang, then turned her gaze to Consort Duan and said, "Mother, Zhang Mama's remains have been retrieved."
Thud.
Chunfang dropped the dough in her hand onto the ground.
Consort Duan slowly raised her head, her eyes already red with tears: "You, Yu'er, you found Zhang Mama's remains?"
Lu Xiaoyun nodded: "Yes, we got the information from Granny Li on New Year's Eve. But, I think we should wait until we retrieve her remains before we tell you."
To avoid causing Mother Consort to be restless, unable to sleep or eat well these past few days.
Ah Yan said that Consort Duan suffers from moderate depression and must not be subjected to any further stimulation.
"Where, where?"
"In the dry well in the cold palace."
Consort Duan took a deep breath, swallowed the choked sobs, and said in a trembling voice, "Granny Zhang's right arm was broken years ago, but, could it be..."
Lu Xiaoyun understood Consort Duan's concerns, and she looked towards Xi Yi.
Xi Yi hurriedly stepped forward and respectfully bowed to Consort Duan, saying, "Your Majesty, I have examined the skeleton and there are indeed signs of a fracture in its right arm."
Consort Duan let out a slow sigh of relief, her face already streaked with tears.
Chunfang choked with sobs, her whole body trembling uncontrollably, and knelt down before Lu Xiaoyun with a thud: "Your Highness, this servant kowtows to thank Your Highness."
Lu Xiaoyun nodded and helped Chunfang up: "I'll send someone to take you to the estate. You can return to the manor after you've taken care of Zhang Mama's funeral arrangements."
Chunfang's tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably. She bowed deeply to Lu Xiaoyun three times before getting up.
Consort Duan wiped away her tears and said, "I'll go too."
Chunfang grabbed Consort Duan's hand tightly: "Your Majesty, you mustn't!"
“There’s nothing wrong with it. Your mother died because of me. She died tragically more than ten years ago, and now I just want to go and see her off.”
Chunfang wanted to persuade her further, but Lu Xiaoyun had already instructed Xiyi to prepare the carriage and told Chunfang to take good care of her mother.
The next day, Lu Yucheng got up early, ate breakfast, and then ordered his men to load the things he was bringing for Xiaoyun into the cart.
In his hand was the dowry list that the Duke of Zhenguo had given to his birth mother yesterday, for her marriage into the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Fang hadn't slept a wink last night. She tossed and turned, excited about the dowry of the future heir's wife, but also thinking that she would have to give up a portion of it first. So she waited at the gate of Lu Yucheng's courtyard early in the morning.
Upon seeing him emerge, Madam Fang stepped forward and said, "Your Highness."
Lu Yucheng bowed respectfully to her: "Mother, you can just call me Acheng."
Fang smiled awkwardly. She wanted to, but Lu Yucheng wasn't her biological son after all.
“Your father gave you the list of Madam’s dowry yesterday, and told you to go to Xiaoyun today to check it…”
Lu Yucheng nodded and shook the booklet in his hand: "Yes, I wonder if Mother has any instructions?"
“You know your sister, I’m worried about her in that condition, so…”
"Acheng, I have something to say to you." The Duke of Zhenguo stepped forward and interrupted them.
Lu Yucheng bowed to Madam Fang again: "Mother, the Emperor has ordered me to go to Prince An's residence to see Xiaoyun today. If you have any other instructions, please wait until I return from Prince An's residence. We are family, so there is nothing we cannot discuss."
The words that Fang was about to say were swallowed back.
The Duke of Zhenguo led Lu Yucheng toward the gate of the mansion: "Acheng, you know your sister's temper. Once she's at the Prince An's mansion, no matter what happens, she must not be disrespectful to His Highness Prince An. If His Highness Prince An allows, let her return to the mansion in the next couple of days when she has time."
Xiaoyun probably hasn't returned to her parents' home yet.
Lu Yucheng's expression froze. He knew why his father had given him these words before he left. For someone like Prince An, to have such a big event happen at the palace banquet and then marry his sister, was most likely unwilling.
They guessed that their sister's life in the Prince An's mansion was probably not very good.
"Father, rest assured, your son will never lay a hand on His Highness Prince An."
"Yes, go ahead. Remember to take the things we brought back to your sister." The Duke of Zhenguo trusted his son; he would never do anything reckless unless it crossed his bottom line.
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