Chapter 73 Wishful Thinking
Chu Huaiyu stepped out of the hall and looked up at the distant sky.
The boundless darkness enveloped him, and even his breathing was heavy with weariness.
He closed his eyes, took a slow breath, raised his hand to rub his throbbing temples, and said in a deep voice, "Go to Baohua Palace."
"As you command, prepare the carriage for the Baohua Palace." Eunuch Wei glanced at him and bowed to serve him.
Inside the Baohua Hall, dancers gracefully swayed to the soft strains of string music.
Chu Huaiyu lay on the dragon throne, looking wearily at the audience below.
The strong liquor went down his throat, but it couldn't quell the restlessness in his heart.
When the music ended, the dancers gracefully knelt and departed.
He took a sip of wine and asked Eunuch Wei, "How is the Empress doing lately?"
"This... Your Majesty, the Empress has not done anything recently, but I heard that you... sent a dancer to the laundry department that day."
Chu Huaiyu frowned slightly, put down his wine cup, and strode towards Hanguang Palace.
Eunuch Wei secretly slapped himself, feeling extremely annoyed.
If the Empress finds out, she will definitely not let him off easily. What kind of mess is this!
Eunuch Wei secretly groaned.
Inside the Han Guang Hall, Du Xian Yue was staring blankly at the bronze mirror.
Upon hearing that His Majesty was coming, she was overjoyed and quickly tidied her appearance.
"Your Majesty, I greet you..." she said softly, bowing, but Chu Huaiyu ignored her.
Chu Huaiyu sat down in the chair, his eyes half-closed, staring intently at her.
Du Xianyue felt a chill run down her spine under his gaze, and secretly felt wronged, but she didn't know what she had done to displease him.
"His Majesty……"
"Moon, has it been a long time since I last visited you?"
Chu Huaiyu's eyes suddenly softened.
Du Xianyue was startled. After regaining her composure, she met Chu Huaiyu's gaze, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
Although she didn't know why he had suddenly changed his attitude today, she still answered shyly, "Your Majesty is busy with many affairs of state and doesn't come to my place, so I have no complaints."
Chu Huaiyu smiled and gently stroked her face.
He thought, how wonderful it would be if Zhaoxue could also be so obedient to him.
His life may have been fulfilled.
But everyone else treated him with kindness and gentleness, except for Lu Zhaoxue, who remained cold and indifferent towards him.
Upon seeing this, Eunuch Wei quickly ordered the palace servants to leave.
Looking at the dark night sky, Eunuch Wei sighed softly.
He had followed Chu Huaiyu for many years, but he never understood the emperor's thoughts.
He came here to demand an explanation, so why is he suddenly being affectionate with the Empress?
It was assumed that Chu Huaiyu would stay overnight in the Empress's palace, but to everyone's surprise, he pushed open the door and left before an incense stick could burn.
Eunuch Wei followed behind him in surprise, thinking he had important business to attend to, but he saw him walk straight towards Lu Zhaoxue's residence.
Watching Chu Huaiyu's retreating figure, Eunuch Wei couldn't help but shake his head.
Inside the hall, Lu Zhaoxue tossed and turned, unable to sleep, her mind filled with the image of Chu Siheng.
Upon hearing footsteps outside the hall, she immediately closed her eyes.
She thought Chu Huaiyu would push the door open and come in as usual, but the footsteps stopped outside the hall.
Under the eaves, Chu Huaiyu stood quietly all night until dawn.
The weather at the end of winter was cold and damp, with thick fog and not a ray of sunshine in sight.
Chu Huaiyu's breath turned into white mist, which gradually dissipated in the cold wind.
During the morning court session, after washing up in the side hall, he turned and went to the main hall.
Lu Zhaoxue lay on the bed, her eyes filled with confusion.
The palace door creaked open, and Lu Zhaoxue opened her eyes.
Seeing that it was his younger sister Lu Zhaoxing, he was slightly relieved.
Lu Zhaoxing carried the small hand warmer to the bedside: "Sister, that person is gone."
"Mmm," Lu Zhaoxue responded softly.
"Sister, do you not like your new brother-in-law?"
Lu Zhaoxing rested his chin on his hand and tilted his head to look at her.
“I don’t like him either. He’s too serious. My old brother-in-law is much better. He plays with me every day.”
Lu Zhaoxing's words were like a sharp knife, piercing through her feigned calm.
Chu Siheng's smiling face reappeared in her mind.
His heart suddenly clenched, his face turned deathly pale, and even his breathing became rapid.
In the past, no matter what happened, as long as he was by her side, she was not afraid of anything.
But now... he's not by her side anymore, and he's gone blind...
Lu Zhaoxue closed her eyes and sighed deeply.
Suddenly she couldn't help coughing, and as she coughed, she spat out a mouthful of blood.
The bright red bloodstains on the sheets looked like a bewitching flower.
"Sister...sister, what's wrong?"
Lu Zhaoxing was so frightened that she burst into tears and ran out to look for someone, completely at a loss.
"Help! Someone please save my sister!"
She stumbled and ran, and when she saw someone coming, she immediately pounced on them.
"Please, please save my sister."
Liu Ruohua supported the trembling Lu Zhaoxing and asked with a frown:
What happened to your sister?
"My sister vomited blood and then fainted, waaaaaah..."
Liu Ruohua's face darkened, and she hurriedly followed Lu Zhaoxing over.
Seeing Lu Zhaoxue collapsed on the bed with a pool of blood on the edge of the bed, she immediately ordered the palace servants to summon the imperial physician.
The imperial physician rushed over and, after taking the pulse, looked grave.
"Miss Lu's condition is caused by anger and stress affecting her heart. If she doesn't receive proper treatment, she might..."
Although he didn't finish speaking, Liu Ruohua already understood.
She had the imperial physician wait outside the door, then sat down by the bed and looked at Lu Zhaoxue's pale face.
Has something happened to your sister recently?
“My sister recently had a big fight with her new brother-in-law, and she doesn’t want to talk to him anymore…” Lu Zhaoxing replied, crying.
Liu Ruohua sighed helplessly.
Now that Lu Zhaoxue has entered the palace, why can't she be smarter and try to please Chu Huaiyu?
That way, you can suffer less.
At this moment, Lu Zhaoxue suddenly woke up coughing, leaning against the bedside and dry heaving uncontrollably: "Ugh...cough cough cough..."
She looked up and saw that the person in front of her was Liu Ruohua.
Lu Zhaoxue was stunned, thinking it was her own hallucination.
Lu Zhaoxue stared at her for a long time before murmuring:
"Ruohua?"
Liu Ruohua nodded and took out a handkerchief to wipe the stains from the corner of her mouth: "It's me."
Lu Zhaoxue's eyes were slightly red, and she lowered her head:
"Ruohua, are you still blaming me?"
Just as Liu Ruohua was about to speak, she heard a series of hurried footsteps behind her.
Upon hearing the news after court, Chu Huaiyu rushed over.
Upon seeing Liu Ruohua, he was momentarily surprised, but his gaze then fell upon Lu Zhaoxue.
Liu Ruohua tactfully bowed and then took her leave.
As she reached the entrance of the palace, she glanced back.
Chu Huaiyu looked flustered, his usual composure completely gone.
It seems that Lu Zhaoxue really is his weakness.
"Cough cough cough..." Lu Zhaoxue covered her mouth and coughed, feeling a tightness in her chest.
Chu Huaiyu quickly stepped forward: "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
Lu Zhaoxue shook her head, lay back down on the bed, and refused to talk to him anymore.
Chu Huaiyu sighed inwardly, his fingers curling and relaxing inside his sleeve.
"Zhaoxue, Chu Siheng is safe now. I won't go back on my promise to you, and you shouldn't either."
He never imagined he would speak to someone in such a humble manner.
He seemed to be begging her to live on, to love him again.
"Your Majesty, I really can't believe you."
Lu Zhaoxue twitched the corners of her mouth, her smile full of mockery.
She trusted him so much, but how did he treat her?
They robbed her of her innocence, ruined her reputation, and caused her family to be destroyed.
Now, he wants her to believe him?
Chu Huaiyu was stung by her smile and leaned down to stare at her:
"Zhaoxue, now, you can only trust me!"
"Oh……"
Lu Zhaoxue smiled calmly, but tears kept falling.
He was always like that, looking down on her from a high place and making demands on her in every way.
They crushed her into dust and trampled her into the mud.
She used to love him, so she was happy to endure it, but now, she no longer loves him.
Chu Huaiyu gently kissed away her tears, his hot breath filling her face.
His eyes were full of enthusiasm: "Zhaoxue, shall we start over?"
Lu Zhaoxue closed her eyes and remained silent.
The warmth in his eyes gradually cooled as she remained silent.
He stubbornly stroked her cheek; only when he felt her warmth did he feel that she still belonged to him.
"Zhaoxue, what am I going to do with you?"
He was clearly a decisive and ruthless emperor, but because of her, he became like an indecisive coward.
This disgusted him, but he was powerless to do anything about it...
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