Chapter 138 Making a Decision
The news of the emperor's bestowal of marriage spread throughout the capital, and the people cheered for this auspicious union personally granted by the emperor.
The Shen family mansion and the newly bestowed Chang Le Princess mansion were bustling with activity, filled with joy and excitement.
The artisans of the Imperial Household Department were busy carving patterns for the dowry, with lifelike designs of dragons and phoenixes symbolizing good fortune and flowers representing wealth. The embroiderers were embroidering bright red wedding gowns, their gold and silver threads interwoven, creating a dazzling effect.
Madam Shen personally oversaw all the wedding arrangements in the mansion, and the smile on her face never faded as she looked at the joyous scene in the courtyard.
Madam Shen also frequently reminded the servants: "You must be careful and not be careless in the slightest. Princess Chang Le is coming to our mansion, and we must not mistreat her."
The Chang Le Princess's mansion was bustling with activity. Palace servants from the Imperial Household Department were directing craftsmen to decorate the residence, and the vermilion gate was adorned with a gold-plated "囍" (double happiness) character.
The courtyard was filled with peonies of all colors, and red ribbons hung from the eaves, exuding joy and luxury everywhere.
Chu Huaiyu bestowed upon her a thousand bolts of silk, ten thousand taels of gold, and various precious ornaments. The dowry list of the ten-mile-long red procession spread like wildfire throughout the capital.
Chu Huaiyu also issued a special decree allowing Princess Chang Le and Shen Minghe to enter the palace at any time to pay their respects to Empress Lu Zhaoxue without needing anyone to announce their arrival.
Furthermore, whether they live in the Shen residence or the Princess's residence after their marriage is entirely up to them.
The people were also looking forward to the wedding day so they could witness this grand celebration.
The palace was also filled with a joyous atmosphere.
Lu Zhaoxue looked at her younger sister who had found a good home, and her eyes were full of relief.
At this moment, Chu Huaiyu was by her side, and seeing the smile in Lu Zhaoxue's eyes, he was also very happy.
Chu Huaiyu said softly, "Zhaoxue, look, with this happy event, the palace and the outside world are filled with joy and peace. Your idea was indeed correct."
"Now that Zhaoxing has found a good man, you can rest assured."
Lu Zhaoxue looked up at Chu Huaiyu, her eyes filled with a gentle smile, and nodded lightly: "I must thank Your Majesty for allowing Zhaoxing to have such a perfect ending."
Chu Huaiyu held her hand and said earnestly, "Zhaoxue, this is what I should do, not only for you and the child, but also for the Lu family."
"From now on, I will make sure you and the children live a happy and peaceful life, and I will not allow any more strife in the palace."
On the eve of the wedding, the capital city was already brightly decorated.
People spontaneously hung red lanterns on both sides of the street, hoping to share in the joy.
News came from the palace that on the wedding day, His Majesty and the Empress would personally officiate the marriage, and all the officials would offer their congratulations. The ten-mile-long red procession stretched from the Princess's residence to the Shen residence, making it an unprecedentedly grand occasion.
Everyone was looking forward to this grand wedding.
When Pei Yuanzheng learned of Lu Zhaoxing's arranged marriage, he was flipping through an old book by the window.
The news struck Pei Yuanzheng like a thunderbolt, jolting him awake.
The book in his hands fell to the ground with a "thud," its pages scattering like his shattered emotions.
A sharp, dull pain suddenly shot through his chest, spreading rapidly and making it almost impossible for Pei Yuanzheng to breathe.
Pei Yuanzheng knew better than anyone that this imperial decree of marriage was an invisible boundary that completely severed all possibilities between him and Lu Zhaoxing.
Those unspoken concerns, from this moment on, have become the past that should be buried deep and relinquished, and can no longer be transgressed in the slightest.
Pei Yuan forced himself to suppress the surging pain and bitterness in his heart, staggered around, and strode quickly toward the depths of the study.
The candlelight on the table flickered, reflecting on Pei Yuanzheng's pale face. He picked up his brush, and ink spilled onto the rice paper, the spreading marks concealing an undeniable heaviness.
A moment later, the two letters were written.
One of them was a letter of divorce.
Pei Yuanzheng carefully folded the two letters, put them into separate envelopes, sealed them with sealing wax, and then stamped them with his personal seal.
He did not hesitate for a moment during this process.
Pei Yuanzheng summoned his trusted attendant. Although his mind was hazy, his voice was unusually clear: "Send this letter to the southern desert immediately by fast horse. Make sure to deliver it to the recipient personally. Do not delay for even a moment."
He paused for a moment, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
Keep this letter safe for now.
"After Lu Zhaoxing's wedding, present this letter to Princess Jinde personally. Remember, do not reveal it in the slightest beforehand."
The attendant bowed and accepted the order, carefully took the letter, and quietly withdrew.
The study fell silent again, filled with a sense of desolation.
Meanwhile, Princess Jinde was admiring the newly blooming peonies in the courtyard when she learned that Lu Zhaoxing had been betrothed.
Princess Jinde was overjoyed upon hearing this, her hand holding the fan paused abruptly, and she couldn't hide the smile in her eyes.
Even her tone became lighter: "Really? Lu Zhaoxing has really been betrothed?"
After the palace servants confirmed the news several times, Princess Jinde couldn't help but chuckle softly, her pride and joy almost overflowing.
Now that Lu Zhaoxing is a married woman, she no longer has the right to stand beside Pei Yuanzheng, let alone compete with her for Pei Yuanzheng.
[It's alright, it's alright, Pei Yuanzheng will stubbornly stay by Lu Zhaoxing's side as her concubine...]
From that moment on, an insurmountable chasm separated Pei Yuanzheng and Lu Zhaoxing, and there was no longer any possibility between them.
Pei Yuanzheng can only ever be hers!
The day after learning of the arranged marriage, Princess Jinde specially changed into a gold-embroidered satin dress with butterflies and flowers, shedding her usual arrogance.
Princess Jinde deliberately put on a gentle and concerned demeanor, and went to Pei Yuanzheng's residence with her maid, intending to feign comfort him for his disappointment at being forced into marriage by Lu Zhaoxing.
As soon as she stepped into the study, Pei Yuanzheng was standing with his back to her by the window, his tall figure exuding a sense of aloofness and loneliness.
Princess Jinde's smile faded, and she stepped forward with feigned concern, speaking softly, "Brother Yuanzheng, I heard the news of Lu Zhaoxing's betrothal yesterday. I know you're upset, so I came to see you... "
Before he could finish speaking, Pei Yuanzheng didn't even turn his head.
As if he hadn't heard Princess Jinde's words at all, he remained standing quietly by the window, exuding a cold aura that kept strangers at bay, shutting out Princess Jinde's feigned concern.
Princess Jinde's gentle smile froze, and a surge of displeasure welled up inside her.
She humbled herself today to feign comforting Pei Yuanzheng, intending to demonstrate her magnanimity and also to see Pei Yuanzheng's dejected state.
Who would have thought that Pei Yuanzheng would be so disrespectful to her, not even glancing at her properly, treating her as if she were invisible!
Princess Jinde's feigned gentleness and patience gradually wore off, and anger spread through her heart like wildfire.
Princess Jinde clutched the handkerchief tightly in her hand, wishing she could tear it to shreds.
She kept telling herself, "Don't rush! Don't argue with Pei Yuan!"
Now that Lu Zhaoxing is about to get married, she has plenty of time and patience to argue with Pei Yuan, and she doesn't need to ruin things because of a moment of anger.
Princess Jinde took a deep breath, then slowly closed her eyes, suppressing the anger and resentment in her heart.
When she opened her eyes again, the anger in them had faded, leaving only a faint trace of restraint.
Princess Jinde twitched the corners of her mouth, but found that she could no longer feign a gentle demeanor.
She stopped talking, turned around abruptly, and left with a heavy heart, her sleeves fluttering in frustration.
The study behind him remained silent. Pei Yuanzheng never turned around, as if Princess Jinde's arrival and departure had not stirred the slightest ripple in his heart.
Two days before Lu Zhaoxing's wedding, dusk began to climb the palace walls, and a soft warmth spread throughout Chengqian Palace.
At this moment, Lu Zhaoxue and her younger sister Lu Zhaoxing were sitting around the couch chatting. Lu Zhaoxing was still twirling a half-finished magnolia flower stamen between her fingertips.
Suddenly, a guard was heard whispering outside the palace, his tone respectful yet hesitant: "Your Majesty, Lord Pei is requesting an audience with Miss Lu outside the palace, saying he has important matters to discuss."
The moment the words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall froze.
Lu Zhaoxue slammed her teacup down on the table, the porcelain making a crisp sound. A flash of anger crossed her eyes, and she said coldly, "Go tell him that Zhaoxing is missing!"
Lu Zhaoxing's wedding day is in a few days, why is Pei Yuanzheng coming to join in the fun at this time?
"Relay my message: Pei Yuanzheng must leave immediately!"
Lu Zhaoxue was completely unwilling to let this person disturb her sister's peace and quiet any longer, and was even more afraid that seeing him would stir up trouble in her sister's heart again.
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