Chapter 8 Visiting My Sister
Suddenly, Lu Zhaoxue sat up abruptly from her cot, unable to bear it any longer. She staggered to the kitchen to boil water and take a bath.
The scalding hot water poured over her body, burning her skin until it turned red, but it couldn't wash away the fear in Lu Zhaoxue's heart.
She looked at the crisscrossing scars on her body, marks left from the torture she had endured years ago. Even after so many years, they were still shocking to behold.
Lu Zhaoxue's arms trembled uncontrollably. She hugged herself tightly with both hands, buried her face in her knees, and her suppressed sobs echoed in the empty room, filled with endless despair and pain.
That terrible nightmare seems to have never left: the palace coup four years ago, the tragedy of losing his family, Chu Huaiyu's betrayal, and today's humiliation...
Scenes replayed in her mind, repeatedly pulling Lu Zhaoxue into the abyss of pain.
Lu Zhaoxue was never able to get over the pain of the past, nor could she escape the shadow of Chu Huaiyu.
She's already in such a terrible state, she's lost everything, so why won't Chu Huaiyu let her go?
The next day, as dawn broke, Lu Zhaoxue finally drifted off to sleep, falling into a deep, drowsy sleep.
She was jolted awake when Chu Siheng's voice rang in her ears, her eyes filled with confusion and exhaustion.
"Ah Xue, wake up, it's time to get up."
Lu Zhaoxue rubbed her sore eyes and sat up. Her eyes were red, her face was pale, and she looked particularly listless.
Upon seeing this, Chu Siheng immediately frowned, his expression full of worry, and reached out to touch her cheek.
But then she paused slightly and asked in a low voice, "Ah Xue, did you... cry again last night?"
"Ah...no...nothing." Lu Zhaoxue's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly rubbed her eyes hard with the back of her hand, trying to hide something.
She forced a calm smile and said, "Perhaps I didn't sleep well last night, my eyes are a little dry, that's why I look like I've been crying."
Afraid that Chu Siheng would become suspicious, she subconsciously shrank further into the blanket as she spoke.
"Really?" Chu Siheng looked at her evasive eyes, his tone full of unease.
"Ah Xue, if you have anything on your mind or have suffered any injustice, you must tell me. Don't keep it to yourself, or I'll worry."
"It's really nothing!" Lu Zhaoxue quickly interrupted him, forcing a bright smile to reassure him.
"I'm just a little tired, I'll be fine after a good night's sleep, don't worry about it."
Looking at her forced smile, Chu Siheng's worry deepened. He sighed softly and didn't press the matter further.
He then reached out and gently patted Lu Zhaoxue's head, saying in a tender tone, "Okay, then you rest a little longer, I'll go prepare breakfast."
"Mmm." Lu Zhaoxue lowered her head, her long eyelashes concealing the surging tears in her eyes, and nodded vigorously.
Chu Siheng turned to get up, but then suddenly remembered something and turned back to remind him, "Oh right, today is the eighth day, it's the day you should visit Zhaoxing, don't forget."
"Ah! I..." Lu Zhaoxue suddenly raised her head, her face full of regret. She had actually forgotten about it.
She smiled helplessly, a hint of guilt flashing in her eyes, "Thanks for reminding me, otherwise I really would have missed it."
After the Lu family's misfortune, the father died far from home, and the mother passed away.
Lu Zhaoxing, the younger sister, suffered the humiliation of being jilted and witnessed the tragedy of her family's destruction. In addition, she and Chu Siheng were later confined to the East Palace. Lu Zhaoxue wanted to take care of her but was powerless to do so.
Lu Zhaoxue had no choice but to send Lu Zhaoxing to live with her distant cousin.
On the eighth day of each month, Lu Zhaoxue would personally visit him, bringing him silver and everyday necessities.
Previously, she could sell her jewelry and clothes to obtain silver, but those items were ultimately limited.
After everything was sold off, Chu Siheng took the initiative to suggest that she take his calligraphy and paintings, which still had some reputation among the people, and sell them.
This solved Lu Zhaoxue's immediate problem and allowed her to send money to her sister every month.
Thinking of this, Lu Zhaoxue looked at Chu Siheng's back, her eyes filled with mixed emotions: guilt, gratitude, and a touch of indescribable bitterness.
Lu Zhaoxue quickly tidied up.
He carefully folded the several paintings and calligraphies that Chu Siheng had recently completed, stuffed them into a plain cloth bag, and then hurriedly left Jingyou Garden.
The streets were bustling with traffic and vendors' cries echoed throughout the autumn day, but she paid no heed and hurried on her way.
As Lu Zhaoxue passed a pawnshop on the street corner, she suddenly stopped, as if she had been tripped by something.
Last night, Chu Huaiyu's drunken roar suddenly exploded in my ears: "You actually dared to pawn the things I gave you?!"
The image of the pair of emerald jade bracelets flashed through her mind instantly.
This jade bracelet was a token of love that Chu Huaiyu personally put on her after he pacified the border.
At that moment, the tenderness in Chu Huaiyu's eyes seemed to overflow, and he said he would protect her for a lifetime of peace and happiness, and that she would have no worries year after year.
She cherished those jade bracelets as treasures, wearing them day and night, even when she slept, hoping that on her wedding day she could wear them when she married Chu Huaiyu.
But what happened next? His family was destroyed, and all the beauty he had was crushed by Chu Huaiyu's own hands.
Those jade bracelets, once a token of love, have become the most hurtful weapons, each time Lu Zhaoxue sees them, they evoke feelings of humiliation and pain.
So one rainy night, she finally took it to the pawnshop and exchanged it for silver to supplement Zhaoxing's livelihood.
Lu Zhaoxue originally thought that this matter had long been forgotten, but she did not expect that Chu Huaiyu would find out about it.
I never expected him to get so angry about it.
Lu Zhaoxue's lips curled into a faint, cold smile, her eyes filled with mockery.
He probably just felt his authority as an emperor had been challenged. How could someone so cold and selfish have a heart? How could he possibly know how to truly cherish something?
Composing herself, Lu Zhaoxue stopped thinking and quickly walked into the pawnshop.
The shopkeeper recognized her and knew that the calligraphy and paintings were the work of the deposed crown prince Chu Siheng. Although he dared not raise the price, he did not push it down too much either. He quickly counted the silver and the transaction was completed.
Lu Zhaoxue tucked the heavy silver into her bosom and turned to head towards her cousin's house.
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