Chapter 22 Chu Siheng Would Not Be Willing
At the height of the sun, servants from Empress Dowager Yu's palace came with light footsteps to summon Lu Zhaoxue, saying that Empress Dowager Yu wanted Lu Zhaoxue to come and accompany her. A trace of weariness flashed across Lu Zhaoxue's eyes, but she could only suppress her emotions and follow the palace servants slowly to the palace.
Inside the Cining Palace, Empress Dowager Yu leaned against a soft couch, her eyelids slightly lowered, her expression serene and peaceful. Lu Zhaoxue knelt down according to the rules and did not get up as usual.
"Zhaoxue, you don't need to kneel today."
Empress Dowager Yu raised her eyes and glanced at her indifferently, causing Lu Zhaoxue's heart to tighten inexplicably. She stood up as instructed and stood to the side with her hands at her sides.
That uneasy premonition crept into Lu Zhaoxue's heart like a vine, making it hard for her to breathe.
Yu Tai-tai picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and then slowly sighed before asking, "Your sister, Lu Zhaoxing, has already been brought to Jingyou Garden, hasn't she?"
"Your Majesty, Zhaoxing moved into Jingyou Garden three days ago. Thank you for your kindness and assistance, Your Majesty," Lu Zhaoxue replied respectfully.
“Siheng, that child, came to me for help, saying he wanted to bring your sister into the garden to take care of her. At first, I was extremely unwilling.”
Empress Dowager Yu put down her teacup and continued, "Jingyou Garden is not a place where just anyone can enter. However... I ultimately agreed. Zhaoxue, you should know why I gave in, right?"
Lu Zhaoxue slowly shook her head, her fingers clenching tightly inside her wide sleeves.
How could she not know? Empress Dowager Yu finally agreed to help with this matter only because she wanted to control her and Lu Zhaoxing, and thus restrain Chu Siheng.
Lu Zhaoxue couldn't point it out, so she could only lower her eyes and remain silent, but the unease in her heart grew stronger.
Seeing this, Empress Dowager Yu waved her hand gently, and a woman gracefully walked into the hall. She was dressed in a peach-colored palace dress, with a begonia hairpin tucked behind her ear. The woman was beautiful, with a touch of allure in her eyes and brows.
When Lu Zhaoxue caught sight of the woman, her face turned deathly pale. She looked at Empress Dowager Yu, wondering if Empress Dowager Yu was... was she going to betroth this woman to Siheng?
But Siheng wouldn't agree...
Empress Dowager Yu took in the panic on Lu Zhaoxue's face, her expression suddenly darkening, and her tone turning cold: "Lu Zhaoxue, do you think there's something wrong with what I've done?"
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, Siheng, he..." Lu Zhaoxue began urgently, but before she could finish speaking, she was abruptly interrupted by Empress Dowager Yu.
"Enough!" Empress Dowager Yu's voice carried an undeniable authority.
"Siheng has sacrificed enough for you! Now I ask for nothing more than for him to have a son or daughter. Is that wrong?"
Lu Zhaoxue was suddenly speechless. Empress Dowager Yu actually wanted to use this woman as a breeding tool... How tragic... Moreover, Siheng would not agree to that either.
"Ah Xue, I want to become your real husband and wife..." Chu Siheng's words lingered in Lu Zhaoxue's mind, and a surge of courage suddenly rose from the bottom of Lu Zhaoxue's heart.
Lu Zhaoxue knelt down again with a thud, looked up at Empress Dowager Yu, and said earnestly, "Your Majesty, Zhaoxue begs you to rescind your order!"
Empress Dowager Yu seemed to have anticipated Lu Zhaoxue's response, and slowly said, "Zhaoxue, there are only you and Siheng in Jingyou Garden now, but in all these years since you married him, you have been unable to bear him any children..."
“If you insist on obstructing this matter, then Lu Zhaoxing will no longer need to stay in Jingyou Garden.”
"Empress Dowager!" Lu Zhaoxue was shocked, knowing that Empress Dowager Yu was forcing her! Either agree to this, or Lu Zhaoxing would be expelled from Jingyou Garden!
Empress Dowager Yu curved her lips into a smile, her eyes gleaming with calculation. "I think you should handle this matter concerning the girl, Zhaoxue. You've always been sensible and obedient; you're a good girl. I believe you can definitely manage this matter well."
These words were like the last straw, completely crushing Lu Zhaoxue. All color drained from her face, and her heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, causing her so much pain that she could hardly breathe.
After a long while, Lu Zhaoxue took a deep breath and bowed to Empress Dowager Yu, "Your subject... obeys the decree."
After saying that, Lu Zhaoxue slowly got up, staggered, turned around and left Cining Palace. Empress Dowager Yu had not left her any way out at all, so she had no choice but to agree.
But how was she going to explain this to Chu Siheng when she got back? Lu Zhaoxue imagined Chu Siheng's expression when he found out…
Lu Zhaoxue walked aimlessly, and before she knew it, she had arrived at the Imperial Garden. Her steps were unsteady, and she bumped straight into someone walking towards her.
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