Chapter 188 Return to the Palace
Outside Jingyun Gate, inside the duty room.
A man and a woman were entangled with each other, and the blushing moans and collision sounds were endless, and the ambiguous smell spread throughout the room.
After a long time, the noise gradually stopped, leaving only the breathing sounds of the man and woman.
The man lay in bed for a while, catching his breath, then pushed away the woman who was nestled in his arms, stood up, put on his clothes and tied his belt. His handsome face was cold and indifferent, and it was impossible to tell that he had just experienced a passionate love affair.
Lin Yanrong lay on the pillow, her face flushed, breathing softly, her watery eyes staring at the man's broad back.
She sat up, moved closer, wrapped her bare arms around the man, and rested her head on his back.
"Your Highness, since you have nothing else to do today, why don't you just lie down for a while?"
This man was Prince Jin Lu Su.
Lu Su didn't even turn his head, but just waved her arms away, without any sympathy, as if the man who had just been making love with Lin Yanrong was not him.
He spoke coldly, "It's been about an hour and a half since you left. Although I'm here and the Emperor is in Shanghe Garden, the Imperial City is full of spies. It's better to be cautious and return home early. I still have some miscellaneous matters to attend to, so I'll leave the palace and return."
Lin Yanrong's eyes flashed with resentment, but she still looked gentle and docile, nodding as if knowingly, "I understand. It looks like it's going to snow outside. Your Highness, please take your time."
After she finished speaking, she slid to the ground wearing only her coat and knelt down to help Lu Su put on his boots.
After Lu Su finished dressing, he stood up, straightened his robe, and walked out.
As he reached the door, he suddenly remembered something and turned around to say to Lin Yanrong, "Please pay attention to that matter. I have received information from spies that the emperor and his entourage will soon depart from Shanghe Garden and return to the imperial city. Once they return, it will be even more difficult to succeed."
When Lin Yanrong heard him bring up the matter again, her heart trembled, but she was busy agreeing, "I've remembered it all, Your Highness, don't worry."
Lu Su said no more, put on his felt hat, pushed the door open and left.
A cold wind blew in through the crack in the door. Lin Yanrong's naked body shivered involuntarily, and she couldn't help but sneeze several times.
Lu Su, you really don’t treat me as a human being!
It was not until Lu Su left that a hideous hatred that had been suppressed for a long time appeared on Lin Yanrong's face.
Ever since he had established a relationship with Prince Shen, Lu Su would often use his spies and confidants in the palace to instruct her to do things and inquire about information, and sometimes he would also give her some silver as a subsidy.
After Lu Haozhi followed Meng Yan away, one day, Lu Su sent someone to bring her to the duty room.
After she arrived, Lu Su stepped aside and suddenly hugged her.
She was surprised, but did not refuse it completely, and half-heartedly entered into a brief relationship with him.
By now, Lin Yanrong herself was a bit bewildered. Lu Haozhi, the supposed male protagonist, ignored her and treated her like a nobody whenever they saw her. And Concubine Meng, the supporting actress she should have trampled underfoot and slapped in the face, was still her imperial concubine, enjoying unparalleled glory and immense favor. A year had almost passed, and her rank remained a concubine, with no hope of advancement.
Regardless of whether she was still in that novel or not, she had to find a way out for herself. If she continued like this, she would be buried in this imperial city.
Lin Yanrong was initially proud of being able to get a man like Prince Shen.
He was the emperor's younger brother, a legitimate descendant of the Great Zhou royal family, a dignified prince. While his looks couldn't compare to Lu Haozhi's, he was still handsome and refined, far surpassing the average man. This kind of man was also something Lin Yanrong had never dreamed of.
However, Lu Su's treatment of her was not as gentle and affectionate as she had imagined.
Every time Lu Su called her over, it seemed like it was just to vent his desires. After he was satisfied, he would assign her some tasks to do.
She comes when called and leaves when dismissed, so what is she?
Prince Shen had been married for a long time. He had one wife, two concubines, and more than ten concubines.
Lin Yanrong initially thought that she was different in his eyes, but now it seems that she no longer dares to think so.
However, she and Prince Shen are now in the same boat.
If he could really succeed, there would still be a glimmer of hope for her future.
The book doesn't focus much on Lu Su, who is just a minor supporting role. But now, Lu Su has shown a tendency to turn evil.
That’s fine too, there are many stories of supporting characters turning against the protagonists.
Lu Haozhi, you blind idiot, just chase after Meng Yan. I chose Lu Su, and the title of male protagonist will fall on him. Your throne and your kingdom will fall into our hands!
Lin Yanrong forced herself to believe that she was still the protagonist of the novel, and this was her only reliance.
She gently closed her eyes, took a deep breath, calmed the resentment and jealousy in her heart, held the edge of the kang with one hand, and slowly stood up.
"hiss……"
Inadvertently, the edge of the kang brushed against the wound on her body. She couldn't help but cry out in pain and looked down.
Her relatively fair skin was covered in bruises, as well as teeth marks and pinch marks - these were all traces left by Lu Su during the frenzied lovemaking just now.
Even at this moment, Lin Yanrong is still frightened.
Every time they did that, Lu Su was like a mad beast, pinching her, twisting her, biting her, forcing her to beg for mercy and cry, and even... even forcing her to call him the emperor.
Every time, Lin Yanrong thought she was going to be torn to pieces by this man.
Is this how Lu Su treats his wives and concubines?
Lin Yanrong felt a wave of fear in her heart, but there was no turning back.
Lu Su left the duty room, took his followers and walked through Jingyun Gate, slowly walking towards Wumen.
The sky was gloomy, covered with leaden clouds, and a cold wind was blowing. After a while, some snowflakes really fell, and the ground was covered with a layer of white in an instant.
Lu Su stepped on the thin layer of snow, and the wind wrapped in snow particles hit his face, causing a slight pain.
His trusted eunuch hurried forward and whispered, "Master, Miss Lin has already gone back."
"Um."
Lu Suying just responded without saying anything else.
At first, he had a close relationship with Lin Yanrong, but he only heard that Lu Haozhi favored her and was the best among the newly selected concubines.
Whatever Lu Haozhi liked, he would grab it, and there seemed to be something about her that attracted him.
However, after several contacts, this woman was truly dull and boring, with limited looks and only the ability to flatter others. She seemed to have a big appetite and was always plotting something, just like those maids in his house who were eager to get into his bed.
It seems that not everything Lu Haozhi has is good.
There was one good thing, Lu Su suddenly remembered the stunning glimpse he got at the Empress Dowager's welcoming banquet.
It’s a pity that he’s going to die.
He looked up at the sky, took a deep breath of the cool air, and muttered to himself.
"Mother, brother, please wait patiently for a few more days."
Lin Yanrong left the duty room and walked along the red wall towards Ningshou Palace with small steps.
She was wearing a palace maid's dress today, and it was snowy and windy, so there were few people on the road and no one came forward to question her.
When she reached the outside of Ningshou Palace, the palace maid guarding the gate was slightly startled when she saw her. She immediately went in to inform them and came out after a while, saying, "Her Majesty, please let the young lady in."
Lin Yanrong entered the Ningshou Palace and walked to the outside of the main room with ease.
The palace maid outside the main room received the news early in the morning and opened the cotton door curtain. "The queen is waiting inside, my lady, please come in."
As Lin Yanrong stepped over the threshold, a warm current hit her face, and her almost frozen hands and feet gradually relaxed.
Concubine Xuanhe was sitting on the kang by the west window, holding a white lion cat in her arms, but she didn't play with it, just stared blankly at it.
Lin Yanrong stepped forward and bowed, "Greetings, Her Majesty the Dowager."
Without waiting for the concubine to speak, he stood up straight.
The Dowager Concubine Xuanhe didn't care about her rudeness. Her eyes flickered and she said vaguely, "Well... it's snowing outside. Why are you here?"
Lin Yanrong was too lazy to waste time talking to her and said directly, "The prince asked for something before, and he's pressing for it again today. Please be more careful, Madam Concubine. The emperor and the queen mother will be back soon. By then, I'm afraid it will be even more difficult to get it."
"Meow--!"
Concubine Xuanhe seemed to be frightened by something, and her hand tightened slightly, pinching the cat in her arms and hurting it.
The white cat screamed, jumped out of her arms, and ran away without looking back.
"This beast is just impossible to tame."
The concubine murmured, looking at Lin Yanrong with a trembling gaze, "The map of the capital's garrison forces... Such items have always been kept in the Queen Mother's bedroom. How can I steal them... Besides, Yanrong, this is treason!"
Lin Yanrong looked down at the Concubine Dowager and said contemptuously, "Your Highness the Concubine Dowager is much less courageous now. Where is the courage you had when you plotted against Concubine Li and the Crown Prince?"
Concubine Xuanhe shuddered for a moment, and after a while, she mustered all her strength and sternly said to Lin Yanrong, "That mother and son deserved it. I didn't... I didn't plot against them!"
Lin Yanrong sneered, "Your Highness, are you really not guilty of saying this? Well, I'm not here to settle old scores with you today. The prince is almost out of patience, Your Highness, you should think it over carefully. Meng Changyuan won a victory in the southwest, and the forces that our Lin family can rely on have been almost completely dispersed. If we don't find a new backer as soon as possible, the Lin family will be doomed." At this point, she stepped forward, leaned close to the Queen Mother's ear, and whispered, "Your Highness, has the Lin family truly submitted to the Great Zhou Dynasty all these years? You are well aware of what the Lin family has done on the southwest border. Meng Changyuan is about to return to the court, and those things are probably written in the secret report that has reached the emperor. Aunt, please think about it carefully."
After saying this, she walked out of the room with her head held high, regardless of Concubine Xuanhe who was shaking like a sieve.
After she left, Concubine Xuanhe sat on the kang in a daze, muttering to herself, "I didn't do it... It wasn't me... They deserved it..."
Back then, the eldest prince, now a commoner, had indeed tampered with the crossbow's mechanism, but his original intention was simply to cause Lu Haozhi to miss the target and embarrass him in front of the late emperor. It was she who caused the crossbow to fire the arrow aimed at Lu Haozhi prematurely, leading to his subsequent wealth and prosperity.
But she did all this... wasn't it all for the Lin family?
A member of the royal family, driven from the Dragon Court and forced to retreat to a remote region in the southwest. And she, once a revered princess, was consigned to the new emperor's harem, becoming a lowly concubine with no favors. Who knew the suffering she endured, the tears she shed at night during those years?
Now, this has become a handle for Prince Shen to threaten her.
She had sown the seeds with her own hands, and now she was reaping the bitter fruits.
Concubine Xuanhe was very excited, her cheeks flushed unnaturally, and suddenly her body tilted and she fell on the kang.
There was chaos in Ningshou Palace.
On November 20th, the weather was fine.
Empress Dowager Jiang of the Great Zhou Dynasty and Emperor Lu Haozhi set out from Shanghe Garden and returned to the capital.
When the people living near Shanghe Garden heard the news, they all came to see him off spontaneously and knelt on both sides of the road.
Flags were waving, and the procession of carriages and horses was moving slowly forward.
Lu Haozhi was sitting in the carriage, looking out the window. Seeing this scene, he couldn't help but ask, "Why are there so many people here?"
Rong An, following beside the carriage, heard the emperor's question and quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I've inquired and learned that these are all civilians who suffered from the epidemic. Thanks to Your Majesty and the Imperial Concubine, they are able to live safely. Everyone heard that the emperor was returning to the palace today, and they all hurried to see him off."
Lu Haozhi was quite shocked and nodded, saying, "My father has taught me many times that the emperor is like a boat, and the common people are like water. Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. He also reminded me that the people are the most important, the country is second, and the emperor is the least important. I have always remembered this, but seeing it with my own eyes today has made me deeply understand it." He then asked, "Keep an eye on the imperial concubine. It's cold on the road. Don't let her get cold."
Rong An muttered to himself, "There were only two braziers in the Imperial Concubine's carriage, and the Empress was holding a hand warmer, so even the ice and snow would melt. If it gets any colder, we'll have to pile up firewood in the carriage." He kept a smile on his face, "Your Majesty is right, don't worry. My apprentice is right here, so I'll make sure nothing goes wrong."
Meng Yan and Bai Yuxin rode in a small carriage together and followed behind the convoy.
Originally, Lu Haozhi wanted Meng Yan to ride in the same carriage with him, but when the emperor returned to the palace, all the officials knelt to welcome him and the concubines came to greet him. Of course, the fact that Concubine Meng had recovered from her illness could not be concealed, so he had to give up.
Although the two of them rode in separate carriages, Lu Haozhi would send someone to the back to ask if the imperial concubine was cold, hungry, or had anything to say to the emperor every once in a while.
Meng Yan felt embarrassed by all this, and Bai Yuxin couldn't help laughing when she saw it.
Empress Dowager Jiang couldn't stand it any longer and told Zang Xiu to go and warn him, "Your Majesty, if you do this, isn't that telling you that the Imperial Concubine is sitting in the carriage behind you?"
Only then did Lu Haozhi calm down.
When the motorcade returned to the imperial city, all the civil and military officials knelt in front of the Qianqing Palace and shouted "Long live the emperor!"
Lu Haozhi, wearing a yellow robe with a five-clawed golden dragon pattern, supported Empress Dowager Jiang as she walked up the stairs.
The master of this imperial city has finally returned.
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