Dead End
Chu Chengchao sped all the way and finally brought his two cousins, Mu Xin and Mu Sheng, back to the manor. Although the two girls had experienced some changes, they remained composed. Mu Xin was elegant and poised, with refined manners; Mu Sheng, though still young, was lively and cheerful.
Upon meeting Lu Yunchu, the two girls presented her with various colorful dresses they had brought from the southwest, and shared their experiences from the journey with her. The three of them got along very well.
Lu Yun Chu heard that they had always wanted to see the bustling capital, so Chu Cheng Chao took the three of them on a trip there on the Lantern Festival after things had settled down. Mu Xin said that the two sisters did not want to get married, so Chu Cheng Chao decided to find a way to ruin everyone's reputation. This way, he could alleviate the emperor's suspicions and protect his two younger sisters.
The long street was ablaze with lights and bustling with people. Chu Chengchao had his arm around Mu Xin on one side and Mu Sheng on the other, while Lu Yunchu pretended to be angry and muttered under his breath.
Sure enough, this harmonious scene was witnessed by Chu Cheng'an, an ally he had arranged in advance.
"Chu Chengchao! Have you no shame?! Your behavior is utterly immoral and devoid of any moral compass. You are no different from a beast!"
Chu Cheng'an strode forward, his face ashen, and shouted angrily, drawing the attention of those around him.
Chu Chengchao was not annoyed at all. Instead, he raised his chin and looked like he was enjoying himself: "The Southwest is known for its beauties, and my sisters are the beauties among beauties. I just like them, so what?"
The next day, Chu Cheng'an indeed impeached him, and the emperor scolded him. He didn't care at all, saying that he just liked to seek thrills.
This incident completely ruined Chu Chengchao's reputation, but saved his two younger sisters.
Outsiders sympathize with Lu Yunchu, but they don't know that she spends her days with her two younger sisters discussing military strategy, considering the current situation, and practicing martial arts, which she finds quite enjoyable.
My two younger sisters always say that women in the Southwest grow up on horseback, are skilled at archery, and enjoy drinking. They also say that walking marriage is common there, with multiple mothers raising children together.
"Let's go back to the southwest together! It's far from the capital, let's find a secluded place in the mountains and live a life of hunting, horseback riding, and eating the freshest wild game!"
Mu Xin put her arm around her shoulder and let her taste the fruit wine she made. She also gave her a guide to medicinal herbs and plants and taught her how to make self-defense powder and sleeping powder.
Mu Sheng loved martial arts, so he taught her more about agility and practical combat skills. The girls often sparred together, ending up with injuries all over their bodies.
After finishing his official duties, Chu Chengchao would chat with them for a few minutes, but he found it difficult to join in their conversation. However, he was happy to see the people he cared about most so pleased with themselves.
Another military report arrived from the border, and Chu Chengchao was about to set off again. Unlike in the past when he was eager and ready to fight, he was very reluctant to leave his family.
Everyone in the manor was preparing his luggage. Watching Lu Yun Chu's busy figure, he gently wrapped his arms around her from behind: "I wonder when we'll be able to meet again..."
Lu Yunchu told him to take good care of himself. He was sad for a moment, then recovered for a moment: "When I come back next time, I will definitely bring you star grass from the border!"
Lu Yunchu didn't ask him what star grass was, she just turned around and hugged him.
The next morning, before dawn, the guards and horses were already waiting outside the mansion. Chu Chengchao was dressed in full military attire, his armor gleaming coldly in the morning light.
Take good care of yourself...
He glanced at Lu Yunchu, mounted his horse, and disappeared at the end of the long street.
Shortly after Chu Chengchao set off, Chu Qin also chose a newly rich man from a humble background with whom she had already reached an agreement as her consort.
Her younger sister found her around the same time. Her sister looked well and after exchanging a few pleasantries, she got down to business.
“Sister, they should have told you already. The Crown Prince and the First Prince are twins who were switched at birth by Ye Jiyun. Under my coercion, the Crown Prince is preparing to restore the kingdom, but the First Prince, that coward, has many people who are afraid of death, and he actually refused. I came to the Crown Prince's residence to turn him against his own side. I secretly contacted the remnants of the Ye family. They have built four large buildings in the martial arts world. On the surface, they are ordinary sects, but in reality, they are all well-trained soldiers. I have already revealed this information to the Emperor. The Crown Prince has no choice. In a while, we will use the Crown Prince to go there to handle some affairs and escape.”
It turns out my younger sister also had her own plans…
Before she could speak, her younger sister gave a cold laugh, her voice growing even deeper: "The world must be in chaos. Only in chaos can women have the chance to stir up trouble. Then I'll find a way to restore the Southern Dynasty, depose that vile woman, and establish myself as emperor. Princess Murong Mingyue of the Northeast Yun Kingdom also intends to seize power; Murong Ye is her man. Auntie will also make her move, joining forces with Consort Xiao and several powerful military families, including the Rong family, to put Chu Cheng'an on the throne. Once he's in power, we'll abandon the male members of the Lu family to cut our losses and pave the way for you to become the head of the family..."
When Lu Yunchu left her sister's place, she was in a daze. She returned to the training ground and trained desperately.
Six months later, the Crown Prince rebelled, and the Emperor ordered the First Prince to suppress the rebellion. Mu Xin and Mu Sheng cried uncontrollably, trying every possible way to save their brother.
Lu Yunchu went to the palace to find her aunt, who was tending to her potted plum blossoms with a faint smile on her face.
Before she could even speak, her aunt asked teasingly, "What? Here to plead for someone?"
Lu Yunchu shook his head: "He can defect, or he can wipe out his brothers, or he can be spared and imprisoned in the capital forever. There's no question of whether or not to save him."
Her aunt sat opposite her, toying with the jade ring on her finger, and chuckled softly, "You really are a clever person. We'll have him pretend to disappear, and you'll be free. By the way, do you really believe in this so-called bloodline mystery?"
Lu Yunchu looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with shock.
"This wasn't Ye Jiyun's scheme at all; it was just a little joke between your sister and me. She made up the story of the 'Prince Replaced by a Civet Cat,' and I did try to drug the emperor, but how would I know if it worked..."
Her aunt approached her, her voice filled with the satisfaction of revealing a secret.
Before she could recover from the shock, a series of hurried footsteps and cries rang out: "Your Highness, let that traitor go! The Emperor led the army to quell the rebellion, but... the Fifth Prince has returned from the Western Regions!"
Auntie smiled slightly; the show was about to begin.
Chu Cheng'an quickly marched to the capital, captured the emperor alive, ascended the throne, made Consort Xiao the Empress Dowager, and then spared Chu Chengchao, intending to imprison him in his residence.
The aunt summoned Lu Yunchu to discuss countermeasures, but just then, someone else came to report. This time, the person immediately fell to the ground, crying, "Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! His Highness the First Prince has committed suicide in the Imperial Prison. It is said... it is said that he heard that the Imperial Consort Lu was promiscuous and wanted to curry favor with the new emperor. Unable to bear the humiliation, he committed suicide in prison!"
Lu Yunchu was completely stunned, her mind blank. Her aunt rushed over and slapped the servant, scolding him for talking nonsense. But rumors began to circulate throughout the palace that although the eldest prince had made mistakes, they did not warrant death. How could he be angered to death by a shameless woman! It was said that the new emperor had fainted from crying and vowed to kill the eldest prince's wife to atone for his deceased brother.
Auntie collapsed to the ground, gritting her teeth and cursing, "Chu Cheng'an... Xiao Qiuhe! You beast! You beast! It's one thing to scheme against me, but what about A-Yun! What did she do wrong!"
Years of hard work were destroyed in an instant, and she seemed to age overnight. Lu Yunchu was unresponsive to everything around her; only two words occupied her mind: monstrous.
evildoer…
Why?
Why!
Her aunt and she were both placed under house arrest in the palace. Her aunt tried everywhere to find someone to help coordinate, but just two days later, news came that surprised everyone: a fire broke out in the old emperor's palace. It was said that the last person to enter the palace was Consort Xiao. Some people heard her voice coming from the flames, angrily denouncing the old emperor as a beast who had ruined his life.
The new emperor didn't say much, only sending his mother to Fengming Temple to recuperate, saying that his mother was in poor health. He then made the late Empress Lu Junhe the Empress Dowager, and temporarily spared his brother because of his deep affection for Lu Yunchu, while dealing with those who spread rumors.
He received the support of Su Taifu, the leader of the anti-forest faction, who exonerated him and dealt with all those who said his ascension to the throne was illegitimate. With the support of Confucian orthodoxy and powerful clans, Chu Cheng'an firmly secured his position on the throne.
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