Chapter 535: Let him return to the Eastern Palace?
The lady laughed and said, "That's right, none of the ones we wear on our heads can compare to the one on her head."
Miss Lu was shocked and turned around sharply to look at the door again. She saw that Du Wanchun had already entered the mansion. She couldn't help but sigh, "This small Zhou family is so wealthy?"
The lady nodded and said, "The Zhou family is a well-known wealthy family not only in Qingzhou Prefecture, but also in the capital. So, Miss Lu, please don't bring up their status anymore."
"Although your Lu family has had three generations of officials, if we go further back, whose family didn't rise through the ranks through years of hard study?"
After speaking, the lady raised her head slightly and walked towards the mansion, her eyes filled with contempt for Miss Lu.
Miss Lu saw this and immediately felt ashamed. She gritted her teeth, lowered her head, and angrily entered the mansion.
The remaining ladies had just disembarked from their carriages and did not linger, following them to the Lu family residence.
Besides officials and women, Consort Li from the imperial harem also attended today.
Consort Li has been the most favored concubine lately, and since the emperor has been feigning illness and staying home these days, it is naturally her who has come to serve.
She was sitting in the pavilion where the Lu family housed their female relatives when she saw Du Wanchun arrive, and immediately stood up.
Du Wanchun bowed to her and said, "Greetings, Consort Li."
Consort Li gradually calmed down, sat down, and asked a palace maid to pour her a cup of tea.
Du Wanchun sat to one side.
Many female relatives have come to the manor today, and Madam Lu is busy entertaining them, so she asked her second daughter to entertain Consort Li here.
The second daughter is timid and fearful, but she is honest and upright. Although she is a little reserved when she sees Consort Li, she is very reliable in her work.
After seeing Du Wanchun sit down, she quickly placed a plate of pastries in front of her, saying, "Madam Zhou must be tired from your journey. Please try our family's special soft and fragrant pastries."
She spoke softly, but slowly, and each word was clear and articulate, making it very pleasant to listen to.
Du Wanchun stood up, returned the greeting, and said with a smile, "Thank you, Miss Lu."
There weren't many people in the pavilion; apart from a few maids and servants who served them, there were only the three of them.
The male guests of the Lu family were all in the front courtyard. Under the hospitality of Master Lu and the eldest son of Lu, Zhou Ruiyuan and Lord Zheng happened to sit at the same table. With Lord Zheng there, no one dared to treat him rudely.
What was supposed to be just an ordinary birthday banquet turned out to be unexpected, as the emperor, who should have been reclining in the palace, showed up.
The emperor rushed back to the capital, fearing that Zhou Ruiyuan and Zhou Feng might run away like Aunt Zhou, so the first thing he did upon arriving in the capital was to inquire about their whereabouts.
Upon learning that Zhou Ruiyuan was attending a birthday banquet at the Lu residence, he immediately changed his clothes and rushed over.
In the backyard, Du Wanchun had just exchanged a few words with Consort Li when a maid came to report, "Consort Li, the Emperor has arrived."
"Your Majesty?" Consort Li exclaimed in surprise, "Isn't His Majesty ill?"
The maidservant lowered her head and said, "This servant does not know. Madam only told this servant to inform Her Highness that Her Highness should move to the front hall."
Consort Li quickly stood up. "Take me there."
Du Wanchun quickly followed behind her, "Your Majesty, I will go with you."
When the two arrived at the front hall, they saw the emperor presenting a birthday gift to Lord Lu. "My illness has worsened these days, but when I thought of Lord Lu's birthday, I immediately got up and came here to congratulate him on his birthday."
Lord Lu was flattered and immediately knelt down to pay his respects, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
The emperor helped him up and said, "It just so happens that all my ministers are here today. I have something to tell you all."
Everyone was startled and turned to look at him.
Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruiyuan's expressions gradually froze. Could it be that the Emperor really knew about their background?
Just as they were wondering, the emperor raised his voice and said, "These days I have been seriously ill in the palace, and my secret guards have found the whereabouts of the Empress and the Crown Prince for me."
The officials below were immediately in an uproar.
Some are happy, some are sad.
Lord Zheng couldn't help but look at Zhou Ruiyuan beside him.
Zhou Ruiyuan looked at the Emperor with a cold expression, his hands clenched into fists for some unknown reason.
When the three brothers were first deposed, they still fantasized every day that their father would release them and believe in them once more.
But what they got in return was being beaten, exiled, assassinated, and poisoned.
If he hadn't met Du Wanchun later, he would still be a paralyzed person now.
They had long since lost their dependence on and expectations of this father, leaving only deep hatred.
The emperor turned his gaze to Zhou Ruiyuan, his tired eyes showing a tenderness he rarely displayed. He looked at him and said, "His Highness the Crown Prince is currently in the capital. In three days, I will bring him back to the Eastern Palace to acknowledge his ancestors and return to the family."
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