Everyone sighed with emotion, saying, "No wonder the Zhou family is so lucky; they indirectly saved the whole family's lives."
"Are the eldest son and his father alright too?"
"What could possibly happen? The father and son are both great generals. Those Jurchens are nothing but dust. They're no match for them." The speaker looked very proud.
When everyone heard this, they realized it was true, so the second wife was the only one who would suffer.
"Judging from this, the Lu family isn't planning on a big celebration, is they?"
“Those who die tragically, whose bones are burned to ashes, naturally need to return to their hometown for a funeral, otherwise their souls will not be able to find their way home.”
“The Lu family’s ancestral home is not in the capital. Hanging a white cloth at the door is just to let outsiders know that the family is holding a funeral.”
"So the Lu family will all be leaving Beijing for a while, right?"
The man shook his head again: "It is said that only General Lu went back for the funeral."
"Mr. Zhou is seriously ill and definitely cannot be moved around too much."
“The daughters-in-law and children should stay and serve Zhou Shi.”
"General Lu stayed behind to protect his family. We haven't captured those Jurchens yet; who knows if they'll come back?"
"Although it is said that the dead should be respected, the living are still more important."
"That's true. With the help of the Lu family, General Lu can go back by himself."
Thus, the tragedy and funeral of the Lu family passed by amidst the chatter of the people.
Half a month later, Lu Ziqian received a letter from his father, who had indeed found a skeleton buried for many years next to the local temple.
A well-known local coroner was also called in to examine the body. The deceased was a woman, around twenty years old, and the cause of death was a broken neck.
Furthermore, the large pelvis of the deceased indicates that she had just given birth.
The autopsy results were consistent with what Old Zhu had said, so it seems that what she said was true: the baby was snatched and the perpetrator was killed!
After giving his birth mother a proper burial, Lu Jingming left his hometown and returned to the prefecture and county under his jurisdiction.
After receiving Lu Jingming's message, the Empress immediately ordered her men to silence him.
All the adults were killed. The children from the second wife were still young, so they were tattooed with the word "slave" on their faces and sent to the mines to work as laborers.
According to the laws of the Great Ming Kingdom, those with their foreheads tattooed are forbidden from ever setting foot in the capital, participating in the imperial examinations, owning their own land, or even engaging in commerce; they are destined to be slaves.
Although the Empress spared their lives, their future was destined to be tragic.
Old Mrs. Zhu watched as several of her great-grandchildren had words tattooed on their foreheads before she breathed her last. Even in death, she refused to close her eyes, as if she were dying with resentment.
This is the Empress's revenge on Lady Zhu!
Old Zhu has never fulfilled her responsibilities as a mother since she was a child.
If her brother hadn't saved her from the fire, she would have been forced into a ghost marriage at the age of twelve.
When she turned sixteen, in order to find a wife for Lu Shunxin, Old Zhu married her off to an old bachelor in his forties from the next village.
Fortunately, her brother returned in time, rescued her, and returned the twenty taels of betrothal gifts to the other party.
Her elder brother was blindly filial, but she hated Old Zhu from the bottom of her heart.
However, she was constantly burdened by filial piety. Despite her hatred, she still had to be filial, which caused her extreme contradiction and pain!
Now that the matter of the second wife has been dealt with, the Empress's pent-up resentment of many years has finally dissipated somewhat.
The only thing bothering her now is the Emperor, who is spoiling Consort Jing more and more outrageously.
She's already this age, so naturally it's not about jealousy or rivalry, but about her son.
The result of the Emperor's favoritism towards Consort Jing is that Chu Zhongyuan will be released soon.
All that's missing is a suitable opportunity, such as the Emperor's birthday next month. As his son, Chu Zhongyuan would definitely have to go to the palace to offer his congratulations.
At that time, he only needs to say a few auspicious words and give a thoughtful gift, and everything will fall into place naturally.
The Empress understood everything, yet she was powerless to stop anything.
Only one person can suffer from this headache!
"Your Majesty, shall we invite Princess Anshun to come and give you a diagnosis?"
"The pills she prescribed for you last time seem to have been very effective."
The Empress nodded: "Very well, let Weiwei come along too. I quite like these two children."
"yes."
As the two entered the palace gate, a carriage was just coming out of the palace. The two carriages were facing each other, blocking each other's way.
"Princess, this is Princess Qinghe's carriage. You need to get out and pay your respects."
"Um."
Su Yujiao looked unwell and reluctantly got off the carriage.
Chu Qinghe poked her head out of the carriage, looking down at the two of them with an arrogant attitude that was very unpleasant.
"So you are Princess Anshun. I happen to have something I'd like to ask you."
Su Yujiao raised her head, looking at her with hatred, but she was stunned when she saw Chu Qinghe's expression.
Her stunned expression was obvious, and Chu Qinghe frowned deeply: "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Su Yujiao gave a cold laugh and, instead of answering, asked, "What does the princess want to ask?"
Chu Qinghe was very dissatisfied with her sarcastic attitude, but there was nothing she could do about it.
Not to mention that she is a divine physician favored by her father, even her elder brother treats her very differently, and now even her mother wants her to marry her elder brother.
Therefore, Chu Qinghe couldn't do anything to her, but she could say some hurtful things to annoy her.
She smiled indifferently, brushed a stray hair behind her ear, and deliberately asked in a disgusting tone, "It's nothing serious, I just wanted to ask if that bitch is dead?"
Sure enough, as soon as she asked that question, Su Yujiao's expression changed immediately, and she could no longer maintain her composure.
The next second, Su Yujiao smiled and said, "Princess, don't worry, Peony is fine. She will outlive you."
"It seems the princess doesn't have much time left!"
"you……"
Su Yujiao ignored her and walked straight into the palace, not even waiting for a carriage, because she didn't want to face that disgusting face anymore.
"Jiaojiao, don't be angry. Chu Qinghe has always been arrogant. One day she will get her comeuppance."
"Her retribution has come; her days are truly numbered."
"At most six months, Chu Qinghe will be dead without a doubt."
Lu Ziwei was shocked and quickly lowered her voice to remind her not to speak carelessly, since they were in the palace.
“I didn’t say anything out of the ordinary. Her complexion was very strange. I suspect that someone has been poisoning her for a long time.”
"She doesn't have any symptoms right now, but once the illness breaks out, even a miracle won't save her."
"Poisoning?"
"She's a princess, who would poison her?"
"Could it be... Mo Lingchen?" Lu Ziwei was scared after saying this and subconsciously covered her mouth.
Su Yujiao shook her head, indicating that she did not know.
But she knew in her heart that it must be Mo Lingchen, who was avenging Mudan.
"If someone discovers she's been poisoned now, is there any hope of saving her?"
"There is hope, but only I can save him."
"And no one but me will find out."
"I won't remind her."
She wasn't exaggerating; Chu Qinghe's illness was difficult to cure even in later generations, requiring special medications, and the success rate wasn't high.
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