Chapter 204 Meeting the Emperor
The next day.
As dawn broke, the glazed tiles of the imperial palace's main hall were illuminated.
With her eyes slightly lowered, Lu Zhaoru followed Xiao Yeming, Ban Ling, and Wang Wu's group, and was led by a palace attendant in a bowing manner into the solemn and majestic Wende Hall.
At this moment.
Xiao Yeming deliberately slowed his pace, turned around to look at Lu Zhaoruo, and seeing her calm expression, still whispered a word of advice: "Don't overthink it, just focus on your achievements."
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaoruo nodded slightly.
Seeing this, Wang Wu couldn't help but touch his nose and lower his head to hide his laughter.
Seeing this, Banling was also eager to express his concern.
He deliberately lowered his voice, but his natural voice was booming: "Madam Lu! Don't worry! With me here, I'll handle anything, no matter how big the problem is!"
Xiao Yeming frowned slightly and glanced at Ban Ling indifferently.
Ban Ling, however, was completely oblivious. He thought he had done a good job of calming Ban Ling down. He grinned, raised his hand, and patted his chest twice, making his armor rattle. He looked like he had Ban Ling in his shoes.
Inside the hall.
The officials, dressed in their official robes of crimson and purple according to their rank, stood solemnly on both sides of the red steps, holding their tablets.
When Xiao Yeming and his group entered, the previously quiet atmosphere was broken by a slight commotion, and countless scrutinizing, curious, and inquisitive gazes all fell on the slender figure behind him.
The recent rumors and controversies surrounding the capital have already made the name "Lu Zhaoruo" full of controversy and mystery. Now that they have finally met her in person, everyone naturally wants to take a closer look.
She was wearing a newly tailored lotus-root-colored crepe jacket, with a moon-white silk shirt underneath, and a dark blue silk skirt. Her black hair was tied up with only a simple white jade hairpin, and she wore no other ornaments.
Amidst the resplendent splendor of the palace, her simple attire only accentuated her serene and extraordinary demeanor.
On the throne.
Emperor Shizong, whose personal name was Heng, wore a black gauze turban and an ochre-yellow casual robe, and sat facing the pavilion.
He had a handsome face and a calm demeanor. His gaze was like a deep pool, slowly sweeping over the people in the hall, finally lingering on Lu Zhaoruo for a moment, his expression unfathomable.
Lu Zhaoruo, along with Xiao Yeming, Ban Ling, and Wang Wu, straightened their clothes and solemnly performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony before the throne, their movements neat and their posture respectful.
"Your Majesty, we pay our respects! Long live the Emperor!"
"This humble woman, Lu Zhaoruo, pays her respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"
Her voice was clear and melodious, each word distinct in the solemn hall, without a trace of timidity.
"Rise."
Shu Heng's voice came from the throne, gentle yet with an undeniable air of authority.
After everyone rose, the Chief Eunuch of the Inner Palace, who had been standing to one side, stepped forward, unfurled the prepared yellow silk edict, and loudly proclaimed:
"The imperial edict reads: I, having received the Mandate of Heaven to nurture all peoples, hereby reward merit and honor the virtuous, as is the established law of the state. You, Xiao Yeming, Commander of the Linhai Naval Fleet, are inherently loyal and brave, and your talents are divinely bestowed. In less than a year while serving in Linhai, you led your fleet to quell the Japanese pirates, achieving three victories in three battles, capturing many enemy soldiers, and pacifying the land. Your merits are truly outstanding, and I am deeply gratified. Considering your contributions to the nation, you should be promoted to the capital to serve as an advisor. I hereby bestow upon you the rank of General of Loyalty and Martial Valor, a fourth-rank official, a purple-gold fish-shaped pouch, and the honorary title of Light Cavalry Commandant. In addition, I will grant you three pairs of saddled horses from the palace, ten thousand strings of cash, and three thousand bolts of silk for your use, in recognition of your exceptional merits."
Next came the rewards from Ban Ling and Wang Wu.
Finally, the imperial edict paused briefly, and the eunuch's gaze turned to Lu Zhaoruo as he continued reading:
"Lu Zhaoruo, a commoner, comes from a merchant family but is sensible and has a strong sense of the greater good. When the Japanese pirates were rampant, she generously donated funds to support the army. In particular, she presented the map of Chaoxue, which helped the government troops to strike at the heart of the enemy. Her contribution was not small. She is hereby granted two thousand taels of gold, two hundred bolts of brocade from the Imperial Treasury, and the first house in Anyefang, a district under the jurisdiction of the capital, and is allowed to establish her own household to demonstrate her righteousness."
After the bestowal of rewards was announced, a very slight commotion arose in the hall.
Granting him a residence to establish himself is an extremely great favor, demonstrating the Emperor's deep affection for him.
However, upon closer listening, it was discovered that Lu Zhaoruo's rewards were limited to wealth and mansions, and she was not granted an imperial title as some had predicted.
Ban Ling and Wang Wu were both slightly surprised.
After expressing his gratitude, Xiao Yeming frowned slightly.
He knew that for Sister Lu, a formal imperial decree was far more valuable than a thousand pieces of gold.
The government's move clearly shows that those rumors have finally had an impact.
Lu Zhaoruo remained calm, as if she had expected this.
She stepped forward and kowtowed deeply once more, her voice clear and melodious, devoid of joy or sorrow: "This commoner, Lu Zhaoruo, thanks Your Majesty for your great favor. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
His posture was proper and composed, showing no sign of disappointment or resentment.
The emperor, sitting on his throne, took in the reactions of the two men and slowly spoke: "I have recently heard that there are many criticisms of Lady Lu in the capital. They say that you were once married, but you turned against your husband's family and caused their ruin."
He paused briefly, then asked, "Do you have anything to say about this?"
Upon hearing this, the entire hall fell silent.
All eyes were focused on the slender figure kneeling in the hall.
Lu Zhaoruo took a deep breath, kowtowed again, then straightened her back, met the emperor's gaze with clear eyes, and spoke clearly throughout the hall: "Your Majesty, I did indeed marry into the Shen family in Jizhou City, and I did indeed file a lawsuit against my husband's family in court."
She wasn't ashamed to speak up; instead, she said frankly, "However, what I did was for a reason, and it was by no means a baseless framing."
She spoke calmly and clearly recounted Shen Rongzhi's deception, his remarriage after already having a wife, his mistreatment by his in-laws, and even Shen Qingshu's act of banging his head against a pillar in court to exonerate his son.
Without any anger or resentment, simply stating the facts.
“I know that suing my husband’s family is against the law and propriety. However, if I had to do it all over again, I would still make the same choice. Because I firmly believe that the law is clear and will not be concealed from the elders; justice is far-reaching and will not be swayed by the weak.”
"I have a clear conscience, and I can face heaven and earth with a clear conscience!"
His words were powerful and resounding.
A suppressed commotion immediately arose among the officials in the hall.
An elderly minister with graying hair nodded slightly and whispered, "A woman, facing the might of Heaven without fear, presenting her case with reason and conviction, her words ringing out with conviction. Such composure is truly rare."
A stern-faced official beside her scoffed, "Clever words and a flattering appearance! In the end, she brought down her husband's family, causing their ruin. Is this the behavior of a woman?"
Some whispered among themselves, "The merchant's daughter is quick-witted; who knows if she's telling the truth?"
Shu Heng sat high on the throne, taking in all of His Highness's reactions, along with those few clear whispers.
His gaze lingered on Lu Zhaoruo's calm face for a moment, and in that gaze, besides scrutiny, there was also a hint of appreciation and inquiry.
He pondered for a moment before speaking: "If what you say is true, then there is some extenuating circumstance. However, the court's rewards and punishments require solid evidence. I will send a special envoy to Jizhou to reinvestigate this case. If what you say is true, I will clear your name, and you will receive the imperial decree you are entitled to."
"This humble woman thanks Your Majesty for your wise judgment!"
Lu Zhaoruo kowtowed deeply once again.
Shu Heng gazed at His Highness's respectful yet undeniably dignified figure, a gentle smile curving his lips.
"Rise."
He spoke, his voice still clear and steady like an emperor's, but if you listened closely, his tone seemed to have slowed down a moment compared to when he spoke to others.
Standing to the side, Xiao Yeming took in Shu Heng's gaze and felt a sudden tightness in his heart. His hands, which were behind his back, unconsciously clenched into fists.
The ceremony is over.
A young eunuch quietly stepped forward and whispered, "Madam Lu, please come with me."
Lu Zhaoruo understood, bowed respectfully, lowered her head and eyes, and followed the eunuch out of the Wende Hall.
Xiao Yeming, Ban Ling, and Wang Wu remained where they were, returning to the ranks of military officers to continue participating in court assemblies.
Xiao Yeming's gaze followed her retreating figure until she disappeared.
She hadn't gone far from the Wende Hall when she heard hurried yet light footsteps behind her, and a woman's voice called out, "Madam Lu, please wait."
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