Chapter 92 Yuan Chaolu: "Third Brother, I'm so happy..."
Aunt Yao was led to the ground, her hands bound, her face pale. "Your Majesty, I really can't remember what happened back then..."
Yuan Chaolu leaned down and laughed, "Your son has reached the age of twenty. Over the years, because you have served by the Empress Dowager's side, he has also benefited and joined the city gate guards, hasn't he?"
Aunt Yao's body stiffened abruptly. She raised her head and spoke in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, my child is innocent. Please spare my life. I will think about it again."
Yuan Chaolu said, "Think about it."
About an hour after an incense stick has burned, Aunt Yao knelt on the ground, holding a brush and writing down everything she remembered on the paper with trembling hands. Her body was weak, and the brush slipped from her hand several times, rolling down to Yuan Chaolu's feet.
Yuan Chaolu picked up the brush and handed it back to her.
Finally, Aunt Yao finished writing, put down her pen, crawled on her knees to the Empress, and respectfully presented the paper.
Yuan Chaolu waved her hand, ordering the rest of the palace staff to leave.
Aunt Yao said, "I've written it all down on paper. Although I serve the Empress Dowager, there are some things I only vaguely understand. Back then, Your Highness's father, Lord Yuan, was imprisoned for advising the Emperor of Chu. It was Your Highness's uncle, the second branch of the Yuan family, who found the Empress Dowager, and then..."
The Lu family colluded with the second branch of the Yuan family to fabricate charges against Yuan's father, leading to his execution by order of the Chu Emperor.
After the Chu Dynasty moved its capital, the Lu family and the Yuan family divided the rights left by Yuan's father according to their agreement.
"As for the Empress Dowager's mother, Lady Yuan, being separated from her followers during the relocation of the capital, it was indeed the Empress Dowager's doing."
Even though Yuan Chaolu had heard the inside story from the second branch of the Yuan family once before, even though it was a long-forgotten matter...
Yuan Chaolu still gripped the chair handle: "Why did the Empress Dowager try to kill my mother?"
"Because...because the Empress Dowager is afraid of complications, afraid that after Lady Yuan arrives in the new capital, she will investigate the murder of Lord Yuan, and..." Aunt Yao's voice gradually weakened, "The Empress Dowager is the youngest in her family and has been spoiled since childhood. She acts without restraint, and her mother was once engaged to the late Emperor."
Yuan Chaolu said, "Just because of this?"
Aunt Yao nodded, trembling, gazing at the Empress's amber eyes illuminated by the light.
After the fire at Jingming Temple and the Empress Dowager's prolonged coma, she had already grasped the situation. The vast six palaces were now firmly under the control of this Empress, who had no real power base.
Most importantly, the emperor doted on her immensely.
Yuan Chaolu said, "What else do you know about the Empress Dowager? I want you to tell me everything."
She asked many questions, such as whether the Prince of Yan was a descendant of the late emperor.
Without hesitation, Aunt Yao replied, "Of course! The Prince of Yan looks remarkably like the late Emperor, and was quite favored by him!"
Seeing that she knew the truth from her words, Aunt Yao dared not lie and recounted the story in detail. She claimed that the Empress Dowager had been burdened with resentment all these years, unable to forget the past between the late Emperor and her elder sister. Even though she had been served by several men over the years and had attained the most prestigious position in the land, becoming the mother of the nation, she always said in private, "What is there to be dissatisfied about..."
"This servant tried to persuade her, but the Empress Dowager wouldn't listen. Because of this, she placed all her energy on Miss Lu, hoping that Miss Lu would live a smooth and carefree life. She especially doted on her two nephews. Now that Miss Lu has passed away, even if the Empress Dowager can wake up, I'm afraid she won't last long."
Just then, a palace servant outside the hall reported that Eunuch Zhong of Xuande Hall was outside Penglai Palace, coming to escort the Empress to have lunch with His Majesty.
Accompanying him was Prime Minister Lu Jin.
Yuan Chaolu put Aunt Yao's confession into her sleeve, smoothed her sleeves, and stood up.
Just as she was about to leave, a weak voice came from inside the tent: "Someone come..."
Yuan Chaolu stopped and listened quietly. She hadn't misheard; the voices were coming from deep within the inner hall.
It was Empress Dowager Lu.
**
"The Empress Dowager has awakened!"
Several people had gathered before the Empress Dowager's bedside. The person on the bed was barely breathing, her face disfigured beyond recognition, devoid of any trace of her former elegance and grace. The remaining skin, raised like small hills from the burns, seemed to twitch slightly with each word she spoke.
Some of the palace maids who were serving were timid and gasped when they saw this scene.
The person on the bed said, "Changli, Changli, Lan'er..."
Prime Minister Lu grasped her hand. "Your Majesty, I am here. Please rest well and you will recover."
Seeing that Empress Dowager Lu's forehead was covered in sweat as if she were in extreme pain, he reached out and took the wet cloth to wipe her forehead.
Low, mournful moans echoed within the hall.
However, everyone knew that given Empress Dowager Lu's current condition, perhaps passing away would be a relief.
Yuan Chaolu said softly, "Lord Lu fell from the pagoda and died from his injuries. Runlan has already been buried... I hope Your Majesty will take care of yourself and accept this loss."
Before he could finish speaking, Prime Minister Lu turned around, seemingly displeased by Yuan Chaolu's bluntness, "Your Majesty the Empress?"
The next moment, Empress Dowager Lu's heart-wrenching cries rang out, and Prime Minister Lu hurriedly turned around.
Empress Dowager Lu suddenly became agitated: "Why did you switch my child in the first place? How could you keep it from me for so long!"
Empress Dowager Lu's chest heaved violently as she looked up, tears streaming down her face. "Changli is my own son, yet I watched helplessly as he fell from the pagoda. My heart is breaking. Separated from my son, it's all because of you! You've deceived me to this extent; I hate you so much!"
When a person is about to die, they have no more worries. Empress Dowager Lu's withered hands clutched the brocade quilt, and she breathed out all the resentment that had been suppressed in her heart for years.
"Lu Zhenning is truly hateful! I am her own sister, yet she colluded with my husband!"
"I raised their children for twenty years, acting as their legal mother in name only. Why... now that he is the emperor, I still have to kneel before their children!"
Upon hearing the name "Lu Changli," Prime Minister Lu's expression changed drastically. He raised his hand to signal the palace servants to step back, then took two steps forward and pressed down on Empress Dowager Lu's hand, saying, "Empress Dowager, please be careful with your words!"
Empress Dowager Lu turned her head away and shook off his hand. Madness welled up in her eyes, which had lost their light, and she hoarsely shouted out the resentment she had kept hidden for half her life.
Prime Minister Lu wept uncontrollably: "Isn't Changli my child too? Over the years, I have treated him as my own son, cherishing and protecting him just like I would Runlan."
Empress Dowager Lu murmured softly, "Lan'er... my Lan'er..."
She closed her eyes, two tear tracks sliding down her burned cheeks. At this point, she was clearly unable to continue. "The Helan family plotted against her marriage and committed the crime of deceiving the emperor. Then they pressed on step by step, which led to the death of Lan'er... After I am gone, you must avenge Lan'er and Changli. Leave no one of the Helan family alive."
"In my life, I have enjoyed all the riches and honors, yet I have also ended up separated from my family... Heaven is unjust, why must I suffer such retribution..."
Looking at her, Prime Minister Lu choked up and couldn't utter a word, only letting his tears fall.
**
Empress Dowager Lu awoke only briefly before closing her eyes again and falling into a deep sleep. Her pulse was so weak it was almost imperceptible, and the imperial physician was already on his deathbed, leaving Prime Minister Lu heartbroken.
As Yuan Chaolu walked to the covered walkway, about to leave Penglai Palace, she heard Prime Minister Lu calling her from behind, inviting her to a quiet place to talk.
Just as Yuan Chaolu was about to exchange pleasantries, Prime Minister Lu's first words made her stop speaking.
"There is no shortage of beautiful women in this world."
Prime Minister Lu's gaze was icy, and his words were heavy: "Your Majesty, do not overestimate yourself and think that you are no different from others."
Yuan Chaolu suddenly smiled: "Thank you for your guidance, Prime Minister. I will keep it in mind."
In just a few days, the Lu family lost a son and a daughter, and the Empress Dowager was on the verge of death. The Lu family's words seemed to indicate that they had been driven to the brink of despair, but for Yuan Chaolu, they were insignificant and not worth her attention.
But she still wanted to pour out her troubles to her husband.
After Prime Minister Lu left, Yuan Chaolu boarded the phoenix carriage heading to Xuande Hall.
Yuan Chaolu walked straight into the main hall of Xuande Hall. Seeing that the hall was empty and quiet, she called out "Your Majesty" in a soft voice, walked towards the shadowy figure, and lifted the curtain.
A tall, upright young man stood inside, turning his head upon hearing this.
The smile on Yuan Chaolu's face froze for a moment.
At this moment, Zhong Changjun hurriedly caught up: "Your Majesty, General Helan is discussing matters with His Majesty in the palace."
Helan Yi bowed and said, "This humble general greets Your Majesty the Empress."
After he stepped aside, the emperor, who had been sitting behind the large table, finally revealed himself and asked, "The empress has arrived?"
Yuan Chaolu walked to his side and saw him naturally reach out and put his arm around her. She then wrapped her arms around his neck and sat on his lap. "Your Majesty has been discussing matters for so long and hasn't eaten yet. Are you waiting for me?"
As she spoke, she put her arm around the emperor's shoulder, revealing a look of guilt: "Your Majesty, I have kept you waiting for so long. Please punish me."
Xiao Zhuo raised an eyebrow and looked at her.
Yuan Chaolu lowered her eyes and said, "But you can't blame me for being late. I was wronged."
Who bullied you?
"On the way, Prime Minister Lu stopped me and said that I was just relying on my looks to seduce Your Majesty. I am currently enjoying a moment of glory, but relying on my looks to serve others will not last long... Regardless of what I am like, my husband's words make him seem so shallow, as if he only covets my beauty."
She bit her lip slightly, her eyes sparkling. She was already alluring, and this expression made her even more charming and captivating. As she finished speaking, her voice choked slightly, and she reached out and put her hand on the emperor's shoulder, forcing him to put down what he was doing and reach out to pat her back, seemingly forgetting that there were other people present.
Zhong Changjun watched the scene with embarrassment and a burning sensation in his ears. He had witnessed countless intimate moments between the Emperor and Empress in the past few days. The Emperor was usually cold and aloof, so this stark contrast was truly unexpected for Zhong Changjun.
Xiao Zhuo whispered a few words in her ear, then looked up at Helan Yi, "You go back first."
Yuan Chaolu then raised her head from his embrace, resting her cheek against the man's neck, and said in surprise, "General Helan is still here."
Helan Yi smiled, cupped his hands, and said, "Your subject will take his leave now."
After everyone left, Xiao Zhuo leaned back lazily in his chair.
Yuan Chaolu got up and straddled the man's lap, completely letting go and acting coquettishly, "Husband—how dare the Lu family say such things about me? I know that Lord Lu is in the midst of the pain of losing his son and daughter, so he vented his dissatisfaction on me. I understand, but I still feel wronged."
Xiao Zhuo said, "I will naturally summon him for a talk later."
Yuan Chao covered her red lips with her slender fingers, "Husband, are you really going to scold him?"
Xiao Zhuo said, "Before I spoke, the Empress was openly and secretly trying to get me to give an opinion. Now that I've said I'm going to reprimand her, why is the Empress still surprised?"
Yuan Chaolu immediately shook her head: "I did not expect His Majesty to agree so readily. However, His Majesty summoned his uncle for a reprimand. I am afraid that in the eyes of Prime Minister Lu, he will think that it was my pillow talk that made His Majesty so weak-willed and extremely muddle-headed."
Looking at the vivid expression on her face, Xiao Zhuo said, "Your Majesty is a wise and enlightened emperor. How could you be so easily fooled by a woman in bed? That would be giving me too much credit."
Her attempts to sow discord in his eyes were far too simplistic, and she seemed too lazy to be subtle, directly whispering sweet nothings in his ear, yet she was certain that Xiao Zhuo would fall for it.
Xiao Zhuo looked at her, and after a while asked, "Why did you suddenly call out to your husband just now?"
Yuan Chaolu was taken aback, then leaned over and pressed him down on the chair. "I am the Empress whom His Majesty has declared to Heaven and Earth and our ancestors. What's wrong with calling me husband? I'll call you that more often in the future. Doesn't His Majesty like it?"
Xiao Zhuo said, "This is the first time you've called me that in front of outsiders."
Yuan Chaolu said, "I was just upset by what Prime Minister Lu said, and I wanted to soften Your Majesty's heart and show compassion for my cousin."
She took Xiao Zhuo's hand and placed it over her heart, deliberately stroking the back of his hand and guiding his fingertips to explore his collar. Finally, her palm formed a shape, and she lowered her hand, entrusting her breath to his.
The man's large hands may appear slender, but they are extremely powerful. His fingertips, which are often wielded with swords and bows, have calluses that add a unique and indescribable sensation compared to when they are not calloused. However, even with long fingertips, it is sometimes difficult to completely cover certain things.
The fabric rustled and made a sound. Yuan Chaolu bit her lip, the fabric in front of her body crumpled into a ball, and the apricot-colored silk robe was deeply embedded in his fingertips.
She placed her hands behind her back, resting them on his knees, and murmured, "Third Brother..." in the gradually warming air around them.
Xiao Zhuo moved slowly and deliberately, saying, "I summoned Helan Yi. Why did you go to Chanxu Temple to look for you that day?"
The fabric of Yuan Chaolu's embroidered crabapple blossom dress became even more defined under his palm. Her eyelashes trembled as she said, "Your Majesty has long held a grudge against Miss Helan, and I was ordered by Your Majesty to reflect on my mistakes at Chanxu Temple. I don't know when I will be able to return to the palace. When I ran into General Helan, I was filled with trepidation. Fortunately, Your Majesty arrived in time. What did General Helan say?"
Xiao Zhuo smiled faintly and said, "I ran into the Empress by chance. It happened to be raining heavily, so we took shelter together at a temple. That's when I got into an argument with the Prince of Yan."
Yuan Chaolu raised her hand and grabbed his belt: "That's right. As for the Prince of Yan, I heard he's been depressed for a long time. When I first met him at Chanxu, I spoke a few words with him, and the Prince of Yan is quite reasonable. He came to thank me a few days later. Who would have thought that Third Brother would happen to see that? I'm really afraid that Third Brother will misunderstand. After all, I was once engaged to the Prince of Yan. I could tell from Third Brother's expression that he was very jealous."
Xiao Zhuo asked, "Is the Empress so certain?"
Yuan Chaolu bit her lip, but couldn't stop him from increasing the pressure on her hand, and said, "However, just as Third Brother said before the marriage, the Prince of Yan is really not mature enough. How can he compare to Third Brother?"
What's so good about me?
Yuan Chaolu really didn't want him to think too deeply about Helan Yi, so she sweetly coaxed him, "There's so much to say, Third Brother is handsome, has a good figure, and has masculine charm. He's the kind of man that every woman would like. Third Brother said that marrying someone else would be far worse than marrying Third Brother. Indeed, the Prince of Yan is impulsive, and Lord Pei is cold and boring, but Third Brother is different."
Yuan Chaolu felt his arms around her waist suddenly tighten, and she felt a burning sensation under his intense gaze. She said, "Third Brother is steady and decisive in his actions, yet not rigid. He knows how to charm people, making him the best candidate for a husband. Moreover, Third Brother has never neglected riding and archery over the years, and he looks strong and slender. His physical strength is indeed extremely good, truly..."
Xiao Zhuo raised his hand and grasped her chin, gently rubbing it with his thumb ring, again and again.
Yuan Chaolu said, "Third Brother, I like Third Brother very much."
Xiao Zhuo's gaze darkened.
Seeing that he was indeed not pressing her about Helan Yi, she straightened up, brought her lips close to his high, firm nose, and asked tenderly, "Third brother, do you allow your cousin to kiss you during the day?"
Xiao Zhuo looked up at the person on top of him, "To indulge in debauchery in broad daylight is a violation of moral principles. There are some things I will not do."
“Third Brother is so hypocritical sometimes,” Yuan Chaolu sighed, her breath sweet as orchids. She cupped his cheeks and pressed her fingers together with his. “If you don’t want to, then you should just push your cousin away. Why are you letting her kiss you without resisting?”
After saying that, Yuan Chaolu had already pinned him to the chair, and while she was untying his belt, she forced him to tilt his head back and accept her kiss.
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Author's note: His Majesty's bottom line keeps receding.
Red envelopes will be dropped in this chapter!
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