Chapter 38: Matching Birth Dates, Choosing an Auspicious Day, and More...
Empress Dowager Lu gently stroked her teacup and said slowly, "This has surprised me. Lord Pei is a talented young man who has never cared about personal matters, and I have never heard any rumors of him getting married. I thought that Lord Pei was devoted to his duties. Even when Prime Minister Lu introduced him to a girl from the Lu family, he politely declined. How come Lord Pei had no intention of getting married then, but now he seems to have such thoughts?"
The Empress Dowager's question, though seemingly casual, was actually difficult to answer.
Pei Xi spoke respectfully, neither humble nor arrogant: "I am deeply grateful for the Empress Dowager's and the Prime Minister's kindness. In the past, I was still young and inevitably acted rashly. My achievements were not yet complete, and I dared not delay the young lady. Now that the country is gradually stabilizing, thanks to His Majesty's grace, the burden on my shoulders has been somewhat lighter. Moreover, my elders at home have been urging me repeatedly, and it is indeed time for me to settle down and start a family."
Empress Dowager Lu lightly tapped the rim of her cup with her fingertips: "There's no need to be so anxious."
Pei Xi said, "Indeed, I have met the right person."
Yuan Chaolu stepped forward beside him and bowed gracefully; "I have always kept in mind the Empress Dowager's previous teachings. I have known Lord Pei for quite some time now, so it is not a hasty decision."
Empress Dowager Lu sensed the barb in her words, clearly referring to the time she had summoned her to Penglai Palace to persuade her to give up the idea of marrying the Prince of Yan.
Empress Dowager Lu raised her white jade teacup. As the tea rose, her face revealed a complex mix of emotions. She said, "Hongwen Academy is a quiet place where many princes and noble ladies study. Since Lord Pei is a teacher, it is probably inappropriate for him to associate with the Second Miss."
Before Pei Xi could answer, Yuan Chaolu beside him replied, "Your Excellency is a man of profound learning and has devoted yourself to teaching His Highness the Prince of Yan. I deeply admire you and always seek your guidance whenever I see you. I am also a person of good manners, and I am glad to have Miss Pei by my side. In addition, I must thank His Highness the Prince of Yan for bringing this together."
Empress Dowager Lu frowned: "Prince Yan?"
“It was Prince Yan who acted as matchmaker,” Yuan Chaolu said with a smile. “Speaking of which, I must thank the Empress Dowager. Previously, in Penglai Palace, I was slandered. If it weren’t for the Empress Dowager’s upholding of justice and Miss Pei’s righteous words, I fear I would not have made such a sincere friend, let alone become acquainted with Lord Pei.”
Upon hearing this, the palace maids and eunuchs who were massaging the Empress Dowager's shoulders and serving her tea all paused for a moment.
The sarcasm in those words was obvious. Miss Yuan, you have audacity beyond belief.
Dark clouds rolled in outside the hall, while the atmosphere inside was somber and oppressive.
Empress Dowager Lu pursed her lips into a thin line.
Pei Xi said, "In a few days, I will discuss the engagement with the Second Miss. However, since the Second Miss is currently studying at the academy, we must inform the Empress Dowager first."
As soon as he finished speaking, the beaded curtain rustled softly. Pei Xi looked up and saw a figure appear from behind. The emperor lifted the beaded curtain with his fingertips and walked out with a leisurely stride, his black robes brushing against the floor tiles.
"How could I not know about such a momentous matter?"
Pei Xi bowed respectfully, "Your Majesty is busy with state affairs. How could I dare to disturb Your Majesty with my private matters?"
The emperor smiled and sat down next to the empress dowager, placing his hand on the armrest of the chair and observing the man and woman in the hall.
Yuan Chaolu raised her eyes and met his gaze. It was like water touching, and then quickly looked away.
She bowed and said, "Your Majesty, are you well? I have some calming incense here. I will ask Eunuch Zhong to deliver it to Your Majesty later as a small token of my gratitude for Your Majesty's previous instruction..."
The emperor said, "This is not good."
The emperor's reply was so decisive and resolute that Yuan Chao was taken aback. His tone clearly showed dissatisfaction, but his face remained calm and composed, showing no sign of emotional fluctuation.
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but glance at the Emperor again.
Beside him, the beaded curtain swayed again, and Gao Yurong, with her hands on her abdomen, gracefully walked out of the inner palace and stood behind the emperor.
Yuan Chaolu suddenly understood; it turned out that the Gao family's daughter had been in the same room as the emperor in the inner palace.
In the silence, only the sound of footsteps could be heard coming from the rain. Soon after, a palace servant led a young guard around the screen and into the inner hall.
The visitor was Ye Shu, a guard of the Prince of Yan, who came to deliver a message on behalf of the Prince of Yan.
"Your Majesty, the rain is heavy today, and the Prince of Yan will be able to enter the palace to pay his respects later. The rain is heavy and the air is damp, so Your Highness requests that Your Majesty take care of yourself and that you burn some incense in the room. This is a Buddhist scripture that Your Highness is presenting to Your Majesty."
The Empress Dowager took the Buddhist scriptures handed to her by a palace maid, picked up a page with her fingertips, and sneered, "The Prince of Yan is already busy with many affairs, and you still let him do these things? Why bother him to personally copy Buddhist scriptures and do this? You say it's out of kindness for me, but you don't even ask if I need it? He's always like this with other matters. Don't you know how to advise him? Such negligence and dereliction of duty, do you really care about my son?"
Ye Shu's heart sank. "Your Majesty, please forgive me!"
The Empress Dowager always regarded the offerings made by the Prince of Yan as treasures. As Ye Shu respectfully prostrated himself to confess his sins, he sensed that the Empress Dowager's words had a hidden meaning. She was blaming the Prince of Yan for interfering... no, she was probably not very satisfied with the marriage between Lord Pei and the Second Miss.
His forehead was pressed against the ground, his back heavy with tension. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the emperor standing by, watching with an air of nonchalance, seemingly unconcerned.
Empress Dowager Lu scolded him a few more times, and Ye Shu cast a pleading look at her. After a long while, the Emperor finally spoke up, "How old is the Prince of Yan? Does he need someone to watch over him? Your son knows perfectly well what he is doing. Why make things difficult for a mere guard?"
The Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor: "Emperor."
Seeing that Ye Shu was soaked to the bone, Empress Dowager Lu raised her hand and said, "Enough, enough, go now."
The Emperor turned his gaze to Pei Xi and said, "How come I know nothing about any interaction between the Second Miss and you, my dear minister, yet you are now rushing to arrange their marriage?"
Pei Xi smiled calmly and said, "Your Majesty, it's not in a rush. The wedding preparations will take some time. We need to match the horoscopes, choose an auspicious day, and prepare the ceremony. The wedding can only be completed by autumn at the earliest."
A palace maid presented a golden basin, and the emperor took the hot cloth, slowly wiping his fingertips, and said, "It seems that you are truly heartless, my dear minister, to abandon me without regard for my well-being. With the border war coming to an end, the affairs of the court are packed until the end of the year, and the memorials are piling up. If you were to get married and take leave, I would truly feel as if I had lost my left and right arms. How could I allow such a marriage?" His voice was elegant and light, as if it were a casual joke.
Pei Xi also smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I dare not. I will not allow personal matters to interfere with state affairs. I will devote myself wholeheartedly to assisting Your Majesty."
The harmonious scene between the emperor and his ministers inside the palace continued until Zhong Changjun spoke up to remind them, "Your Majesty, the rain outside has lessened."
The emperor casually tossed a handkerchief into the tray, then rose from behind the table. Everyone in the hall respectfully saw him off.
Yuan Chaolu felt the heavy atmosphere in the hall suddenly shift as the emperor left his seat. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a corner of the black robe brush past her. Just as she was about to bow, she heard the person above her say, "Let's go."
Yuan Chaolu was stunned, and everyone in the hall was also taken aback.
The emperor said, "Didn't you say you would give me calming spices?"
Yuan Chaolu agreed, bowed to the Empress Dowager to take his leave, exchanged a glance with Pei Xi, and quickly followed after her, lifting his skirt.
The covered walkways are winding and shrouded in mist and rain.
Rainwater slid down from the eaves and pelted the flowers, splashing up a damp fragrance and stirring up a vast expanse of white mist.
Under the eaves of the long corridor, several figures walked slowly forward. Yuan Chaolu deliberately lagged behind the emperor by a few steps, and with each step she took towards the Luoxia Palace, her nervousness grew. She suggested that there was no need for the emperor to come, as she would present the spices later, but the emperor, on the other hand, used the excuse that it was on the way and walked with her to the academy.
The journey was silent. As Yuan Chaolu watched the outline of the academy gradually appear ahead, she was struggling with how to stop him when she heard the emperor's voice carried by the rain and mist, saying, "In just a few days, you and Pei Xi have reached the point of discussing marriage. Have you really not been hiding anything from me?"
This abrupt remark sent a chill down Yuan Chaolu's spine.
She tried to make her voice sound calm as she said, "Your Majesty, how could I dare to conceal it? I get along well with Lord Pei, and we both feel that we are extremely well-suited for each other."
Yuan Chaolu quickly stepped forward and walked alongside him. "Your Majesty, have you ever heard the saying, 'Fate is predetermined'? It means that when it comes to love, Heaven might just let it fall unexpectedly. This is exactly what happened between me and Lord Pei."
Zhong Changjun glanced at the emperor, only to see a smile playing on his lips and his eyes filled with mockery.
The woman beside him wore a blue dress, her long black hair tied up with a ribbon that hung down her back. The ribbon brushed against her cheeks in the wind. When she turned her head, her cheeks flushed, revealing a girl's shyness: "Your Majesty, please don't laugh. I hit it off with Lord Pei at first sight. I also have to thank His Highness Prince Yan for his help in this matter. I will naturally be grateful to Prince Yan before the wedding, and Your Majesty will be too. After I returned to Luoyang, Your Majesty has also taken good care of me."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a beast's howl pierced through the rain, causing the emperor to stop in his tracks.
Yuan Chaolu looked in the direction of the sound and saw a guard leading a cheetah through the rain. The emperor took the reins, and the beast thrashed about, splashing water all over Yuan Chaolu's clothes.
"Your Majesty, the Golden Lion has been brought to you."
Seeing her retreat warily, the emperor's smile deepened: "Why are you so afraid? It's not like we've never seen anything like this before."
He stroked the golden lion's head and bent down, saying, "Come on, say hello."
The leopard turned around, its golden vertical pupils locking onto her, and it approached step by step. Yuan Chaolu stepped back and leaned against the wall, meeting the emperor's dark eyes, and slowly placed her hand on it.
Along with the feel of the damp, thick fur came an indescribable chill. She asked, "Why did Your Majesty bring the Golden Lion?"
Zhong Changjun smiled and said, "His Majesty enjoys hunting. In ten days, a hunting ceremony will be held at Hualin Garden in the eastern suburbs. All civil and military officials of the court will participate. Therefore, the golden lion has been specially brought to the palace to be trained."
Yuan Chaolu forced a smile and said, "So that's how it is."
The Luoxia Palace was just ahead. As Yuan Chaolu stepped into the courtyard, she couldn't help but look worriedly towards the back of the courtyard. Most of Lu Yu's body had been transported out, but some was still buried near the forest behind the palace. It was supposed to be the last batch to be transported out today, but then the Emperor arrived, bringing with him that golden leopard...
When Yuan Chaolu entered the hall, her blue skirt was already half-soaked. Just as she was about to ask the emperor to wait inside, the man had already crossed the threshold and walked straight into the hall.
The main hall was elegantly and simply furnished, without a trace of anything unusual. The windows swayed in the wind, and only the fresh scent of grass and trees after the rain lingered inside.
The emperor sat down at the table where he received guests, tapping lightly on the table with one hand, and casually surveyed his surroundings.
Yuan Chaolu turned her back to him, quickly rummaging through the cabinet for fragrant wood, wanting only to get rid of the person as soon as possible. But then she heard a voice from behind her, echoing through the hall: "Where is your personal maid Heyi? I haven't seen a single palace maid here since I came here."
Yuan Chaolu's fingertips trembled. He Yi had only appeared in front of the emperor a few times, yet he could still remember her name. He said, "He Yi was unwell, so I granted her a few days' leave to leave the palace to recuperate."
The emperor spoke casually: "Since you are recuperating, why go to the trouble of leaving the palace? Wouldn't it be better to recuperate in the palace?"
"Heyi misses her family," Yuan Chaolu replied perfunctorily, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. She had been cleaning the main hall a few days ago, but the fragrant wood had been misplaced and she couldn't find it anywhere.
The longer the emperor lingers, the greater the danger he faces.
Zhong Changjun walked to the window and closed the open windows one by one, laughing, "Why doesn't the Second Miss close the windows when she goes out? It's not good for rain to get in."
The curtains beside Yuan Chaolu gradually stopped fluttering. Since that day, the windows of Luoxia Palace have been wide open day and night, letting the wind blow through every corner of the palace. She had been in the palace for too long to tell whether the smell of blood had dissipated or whether there was still blood on her body...
Behind her, Xiao Zhuo waited listlessly, flipping through the items on the table with one hand, and asked, "Are you getting used to living here?"
"Habit, utterly habitual."
The young woman closed the cabinet door, turned around and smiled, "Your Majesty, I can't find that fragrant wood from the Western Regions right now. Could I send it to the Xuande Hall later? I'm afraid it will delay Your Majesty's affairs of state."
"It's alright, the rain is heavy, I'm not in a hurry to get going."
But then Xiao Zhuo picked up a dagger from the fruit plate on the table and ran his long, slender fingers over it. Yuan Chaolu's eyelashes trembled slightly. After a long while, Xiao Zhuo slowly raised his sharp, long eyes, a glint of light flashing in them.
"Zhong Changjun, you can go out now."
Yuan Chaolu leaned against the cabinet door, looking at him from several feet away.
As soon as the door closed, Xiao Zhuo leaned against the table, tossed the silver dagger onto it with a crisp sound, and said, "Where is Lu Yu? Tell me."
Yuan Chaolu was puzzled: "What Your Majesty is saying? I don't quite understand."
Xiao Zhuo laughed and said, "Am I the kind of person who can be fooled by a few words of explanation?"
Seeing that Yuan Chaolu remained unmoved, he said, "Come here."
He tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, one tap after another, until the third tap—
Yuan Chaolu finally moved, and the two of them, one sitting and one standing, looked up at her. His aura was not inferior in the slightest, as sharp as a long knife.
Xiao Zhuo slowly said, "I am skilled in making incense and am extremely sensitive to smells. When I entered this palace, I could already smell the stench of blood. The dagger on the table has its tip curled up, which means it has been dulled by cutting bones, right? Soldiers in the army wear out their swords like this."
He said, word by word, "Miss Yuan, you killed someone?"
The torrential rain pounded against the windows, and with a deafening roar, thunder rolled across the outside of the palace. Lightning flashed, casting dappled shadows on Yuan Chaolu's face.
"I'm giving you a chance to tell the truth, and I'll spare your life. Tell me everything that happened, from that afternoon—"
Xiao Zhuo narrowed his eyes slightly: "Were you with Pei Xi disposing of Lu Yu's body?"
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