Chapter 32 Did Xiao Zhuo have any ulterior motives towards her...?
Outside the Xuande Hall, the sky was filled with starlight.
Yuan Chaolu hurried down the steps and walked quickly along the palace path. Although she knew it was getting late, she still headed towards the palace gate.
To see the Prince of Yan, she specially wore a deep purple blouse with layers of flowing robes that perfectly accentuated her figure. However, because the hem of her skirt trailed on the ground, she had to walk very slowly. When she reached the palace gate, she found that the vermilion gate was already locked and the surroundings were desolate.
Apart from the guards on duty, there was no one else at the palace gate.
Yuan Chaolu let out a sigh of frustration and looked down at the red marks on her fingertips traced by the strings.
Despite her diligent practice of the zither, she still missed the appointed time and broke her first appointment with the Prince of Yan.
As she turned away helplessly, she heard a voice calling out from behind her: "Miss Yuan the Second".
Yuan Chaolu turned her head and saw a man emerge from the dimly lit meadow, bowing to her: "I am Ye Shu, a close bodyguard of His Highness Prince Yan."
"So it's Lord Ye."
"His Highness waited for Miss here today, but as darkness fell and the palace gates were about to close, Miss did not appear. He knew Miss must have important matters to attend to and could not come, so Miss need not feel guilty. However, His Highness has important business to attend to tomorrow morning, as he must go outside Luoyang to drill troops, and therefore cannot stay in the palace tonight to meet Miss. So he instructed me to wait here to inform Miss. As for our appointment..."
Yuan Chaolu feared that the Prince of Yan would be displeased by this, so Ye Shu relayed the message: "How about we go to the appointment with the Second Miss again tomorrow evening?"
“Of course!” Yuan Chaolu replied with a smile.
He extended the invitation for tomorrow because he was not angry with himself over the matter.
Yuan Chaolu's lips curled slightly as she walked back, her eyes lowered as she looked at the hem of her skirt, pondering which dress to wear the next day. Her figure disappeared into the moonlight, vanishing along the flower-lined palace path.
The next morning, the palace servants entered Penglai Palace with bowed backs and carefully stepped into the inner hall.
At that moment, Empress Dowager Lu was sitting in front of the mirror combing her hair, gently stroking the strands at her temples, when she heard someone report that Prince Yan and Miss Yuan had made an appointment to leave the palace the previous night.
"The second young lady of the Yuan family arranged to meet our prince at the palace gate. His prince waited from dusk until sunset, but she did not appear. I don't know what kind of airs she is putting on."
Beside the bronze mirror in front of her, a peaceful and kind face was reflected. Empress Dowager Lu remained silent, her fingertips selecting hairpins from her dressing case.
"If I remember correctly, the Prince of Yan should have stayed at the outer camp outside Luoyang yesterday. It wasn't his day off. Did he ask for leave from the army because of that woman?"
The palace maid said, "It should be so. His Highness has adjusted the night watch schedule, and in addition, His Highness has also put in a lot of effort to prepare for that second young lady..."
The palace maid whispered in the Empress Dowager's ear, then knelt down again.
The atmosphere in Penglai Palace was somber and cold that the palace maids couldn't help but bend over.
The Empress Dowager was cold and stern, and her methods were ruthless. She was not only harsh on the palace servants, but everyone in Penglai Palace had developed the ability to read people's expressions and be pleasant, for fear of losing their composure in front of the Empress Dowager.
After a long while, Empress Dowager Lu slowly rose, her wide skirt sweeping across the ground, and said, "Go and summon Lady Yuan."
"Yes." The palace maid respectfully withdrew, her robes soaked with cold sweat, and walked out of Penglai Palace.
The Empress Dowager's decree was delivered to Yuan Chaolu in the evening.
Yuan Chaolu had just finished his riding and archery class and was heading towards Penglai Palace without even changing out of his robes.
Penglai Palace is located in a cool and refreshing place, with a cool breeze passing through the palace. Even though there are no icebergs for cooling inside, it is still very cool.
After Yuan Chaolu entered, he bowed to the hanging curtains.
A gentle, feminine voice rang out: "This humble woman greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
"Come here," the Empress Dowager's voice came from inside the room.
Inside the inner palace, Empress Dowager Lu was standing by the window, trimming the flowers in the plum vase with a pair of gold scissors. Hearing someone approach, she slowly turned around and asked, "I heard you went to see the Prince of Yan yesterday?"
Before Yuan Chaolu arrived, he had already guessed this and quietly informed the Empress Dowager. The two then agreed to go together to appreciate the paintings.
In the previous incident involving Buddhist prayer beads, the Empress Dowager favored Gao Yurong, but things took a completely different turn, leading Yuan Chaolu to suspect that the Empress Dowager was secretly dissatisfied.
The Empress Dowager said, “The Prince of Yan is my son. I know his thoughts better than anyone. The reason he defended you so much before must be because you said something to him that made him feel some goodwill towards you. But you are keeping him hanging on like this, neither going up nor down. Your thoughts are too shallow and impatient.”
Yuan Chaolu said, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Empress Dowager Lu turned her gaze and said slowly, "The identity of the Prince of Yan can bring you many things you have never had before, such as the Buddhist beads that the Emperor gave you. Do you really think that the Emperor values you?"
The Empress Dowager's words were like a sharp knife, and she hardly bothered to engage in any roundabout exchanges with her.
Yuan Chaolu slowly raised her eyelids and met the Empress Dowager's gaze. Even though she knew that at this moment, she was in a lower position and the Empress Dowager was in a higher position, there were some things she should never say.
But how could she be so undignified and reprimanded to her face like this?
Yuan Chaolu spoke calmly: "Since I learned of the marriage, I have never publicized it to the outside world, nor have I used the Prince of Yan's status to elevate myself. I believe I have done nothing wrong. This marriage was decided by His Majesty. Perhaps it would be more effective for the Empress Dowager to speak to His Majesty on her own than to summon me."
These words caused the palace servants, who were standing pressed against the walls of Penglai Palace, to tremble. The Yuan family woman dared to defy the Empress Dowager in public.
The Empress Dowager seemed to have heard something amusing and smiled slightly: "Of course, the Emperor is also my son, and I will speak to him myself."
"I have summoned you here to dispel your desire to marry the Prince of Yan and to put your hopes on this matter no longer. It is not to ask you to give up your wealth and honor. In addition, I will help you find a good marriage and ensure your lifelong wealth and honor."
"You are a smart person, you should know how to choose."
Some things are better left unsaid, so the Empress Dowager raised her hand, signaling Yuan Chaolu to step down.
The footsteps faded away, but the echoes lingered in Penglai Palace for a long time.
A voice came from behind the screen beside her: "Aunt, that young lady from the Yuan family has left. May I come out now?"
Behind the screen, a graceful figure emerged, dressed in a light blue silk dress that accentuated her delicate and beautiful face, like a rare orchid in a secluded valley. She stepped forward and affectionately took the Empress Dowager's arm.
The woman who claimed to be her "niece" was none other than Lu Runlan, the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Lu Shu and the eldest son of the Lu family.
Lu Runlan gazed into the distance and said, "Is that the youngest daughter of the Yuan family? My aunt said before that her poetry, literature, and manners were not good. How did my good cousin take a liking to her?"
Despite hearing such disrespectful remarks about the Prince of Yan, Empress Dowager Lu showed no anger, but simply grasped Lu Runlan's hand in return.
There was no other reason than that the person speaking was the eldest daughter of the Lu family, and the Empress Dowager Lu's own niece.
During the late reign of the previous dynasty, the Xiao family rose to power amidst chaos and eventually unified the country. However, they went through an extremely difficult period. During this time, Lu Runlan and her brother accompanied the Empress Dowager. As a result, the Empress Dowager loved the two of them very much, as if they were her own children.
In comparison, the mother-son relationship between Empress Dowager Lu and the emperor was probably the weakest.
Lu Runlan was twenty-one years old. Before her marriage, she was a famous talented woman with a high standard. After her husband died in the war, she returned to the Lu family. The Empress Dowager intended to choose a new husband for her, but Lu Runlan had no interest in it. Most of the time, she would accompany her brother, who was on official duty, to travel around the mountains and rivers, and write poems and essays. When she returned to Luoyang, she would enter the palace and accompany the Empress Dowager every day.
Lu Runlan sighed and said, "My uncle left a will that the Prince of Yan should marry her, but Miss Yuan's poetry and books are really too poor. I think her personality is quite interesting. There are very few girls in the palace who dare to look my aunt in the eye, but she is extremely bold. It's a pity."
The Empress Dowager wasn't like this before, and she didn't know what the Yuan family girl had done to displease her aunt, which was why she summoned her and said those things. Lu Runlan didn't elaborate, but asked, "My aunt said she wanted to choose a good husband for her. Who is it?"
Empress Dowager Lu sat down in her seat, rested her head on her hand, and closed her eyes to rest. "It's Lu Yu. His marriage is still undecided."
Lu Runlan's expression changed slightly. She placed her hands on the Empress Dowager's shoulders and massaged her back. "It's Lu Yu... I'm afraid this isn't a good idea."
The "Lu Yu" mentioned by the nobleman is right here under the willow tree outside Penglai Palace.
Not long after Yuan Chaolu left Penglai Palace, she saw a young man walking towards her and they brushed past each other.
"Second Miss," the other person called out after stopping.
Yuan Chaolu then turned around and saw that the person who came was about twenty years old, beautiful, with red lips and white teeth, and had an androgynous feel. He looked very unfamiliar, but upon closer inspection, his face seemed somewhat familiar.
"I am Lu Yu, the nephew of Prime Minister Lu."
"So it's Young Master Lu." Yuan Chao smiled. When she was trying to get closer to the Prince of Yan, she had inquired about the people around him, so she had naturally heard of Lu Yu's reputation.
Lu Yu is the son of the third branch of the Lu family and the cousin of the Prince of Yan. He was born one day after the Prince of Yan and grew up together. They were once very close, but later Lu Yu became increasingly unruly in his behavior, and the two gradually drifted apart.
Two years ago, Lu Yu caused a death by bullying the weak. Later, he tried to force a minor official's daughter to become his concubine. Although the matter was dropped, it caused a great uproar. The Lu family was a family of upright officials, and this incident was a great disgrace. Lu Yu's reputation was extremely bad, and he was no longer valued by the court. He has not even received a nominal position.
After Yuan Chaolu performed the proper greetings, he took his leave.
"Second Miss, please wait. May I ask where you are going? I think it's on my way, so let's go together."
"No need to trouble you, sir. I'm going to the academy." Yuan Chaolu smiled and politely declined. It was getting late, and she still had her riding clothes on. She needed to get back to the academy as soon as possible to dress up before going to keep her appointment with the Prince of Yan.
Unexpectedly, Lu Yu followed her closely. When she mentioned that she had just finished her riding and archery lesson, he looked at her clothes with great interest and said, "So that's how it is."
"I'll go with you, Second Miss. It's the Empress Dowager's order that I take you out of the palace for a good time. You don't need to go with Luo Zhi today; would it be alright if you came with me?"
Yuan Chaolu felt quite uncomfortable under that flirtatious gaze, so she suddenly quickened her pace and walked briskly. The person behind her followed and chatted with her. Yuan Chaolu walked faster and faster, and even after going around several long corridors, she could not shake him off. It wasn't until she saw the Xuande Hall in front of her that she lifted her skirt and stepped in. The guards blocked Lu Yu at a distance, and only then did she finally get rid of him completely.
Yuan Chaolu stood quietly in the courtyard, the late summer heat hitting her face. She raised her hand and gently touched her neck, her fingertips brushing against a fine layer of sweat.
Lu Yu's actions today were clearly at the behest of the Empress Dowager.
She stood under the crabapple tree in the courtyard, wiping the fine sweat from her neck with a handkerchief, looking out into the courtyard, a coldness rising in her eyes, like a thin blade being drawn from its sheath.
Soon, footsteps could be heard outside the courtyard.
Yuan Chaolu composed herself, looked up and saw the Emperor slowly entering from outside, whispering instructions to Zhong Changjun beside her. Upon hearing this, Zhong Changjun simply nodded respectfully.
Their gazes fell on Yuan Chaolu. When the Emperor examined her, his eyes were completely different from Lu Yu's. Lu Yu's gaze was intimate, while the man before him was merely scrutinizing her clothes and appearance, his eyes clear and devoid of any lewd thoughts, which immediately relaxed Yuan Chaolu's tense heart.
"Come this way," Xiao Zhuo said calmly.
Yuan Chaolu stepped forward as instructed. When he gestured for her to turn around, she was puzzled but still spun around once.
The emperor showed a satisfied expression, "You look more dashing in riding attire than in those silk skirts and satins. After a few lessons in riding and archery, you're starting to look quite good."
As she twirled, the riding outfit clung to her body, outlining her straight back. However, her movements were noticeably somewhat awkward and restrained, as the fabric restricted her elbow movements. Just as he was about to call Zhong Changjun to have a new riding outfit made for her the next day...
Yuan Chaolu said, "Your Majesty, I would like to ask for leave today. I am quite tired. Could you please reschedule tonight's class for tomorrow? I would like to study for a few more hours tomorrow to make up for it."
Xiao Zhuo didn't speak, but looked at her for a moment and said, "What other reason do you have?"
Yuan Chaolu pursed her lips and had no choice but to tell the truth: "It is true that I made an appointment with His Highness Prince Yan. I broke my promise to His Highness yesterday because of the zither lesson. I cannot break my promise again today. May I ask Your Majesty to make an exception..."
The shadow cast by the crabapple tree obscured most of the man's face, leaving only his delicate features visible.
Yuan Chaolu noticed that the aura emanating from him was abnormal.
After a long silence, Zhong Changjun finally spoke up, breaking the silence: "Didn't His Majesty previously instruct that Prince Yan should spend more time with Miss Yuan? Miss Yuan is about to go there now."
Xiao Zhuo smiled slightly: "Go ahead."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Chaolu smiled, gave a graceful bow, turned and quickly left, her joy evident in the swaying of her skirt.
Xiao Zhuo stood beneath the tree, his expression unreadable. Zhong Changjun, standing beside him, asked, "Your Majesty?"
Zhong Changjun's timely reminder made Xiao Zhuo realize that something was wrong.
He personally arranged this marriage, so he had no reason to object.
He was acutely aware of his own hesitation and displeasure at that moment. These feelings shouldn't have been there.
As for other personal motives?
Zhong Changjun seemed to sense that the emperor was in a bad mood, but when he looked up, he saw that the emperor's face was as peaceful as ever, without the slightest fluctuation.
He was about to ask about the unfinished instructions from the emperor when the emperor stepped out from under the tree and strode toward the Xuande Hall.
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