Chapter 87 At least His Majesty and I can remain as we were before…
The commotion inside the courtyard quickly attracted the Lu family members, who then surrounded the courtyard in circles.
The butler and guards helped Miss Lu up from the pond and laid her flat on the ground. They reached under her nose, exchanged a glance, and both knew the situation was serious.
Hearing the commotion, Madam Lu rushed over from outside the courtyard. Upon seeing this scene, her eyes immediately reddened, and she cried out in anguish, "Runlan!"
Madam Lu was trembling all over. She helped her daughter up from the ground and leaned her against her. Turning around, she asked, "Where's the doctor? Where's the doctor?"
All eyes fell on Yuan Zhaobi.
Just then, footsteps sounded from the crowd, and Young Master Lu Changli walked in. "What's going on?"
Yuan Zhaobi said, "Your Majesty, I don't know either. After I finished taking the young master's pulse, I came with my maid to give the young lady a few words of advice. Then I saw the young lady leaning against the pond, motionless. I thought she was drunk, but when I came closer, I found her drowning in the water, already lifeless..."
Lu Changli stared at the pale face of the person at his feet, his gaze stung, and his hands, hanging by his sides, trembled slightly.
The butler asked, "Was Lord Qingheng the last person to see the young lady?"
Lu Changli turned to look at her, "When you saw her, she was already like this?"
Yuan Zhaobi, knowing he could not escape suspicion, said, "When I rescued the Second Miss from the pond, her face was pressed against the puddle, and her appearance and eyes were consistent with suffocation. She was clearly drunk and unconscious, which led to this tragedy..."
Lu Changli was about to press for more information when he was interrupted by Madam Lu's heart-wrenching sobs, "My Lan'er... Lan'er..."
Madam Lu was overcome with grief and was about to collapse backward when the servants rushed to her aid.
The scene descended into chaos once again.
Taking the opportunity, Yuan Zhaobi stepped back and blended into the panicked crowd.
At the same time, the Imperial Medical Bureau also sent a message urgently summoning Physician Qingheng to the palace to examine the pulse.
As the first person to discover the body, the Lu family naturally did not want her to leave before the investigation was over, but they had no choice but to obey the imperial decree.
A moment later, Yuan Zhaobi boarded the carriage for the return journey and drove safely towards the palace.
**
Penglai Palace.
The setting sun shone through the window, like a wild beast opening its blood-red maw, ready to devour the entire Penglai Palace.
Inside the hall, a figure sat on the throne in the dim light, his body trembling incessantly, hunched over and weakly leaning against the armrest, with Buddhist prayer beads scattered on the floor at his feet.
In her drooping palm, she held a piece of paper, its writing stained with mottled teardrops, some dried and some fresh.
The palace maid was stunned by the Empress Dowager's bloodshot eyes and dared not step forward, but then she heard her cold voice echo in the hall.
"Dare to scheme against Runlan's marriage, deceive my daughter... niece, imprison her and drive her to her death, I will give anything... to make him pay for this in blood!"
"A life for a life!"
His tone was chilling, carrying an icy edge that sent shivers down one's spine.
**
With Empress Dowager Lu's birthday approaching, the capital was filled with a joyful atmosphere. However, the news of the sudden death of Lu Runlan, the eldest daughter of the Lu family, caused the atmosphere to turn sour.
Lu Runlan and her brother were the Empress Dowager's two beloved nephews. This was undoubtedly a huge blow to Empress Dowager Lu.
The day after the incident, the Empress went to the Xuande Hall to pay her respects to the Emperor after the morning court session, and then accompanied him to the Penglai Palace to visit the Empress Dowager.
"Your Majesty, tomorrow is your birthday. Your son wishes Your Majesty a long and happy life." The Empress's gentle voice rang out in the hall.
Yuan Chaolu bowed gracefully to the figure. Although she had a premonition, she was still stunned when she saw the tired and indifferent eyes.
Empress Dowager Lu used to be always graceful, with every gesture exuding the elegance of a noblewoman. But today, she rarely showed such a tired expression.
His eyes barely concealed his self-loathing.
Just like Lu Runlan's death, it drained all the vitality from her, and made her too lazy to pretend anymore.
As expected, Lu Runlan was Empress Dowager Lu's Achilles' heel.
Yesterday, Yuan Zhaobi returned to the palace. The first person she saw was not Yuan Chaolu, but she went straight to Penglai Palace. She presented the Empress Dowager with a letter written by Lu Runlan and recounted the events surrounding Miss Lu's death in detail.
When Qingheng went to the Lu family in the past, the eldest daughter of the Lu family begged Qingheng several times to convey a message to the Empress Dowager on her behalf. However, Lu Changli approached step by step, and Qingheng, like everyone else in the Lu family, dared not risk her life in the face of his power. She could only watch as the eldest daughter silently endured her pain.
But today, when she went to the Lu residence, she saw the eldest young lady arguing with Lord Lu. Not long after, the eldest young lady was drinking alone by the pond.
When Qingheng finished taking the pulse, after much hesitation, she wanted to see the young lady one last time and agreed to pass on her message, but the young lady had already passed away.
This letter slipped from the young lady's sleeve and fell to the ground.
After Qingheng picked it up and read it, her heart was filled with turbulent emotions. She dared not hide it. Although the Lu family tried to stop her from leaving several times, she still went to the palace and presented it immediately.
Every word on it was soaked in blood and tears, lamenting that she was imprisoned and unable to see the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager threatened her with the fact that she had murdered her husband, making her live in constant fear and also harboring murderous intentions towards her.
How could Empress Dowager Lu not recognize Lu Runlan's handwriting?
That letter was extremely crucial, and it was Yuan Chaolu who demanded that her elder sister obtain it from Lu Runlan.
Yuan Chaolu stepped forward, took out a piece of paper from her sleeve, and slowly unfolded it. "Your Majesty, I have come to discuss the arrangements for tomorrow's birthday celebration with you. Is that alright with you?"
Seeing that Empress Dowager Lu did not answer, Yuan Chaolu began to read aloud to herself, “Tomorrow morning, all the officials will meet with the Empress Dowager in Zhaoyang Palace to celebrate her birthday. After the palace banquet in the afternoon, the ladies of the court will come to pay their respects one by one. In the evening, the Empress Dowager will move to Jingming Temple outside the palace.”
Yuan Chaolu paused deliberately, "Jingming Temple has taken a long time to build. It was constructed under the supervision of Lord Lu by imperial decree to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday. Tomorrow is also the grand opening ceremony. Your Majesty and I have discussed inviting Mother to ascend the Buddha Hall first. I wonder what Mother's opinion is?"
She saw that when Empress Dowager Lu heard the words "Lord Lu," her gaze suddenly sharpened, but she remained silent.
At this moment, Xiao Zhuo asked, "What does Mother Empress think?"
Empress Dowager Lu then came to her senses and nodded reluctantly.
Yuan Chaolu spoke up to defuse the situation for her, turning back with a slight smile, but the emperor's expression remained indifferent, showing no reaction whatsoever.
"Your Majesty, Lord Lu requests an audience outside Penglai Palace." A palace servant arrived at this moment.
Empress Dowager Lu slowly straightened up, staring intently at the outside of the hall, then looked at Yuan Chaolu, "His Majesty and the Empress are still here, tell him to return first..."
Just as Yuan Chaolu was about to say "No need," the emperor beside her said first, "The Empress Dowager must be anxious about Runlan's matter. Let's see him first."
The emperor and empress retreated behind the curtain.
Xiao Zhuo entered and sat down at the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and looked up.
Yuan Chaolu looked into his eyes, sat down beside the table, and then said, "Yesterday at the Lu residence, it was Qingheng who first discovered that Runlan had stopped breathing?"
This was the first time he had taken the initiative to ask a question since returning from Chanxu Temple.
Her husband, as a politician, was inherently suspicious and overly perceptive.
Upon hearing these words, Yuan Chaolu immediately felt a chill run down her spine and became wary.
She shook her head and sighed, "Yes, Lu Changli always summons her to take his pulse. I can't understand it either. In terms of ability, Qingheng is no different from other doctors. She is also helpless with Lu Changli's hand ailment. So why does Lu Changli always seem to seek her out?"
“Your Majesty,” she pushed the empty teacup toward him, her eyes brimming with tears, “why do you think that is?”
The strangest thing about this is Lu Changli's unusual behavior. He was the one who took the initiative to summon Qingheng to the Lu residence several times. How could Qingheng be blamed? But I'm afraid Lu Changli himself can't explain why.
Xiao Zhuo took her empty teacup, and before Yuan Chaolu could speak, he filled it with tea and handed it back.
Yuan Chaolu smiled and accepted it, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Soon, footsteps sounded outside the hall, and Lu Changli entered the hall.
Empress Dowager Lu's voice was hoarse, "You dare to come and see me?"
"It is my fault for failing to protect my sister. I have come today to beg for forgiveness. I beg my aunt to forgive my sins!"
"How will you plead guilty?" Empress Dowager Lu's voice was so hoarse it was almost unrecognizable. "You killed Runlan, didn't you?"
"No, no, it's true that I failed to take good care of Runlan, but..."
"Enough!" Empress Dowager Lu interrupted. "You hate that Runlan knows what you did in Jiangnan, so you imprisoned her and have long wanted to kill her so that she can never tell you what you did!"
"Even now, you still refuse to tell the truth!"
Empress Dowager Lu was furious. She snatched the tray from the palace maid and threw it into the hall. Lu Changli did not dodge and let it hit his shoulder. The sound of the bronze tray hitting the ground echoed.
In the deathly silence, Lu Changli slowly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot as he looked up at the person above.
On Empress Dowager Lu's gaunt face, there was not a trace of warmth, only intense hatred.
Lu Changli felt his blood rushing to his head, and he could no longer suppress his emotions: "For Runlan's sake, you disregarded the facts and accused me, but I am also your nephew. Don't you think I was raised by you?"
"I only regret that I cannot devour your flesh raw! You beast!"
He froze, his chest heaving, and as if using all his strength, he tilted his head back and said, word by word, "There's something I've always wanted to tell you. Actually, I shouldn't call you aunt, I..."
Lu Changli stopped speaking abruptly, his gaze falling on the swaying curtain to one side. He saw a hand lift the curtain from behind, and the Empress was standing behind it, smiling as she looked at him.
He swallowed his words, stood up, and said, "I know I cannot ask my aunt for forgiveness. Tomorrow is your birthday, so I will first properly celebrate with you. Have you seen the pagoda at Jingming Temple yet? I..."
Empress Dowager Lu said, "I do not wish to see that pagoda, nor am I willing to set foot on it!"
Lu Changli stood stiffly as he watched the Empress Dowager walk into the hall with a flick of her sleeve. He got up to follow, but the palace servants blocked him from entering.
Lu Changli stood there for a long time, seemingly finally calming down, and then smiled and said, "Aunt, I assure you, you will like Jingming Temple when you see it."
**
When the emperor and empress left Penglai Palace, the sky was overcast and seemed about to rain.
Yuan Chaolu raised her head and looked at the dark clouds gathering at the horizon.
Upon learning of Lu Runlan's death yesterday, the Empress Dowager almost immediately decided to take action, frequently summoning her trusted subordinates, seemingly unable to tolerate Lu Changli for even a moment longer.
But how Empress Dowager Lu planned to act was something she couldn't figure out for the time being.
Perhaps she was too distracted, which caught the emperor's attention.
"What is the Empress thinking?"
Yuan Chaolu snapped out of her daze and saw him stop. "The Xuande Hall is just ahead. Empress, you should go back."
Yuan Chaolu's hand, which had just been about to take his arm, fell back to her side because of these words.
Xiao Zhuo smiled and said, "Tomorrow is the Empress Dowager's birthday, which is being hosted by the Empress. I hope everything goes smoothly at the banquet."
"Of course." She really wanted to tear off the emperor's fake mask and see what kind of thoughts were hidden in his black heart.
But she still raised her head, a smile playing in her eyes, "However, whether it goes smoothly or not ultimately depends on His Majesty. At least in front of outsiders, His Majesty and I will appear as intimate as before, right?"
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Author's Note: After completing this part of the story, we'll move on to the romance section~
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