Since the passing of the Empress Dowager, the Zhou family has declined day by day.
Not only did the salt permit business, which was the main source of income, disappear, but several members of the Zhou family who had served as officials in charge of salt administration were also purged.
They watched helplessly as their savings dwindled and their fortunes waned.
They hated Empress Zhang for her machinations, but they were helpless and had to swallow their anger.
Unexpectedly, the emperor actually visited the Zhou family today.
This is a golden opportunity to turn things around and get out of trouble!
Through the openwork screen, Su Wanwan watched her great-grandfather and maternal grandfather, their backs hunched, one pouring wine for Lu Xingjian, the other handing him a porcelain dish with a damp cloth.
I feel terrible.
The two loving elders did not straighten their backs once Lu Xingjian entered the room, and their expressions showed no sign of disrespect.
Everyone else in the room remained silent, not daring to even cough.
It was a world of difference compared to the previous laughter and joy.
Strictly speaking, according to seniority, Lu Xingjian should call them "Great-Uncle" and Su Wanwan "Cousin".
It's just that there are different social statuses, high and low.
In the face of absolute power, seniority really means nothing.
Zhou An raised his wine cup, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister toasts you."
After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.
Because he drank too quickly, he choked and coughed, but dared not cough it out and lose face, his old face instantly turning red.
Lu Xingjian simply sat there leisurely and elegantly, not even glancing at his wine glass. After listening to their requests, he said calmly:
"I have approved your previous memorial."
Zhou An and Zhou Hua were so excited that their faces were flushed; this was truly an unexpected delight.
It went so smoothly!
How could the Emperor be so easy to talk to?
We'll grant your every request!
The great-grandmother and Madam Chen on the women's side also smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.
Su Wanwan lowered her eyes, concealing the loneliness and torment within them.
What should have been a warm and harmonious gathering of family members was transformed into a power struggle with a clear hierarchy of status by his arrival.
She didn't want to see such a servile situation again.
She wanted to leave the capital and return to Nanjing to live her free and easy life!
Lu Xingjian's gaze fell on her through the openwork screen.
Su Wanwan felt uneasy and shrank back, hiding herself behind Zhou Wanxiu.
Zhou An followed Lu Xingjian's gaze and saw Zhou Wanxiu. A meaningful look flashed in his eyes.
It turns out the emperor's true intentions were not what they seemed.
They've taken a liking to our Wanxiu.
The older sister had tried to arrange for Wanxiu to become his crown princess, but in the end, it failed, and the impoverished Xia family benefited instead.
Wanxiu got nothing, and now at nineteen, she still refuses to get married, spending her days hiding at home crying.
Now things have turned around, and I've caught the Emperor's eye!
Lu Xingjian did not pick up his chopsticks from beginning to end.
Faced with a table full of delicious food, no one dared to touch their chopsticks.
Zhou An felt extremely heavy-hearted.
The fact that the emperor neither ate nor drank at the banquet clearly indicates that he had very limited trust in the Zhou family.
After all, several generations had passed, so it was understandable that the emperor and the Zhou family had become estranged.
If Wanxiu could marry into the palace and give birth to a prince, the Zhou family would be able to rise again.
Su Wanwan couldn't help but yawn.
She doesn't drink much, and she's so sleepy she can barely stay awake; her eyelids are drooping.
Lu Xingjian's gaze swept over her, paused slightly on her, and then withdrew it, saying calmly, "Return to the palace."
Zhou An quickly saw Lu Xingjian off at the door and called Zhou Wanxiu to his side: "Wanxiu, come quickly and see the Emperor off at the residence."
Su Wanwan followed far behind Madam Chen, clinging to the old woman's arm and acting coquettishly:
"Grandma, I want to sleep with you tonight..."
Madam Chen patted her hand affectionately, glancing at her sideways and scoldingly:
“Who stays out overnight after getting married? It’s easy to cause trouble. You should go home and rest. You can come to see your grandmother tomorrow.”
The group left the Qingyun Marquis's residence in a grand procession, with Lu Xingjian being escorted away.
Su Wanwan then rode away in her own carriage, and fell asleep as soon as she got in.
In a daze, I had many bizarre and fantastical dreams.
Sometimes, she and Lu Xingjian would be locked in a passionate embrace, their breaths ragged and their sweat mingling, and he would whisper tenderly in her ear, "Wanwan, Wanwan."
Sometimes it was a scene of utter devastation; she would climb ashore from the river, soaking wet, with flames illuminating the night sky behind her.
The crackling of burning, the deafening crash of a burning mast collapsing, the roar of the river crashing against the shore, along with cries for help and the sounds of swords clashing, all mingled together with the fine rain and the dark night, weaving a tight, impenetrable net.
Lu Xingjian led Xia Xueyi by the hand and walked towards her.
She struggled to call for help, crawling over to grab Lu Xingjian's feet.
He looked down at her with hatred on his face: "How come you're still alive?!" Then he kicked her hard.
She was kicked back into the river.
The icy river water poured into her mouth and nose, choking her and causing a sharp pain in her chest; she felt like she was suffocating.
His body kept sinking to the bottom of the water.
She fearfully reached her hand towards the water.
She can't die; she wants to live.
She wanted to live a good life.
He ignored her, instead holding Xia Xueyi in his arms and gently comforting her, coldly watching her struggle helplessly, "You have only yourself to blame."
These words seemed to drain all her strength.
She opened her eyes in despair, gave up struggling, and let the waves swallow her up...
My face is itchy.
Su Wanwan raised her hand to wipe her face, but bumped into a hand with distinct knuckles.
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