mtl008 Chapter 117 Raising a Good Daughter
Chapter 117 Raising a Good Daughter
The news that Lu Mingzhu had been sent back to the palace quickly spread throughout the imperial palace.
The concubines in the palace were all talking about it, speculating about how Consort Lu had displeased His Majesty this time.
Unfortunately, no matter how they inquired, they could not get the answer they wanted.
Except for one person.
The accompanying officials temporarily stayed at the Songhe Pavilion, which was filled with a faint sandalwood fragrance. An antique carved sandalwood table was quietly placed in the center of the room.
On the table was an antique inkstone and several secret letters sent by spies. The letters described the events of the previous day in great detail, including how Pei Yuanling went straight to Xingyue Palace after being drugged, drove everyone out, and spent the night in passion.
Lu Zhiheng was dressed in a navy blue casual suit with cloud patterns on the cuffs and embroidered pine and cypress trees in green lines on the chest.
Wearing a palace sash around her waist, a hollowed-out koi-shaped jade pendant hangs from it, subtly implying the idea of a fish leaping over the dragon gate.
His expression was solemn, his gaze fixed on the secret letter, deep and cold, exuding a murderous aura.
"Your Majesty, the Third Miss was demoted to the rank of Baolin and sent back to the palace early this morning. Some of the Rejuvenation Pills that Her Majesty the Empress collected are still hidden in her palace. Should we order someone to find them?"
Ling Xiao's expression was solemn. No matter how unfavored Lu Mingzhu was, she was still a girl from the Lu family. His Majesty's act of sending her back without any regard for feelings was tantamount to slapping the Lu family in the face.
But judging from his master's expression, he didn't seem to be worried about this matter.
"Did His Majesty really stay in Consort Qiao's palace all night without sleeping?"
Lu Zhiheng's sword-like eyebrows furrowed, his handsome face revealing a hint of coldness, his fists clenched tightly under his sleeves, veins bulging slightly.
Upon hearing this, Ling Xiao was stunned for a moment. It turned out that his master had not listened to a single word of what he had just said.
The atmosphere inside the Pine and Crane Pavilion froze for a moment, with wisps of sandalwood incense wafting in the air, and the incessant chirping of cicadas outside the windows was quite disturbing.
As Lu Zhiheng's close subordinate, how could Ling Xiao not see through his master's thoughts?
However... coveting the emperor's concubines is a heinous crime!
"My lord, are you paying too much attention to that Consort Qiao?" Ling Xiao raised his eyes to examine the other party's expression, carefully choosing his words.
The current situation is complex, with the inner palace and the court intricately intertwined, where a single move could have far-reaching consequences. However, the entire Lu family currently only has Lu Mingzhu in the inner palace, but she is a fool who cannot provide any assistance.
Lu Zhiheng had long ago told his ambitious but incompetent and ignorant third uncle that Lu Mingzhu was not suitable to enter the palace, and that if she caused a great disaster, it would only implicate the entire clan.
"However, the fact that Consort Qiao can still captivate His Majesty under such circumstances suggests that, besides bearing some resemblance to the late Consort, she must possess some unknown extraordinary qualities. If she could be of use to His Majesty, perhaps..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ling Xiao received a cold and sharp glare.
He immediately shut his mouth, embarrassed: "Your subordinate misspoke..."
Lu Zhiheng pursed his thin lips. Qiao Qingyin was the eldest daughter of Minister Qiao Gongquan, and Minister Qiao was an ally of his. Qiao Qingyin was currently enjoying great favor, making her the perfect candidate for his alliance.
However, for some personal reasons, Lu Zhiheng did not want her to get involved in these court intrigues.
Moreover, after spending these days together, he could clearly sense the unfounded malice that Consort Qiao harbored towards him.
It seemed to be a deep-seated disgust.
He had sensed something from their first meeting, but he never understood why.
"This matter must not be mentioned again."
After saying this, Lu Zhiheng turned and left.
After all, Lu Mingzhu was sent back to the palace for no reason, so his nominal elder brother naturally had to "find out" the situation.
***
In the sweltering summer, it was customary for emperors to bring their concubines and officials to the Western Hills Summer Palace for respite from the heat. The entire palace was divided into inner and outer courtyards. The inner courtyard housed the residences of the concubines, while the outer courtyard served as the residences for officials and their families, complete with numerous smaller courtyards. In addition, there was a Songhe Pavilion for handling official business.
The palaces throughout the imperial palace were connected by paths made of bluestone bricks or cobblestones, with artificial hills and overlapping corridors. Many willows were planted along the roads, their dense, drooping branches dispelling much of the summer heat.
Unfortunately, the cicadas' chirping was so annoying that maids and eunuchs who were specifically tasked with catching cicadas were seen moving around the garden.
Lu Zhiheng went straight to the Emperor's Chen'an Palace.
Even when the maids saw him from afar, they dared not approach. They simply bowed respectfully from a distance. It was obvious why Chief Minister Lu was in such a hurry, heading straight for Chen'an Palace without being summoned.
His navy blue casual clothes fluttered in the wind as he walked, and the cloud patterns on the cuffs seemed to be somewhat disheveled by his rapid steps.
Upon arriving at the entrance of Chen'an Palace, the guards, upon seeing that it was Lu Zhiheng, hesitated but dared not stop him, for everyone knew of the Grand Secretary's power in the court.
Lu Zhiheng stepped straight into the palace, his imposing presence seemingly overwhelming the entire palace.
The main hall was luxuriously and grandly decorated. Several of the main pillars were carved with dragon reliefs and adorned with gold paint. The workmanship and decoration were no different from those in the palace. There were four large ice chests in the hall, and maids stood on one side to fan the air, which made the temperature inside the room much lower.
At this moment, Pei Yuanling was sitting at his desk, holding a memorial in his hand. Apart from most of the memorial concerning state affairs, there was also a small part impeaching Consort Qiao for being arrogant and domineering towards the emperor.
Another issue was the lack of royal offspring, with the royal family pleading with him, the emperor, to bestow their favors equally, which only made Pei Yuanling more agitated.
Upon hearing that Lu Zhiheng was hurriedly requesting an audience outside, the emperor was not angry. He merely raised an eyebrow slightly, put down the book in his hand, and ordered Chen Zhongliang to invite the man in.
Upon seeing the visitor, he merely asked indifferently, "Minister Lu, what brings you to this audience in such haste?"
Asking a question you already know the answer to.
Lu Zhiheng stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and then spoke directly: "Your Majesty, I have come here today to discuss the matter of my cousin. I wonder what she has done to anger Your Majesty so much that you have sent her back to the palace overnight?"
Lu Zhiheng got straight to the point, and Pei Yuanling didn't beat around the bush either, "Since you asked, then I won't hide it from you."
He succinctly recounted yesterday's events, then slammed the memorial he was holding heavily onto the table with a thud, letting out a cold laugh—
"The Lu family is truly remarkable, raising such a daughter who dares to commit such a disrespectful act within the palace. Or perhaps I have relied too heavily on Minister Lu, causing her to no longer respect me, the emperor?"