A few days ago, Lu Hongxi saw off his second son and daughter-in-law to Luocheng. Since he had neither received an imperial edict nor any news from Luocheng, he naturally couldn't leave. Now, upon hearing the imperial summons, his heart skipped a beat. Had the northern barbarians already launched an attack?
After entering the palace, the eunuch led him straight to the Shoukang Palace. He didn't even get to see the emperor.
Lu Hongxi didn't say a word. Entering the inner chamber, he felt a pang in his heart at the sight of the empress dowager's sallow complexion. He knew that the empress dowager's end was near. He understood that everyone had to face death eventually, and the empress dowager was old. But after all, she was his aunt, and he was so reluctant to part with her.
Lu Wanning was feeding the empress dowager medicine and carefully putting candied fruits into her mouth.
The empress dowager lovingly patted Lu Wanning's hand. "Ning'er, go out and play for a while. I want to have a word with your father."
Lu Wanning got up, bowed, and withdrew. She didn't go far but just stood in the yard in a daze.
Lu Hongxi entered the palace alone. According to the palace rules, any official was not allowed to bring any attendants. Over the years, only Lu Wanning had once brought Jiyue and Xiangyun into the palace when she was a child.
At this moment, Lu Wanning looked at the eunuchs and maids waiting outside. They were not Lu Hongxi's people, so there was no way she could get more information.
Just then, a figure in fluttering robes caught her eye. Lu Wanning was stunned. It was Prince Yu standing there.
Lu Wanning walked up to Sheng Jinyu and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, have you also come to visit the empress dowager?"
Sheng Jinyu didn't answer. He just glanced at Lu Wanning and said, "Two days ago, Fu Rongli was appointed as a ninth-rank deputy official in the Ministry of Rites. He has also betrothed to the eldest daughter of the He family, and the betrothal ceremony will be held soon."
As expected, Lu Wanning's eyebrows didn't move a bit.
Sheng Jinyu continued, "Those who have hurt you haven't received their due punishment. Are you willing to let it go like this?"
Lu Wanning smiled faintly. "What can I do if I'm not willing? Since I was born, I've been the Princess Zhaoyang, the favorite granddaughter of the empress dowager. The emperor and the empress doted on me more than Princess Qin and other princesses. But what have these glories brought me? A bright pearl is just a sugar-coated shell that can be easily broken."
Sheng Jinyu's gaze was deep.
Lu Wanning added, "My father has always been focused on resisting the foreign enemies. My mother has a hot temper. Everyone says she's unforgiving, but in fact, she's the kindest person. What can I do? I can't be as ignorant as before and always trouble the empress dowager."
Sheng Jinyu chuckled. "With your family background, the Prince and Princess of Zhennan are your strong backing."
Lu Wanning pointed in the direction of the inner chamber. "My father has a great love for the world, but he doesn't understand the intrigues in the inner house."
"Do you know that Fu Rongli made a mistake during the imperial ceremony yesterday and was punished by the vice-minister of the Ministry of Rites? If he weren't a member of the Fu family and the Fu family didn't protect him on purpose, he should have been dismissed from his post."
Lu Wanning looked up in surprise. "You mean..."
Sheng Jinyu nodded. "It was your father who did it."
This was just the first step. As long as the Lu family still existed, Fu Rongli would only get worse. Not only Fu Rongli but also Fu Rongxuan and the entire Fu family would never be able to rise again.
So this was the taste of revenge.
However, all this was based on the continued power of the Lu family. If the rift in the book began and the Lu family ceased to exist, it wouldn't be Lu Wanning who would feel happy but her enemies.
The first step was to prevent the crown prince from ascending the throne.
Lu Wanning stepped closer to Sheng Jinyu and whispered, "Your Highness, Prince Yu, I know you're not an ordinary person. I... I'm willing to help you!"
Sheng Jinyu's face didn't change a bit. He still looked so nonchalant. "Are you here to test me on behalf of your cousin, the crown prince?"
The malicious smile on Lu Wanning's face was suddenly frozen by his words. She couldn't even force a smile.
Sheng Jinyu slowly raised his hand. "Sheng Chenyi's tricks are really endless."
Lu Wanning was struck like a thunderbolt. She was so angry that she roared, "Sheng Jinyu, I've known you for so long and I've always been so honest with you. Is this how you see me?"
The sneer in Sheng Jinyu's eyes faded a bit, replaced by calmness.
Lu Wanning heaved a heavy sigh, and tears welled up in her eyes. "If there were someone else, do you think I'd be willing to beg someone as cold as you? You ignore me and don't even look at me properly. You're a prince, but I'm a princess too!"
All her fears and struggles over the years burst out at this moment. She didn't know where she got the strength, but she pushed Sheng Jinyu hard. "Get out! Leave here! I don't welcome you. Don't come again. I never want to see you again!"
In no time, the news that Prince Yu had a dispute with Princess Zhaoyang in the Shoukang Palace and was scolded out of the palace by the princess spread throughout the palace. It was said that Prince Yu looked very ugly, while the princess was crying bitterly.
When the news reached the Guanjue Palace, the queen was washing her hands in flower-scented water. The maid carefully applied fragrant cream on her hands.
The queen frowned slightly. "I'm four years younger than her."
The maid flattered with a smile. "Your Majesty is in the prime of your life and as beautiful as a celestial being. Who can compare with you?"
The queen's face darkened. She waved her hand impatiently to let the maid leave. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. "We're both of the legitimate birth. She has the advantage of being the elder sister. We're real sisters. I was also very beautiful when I was young, but people only remember the eldest daughter of the He family as being extremely beautiful."
The nurse massaged the queen's forehead and whispered, "But Your Majesty is the queen, the mother of the country. After all, the princess is just a princess. The Prince of Zhennan is feared by the emperor."
The queen opened her eyes and looked at herself in the bronze mirror. She reached out to touch her face and then put her hand down, looking at her own hands. "Nurse, do you see? I'm four years younger than her, but my beauty is already gone. There are white hairs on my temples, while she has maintained herself very well and looks only in her thirties. I... only my hands are still presentable."
The nurse quickly said, "Your Majesty has too many things to worry about, so that's why."
The queen leaned back on the chair and looked at herself in the bronze mirror. The wind blew in from the window, bringing a faint fragrance of flowers.
That year, she was still young. She followed her elder sister and hid behind the screen to watch that silly man. Her elder sister was shy, but she didn't think much of him.
"Elder sister, what's so good about him? He looks so stupid. With your beauty and talent, you should find the best man in the world."
But her elder sister just smiled. "A man who can stand up to heaven and earth is the best man in the world."
She scoffed and secretly thought that she wasn't as spineless as her sister. Since she was alive, she should marry the most outstanding man and become the most noble woman.
Now, had she achieved her goal?
It seemed so, but it also seemed that there was always something she couldn't hold on to.