Scharlachroter Regen überflutet die Stadt

Kapitel 48

Liu Shang responded and got up to leave the bedroom. He heard her voice outside the door, "Greetings, Your Highness."

"Has the Princess woken up?" Lu Li's voice was a little hoarse, perhaps because he hadn't had a proper rest for several days.

"Your Highness, she just woke up. Now, let me carry the little princess over."

"Go ahead. Wrap the child up warmly, so they don't catch a cold."

"yes."

The door was slowly pushed open, and gray boots lightly stepped on the ground as the dark figure gradually approached.

I struggled to sit up.

"Just lie down," he replied softly.

"Is your sister... alright?" I asked.

He didn't answer, but just said to himself, "You'll only be happy when you scare me to death."

"I don't remember what happened. I was in so much pain that I lost all feeling and just wanted to sleep and never wake up again."

"Your Highness, Your Majesty, the little princess has been brought here." Liu Shang's voice rang out from outside the door.

I shuddered, my eyes fixed on Liu Shang as she approached, the tiny swaddled baby in her arms. Suddenly, a wave of emotion washed over me—a sense of pride and relief as a mother.

My eyes gradually welled up with tears. That was my daughter; it was her cries that brought me back...

Lu Li gently took the child into his arms. Although he was the father of two children before, I knew he had never held them. This time, however, I saw him carefully and somewhat clumsily hold the child in his arms, and a smile that had not been seen for a long time finally appeared on his lips.

“My hands were trembling when I held her yesterday, but it felt much more natural to hold her today.” He looked proud, his eyes filled with satisfaction and joy… I suddenly remembered a few months ago, late at night, when he held me in his arms with the same look in his eyes.

“Zhi’er, is that your name…” Lu Li actually laughed out loud, which surprised Liu Shang, who was standing to the side. I was startled; how did he know the name I had chosen?

"Does that mean you agree to this name, sir?" I asked tentatively.

He continued to smile, unconcerned by my surprise. "Zhi'er... is a good name. There's no need to ask the Emperor. I, as the father, will make the decision for you. Lu Zhi, that's the name."

Lu Li simply held the child's small hand to his lips and gently sucked on it, his careful manner utterly comical...

The lingering resentment she had harbored for days vanished instantly because of the arrival of her child and his affection for his offspring.

I smiled softly...

"Zhi'er... Zhi'er... our... Zhi'er." He murmured softly, his eyes gradually reddening, yet he still wore a faint, contented smile.

His smiling face suddenly froze, and he looked at me hesitantly. "Your Highness, let's give this child to Lanruo."

I trembled and couldn't speak for a long time.

He gave me a deep look, his voice low and indifferent, "Early this morning, the Emperor issued an edict saying that Lanruo might be infertile because of this incident, and therefore ordered me to take care of Zhi'er..."

My heart is clenching with pain; it really is so.

I held back my tears, one drop at a time, my throat choked so hard I couldn't make a sound.

Lu Li kept looking at me, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

“Liu Shang—” I finally called out, “I’ve brought the little things I prepared earlier from my side hall. Now, let’s send the little princess there.”

He gritted his teeth and endured the pain.

“No need to rush—” Lu Li interjected, but I stopped him.

"Grandpa—do you think I can bear to let her leave after seeing the child?" I couldn't hold back any longer, and tears dripped onto the sheets as I stared intently at him.

He waved his hand, signaling Liu Shang to take the child and leave.

In the warm room, it was just him and me.

His voice was soft, yet tinged with an unspeakable helplessness, "Your Highness, the child... is ultimately yours. We will have many more..."

Will there be more? I laughed coldly, looking at him with a sneer, "Your Highness, I was halfway on the road to the Yellow Springs... it was this child's crying that brought me back."

He pulled me to his chest, and I leaned against him gently, finally bursting into uncontrollable sobs... hysterical weeping...

My beloved... never stayed in my arms for a moment... I never saw her face...

And so, our mother-daughter relationship ended abruptly in this way; I became that woman's child...

Could it be that... my fate with her is only a shallow ten-month pregnancy?

Your Majesty, I have already promised you, and you should know that my days are numbered, yet you still refuse to grant me the short time I have to spend with my children. Is this your punishment for the Rong family and for me?

Chapter 41, the final chapter of Volume One—Cause and Effect, Death and Separation

It was the coldest day of the twelfth lunar month, but the sunshine was a joy to behold.

As I walked into the south courtyard, I heard babbling cries coming from inside. I went in, and the wet nurse brought out Zhi'er. I turned my head away, not because I didn't want to look, but because I dared not. Liu Shang gestured for the wet nurse to take the child out.

Only Lanruo and I remained in the room.

I gazed quietly at Lan Ruo and spoke calmly, “There are three sets of account books in this mansion. One is with the steward, and two are with me. I've hidden one behind the third drawer in the study, and the other is in the wardrobe in the main room. Half of the key to the warehouse is with the steward, and you can find the other half by asking Liu Shang for my embroidery box. Every time the palace rewards come in, they must be recorded. The prince's salary and rewards are recorded separately. Every three months, the servants and maids in the mansion receive a quarterly reward. The older women, in addition to their rewards, receive an extra monthly allowance from the prince's salary, just like the custom recorded in the accounts. The coachmen and sedan chair bearers are paid monthly; they have to support their families.”

Lan Ruo panicked and hurriedly shook her head, "Your Majesty, I can't do this. You've taken care of everything. Please tell me what to do."

I smiled and said, "I have my reasons for telling you this; just remember them."

I got up to leave, but stopped and took out the white silk from my sleeve, handing it over. "This is yours... I'll return it to you."

Lan Ruo was taken aback, looking at me with some panic, and refused to reach out to take it.

I smiled wearily. "Your mother came here precisely to let me know about all this complicated mess. I knew perfectly well I was just pretending not to understand, not because I was playing mind games, but because I was tired, truly weary. Now, I'm returning this handkerchief to you, and this man, I'm returning him to you too... If you truly feel guilty, make it up to the children..."

Before Lanruo could react, I turned and stepped out of the threshold, walking out of the south courtyard. The sun was still shining brightly. I knew... my days were numbered...

I personally escorted Lu Li out of the mansion. Standing at the gate, I tiptoed and reached out to tighten his long robe.

He pulled my hand from my shoulder and held it in his own to warm it. "Look how cold your hands are. You're not fully recovered yet. Why did you insist on coming out to see me off? I just need to check a few accounts at the Ministry of Revenue. I'll be back soon after reporting to the Emperor. Leave me some food."

"What should we eat?" I smiled at him. "How long has it been since you had a proper hot meal at home? How about I show off my cooking skills?"

"That's good, that's fine." He smiled calmly. "But not in the next few days. Your health is the most important thing right now. There will be other opportunities later. Just ask the kitchen to make something simple. No need to make anything special. If I'm late, I'll eat it first. No need to wait."

Seeing that he was suddenly about to leave, I quickly grabbed his sleeve and wouldn't let go no matter what.

He laughed. "What's wrong with you today? I'm just going to the palace."

"Yeah." I smiled too. But it was a weak laugh. "What's wrong with me today?"

As she spoke, she gently pulled him close and embraced him, disregarding the servants present. Right there at the gate, she held him tightly, her head pressed against his chest, tears quickly streaming down her face, landing on his clothes. After a long while, she forced a smile, raised her head, and looked at him, saying, "Let's go..."

I said I was going to push him away, but he tightened his grip on me and teased me softly, "I really have to go... otherwise, if I don't get my salary this month, what will I use to play cards with Fourth Sister and the others?"

I nodded, and he turned and left.

As the coachman lowered the curtain, his figure was obscured. I stepped forward, and the coachman cracked his whip, suddenly lifting the curtain. Lu Li held the curtain open with one hand, looking at me with slight concern. He seemed to sense that something was wrong with me, but he didn't know what it was.

"Master, it's time to go," Xiao Si urged.

Lu Li nodded slightly, but his gaze remained on me. He smiled at me and said, "I'll only go once and then come right back."

The curtain was lowered, and the carriage sped away.

Something seemed to stir within me. For the first time, I didn't want to think about anything else; I just wanted to spend the rest of my life with this one person.

She looked in the mirror as she did her hair and makeup, and saw Liu Shang busily tidying up in the mirror.

"What, are you moving some things?" I asked.

“When you were a concubine, the prince came and asked us to move our things back to the main house. It must be because the prince was lonely living alone in the empty house, so he came to invite you back in person.”

"No need to move it yet," I instructed.

"Why?"

Why? Because soon, the main house will also be moving in the new master's things.

I didn't respond, but just said, "I've prepared a few dishes in the small kitchen, and they're simmering. Your Highness is back, so please eat first."

Liu Shang looked at my attire and asked, "Are you going to the palace?"

"Go and say hello," I replied.

"I'll stay with you, Master."

"No need, I just wanted to say hello. It's freezing cold, wouldn't you freeze if you just stood there like an idiot at the palace gate?"

As I walked to the door, I heard Liu Shang mutter to himself, "Everything's strange today. The little princess is crying her eyes out, and even the little prince, who doesn't like to cry, is crying too."

The Emperor did not make me wait long in the outer hall before summoning me.

When I saw him again, I realized that he wasn't seriously ill, but he had lost a lot of weight.

"Has everything that needed to be done been done?" The Emperor turned to look at me solemnly.

I nodded.

Do you... feel hatred in your heart?

I gave a mocking laugh. "Yeah, what good is hatred?"

I choked him, and he turned around to look at me, his face showing no anger whatsoever.

"You said... would Zhi'er look more like me or her father? I hope she looks like Lu Li, because I have a face that suggests meager fortune."

The Emperor shuddered, opened his eyes and looked at me, his eyes red-rimmed. "I will raise that child well, and I will make sure she lives a carefree life, enjoying all the love and pampering she deserves."

“I don’t think so.” I tried to picture the child’s appearance in my mind, but found my mind blank. “I just wish for the child to be safe and sound.”

The emperor waved his hand, and an old eunuch entered, placed a teacup on the table without looking up, and left.

The Emperor reached out and picked up the cup, examining it closely. He seemed lost in memories, and his voice became faint. "Back then, your father brought a cup of wine just like this to my brother, Crown Prince Yanlun, to persuade him to surrender."

The Emperor's smile was desolate. "Brother Pingran, did you ever imagine that many years later, his daughter would also have to face such a cup of wine?"

When I heard the Emperor call out my father's name, I couldn't help but tremble.

"The seventh son is nothing like me, because he is not my son."

My grip on the wine glass tightened, and I was so surprised that I couldn't utter a sound.

“Your father doesn’t know, the Empress doesn’t know, the seventh and fourth princes don’t know, only Consort Ding and I know the truth. I once offered my woman to my brother for my own selfish desires, and she even bore him a child. I never thought that she would be his only surviving offspring.”

In that instant, I understood: Lu Li was the posthumous son of Crown Prince Yanlun, the only legitimate heir of the royal family. I understood Consort Ding's profound realization, I understood the Crown Prince's fate of being deposed, and I understood even more clearly that I could not stay by his side. My relationship with him was never a perfect match, but a tragic fate born of a power struggle, a truly tragic fate.

“Your father killed my brother, I usurped my brother’s throne, I killed the murderer’s daughter in my brother’s place, and then returned the throne to his son. That way, no one owes anything.”

I took the cup; the wine inside was still warm. I smiled calmly. "Your Majesty, you are wrong. You are the murderer. Your lust for power forced you to murder your brother and usurp the throne. You tacitly approved of your father's coup, tacitly approved of his defying the world. When it was time to abdicate, for the sake of your own reputation, you staged a self-inflicted injury, executed the so-called murderer, and then staged another self-inflicted injury to return the throne to a worthy successor. Brilliant, truly brilliant. In the end, Your Majesty is the one who profited."