Чистая вода и прекрасные горы

Глава 18

Lu Li listened calmly, without saying a word.

I smiled and said, "Actually, you only married me for this dazzling status, because I have a powerful and influential father, the Prince of Huainan, who enjoys the Emperor's favor. You need such a prominent father-in-law to establish yourself among the princes, don't you? And our Rong family just happens to need to win over a prince who can consolidate our family's power in the court... So you married me, and I married you. We both satisfied each other, but... is it really satisfactory? Are there really no complaints?"

Lu Li smiled faintly and uttered softly, "What's wrong with you today?"

"I need to settle in now. Aren't you going back to your study, sir?" I asked cautiously.

Lu Li stood up. "Yes, let's go."

She stopped abruptly in front of the inner chamber curtain, her voice hesitant, "I heard from the Prince of Huai's residence..."

My heart was in my throat, terrified that he would utter another word.

Lu Li glanced at me indifferently, clenched his fist slightly, and ultimately said nothing. He lifted the curtain and stepped out.

Only when he heard the door to the outer room being pushed open and the footsteps growing farther and farther away did he slump down on the edge of the bed, feeling utterly exhausted.

Thankfully, he didn't say those two words, those two words that would have instantly broken me...

That name that I often whisper a thousand times in my dreams with tears streaming down my face... Xiao Xuan...

Chapter Seventeen: Assassination in the Hunting Grounds

I had just finished my breakfast when my fourth and sixth sisters-in-law hurriedly dragged me into the palace.

I was isolated in the west warm room of Yuxiufang, where three nannies whom my fourth sister-in-law absolutely trusted taught me from the very basics.

After half a day, I had many needle marks on my fingertips before I could finish a half-finished product.

Seeing the smiling faces of my fourth and sixth sisters-in-law, who seemed so promising, I felt a little relieved.

As evening approached, I walked out of the embroidery room, rubbing my sore shoulders.

My fourth sister-in-law asked me, "The ladies held a tea party today, and I have to go and drop by. Do you want to come with me?"

"Since we're here, let's go," I replied.

My sixth sister-in-law, still worried, reminded me, "Remember this: listen more and talk less."

In the Changchun Pavilion of the Imperial Garden, as expected, there were wooden tables and chairs of various sizes. A group of imperial concubines and ladies-in-waiting were gathered around, their faces flushed with excitement. Led by my fourth and sixth sisters-in-law, I paid my respects one by one and sat in a corner, listening to the ladies-in-waiting chatter on and on.

Consort Ding waved gently at me from the side, and I quickly got up and went over. Consort Ding smiled and handed me a cup of fragrant tea with morning dew.

"I didn't plan to call you because I thought you weren't fully recovered yet. But you still came."

I took out a handkerchief and wiped my lips, smiling faintly, "Thank you for your concern, Mother."

"Although the Consort is usually domineering, I still feel sorry for her because of her hard work in serving the Emperor for more than 20 years."

I gasped, understanding Consort Ding's meaning, and said, "I originally intended to plead with the Emperor on this matter."

Consort Ding glanced at me indifferently. "Is that really what you think?"

"yes."

"Your aunt, the Empress, is willing to let this go?"

"My wife doesn't know."

Consort Ding sighed, "Women in the palace are all destined for misery... What good does all this fighting and strife do?"

Having said that, she got up and stepped out of the pavilion. I looked at the withered branches by the pond and felt a surge of emotions. Perhaps Consort Ding was the one who saw things most clearly in the palace, just because she didn't fight for or grab anything.

I knelt below the main hall of the palace, while my aunt, who controlled the six palaces, sat calmly sipping Lin'an Longjing tea.

"Is this your intention?" The Empress quietly raised her eyes.

“Aunt... if you show leniency now, the Emperor will think more highly of you, and the palace servants will not gossip about you.”

The Empress smiled. "I haven't interfered in this matter, but since you've stepped forward, I should go along with the trend and say a few good words. I'll go and plead with the Emperor right now..."

After saying that, she looked at me with a hint of worry, "Your good intentions... will not be appreciated by everyone. Releasing a tiger back into the mountains, who knows what the consequences will be."

A few days later, Consort Xia was released from confinement, and everything returned to normal. Ninth Prince got married, and a grand banquet was held for three days.

The ninth sister-in-law is the prime minister's youngest daughter. Although she is not born of the principal wife, she is still very precious.

After the banquet, my fourth and sixth sisters-in-law and I spent our days at Ninth Master's mansion playing cards with Ninth Brother and Sister-in-law.

"I say, Fourth Sister-in-law, the almond cakes in your household are really whetting our master's appetite." It was Sixth Sister-in-law who spoke.

"Alright, I'll have someone send it to your residence next time. I'm just afraid you'll get tired of it."

I laughed and chimed in, "Then let's bring our manor along too."

Fourth Sister-in-law poked me with her finger, saying, "Seventh Brother's Wife, you just freeload every day."

Amidst laughter, a servant rushed up, trembling, and reported, "Ladies, news has come from the palace that the gentlemen and the Emperor encountered assassins while hunting."

Fourth Sister-in-law frowned, her voice trembling, "How is it now?"

"The Emperor and several princes are safe, but... the Seventh Prince is seriously injured, and the Fourth Prince... is missing."

Fourth Sister-in-law suddenly grabbed my hand, making me tremble. Amidst the commotion, I had already boarded the carriage with Fourth Sister-in-law and we sped off.

The hunting grounds were in complete chaos. I saw Xiao Si pacing back and forth anxiously, so I ran over and grabbed him. "Where are they?"

Xiao Si was about to bow to me, but I stopped him.

A figure emerged from the depths of the enclosure, and the blue robe caught my eye immediately.