“How am I divinely powerful? I’m just idle all day, so I care about you young people’s futures. At my advanced age, don’t I hope that you’ll all live sweet and happy lives in the future?
“You’re already twenty-six, and your former wife has been gone for three years. You shouldn’t delay like this any longer. Do you have any plans in mind?”
The Empress Dowager smiled as she questioned Lu Heng.
The two other young ladies present, aside from Qin Yining, were already blushing, yet couldn’t help but steal glances at Lu Heng’s appearance.
Lu Heng was truly a man of noble bearing, handsome and refined.
Though it would be a second marriage, Lu Heng had no children under his knee, so whether it was a remarriage didn’t matter much. As long as she could bear a son, he would be the legitimate heir without question.
Moreover, the Lu family was such a powerful presence.
The Lu family’s history was longer than the Northern Ji and Great Zhou dynasties combined. Their wealth could rival that of nations, with business interests spanning all industries. Their slightest movement could cause economic fluctuations in the dynasty, and even among high court officials, many belonged to the Lu family.
And Lu Heng was the legitimate second son of such a formidable great family’s main branch.
Marrying him would be even more glorious than marrying the Emperor or a prince.
What young lady doesn’t harbor romantic dreams? After just one glance at Lu Heng, both girls couldn’t help but blush.
Lu Heng’s ears actually turned red too, much to the Empress Dowager’s surprise.
The Empress Dowager couldn’t help but laugh: “It seems Brother Heng has someone he fancies.”
“Your Majesty, I…”
Before Lu Heng could answer, palace servants outside announced, “Prince Zhongshun has arrived.”
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager’s smile broadened even more. “Quickly invite him in!”
The palace doors opened wide, and Pang Xiao entered wearing an ivory-white brocade robe, jade belt at his waist, and a purple-gold crown with tassels, striding in with upright bearing.
Seeing a room full of ladies already seated, and among them Qin Yining and Sun Shi, Pang Xiao’s mind stirred, but he calmly performed a grand bow to the Empress Dowager.
“This subject pays respects to the Empress Dowager!”
The Empress Dowager snorted and said with feigned anger: “You little monkey, it’s truly difficult to get you to come for a simple meal. Every time it’s ‘I have matters to attend to’ or ‘official duties are pressing.’ I don’t know just how busy you really are—don’t you ever think of me?”
Hearing the Empress Dowager’s tone, Qin Yining couldn’t help but glance at her again.
It seemed that in the Empress Dowager’s heart, her relationship with Pang Xiao was closer than with Lu Heng.
When facing Lu Heng, the Empress Dowager was merely courteous and caring, but when facing Pang Xiao, she could scold and laugh as if facing her own nephew.
Pang Xiao smiled, his phoenix eyes filled with spring-water-like tenderness, corners of his mouth curved upward, revealing neat white teeth that gave others a feeling like basking in spring breeze.
“Empress Dowager, how could I not miss you? Though I didn’t come in person, didn’t I send you a food box just the day before yesterday?”
The Empress Dowager pulled Pang Xiao over and had him sit on the other side beside her: “At least you have a heart. The nourishing soup your household cook prepared was truly excellent.”
“As long as the Empress Dowager likes it.” Pang Xiao continued smiling.
His position allowed him to see Qin Yining directly across from him with just a lift of his head. However, when his gaze swept over her, his eyes showed some disdain and coldness.
The Empress Dowager discreetly glanced at him, then at Qin Yining, and smiled warmly before having Lu Heng sit down and continuing the previous topic.
“Brother Heng really should remarry. Your family has great estates and you’re busy with business—you can’t have no one by your side to care for you. In my opinion, with Brother Heng’s talents, only an official’s daughter could be a suitable match. What do you think?”
Lu Heng smiled slightly and openly glanced at Qin Yining. From his angle, he could see Qin Yining’s beautiful profile—high nose, cherry lips, and long eyelashes like small fans.
Not to mention this woman’s intelligence—just looking at her appearance, having her at home would be something he’d never tire of seeing in a lifetime.
Seeing his expression, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help but laugh: “Today I happen to be hosting several ladies and misses for a meal. Since you’ve met by fate and are all family, how about this: Brother Heng, if you’ve taken a fancy to someone, just say so, and I’ll make the decision for you.”
Lu Heng was somewhat surprised, because the Empress Dowager was an extremely cautious person who wouldn’t normally act this way.
But his heart was pounding in his chest, his eyes unconsciously drawn to Qin Yining’s delicate and beautiful face.
His reaction was so direct that it stirred various thoughts among those present.
Sun Shi worriedly gripped Qin Yining’s hand, discovering that Qin Yining’s palm was covered in sweat.
This time, Qin Yining truly felt afraid.
If the Empress Dowager were to bestow a marriage by imperial decree, granting her to Lu Heng, she really had no grounds to refuse.
What the Empress Dowager bestowed, if one dared refuse, the consequences would be unimaginable.
But she had already set her heart on Pang Xiao. She simply couldn’t see anyone else, nor did she want to marry anyone else!
Pang Xiao was a hero, not some mediocre man. Once such a hero took residence in her heart, she feared she could never love anyone else in this lifetime.
Qin Yining kept her head lowered, her long lashes hiding the emotions in her eyes.
But Pang Xiao across from her was already heartbroken and furious at what he saw.
His sword-like brows furrowed slightly as he narrowed his eyes at Lu Heng.
Lu Heng, however, paid no attention to Pang Xiao’s gaze, only smiling: “The Empress Dowager shows such favor—how dare I not recognize such kindness? Minister Qin is His Majesty’s trusted minister, with a reputation for both wisdom and Pan An’s beauty. Miss Qin is exceptionally talented and beautiful, making Lu yearn for her. If I could have her as my wife, Lu Heng would be grateful to the Empress Dowager for life.”
Qin Yining’s heart skipped a beat, and immediately she felt her body become like stone, rigid and unable to move.
Sun Shi and the others were also surprised by Lu Heng’s directness.
The Empress Dowager smiled slightly and was about to speak when suddenly, Pang Xiao, sitting beside her, sprang to his feet and overturned the eight-immortals table before him.
With a tremendous crash, cups, plates, bowls, and dishes fell to the ground, shattering with a cacophony of noise. The ladies shrieked and jumped away, but most of the dishes and soup still splashed onto Lu Heng, with some also splashing onto the Empress Dowager.
In his fury, Pang Xiao’s eyes turned red like an enraged lion. Pointing at Lu Heng, he cursed: “You bastard! You dare think of touching her—just try it!”
“Pang Zhixi! Have you gone mad!”
Born into a prestigious family, Lu Heng had never suffered such humiliation in his entire life!
“Today the Empress Dowager kindly arranges a marriage, and I’m responding to Her Majesty—what are you to dare interrupt!”
“Choose whoever you want! A woman I’ve slept with—does a weakling like you have the right to covet her!”
“Crude and improper!”
Lu Heng’s face turned red with anger. “You’re just a minor prince. Before my Lu family, you count for nothing. If I wanted to crush you, I wouldn’t even need two fingers—one finger could crush you to death!”
“Bullshit! Try crushing someone! I’ll kill you right now!”
“Hey! Stop, stop!”
The Empress Dowager was doused with a plate of sweet and sour fish all over her skirt. Unable to care about her clothes now, she grabbed at Pang Xiao with one hand while Nanny Chen and palace servants pulled at his robes from behind.
At this moment, guards who heard the commotion outside rushed in and were stunned by the chaos throughout the room.
Seeing the guards looking ready to draw swords, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help but stamp her foot: “Who told you to come in! Get out!”
“Empress Dowager, we came to protect you. You…”
“I told you to get out!”
Seeing the Empress Dowager’s determination, the guards had no choice but to retreat. Before leaving, they looked worriedly at Pang Xiao and Lu Heng, who were glaring at each other like fighting cocks.
These two important figures—they couldn’t afford to offend either one. If these people whom even His Majesty had to be wary of really started fighting, which one would they dare to restrain?
Since the Empress Dowager told them to leave, they’d better leave.
Qin Yining and Sun Shi supported each other as they retreated far away, but their skirt hems were still splashed with soup.
Sun Shi’s face had turned ashen, looking at Qin Yining with suspicion but hesitating to speak.
Qin Yining, however, remained in shock for a long time, unable to recover.
She believed that if Pang Xiao had done nothing, she would certainly have been betrothed to Lu Heng.
But she hadn’t expected Pang Xiao to assert his ownership in such a violent manner, not hesitating to thoroughly offend Lu Heng and the Lu family behind him, even slapping the Empress Dowager’s face in the process.
Wearing the guise of recklessness, what he did was fast and precise, suppressing Lu Heng’s marriage proposal just like that.
Lu Heng gritted his teeth, taking several deep breaths but unable to calm his fury. With one hand clenched into a fist behind his back and the other pointing at Pang Xiao: “You wait.”
After saying this, he ignored the Empress Dowager and left proudly with his oil-stained clothes, flicking his sleeves.
He walked with straight spine and measured steps, as if he were the highest-ranking person in this room, not the Empress Dowager.
Looking at the Empress Dowager, she showed no particular reaction, which fully demonstrated the Lu family’s status and the weight of the harsh words he had just spoken to Pang Xiao.
The Empress Dowager angrily said: “What are you standing there for? Why don’t you go see Second Master Lu out!”
Looking at the ladies in the room, she impatiently waved her hand: “I’m tired. You all disperse!”
“Yes.” The ladies hadn’t yet recovered from their shock and woodenly curtsied before withdrawing.
Pang Xiao helped the Empress Dowager step back and sit in a clean area.
Nanny Chen led people in to clean up the mess.
The Empress Dowager fiercely pinched Pang Xiao’s arm and beat him several times: “You little scoundrel, you little scoundrel! Do you think you’re still in the countryside? You dare overturn my table and challenge that Lu fellow—is a woman worth all this! Do you know how much power the Lu family has behind them! You’ve truly angered me to death!”
“Please calm your anger, Empress Dowager. I was just furious. That Qin woman is mine—how could I let someone else touch her? That Lu fellow is dreaming!”
“You really are… sigh. You refuse to marry her because you resent the vengeance for your father’s death, and the entire capital has spread her affairs everywhere, ruining her reputation. Now that I’ve finally found her a good match, you won’t marry her yourself but won’t let others marry her either—you’re too domineering!”
Pang Xiao said righteously: “In any case, even if I don’t want her, I won’t let other men touch her!”
“Then you might as well let her become a nun!” the Empress Dowager roared.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager was truly angry, Pang Xiao finally closed his mouth and stopped arguing, letting the Empress Dowager scold him to her heart’s content.
Meanwhile, Qin Yining left the Palace of Compassionate Peace with Sun Shi, still hearing the low discussions of the other ladies along the way.
Leaving the palace gates and boarding the prepared carriage, Bingtang and Ji Yun, seeing Sun Shi’s grim expression, didn’t dare follow them up.
Seeing no one around, Sun Shi asked in a low voice: “Yining, have you and that Pang fellow really… really become husband and wife?”