The next day, the Crown Princess went to Qingning Palace to pay her respects. While there, she mentioned the Lu family sending someone to deliver festival gifts. The Empress had already received news of this, and upon hearing it mentioned, she felt quite pleased. Her maternal family had moved out of the capital to settle back in their hometown, and she had always been concerned about them. She smiled: “In the blink of an eye, even Yunji has grown so much. This palace has heard that he came to prepare for next year’s special imperial examination? So young, yet with such fortune—he does not disgrace our family’s reputation.”
Empress Lu and Crown Princess Lu were blood-related aunt and niece, but in the palace, their relationship had never been particularly close. Now, for her to suddenly mention “our family” these three words showed just how delighted she truly was.
Lady Lu smiled slightly, the weariness in her eyes only flashing by briefly: “Elder Brother has always placed high hopes on Yunji. I heard he originally wanted to come this year, but Mother fell ill, and he stayed home to attend to her sickness, which delayed him. Fortunately, he happened upon the court opening a special examination, so Elder Brother brought him along to the capital. Elder Sister-in-law and Chonghua came together as well.”
The Empress hadn’t seen her family in many years, so naturally she had many things she wished to say to her family members. Crown Princess Lu didn’t know everything, so she immediately sent someone out to summon Elder Lady Lu and Lu Chonghua into the palace.
When relatives met, naturally there was much exchanging of news and concerns. Especially after Crown Princess Lu’s incident, Empress Lu had always felt she had wronged her own brother and sister-in-law. Old Madam Lu had passed away several years ago, and the family had experienced many changes. Now, after so many years apart, Empress Lu’s heart was filled with emotion. She asked very carefully about family matters, then sighed: “These matters—Elder Sister-in-law never mentioned them in her letters.”
Elder Lady Lu had pretty features and was well-maintained, looking no worse than the Crown Princess. Upon hearing this, she lowered her head: “Mother’s health has been getting worse in recent years. If we mentioned it, we feared you and the Crown Princess would worry needlessly. Even coming to the capital this time, she repeatedly instructed us not to mention her health to you or the Crown Princess.”
Empress Lu couldn’t help but redden her eyes. This sister-in-law of hers had always been very good. Back then, her elder brother had stubbornly refused to agree to her giving his daughter to the Crown Prince, and it was her sister-in-law who, seeing her difficulty, had repeatedly worked to make the match happen. But later, the Crown Prince failed to live up to the Lu family’s wholehearted intentions. Setting aside his coldness toward the Crown Princess, even toward his own son he had always been indifferent, showing no warmth. First there was the Longhu Mountain incident, and now the attack at Tianshui Town. Empress Lu felt mortified and increasingly felt she had wronged her maternal family.
After they finished talking, she summoned Lu Chonghua, who was waiting in the side hall, to come see her. The Empress was very pleased that her grand-niece had grown up to be so exquisite and beautiful, and her tone took on a note of lightness: “Who would have thought—back then when I saw her, she was still an infant in swaddling clothes, and I couldn’t even see clearly what she looked like. Now she’s already grown into a graceful young lady.”
Lu Chonghua was indeed beautiful, and she took after the Lu family features. They say daughters resemble their fathers, and Young Master Lu was famously handsome. Lu Chonghua had a high-bridged nose and deep-set eyes. Compared to other girls with their traditional almond eyes and peach-blossom cheeks, she possessed a different kind of captivating charm.
After they had spoken, the Empress bestowed extremely generous rewards, and especially prepared precious meeting gifts for Lu Chonghua alone. Smiling, she said to Elder Lady Lu: “You’ve come at a good time. In a few days, this palace will be holding a banquet, inviting only young ladies. Chonghua should come as well.”
Having just arrived, to be able to attend such a high-level banquet—Elder Lady Lu would naturally not refuse. She smiled and accepted.
At noon, Her Majesty the Empress hosted a banquet. After Elder Lady Lu and Lu Chonghua had finished eating, she sent them to the Eastern Palace with the Crown Princess.
Court Lady Xie saw that her brow and eyes carried some haggardness and fatigue. She tiptoed forward with a bowl of bird’s nest soup and served it to her to drink, saying softly: “Your Majesty, Elder Lady Lu brought the young miss at this time…”
The Empress’s eyes, which had been closed before, opened. They flashed with fragmentary light. Outside the window, the sun was just right, sunlight streaming through the window lattice and casting a large patch of light and shadow on the floor. She glanced out the window and sighed softly: “It’s nothing more than them coming for Weizhao.”
She knew somewhat of her maternal family’s intentions. Her elder brother had already revealed it in his previous letter. With the Crown Prince being what he was, they had sacrificed one Lady Lu—they wouldn’t miss out on Zhou Weizhao again.
The Empress’s brows furrowed slightly together, feeling somewhat conflicted—on one side were her maternal family relatives, on the other was the girl Zhou Weizhao himself had taken a liking to, who was also truly a well-matched and outstanding young lady. She felt torn.
Elder Lady Lu took Crown Princess Lu’s hand. Upon entering, she first carefully studied Lady Lu for a while. After a long moment she finally spoke, her voice carrying some choking emotion: “You’ve grown thin.”
When Crown Princess Lu was at her maternal home, she had an extremely good relationship with this elder sister-in-law. When she married, it was also her sister-in-law who sat with her the entire night, and the next day personally accompanied her elder brother to escort her to the capital. Her throat tightened slightly, and a flash of tears passed through her eyes: “Sister-in-law looks well though. Was the journey smooth?”
Elder Lady Lu nodded and selected some family matters to discuss with the Crown Princess, emphasizing her mother-in-law’s health: “Each year is worse than the last. We’ve consulted all the famous physicians, but there’s no improvement. Coming to the capital this time, Master Lu also hopes Your Ladyship will grant the favor of bestowing an imperial physician to examine her.” After speaking for a while, seeing Lady Lu shed tears, she quickly changed the subject: “On the way here, we heard that His Highness was attacked. It really frightened Master Lu and me terribly. Later, when we heard His Highness was safe, only then did our hearts settle. His Highness at such a young age has already done so well in quelling the rebellion—truly remarkable. With you having this support, you need not worry for the future.”
When Crown Princess Lu heard her sister-in-law mention her son, she raised her eyes to look at her, pressed her lips together, and sighed.
Elder Lady Lu acted as if she hadn’t noticed, saying softly: “Back then… back then, the family always felt we wronged you. Fortunately now His Highness has achieved success, and you’re about to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
This topic wasn’t good to continue discussing. Elder Lady Lu stopped at this point and immediately lowered her voice, glossing over it, then said: “In the future, things will surely get better.”
Lady Lu pressed her lips together and nodded, smiling gently: “Yes, in the future things will surely get better. I’ll borrow Sister-in-law’s auspicious words.”
Elder Lady Lu sat accompanying the Crown Princess and chatting for a while longer before asking: “Why haven’t I seen His Highness?”
“Although the bandit suppression matter is complete, the list of those with merit still must be submitted to the Grand Council to discuss and determine the reward system. These past few days have been busy with this matter.” The Crown Princess lowered her head: “Looking at today’s situation, he’ll be back late again.”
Elder Lady Lu felt somewhat disappointed in her heart, though she didn’t show it on her face. She smiled and nodded: “When we first heard His Highness was being sent to suppress bandits, Mother and I worried terribly at home. Now that His Highness has truly achieved immediate success, it’s truly cause for celebration.”