Sanbao stood under the palace hall corridor, holding his breath and quieting his movements, ears perked up listening to the activity inside. Just moments ago, when His Highness the Crown Prince heard the three words “Lord Lu,” his expression became so ugly it made one’s heart turn cold. He was truly worried that at any moment this torrential downpour would be accompanied by thunder and lightning crashing down on their heads—what was Lord Lu thinking, causing trouble at a time like this? His Highness the Crown Prince was currently unhappy about Fan Liangdi’s matter. Even the imperial physicians had to come several times a day. Yet he chose this exact moment to run into trouble.
Lord Lu didn’t initially think he was being tactless. He and both the Crown Prince and Prince Gong were cousins, having grown up together from childhood with considerable closeness. Even the Crown Princess was someone he had strongly urged his mother to agree to betroth to the Crown Prince. Although the Crown Prince had been cold all these years, Lord Lu always felt it was only because his sister was tactless and hadn’t properly accommodated the Crown Prince.
It wasn’t until he saw the look in the Crown Prince’s eyes as they fell upon him that he belatedly realized—this Crown Prince was truly no longer the Crown Prince who had played with him, who had called him brother. When he looked at him now, his eyes carried undisguised, naked disgust.
His throat felt tight. Thinking of his wife’s previous warnings, for a moment he wondered if he had truly made a mistake. After being stunned for a moment, he bowed to the Crown Prince and paid his respects.
The Crown Prince glanced at him. The powerlessness and anger he’d felt these past days regarding his inner household affairs once again surged from the depths of his heart. He pulled at the corners of his mouth, looking at Lord Lu with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile as he kowtowed. After a long while, he finally told him to rise, then immediately asked: “Uncle, instead of going to see the Crown Princess first, why did you come to me?”
Lord Lu was startled by his tone, unable to grasp exactly what he meant. After hesitating for a while, all the prepared speeches he had ready were completely useless. After deliberating for a long time, he could only laugh awkwardly: “Naturally, I should come pay respects to Your Highness first…”
Inside the room, sandalwood fragrance filled the air. The Crown Prince looked through this haze at Lord Lu standing below, the corners of his mouth slightly raised: “Uncle is not one to visit the temple without a purpose. If there’s something, you might as well speak directly.” He thought for a moment about what recent matters might be worth this uncle’s trip, then suddenly smiled again, asking with great interest: “Has uncle come about a marriage matter for his children?”
The Crown Prince’s disdain for the Lu family had always had its reasons. Besides Empress Lu’s part in it, there was also the Lu family offering Lu Shi to him as Crown Princess, which filled him with resentment. He felt the entire Lu family were all not good people—avoiding harm while seeking benefit, fawning on those in power. Among them, Lord Lu was especially so. His eyes lit up. He felt that if he hadn’t guessed wrong, Lord Lu had probably set his sights on his own son this time—he had known about the Lu family coming to the capital a few days ago, but hadn’t inquired even once. Later, when he heard that Lu Chonghua had moved into Qingning Hall, he hadn’t felt much either. Empress Lu had always been close to her natal family. But now things were somewhat different—the marriage edict had only been issued today. If the Lu family still hadn’t extinguished the thoughts in their hearts, this would truly be quite a show.
His headaches had been severe these past few days. He hadn’t even had the energy to go trouble the Empress and Crown Princess. But while he himself didn’t have the energy, he very much hoped someone could come out and make things unpleasant for the Lu family.
Right now, it seemed not everyone was clever—wasn’t Lord Lu conveniently delivering himself to the door? Seeing Lord Lu frozen in place, he actually softened his tone and asked: “It’s about Weizhao’s marriage, isn’t it?”
Lord Lu couldn’t quite adapt to his suddenly gentler attitude for a moment. After hesitating, he nodded, but then said nothing more. The Crown Prince’s attitude was truly somewhat strange—no matter how stupid he was, he could still read expressions.
The Crown Prince’s lips curved in a smile: “I once did have thoughts of strengthening family ties through marriage. I even asked the Crown Princess about it, but the Crown Princess said there were no suitable girls of the right age in the family. But this time I heard that you’ve brought your daughter to the capital, and she’s now staying in Mother’s Qingning Hall?” He paused, seeing Lord Lu hesitating to speak, then said: “It’s truly a pity. If I’d known the Lu family had a girl of suitable age, why go to the trouble of seeking far when help was near, looking for other girls to match?”
Lord Lu didn’t know whether the Crown Prince’s words were true or false, but he did know the Crown Princess’s temperament—she was indeed capable of saying things like “there are no suitable girls of the right age in the family.” He felt somewhat angry inside, as well as an indescribable disappointment. This younger sister had always been spoiled to the point of lawlessness. Now she still held a grudge about being made Crown Princess back then. In his view, this was simply incomprehensible. Hadn’t he and Mother done it for the family’s sake and her own good? The Eastern Palace’s position was now as stable as Mount Tai. In the future, she would be the rightful mother of the nation. Where else could she find a better arrangement?
He felt his throat somewhat dry. In his confusion, he finally remembered his wife’s reminder and spoke with some wariness and caution: “His Highness the Grand Prince is such an exalted person—how could we dare to presume…”
The Crown Prince’s lip curve deepened, the mockery in his eyes flashing past. He leisurely smoothed his robes: “Let’s speak plainly—uncle need not say such superficial words before me. I also think the Lu family’s young lady is quite good. One can tell just by looking at the Crown Princess’s upbringing. It’s just that the marriage edict has already been issued, and there’s no reason to change it…” He watched Lord Lu look toward him, then changed tack: “However, with my mother and the Crown Princess’s protection, wouldn’t being a secondary consort also be quite good? I would very much like Weizhao to be close to Mother’s natal family.”
This time, even Lord Lu felt the oncoming chill. He hurriedly shook his head: “Chonghua’s looks are as fragile as willows—how could she be worthy of His Highness the Grand Prince? Your Highness truly overestimates her…”
The Crown Prince remained noncommittal. A faint sense of vengeful pleasure rose in his heart. Looking at Lord Lu, he asked meaningfully: “Is that so? That’s truly a pity then. He’s only chosen a primary consort—the secondary consort position is still open. If uncle is willing to let your daughter be somewhat aggrieved, wouldn’t this matter make everyone happy? Even Mother and the Crown Princess would be pleased, wouldn’t they?”
Lord Lu was made to waver again by his words. Even after withdrawing and standing under the corridor, he still felt cold sweat continuously seeping from his forehead. The Crown Prince’s attitude toward the Lu family was strangely excessive. At times he felt every sentence the Crown Prince spoke carried mockery; at other times he felt the Crown Prince was sincere in wanting to facilitate Lu Chonghua becoming the Grand Prince’s secondary consort. His mind felt completely blank and confused.
In fact, he hadn’t guessed wrong. The Crown Prince desperately hoped Lu Chonghua would become a secondary consort. He wanted to see when those two troublesome women started fighting, whether Empress Lu and the Crown Princess could still maintain that aloof, detached superior attitude.