Cining Palace.
Hearing that the Empress Dowager was unwell, Emperor Yuanjia came directly after the morning court session.
The Empress Dowager was propped up against the headboard, with the Empress, Consort De, and Consort Xian attending to her. When they saw Emperor Yuanjia, the consorts naturally stepped aside to make room by the bedside.
"How is Mother feeling?" Emperor Yuanjia sat by the bed, looking at the Empress Dowager with concern.
The Empress Dowager appeared older and thinner than she had at last year's Dragon Boat Festival banquet. Her face was heavily powdered, attempting to conceal her weariness.
Smiling at Emperor Yuanjia, the Empress Dowager said, "It's just a minor chill, nothing serious. Is Your Majesty busy? If so, please return to attend to state affairs."
As emperor, Emperor Yuanjia was never not busy, but since he was already here, he naturally wanted to spend more time with his mother.
"Today is manageable. I shall stay with Mother a while longer."
A palace maid brought over the medicinal soup. Emperor Yuanjia took the bowl and personally attended to the Empress Dowager as she drank the medicine.
While drinking the medicine, the Empress Dowager gazed intently at her emperor son, her heart filled with complex emotions.
She had given birth to two sons. The elder son had been intelligent since childhood, excelling in both scholarly and martial pursuits faster than any other prince, making him the most outstanding among them. The late emperor had held him in high regard. Back then, aside from competing for favor with the late emperor's new and old consorts, the Empress Dowager had devoted almost all her attention to her elder son—both urging his studies and guarding against plots to harm him.
At that time, the Empress Dowager was convinced that as long as her elder son remained well, he would inevitably inherit the throne, allowing her to become the Empress Dowager and enjoy boundless glory.
Compared to her elder son, her newborn younger son—who only knew how to eat, drink, and relieve himself—could simply be left to the care of wet nurses.
As the elder son grew older, his rivalry with the other older princes intensified. The Empress Dowager became increasingly vigilant in protecting him. If her younger son came to trouble her, she would only feel a headache and always ordered the wet nurses and palace maids to quickly take him away. Despite her painstaking efforts, her elder son still died in the princes' struggles. The Empress Dowager was heartbroken. After regaining her composure, she began pouring all her maternal love and ambitions into her younger son.
But by then, her younger son had already grown distant from her.
To win back her son's heart, the Empress Dowager should have sent Shou An Jun out of the palace. However, Shou An Jun's beauty made the Empress Dowager feel that keeping her might prove useful in the future.
Indeed, she fell into the traps set by those women and angered the late emperor. At the critical moment, the Empress Dowager presented Shou An Jun to the late emperor.
The late emperor's eyes lit up, and he tried every means to possess Shou An Jun.
The Empress Dowager had expected Shou An Jun to be delighted at the chance to climb into the late emperor's bed. To her surprise, Shou An Jun turned out to be quite shrewd—managing to escape the late emperor's grasp unscathed without provoking his wrath or punishment.
The Empress Dowager admired Shou An Jun's skill, but she could not accept that her son held a wet nurse in such high regard.
If Emperor Yuanjia had only rewarded Shou An Jun with gold, silver, and jewels, the Empress Dowager wouldn't have minded. But she knew all too well that Emperor Yuanjia's affection for Shou An Jun might run deeper than that for his own birth mother. This was what the Empress Dowager found hardest to bear. She had fought all her life in the rear palace, defeating so many noble-born consorts—how could the wife of a low-ranking official win her son's filial devotion?
After taking the medicine and chatting with Emperor Yuanjia for a while, the Empress Dowager suddenly remembered something and asked Consort De, "Where were we just now?"
Consort De's heart skipped a beat.Just now, she hadn't said anything—it was the Empress and Empress Dowager who brought up the matter concerning the Duke of Yingguo's Manor. Both she and the Virtuous Consort were merely bystanders.
At last year's Dragon Boat Festival banquet, the Empress Dowager and Empress had verbally targeted Wei Rao. As for Emperor Yuanjia, whether due to Shou An Jun or Li Guiren, his favoritism toward Wei Rao was evident. If she were to comment on Wei Rao's marital discord with the heir Lu Zhuo now, how would Emperor Yuanjia view her?
The Virtuous Consort felt uneasy, yet under the Empress Dowager's sharp gaze, she had no choice but to lean slightly in Wei Rao's favor: "Speaking of the Duke of Yingguo's heir, I wonder what he did to anger his new bride so much that she returned to her parents' home. The whole city is gossiping about it now."
The Empress Dowager sighed and turned to Emperor Yuanjia: "I recall that when Lu Zhuo was critically ill and seemingly beyond cure, it was Rao Rao who selflessly agreed to the marriage to ward off misfortune for him. At that time, Your Majesty even ordered the Imperial Garment Office to rush her wedding gown overnight. How could it be that in such a short time, Lu Zhuo is already mistreating Rao Rao? He has not only failed her but also betrayed Your Majesty's kindness. He deserves punishment."
The Virtuous Consort looked at the Empress Dowager in surprise. Had the sun risen from the west? The Empress Dowager was actually speaking up for Wei Rao?
Emperor Yuanjia smiled: "Why should I interfere in their private marital affairs? I'd rather spend time accompanying you, Mother, than meddle in such trivial matters."
The Empress Dowager thought to herself: Yet you had plenty of time to meddle when Wei Rao was marrying to ward off misfortune for Lu Zhuo?
"If Your Majesty has no time, then I shall issue an imperial decree to the Duke of Yingguo's Manor, ordering Lu Zhuo to treat Rao Rao better. The Lu Family has served loyally for generations—they shouldn't tarnish their reputation by repaying kindness with ingratitude." The Empress Dowager spoke indignantly on Wei Rao's behalf.
Her unusual behavior finally made the Virtuous Consort realize: All newlywed couples go through an adjustment period. A young wife's anger can be soothed with coaxing, and it's not a major issue. But if the Empress Dowager truly issued a decree reprimanding Lu Zhuo, while he and the entire Duke of Yingguo's household wouldn't dare disobey the Empress Dowager, they would certainly resent Wei Rao for causing their reprimand.
If things escalated to that extent, Wei Rao would find it impossible to remain in the Duke of Yingguo's Manor.
Such a malicious scheme made even the Virtuous Consort, a mere spectator, feel a chill down her spine.
Emperor Yuanjia seemed to seriously consider the suggestion of an imperial decree before taking the Empress Dowager's hand: "Mother, you should focus on recuperating while unwell. Leave this matter to me. I'll summon Lu Zhuo and give him a stern talking-to."
The Empress Dowager nodded: "That works too. After all, Li Guiren has merit in raising Your Majesty's royal son, and Wei Jing is an honest and capable official. We cannot let anyone bully their daughter."
Emperor Yuanjia's smile vanished.
The Virtuous Consort nearly knelt before the Empress Dowager. Every word seemed to support Wei Rao, yet in reality, even Li Guiren was being implicated.
After leaving Cining Palace, Emperor Yuanjia went to the imperial study, handled two memorials, and sent someone to the Divine Martial Army camp to summon Lu Zhuo.
At the Divine Martial Army camp, the Duke of Yingguo was discussing new recruit enlistment with the military officers.
In last year's major battle with Wuda, the Divine Martial Army's fifty thousand elite troops suffered eight thousand casualties—over five thousand fatalities and more than two thousand severely wounded who lost combat capability.
The dynasty stationed twenty-four imperial armies across the regions, with the Upper Four Armies guarding the capital being the most combat-ready, boasting elite soldiers and fierce generals. The Divine Martial Army's consistent ranking as the foremost among the Upper Four Armies, earning the emperor's utmost trust and the people's reverence, stemmed not only from the leadership of the Lu Family men of the Duke of Yingguo's lineage but also from each soldier being a handpicked pillar of the state.While soldiers in other imperial guard units might have been placed there by military families seeking positions for their clan members, every warrior in the Divine Martial Army was personally selected through rigorous screening across various regions by the army's own envoys.
Now that the New Year had passed, the Duke of Yingguo was preparing to dispatch officials to recruit new soldiers from different regions. Following the established recruitment locations from previous years, there were twenty-four prefectural cities in total, each with specific quotas for new recruits.
A topographical map of the nation hung in the main tent, where the Duke personally assigned recruitment locations to the military officers in charge.
Lu Zhuo was originally slated to oversee the capital region. However, after scanning the map, he suddenly stepped forward and addressed the Duke: "Grandfather, allow me to go to Jincheng instead."
The others looked at him in confusion. For a Young Lord like Lu Zhuo, the capital region was the most comfortable assignment, while Jincheng was the northernmost recruitment point—likely still buried in snow at this time. Why would the Young Lord volunteer for such hardship?
While others might have advised against it, if the Duke questioned his decision, it would appear as though he were reluctant to let his grandson endure hardship. Thus, he directly approved the request.
Just as they finalized the assignments, a messenger arrived from the palace, summoning Lu Zhuo for an audience with the Emperor.
Lu Zhuo was inwardly startled. Even if Emperor Yuanjia hadn't summoned him, he had intended to enter the palace—what a coincidence.
Riding swiftly, Lu Zhuo reached the imperial palace and waited outside the imperial study for two quarters of an hour. Only after two grand secretaries emerged did Eunuch Kang come to escort him inside.
Eunuch Kang remained waiting in the outer hall.
Sensing something amiss, Lu Zhuo entered the hall and found Emperor Yuanjia reviewing memorials. He knelt and bowed deeply.
The Emperor glanced at him while continuing to annotate documents, conveying the Empress Dowager's message as he worked.
Having encountered assassins sent by the Empress Dowager, Lu Zhuo understood her murderous intent toward Wei Rao even more clearly than Consort De. He kowtowed and responded: "Your Majesty, this subject acknowledges his wrongdoing. I willingly accept any punishment Your Majesty deems fit. However, if Her Majesty the Empress Dowager issues an edict, it may bring shame upon my ancestors. As the sole offender, I alone should bear the consequences—my family should not be implicated. Thus, I humbly beg the Empress Dowager to rescind her decree."
Emperor Yuanjia made no promises. Setting down his vermilion brush, he studied Lu Zhuo intently: "First, tell Us how you wronged Wei Rao."
Lu Zhuo felt immediate dread. His offense had been insulting Wei Rao's mother, Little Zhou, for remarrying—but Little Zhou had remarried none other than Emperor Yuanjia himself. If he spoke the truth, the imperial favor his ancestors had earned with their blood might be destroyed by his words.
"This subject is too ashamed to speak. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness." Pressing his forehead against the golden bricks, Lu Zhuo began to fear the Emperor would press further.
But Emperor Yuanjia wasn't that idle. Between husband and wife, what major conflicts could there be? A little coaxing would suffice.
"Your quarrel has even disturbed the Empress Dowager. To ease her concerns, you should quickly reconcile with Wei Rao." The Emperor picked up another memorial and opened it as he spoke.
Lu Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief, maintaining his kowtow position: "This subject understands. However, I have offended her too gravely this time and require a significant gift to earn her forgiveness. After much consideration, I thought of only one thing."
Emperor Yuanjia, ever perceptive, set down the memorial and fixed his gaze on Lu Zhuo: "Playing games with Us now? What, can't procure this significant gift yourself, so you come begging to Us?"
Lu Zhuo flushed with shame: "Your Majesty is wise. This gift... only Your Majesty can grant it."
The Emperor said: "Speak."
Lu Zhuo whispered a few sentences.
Emperor Yuanjia tapped the memorial beneath his hand and approved.
Shortly after, Lu Zhuo emerged from the imperial study, his expression grave—as if he had just endured a royal reprimand.The Empress Dowager's informants promptly relayed this matter to her.
The Empress Dowager was delighted. Lu Zhuo being reprimanded by the Emperor over Wei Rao—regardless of severity—would only deepen his resentment toward her. Even if Lu Zhuo followed the Emperor's orders to beg Wei Rao to return, a husband nursing grievances would never treat his wife sincerely.
In truth, they ought to thank Wei Rao herself. Having married into a prestigious family yet remaining unsatisfied, she leveraged her beauty to make a fuss over trivial matters and throw tantrums—she had brought this upon herself.
Fanning the flames, the Empress Dowager dispatched people to spread word beyond the palace walls about Lu Zhuo being scolded by Emperor Yuanjia for driving Wei Rao away.
To the uninformed commoners, it already seemed improper for Wei Rao, a new bride, to storm off to her maternal home in a fit of pique—a breach of wifely virtue. Countless wives across the land endured some degree of grievance in their marital households; if every one of them were as narrow-minded as Wei Rao, running home to disturb their husbands' peace and hinder their important affairs, wouldn’t chaos ensue?
When news spread that Lu Zhuo had been rebuked by the Emperor, public criticism of Wei Rao intensified. She was accused of presuming upon favor to act spoiled—how could she still put on airs when the Young Lord had condescended to invite her back twice?
Beyond censuring Wei Rao, the women also faulted Shou An Jun, arguing that she ought not to have taken Wei Rao in and indulged her temper.
Amid this chorus of criticism, Lu Zhuo set out a third time with gifts of apology.
"Young Lord, you shouldn’t go! Women all need discipline—the more you indulge them, the more disobedient they become. Give her the cold shoulder for a while, and she’ll come back on her own!"
A man in the crowd called out in a seasoned tone, offering advice.
A Gui glared at the man in fury—if he didn’t understand, he should keep his nose out of it! With the young mistress’s peerless beauty, how could the Young Lord bear to live apart from her long?
Lu Zhuo initially paid no mind, but as more and more voices chimed in agreement, he had no choice but to force a bitter smile. With a sorrowful expression, he replied, "It was I who offended my wife. However angry she may be, it is justified. I only seek her forgiveness—how could I speak of discipline? If she is willing to return with me to the estate, henceforth I shall do whatever she says without exception."
Hearing this, the onlookers—especially the men—stared wide-eyed in disbelief!
The women, however, were stirred by Lu Zhuo’s handsome features and the profound affection in his eyes, swelling with intense envy. If only a man would treat them this way, they would die without regret!
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