Chapter 444 Extra Story: Chu Rui 2
Chu Zhixia had arrived long ago.
However, she rarely attended such banquets, so few people recognized her.
Standing there, she overheard people discussing her and Lu Hao. Her expectant expression gradually turned somber.
"Elder Sister," Chu Rui said with a heavy heart, "Brother Lu isn’t that kind of person."
Empress Dowager Feng spoke calmly, "Don’t worry, this marriage won’t fall through."
As the Lu family grew increasingly powerful, she was determined to secure this marital alliance for Rui’s future.
Chu Zhixia lowered her head and followed the Empress Dowager to their seats.
As a prince and a princess, their seats were relatively close to the front.
Their appearance immediately sparked murmurs among the crowd.
"Is that Prince Zhuang? He looks so thin and pale—truly a sickly man."
"The one beside him must be Princess Fukang. She’s so graceful and elegant. How old is she this year?"
"Twenty-one. The Empress Dowager has brought her out now because she’s older and must settle her marriage soon."
"The Empress Dowager must have her eye on the eldest young master of the Lu family…"
"They were already betrothed from childhood…"
Not long after the palace banquet began, Empress Dowager Feng steered the conversation toward the marriage, smiling as she said, "I still remember when Hao’er was just this small, visiting the palace, and how fond he was of Fukang. Back then, Lady Lu and I arranged a childhood betrothal for the two children…"
Before the Empress Dowager could finish, Lady Lu hastily stood up, sweating profusely, and said, "That… that was merely a jest back then…"
"A jest?" Empress Dowager Feng’s expression turned cold. "What, is the Lu family going back on their word?"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger," the Emperor said lightly. "A formal betrothal requires the exchange of horoscopes. How can a mere verbal promise be considered binding?"
Empress Dowager Feng looked up sharply at the Emperor. "So this marriage is off?"
"It is not that I am preventing it, but the Lu family has already chosen a match for Lu Hao and exchanged horoscopes," the Emperor continued. "There are countless fine young men in the capital. Your Majesty may freely select a husband for Fukang. As long as both parties agree, I will immediately bestow the marriage."
The Empress Dowager clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly.
Back when her son was still the Crown Prince, Fukang was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, the jewel of the Eastern Palace. When she was just one year old, many sought to arrange a childhood betrothal.
After careful consideration, she had chosen the Lu family, then only a third-rank official family. She had thought that since the Lu family was a scholarly clan with upright traditions, Fukang would not suffer after marrying into it. That was why she had arranged the betrothal for the two children.
Who could have imagined that twenty years later, the Lu family would show such a face?
The Emperor naturally did not want Fukang to marry into the Lu family, fearing the Lu family would become Rui’s ally…
And any prominent family in the capital would likely be unwilling to associate with the children of the former Crown Prince.
Fukang’s marriage would not be easy.
Countless thoughts raced through the Empress Dowager’s mind…
Meanwhile, Chu Zhixia felt as if she had been plunged into an ice cellar, her hands trembling uncontrollably.
Sitting there, she could clearly see Lu Hao seated beside his father, Lord Lu…
She had been very young when she was betrothed to Lu Hao and could not remember it, but the Empress Dowager often summoned Lady Lu to bring Lu Hao to the palace to pay respects, so she had come to know him.
However, this did not last long. After her father passed away, she moved out of the Eastern Palace and never saw Lu Hao again.Until one day when the Empress Dowager left the palace to worship Buddha, she met Lu Hao at the temple.
At that time, he was about fourteen or fifteen years old and very tall. She spotted him immediately, and upon learning his identity, her heart swelled with joy.
He went to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, who then asked him to take her flower-viewing. He even flew a kite with her—it was her first time flying a kite. The wind was strong, and she was utterly delighted.
In the following days, Lu Hao often accompanied his mother, Lady Lu, to the palace to pay their respects. The Empress Dowager would invite them to stay for meals.
She knew that Lu Hao also had feelings for her.
Otherwise, he would not have frequently visited Kunning Palace.
She also knew that the Lu family was willing to accept her.
Otherwise, Lady Lu would not have come to the palace again and again to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.
But the good times did not last long. The Lu family was transferred to Jiangnan, and they were gone for many years. She and Lu Hao did not see each other for a long time.
She was now twenty-one years old.
Lu Hao was twenty-two.
At that age, men and women should already be married, yet he remained unmarried.
She had always believed he was waiting to return to the capital to marry her.
But the evasive look in Lu Hao's eyes struck her like a thunderbolt.
She knew that everything she had hoped for was gone.
"Elder Sister."
Chu Rui's voice was hoarse.
He did not know what to do either, so he could only hold Chu Zhixia's hand.
"Elder Sister, you're so cold. Let's go back."
His heart ached for her.
He ached for his elder sister's long wait but felt utterly powerless.
"Let's... let's go."
Chu Zhixia stood up and followed Chu Rui outside the hall.
But she did not return. Instead, she stubbornly stood on a small path outside the hall, remaining there quietly. Chu Rui sighed.
He knew his elder sister wanted an answer.
With heavy steps, he walked back into the hall, approached Lu Hao, and brought him outside.
"Brother Lu," Chu Rui said softly, "Some things need to be made clear."
After speaking, he turned and left, giving the two of them space.
"Zhixia..." Lu Hao's voice was strained. "It's not that I am heartless. For the sake of the Lu family, I have no choice."
"No wonder you stopped writing to me these past two years. I thought you were busy with official duties and believed that once you were done, once you returned to the capital, everything would be fine." Two clear tears streamed down Chu Zhixia's face. "I just want to ask you one thing: Did you truly, sincerely, want to marry me?"
Lu Hao pressed his lips together. "There's no point in saying these things now."
He paused, then continued, "Zhixia, the Emperor has already arranged a marriage for me with the eldest daughter of a high-ranking official. The imperial decree will be issued soon. You... don't wait for me anymore."
Watching the tears streaming down her face, he longed to wipe them away.
But he knew he had lost the right to do so.
In the past, when the Lu family held only a third-rank official position, his marriage did not matter.
But now—
The Lu family held significant power, and the Emperor would never allow them to have any connection with the former Crown Prince.
If he dared to insist on marrying Zhixia, the entire Lu clan would fall under the Emperor's suspicion. He would become a traitor to his family, abandoned by all. Because of his personal feelings, the Lu family would plummet from the heights of power into the abyss...
"Zhixia, I'm sorry."
Lu Hao turned and walked away, step by step.
Chu Zhixia's tears would not stop. Covering her mouth, she sobbed, her cries growing louder as all the grievances in her heart poured out.
Just then, a young girl's voice sounded behind her: "What's wrong with you?"Hearing the voice of an outsider, she hastily wiped her tears and turned around, momentarily stunned. "Miss Yun?"
She had only met this stunningly beautiful young woman once but remembered her instantly—the foremost beauty of the capital, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Yun family, seemingly only fourteen years old.
"It's snowing again," Yun Chu stepped forward. "It's too cold here. Let me escort the princess back."
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