Chapter 64: Her late night visitor 1 (2/2)

Zhu Fengyin was helped up by Tian Tian and escorted to her room. True to her words Zhu Fengyin was locked in her Courtyard until Lu Yingjie and Lu Yaozhu returned home.

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The imperial palace

Meanwhile back at the Empress's palace,  Empress Lu pace about the room while bitting gently on her Lips. It was already late in the night but she couldn't sleep. Sleeping was a distant thought in her mind, there were so many conflicting thoughts in her mind.

Her ladies maid Xuayi had dismissed the rest of the servants to give her some privacy. Xuanyi stood by the wall, she watched her mistress go toe and froe.

Empress Lu strapped her pacing, turned to her maid's maid ”where is that maid?”

”Your highness, as per his majesty's orders, Princess Ping was placed at Jing Palace.”

”I am tired of this wait, let us go meet my adopted daughter” Empress Lu walked towards the door. She was a few steps away from the entrance when the door was pushed open and Emperor Zhong walked in.

Empress Lu And Xuanyi curtsied immediately, ”Your majesty!”

The Emperor looked from his wife to her maid briefly before dismissing the maid ”leave us”.

”Yes,” Xuanyi glanced at her mistress for a few seconds then bowed out of the room. The Emperor's servants retreated and shut the door behind. It was only the royal couple in the room.

”My Empress are we going to keep standing here?” Empress Zhong asked, his lips curved in a small smile.

”Excuse my mistake, your highness please come in” she turned to the side. The Emperor walked past her and walked to the inner room.

The Emperor stood by a painting on the wall, ”It has been a while since I last came here. My Empress, please don't take this to heart”.

”I don't dare, your majesty”Empress Lu replied from a few steps away.

”We have been married for over twenty years, haven't we. How come in the years we have been married I have never seen you this worried about me as you are right now. Was I not worthy of that?”

Empress clamped her hands tightly ”Your majesty shouldn't play with me, you are my darling husband. If you aren't worthy of my love who is”.

Emperor Zhong turned off around, ”Then you better listen to this darling husband of yours and stay put. I let you run around freely for long it seems since you dare to get my elder sister involved in cour.

”Did you think I didn't know what you were up to when you brought Xia Ying to the capital? Don't get ahead of yourself Lu Nuo. (Lu Nuo is the Empress given name. She is a member of the Lu clan)

”In this palace, nothing happens without my knowledge, this is my last warning. Don't ever try something like this again, I will give you a month to handle the mess with Princess Ni'an” He left the room and returned to his palace.

Empress Lu was still standing at the spot when Xuanyi walked in. ”Your Highness? What is wrong” Xuanyi said when she saw her like that.

Empress Lu blinked a few times and replied calmly ”oh... Nothing. It is getting late. I am going to bed, you may leave”.

Xuanyi has followed the Empress since she was still the young mistress of the Duke's mansion. She was familiar with her actions and could tell that her mistress didn't want to talk about whatever had her worried. She nodded and left the room.

*******

Back at the crown prince of Chu state's room.

He sat by the desk and listened as his spies reported on the events of the day. When the last of his spies left, his guard handed the secret missive from Minister Zhu. He sent him outside before opening and reading the content of the not.

'The first move from our end has been made proceed as planned'

He set the note ablaze after reading the note.