Chapter 66: The wedding 1 (1/2)
The Imperial Palace.
Zhongshan Cheng woke up to the best news of the year, He was getting ready for his first day back at court when the steward ran in and reported that Lu Yaozhu was caught up in a scandal and will be getting married. Lu Yaozhu and his brother Lu Yingjie were a thorn in his side and as such he welcomed every news that puts them in a bad light
He caught more excited when he discovered that the bride was a mere servant. A servant with a bad lineage, according to his spies. The Bride was the daughter of a dismissed maid at the mansion of the military commander of Qinzhou
Lu Yaozhu was unlucky in marriage because the mother of his bride was a popular songstress in the capital. It was rumoured that the maid was dismissed when she was found to be pregnant for the commander's heir Yuan Jinli. Since the Yuan family were reputable, nothing could be proven.
The marriage was a big joke disguised as a blessing, father Emperor made a significant dent in the Lu Family's prestige. Lu Yaozhu's wings could be considered clipped since he couldn't marry Elder Princess Ni'an's granddaughter.
Zhongshan Cheng rushed to his mother's palace after the court session in high spirits. He hummed as he walked into her palace, smiling at the maids assigned to her palace. His mother was trimming her flowers when he arrived, She looked up from her task and smiling
”Xiao Cheng, you look dashing in your uniform. I am almost done, hold on” she said.
He waited patiently for her to be done with the task and hand the plant over to a maid to take away. Once they were alone, imperial consort Shi took her son's hands and let him to a seat. ”You look overjoyed, it is your first day back. How was court?”
”How did you do it, mother. father Emperor announced that Lu Yaozhu's marriage during the court session” he said excitedly.
Imperial Consort Shi chuckled as she replied ”I didn't do much, my Son. The real mastermind is your wife, she is the one that thought of the whole thing”.
”Zhu Feifei?”
”Yes, she laid out the plan. I was as surprised as you were when she suggested it. I guess it was a good thing that you married her”.
Zhongshan Cheng remembered the ranging tigress he had married and shook his head. It felt so unreal but considering her amicable Zhu Feifei had been of late, it made sense. ”Well, good to see that she is finally earning her keep. Now that the union between the Lu Family and the state Duke's family isn't possible, what is the plan for Xia Ying?”
”I don't know yet, his majesty said he would handle that”.
”Father favours us, whatever he has planned would favour us. There is no need to worry.”
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Meanwhile at Jing Palace
Su Liya woke up from yet another quick nap feeling anything but relaxed. She had been kept in the palace for three horrifyingly long days. The Emperor claimed that it was to prepare her for marriage but She like every other smart people in the know, were aware that the Emperor's main purpose was to prevent her from running away.
The Emperor took this sham of marriage seriously, for the past few days, the palace servants went around preparing for the wedding. The imperial Embroidery mistress and two other assistants visited her on her first day in the palace. They took her measurements for both her wedding dress and a few official dresses.
The Emperor was very serious, a few hours before the clothing department came, the minister's of rites visited her and delivered the official addict and other documents. She had been adopted by the Empress, her name was added to the Empress's genealogy.
Su Liya understood that it was just in name, In the three days, she has been in the palace her ”mother” visited Zero times. Not that she felt sad or anything, she was okay with the Empress ignoring her. That saved her from any awkward meeting, she knew fully well that the Empress like madam Lu was displeased with the match.
Su Liya herself didn't know what to make of this union, she had a lot going on in her head to dwell on that. Waking up in a strange bed with a stranger did that to one, these past few days she felt a wide range of emotions. From despair to resignation, she had no other choice but to accept her present condition.
Her experience in life made her somewhat jaded, she didn't like to be the damsel in distress and learned to adapt to whatever situation she found herself in. She was all alone in the world and can only depend on herself. Apart from the palace Etiquette Mistress and a few maids, she didn't have any other visitors.
That quickly changed by 9 am on her fourth day in the palace, she had just finished going through a gruelling lesson with the Palace Etiquette Mistress. When the maid announced that imperial consort Shi was at the door.