Chapter 120: Treason 1 (1/2)

The Duke's mansion

Madam Lu paced around the wide Center room of her pavilion, only stopping a few times to look to the open door expectantly. Her maids stood silently by the wall and watched her bore a hole on the ground with her shoes.

Her most senior Maid Nanny Liu tried to make her relax, she walked to her mistress's side and said softly, ”please have a seat, madam. Second master went into the palace to greet the Emperor and Empress, it may take a while before he gets back. Drink some tea while you wait, walking around will only make you tired”.

Madam Lu could scarcely hear her, only the words ”second master was back” repeated inner head. She had been experiencing him since she had received his letters last week. She hadn't seen her son n mouths, one would think that with how often Li Yaozhu went to war, She would be used to his long absence from home but that wasn't the case.

She clamped both hands at her lower stomach and bit her lip gently while looking hopefully at the door. The wait was nerve recking but she never regretted the wait, there was joy in seeing someone dear to your heart after some time of separation. The little maid in charge of attending to the gardens sent by steward Lu to deliver the news of the second master's arrival to her hadn't finished saying the word

”Second young master is at the gates”

When Madam Lu rushed out of the room, her maids quickly ran after her. Nanny Liu rushed after her while calling out ”Madam, hold on. Don't run, be careful of falling”.

Madam Lu ignored her calls and ran towards the gates, she ignored the strange looks she received from the servants on the way. She met Lu Yaozhu walking in with Lu Yingjie and Zhu Fengyin as she walked out of a narrow pathway. Lu Yaozhu and his elder brother conversed between themselves in low tones as they caught up on a few things.

They walked with their heads close, eyes focused on the path in front of them, while Zhu Fengyin followed silently beside Lu Yingjie. Zhu Fengyin stopped and bowed when she saw her mother-in-law walk out of the pathway at their right.

”Mother” Zhu Fengyin stopped walking and holding both hands on her labs turned to the right and bowed. Lu Yaozhu and Lu Yingjie around as soon as they heard that and bowed respectfully as they chorused ”Mother”.

Madam Lu smiled and rushed forward, she held Lu Yaozhu's hand up smiling and said ”Xiao Zhu! It has been a while”

She dropped one of his hands and placed her hands on his cheek, ”I didn't think that I would see you this soon”. She glanced behind him and didn't see Su Liya, ”where is Liya? Didn't she come back with you?”

Lu Yaozhu brought her hand down from his cheek and put his hands through her palm. He smiled, ”mom, Ya Ya is ill. She needs to rest in bed, it wasn't safe for her to travel. Once she gets better, I will send for her”.

Madam Lu looked up eyes wide, ”She is that sick? Oh no, what happened to her?”

Lu Yaozhu looked at her with raised eyebrows and then glanced at his brother and sister-in-law. He was surprised to hear his mother worried for Ya Ya, wasn't his mother sceptical of her before their move.

Why the sudden change in attitude? His brother and sister-in-law just shared a gaze and smiled. His elder brother scratched his nose and smirked. Lu Yaozhu looked back at his mother's expectant expression, ”it is mother serious mother, it is just a stomach illness, she just needs to take some medicine to replenish her health. There is no need to worry, Physician Shen is taking care of her”.

Madam Lu was reassured when she heard that Physician Shen was with her. She had decided to give Su Liya a chance after her men reported that she didn't have any hand in planning the scandal but was a victim but it was Zhu Fengyin's action these past months that convinced her to give her a chance.

Madam Lu nodded ”that is good, it is getting late Xiao Zhu let's have dinner”.

”Okay” Lu Yaozhu replied walking hand in hand with his mother.

**********

Two days, at the Emperor's Audience Hall

The court had just finished mediating a land case when Imperial Secretary Yu, an elderly man with completely grey hair in his sixties read out the official report submitted by Lu Yaozhu.

”The next matter for deliberation by the entire court is the arrest of Deputy Sun and General Sun Wei of the secondary branch of Jingyan's Sun family based in Ningzhuo for Embezzlement. The charge is brought against them by General Lu Yaozhu, governor of Ningzhuo.

”The two men were taken into the Ministry of Justice for questioning. I call on Chief Inspector Mu Yitze to read his results”