Chapter 125: The Confessions of a traitorous official 2 (1/2)

The Imperial Shrine of Worship.

Empress Lu had nowhere in mind to go as she left Jiangxi palace, she just wanted to get far away from the Emperor before she did or said something she would regret. After two decades of marriage, she had assumed she had seen the worse of her husband but she was only deluding herself to think that. Emperor Zhong was no longer the shy man she married, she could no longer recognise him.

She paid no attention to her surroundings and just kept working until she got to the temple located in the Imperial Palace. She missed the surprised looks behind the salutes, she had received from the servants on the way.

They had all heard of the current misfortune the Lu family were experiencing. It was all that was talked about in the capital, they were shocked to see her walking around after she was grounded at Jiangxi Palace by the Emperor.

The greetings stopped as she bent into the stone pathway leading to the imperial shrine of worship. She stopped at the entrance of the Imperial shrine of worship and looked inside, there usually wasn't any visitors during the day. She pulled up her gown and walked over the entryway. She walked the short distance to the front entrance of the Imperial Shrine of worship.

The Imperial Shrine was a sacred place of worship in the palace, the Emperor and Empress made sacrifices to their ancestors in this pavilion. The Imperial Shrine served as more than just a prayer temple but a memorial room for members of the Imperial family. The People of northern Wei were placed great importance on honouring their ancestors.

Every compound contained a wooden screen inscribed with auspicious words. The Imperial Shrine of worship was a spacious pavilion with three wide located at the Western side of the palace. The bigger hall was the main hall open to the public. It was where the public worship of the royal Ancestors was held annually.

While the inner room was where the Emperor and other senior members of the royal family worshipped their ancestors. They burned incense for their ancestors during the anniversary of their dead. The central part of the main hall was for the Emperor to worship and eat sacrificial meats. In the western part was a gold statue of Buddha.

The Memorial tablets of past Emperors and other members of the royal family that made notable contributions to the Empire was arranged around a much smaller Buddha statue. Candies were a lot around the room, while incense sticks were placed in a bowl for visitors to burn.

Layers upon layers of memorial tablets encircled the buddha statue, among them was the memorial tablet belonging to Grand Princess Bai. The Emperor's elder sister. A tall man in a green official uniform stood in front of the memorial tablet belonging to Emperor Zhong's younger sister, Princess Bai.

Empress Zhong removed her hand from Xuanyi's hands and whispered, ”Xuanyi, I need to speak with Minister Zhu, please keep a watch out for me”.

Xuanyj glanced at the minister standing solemnly by the memorial tablet and nodded. She bowed, hurriedly retreated and stood in the hallway a short distance from the door.

Empress Lu climbed the two low steps and walked into the room, she glanced from her old friend to the black wooden memorial tablet and closed her eyes. She counted to three in her mind before walking forward.

”Yawen-ge, it has been a while”, Empress Lu said as she got closer.

Minister Zhu turned around and gave her a half-bow, ”Your Highness, please excuse my presence”.

”That's okay, no need to get worried” She walked forward and stood next to him. She lit an incense and put it on the burner. Minister Zhu turned back and faced his wife's memorial tablet.

Empress Lu bowed and as she stood whispered, ”Why didn't you tell me about the arrest”.

Minister Zhu sighed ” did he have to tell you that today?”

Empress Lu Knew who the ”He”, Zhu Yawen was talking about, they were both used to being used by this mutual friend of theirs. She laughed mockingly, ”I am surprised he could stay at ease till now, can you believe that he doesn't even remember that today was the anniversary of his best friends death”.

Minister Zhu glanced at her, ”how do you do it? All this hiding around is tiring, why do I always have to save him from himself?”

”Someone has to do it and he has pushed me away. You are the only person that can do that”