Chapter 128: A Relentless enemy 2 (2/2)

”Don't worry about that, the Empress already had everything set. She set over water, food, clothes and medicine”.

Lu Yaozhu nodded silently, his suspected that his Imperial aunt had a hand in getting the state Duke involved. it was a smart move because the Emperor can't easily discredit anything submitted by the state Duke.

He stood carefully while using the back of the chair to support his weight away from his bad foot. Mu Yitze rushed forward to help him out of the room. Mu Yitze led him through a hiding underground passage that led straight to the palace bathhouse. His assistant Yu Tao stood by the bathtub with three male attendants.

Yu Tao passed the towel in his hand to the attendant next to him and ran up to him. He replaced Mu Yitze and led him to the seat next to the bathtub. Mu Yitze retreated after leaving Yaozhu to Yu Tao's care and rushed back to report to the Empress at Jiangxi palace.

*********

Meanwhile, at Imperial Consort Shi's palace.

Imperial consort Shi laid by her side on a recliner, eyes closed as she listened to the maid play the guipin. She was dressed in a loose cotton gown with her hair packed up in a loose bun. A slim white jade phoenix hairpin was hooked through her hair.

Imperial Consort Shi was in one of her rare good moods, things were going good for her. The Lu family was arrested, once the confession was signed, the entire family would be executed. The Empress can't make things hard for her anymore, soon she would be the most powerful woman in the haram.

Once the Empress lost her support, she can finally take back her son's position as Crown Prince. The future looked very bright for her, she calmly slipped into sleep.

The sound of hurried footsteps and her son calling for her wiped the sleep away from her eyes.

Zhongshan Cheng rushed out of the Emperor's audience hall as soon as the Emperor left. He would usually wait for some minutes after court to discuss with a few close ministers. However, after the official Edict for his grandfather's arrest was submitted. He was no longer in the mood to talk.

Everyone had abandoned him, even his father Emperor refused to see him.

He didn't wait for his mother's Eunuch to announce him when he arrived at her palace and just walked in.

”Mother! Mother!” He didn't find her in the main rooms and walked into the bedroom. A maid hurried out from the side of the palace and gave him a salute

”Her highness is resting in the side room,” she said head bowed low.

Zhongshan Cheng nodded and rushed to the side room while calling out, ”Mother, Mother!”

Imperial consort Shi sat up quickly and turned to the door, Her face was flushed. She blinked and rubbed her eyes gently. ”Cheng'ah! What is wrong? Why are you shouting?”

Zhongshan Cheng looked at the maids around his mother and pulsed his lips. Imperial consort Shi immediately glanced at the maids by her side, ”Leave us”.

”Yes,” The maids chorused and retreated.

Zhongshan Cheng made sure that all the maids had gone before speaking. ”We have a problem mother, Grandfather was just removed from his position and arrested!”

”What?” imperial consort Shi stood at the speed of lightning. ”why, how_”

”Imperial Father found out about our deal with the Droko tribe mother!”

”No no no, this is not good. I must speak with the Emperor immediately!” She put her feet into her shoe hurriedly and ran towards the door but was held back by her son.

”Don't bother going mother, Father already announced that grandfather would be executed in three days”