Empress Lu looked haggard. As soon as Lu Ruoyun arrived, she dismissed the attendants and beckoned Lu Ruoyun to sit beside her.
Lu Ruoyun forced a smile and paid her respects to the Empress.
"Good Yunyun, there's no one else here. If you're unhappy, you don't have to hold it in. This matter is all your brother's fault. Mother will apologize to you on his behalf. Later, Mother will definitely teach him a good lesson and make him realize how wrong he was. Don't worry, he will definitely treat you well in the future," Empress Lu said, holding Lu Ruoyun's hand to comfort her.
"His Highness returned to the manor this morning, but he was very drunk. I just came to inform Mother not to worry. I can't stay in the palace for long; I have to go back and take care of His Highness. I'm worried the servants won't be able to take good care of him!" Lu Ruoyun's eyes were red, and though she tried to hold back her tears, her eyes betrayed how wronged she felt.
"You are a good child, Mother knows. Don't worry, Mother will definitely give you an explanation for this matter," Empress Lu said. "As for the Emperor, I will accompany you to see him. We must at least put on a show."
Lu Ruoyun agreed.
She accompanied Empress Lu and made an appearance.
Emperor Chongwen bestowed some gifts as a gesture of comfort.
After returning to the Second Prince's manor, Lu Ruoyun changed out of her formal attire, put on ordinary clothes, and headed straight for the outer courtyard.
The study was attended by a maid who had originally served Su Qingyue.
Although the Second Prince had woken up, he was still drunk. He was pulling and tugging at the maid, who was trying to dodge him. The Second Prince was very displeased. "When did the girls from Baihua Tower become so difficult? I spent a lot of money to have fun, and this is how you serve me? Go call the madam of Baihua Tower here. I want to ask her how she trained her girls!"
Lu Ruoyun's face turned dark.
He had abandoned her on their wedding day and then gone to a place of ill repute to seek pleasure. He clearly had no regard for her, otherwise, how could he bear to let her become a laughingstock in the capital?
How was she, Lu Ruoyun, inferior to Su Qingyue? He had gone to such lengths for Su Qingyue!
Good, very good.
Lu Ruoyun took a deep breath, finally suppressing the anger in her heart.
She walked step by step to the Second Prince. Su Qingyue's maid, having struggled free from the Second Prince's grasp, quickly bowed to Lu Ruoyun. Her mistress was not in the manor, and it would be easy for Lu Ruoyun to deal with a mere maid.
Lu Ruoyun didn't even acknowledge her, directly sitting down beside the Second Prince. "If Your Highness wishes to drink, your concubine will accompany you. Your Highness is of noble status. If you lower yourself to visit Baihua Tower and are caught by the censors, who knows what trouble will arise!"
"Yunyun?" The Second Prince squinted and looked for a while before recognizing Lu Ruoyun sitting beside him. "Why are you here?"
"Naturally, your concubine was worried about Your Highness," Lu Ruoyun said. "Drinking too much is bad for your health. Your Highness, your concubine has asked someone to brew a hangover soup for you. Would Your Highness like to have some?"
"No, no. If I drink the hangover soup, I'll sober up, and then there will be all those troubles again," the Second Prince refused, shaking his head. "This is so much better. I don't have to think about anything. This is so good, so good!"
"Your Highness, escaping will not solve any problems. Can you really be drunk forever? If you continue like this, when Sister Qingyue returns, she will be unhappy if she sees it," Lu Ruoyun coaxed the Second Prince gently.
"Qingyue? If I don't drink, Qingyue will come back?" the Second Prince asked, his eyes hazy with drink.