"Go and bring the Second Prince to the palace, by any means necessary," Empress Lu said expressionlessly. "If you cannot bring him, do not bother returning."
The Second Prince was bound and stuffed into a sedan chair, which was then carried to Empress Lu's palace.
When he was taken out, his mouth was still gagged with a handkerchief.
After the handkerchief was removed, the Second Prince began to curse loudly, "You rebels! How dare you treat this prince like this!"
He was still drunk, and likely had not seen Empress Lu clearly.
Seeing the Second Prince in such a state, Empress Lu's anger flared. She slapped him across the face.
"How dare you! Open your eyes and look properly, see who is standing before you!" Empress Lu said fiercely.
The slap was delivered with considerable force. The Second Prince's eyes cleared slightly, but he still appeared drunk.
"Mother Empress? Why have you left the palace? Oh, no, this is Mother Empress's palace. Have I entered the palace? How did I enter? I don't remember!" The Second Prince was very confused. "I remember, I was drinking at my residence. Yes, drinking. The wine was good. Mother Empress, let's drink, have a cup. Mother Empress, I have good news for you. Your daughter-in-law, my Imperial Consort, is pregnant. You, you will soon be a grandmother!"
"Mother Empress, aren't you happy? I am happy, I am so happy." The Second Prince said, gesticulating wildly.
Looking at him like this, Empress Lu's anger surged.
"Your Highness, please do not stoop to his level. He is drunk now and does not know what he is saying," the head palace maid said quickly, trying to placate Empress Lu, whose expression was grim.
"Drunk words are true words. What he is saying now is his true heart," Empress Lu said, her voice icy. "Go, brew more sobering soup and force-feed it to him. Arrange for some people to bathe him. The smell of alcohol is giving me a headache."
The head palace maid called for several eunuchs, who helped the Second Prince away, supporting and dragging him.
"Prepare for Yun'er," Empress Lu said, rubbing her forehead.
Although this was a last resort, she knew her son well. Once the deed was done, he would have to take responsibility, even if he was unwilling. At that time, she would simply say that Yun'er was unaware of the plan and that it was all arranged by her, the Empress.
Let him hate her.
Once he ascended the throne, he would surely understand her good intentions.
After burning incense and bathing, Lu Ruoyun lay on the bed clad only in sheer silk.
After bathing and drinking several bowls of sobering soup, the Second Prince had mostly sobered up.
He was taken to a side chamber to rest.
The incense Empress Lu had specifically arranged to be burned soon took effect.
The Second Prince seemed to smell a familiar scent in the side chamber, the incense that Qing Yue favored the most.
The Second Prince inhaled deeply, increasingly convinced that Su Qing Yue was in the side chamber.
"Qing Yue, is that you? Has Mother Empress found you?" The Second Prince's eyes became hazy as he stumbled towards the inner room, following the scent of the incense.
To the Second Prince, Lu Ruoyun, lying on the bed, now appeared as Su Qing Yue.
"Qing Yue, where did you go? I've been looking for you for so long," the Second Prince asked tearfully. "I miss you so much! Promise me you won't leave me again!"
A hint of sarcasm touched Lu Ruoyun's lips, but she was helpless.
The Second Prince, overcome with emotion, held Lu Ruoyun tightly in his arms.
"Your Highness," Lu Ruoyun forced herself to respond.
Feeling her response, the Second Prince lay down with Lu Ruoyun in his embrace. The bed curtains fell, swaying gently.