"By imperial decree, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Zhaolie, Lu Qingwan, is summoned to the palace!"
The eunuch's sharp voice pierced the air. Lu Qingwan curved her lips. "It's finally here."
She clutched her chest and coughed weakly. "Please forgive me, Eunuch. I'm feeling a bit unwell. Allow me to change my clothes. Please wait a moment."
The eunuch's expression immediately soured. "What, you expect His Majesty to wait for you?"
"You are too kind, Eunuch. Yue'er!"
She gave a meaningful look, and Yue'er, understanding, slipped a purse to the eunuch. "You've worked hard, Eunuch. Please wait a moment, my young lady will be ready shortly."
Having received a gratuity, the eunuch's stern face softened.
This eldest daughter of the Lu family doesn't seem as incompetent as rumored. It's just that the large birthmark on her face means she's destined to be far from the position of Crown Princess.
Lan Shi, who had heard the commotion, approached obsequiously. "Oh my, a distinguished guest! I'm late!"
"Qingqing, you too. How could you let the eunuch wait standing? Eunuch, please have some tea. May I ask the purpose of His Majesty's summons for my Qingqing?"
The eunuch glanced at Lan Shi, whose grand pronouncements were followed by no action. Not even a cup of tea appeared.
A mere concubine, yet she tried to act like the main wife and even addressed the legitimate daughter by her given name.
Taking a bribe meant he wasn't opposed to putting this concubine in her place.
"How could I know His Majesty's thoughts? Madam, your actions, to put it lightly, are meddling. To put it strongly, you are presumptuously speculating on imperial intent. Don't pry into matters you shouldn't!"
With a reprimand like a "high hat," Lan Shi fell silent sheepishly.
A short while later, Lu Qingwan entered Weiyang Palace, limping.
"Your humble subject greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years."
As she spoke, she staggered when she bowed, nearly falling to the ground.
She quickly said, "Your humble subject has lost decorum. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
Emperor Jingyou frowned. "What is wrong with you? Are you ill or injured?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, by your great grace, Your Majesty bestowed the marriage between your humble subject and His Highness the Crown Prince. Your humble subject is deeply grateful and specifically went to Xiangguo Temple to pray for blessings.
I wished to pray for the prosperity of the Great Gan Dynasty and for my own good fortune to live in harmony with the Crown Prince.
I intended to copy scriptures in the meditation room to show my sincerity. Unexpectedly, I was struck unconscious by villains and thrown into the woods behind Xiangguo Temple.
On my way down the mountain in the dark, I accidentally sprained my ankle..."
Emperor Jingyou's brow furrowed as he listened. "Quickly, a seat!"
The attendant promptly brought a chair. Lu Qingwan, feigning surprise, said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Only then did she cautiously sit down, her posterior barely touching the edge of the chair, like a startled quail.
Once seated, she noticed Feng Qingheng and Lu Siwan also standing nearby, wrapped in thick cloaks and holding hand warmers, looking like ghosts from the netherworld.
Upon seeing Lu Qingwan, Feng Qingheng eagerly said, "Father, since Lu Qingwan is here, I beg Your Majesty to preside and dissolve the engagement between us."
"Lu Qingwan, you are reckless and willful, you missed the wedding, then provoked trouble in the street, causing the Crown Prince and Lu Siwan to fall into the water. Do you know your crime?"
"Your humble subject knows her crime."
Lu Qingwan knelt on the ground with a thud.
Feng Qingheng was stunned. He thought Lu Qingwan would at least argue if she was unwilling to break the engagement. Was she really so compliant?
Then he heard Lu Qingwan speak with feigned sorrow: "Your humble subject was infatuated with the Crown Prince, causing my father to worry about his unfilial daughter before he went to war.
He went against his principles to beg Your Majesty for this marriage, to fulfill this unfilial daughter's deep affection. This is her first crime.
Your humble subject knew that the Crown Prince had no affection for her, yet she harbored unrequited feelings and deluded herself into thinking that the Crown Prince's gifts of hairpins and ink meant he had feelings for her. This is her second crime.
Your humble subject knew the auspicious hour had passed, yet she rushed down the mountain, only to see the Crown Prince and my sister in the same carriage, with my sister already wearing the Crown Princess's court attire. In a moment of impulse, she startled the Crown Prince and my sister. This is her third crime.
Your Majesty, your humble subject knows her crime. Unrequited affection means one must accept the consequences of the gamble. No matter what punishment Your Majesty deems fit, your humble subject accepts it.
I beg Your Majesty not to tell my father. I do not wish for him to be distracted from his duties on the front lines by his unfilial daughter!"
After speaking, Lu Qingwan kowtowed to the ground and remained there for a long time. The others could hear her choked sobs of sadness.
"Well said, unrequited affection means one must accept the consequences of the gamble."
A deep voice sounded.
Lu Qingwan, her eyes brimming with crocodile tears, looked over and saw a man in a black python robe approaching against the light.
Sunlight slanted across the man, casting a dazzling halo around him.
The only imperfection was that the man was sitting in a cumbersome four-wheeled chair, being pushed.
Peering closer, Lu Qingwan's pupils dilated in shock. "Holy hell, isn't this the short-lived ghost she... did things with the other day? Why is he here?!"
Emperor Jingyou asked with concern, "Xi Wu, why are you here? The imperial physician told you to rest, why are you running around?"
Feng Qingheng also bowed to the newcomer. "Greetings, Imperial Uncle."
Lu Qingwan was dumbfounded. Feng Xi Wu, the Great Gan Regent, a war god whose crippled legs struck fear into enemies. She had actually slept with him!
If he found out, would she still be alive?
Feng Xi Wu looked at his legs indifferently. "My injury is such that resting or not makes little difference. I was bored in my manor and came to amuse myself with my brother. I didn't expect such liveliness here. I seem to have come at the right time!"
Emperor Jingyou smiled. "Since you're here, give me some advice. How should this matter be handled?"
"Your brother just told me to rest, and now you're assigning me tasks?"
Feng Xi Wu raised an eyebrow. "A forced union is never sweet. Since the Crown Prince and Miss Lu have no mutual feelings, then grant their wish and cancel the engagement. Marquis Lu is guarding the frontier. We cannot have his beloved daughter become a resentful woman who loses favor on her wedding day!"
Emperor Jingyou looked at Feng Qingheng and Lu Qingwan. "What do you say?"
Lu Qingwan, her eyes still misty, said with tearful gratitude, "Your Majesty is wise. Your humble subject knows she has made many foolish mistakes before and dares not ask for more. She only wishes for a clean break from the Crown Prince, and for them to live their own lives in peace!"
After all, Feng Qingheng was a prince. Even if she made demands, Emperor Jingyou would only give him a mild reprimand.
It was better to seize this opportunity to annul the bothersome engagement. Later, she could settle all old and new grievances!