Chapter 122 - Treason 3
Chapter 122 – Treason 3
Fangxi Pavilion, the Governor's house, Ningzhuo
The surrounding of the entire compound was covered in snow. Unlike the earlier weeks, the snow had gotten heavier. Everyone has switched to full winter gear, Fireplaces were lit in every occupied room in the mansion. Thick fur curtains were hung on the windows and the doors were all shut to keep the cold away.
The health precautions were observed seriously on Fangxi Pavillion, where Su Liya stayed on bed rest. Her maids brought down the bed curtains when the maids delivered her meals to keep her from view. The kitchen had already delivered her lunch, so the bed curtains were raised.
Su Liya sat up on the bed with her back rested on the long wooden frame of the bed, while reading through the secret letter sent by Lu Yaozhu. It was delivered by his shadow guard Yu Ke, minutes earlier. She rolled back the letter and threw it onto the fire at the side of the bed.
She said to Yu Rong Rong who stood at the foot of the bed, "The general and Yu Tao arrived at the capital a few days ago. He has delivered my gift to Zhu Fenfang, I wish I could see the look on her face when she opened the box".
"It wouldn't be a good sight for anyone, I believe that Madam Zhu would cause a scene. Mistress, aren't you worried that Madam Zhu would cause trouble for you?"
"Oh, I don't doubt that she would take everything to heart. I am counting on her doing exactly that, You must be wondering why I did something so childish" she chuckled and continued "my actions might seem childish but that is the best step to take. The grudge between the both of us runs deep. Even if I avoid Zhu Fenfang, she won't let me be. When someone is prejudiced against you, nothing you do would satisfy them so why bother?'
Rong Rong bit her lip quietly, she didn't understand what her mistress meant by counting on her doing exactly that' and wanted to understand it properly. "Your Highness, why are you counting on her trying to make you pay for making fun of him"
Su Liya got comfortable on the bed, she carefully repositioned her body to avoid getting body ache. "Why else if not to get my revenge, I tried to prevent Zhu Fenfang from getting married to the Crown Prince but things didn't completely go as planned. Since she still married the Crown Prince, although it was as a concubine. She has fate on her side is if I want to destroy her, I have to make her do it herself."
Rong Rong picked up a soft pillow and put it behind Su Liya, "Does Your Highness wish to egg her on into doing something dangerous?"
"Yes! You, my dear, is a smart cookie" she tapped Rong Rong's button-sized nose. "I found out from the general that the assassin who attacked me at that fishing village on our way here was sent by Crown Princess consort Xia Ying. She didn't wish to marry the Crown Prince because she fancies herself in love with the general. She wanted me out of the way so that she could marry the general"
Rong Rong balled up her fist at her sides, "what! Her methods are as bad as that of the Grand Princess?"
"Shush! The walls have ears!" She whispered holding her index finger close to her lips and looking to the door.
"I am sorry….. but I was so mad! How can she send an assassin after you just because she wanted to marry the General? Is she stupid! What makes her think that her grandmother would give up on a great opportunity to make her granddaughter, the Empress" Rong Rong hissed and folded both hands on her shoulder.
Su Liya sat forward, balled up a napkin and threw it at Rong Rong, "Damn it, Rong Rong, don't get all heated. I was just telling you my grand plan to turn the two obnoxious women against each other. If everything goes as I planned, they will be too busy attacking each other to pay me any mind. Think Rong Rong if you were as hot-tempered and as concerned about your low born status as Zhu Fenfang. How would you react after recording such a gift from me?"
Rong Rong caught the balls up napkin. She walked closer and sat on the edge of the bed. "Honestly, if I would get determined to show you up by improving my station and in Zhu Fenfang's case, that would mean becoming the Principal wife. However, the Crown Prince already has a principal wife and one that is as powerful as Xia Ying. It won't be easy to change that, any sensible person can see that".
"When has Zhu Fenfang ever been sensible. Like a typical female lead, she feels entitled to the crown Prince. That Entitlement would be her undoing because she would start going against Xia Ying. Which would put both women at odds, a house divided can not stand. Both women are bound to lose out, what better revenge is there than to watch them eat at each other", Su Liya smirked.
"That is the ultimate revenge indeed" Rong Rong jumped up from the bed "Don't worry, I will find someone to keep an eye on the two. I am friends with a few maids in the Crown Prince's residence. I can keep an eye on how things develop!"
Su Liya laughed, "Why won't you, my little gossip Queen".
It took more than five days to get to Ningzhuo by horse from the capital so by the time Yu Ke delivered the letter, the entire Lu family was arrested. Zhu Fengyin's letter arrived a day letter. Lu Yaozhu had already alerted her of the Prime Minister's movement in his letter so she knew that the arrest was imminent.
She had Baozhai deliver a secret letter to Wu Yao, informing her to get ready for the big day. The Big day arrived three days later in the evening, Su Liya had just finished having an early dinner and was seated by the fire with Rong Rong while Baozhai gave her a massage.
When the residence was surrounded but unlike when the duke's residence was surrounded. The servants of the governor's mansion weren't arrested just only Su Liya and her maids. Before the guards got to the main courtyard Ah Li badged into the room and fell to her knees
"Your highness! Your Highness! The mansion was surrounded by royal guards, they claim to be here to bring you to the capital!"
"What!" Su Liya exclaimed weakly, to pretend to be surprised while also maintaining the pretence of being weak but within her, she thought 'Finally, I don't have to keep taking those bitter concoctions. Building my immunity my a**. Once I get an opportunity, I will get back at Lu Yaozhu for making me take that concoction'.
Boazhai and Rong Rong were already informed of the plan, they stood at either side of her and helped their mistress up.
Su Liya looked down at the kneeling maid m, "leave here, you might get implicated if you get caught in here"
Ah Li looked up shocked to see the princess standing with a calm expression, "your highness I… What about you? If you leave now_"
"They will get me and then my punishment would be heavier. Don't worry about me and just leave. This is my fight, I will handle it!" She said firmly.
"I_ Okay" Ah Li stood and glanced at the princess for a minute before running away.
Rong Rong fetched a fur coat for Su Liya from the cupboard and wrapped it around her.
"Rong Rong, the seal!"
"Yes, I will get it" Rong Rong nodded and rushed to the cupboard at the side, opened the box and pulled out the Lu family's seal. She handed it over to Su Liya, who put it inside her sleeve.
"Get a coat for Baozhai and yourself, we will not be going far"
"Yes" Ten minutes later Rong Rong came back with a thick fur coat for baozhai, she already had hers on. Baozha put both hands into the sleeve of the coat tied up the belt.
The living door was pushed open and soldiers rushed in, Su Liya glanced at both of her maids and holding both of their hands walked out of the sleeping chamber to meet them. The leader of the soldiers, a tall muscular man with a bush of black beards on his jaw and under his nose turned to the door at the side of the room as it opened.
When they badged in and didn't see the lady of the house, for a split second he thought that She had escaped and was about sending the guards with hounds after her. The Emperor ordered them to bring the general's wife back to the capital but he didn't say if he wanted her alive or not.
He has worked for the Emperor for over a decade and more, he knew that except the Emperor wanted someone alive. He wouldn't give any extra instructions, even if the general's wife was killed in the search the Emperor won't hold it against them.. After all, she is the wife of a criminal and one accused of treason no less.