Chapter 226 - A Golden Opportunity 5
Chapter 226 – A Golden Opportunity 5
The next day, hours before the dinner at the Empress palace
Empress Lu stood still while her lady's maids helped her undress, she had just spent the night taking care of the Emperor. Those hours spent with the Emperor to a toe on her, both mentally and physically. No matter what she did or said, she was forever connected to the Emperor. It was difficult to wipe off decades of experiences and feelings. The time spent at the Imperial temple didn't change him she felt about the Emperor, it was Embarrassing that he still held quite a grip on her.
Empress Lu held on to her lady's maid's outstretched hand as she got into the wide wooden bathtub. The water was warm, chasing away the coolness at her bones. She sighed as she was fully submerged and leaned back in the bathtub, resting her head on the rim of the bathtub.
"Leave", she said, "just Xuanyi is enough to help me take a bath".
"Yes, your highness", the maids bowed and withdrew silently. Xuanyi stepped forward and picked up the toiletries in the wooden basket beside the bathtub and brought in close. She poured the scented liquid bath gel on Empress Lu's hair, scrubbing gently to get the oil and dirt out of her hair. Empress Lu moved closer to the edge of the bathtub and leaned her hair towards the small bowl. She shut her eyes as Xuanyi poured warm water down her hair with a wooden scoop and washed the ladder off her hair.
Noticing her mistress's bad mood Xuanyi immediately tried bringing up the young prince. Mentioning her son always lifted the Empress's mood. Since the young prince was joining her Majesty for dinner today, reminding her of that would put her in high spirits.
"Your highness, Xiaobao at the imperial kitchen reported that his majesty instructed the cooks to take care in preparing the meal for today's dinner. I took a sneak peek at the set menu and a majority of the dishes are all Prince Wu's favourite. His majesty put a lot of effort into setting that menu, he was also the one that took the initiative to arrange this dinner. His Majesty must still hold his highness close to his heart"
"Ha! Close to his heart? Please!" Empress Lu Sighed, "although Yaozhu was raised in the palace, did his highness ever pay him any attention much less have a meal with him? It was a miracle when I got him to even have a meal with the Crown Prince. When he cannot even tell his eldest son's favourite food, do you think he would remember his supposed enemy's son's favourite dishes? I was the one that arranged everything".
Xuanyi paused as her cheeks brightened up, she tried to cheer the Empress up but failed miserably. She felt embarrassed and truly saddened because of the hurt she heard in the Empress's voice. Although she couldn't say it out loud for fear of harsh punishment, Xuanyi couldn't help but think, 'it is a pity, his highness for all his year on the throne was neither a good Ruler nor a good father. My young miss would have been happier with someone else than this man'.
Empress Lu as if reading Xuanyi's thoughts said, "I hope my bad luck in marriage would somehow shield my children from any love trials. Although it wasn't sunny I cannot regret it when I got four beautiful children out of this sham of a marriage", she pursed her lips as she remembered her conversation with the Emperor. Whenever they met she was shown one more reason why she and the Emperor were not suited for marriage. Her eyes fell on the painting hanging on the wall opposite the bathtub, it was painted by the Crown Prince a few months earlier, "Ling'er has not had an easy few months, speaking with him privately today is a good idea. Call him over once he arrives at the palace"
"Yes, your highness".
.***********
Hours later, the hall of Splendour.
The hall of splendour was a small hall located at the heart of the inner Palace behind the Emperor's palace where banquets and family dinners for the members of the imperial haram and the royal offsprings were held. There were a lot of rules that regulated the members of the Imperial family, rules that Su Liya was forced to learn those few days she prepared for marriage. She hasn't had much use of the knowledge until now as she was stuck in what she had come to understand as the world's most awkward family dinners.
She as per normal arrangement in any dinner formal or informal shared a table with Lu Yaozhu but for some strange reason, their table was set opposite the Crown Prince's table. Lu Yaozhu was as shocked as she was at the arrangement but wisely kept silent to avoid falling into a trap. Although the proper seating arrangement was observed, they were still placed in a noticeably good position considering the Emperor's undiagnosed dislike for Lu Yaozhu and the Lu family in general.
Su Liya felt on edge as they waited for the Emperor and Empress to arrive as she expected a servant to sent them back but that was the only unoccupied table at this end. It didn't seem like they would be pushed back. However, as the tables were gradually occupied, it became obvious that they were the only other guests present apart from the Royal Princes and Princesses. A few could argue that since she was the Empress's adopted daughter she was also a member of the total family.
The other guests although surprised at their presence kept silent and instead muttered between themselves however the fifth prince questioned their presence as soon as he was seated.
The Fifth Prince Zhongshan Zuo wasn't one to shy away from airing his view and like most members of the royal family, he saw Lu Yaozhu as an uncultured barbarian who did not deserve to be invited to certain events. He usually made snide comments to Lu Yaozhu whenever they met out of jealousy.. The Emperor's absence gave him the best opportunity to attack Lu Yaozhu mercilessly.