Chapter 328
**Chapter 326: Lu Yun Enters the Palace**
Duke Lu held the teacup in his hands, scrutinizing his youngest daughter before him. In terms of looks and talent, Lu Yun was far inferior to her elder sister, Lu Xuan.
Lu Yun was a delicate beauty, charming and obedient.
In the current harem of the Kingdom of Qing, Consort Chen held the highest favor, and it had been a long time since any new faces had entered the palace. The Lu family had recently faced the Emperor's reprimand, their reputation in tatters. Sending Lu Yun into the palace might help to slightly appease the Emperor's mood.
As for Lu Yun winning the Emperor's favor all on her own? Duke Lu held little hope for that.
After a moment of contemplation, Duke Lu spoke solemnly to Lu Yun, “You care deeply for your sister, and sisterly harmony is a good thing. If that’s the case, you should stay in the palace for a while to take care of her.”
Pausing for effect, he added meaningfully, “If you can catch the Emperor’s eye, it would be a boon for our Lu family. If not, there’s no need to linger; you can return to Yunzhou immediately.”
Duke Lu was not blessed with sons, having only two daughters, Lu Xuan and Lu Yun. If the Emperor did not take a liking to Lu Yun, marrying her off to a high-ranking official could still salvage the family’s standing. It was a gamble worth taking.
Unaware of her father’s true intentions, Lu Yun nodded eagerly, “Father, don’t worry. I will not let you down.”
The carriage came to a stop on a bustling street.
Lu Yun stepped out with a maid, bowed once more to Duke Lu, and turned to walk towards the Lu family residence in Yanjing.
Entering the harem of the Kingdom of Qing was no easy feat. She still needed to submit a petition to Consort Chen, detailing her reasons for entering the palace, and only with her approval could she care for Lu Xuan.
Duke Lu’s carriage continued along the road, leaving Yanjing city behind. The wheels rolled over the long official road, leaving three long tracks in the snow.
Suddenly, the carriage halted.
The coachman called out from outside, “My lord, there’s a woman blocking the way ahead.”
Duke Lu lifted the curtain. The official road was blanketed in white, the world dressed in silver. A shabby carriage was parked by the roadside, and a slender woman stood in the snow, holding an oiled paper umbrella, her face veiled in white gauze, exuding an air of elegance and grace.
Duke Lu squinted, recognizing her identity. He instructed, “Please ask her to come over.”
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Lu Yun had thought that Consort Chen would block her entry into the palace. However, the next day, news spread within the palace that Consort Chen had agreed to let Lu Yun enter to care for the gravely ill Lu Xuan.
Lu Yun felt both joy and suspicion.
Sitting at her vanity, she carefully shaped her brows, murmuring to herself, “Does she not realize that I will take away her favor once I enter the palace? How could she let me in without a word of protest?”
The maid chimed in, “Perhaps Consort Chen truly believes that you are entering the palace to care for the Shu Fei.”
Lu Yun pressed her lips together, a hint of mockery in her smile.
It was simply unfathomable that such a dim-witted consort could hold the Emperor’s favor.
After meticulously preparing herself, Lu Yun arrived at the royal palace of the Kingdom of Qing. The air was frigid, snowflakes swirling down as she donned a fox-fur coat, wrapped in a thick pink cloak, and held a small warming stove in her hands, walking along the long palace path.
She gazed ambitiously at the towering palace walls, secretly envisioning herself crowned as Empress in the future.
A smile crept onto her lips.
“Ah, isn’t this the second young lady of the Lu family?” an aged voice called out.
Lu Yun looked up to see a slightly older eunuch dressed in embroidered palace robes nearby. She recognized him as Eunuch Zhou, the head eunuch of the palace, a man of great power and trusted by the Emperor.
Behind Eunuch Zhou were six young eunuchs, each carrying a brocade box. Eunuch Zhou approached with a smile, “Miss Lu, what brings you to the palace today?”
Lu Yun held a deep-seated disdain for eunuchs.
A group of rootless men, neither male nor female, their scent of perfume was quite unpleasant.
Yet, Lu Yun understood that if she were to become a consort in the future, she would have to deal with eunuchs frequently. She forced a naive smile, “My sister is gravely ill, and the consort has permitted me to enter and care for her.”
Eunuch Zhou chuckled, “I see.”
Curious, Lu Yun asked, “Eunuch Zhou, on such a snowy day, where are you headed?”
Eunuch Zhou replied, “Delivering some items to Chang’an Palace.”
Feigning concern, Lu Yun said, “Since you’re busy, I won’t keep you. I’ll first visit Consort Chen in Yongning Palace and then return to Changxin Palace to care for my sister.”
According to palace rules, daughters of officials must first pay their respects to the heads of the six palaces before visiting their relatives. Without pausing, Lu Yun hurried towards Yongning Palace.
Eunuch Zhou stood in the snow, his sharp gaze sweeping over Lu Yun’s retreating figure, and the conversation between Lu Yun and Duke Lu floated back to his mind.
[Lu Yun said: Father, this eunuch has a strange smell.]
[Duke Lu replied: Eunuchs are rootless, so they naturally have a strong odor. Just keep your distance in the future.]
The Lu father and daughter had secretly belittled Eunuch Zhou behind his back.
Eunuch Zhou, childless and without family, despised being referred to as “rootless.” The Lu family’s sharp words had lodged themselves in his heart.
“Master, the second young lady of the Lu family is dressed quite splendidly,” whispered a young eunuch holding an umbrella for Eunuch Zhou.
Eunuch Zhou sneered, “She claims to enter the palace to care for the Shu Fei, but I suspect her intentions lie elsewhere.”
Eunuch Zhou continued leading the group of young eunuchs towards Chang’an Palace.
At the palace gate, De Shun noticed them and hurriedly approached, “Master, in this bitter cold, you still trouble yourself to deliver items personally. Please, take a rest; I’ll help you arrange the vases.”
Eunuch Zhou patted De Shun’s shoulder, casually inquiring, “Is the black-boned chicken soup that the Emperor and the two princes wanted prepared?”
De Shun replied, “The imperial chef is simmering the black-boned chicken soup over low heat; three bowls have been sent over.”
Eunuch Zhou said, “You take someone to set up the serving table; I’ll handle the soup delivery.”
*My lord, there’s more to this chapter. Please click the next page to continue reading; it gets even more exciting!*
De Shun didn’t dare to stop him and took the other young eunuchs to tidy up the vases and table. Eunuch Zhou carried the three bowls of chicken soup into Chang’an Palace.
Inside, it was warm and cozy.
Li Yuanjing sat by the luohan bed, leaning against a soft pillow, flipping through military reports sent from Liangzhou. Li Chengtai sat cross-legged on the other side of the bed, holding a small brush, sketching on rice paper.
Li Chengyou was sprawled next to his brother, wrapped in a thick tiger-skin blanket, sound asleep.
The atmosphere was peaceful and serene.
Eunuch Zhou tiptoed over, carefully placing the three bowls of chicken soup on the table in the middle of the bed. He spoke softly, “Your Majesty, Eighth Prince, have some black-boned chicken soup to warm your stomach.”
Li Chengtai set down his brush and kicked his sleeping brother Li Chengyou.
Li Chengyou yawned repeatedly, his eyes still closed, but his little nose began to twitch as if he had caught a whiff of something delicious.
Li Chengyou exclaimed, “Is that chicken soup? Brother, are you having some? If not, I’ll drink it all!”
Li Chengtai replied, “Not having any.”
Li Chengyou declared, “Then I’ll drink it!”
He cradled the bowl and gulped down two big mouthfuls, his eyes instantly lighting up. “Father! This black-boned chicken soup is so delicious! You have to try it; you’ll regret it if you don’t!”
Li Yuanjing took a couple of sips and confirmed that the soup was indeed delicious. He instructed Eunuch Zhou, “Send a bowl over to Yongning Palace for Weiwei while it’s still hot.”
Eunuch Zhou frowned, “Your Majesty, at this hour, Consort Chen should be receiving the second young lady of the Lu family. She may not have the time to drink it. Perhaps I should wait and send the soup later?”
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