Translator – Xiao He Lian
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Chapter 70.1
(Continued from the previous chapter of Dreams.)
In October, Chang’an was shrouded in cold light and felt desolate.
As many people were promoted, as many were demoted. However, no matter how much turmoil the Crown Prince caused, Emperor Chengyuan still practiced seclusion and even brought several concubines from the imperial harem into Taoist temples.
Although the current situation in the court seemed to have little to do with the deep-rooted Zhenguo Mansion, Lu Yan knew that the military power held by the Lu family was enough to make the future emperor fearful…
But he didn’t expect that his hidden worries would come so suddenly.
On October 27th, the snow fell to the ground and turned into frost.
Early in the morning, Eunuch Fan, who was beside Emperor Chengyuan, smiled and delivered an imperial edict to the Duke of Zhenguo’s Mansion.
The Duke of Zhenguo was not at home. Princess Jing’an and Lu Yan, dressed in ceremonial robes, stood in front of the table, ready to receive the emperor’s order.
The northern border has been in unrest recently and the eldest princess originally thought that the Emperor was preparing to let Lu Jun lead the troops to fight, but she did not expect that this imperial edict was actually an edict granting marriage.
Eunuch Fan smiled and said, “Congratulations, Grand Princess. The divination of the marriage between the Heir Apparent and Seventh Young Lady Xu was personally calculated by the Sage and Taoist Master Ge. It is a match made in heaven.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Yan took the imperial edict with a sullen face and even his words of thanks sounded as if they were quenched by ice.
The night dew was heavy, and the Grand princess looked tired. She placed her index finger on her forehead and rubbed her temple heavily.
The momo beside her whispered, “The Heir Apparent is here.”
Princess Jing’an took a deep breath and whispered, “Tell him to come in.”
Although the Grand princess had a good impression of Seventh Young Lady Xu she was still somewhat dissatisfied with others interfering in her son’s marriage.
But no matter how dissatisfied he was, the imperial edict had already been issued, and it was the golden words that no one could change.
Lu Yan walked in, pursed his lips slightly, and sat down directly.
Seeing his expression, the Grand princess’ heart skipped a beat. “It’s so late, do you have something to say?”
Lu Yan picked up the teapot in front of him, slowly poured the tea into the cup, handed it to the Grand princess, and said, “I’ll trouble you to help me postpone this marriage until the end of the year. Can mother just pretend to be sick.”
“What do you mean?” the Grand princess frowned.
“Mother, your son has someone he wants to marry.”
These words came like thunder out of the blue.
The Grand princess’ hand holding the teacup froze for a moment, and after a long while, she asked anxiously, “Who is it?”
Lu Yan clenched the ring on his finger and said, “Shen Wenqi’s daughter, the third daughter of the Shen family, Shen Zhen.”
The teacup fell with a clang, spun around on the ground, and water splashed all over the floor.
“Who did you say? Say it again?”
Lu Yan curled his lips in self-mockery and said word by word: “This son has explained it clearly enough. If mother still wants to hear it, then I will say it again. The third daughter of the Shen family, Shen Zhen.”
“Get out! I will pretend that I didn’t hear anything you said today.” The anger in the Grand princess’s eyes was clear.
The Grand princess’ fingers trembled and quickly recalled what Lu Yan had done in the past few months.
Shen Zhen from the Shen family…
No wonder, no wonder her son who had always been pure and simple-minded would suddenly disregard his reputation and keep a courtesan in a brothel.
How could he come up with the idea of using the top courtesan as a shield?
The Grand princess stood up and said, “Are you still not leaving?”
Lu Yan bent down and picked up the teacup.
The Grand princess lowered her voice, but it carried a kind of majesty that could not be defied, “Lu Shiyan, for a woman, you even lied to your mother?”
Lu Yan said: “It is my fault that I betrayed my mother’s trust.”
“Do you want me to go find her in person?” The Grand princess’ eyes were red, and she sneered, “The daughters of the Shen family are really capable. First, the son of Xuanping Maquis was head over heels for Shen Yao, and then the Minister of Dali Temple sacrificed his bright future for Shen Shu. But Lu Yan, I didn’t think that there would be another one, you!”
Lu Yan stood up, lifted his robe, knelt straight in front of the Grand Princess and said in a hoarse voice: “She is naive and does not know the world. I forced her to be with me.”
He paused and continued, “Mother has seen her and praised her for her intelligence. If her family had not fallen into poverty, she would not have given herself to me. You know my temper, if not for my own willingness, no one can scheme against me.”
After hearing these words, the Grand princess couldn’t help but take a step back.
As a mother, she knew her son’s character very well. Although he was not heartless, he had a heart of stone. He was willing to protect her to this extent…
He really cares for her.
The Grand princess took a deep breath and said in a trembling voice, “Have you lost your mind? Can’t you see the current situation in the country?”
Lu Yan sneered. He had been an official for several years, so how could he not see it?
Some things seem to be shrouded in mystery, but if you want to know the truth, you just need to see who benefits the most. It is true that Taoist Master Ge is capable, after all, everything he predicted happened one by one.
However, what is truly worth pondering is: Why is it that as soon as Taoist Master Ge entered the capital, the Xu family members were the ones who benefited?
By now, many people can guess the relationship between Taoist Master Ge and Empress Xu.
As for why everyone pretended to be ignorant and was willing to play along with Empress Xu, there was only one reason: the princes in the palace were either dead or disabled, the eldest prince died of illness, the third prince committed treason, the seventh prince had smallpox, and the ninth prince was only five years old…
If he has no intention of rebelling, apart from the current crown prince, the Jin Dynasty will not be able to find another prince who can be the heir to the throne.
“Mother,” Lu Yan said, “I know.”
He knew exactly what he was doing.
But what can he do?
If he really married Seventh Young Lady Xu, he would probably never be able to look directly into those clear and bright eyes again in his life.
How can he open his mouth to say that sentence to Shen Zhen, I’m getting married…
After a while, the Grand princess asked, “Do you still know your identity? You are the heir of the Zhenguo Mansion. The entire Lu family is behind you. The future of the second and third branches is in your hands. If you take the wrong path, what will they do?”
Lu Yan raised his head and said word by word, “I will find a way to get the Emperor to personally revoke his order and will never implicate the Lu family.”
The Grand princess’ eyes were red, and she choked up and said, “In the past few months, I have gone to Changqing Temple almost every day to ask for an audience with the Emperor, but the gate of Changqing Temple is heavily guarded, and I can’t get in at all. The Emperor won’t even see me, so how can you see him?”
“At the end of the year, all nations will come to pay tribute, and the Emperor will definitely come out to observe.” Lu Yan added, “I know that mother doesn’t like to be manipulated by Empress Xu.”
Princess Jing’an uttered a “huh” and then said, “You have already figured it out, right? You also calculated my thoughts as well? Well, in that case, let me ask you, what if your wish cannot be fulfilled?”
“If that’s the case, I will accept my fate…”
If he tried every possible means but still couldn’t marry her, then he, Lu Yan, would owe her.
The Grand Princess stared at her only son for a long time before she said, “I have a headache. Find me a doctor tomorrow.”
“Thank you, mother,” said Lu Yan.
Then the Grand princess pointed at the door and shouted at him, “Get out! Get out now!”
The next morning, Lu Yan was on duty.
Sun Xu saw him and raised his hand to salute, “Lord Lu, congratulations.”
Lu Yan’s expression was gloomy, and he could only grit his teeth and nodded.
Yang Zong whispered, “Master, the news of Master’s marriage has spread like wildfire, and everyone in the capital knows about it. As for Miss Shen…what should I do?” At the moment, even Yang Zong couldn’t even say the word “Madam”.
Lu Yan looked up, and for the first time in his life, he felt guilty, a heart-wrenching guilt.
Although he didn’t treat her well, he never lied to her.
His Adam’s apple moved slightly, and he said in a hoarse voice, “Hide it from her. Don’t let her know.”
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