Chapter 152

When Nianxi saw Cui Lian again, she was finally a free woman.

On the fifteenth day, two stern-faced men escorted her back to the village. They arrived just in time for the Pai Xi custom. Besides her, three other women in the village weren’t pregnant that year. Cui Lian saw her husband wielding a broom, striking Xiao Mei with great force. Xiao Mei had collapsed by the manure pile, not even struggling anymore.

Summoning courage from who knows where—despite being terrified earlier—Cui Lian suddenly charged forward, headbutting her husband away and spreading her arms to shield Xiao Mei.

When her husband saw it was her, he squinted at first, and then his eyes filled with malice. He spat and cursed, “You wretch, how dare you come back!”

He then raised the broom high and swung it down forcefully toward Cui Lian’s head.

Cui Lian had only that fleeting moment of bravery. Now, standing face-to-face with her husband, fear overtook her instincts. Her legs turned weak, making it nearly impossible to move, and she shut her eyes in terror.

But the anticipated pain didn’t come. When she opened her eyes, her husband was already lying in the manure pile, covered in filth.

After that, everything went smoothly.

The village chief and leader arrived. Her once vicious husband obediently signed the divorce papers without uttering a word of protest.

Cui Lian walked out of that house with dignity!

Standing under the old locust tree at the village entrance, she shouted at the top of her lungs with all her might, “I have a benefactor’s help, now working at Liuji Pavilion in the capital!”

Miss had told her to set an example for the women in the village and the nearby town. Miss had also said she would help other unfortunate women just as she had helped Cui Lian.

Cui Lian felt she was incredibly fortunate to have met Miss.

Miss was so beautiful and wise, always speaking gently and kindly, yet she gave Cui Lian the courage to move forward without hesitation. She could even give up on a man; there was nothing else in the world that she feared anymore.

Cui Lian knelt and said, “Miss, I want to be your maid and serve by your side. I can endure any hardship and have great strength.”

“I don’t lack people around me now,” Nianxi said with a smile, helping her up. “Don’t worry. I’ll teach you a way to earn your own living. I’ve asked Manager Zhang, and Liuji Pavilion currently needs more staff. They pay monthly wages. You can live here for now, and if you find a better opportunity later, feel free to pursue it.”

Cui Lian wasn’t worried about making a living. She had her hands and feet and knew she wouldn’t starve. She just wanted to stay by Miss’s side, as she felt she could never repay the kindness Miss had shown her in her entire life. But since Miss had spoken, Cui Lian obediently nodded in agreement.

Miss often visited Liuji Pavilion to assist the weak and impoverished. Cui Lian felt content, knowing she could frequently see her.

……

Changle Palace.

Empress Lu furrowed her brows slightly, her usually dignified and kind face showing a trace of worry.

This New Year had been anything but pleasant for her. Nothing seemed to go right. All because, during the New Year’s Eve banquet, she mentioned that Xun’er was alone in his residence, which displeased the Emperor.

She was the Empress and the biological mother of King Jing. While all the princes and princesses attended the royal banquet, only her Xun’er was pitifully confined to his residence under house arrest.

Meanwhile, that scheming Consort Shu was restless, spreading rumors in front of the Emperor. And Xiao Nanxi, always adept at pretending to be foolish, further fueled the Emperor’s affection for their mother-daughter pair. Even the authority to oversee the Six Palaces was granted to that wretched Consort Shu.

But that wasn’t the worst of it.

The court had resumed its sessions, yet Xun’er’s house arrest remained unresolved by the Emperor. Towards the end of the year, allegations surfaced linking Xun’er to the salt corruption case, leaving Empress Lu sleepless.

“Wensheng, are you still angry with Xun’er?” Empress Lu turned to her younger brother, seated lower in the hall, and said, “Xun’er is your own nephew. Over a woman, you refuse to help him?”

Since the Birthday Banquet, this was Lu Wensheng’s first time entering the palace to meet the Empress. Previously, no matter how many times Empress Lu urged and pleaded, he always found excuses to decline.

Even during the annual New Year’s court visit, when noblewomen from both inside and outside the palace came to pay their respects, despite the Empress personally appealing to the Old Madam to persuade her son, Lu Wensheng still refused to step foot in the palace.

This younger brother of hers, who appeared gentle and magnanimous, actually possessed a sense of pride. He was willing to go to any lengths to protect the people or things he cared about.

She hadn’t realized how deeply that young woman held a place in Wensheng’s heart.

Thinking of this, Empress Lu softened her tone. “I don’t know when Xun’er started harboring feelings for Miss Wen. It’s my fault as his mother for not warning him earlier that Miss Wen is your person. Ignorance is no crime, but at the time, he acted rashly and embarrassed you in court.”

“If you’re still upset, why don’t I invite Miss Wen to the palace and apologize to her in person?”

Having said this, she looked at Lu Wensheng’s expression.

Lu Wensheng lowered his gaze, maintaining his usual composed demeanor, leaving his thoughts unreadable. He often had moments like this, hiding his emotions—be it joy or anger—behind a calm exterior, making it hard for anyone to see through him.

Empress Lu, deeply worried, couldn’t help but call out again: “Wensheng!”

The dark satin fabric of Lu Wensheng’s attire shimmered with subtle patterns, further accentuating his noble and composed aura. He replied, “Xiaoqi likes her very much, and so do I. Leave her be.”

His words were light, yet they struck like a chord of tension.

Empress Lu parted her lips to speak, but before she could, Lu Wensheng raised his eyes, his gaze clear and sharp like water: “As for King Jing, his impulsiveness requires him to spend some time cooling off in his residence. It will do him good.”

“But—”

“The case involving the salt corruption in the Lianghuai regions—I’ve already addressed it. Any evidence pointing towards King Jing has been dealt with appropriately, ensuring he won’t be implicated.”

To be fair, Pei Jian was a seasoned and highly capable official, but having served only a year, his foundation was shallow. If Pei Jian could find evidence, Lu Wensheng could make it disappear without a trace. The break during the holiday court recess gave him ample time to resolve the matter.

Relief and joy immediately appeared on Empress Lu’s face. She, as his elder sister, knew Wensheng’s abilities better than anyone: “I knew you wouldn’t leave us to fend for ourselves!”

An Empress of such esteemed status, yet her most reliable support was her younger brother.

Lu Wensheng’s heart softened, and he replied, “This time, it’s a lesson for King Jing. In the future, he mustn’t act impulsively.”

The Empress quickly agreed, then cautiously observed his expression before saying, “Regarding Minister Fang from the Shaanxi Province… I understand your feelings for Miss Wen, but the marriage arrangement between the Lu and Fang families had already been agreed upon. It may be necessary to inconvenience Nianxi for a bit.”

“When you marry her, as the Empress, I will bestow numerous gifts upon her, ensuring she is held in high regard!”

After speaking, she noticed Lu Wensheng’s expression turning grim and hurriedly added, “What do you think of this?”

Lu Wensheng initially smiled, but gradually, his eyes turned cold, though his demeanor remained calm as he replied: “The son of Minister Fang, Fang Hongxi, has already arrived in the capital. For the alliance between the Fang and Lu families, a lady from the Lu family will be married.”

In his position, he understood the difficulties the Empress faced and the compromises required. However, he did not like the manipulations and calculations involving his loved ones.

After saying this, he stood, bowed respectfully, and took his leave.

The Empress hadn’t expected that Wensheng had privately reached an agreement with Minister Fang and felt relieved. She wanted to soften the atmosphere with a few more words, but they all stuck in her throat.

Only after he left did the Empress realize Wensheng hadn’t said a single word regarding Miss Wen Nianxi.