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The next day, as soon as Lu Songli woke up, she was invited by her parents to have breakfast in the main hall. After finishing the meal, her father asked her to come to his study. There, she saw her father mysteriously take something out from his robe.
“Father, how did you get this?” Lu Songli carefully took the Death Immunity Token from her father’s hands, her eyes sparkling as she examined it closely.
A Death Immunity Token! Something she had only seen in TV dramas. She never expected Emperor Kang Cheng to be so generous, willing to give her father such a thing! Even the Qin family, who had guarded the borders of Da Li for generations and shed their blood for the empire, might not be able to obtain one.
She had to hide it, absolutely had to hide it!
Lu Songli sized up her father. He was quite something—could it be that the Emperor and her father had some kind of… arrangement?
“Daughter, what’s wrong? Don’t look at me like that, it’s making me uneasy,” Lu Desheng said, feeling a bit creeped out by his daughter’s strange gaze.
Lu Songli quickly withdrew her gaze after a brief glance. Never mind, the Emperor probably didn’t have that kind of interest in her father. It was simply that her father was very skilled at currying favor. It seemed the Emperor really appreciated his way of doing things.
Clearing his throat, Lu Desheng began to recount everything that had happened in the Imperial Palace the night before, leaving out no detail.
Lu Desheng had already planned to pledge his loyalty to the Emperor recently, something they had discussed beforehand. Telling his daughter about this was also a way to give her feedback.
Lu Songli had anticipated that after her father showed his loyalty, Emperor Kang Cheng’s opinion of him would improve significantly. However, she never expected that the incidents in the Empress Dowager’s palace and her father’s display of loyalty would coincide, resulting in such a huge achievement—a Death Immunity Token from the Emperor.
Her gaze returned to the token in her hand. Lu Songli now understood why the Empress Dowager had hurried so frantically to the Imperial Palace the previous night, as if her pants were on fire. It wasn’t that her pants were on fire, but that her father had already made his move.
Lu Songli calculated the time and realized that her father had left just as the Empress Dowager arrived on the battlefield. Her father’s departure and the Empress Dowager’s arrival must have happened almost simultaneously.
“Father, it’s a good thing you left quickly,” she said. Otherwise, who knows if this Death Immunity Token would still belong to the Lu family.
“Of course,” Lu Desheng replied smugly. He certainly wouldn’t stick around after getting such a valuable treasure.
Something seemed off to her. Her father had left before she did, so he should have gotten home before her.
Sensing her confusion, Lu Desheng explained, “I took a different route.” He avoided the shortcut and took a longer path, just in case someone tried to follow him.
Lu Songli gave him a thumbs-up. “Clever!”
Lu Desheng glared at her. “How can you use ‘clever’ to describe your father?”
“Father, that was a compliment.”
“Father, this is a life-saving item; you must keep it safe,” Lu Songli said as she handed the Death Immunity Token back to her father. She wasn’t sure if this item was exclusive to one person. If it wasn’t, then it would be extremely valuable.
Lu Desheng carefully took it back and reminded her, “Only you, your mother, and I know about this. Don’t let it slip.”
“Of course not.” Lu Songli was a bit surprised by her father’s caution. “Not even Big Brother and Little Brother?”
Lu Desheng quickly said, “Let’s not tell them for now.” It wasn’t that he didn’t trust them, but how should he put it? His eldest son already had a wife, and he was well aware of how influential pillow talk could be. “Your big brother is a bit simple-minded, and as for your little brother, I’m afraid he might talk in his sleep and accidentally spill the secret.”
Meanwhile, her younger brother Lu Mingzhi, who had a pot dropped on him out of nowhere: When did I develop a habit of talking in my sleep?
Lu Songli: As expected of her father, such double standards. He spoils his wife but still finds his elder sister-in-law’s pillow talk too powerful.
Lu Desheng didn’t think there was anything wrong with his decision. There had been so many things happening at home lately, both of his sons were away. Although the reasons for their absence were understandable, he just felt uncomfortable. His little daughter was different, she could actually help him. Besides, getting this pardon from the Emperor was half her daughter’s credit.
“Did your mother have any objections?”
“She has no objections.” The existence of the pardon was a trump card, they just didn’t tell them. If his two sons really got into trouble, they would have to use it.
Neither of them mentioned his elder daughter, Lu Songyun. In Lu Desheng’s mind, a married daughter was like water that had been spilled. As for Lu Songli, this pardon was earned by her father through his own abilities, he could do whatever he wanted with it.
“Father, this secret probably won’t be kept.” After the initial excitement subsided, reason returned, and Lu Songli thought of the scene of the Empress Dowager rushing to the Imperial Palace last night. Currently, not many people knew that her father had received a pardon, but the Empress Dowager knew, how could they, the Lu family, silently hold such a powerful weapon? Since ancient times, it’s hard to snatch a treasure, but it’s even harder to keep it.
Lu Desheng, upon hearing his daughter’s explanation, also thought of this point. Indeed.
“Be prepared to deal with it.”
“Daughter, the Emperor also gave me a magic pill.” Lu Desheng took out a small, thumb-sized, completely red pill. “This pill, when you get close and smell it, has a faint, cool, fishy scent, a very unique smell.”
Lu Songli was startled. “Father, you can’t touch this thing.” This thing is all poison! Mercury poisoning, heavy metal poisoning, and mineral poisoning… “Father, this pill is not made with any longevity materials at all.” Imagine how this thing was refined, cinnabar, gold, mercury, and various minerals, they say they even add a girl’s first menstruation blood, they really dare to put anything in there. Just thinking about it makes her scalp tingle.
Seeing his daughter clearly frightened, Lu Desheng quickly comforted her. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep it, I won’t touch it.”
Lu Songli, reassured by her father’s promise, still felt uneasy. She directly snatched the pill. “I’ll take care of this pill for you. If the Emperor asks, just say you ate it.”
“Alright, alright.” He was disgusted just hearing his daughter talk about some of the ingredients used in making these pills.
Seeing this pill, Lu Songli’s heart thumped. Your Majesty, Your Majesty, how could you be so foolish as to eat this kind of slow poison!
She had originally thought that Emperor Kang Cheng would be a golden leg, and after her father successfully climbed onto it, their Lu family would have a long period of peace. At least until Emperor Kang Cheng died, their Lu family wouldn’t have to worry.
Emperor Kang Cheng was forty-eight years old this year. Lu Songli wasn’t greedy, as long as he worked hard, he could live to sixty. That would give their family twelve more years of peace. During that time, the Qin family would be exiled and then counterattack Chang’an. If the Qin family really had the kind of luck that the original story said they had, their Lu family could secretly find an opportunity to befriend the Qin family and board their ship. They didn’t ask for the same stability as the Xie family in the original story. They only wanted their Lu family to be able to transition peacefully during the change of dynasties.
However, it was clear that Emperor Kang Cheng was working too hard. Lu Songli dared to say that Emperor Kang Cheng probably wouldn’t live to sixty. Now she didn’t know how often Emperor Kang Cheng was taking these pills, but if it was frequent, they might not even have twelve years.
What to do now? It was clear that Emperor Kang Cheng, this golden leg, was not safe. Who knew when he would die. Should they start preparing a backup plan? Let her think about it, which prince would be suitable for their Lu family to secretly bet on? Headache, trouble, no, no, no, her father had just expressed his loyalty, and then he turned around and invested in another prince. Was he tired of the head he was carrying on his shoulders, was he?
Lu Songli was in despair. Damn it, shouldn’t she have thought of this earlier? Emperor Kang Cheng was obsessed with Buddhism and Taoism, claiming to be the True Person of the Great Clarity. How could he not touch the pills of the immortal Daoists? Then again, throughout the five thousand years of history, how many wise and powerful emperors fell to the immortal pills made by Daoists in their later years! Those who were well-known included Qin Shi Huang, Han Wudi, Tang Taizong, and Yongzheng, emperors who were all first-rate in terms of both civil and military affairs. Compared to these wise rulers, Emperor Kang Cheng’s belief in this was not surprising at all.
The key was, what should their family do next? Backup plan, backup plan, what kind of backup plan should they prepare? It would be best to make two plans, two hands, both hard.
Chapter 43 Imperial Decree of Marriage (1/3)”
Lu Desheng couldn’t understand why his daughter looked like she had lost her father after snatching that pill. He thought to himself, isn’t she cursing herself?
Before he could ask, someone arrived outside the study.
The gatekeeper, out of breath, hurried into the study and said, “Master, Second Miss, an imperial decree has arrived from the palace. Madam is calling for you to come to the front yard as soon as possible.”
Father and daughter exchanged a glance, then quickly got up and hurried to the front yard together.
As they walked, Lu Songli thought to herself that she knew the imperial decree must have come from the hands of the Empress Dowager of Chang Le Palace. It was early in the morning, could the Empress Dowager have not slept all night?
Little did Lu Songli know, her casual guess had hit the mark.
That night, the Empress Dowager of Chang Le Palace tossed and turned in bed, and early the next morning, she issued two imperial decrees with a very unpleasant expression after staying up all night.
When Nanny Rongqiu heard this, she was shocked, “Isn’t this too unfair to Lu Songli?” She knew that the Empress Dowager was furious and intentionally causing trouble for the Lu family. The Empress Dowager was so angry, yesterday she hesitated to issue the decree, but today she didn’t care.
The Empress Dowager, with a cold expression, indifferently said, “Who in this world doesn’t suffer grievances? Hasn’t the Empress suffered enough when she was young?” She was still a step too late last night, letting Lu Desheng take the pardon token out of the palace, which made her furious.
“Empress Dowager, this servant is worried about you. Lu Desheng is reckless. This servant is afraid he will accuse you because of this matter, seeking personal revenge.”
The Empress Dowager sneered, “Ridiculous, would I be afraid of him? Is the Emperor dead?” She was the Empress Dowager, superior to ten thousand people, did she need to fear a mere courtier?
“He wouldn’t dare confront you openly, but he would go after the Duke Cheng’en’s family.”
“No need to say more! The Empress’s mind is made up.”
The imperial decree had been issued, so nanny Rongqiu wisely remained silent.
In the front yard of the Lu family, people knelt on the ground, while the Lu family of three knelt at the forefront to receive the decree.
The eunuch Hai Gonggong, who came to announce the decree, saw that everyone was present and began to loudly recite the imperial decree.
“Imperial Decree of the Empress: The son of the Pingxi Marshal of the West, Qin Yue, who currently serves as the Cloud Cavalry Captain, Qin Sheng, is upright and talented, young and promising, exceptionally skilled in martial arts, filial and virtuous, and still unmarried. Lu’s second daughter, Songli, a talented and virtuous woman of outstanding appearance, is of marriageable age. The union of these two is divinely ordained, and hence, an imperial decree of marriage is granted! It is hoped that the two of you will choose an auspicious day for the wedding, be of one heart and one mind, serve the country with respect, and not disappoint the Empress’s intentions. This is decreed!”
Lu Songli: “Your servant daughter accepts the decree and thanks the Empress for her grace!”
Lu Desheng led the others in bowing, “We thank the Empress for her grace!”
After receiving the decree, Lu Songli stood aside. To be honest, this decree of marriage caught her completely off guard. She thought that by revealing the truth last night, the Empress Dowager would have some reservations and change her mind.
Little did she know that the next morning, the Empress Dowager issued the decree of marriage without any hesitation, completely disregarding public opinion. It seemed that her father’s pardon token hit the Empress Dowager’s weak spot.
After the eunuch announced the decree, he looked down at the Lu family of three and said, “Master Lu, have you understood the Empress Dowager’s decree?”
Isn’t it just a marriage decree? Is there anything else? Lu Desheng suppressed his anger and said, “Please make it clear, Hai Gonggong.”
“The meaning of the Empress Dowager is for Miss Li and the sixth son of the Qin family to marry as soon as possible.” Hai Gonggong emphasized the words “as soon as possible.”
“As soon as possible? What does that mean?” Lu Desheng felt a sudden shock in his heart.
“How soon is as soon as possible?” Lu Songli asked calmly.
Hai Gonggong looked at her with pity, “The Empress Dowager requires Miss Lu and the sixth son of the Qin family to get married within two months.”
Lu Songli asked again, “May I ask, Hai Gonggong, did the Empress Dowager also arrange marriages for Xie Zhan and Zhao Yutan?”
When Lu Desheng and the others thought that Hai Gonggong would arrogantly refuse to answer this question, he replied, “Yes.”
Hai Gonggong thought to himself that before leaving the palace, the Empress Dowager told him that if anyone from the Lu family asked about this matter, he should answer directly. It seems that the Lu family has seriously offended the Empress Dowager.
“They were not required to marry as soon as possible, were they?” Lu Songli asked with certainty.
“Yes, Miss Lu is very clever.” Hai Gonggong emphasized.
This was a blatant provocation. With each question and answer, Lu Desheng and Madam Jiang felt the underlying message.
“Thank you for clarifying, Hai Gonggong. It’s getting late, you should return and report as soon as possible.” Lu Songli began to see him off.
Not to mention the feelings of the Lu family of three at this moment, Madam Jiang suppressed her emotions, handed the decree to the eunuch, and after Lu Desheng saw him off, Madam Jiang dismissed the servants.
With the Lu family clearing the scene, only the three of them were left in the entire hall, creating a heavy atmosphere.
“Revenge, this is blatant revenge.” Lu Desheng was truly furious, “They are going too far!”
Madam Jiang also couldn’t understand, “How could the Empress Dowager do this?”
Lu Desheng and Madam Jiang looked worriedly at their daughter, who remained silent.
Lu Songli quietly pondered over the imperial decree: forcibly breaking her engagement with Xie Zhan, then forcefully pairing her with Qin Sheng, and finally mandating their marriage within two months.
This was truly a feudal era where the ruler’s word was law, and now, after all this time, she truly felt what it meant to have no control over her own life.
Lu Songli sighed softly, it was all fate.
Now, the Lu family and the Qin family were truly bound together. Her marriage with Qin Sheng was arranged by the Empress Dowager, and such a marriage contract was usually difficult to dissolve unless one party died. But who would willingly choose death while still alive?
Empress Dowager, under the heavens, is there no justice left on this vast land? If even you are unreasonable, where else in the world can one find reason? So, Empress Dowager, don’t blame me.
She thought, it’s time to prepare for some things.
“Daughter, are you okay?”
Lu Songli smiled, “Mother, I’m fine.”
At this moment, Lu Songli was exceptionally calm, feeling better than ever before. She had never been the kind of person to simply accept her fate.
“I’m going to the study!” Seeing his daughter in such a state, Lu Desheng felt deeply troubled.
“Father, let’s stay calm for now.” Lu Songli held him back, knowing full well that he was likely thinking of grabbing his sword again. But this time, they couldn’t act rashly; they had to endure.
“Father, could we ask the Emperor for help? Maybe the Empress Dowager could withdraw the edict?” Madam Jiang asked.
Lu Desheng remainder silent, as if he was contemplating this possibility.
Lu Songli answered for him, “That’s not possible, Father. You mustn’t go to the Emperor for this.” If he had gone to the Emperor before the edict was issued, there might have been a chance, but once the imperial edict is issued, the Emperor won’t defy the Empress Dowager over such a small matter. Besides, she didn’t want her father, with his small stature, to clash head-on with the Empress Dowager. She believed that the Empress Dowager would be more than happy to see her father create a scene and beg, and if it meant she could seize the opportunity to revoke the immunity token given to her father last night, it would be even better.
“Father, Mother, setting aside the fact that the Empress Dowager has forced this marriage upon us against our will, isn’t a marriage alliance with the Qin family still a good thing? Mother, didn’t you say you quite liked Qin Sheng?”
Lu Desheng and Madam Jiang both nodded. Indeed, their daughter was right. There was nothing wrong with an arranged marriage to Qin Sheng, but it was humiliating that the Lu family was forced to accept it.
Madam Jiang forced a smile. “That’s true in principle, but as your mother, I just can’t help but feel uneasy…”
Lu Songli understood. Her mother was simply upset. In short, her mother had placed the imperial family on too high a pedestal, had unrealistic expectations of them, which allowed them to dictate her happiness.
She thought that when the Empress Dowager learned of the great sacrifice she had made to save Xie Zhan, she might feel sympathy and abandon her original plans, standing instead for fairness and justice. But the Empress Dowager didn’t do that, and so her mother’s idealized view of the imperial family was shattered, causing her distress.
Actually, it wasn’t just her mother who thought this way—Lu Songli herself had also overestimated the moral character of the imperial family. She realized that, after transmigrating, she wasn’t as unaffected by her surroundings as she had believed.