My Husband Became the Most Powerful Minister - Chapter 36.2

Lu Wuyou’s tone remained distant and polite: “May I ask what the princess needs?”

“L-Last time, I suffered terribly because of you! I’ve been grounded and punished all the way till now…” Shao’an Gongzhu sobbed. “You two just got married—are you very happy?”

Lu Wuyou had no choice but to nod and say, “Replying to the princess, it is indeed so.”

Shao’an Gongzhu almost fainted from anger. She didn’t even know why she asked that question. Biting her lip, she snapped, “What’s so great about her, anyway!”

Lu Wuyou said, “Replying to the princess, everything about my beloved wife¹ is great.”

Most people refer to their wives with humble titles like “my foolish wife²,” “my wife³,” or “my humble wife⁴,” but Lu Wuyou chose the one term Shao’an Gongzhu hates the most! Lu Gege was not even familiar with that woman before! He only married her out of responsibility! And that responsibility was one she personally helped create!

Shao’an Gongzhu was getting angrier the more she thought about it. Had she known, she wouldn’t have sent a palace maid that night—she would’ve gone herself!

What does that woman have to do with anything!

She couldn’t help but blurt out, “She’s just a bit more beautiful, that’s all!”

Lu Wuyou carried a bit of anger, but his voice showed no trace of it: “Right at the princess, I absolutely adore my wife’s beauty.”

Shao’an Gongzhu was somewhat at a loss for words: “……Lu gege, how could you be so… shallow? But I also… you know how I feel about you…” She was at a loss for words.

Lu Wuyou thought she was stupid before, so he didn’t hold it against her too much.

But even being stupid has its limits.

“Thank you, Princess, for your kind attention, but I am indeed that superficial. Moreover, I already have a wife, so it seems inappropriate for the Princess to address me in such a manner.” He respectfully bowed, “I am feeling unwell, so I will take my leave now.”

Shao’an Gongzhu’s sharp voice came from behind him: “My brother hasn’t given up yet! He even… And why are you so obsessed with that woman? She’s so shameless—You don’t even really like her!”

*****

Helan Ci stood in front of Kunning Palace, still a little dazed.

“There’s no need for furen to be nervous; Her Majesty is very gentle and kind.”

She never imagined that the “Lady” she mentioned would be the reclusive Empress. No wonder Xiao Nanxun was hesitant just now; theoretically, she was still his legitimate mother.

Unlike the splendid and bustling Yu De Palace, this palace, which was supposed to be the residence of the palace mistress, appears extremely desolate.

Helan Ci patiently waited at the door for a while, feeling a bit curious. After entering the hall, she was greeted by a strong scent of sandalwood. The furnishings were somewhat old, and in the center of the long table was a Buddha altar, with incense ashes still in the incense burner.

Then she saw a woman kneeling in front of the Buddha altar, and the people attending to her were even inferior to Shao’an Gongzhu’s people.

As for her appearance—it was weary and worn. Compared to the radiant and stunning Noble Consort Li whom Helan Ci had just seen, Empress Xu looked plain. Her face was bare, her eyes and brows showing traces of age, and her expression was mild, with only a faint shadow of the beauty she once was.

Helan Ci remembered that she should be around the same age as Noble Consort Li. When she was young, Empress Dowager Xu was famous for her beauty, so as her niece, Empress Xu couldn’t possibly be too ugly either.

Regarding her birth, it was even more noble,far surpassing Noble Consort Li. Originally, she was supposed to marry the current Duke of Wei, the heir apparent at that time. The two had grown up together as childhood friends, and everyone said it was a perfect match. Unexpectedly, Emperor Shun intervened and forcibly took this marriage, which ultimately helped him secure the throne.

Helan Ci had no place to comment.

Empress Xu looked at her for a while, then slowly said, “I heard what you said earlier… I rather admire it.”
Helan Ci, embarrassed and startled, exclaimed, “…That was nothing, Your Majesty. This one is just talking nonsense!”

When she said those words, although part of it was true, it was more to deal with Xiao Nanxun.

Empress Xu smiled, but it seemed like even her emotions had slowed down, and her smile didn’t reach her eyes: “If I had thought like this earlier, it would have been different. Wealth, nobility, and an idyllic marriage—how could such beautiful things exist?”

Helan Ci didn’t know how to respond.

Empress Xu said again, “You married a Zhuangyuan, a learned man. How does he treat you?”

Helan Ci nodded and said, “He treats me very well.”

Empress Xu said, “What if one day, he becomes unfaithful and heartless?”

Helan Ci felt that there was no issue between her and Lu Wuyou, as they were not originally a couple but were forced by reality. However, after thinking it over, she realized she might still feel a bit sad, after all, Lu Wuyou was genuinely quite good to her now.

She couldn’t even imagine Lu Wuyou being that kind to another woman.

Helan Ci pondered for a moment before saying, “Then I’ll get a divorce.” Her voice turned solemn, “If he really falls in love with someone else, I probably…couldn’t bear it.”

Although promises are made, if they all be fulfilled, there wouldn’t be any stories of betrayal and infidelity.

Empress Xu looked at her, smiled again, and said nothing more. Instead, she had someone take out a letter and said, “I will have someone escort you out of the palace later. However, there is this letter. I don’t know if you can deliver it for me?.”

Helan Ci held the letter in her hand, responded with a “hmm,” and was still lost in thought when she suddenly heard the female attendant from earlier suddenly came in: “Your Majesty, it seems a palace maid was knocked unconscious outside just now…”

Helan Ci wasn’t sure where the confidence came from, but she quickly said, “Forgive me, Your Majesty, for being rude. I’m not feeling well. May I step outside for a moment?” After Empress Xu agreed, she quickly walked out of the hall.

There was no one outside the palace, and there were hardly any people inside Kunning Palace either, making it no different from a Cold Palace(“cold palace” (冷宫 – lěng gōng) wasn’t a specifically named palace within the Forbidden City. It was a general term referring to any secluded and often dilapidated living quarters where imperial consorts who had fallen out of favor with the emperor were confined.).

Helan Ci turned the corner of the palace wall and quietly called out “Lu Wuyou.” Then he saw Lu Wuyou’s official robe fluttering down from the tree. Helan Ci was startled and lowered her voice, saying, “I was just guessing, but you really did sneak into the inner palace…”

Lu Wuyou touched the tip of his nose and said, “Well, I was worried you might get drugged again, with no one to help. I just think of a way.”

“How did you find your way here?”

Lu Wuyou answered simply, “I planted a Gu worm on you. I followed its trail.”

Helan Ci couldn’t help but say, “What is this again?”

Lu Wuyou said, “Anyway, as long as you know it works. It’s not a big deal. By the way, how did you come to Kunning Palace?”

Helan Ci explained, “The empress’s maid just helped me out, uh… was it you who knocked out that maid?”

Lu Wuyou didn’t deny it.

Helan Ci said with slight surprise, “Aren’t you supposed to be… don’t want to be discovered, someone who are hardly a few people in the entire capital can find?”

Lu Wuyou raised an eyebrow and said, somewhat exasperated, “……Miss Helan, I was looking for you. Do you think I can really just vanish into thin air? This is the inner court of the palace. Luckily, there aren’t many people around. If i get discovered, I’ll be the first to be done for, and you’ll follow right after.”

Helan Ci also felt nervous: “I’m fine now, so you should hurry and go out. The Empress said she would send me out later.”

Lu Wuyou said again, “Are you really okay?”

Helan Ci nodded vigorously and even spun around to show him: “Nothing at all.”

Lu Wuyou noticed something was off, his gaze darkened slightly as he said, “Did you change your dress?”

“Can you tell just by looking?” Helan Ci quickly replied concisely, “A maid spilled soup on me, so they found me another outfit. I only ran into the Second Prince after I changed. I’m really fine, you should hurry up.”

Lu Wuyou looked at her for a while before saying, “……Alright, I’m going.”

After finishing speaking, with a “whoosh,” the person disappeared again.

Helan Ci was both worried and relieved, feeling very complicated as she turned back to Kunning Palace. She said to Empress Xu, “That palace maid just now might have been implicated because of this one. It was my fault, and I ask for your forgiveness, Your Majesty.”

Empress Xu, however, seemed to read something in her expression. She only smiled and said, “It’s nothing.”

When Helan Ci was sent out of the palace by the people sent by Empress Xu, Lu Wuyou was already waiting outside the palace gate.

He appeared calm and composed, clearly not having been noticed by anyone.

Helan Ci let out a sigh of relief, squeezed into the carriage with him, and said, “Has the princess been giving you trouble again?”

Didn’t expect Lu Wuyou to also say, “The Second Prince is bothering you again?”

The two looked at each other, speechless.

In the end, it was Lu Wuyou who spoke first: “After all, Shaoan Gongzhu is a woman, her methods are limited. She has already drugged me, what else can she do? But you? What did he do…?”

Helan Ci also said, “It’s nothing, he, just talked to me.”

Lu Wuyou repeated, incredulously, “…Talked?”

Helan Ci recalled what had just happened and said, “He… persuaded me to give in to him, promising me all kinds of wealth and luxury, and also… he thinks you might die young, and he wants to wait for me to become a widow.”

Lu Wuyou chuckled lightly, shrugged his shoulders, and said, “Then he might be waiting till he dies first, and still need to wait.”

The horse-drawn carriage disappeared into the dark and soon returned to the mansion.

After getting off the carriage and entering the residence, Lu Wuyou touched the Helan Ci bracelet and said, “I was worried you’d need to use this.”

“Actually, it was almost, but…” Helan Ci looked around to see no one, her heart itching as she grabbed Lu Wuyou’s wrist, then turned the mechanism below. Instantly, a silver hook shot out and caught the eaves, pulling them both up. She smiled and said, “…Well, I used it now.”

“……”

Lu Wuyou chuckled with a half-smile. “You’re learning fast.”

Helan Ci replied, “Uh… but how do we get down?”

Lu Wuyou wrapped his arms around her waist and gently floated them back down. Then he pointed to a beam nearby. “If you’re alone, just climb down that.”

Helan Ci: “…”