Chapter 29: The Entanglement with Lu Huaijin

Su Yao was whispering with Chun Tao when a low, deep voice suddenly came from behind her.

"Miss Su, the Lord requests your presence."

Su Yao turned around abruptly and saw Chang Ting. Her face instantly turned pale, and her expression became exceptionally grim.

Wasn't Lu Huaijin currently engaged in pleasant conversation with the Empress Dowager? Why would he have the spare time to summon her now? She did not know if Chang Ting had overheard what she and the Empress Dowager were discussing just moments ago. If he were to tell Lu Huaijin... given his unpredictable and volatile temper, the consequences would be truly unimaginable. Just thinking about it made her spine tingle with cold.

Seeing her standing frozen in place, Chang Ting repeated, "Miss Su, the Lord requests your presence."

"Could you please tell the Lord that I am on duty today and it is truly inconvenient for me to come over?"

"Miss Su, do not make things difficult for me. The Lord requests your presence." Chang Ting’s face remained cold, his tone showing no signs of compromise.

Chun Tao watched the standoff, sensing the atmosphere growing increasingly tense. She stepped forward to mediate, "Miss, perhaps the Master has something important to discuss with you. I will take over your duty." As she spoke, she gently tugged at Su Yao’s sleeve, signaling her to agree.

Su Yao bit her lower lip, her teeth sinking deep into the delicate flesh. "I am not feeling well today. Could you perhaps..."

She wanted to plead further, but was cut off by Chang Ting.

"You know the Master’s temper, Miss. It would be better if we went sooner rather than later."

Su Yao realized it was useless to argue with this wooden man; the master dictates the nature of the servant. No longer willing to make a futile struggle, she steeled herself and followed Chang Ting. Throughout the journey, her heart was heavy, and she had no idea where he was taking her. She had never walked this path before.

Finally, they arrived at a gloomy place: the celestial prison.

As they walked inside, the prison was filled with a pungent, rotting stench. Moss covered the damp walls, and torches flickered in the draft, casting eerie shadows. Lu Huaijin sat on an intricately carved chair, his expression stern. Beside him, the Empress Dowager sat with regal composure.

As soon as Su Yao stepped into the prison, she stopped dead in her tracks. So the Empress Dowager was here too—why hadn't that wooden man told her? Her heart began to race, and a wave of tension washed over her. Regaining her composure, she hurried to kneel and pay her respects.

"This servant greets the Empress Dowager and the Grand Secretary."

"Rise. Su Yao, I had you brought here because of yesterday's incident. I still have questions for you."

Su Yao stood up slowly and noticed a man kneeling across from the Empress Dowager and Lu Huaijin. The man’s hair was disheveled, and his face was covered in bruises; he looked utterly wretched. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was the guard who had framed her yesterday.

Su Yao’s heart skipped a beat. He... he wasn't dead?

"I have already investigated, and this matter indeed has nothing to do with you," the Empress Dowager said. "This guard was involved with other maids, and once discovered, he simply slandered you to deflect blame."

Su Yao bit her lip tightly and, after a moment of hesitation, mustered the courage to ask, "I would like to know how he managed to obtain my personal belongings."

Lu Huaijin watched as Su Yao’s swollen lips parted, and his brow furrowed involuntarily. He did not know if she was just too naive or if she had been too well-protected back at the Shangshu manor, but even after three years, she still had not learned that there were times when one should simply hold their tongue. Getting to the bottom of certain matters was not a wise move.

The Empress Dowager glanced at Lu Huaijin. "You may answer her."

Lu Huaijin withdrew his gaze and said in a flat tone, "He naturally stole them himself."

"Then he..."

Su Yao wanted to get to the bottom of it, but one cold glance from Lu Huaijin silenced her. Her heart tightened, and she swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue, not daring to say another word.

Lu Huaijin said, "Are you not going to thank the Empress Dowager for upholding justice for you?"

Awakened as if from a dream, Su Yao hurried to kowtow again. "Thank you, Empress Dowager, for upholding justice for this servant."

"Go and pack your things. I have borrowed you from the Grand Secretary for long enough; it is time to return you," the Empress Dowager said, waving her hand to dismiss her.

"Yes," Su Yao replied, rising and slowly taking her leave. As she walked away, she heard the Empress Dowager say to Lu Huaijin, "You must also be mindful of your own marriage. Tomorrow, I will have Miss Zhao come to the palace to dine with me; you should come over at noon."

Upon hearing this, Su Yao’s body stiffened. Would it be Zhao Zhirou?

...

Su Yao felt as light now as she had been anxious when she arrived. It was a sense of relief and liberation. She had thought Lu Huaijin was angry with her again, but she had not expected that he was actually helping her uncover the truth behind her false accusation. Lu Huaijin had indeed never lied to her; what he promised, he would fulfill. It was just that she had begged him yesterday, and today the matter was already resolved.

She returned to her room and began to pack. In truth, there was nothing to take; she had arrived empty-handed, and she could leave the same way. She thought of Chun Tao. Yes, she had to take Chun Tao with her; she could not leave this little girl behind in this soul-devouring place.

Just as she was thinking this, the familiar voice of Nanny Chang came from behind her. "What? Are you heading back?"

Su Yao met Nanny Chang’s curious gaze and gave a soft affirmative.

"I knew you wouldn't stay long. How did the Empress Dowager agree to it?"

"I don't know either."

"I heard about that guard from yesterday. Grand Secretary Lu told the Empress Dowager openly that you were with him when you left the flower banquet that day, so the guard's words were unreliable," Nanny Chang said, lowering her voice. "But, that aside, the Empress didn't make things difficult for you, did she?"

Su Yao shook her head.

"With the Grand Secretary putting it that way, he effectively brought your relationship into the open. Although the Empress Dowager already knew, once certain things are spoken aloud, it is different... naturally, she could not say much more."

So that was it. Su Yao suddenly understood; no wonder he had told her to consider their relationship clearly yesterday. If the Empress Dowager knew, then everyone else would know too. And what about Lu Chuyao? She did not want Lu Chuyao to see her entanglement with Lu Huaijin.

While she was deep in thought, Lu Huaijin arrived outside the room. Nanny Chang, being sensible, offered a quick bow and hurried away. Feeling his gaze upon her, Su Yao felt completely uncomfortable.

Lu Huaijin said calmly, "I saw you were unwell during the meal earlier?"

"Yes... perhaps I ate something that disagreed with me."

"I will have Imperial Physician Shi check on you later."

"There is no need."

Su Yao’s heart tightened at these words. She was terrified that the physician would discover she had been secretly taking contraceptive medicine, and she instinctively blocked the suggestion.

Lu Huaijin merely smiled faintly and did not force the issue.

Su Yao bit her lip. "The guard is not dead. Why didn't you tell me yesterday? You let me worry for nothing for so long."

Lu Huaijin retorted coldly, "Would telling you have changed anything?"

He lifted his chin slightly, looking at her with his usual air of superiority. Su Yao was momentarily speechless, blocked by his words. She understood in her heart that on this matter, she truly could only rely on Lu Huaijin, and her own thoughts were not even worth mentioning in his presence. This deep sense of powerlessness caused her spirits to plummet to the bottom.

"Then what did he confess? Why did he frame me? I saw him and Nanny Gui whispering together; they must be in league with each other."

"Su Yao!"