Chapter 17: Willow Expecting

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Shen Rushuang was not sent out of the palace, but Lu Shuyao, who accompanied the emperor to visit Shen Rushuang, suffered misfortune. The Empress Dowager sent a decree through Lady Ji, saying that Lu Shuyao was gentle and approachable, a model of the inner palace. She was to pray for the ailing Princess Shen by copying Buddhist scriptures a hundred times daily.

Such a lofty title was pinned on her, leaving no choice but to comply with copying the sutras. No wonder the Empress Dowager was the reigning queen of palace intrigue in the previous dynasty.

This seemingly gentle yet pointed command was truly difficult to guard against.

After hearing the Empress Dowager's decree, Peilan wore a mournful expression and asked, “Copying a hundred times every day, how long must this go on?”

If Shen Rushuang’s illness didn’t improve, would they really have to keep copying forever?

Lady You, holding the sutra book given by the Empress Dowager, called Rushu over. “Don’t worry, Baolin. Rushu will imitate others’ handwriting.”

Peilan overheard this and widened her eyes.

“You only need to write the first scroll; I will copy the rest for you,” Rushu said, placing down the brush and paper. She added a few drops of water into the inkstone and began grinding the ink carefully.

Lu Shuyao sat down and slowly started to write. Rushu stood nearby, attentively observing the strokes of her brush.

Peilan fanned Lu Shuyao from the side.

The days were gradually warming; the sun outside became scorching, though the room remained relatively cool.

Lu Shuyao finished copying half a stick of incense before completing one scroll.

She picked up the rice paper and examined it, pleased. “This style is good! Let’s copy it this way.”

“All right,” Rushu smiled and took over the seat.

“Let Ruhua grind the ink for you next time. After you finish writing, have her help you dry the paper.”

“Thank you, Baolin.”

“Why thank me? I should be thanking you! Once we get through this, I’ll reward you all!” From the first red envelope onward, Rushu knew Lu Baolin was generous.

With this promise, her smile grew even brighter. “Good!”

After making these arrangements, Lady You still felt uneasy and said to Lu Shuyao, “Baolin, it’s best not to leave Yuyiao Palace these days. Better to keep a low profile.”

“You’re right. With so many scriptures to copy every day, how could I have time to go out?” Lu Shuyao took the round fan from Peilan’s hand and fanned herself, saying, “I’ll just rest comfortably here in Yuyiao Palace, waiting for the day of the Go tournament!”

That day was Shen Rushuang’s day; she didn’t believe her illness would remain uncured until then.

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“Lady You, I only realized today how fitting the names of Ruqin, Ruqi, Rushu, and Ruhua are! Are all the palace attendants so talented?” Lu Shuyao said with delight.

“Don’t say that, my lady. It’s all thanks to His Majesty’s grace,” Lady You replied with a smile as they walked out.

Lu Shuyao’s face lit up with surprise. “You mean all these people were assigned to me by His Majesty?”

Lady You just smiled quietly without replying.

“His Majesty is so good to me!” She gazed at a sparrow outside the palace and sighed.

After lunch, Lu Shuyao wanted to rest a while.

Peilan silently followed her into the bedchamber. Once Lu Shuyao lay down, Peilan asked gloomily, “Second Madam, am I useless?”

Lu Shuyao turned over and looked at her seriously. “Why would you think that?”

“All the palace maids here are better than me in every way,” Peilan said, pursing her lips.

Lu Shuyao sat up and pulled her onto the bed. “But they are not one of us. Only you are the person I trust most.”

…

At the Lu Residence, within the Yuning Courtyard.

Master Lu paced anxiously in the courtyard, his expression conflicted—both joyful and worried.

The bedroom door opened, and the medical maid stepped out.

Master Lu hurried forward, frowning deeply, his eyes filled with both suffering and hope. “How is it?”

“Congratulations, Master. Consort Liu is with child,” the medical maid bowed, smiling.

Master Lu was overjoyed and hurried inside.

Consort Liu lay on the bed, smiling as well.

“Master!”

“Ah, Qingqing!” Master Lu pressed her down when she tried to rise. “Don’t get up! You’re carrying twins now. No need for formalities anymore!”

Master Lu had four children in total. His eldest son had died young.

Later, the madam gave birth to the second lady, which gave Consort Liu her chance to enter the Lu household.

Consort Liu came from a poor background. She was the most beautiful maid in her family, which was why she was kept until the age of thirteen.

Only to grow and be sold for a good price.

She had four older sisters, all either taken as concubines by others or sold.

Since childhood, she knew she would be sold by her own parents.

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For a woman like her, without support, beauty was a death sentence.

Later, she ended up in the pleasure district, trained as a refined courtesan.

For no other reason than to fetch a better price.

Though Master Lu was not a perfect husband, he was her benefactor.

Without him, she might have been sold to some fat, lecherous old man who frequented the red-light district.

Though she had wasted seven years in the manor, she never regretted entering the Lu household and giving birth to Lu Shuyao.

“From now on, you need not attend the madam and the Empress Dowager for their morning and evening greetings. Focus on nourishing the baby—that is the most important thing.”

Master Lu looked at Consort Liu with affection, genuinely happy from the bottom of his heart.

These days, Consort Liu was living well in the Lu household, her complexion radiant. When she smiled, Master Lu’s heart softened.

“Master, if Shuyao knew about this, she would be happy too. Do you have any way to inform her?”

“Don’t worry. I will write a letter and have it delivered to the palace,” Master Lu said with a cheerful smile. He spoke with Consort Liu for a while before reluctantly leaving.

Only then did Peimei bring in the tonic soup to help maintain the pregnancy and feed it to Consort Liu.

Before Peimei left, Consort Liu held her hand. “Peimei, take good care of the medicine. You will personally be responsible for this from now on. When preparing the medicine, don’t leave even a step.”

Peimei nodded seriously. “Auntie, you can rest assured.”

Master Lu returned to his study. Writing the letter took some time.

He tucked the letter into his sleeve and prepared to deliver it personally to the palace gate. Before leaving, he sent a servant to the Empress Dowager’s courtyard with a message: “Tell the Empress Dowager that Consort Liu is expecting.”

“What about the madam?” the servant asked.

“I will tell her myself when I return,” Master Lu replied.

Unfortunately, at that moment, the madam was at the Empress Dowager’s courtyard.

Hearing that Consort Liu was pregnant, her complexion visibly darkened.

She could no longer pretend in front of the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager, understanding her feelings, comforted her: “Hong’s heirs are few; only having the third son will be a burden in the future. Consort Liu is honest—don’t always be at odds with her.”

“How could the third son be a burden? If a useless younger brother arrives, that would be a real burden!” The madam, in a bad mood, couldn’t help but retort, “Just look at Yuerong and Lu Shuyao. The difference between legitimate and concubine-born children will always exist.”