From the very moment Emperor Xuanwu learned that the rumors within the capital were still deliberately laying the groundwork for Yun Shu to be accused of contracting smallpox, he understood what choice his eldest son had ultimately made.
And because everything unfolded exactly as expected, he no longer felt even a trace of disappointment.
With a composed expression, he opened the memorial from General Wei Yuan, who was requesting leave due to illness. He lifted his vermilion brush and decisively wrote two bold characters across the document.
"Not Permitted."
…
General Wei Yuan, upon receiving the imperial decree, fell completely silent.
Even in this state, His Majesty still refused to let him rest at home?
Holding the memorial, General Wei Yuan was about to turn around and seek sympathy from his wife. But just as he moved, Madam Lu caught his face and turned it back with an expression of mild horror.
"If you have something to say, then say it. Just do not turn your face toward me like that. It is frightening."
"…His Majesty denied my request for leave."
At first he had only been pretending to cry, but now, General Wei Yuan felt the urge to shed real tears.
"Even you dislike the way I look now. Just imagine what those old foxes in court will say when they see me tomorrow. I will become the laughingstock of the entire hall!"
"What do you mean, even I dislike it?" Lady Lu furrowed her brows, then sighed and tried to console him. "It is precisely because I am your wife that I mind it. Who else would care whether you are ugly or not?"
"You are still the one who cares for me most." General Wei Yuan's shoulders slumped, gloom written all over his face. Still, he felt slightly comforted.
"But truly, I do not wish to be mocked by those old ministers. They are insufferable. Tell me, my lady, why does His Majesty have no compassion for me?"
"Watch your words! How many times must I tell you not to speak carelessly about His Majesty?" With a loud smack, she slapped him on the head without hesitation and glared at him in exasperation.
"Rather than sitting here stewing over nonsense, you ought to think clearly. Who drugged you with that 'Itch Dust,' and what exactly were they trying to achieve?"
"How would I know…"
General Wei Yuan was about to claim ignorance, but the moment he felt his wife's hand slowly pinch his waist, he quickly changed his tune and began to think seriously.
"I heard from the imperial physicians that this Dust takes about four hours to activate after contact with the skin.
Since the symptoms flared after court, in front of Her Highness the Crown Princess, then counting backward…"
"Then the drug was administered while you were still in the residence."
Lady Lu's expression turned grim.
"To think that even our household is no longer clean.
Who did you interact with this morning?"
"You know my routine. After waking and washing, I had a light breakfast and then left. Aside from Ah Niu, who always attends me, there was only—"
He trailed off mid-sentence as a sudden realization dawned. His face shifted instantly.
"Wait, no. That boy Qian Wanqing came to see me this morning. He mentioned that people outside have been saying the assassins who attacked Her Highness at the Tian Waitian Restaurant were sent by Bei Xiang."
"Qian Wanqing?"
Lady Lu narrowed her eyes.
That Qian Wanqing might reside within the general's residence, but in truth, he belonged to the Eldest Prince.
Previously, the Eldest Prince had claimed it was not appropriate for them to be in frequent private contact unless necessary. So he had simply placed a trusted agent in the household to deliver messages on his behalf.
A planted spy, disguised as a loyal aide.
It was absurd on the surface, and yet her foolish husband, ever grateful for the Eldest Prince's past act of saving their son Xuan'er, had agreed without hesitation.
And now look what had come of it—he had been poisoned in his own home.
Fortunately, it had only been itching Dust and not something lethal.
Otherwise…
A chill ran through Lady Lu as she raised her hand and gave her husband another hard slap.
"I told you not to let just anyone into our household. But you never listen!
Are you pleased now that you have been sabotaged from within?"
"I didn't expect—"
Knowing he was at fault, General Wei Yuan rubbed the place she had just "affectionately struck" and muttered softly.
"It might not have been Qian Wanqing. Why would the Eldest Prince waste itching Dust on me? We've never had any bad blood."
"Are you truly this dense, or are you simply unwilling to face the truth?"
Lady Lu was already fuming.
"Do you not realize that the Crown Princess may also have been exposed to the Dust?
The Eldest Prince is clearly using you as a tool.
If Her Highness or His Majesty come to believe that this was a joint scheme between the two of you—that you deliberately carried the Dust to afflict Her Highness—then tell me, how many heads do you think you have on your shoulders?"
"It is not that serious. It is not as if this is some deadly poison. Surely they would not execute me for—"
"Lu Jingkun!"
Even now, he still instinctively tried to defend the Eldest Prince. Lady Lu could no longer suppress her fury and shouted his full name.
"Yes, the Eldest Prince saved Xuan'er. I, too, am grateful.
But we cannot repay that one favor with the lives of our entire household.
You have already done more than enough for him over these years, serving him diligently in both open and secret affairs.
Ask yourself honestly—forget comparing him to Her Highness the Crown Princess, even to the former Crown Prince—do you truly believe the Eldest Prince is the best choice for the throne?
If you keep blinding yourself to right and wrong, if you continue down this path, you—"
She stopped herself.
She knew her husband better than anyone. He could be so single-minded that even if she spelled out the fate that once befell the former Right Prime Minister, he might still fail to grasp the danger.
Taking a long breath, she steadied herself and said in a low, firm voice:
"If you keep following him without discernment, you are betraying the realm."
Betraying the realm.
For a general who had devoted his life to defending the nation, those words struck like thunder.
All his arguments caught in his throat.
He turned around slowly.
This time, Lady Lu did not flinch or push him away. She met his eyes directly, even though his face was still marred with red rashes.
Her tone was solemn, her words heavy with weight.
"I know you are not a fool. Deep in your heart, you understand who between Her Highness and the Eldest Prince is more suited for that position.
I will say this only once. No matter what you decide from here on, I will support you.
But I hope you will take time to think clearly. Do you truly wish to help the Eldest Prince remove Her Highness, so that one day he may ascend to the highest seat of power?"
"…"
General Wei Yuan remained silent.
Lady Lu did not press him.
She had said all that needed to be said. The rest was his decision to make.
Perhaps he would come to his senses and choose the wisest path.
Or perhaps he would stubbornly persist, blind to the consequences.
Whatever the result, she had given her word. She would face it with him.
After all, she had already chosen him for life.
===
GO!!! Lady Lu!!! ٩(ˊ〇ˋ*)و