Translator – Xiao He Lian
This is a translation hosted on KnoxT, copies found elsewhere are either stolen or plagiarized. Please support the translator by reading it at KnoxT.
Chapter 105
(Continued from memories of the previous life)
The palace maids and eunuchs tried their best to put out the fire, the Duke of Zhenguo led his troops to protect the emperor, and Emperor Chengyuan staggered, staring at the short arrow in Lu Yan’s chest and breathing heavily.
Princess Jing’an’s eyes were red, her hands were shaking, and she shouted at the top of her lungs, “Call the imperial physician!”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Chengyuan also said sternly: “Call the imperial physician!”
Several imperial physicians hurried over, and Lu Yan was carried to Changxi Pavilion, which was closest to Hanyuan Hall.
The candlelight in the room flickered, and everyone was in a panic. Princess Jing’an asked in a trembling voice, “Is his life in danger?”
The imperial physician was sweating profusely when he heard this. “Reporting to the Grand Princess, although the arrow pierced his chest, it fortunately avoided the vital parts. I am willing to try my best.”
“As long as you can wake Lu Yan up, I will reward you handsomely.”
After a long while,
Doctor Wen turned around and threw the arrow into the copper basin. Immediately, he whispered to another doctor, “Pass me the hemostatic powder.”
Empress Xu stared at the slanted arrow resentfully and suddenly remembered what Taoist Master Ge had said to her…
“Your Majesty, although the incense pills can confuse the mind, they cannot kill people. And His majesty never allows Lord Hong to leave his side. Even if I have the courage of heaven, I dare not draw my knife next to Lord Hong. This time, I persuaded Lord Hong to stay in the temple to guard the dragon qi, which is a big risk. If I continue like this, how long can I keep it a secret? If the saint reacts and realizes that there is no art of immortality in this world, and everything was planned by Your majesty, what should Your majesty do? What should the Crown Prince do?”
“Although I can gain some trust at the moment, the Emperor is suspicious by nature. As long as it involves military tokens and military power, the Emperor will not allow me to have a say.”
Military power was what concerns Empress Xu.
After all, without military power, the Crown prince will always be the Crown prince.
“There will be no turning back from what the Empress has done!”
Empress Xu secretly stroked her knuckles, as if thinking about something.
The day Lu Yan woke up, more than half a month had passed since all nations came to pay tribute. The crescent moon at the beginning of the month had changed its appearance, and a full moon like a white jade plate hung high in the night sky.
Half a month passed, and Princess Jing’an was showing signs of collapse. She paced back and forth in the room, frowned and asked the imperial physician: “If his life is not in danger, why hasn’t he woken up in so long? He hasn’t eaten for a long time, and if this continues…” The Grand princess didn’t dare to say the rest.
The imperial physician said with a stiff face: “Princess, please calm down. I have been feeding Lord Lu rice soup every day. I think he can still hold on for a while…”
At this moment, Lu Yan slowly opened his eyes. He saw that the room was full of people, including his mother, Emperor Chengyuan, Empress Xu, and the imperial physician.
Empress Xu’s eyes lit up and she exclaimed, “Ah, Lu Yan is awake!”
Princess Jing’an walked quickly to the couch and sat down. Seeing that he looked disoriented, she asked softly, “Can you see who I am?”
“Mother.” Lu Yan covered his chest, coughed, looked toward the window, and whispered, “What day is today?”
The Grand Princess said, “It’s already the sixteenth day of the first lunar month.”
Lu Yan frowned slightly, covered his chest and stood up.
Sixteen whole days had passed?
Princess Jing’an pressed his shoulder and said, “Lie down first.”
Lu Yan said hoarsely, “Your Majesty.”
“Lu Yan, your chest wound has not yet fully healed, so no need for the formalities,” said Emperor Chengyuan.
Lu Yan stood up and knelt on the ground in a daze. He took a long breath and said, “Your Majesty, I have a favor to ask of you.”
Emperor Chengyuan reached out to help him up and said, “Get up quickly, get up quickly! Just tell me what you want, and I will grant you whatever you want.”
Not to mention that Emperor Chengyuan already liked his nephew, just based on the merit of saving the emperor, Emperor Chengyuan could not refuse his request.
When Empress Xu saw the scene in front of her, her heart rose to her throat.
“I have no affinity with Princess Rong’an, I implore Your Majesty, to withdraw that imperial decree.”
As soon as the words fell, the air around them froze.
Emperor Chengyuan froze in place.
He didn’t expect that the first thing Lu Yan said after waking up was to ask to withdraw the marriage degree in exchange for saving the emperor.
Empress Xu’s face immediately darkened. Lu Yan’s move was undoubtedly a slap in the face to the Xu family in public.
Emperor Chengyuan glanced at Princess Jing’an and asked, “Jing’an, what do you think about this?”
The Grand Princess swayed slightly, held her forehead and sobbed, “Your Majesty, please grant permission. Forming a pair of resentful partners is actually not a happy matter.”
Emperor Chengyuan nodded and said, “I agree to your request.”
Lu Yan nodded, “Thank you, uncle.”
Emperor Chengyuan patted his shoulder and said earnestly: “You should take good care of your injuries in the palace and don’t let your uncle worry.”
Lu Yan needed to rest, so after everyone left, Yang Zong climbed over the wall and entered.
Yang Zong said in a low voice: “Master, something happened…”
Lu Yan’s heart sank as he saw Yang Zong hesitant to speak. He had already guessed that Empress Xu would definitely not be idle during the time he was unconscious.
He coughed lightly and whispered, “Just tell me.”
“After the banquet that day, the other countries invaded, and Marquis Changping volunteered to go to the battle, solving the most pressing problem. The Emperor was very pleased and made him a promise.”
Lu Yan’s eyes turned cold.
“Marquis Changping asked His Majesty to grant him a marriage, and His Majesty agreed.” Yang Zong hesitated for a moment before saying, “Immediately after that, Lord Shen was released from prison.”
Lu Yan said calmly, “When did it happen?”
“Seven days ago.”
“Have they left the city?”
“Just left the city not long ago.”
Hearing this, Lu Yan stood up and said, “Give me your horse.”
“You are still injured, this is absolutely impossible!”
“Give it to me!”
It was almost midnight and the evening drums in Chang’an city began to beat. After leaving the palace, Lu Yan jumped on his horse, tightened his grip on the horse’s belly, and headed straight out of the city.
He had the badge of the Governor of Jingzhao on him, so naturally no guard at the city gate dared to stop him.
He rode at full speed for several miles. The gate of Chang’an quickly fell behind and he finally stopped in front of the carriage of Marquis Changping that was heading north.
He pulled the reins high and dismounted.
Almost at the same time, Shen Zhen also got off the carriage.
The two stood face to face.
“How is your injury feeling, My Lord?” Shen Zhen was the first to break the silence.
The whistling wind blew away her voice, making it unusually soft. Lu Yan stared into her clear and bright eyes and said word by word: “I ask, you answer.”
The wind blew even harder, and Shen Zhen’s hair became messy instantly. “Okay.”
“Has Madam Xu[mfn](Xu yiqing’s mom)[/mfn] been to Chengyuan?”
Shen Zhen clenched her fist and said, “Yes.”
Lu Yan asked: “Did you suffer any injustice?”
Shen Zhen said: “No, I did not.”
“Did she threaten you with Lord Shen’s life?” Zhou Shu’an was thrown into prison. Now the Minister of the Dali Temple was Empress Xu’s confidant. If she wanted to take Shen Wenqi’s life, it would be easy.
Shen Zhen knew that she couldn’t hide this from him, so she admitted directly: “Yes.”
Lu Yan took a deep breath.
Since Madam Xu had come to see her, she must have known about his marriage to Xu Yiqing.
“Shen Zhen, the Emperor has rescinded his order. My marriage with Xu Yiqing is over.” Lu Yan’s adam’s apple slid as he said, “I didn’t mean to hide it from you before.”
Shen Zhen suddenly raised her head.
“Come back with me.” The moon hanging in the sky made his figure look thin and tired.
The mountains and clouds were vast, the rivers were mighty, and there was a biting cold wind and heavy snow all around.[mfn](tbh idk why the writer abruptly starts talking about the surrounding. But I guess it is to give us a vivid imagination of the scene as also euphemistically saying that the hearts are like the biting cold wind, making it painful.)[/mfn]
She suddenly remembered the first time she met him, it seemed like it was in this place. Last October, the ground was also covered with silver frost. He appeared in front of her in a dark purple official uniform, and took her back to Jingzhao Prefecture.
She was also beaten six times with a heavy board.
The past flashed before her eyes like a kaleidoscope of events, and the sharp sandalwood scent on his body was still lingering in her nose.
She looked at Lu Yan’s deep and proud eyes, and she trembled slightly. She tried hard to calm down and suppress her emotions. Her lips moved unconsciously, but no sound came out.
The words Shen Man said to her suddenly echoed in her ears.
Shen Man[mfn](Lu Ye’s wife)[/mfn], the second daughter in law of the Duke of Zhenguo’s Mansion, who was also Lu Yan’s second sister-in-law.
During the half month he disappeared, Madam Xu quickly traced her back to Chengyuan, and then Shen Man also came to the door. Unlike Madam Xu’s arrogance, Shen Man had no hostility towards her.
The first words she said were also very polite, “Do you still remember me, Third Sister?”
“The Third Young Master was hit by two arrows, but his life is no longer in danger. He will wake up soon, so you don’t have to worry.”
“I know you and third young master have a deep relationship…” Shen Man paused and continued, “Although the Yunyang Marquisate is no longer in existence, you were once a noble lady. You should know that love affairs are ultimately less important than the burden on your shoulders.”
“If you want to be with him, it will undoubtedly cause the Lu family and the Xu family to tear each other apart. Right now, Empress Xu is secretly controlling the government, and theEastern Palace monopolizes power. Do you really not think for him?”
“Even if he really takes you into the Zhenguo Duke Mansion, how will you face his grandmother, his parents, and his brothers?”
“The Grand Princess’ hair almost turned white overnight, and the old lady fainted twice when she learned that he had been shot by an arrow.”
“Third Young Lady, although you and I are not from the same family, we are both daughters of the Shen family. Every word I say to you today comes from my heart. I hope you can think about it carefully.”
“You should know Lu Yan’s character better than me, Shen Zhen, if you continue to live in the capital, he would definitely not marry someone else.”
Shen Man’s every word was brilliant and thought-provoking.
The four words “Zhenguo Duke Mansion” almost made her unable to breathe… She didn’t need to care about what Madam Xu said, but she couldn’t ignore what Shen Man said…
“Shen Zhen, come back with me, I will give you everything I can.” Lu Yan’s hoarse voice disrupted her thoughts.
Shen Zhen took a deep breath and said calmly: “My Lord, I’ve heard that the sky in the northern desert is very blue and the clouds are low, within reach. I want to go and take a look.”
At that very moment, he understood the meaning of her words.
Before this, he had asked her if she resented him for keeping her in the capital and trapping her from the rest of the world.
He remembered her saying: I know that My Lord is trying to protect me.
Lu Yan’s gaze was dim and unclear. He subconsciously pinched the ring on his hand. Thousands of words were stuck in his throat. After a long time, he whispered, “Have you thought it through?”
Shen Zhen lowered her head, “Yes.”
Lu Yan looked at the carriage not far away, rubbed his chest and said, “Do you have him in your heart?”
Shen Zhen lowered her head again and said, “The Marquis treats me very well.”
“I didn’t ask you how he treated you. Shen Zhen, look at me and tell me again whether you have him in your heart or not.”
Shen Zhen raised her eyes and said, “Yes.”
Lu Yan let out a faint smile, “What has happened between me and Third Miss over the past year was just a casual relationship?”
“It was not my intention to be with you at first.”
This was the truth, and Lu Yan knew it very well.
“When is the wedding date?” Lu Yan asked with a hint of a smile on his face.
“Two years later.” The Duke of Protectorate died on the battlefield, and the Marquis of Changping still had to observe a two-year mourning period.
Lu Yan nodded casually, looked at her with a half-smile and said, “If we can meet again, what should I call you? Madam Changping Marquis?”
When Shen Zhen looked at his smiling face, her fingertips sank into her flesh. She suppressed the tears that were about to burst out and said word by word: “My Lord, you have been kind to me. I know it and will never forget it. If there is an afterlife…”
“Shen Zhen, you know I never believe in the afterlife.” Lu Yan interrupted her coldly and got on his horse. “The road to the northern desert is long and arduous. Take care of yourself.”
(Unfinished in the previous life)
😭 I’m so mad that Empress Xu succeeded in her plans in the last life!!!!