Chapter 13: The Posthumous Child

The Empress Dowager glanced sharply at the few young women behind her and said, “You should all learn from Lu Baolin. Strive to win the Emperor’s favor so that you may soon bear royal offspring, extending the imperial lineage.”

Her words implied that Lu Shiyao’s recent audience with the Emperor must have involved some unsavory means.

However, Lu Shiyao paid no mind, for after the Empress Dowager’s admonition, she rewarded her with two bracelets that appeared to be of considerable value.

After paying her respects, Lu Shiyao returned to Yuyiao Palace with Lin Ruo.

Lin Ruo followed closely, eager to inquire about something, so Lu Shiyao invited her inside.

Upon entering the palace, Lin Ruo’s eyes brimmed with envy. “If only I could live in Yuyiao Palace too, and have a sister to keep me company.”

Lu Shiyao merely smiled without replying and had tea served.

“Was what I said the other day true? My sister truly was the first to gain favor,” Lin Ruo asked, blinking as Lu Shiyao dismissed the attendants.

Lu Shiyao nodded knowingly. “You have sharp ears. Today, I saw a young Imperial Consort. Do you know who she is?”

Lin Ruo nodded. “Consort Xian. She also has ties to the Shen family.”

“Oh?”

“It’s said that before entering the palace, Consort Xian and Shen Rushuang were of the same generation within the Shen clan.”

Lu Shiyao was genuinely surprised. “You mean the Consort and Shen Rushuang are sisters?”

“Exactly, cousins. But at that time, the late Emperor was already old. The Shen family couldn't bear to send their beautiful legitimate daughter into the palace to secure ties, so they allowed Consort Xian to enter instead. The late Emperor doted on Consort Xian before he passed, which is why this posthumous child remains.”

Lin Ruo spoke softly, “If the late Emperor had lived longer, who knows who might have ended up on the throne?”

Such rebellious words were too dangerous for Lu Shiyao to echo. “Consort Xian looks close to delivery, doesn’t she?”

“She must be; I heard it’s already nine months.”

They chatted a while longer, mostly about how Lin Ruo envied Lu Shiyao’s current life and begged her for support.

Lu Shiyao casually promised help, had Aunt You present some hairpins and rings as gifts for Lin Ruo, and sent a sedan chair to escort her back to Chuxiu Palace.

After Lin Ruo left, Lu Shiyao sat by the table, motionless for a long while.

In her previous life, even without knowing about Consort Xian, she should have known about this posthumous child. Why then was there no upheaval in the capital?

Lu Shiyao suspected that the child would never be born.

Moreover, Lin Ruo’s rebellious words weren’t without merit.

The Empress Dowager had chosen the abandoned child of a palace maid because she had no heirs of her own.

If this child were born while the late Emperor still lived, Lu Shiyao would not have gained the Shen family’s support.

A chill ran down Lu Shiyao’s spine at this thought.

With the late Emperor deceased, the Consorts likely bore no grudge against the posthumous child.

But the person who feared this child the most was undoubtedly the current Emperor.

In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Emperor stared at the table laden with lunch dishes.

The eunuch Yuan Huai wore a sycophantic smile, reporting the names of the dishes.

For some reason, Ye Yancheng suddenly recalled the scene of dining with Lu Shiyao the day before.

She ate with elegant simplicity, swiftly but gracefully, often with her mouth full like a little hamster.

“No need for such extravagance in the future,” Ye Yancheng said, ordering a few dishes. “Send the leftovers to the harem, and also some to Chuxiu Palace.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Yuan Huai had the dishes cleared but was careful not to neglect anything as he pondered how best to distribute them.

Just then, Yuan Shu entered and grabbed him by the arm. “Brother, help me figure out how to divide these dishes for the harem.”

The dishes varied, but the harem had strict ranks. If the distribution went wrong, he would have a hard time later.

“Don’t overthink it. Once inside the palace, you follow palace rules—distribute dishes by rank, and arrange the dishes accordingly,” Yuan Shu said, glaring at him.

“But Lady Shen is the Empress Dowager’s daughter...” Yuan Huai began, only to be cut off.

“Just do as I say,” Yuan Shu ordered.

Yuan Huai complied.

Yuan Shu shook his head, inwardly sighing that Yuan Huai still didn’t understand.

The Emperor had long suffered under the Shen family. If the Shen family gained dominance over his harem, it would ruin everything.

In Yuyiao Palace, Lu Shiyao was eating when she heard someone outside announce an imperial edict.

Why did something always happen during her meals?

She reluctantly put down her chopsticks and went out to receive the decree.

The Emperor had sent four dishes, half of which she had already eaten. Unable to finish, she rewarded the palace attendants in the hall with the rest.

Feeling bloated after the meal, Lu Shiyao decided to take a walk. Unexpectedly, she encountered Shen Rushuang by Weiyang Lake.

Since both had been conferred titles, they had not met alone like this until now.

Shen Rushuang was impeccably proper and bowed first. “Lu Baolin.”

“Lady Shen,” Lu Shiyao replied.

After the greeting, Shen Rushuang hurried away, her maid carrying a lunchbox, clearly heading somewhere.

“Mistress, that’s the direction of the Hall of Mental Cultivation,” whispered Ruoqi beside Lu Shiyao.

Lu Shiyao nodded without concern and continued her stroll to aid digestion.

“Why not make some snacks yourself and seek the Emperor’s favor?” Ruoqi suggested.

They were palace maids, well aware of the harem’s rules. Seeing Lady Shen active while their mistress remained idle made them anxious.

Lu Shiyao smiled. “Snacks are too ordinary.”

She beckoned Ruoqi closer to whisper.

...

Outside the palace, at the Xie residence.

Xie Liwen smiled happily holding a small note with peach blossoms from the Lu family. Lu Yuerong’s inexplicable obsession with Lu Shiyao filled him with satisfaction.

Clearly, Lu Yuerong cared deeply for him; otherwise, why would she have sent the letter to him last night?

Lu Yuerong truly loved him madly.

She had given up easy wealth and status, willing to forsake propriety to marry him and snatch her brother-in-law.

Yet why had he never noticed before? It was strange.

With these thoughts, Xie Liwen went to the main hall, urging his parents to expedite the wedding arrangements, so he could marry Lu Yuerong as soon as possible.

The Xie family recognized this as a rare blessing, and his earnestness pleased them greatly. Xie’s mother took her son to the Lu residence to promptly discuss the wedding date with their in-laws.

Thus, the wedding between Xie Liwen and Lu Yuerong was scheduled early—only a month and a half away.

In the Lu household, Mistress Liu handed over the finished embroidered items to the nurse beside the matriarch, beaming. “Luckily, I worked quickly. These little things are ready, so the eldest lady’s wedding can be moved up without any problems.”

The matriarch smiled falsely, watching Liu’s radiant face.

Lu’s father had been staying at Liu’s courtyard for several nights, sending various silks and jewelry to Yuning Courtyard as if they were free.