Remarrying Chun Yuan

Chapter 181 Yue Yuan

Zhang Xinyan did not expect Liu Yuechu to refuse.

But he did indeed receive the Empress's order, which was simply to bring Liu Yuechu to the palace.

He didn't know why, and besides, it was the Empress's order, but why should he know why?

"Just go when I tell you to. Why are you making so many excuses? It's the Empress Dowager's funeral, and all the residences are awaiting orders from the palace. Are you going to disobey the imperial decree?"

"It's not a matter of disobeying the imperial decree, because there was no decree at all. Besides, the Empress Dowager had already issued an imperial edict to me, and it's not wrong for me to follow her instructions." Liu Yuechu looked down on his arrogance and conceit.

Zhang Xinyan frowned, pondering whether he should forcibly take Liu Yuechu back.

His subordinate suddenly whispered something in his ear, and Zhang Xinyan looked into the distance.

Cheng Hai was slowly approaching with a group of palace maids, and he could only stand aside and wait.

"Why is Commander Zhang also at the Liu residence?" Cheng Hai's voice was thin and shrill, and coupled with his somber white attire, he sounded like a ghost.

Zhang Xinyan replied perfunctorily, "It was Her Majesty the Empress who sent me to bring Liu Yuechu into the palace... Eunuch Cheng, what is this?" He was even more surprised. Could it be that the Empress sent him here without the palace knowing?

Cheng Hai didn't answer. He opened the imperial edict, announced the Empress Dowager's death, and summoned Liu Yuechu to the palace for an audience...

"The Empress Dowager was very fond of Yue Yuan's zither music. His Majesty hopes that Lady Liu can lend this zither to the palace for use. After the Empress Dowager departs, it will be returned unopened."

Liu Yuechu nodded. "So it was for Yue Yuan's sake that I was summoned to the palace. I'm afraid the Empress also thought of this. But Commander Zhang didn't say anything just now, only that the Empress summoned me... If this most important matter is left out, what use is my going?"

Liu Yuechu didn't want to offend anyone, especially not the Empress. She found a way to back down, shifting all the blame onto Zhang Xinyan.

Zhang Xinyan felt as if her heart was on fire.

Where did he hear about the story of Yue Yuan and Yue Que?

But since Liu Yuechu had said that, he couldn't deny it outright. "Then what are you waiting for? Take Yueyuan and go to the palace as soon as possible. Don't keep the palace waiting anxiously."

Liu Yuechu didn't dwell on his harsh words. She gave Granny Fang a look, and they went back to the inner courtyard to change clothes and retrieve their belongings.

Cheng Hai was naturally waiting there, his gaze sweeping around the Liu residence before finally settling on Zhang Xinyan. "The duty of the Golden Feather Guard is to protect His Majesty's safety, and the commander of the Golden Feather Guard is even more so. This is the first time I've heard that Her Majesty the Empress can also order Commander Zhang around."

Zhang Xinyan's expression stiffened; agreeing to this was indeed rash.

“I will personally explain to His Majesty… and Eunuch Cheng has also worked very hard. He should be serving His Majesty, but he was sent outside the palace to fetch a zither.”

"Whether it's retrieving a musical instrument or any other object, even if His Majesty orders us to come out and clean up a pile of excrement, it's still His Majesty's decree."

Cheng Hai's sarcastic smile grew even brighter, but his words were like knives: "But ever since His Highness the Crown Prince took Consort Fang into the Eastern Palace, Commander Zhang's attitude has become rather unsightly."

Zhang Xinyan is Fang Ziqing's sworn brother and Fang Shilang's adopted son. He was previously wholeheartedly loyal to Emperor Qi Xiao and had no selfish motives, but now he has become somewhat distorted.

"Since Eunuch Cheng is here, there's no need for me to continue waiting here for this young lady. I'll return to the palace to report." Zhang Xinyan casually cupped his hands and led his men away.

At this moment, someone quietly returned to Yuanchu Pavilion and told Liu Yuechu, "...Eunuch Cheng managed to drive that commander away."

Liu Yuechu had already changed her clothes and was preparing to bring Sichuan peppercorns into the palace.

Granny Fang felt it was inappropriate, "I'd better go to the palace with you, Madam. There are many rules for funerals, so we don't want to break any taboos and be taken advantage of."

Just now it was the Empress, and now His Majesty has arrived. Who knows what's going on in the palace? Granny Fang is really worried.

After careful consideration, Liu Yuechu said, "I'm worried that it will take too long and tire you out." Standing all day and kneeling to kowtow every now and then might be bearable for younger people, but Granny Fang is not young.

“I’m used to this kind of thing. I’ve prepared soft cushions for you. I’ll tie them on your legs right now…” Granny Fang took out wool felt knee pads and used them not only on your knees but also on your waist.

This was Liu Yuechu's first time using this thing. "I can only say that there are rules above and countermeasures below."

With Eunuch Cheng waiting outside, they couldn't talk any longer. They could only take out the Yueyuan Qin (a type of zither) and hurriedly get into the carriage.

Liu Yuechu didn't say much along the way; she was only thinking about what the Empress meant.

Is it because the Empress Dowager has passed away, and she has finally gained control of the inner palace, so she wants to display her power? Or is she wondering why the Empress Dowager and the Emperor have overly praised Yuan Cuo, and wants to strike first to test him?

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't come up with a solution.

In the short time that followed, Liu Yuechu had already been brought to the palace. After getting off the carriage with her guqin in her arms, she rushed to Cixi Palace.

Zhang Xinyan was extremely fast, having returned to the palace earlier than others.

The Empress also heard that Eunuch Cheng had gone to the Liu residence to retrieve the Yueyuan Qin (a type of zither). She sighed that Liu Yuechu, a little maid, was quite clever. No wonder she could make Yuwen Chan of the Meng Kingdom so confused. She really had some skills.

Cheng Hai led Liu Yuechu to the palace gate and asked her to wait there while he hurriedly went into the palace to report back.

Liu Yuechu held her guqin, head bowed and standing still. On the way, Granny Fang had already taught her not to look around casually, but to look down at her feet.

Emperor Qi Xiao's concubines were all present, and even the late emperor's surviving concubines came.

Seeing Liu Yuechu, I felt a little strange. Wasn't she a member of the royal family? Those who could enter Cixi Palace were basically all members of the royal family.

Consort Wan also saw Liu Yuechu from a distance and also noticed Yue Yuan in her arms.

A flash of disgust crossed her eyes. She suddenly feigned dizziness, took a few steps forward with the help of a palace maid, and said, "Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager must grant me permission to kowtow to the Empress Dowager..."

Sobbing and wailing, she rushed into the inner hall. Just as she passed Liu Yuechu, she suddenly tripped and fell directly into his arms, muttering, "Ouch, why did you trip me like that..."

Liu Yuechu stumbled from the impact and nearly fell. Granny Fang hadn't expected this, and by the time she reached out to help her, it was too late!

Liu Yuechu knelt down and threw the musical kite in her hand into the air!

When she saw the box, she kept muttering "It's all over, it's all over," when suddenly a hand grabbed Yue Yuan and then rushed forward to catch her so she didn't fall.

Liu Yuechu let out a long sigh, covered in a cold sweat. She almost burst into tears when she saw Yuan Cuo!

"It's alright, don't be afraid, I'm here." Yuan Cuo helped her steady with one hand, and then straightened Yue Yuan's posture.

Consort Wan was quite surprised; she hadn't expected that she would escape danger so easily.

"Liu Yuechu, why did you deliberately trip me up?" She retorted first, wanting only to embarrass her.