Soon, a eunuch brought water, poured it over the deer’s back, and rubbed it. The white sediment gradually dissolved in the water, and the deer's fur returned to its original appearance.
"Th-This is impossible?!" Xiao Qi hurriedly stepped forward to touch the deer, leaving white residue on his hands.
The Emperor remained silent, leaning back in his chair while casually toying with his prayer beads.
Seeing this, the Empress Dowager knew today's matter would not be easily brushed aside. Rather than waiting for the Emperor to erupt, she decided to act decisively.
"Xiao Qi, His Majesty is benevolent, but I cannot forgive you! You led a mob on a hunt, ruined farmland, injured people, and even fabricated auspicious portents. For this, you are ordered to compensate the farmers and pay the injured parties' medical expenses, and your salary is docked for one year as a warning to others!"
Xiao Qi's complexion could no longer be described as merely unsightly.
"I have matters to attend to. I shall come to pay my respects to Your Majesty another day." The Emperor put away his prayer beads and bowed properly to the Empress Dowager.
As he left, he patted Huo Yanxing on the shoulder. "The Town-North Marquis fulfills his duties impeccably—truly a pillar of the imperial court. Reward him with a hundred taels of gold."
Huo Yanxing knelt to express his gratitude, and Lu Qingyuan followed suit.
The Emperor looked at Lu Qingyuan again, raising an eyebrow with a smile. "Prime Minister Lu is a vital pillar of the nation, and the eldest Miss Lu is exceptionally clever. Now that she is the Lady of the Town-North Marquis Manor, dressing too plainly might cause people underneath to look down upon you. Coincidentally, the Jinling Textile Bureau recently presented some new fabrics; I bestow them upon you."
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager hurriedly instructed her personal elderly maid to fetch a box of hairpins and jewelry to bestow upon Lu Qingyuan.
Only then did Huo Yanxing figure out what was going on, his sword-like eyebrows twitching slightly as he fell into thought.
So this little fox had such a scheme in mind all along.
Everything is subject to comparison, and people are no exception.
On one side was an overbearing prince; on the other was a dutiful minister and his understated new bride. If the royal family didn't offer some form of appeasement, how could this matter possibly be put to rest?
Looking at the box brimful of hairpins and jewelry, Lu Qingyuan felt thoroughly delighted.
This trip to the palace was truly worthwhile!
She would definitely come again next time!
…………
In the Study.
"What? Is the Marquis Manor running out of food, that your wife has come all the way to the palace to beg for favors?"
The Emperor sat before his desk, casually picking up a sheep-hair brush and tossing it forward.
Huo Yanxing raised a hand and caught the brush. "Thank Your Majesty for the reward. My humble estate happens to have several younger nephews who need to practice calligraphy, though this single brush might not be enough to go around."
The Emperor was both exasperated and amused. "Am I such a petty person? How much ink, paper, and brushes have you filched from me since you were a child—have I ever said a word?"
When the late Emperor was still alive, the three Huo brothers frequently entered the palace as study companions. Although Huo Yanxing was a few years younger, he was the one who clicked best with the Emperor. The two of them were often reprimanded by the Crown Prince's grand tutor for whispering during lessons.
Yet ever since the tragedy befell the Huo Clan, Huo Yanxing had seemed like a completely different person, rarely showing any trace of his youthful vigor anymore.
Straightening his expression, Huo Yanxing said, "Your Majesty owes her some reward at the very least."
"What do you mean? Was this white deer idea her invention?" The Emperor asked in surprise.
Huo Yanxing nodded. "If she hadn't sent me word in time and come up with this plan, this whole affair probably would have been swept under the rug just like so many times before."
Last night, he had received Lu Qingyuan's peach-blossom note. Instead of love poems, it instructed him to fabricate a white deer using a certain method, intentionally release it before Xiao Qi, and ideally prompt him to present the white deer to the Empress Dowager in the palace.
The Emperor let out a long sigh.
How could he not know?
The Empress Dowager's maiden name was Lin Yuchan, formerly Noble Consort Su under the late Emperor.
Yet when the Emperor was born, the Empress Dowager was merely a beauty of low rank, and the late Emperor had entrusted him to the care of the then-Empress Dong.
Empress Dong was the late Emperor's first wife, and the two had been deeply in love for many years. Regrettably, she was never able to bear children, leaving her perpetually melancholy.
Empress Dong had treated him like her own flesh and blood, personally teaching him poetry, books, and etiquette.
By the time Empress Dong passed away, the Emperor was already an adult, invested as the Crown Prince, and living in the Eastern Palace, giving him even fewer opportunities to see his biological mother.
Xiao Qi was different. When he was born, the late Emperor was overjoyed, and Lin Yuchan was elevated to Noble Consort Su.
Because Empress Dong was gravely ill at the time, Noble Consort Su held the power to manage the inner court, enjoying unmatched favor for a time.
It was common knowledge how dearly the Empress Dowager loved her youngest son, Xiao Qi. Summer hunting, trampling farmland, and injuring people—even if a few people had died, the Empress Dowager wouldn't have considered it a big deal.
When Huo Yanxing had a young eunuch summon him to Shoukang Palace today, he had expected it to be another case of making a loud fuss over a minor issue and letting it go lightly.
He never expected the twists and turns that ultimately made Xiao Qi suffer a massive blow, which actually brought him a great deal of quiet satisfaction.
"After Prince Xian's grand wedding, he should be sent off to his fiefdom to avoid any prolonged complications," Huo Yanxing suggested.
"I think so too. I'm just worried about Mother..." The Emperor covered his face with a memorial and let out another long sigh.
"Your Majesty, do not forget the story of Duke Zhuang of Zheng and Gongshu Duan."
"If you were in my position, what would you do?"
Huo Yanxing fell silent for a moment. He turned his head aside, gazing at a touch of green outside the window, and recalled things from a very long time ago.
"When we were little, the adults asked the three of us brothers what we wanted to be when we grew up."
"Eldest brother said he wanted to be a great general whose might shook the realm. Second brother said he wanted to be a chivalrous martial artist who robs the rich to give to the poor. Only I said I wanted to be a groom who could raise, feed, and ride horses. Everyone laughed at me for having no ambition."
"When my eldest and second brothers were still alive, I never thought I would have to shoulder the burden of the Huo Clan's household. Eldest brother was the heir, so inheriting the Marquis Manor was an absolute certainty. Second brother had countless martial arts friends; he might have even become some sort of martial alliance leader in the future. I only ever needed to raise my horses well under their protection."
"Your Majesty asked me what I would do if I were you. I cannot answer, because the royal family is the royal family, and the Huo Clan is the Huo Clan."
A stir rippled through the Emperor's heart.
Indeed. The royal family is the royal family, and the Huo Clan is the Huo Clan.
The Huo brothers could confide in one another and place absolute trust in each other.
And the royal family?
Since ancient times, true affection has never existed in the royal family. Since he sat upon this supreme throne, he had to accept this reality.
The Emperor looked at Huo Yanxing, who was still lost in his memories, stood up, and patted him on the shoulder.
"Five years have already passed. It's time for you to live your own life. This young lady Lu Qingyuan is quite good—clever, wise, and devoted to you. Don't let her down."
A subtle twitch crossed Huo Yanxing's face.
Devoted to me?
He recalled the sight of Lu Qingyuan chasing after him for the Divorce Agreement, her face filled with eager anticipation.
She had been so earnestly helping him simply because she was afraid of losing the wager and failing to get her Divorce Agreement.
There was no need to speak of letting anyone down; they were merely temporary allies.
Yet he could not say these words to the Emperor.
While the two men in the Study carried the heavy burdens of the nation and state on their shoulders, Lu Qingyuan, walking along the palace corridors, wished she could grow wings and fly straight back to the Marquis Manor to have a good, hearty laugh.
"Ahead is the palace gate; this old slave will accompany you no further. These are all the rewards bestowed upon the Town-North Marquis Manor by His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. Lady Marquis, safe journey."
Eunuch Li had personally escorted Lu Qingyuan to the palace gate, showing the utmost respect on behalf of the Empress Dowager.
Lu Qingyuan beamed with smiles. "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager was truly wonderful to me. I shall come to pay my respects to Her Majesty again next time."
Eunuch Li maintained a polite smile on the surface while inwardly deriding: *Please don't. You didn't come to pay respects, you came to stock up on inventory.*
Watching the palace servants load item after item onto the Marquis Manor's carriage, Lu Qingyuan felt the joy of a bountiful harvest.
Suddenly, an angry roar came from behind: "Lu Qingyuan, you stop right there!"