Chapter 148: A Sudden Calamity
Chapter 148: Chapter 148: A Sudden Calamity
A mutiny in the army was no trivial matter.
Gao Qian, disregarding the Empress Dowager’s opposition, had wanted to put Lu Xiu in charge of a thorough investigation into the army provisions. However, Lu Xiu himself politely declined.
For both personal and professional reasons, it was indeed inappropriate for him to get involved.
This, however, only stoked Gao Qian’s paranoia once more...
Liang Wan put down her brush but was in no hurry to seal the letter she had written.
On the desk sat a bottle of a newly blended fragrance. It was quite exquisite.
In a warm room in winter, a refreshing fragrance was sure to greet whoever opened the envelope, a scent that would soothe the mind and lift the spirits.
The fragrance wasn’t lethal.
Liang Wan didn’t dare use much, dabbing just a small amount on the envelope’s seal.
Every half-month, she had to write a similar letter to Gao Qian, mostly documenting Lu Xiu’s daily activities and interactions.
She would send them into the palace under various pretexts, both overt and covert, and he, in turn, would send someone to retrieve them on the pretext of bestowing a gift.
Restoring calligraphy and paintings, composing new musical scores...
She could also present them during banquets at the palace.
Everything had its pros and cons. As a result, rumors gradually began to spread about her considerable skill in calligraphy, painting, and music—skills the Emperor was said to greatly admire.
These, of course, were the pleasant rumors. As for the unpleasant ones, she simply pretended not to hear them.
’Sometimes, gossip isn’t necessarily a bad thing...’
Liang Wan finished remounting the scroll and handed it to the eunuch waiting outside. Only after he had departed did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Bai Lu accompanied her on her walk to the South Garden.
A soft voice murmured beside her.
"Recently, Lady Cao has been going to Beixuan every day to pay her respects."
Liang Wan was preoccupied with other thoughts and didn’t expect to look up and come face-to-face with Cao Luyun.
’It made no difference to me, but I wondered what Cao Luyun was thinking. Did she still see me as her sworn enemy?’
At this point, Lu Xiu and Cao Luyun’s separation had not been publicly announced. This was to avoid unnecessary suspicion and also served as an indirect way to help the Cao Family, as plenty of people at court were eager for a chance to strike them while they were down.
Liang Wan glanced at Bai Lu and smiled. "The matter concerning her father and brother has yet to be resolved. Of course she’s worried."
She hadn’t deliberately sought information about the army provisions, but she had overheard a phrase or two from conversations between the Grandmaster and Lu Xiu.
’So how could Cao Luyun not be consumed with anxiety, cooped up in the rear courtyard all day?’
As she was lost in thought, Cao Luyun approached.
"Liang Wan, would you care to join me for a talk in the East Pavilion?"
If Cao Luyun had once been gentle and charming, her features were now etched with a deep, bitter sorrow.
After a moment’s hesitation, Liang Wan nodded in agreement.
’I didn’t really think there was anything to discuss with Cao Luyun. Just as Lu Xiu had said, she was stubborn, more concerned with protecting her reputation than anything else.’
’And reputation, of all things, was what Liang Wan disdained most.’
’What could two people with such different values possibly have to discuss?’
This was Liang Wan’s first time in the East Pavilion.
She had heard it was once Lu Huai’s personal courtyard.
It had been vacant ever since he moved into his own residence.
Though long unoccupied, it still bore many traces of its former resident.
To Liang Wan’s surprise, despite being a military general, he possessed a considerable collection of books.
Standing before the bookshelf, she scanned the titles. His interests were quite broad.
"As far as I know, the General of Cavalry is exceptionally kind to you."
Cao Luyun knelt before the low table, preparing the tea herself. She glanced up at the woman by the bookshelf, her voice soft.
Liang Wan turned and walked over, slowly kneeling on a soft cushion. "It’s fine."
’Even to my own ears, the answer sounded insincere.’
Cao Luyun had been to her rooms and seen the gifts Lu Huai had given her—especially the pot of Blood Bull Red Coral.
’How could it be a simple "It’s fine"?’
’I couldn’t very well say it was all on Lu Xiu’s account, could I?’
’That would be like twisting the knife in the wound.’
’But what was the point of even bringing up a topic like this?’
Liang Wan couldn’t understand.
"I’m rather envious of you. You always seem to win their affection so easily."
Cao Luyun poured a cup of tea and slid it in front of Liang Wan, her voice a little hoarse.
Liang Wan accepted the cup with a word of thanks.
She lowered her gaze to the cup, where a faint wisp of steam rose, carrying the scent of tea.
’It sounded like she was accusing her of being skilled at currying favor.’
Liang Wan smiled. "I never try to win anyone’s favor."
’That wasn’t quite right. There was one person now whose favor she was taking great pains to win: Gao Qian.’
Cao Luyun poured herself another cup, a bitter smile playing on her lips. "And that’s what I envy most of all. The very thing you don’t care about is something I can’t have, no matter how desperately I want it."
"Liang Wan, I’ve been thinking these last few days... If this business with the army provisions involved your Liang Family, perhaps Lord Lu wouldn’t have refused His Majesty. And even if he had, he wouldn’t have done it so decisively, so unhesitatingly."
She lifted her gaze, her expression one of utter misery.
Liang Wan stared at her, stunned, and opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
’This affair with the army provisions involved so many people, from the highest to the lowest ranks. Given Lu Xiu’s unique position and his connection to the Cao Family, he was already trying to distance himself from it. How could he possibly volunteer to become a public target?’
’Besides, he was walking a tightrope between two factions. Every move had to be made with extreme caution, thinking ten steps ahead for every one he took...’
’How could this possibly be a matter of personal feelings?’
’If it were the Liang Family implicated, I’d probably be fanning the flames myself.’
Liang Wan considered this for a moment before sighing softly. "Matters of state are not for women to discuss. However, Lord Lu has his own difficulties in this affair. It is better for him to help in secret where he can than to rush into the eye of the storm."
Cao Luyun lowered her head and simply smiled.
She clearly didn’t believe a word of it.
’I shouldn’t have come,’ Liang Wan thought, glancing at the tea in her cup. ’This tea tastes awful.’
Liang Wan knew full well how stubborn Cao Luyun could be; she never expected to sway her with just a few words.
But the danger lay in her getting hopelessly fixated.
And unintentionally causing other problems.
That would be dangerous.
For as long as Cao Luyun remained in the Grandmaster’s Mansion, Liang Wan would have to be on her guard.
’But who could have known she’d be like this...’
Liang Wan disliked trying to persuade people, and she had no desire to start now.
Cao Luyun was in a fragile state; she kept smiling until the rims of her eyes turned red.
An idea struck Liang Wan, and she couldn’t help but say with a sigh, "If Lord Lu were truly a man ruled by personal affections, how would my Liang Family have ended up in our current predicament?"
At this, Cao Luyun finally looked up. "...Is that so?"
Liang Wan nodded gravely. Lu Xiu was not a man to be swayed by romance or lose his head over a woman.
It wasn’t just Lu Xiu. Her experiences in her past life had taught her this lesson all too well. Even a man as debauched and tyrannical as Gao Qian never truly submitted to any of his favored concubines!
’The most foolish mistake a woman could make was to think she could control a man through love!’
Liang Wan sighed softly. "Lady Cao, some things are not—"
"My Lady, My Lady! It’s terrible—"
Before Liang Wan could finish, she was cut off by someone bursting frantically into the room.
It was the dowry maid who had come with Cao Luyun, a servant who normally never left her side.
Both women turned to look as the maid clutched her chest, gasping for breath.
Liang Wan said, "Calm down and tell us what happened. Why are you shouting like that?"
It was hard to tell if the maid’s face was flushed from panic or red from the cold.
She looked ashamed and bowed before speaking. "Lord Lu has just returned. Your servant heard from the attendants at the gate... the Great General was wounded by mutinying soldiers in the camp. It’s not known if he will live or die. When the Empress heard the news, it disturbed her pregnancy, and it seems she’s going into premature labor—"
Cao Luyun shot to her feet, swaying unsteadily. After a stunned moment, she bolted for the door.