Empress Lu looked at Madam Lu, who was kneeling before her, her gaze inscrutable.
Madam Lu felt no fear. Although her sister-in-law was the Empress, her position in the palace was truly precarious. At the time, the current Emperor had been unwilling to ally with the Lu family, and her father-in-law had used considerable means behind the scenes. Although the Lu family had contributed to the Emperor's ascension, the Emperor was not particularly close to them.
What emperor would not resent being coerced and threatened by a subject?
Therefore, no matter how angry her sister-in-law was, she would not fall out with the Lu family over this matter. Just as the Lu family had helped the Emperor ascend the throne back then, they could now place the Second Prince in that position. If she wanted to solidify her position as Empress and have her son become the ruler of the nation, she could only rely on the Lu family.
And the Lu family had only one condition: for the Lu family to produce another Empress.
Just as Madam Lu had expected, she did not have to kneel for long before hearing Empress Lu tell her to rise. "Sister-in-law, I am not blaming you."
Madam Lu wiped away a tear. "Your Highness, this subject was too anxious and lost her composure. You don't know, but a few days ago, the Second Prince visited our estate and spoke with Yun'er. After the Prince left, Yun'er cried and went to her mother's courtyard, saying she was unwilling to marry the Second Prince. She said that the Second Prince was deeply in love with Su Qingyue, and she did not want to wrong Su Qingyue just because she also liked the Second Prince."
Empress Lu truly did not know about this.
"I only have this one precious daughter. Seeing her so distressed, my heart was as if being cut by a knife. For my daughter's happiness, I had to harden my heart. If the Second Prince blames me, I am willing to bear it all, even if it means giving my life for Su Qingyue, I would have no complaints." Madam Lu said.
"What I did was not only because Father and Your Highness wanted Yun'er to be the Second Prince's principal wife, but also because I wanted Yun'er to have no regrets with the Second Prince in the future. Your Highness, all the suffering you have endured over the years, this subject has seen it all. I do not want my precious daughter to walk your path in the future. Su Qingyue is to the Second Prince what Consort An is to His Majesty." Madam Lu said.
Empress Lu sighed deeply.
"Sister-in-law, there is no need to give your life for Su Qingyue; she is unharmed, she escaped." Empress Lu said. "When you did this, you should have informed me. At least, with my intervention, Su Qingyue would not have been able to escape."
Madam Lu was greatly shocked. She had failed to succeed!
"What can we do now?" Madam Lu asked anxiously.
"My son has sent people to search, and I have also sent people. Now my son believes that I made a move against Su Qingyue, and he must resent me." Empress Lu said.
Madam Lu knelt again. "Your Highness, it is all my fault. I acted on my own initiative, causing Your Highness to be misunderstood by the Prince. Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will go and explain to the Prince shortly, saying that I did all of this and it has nothing to do with Your Highness."
"If you explain, how will Yun'er still marry my son?" Empress Lu frowned. "Won't my son then transfer his hatred for you to Yun'er?"
Madam Lu became somewhat flustered. "But we cannot let the Prince misunderstand Your Highness! Your Highness has worked tirelessly for the Prince, and for the Prince to resent Your Highness, isn't that like stabbing Your Highness in the heart?"
"What kind of hatred between mother and son cannot be resolved? Let him resent me, he will eventually understand that all of this is for his own good." Empress Lu said.
"Then what about Su Qingyue's matter..." Madam Lu spoke cautiously.
"I will not be soft-hearted." Empress Lu said.
Madam Lu finally breathed a sigh of relief. She understood her sister-in-law quite well. Since she had said so, Su Qingyue was naturally not to be feared.