“My aunt thinks so too?” Lu Ruoyun exclaimed, covering her mouth.
“I thought I was narrow-minded, thinking so badly of people.”
“Because I married my cousin and snatched Sister Yue’s position as the main consort, so…”
“Ultimately, I’ve wronged Sister Yue!”
“You child!” Empress Lu chided Lu Ruoyun, “Don’t take everything upon yourself! What mistake have you made? Your aunt always intended for you to be my daughter-in-law, it’s just that you were too young. Besides, Su Qingyue hasn’t been able to conceive all these years! Your second cousin is vying for the throne with the First Prince, and heirs are very important.”
“But Sister Yue eventually became pregnant…”
“But the Su family cannot help your cousin.” Empress Lu stated directly.
Therefore, it had to be Lu Ruoyun, it had to be the Lu family.
Only then could the Lu family continue to prosper.
“Aunt, I feel stifled,” Lu Ruoyun said softly.
“Your cousin favors her now, so even if you feel stifled, you cannot act,” Empress Lu said. “Aunt will find a way!”
“Didn’t you say heirs are very important to my cousin?”
Empress Lu hesitated, “Yunyun, you…”
“For my cousin, I can endure…” Lu Ruoyun said.
“Don’t worry, the child in Su Qingyue’s belly will not threaten you,” Empress Lu guaranteed.
Lu Ruoyun obediently hummed, “Your daughter-in-law will definitely do her duty as a嫡母 (di mu - legal mother)!”
To raise them well, with good food, drink, and fun.
Of course, this was only in dire circumstances.
To spoil them to death, while a bit disgusting to herself, was the most impeccable method.
Su Qingyue wanted to use her child to turn the tables; naturally, she couldn’t give her that opportunity. By then, the child would be raised to be uneducated, arrogant, and detestable, leaving Su Qingyue without support, forced to live under her thumb.
Empress Lu bestowed many good things upon Lu Ruoyun, making her happy as she returned.
Afterward, Empress Lu summoned her confidante, “Find a way to place someone by Su Qingyue’s side. The child can be born, but I do not wish for her to still be around. The Emperor needs a child, but not a woman who monopolizes his heart.”
“Do it discreetly, so no one can find fault.”
“Some things cannot be done by Yunyun herself. Only I can be the villain!”
“Also, send word to my father that the Lu family is not to interfere with Su Qingyue’s affairs.”
“The Emperor and the Lu family must not have any friction.”
“My son and I have no grudges that last overnight. He doesn’t understand now, but he will eventually.”
Empress Lu also bestowed many things upon Su Qingyue, mostly tonics.
Su Qingyue slipped a purse to the eunuch delivering the decree, and Feng Yin politely saw him off.
As for the items sent, she had never consumed any tonics from the palace before she became pregnant, let alone now that she was expecting? After all, the Empress did not favor her or the child. She was not so naive as to believe the Empress had a change of heart.
Even after Feng Yin checked all the ingredients and confirmed they were fine.
Su Qingyue still dared not.
There were too many insidious methods in the palace, making it impossible to guard against. The ingredients might be fine, but that didn’t mean consuming them would be without issue.
Therefore, Su Qingyue had Feng Yin put the items away.
At this moment, the Second Prince arrived. Seeing this, he was somewhat displeased, because Lu Ruoyun had just told him that his mother sincerely wanted to make amends and had shared some of her own tonics to bestow upon Su Qingyue. But to his surprise, she didn’t appreciate it!