Chapter 46: Sister-in-law

Chapter 46: Sister-in-law

Secretary Ji, only five years senior to the Lu siblings, stood as an undisputed young talent in the Southern Chu court.

Achieving early success, he topped the imperial examination at sixteen, once a favored student of the Grand Tutor, and now a Secretary after years of navigating the bureaucratic seas.

Driven by professional habit, he always meticulously checks his surroundings before discussing important matters, careful not to overlook anything unusual, lest he accidentally reveal any state secrets.

This was generally a good habit. However, today was unlucky for the tyrant and Consort Lu, as their passionate progress, complete with unmistakable sighs and lingering sounds, made their clandestine moment all too easy to stumble upon.

Though blind, the tyrant was not deaf. Hearing footsteps approaching, his fingers instinctively tightened on Consort Lu's sleeve, his expression turning fierce: "Perhaps... we should kill them?"

Consort Lu, amused by his excessive caution, softly reassured, "There's no need for that. I have a plan; Your Majesty, please, relax."

Having said that, he looked around and realized their situation was indeed dire. The alley had only one entrance, the exit blocked by a courtyard wall, making a stealthy escape impossible. The shameful scene of their affair was about to be outright discovered by his sister and her future husband.

Unable to flee or hide, the only option was to give his sister an "unexpected surprise."

Deciding on a course of action, Lu Changping readjusted the tyrant's cloak hood to cover half of the increasingly radiant and attractive face, then stepped out from the shadows, embracing him.

Covering Xie Xuan Yuan's face could hardly prevent anything; after all, once their affair was exposed, Zhaoping would undoubtedly try to get a clear look at his future "sister-in-law."

But the layer of fabric served to ease the tyrant's nerves and embarrassment, much like a quail spotted by an eagle in the wild, which, finding no escape, buries its head in the sand, leaving its rear exposed.

After this amusing thought crossed Emperor Lu's mind, he felt much lighter. Holding the blind tyrant close, he even greeted his sister and her future husband with a smile: "What a coincidence tonight."

Ji Yuzhe, who had prepared a lecture to persuade the cornered couple to cease such indecent acts, suggesting that if truly in love, they should inform family and friends for an early marriage.

Should they face unreasonable obstruction, the recently revised "Laws of Southern Chu," which he oversaw, included provisions to prevent lovers from being forcibly separated by unenlightened parents.

However, all his prepared admonitions were swallowed silently upon seeing the handsome, debonair face of the current emperor.

Despite the emperor's disheveled appearance as he embraced his lover, when those peach-blossom eyes met his and the princess's clasped hands with an ambiguous smile, Ji Yuzhe felt a nervous sweat break out.

What misfortune! A secret date with the emperor's sister, only to stumble upon the emperor in an illicit rendezvous!

Given Princess Zhaoyun's temperament, she should have already intervened between her brother and her fiancé. Yet, at this moment, the princess stood agape, clearly more shocked than her Brother Ji.

Watching the little bird snuggle into her royal brother's arms, her belly round and protruding, she couldn't help but feel things were progressing too quickly.

Urgent! On a date with my senior brother, only to find out my own brother secretly got me a pregnant sister-in-law. What to do?

The three stood there, staring at each other in a daze, until Lu Zhao broke the silence first, unable to restrain himself: "Your Ma..."

His Majesty Lu was prepared. Seeing her about to say "Brother," he quickly stuffed a street snack into her mouth.

Ji Yu Zhe glanced at Zhao and then at His Majesty, somewhat puzzled, and began to say: "Your Ma..."

Before he could fully say "Your Majesty," a sticky rice dumpling was stuffed into his mouth as well.

Lu Changping, while silencing his sister and future brother-in-law, subtly hinted to them:

"Since we've met by chance tonight, there's no need to be formal in addressing each other, don't you think?"

Lu Zhao initially wondered why her affectionate brother suddenly forbade her from calling him "Brother."

But she was smart. Recalling the recent news of her brother having a beloved, she quickly figured out the reason.

It turns out her brother had not only taken someone to bed but also had a child, yet hadn't dared to reveal his true identity. His actions were clearly out of guilt and fear of being exposed!

Although Secretary Ji knew less than the Princess, he was perceptive. Understanding the emperor's implied message, he exchanged a complex look with Zhao.

Then, an enlightened Zhao cautiously asked, "Brother, have we come at a bad time? Our family lacks neither property nor land; why the need to be so discreet?"

And Ji Yu Zhe, unsure of how to address His Majesty now, ultimately gave a respectful bow.

Emperor Lu, embarrassed by his sister's words, felt utterly disgraced. Yet, Zhao, clever and adaptable, spoke flawlessly.

He finally sighed and said, "Not at all, your arrival is timely." Then, he took the opportunity to pull on Xie Xuan Yuan's sleeve, introducing, "This is your sister-in-law."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the tyrant in his arms suddenly lifted his head, attempting to wriggle out from the cloak wrapped around him to see what the woman who had just spoken looked like.

Knowing full well he couldn't see, Lu Changping nevertheless broke out in a cold sweat of guilt, trying to stuff the restless tyrant back into his embrace.

The two struggled in front of his sister and brother-in-law for quite some time, until Xie Xuan Yuan realized he couldn't see anything. He finally gave up struggling, but abruptly pulled Lu, the noble consort, closer, encircling her slender waist without any hesitation, and asked with a deliberately raised voice:

"Is this woman truly your sister? Is she your biological sister or sworn sister? I've heard some women befriend men as 'brothers' before engaging in all sorts of improper conduct!"

Lu Zhao was evidently shocked by her future sister-in-law's blunt and fiery personality, pointing at her own face and then at her brother's, too upset to speak.

She and her royal brother were twins, bearing such a striking resemblance; who but the blind could doubt their genuine sibling relationship!

Emperor Lu, seeing the tyrant and his sister about to become enemies at their first meeting, quickly intervened: "Having known each other for so long, you're aware I'm not one to frivolously acknowledge sisters. We are all family here, and Ah Zhao is indeed my sister by the same mother."

It took a while for Lu Zhao to realize who her brother was referring to with "Ah Zhao."

Since her earliest memories, she had been adopted into the palace with her brother, where everything was bound by protocol, hence her brother, despite their closeness, always addressed her formally as Zhao. Now, to keep his pregnant wife in the dark, not only had her brother made a compromise, but he had also changed his longstanding way of addressing her, calling her "Ah Zhao."

Yet, even so, his delicate sister-in-law, hidden within a white cloak, was not pleased, hearing her speak in a voice slightly deeper than that of ordinary women:

"Ah Zhao? That's rather intimate. Since we're all family, why stop them from finishing what they were saying? I'd like to know whether your family name is 'Bi' or 'Huang.' If it's truly unappealing, our child will have to take my surname, and you'll have no say in the matter."

His words were indeed thoughtfully calculated.

Without making a scene, he informed the other party that he and Lu, the noble consort, were expecting a child, and used it as leverage to press Lu for her real name.

But Lu Changping was determined not to disclose his true name. Even upon hearing that the child might not carry his surname, he merely glanced at his belly with those affectionate, peach-blossom eyes and tenderly suggested, as if coaxing a child:

"It's alright, either way works for me. Having the child take the surname Xie is also nice, it makes naming much easier. How about... 'Xie Zhu Long En'?"

Xie Xuan Yuan was so infuriated by the bizarre four-character name proposed by Lu, the noble consort, for their child that he almost ascended to heaven on the spot. What sane father would give their child such a name!

However, before the tyrant could lose his temper with his beautiful Lu, Princess Nan Chu of Southern Chu, who had been listening to their spouses' quarrel the entire time, became anxious.

My royal brother's affection for my sister-in-law is clear to both Ji Yuzhe and me; we're concerned that at this rate, the ruler of Southern Chu will end up taking the Xie surname.

What's more worrying is that "Xie" happens to be the royal surname of our neighboring country, Beiwei.

How could the great lands of the Lu family fall under the surname of the tyrant of Beiwei?

Ji Yuzhe found it difficult to speak up, looking at the princess for help. She nodded firmly, ready to undertake the mission of advising and pulling her royal brother back from the path of becoming a negligent ruler.

Lu Zhaoping knew her brother was a reasonable man, so she decided to reason with him and appeal to his emotions, trying to save face for both him and his wife while gently persuading them.

She took a moment to gather her thoughts, then earnestly said, "Regarding the surname of the future child, wouldn't it be better for you and sister-in-law to discuss it again? After all, our family... has vast businesses and lands, and... this position of family head must be passed on to someone."

After stating her case, she feared upsetting her fiery-tempered sister-in-law and hastily made up some flattering words to appease her:

"The moment I saw sister-in-law, I knew she was as beautiful inside as out, gentle and virtuous, a perfect match for my brother. He is the only son in our family, with considerable wealth and no maids or concubines in his quarters. After you marry into our family, he will surely cherish you alone and not let you suffer the slightest grievance.

"All the jewelry, silks, and spices you like will surely be prioritized for your use... Could you also consider my brother's feelings and let your future child carry his surname?"

Although Lu Zhaoping had not seen her brother's beloved's face clearly, she and the Emperor shared the same tactic of sweet-talking, passed down through their family lineage.

After such sweet talk, which ordinary woman could refuse to give face?

Unfortunately, the disguised tyrant in front of her did not fall into the category of "ordinary women."

Xie Xuan Yuan had no interest in jewelry or silks and spices, and even found the praises of gentleness and virtue subtly mocking to his ears.

After Lu Zhaoping's flattery missed its mark, the tyrant's face darkened completely.

He let go of Lu Guifei's hand and stepped forward, defiantly asking Lu Zhaoping, "You say your family is so great and wealthy, I'd like to know just how wealthy?"

Lu Zhaoping, unsure of her sister-in-law's standards, was at a loss for words.

Her face turned beet red as she stumbled over her words, unable to come up with a concrete figure. She certainly couldn't just tell him that the entirety of Southern Chu was under the Lu family's control, could she? That would definitely give away her brother's position!

Seeing her unable to respond, the tyrant couldn't help but sneer, thinking Lu Guifei's sister was trying to punch above her weight. He looked up leisurely, a smile playing on his lips, "What if I were to say the Xie family's wealth could rival nations, and I am its only heir, also in need of a family head?"

The author has something to say:

Versailles in action:

Little Lu's sister: Our family... has a large estate. We need an heir.

Xiao Xie: Our wealth rivals that of nations. We, too, are in need of an heir.

In fact, the name for Xiao Xie and Xiao Lu's son had already been decided (thanks to the warm assistance of bestie @BingBingZhou), but choosing a surname for Sui Zheng remained a problem...

Thanks to all the little angels for waiting a week! Went to the barbershop today and could only manage this much due to limited time, will try for a daily update tomorrow~