Chapter 431: We’re Not in the Same Race

Chapter 431: We're Not in the Same Race

Zheng Jinyu knelt down with the others as the Long Princess stood up and looked towards the door.

The Emperor strode in, walked to the bedside, and took Grand Tutor Lu's hand. "Teacher."

Grand Tutor Lu had just finished coughing, his pale face now flushed red. He couldn't speak but only looked at the Emperor with tears in his eyes.

The Emperor tightened his grip on his hand and said, "I've heard about what happened in Yu City. Don't worry, I've already sent people to escort Lu Shen back safely."

Grand Tutor Lu nodded and then started coughing again.

The Long Princess said, "Your Majesty, please let the imperial physicians administer acupuncture."

Only then did the Emperor step aside.

"Royal Sister, how is the Grand Tutor?"

The Long Princess sighed and shook her head. "His condition isn't good."

The two of them sat silently in chairs nearby, waiting for the treatment to finish.

After a long while, several imperial physicians managed to revive Grand Tutor Lu, whose face turned grayish-white once more.

"How is the Grand Tutor's illness?"

"Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor may... only have a few days left."

The Emperor was stunned and then angrily asked, "What do you mean by a few days?"

What else could it mean? It was clear that he would pass away in a few days.

The imperial physicians didn't know how to respond and chose to remain silent.

"If you can't cure him, what use are you to me?"

The imperial physicians remained silent.

At this moment, Grand Tutor Lu spoke weakly from the bed, "Your Majesty, this old minister... doesn't have much time left. My fate has come to an end. Don't blame the imperial physicians; no one can help."

The Emperor looked sorrowful. "Grand Tutor, what am I supposed to do?"

Grand Tutor Lu said, "For you and the princess to visit this old minister, I am honored and have no regrets."

He had been loyal to the Emperor and had taught him when he was young, which was why the Emperor personally came to visit him.

This was already giving enough face to the Lu family.

The Emperor exchanged a few pleasantries, instructed them to take good care of Grand Tutor Lu, and then left.

The Long Princess followed, telling Zheng Jinyu she was going to the palace and that she should go back on her own.

It was common for the Long Princess to enter the palace every few days.

Once the Long Princess left, Zheng Jinyu also prepared to depart.

Outside, she saw Fang Jinxiu slightly protruding belly.

She must be four months along, already showing. She really does conceive easily.

Fang Jinxiu noticed Zheng Jinyu's gaze and puffed out her belly even more, glancing intentionally at Zheng Jinyu's stomach.

Zheng Jinyu found this somewhat amusing yet annoying. She thought, "Our bellies aren't in the same race. What's there to show off?"

"Madam Lu, I'll be taking my leave."

Madam Lu wiped her tears and slightly bent her knee. "Goodbye, Consort Chen."

Zheng Jinyu turned around and left directly.

Fang Jinxiu watched her back and coldly snorted in dissatisfaction.

Madam Lu's expression hardened, and she glared at her.

Fang Jinxiu, feeling self-important, puffed out her belly and gave Madam Lu a disdainful look.

She couldn't stand seeing Madam Lu bowing to Zheng Jinyu, which she found humiliating.

But Madam Lu wasn't foolish and knew what was going on in her mind.

After being provoked, Madam Lu didn't tolerate it and coldly hummed, "People need to accept their fate. A wild chicken flying into a phoenix's nest remains a wild chicken. A phoenix egg falling into a wild chicken's nest is still a phoenix."

Fang Jinxiu clenched her teeth in anger. "What do you mean?"

Madam Lu said sternly, "What do you think I mean? Fang Jinxiu, behave yourself. I know you're not satisfied, but Zheng Jinyu is now Consort Chen, someone you can't provoke. If you cause trouble for her and bring disaster to the Lu family, you'll regret it."

"You... You dare say that to me? If it weren't for me, you'd be childless."

Madam Lu's face darkened, about to scold her, but then she heard, "I'm still pregnant."

Looking at her belly, Madam Lu held back her anger. "Hmph, the only thing you can rely on now is your belly."

So what? As long as she could use her belly to control them.

The imperial physicians had given Grand Tutor Lu a death sentence, and now the whole family was at home, with his sons taking turns watching over him at night, fearing he might pass away suddenly.

The Long Princess, upon leaving the palace, instructed the princess to prepare the funeral feast.

Estimating that Grand Tutor Lu would pass away in just a few days.

One day, Chunmei came to Zheng Jinyu and said, "Your Highness, Erya requests an audience."

Zheng Jinyu asked, "What does she want this time?"

Thinking to herself, now that Erya has the concubine release document and some silver, wouldn't it be better for her to live honestly until Lu Shen returns? Why is she coming to see me again?

A thousand taels of silver may not be much for the wealthy, but for Erya and her brother, it's a considerable amount, enough for their daily needs.

Could she have heard the news about Lu Shen's mishap abroad?

Chunmei said, "She says she wants to return to the Lu family."

Zheng Jinyu was taken aback, "What?"

"She says she wants to return to the Lu family and asks Your Highness to help her plan it."

Zheng Jinyu: "..."

"Hmph, this fool, I won't see her."

With Lu Shen in trouble, whether he can return is uncertain.

And with Grand Tutor Lu on his deathbed, the Lu family must be in chaos right now. For her to want to return at this time, she must be out of her mind.

Chunmei went out to dismiss Erya, "Her Highness is busy and won't see you. Leave now."

Erya said, "Ah? Why won't she see me?"

"It's not my place to say, but why would you want to go back to the Lu family when you're living well now? Grand Tutor Lu will pass away soon, and the Lu family is in turmoil. Going back now is suicide."

"I know Grand Tutor Lu is close to passing away, which is why I need to go back. Please, let me see my sister."

"Get lost, who's your sister? You won't listen even if I warn you. Do you want to cause trouble for Her Highness?"

"But..." She touched her belly and said, "I have a compelling reason to return."

Chunmei said, "Even if you have a compelling reason, it's not suitable for you to return now. Even if Her Highness sees you, she'll only advise you to live your own life. Leave quickly; Her Highness won't help you return to the Lu family."

Erya pleaded, "Miss Chunmei, please let me see her. If my sister takes me back to the Lu family, surely..."

"Guards, take her away." Chunmei ordered the servants to drag her away before she could finish.

This infuriated her, and she muttered angrily as she was dragged away.

"What an ungrateful wretch, living well but seeking death. Pah, truly unlucky."

As she was muttering, she bumped into Zheng Jinyu coming out of the room.

"Has she left?"

"Yes, I had someone send her away."

"What did she say?"

"I told her that the Lu family is in chaos now, and it's uncertain whether Lu Shen will survive. Grand Tutor Lu is also close to passing away. Returning there means certain death, but she wouldn't listen. She insisted that it's precisely because Grand Tutor Lu is dying that she needs to go back. You can't persuade a doomed soul, and I think her life is over."