Hall of Mental Cultivation
As soon as Xiao Jingheng returned, he eagerly pulled Lu Jingning into his arms.
“Zhaozhao, have you missed me these past few days?”
Lu Jingning’s cheeks flushed a delicate pink. She lowered her head shyly, her voice soft as a whisper.
“Of course I have, A-Rui. These days… I often dreamed of you at night.”
Saying that, her face reddened even further.
Hearing this, a warm current surged through Xiao Jingheng’s chest. He had not expected her to think of him constantly.
He gently brushed his fingers through her hair, his gaze full of tenderness.
“You suffered today. I will never let anyone harm you.”
Lu Jingning’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She looked pitiful as she murmured,
“Fortunately, Your Majesty trusted me. Otherwise… I truly wouldn’t have known what to do.”
She leaned softly into his embrace.
Xiao Jingheng cupped her face, his eyes deep and distressed.
“Zhaozhao, what compensation do you want? I will grant you anything.”
Lu Jingning shook her head, her eyes bright with determination.
“Your Majesty, this concubine wants nothing. I only wish to share a heart with Your Majesty and spend this life together.”
As she spoke, she placed her hand over his, the warmth seeping through their skin into the depths of the heart.
Xiao Jingheng grasped her hand firmly.
“Rest assured. I will always protect you.”
“With Your Majesty cherishing me so much, even if I die, it would be worth it,” she said, moved beyond measure.
Xiao Jingheng suddenly remembered the memorials still awaiting his approval. He felt a bit guilty.
“Zhaozhao, I will accompany you later. Is that alright?”
Lu Jingning nodded understandingly. Then, with feigned sorrow, she added,
“Your Majesty… no matter what, she is still my older sister. Even though she nearly pushed me to death today, I still want to advise her.”
Xiao Jingheng had never seen a woman so kind-hearted. He tightened his grip on her hand.
“How is my Zhaozhao so soft-hearted? Very well. If you wish to go, then go. If you feel wronged, tell me—I will make the decision for you.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. This concubine takes her leave.”
Lu Jingning bowed. But as she turned to leave, the fragile, pitiful expression vanished completely.
Sitting in the emperor’s palanquin, she headed toward Zhongcui Palace.
As soon as she stepped in, she saw Lu Shiwei with hair disheveled, clothes messy, her usual pride replaced by utter humiliation.
The moment she saw Lu Jingning, malice flickered in her eyes. She lunged forward crazily, but was restrained by the eunuchs guarding Lu Jingning.
Lu Shiwei screamed hoarsely, her voice sharp,
“Lu Jingning, you dared to scheme against me!”
Her wide eyes looked ready to devour Lu Jingning alive.
“You wretch! I should never have let you enter the palace!”
Lu Jingning looked at her with calm eyes tinged with pity. Watching her hysterics, she spoke with quiet mockery:
“Sister, you always claim to be above competition and uninterested in favor. But when someone else gains favor, you become jealous. Isn’t that rather hypocritical of you?”
Her words cut through Lu Shiwei like a blade.
Lu Shiwei’s face twisted with rage, humiliation flooding her eyes.
“You wretch! This is all your fault!”
She suddenly raised her hand, aiming a strike at Lu Jingning’s face.
But Lu Jingning had clearly foreseen it. She stepped aside lightly, avoiding it with ease.
Not only that—her hand moved faster. She swung back with a forceful slap.
“PA!”
The crisp sound echoed through the halls of Zhongcui Palace.
Lu Shiwei staggered several steps, nearly falling. A vivid handprint bloomed on her cheek, her eyes wide with shock and humiliation.
“You dare hit me? You’re just a concubine’s daughter! Without my mother, you would never have entered the palace!”
A cold, resolute glint flashed in Lu Jingning’s eyes. One slap wasn’t nearly enough.
She lifted her hand again—
PA! PA! PA!
Each slap landed ruthlessly, crackling sharply across the hall.
“These are for the times you hit me before. I’m returning them one by one.”
Lu Shiwei stumbled back repeatedly, her face swollen and burning red. She could only groan weakly, completely unable to fight back.
Lu Jingning looked at her misery with a faint, chilling smile.
“Oh, I must thank Madam indeed—for giving me the chance to step you under my feet. From now on, every pain you gave me, I will return to you.”
She adjusted her hairpin elegantly, turned around with a regal air, and walked away, leaving behind nothing but chaos—and Lu Shiwei’s despair.
Lu Shiwei trembled violently. Her eyes widened in terror.
Lu Jingning looked like a demon ready to devour her.
How?
How could she have become like this?
She used to be too timid to even speak back!
Yunlu, seeing Lu Jingning about to leave, panicked and seized the moment. She slipped away from Lu Shiwei’s side, stumbling forward.
She threw herself at Lu Jingning’s feet, tears streaming as she knelt and clutched at her skirt.
“My Lady, please save me! This servant will do anything for you!”
Her eyes reflected desperation, and her forehead glistened with cold sweat.
Lu Jingning stopped, glancing down with a slight tilt of her head, amusement and calculation gleaming in her eyes.
“Oh? Then tell me—what can you do for me?”
She raised her hand, letting her fingertip graze Yunlu’s trembling cheek, leaving a cold trail behind.
“This servant will do anything. I can report Concubine Lu’s actions to you. Please, save me from this suffering!”
As Yunlu spoke, she revealed the scars covering her arm.
Lu Jingning’s gaze lingered on the overlapping wounds. Her eyes flickered thoughtfully.
She slowly crouched down to meet Yunlu’s eyes. Her voice softened, yet carried a quiet authority.
“You truly are pitiful.”
With a faint smile, she produced a small jar of ointment from her sleeve and gently applied it to Yunlu’s injuries.
Yunlu shivered at the cold touch, surprise and gratitude flickering across her face.
When Lu Jingning finished, she placed the ointment in Yunlu’s hand and patted her shoulder. Her lips curved into a meaningful smile.
“Just keep an eye on Concubine Lu and report her movements to me. I will protect you.”
Yunlu clutched the ointment tightly and kowtowed repeatedly.
“This servant will report the moment anything happens!”
“Go now. Don’t let Concubine Lu notice.”
Supported by Chun’er, Lu Jingning rose and reminded her calmly.
Yunlu nodded and hurried back.
Lu Jingning chuckled softly and returned to Chengqian Palace in the palanquin.
(End of chapter)