Chapter 118
Yuwen Jue furrowed his brows. “This… with your condition, traveling over rough roads… isn’t that dangerous?”
Lu Hanzhi said, “I know, Second Sister-in-law, but… I’m worried about him. My body is fine; the only thing I worry about is you.”
Yuwen Jue said, “I’m fine. My personal guards will protect me. Besides, even if you’re by my side, what can you do without strength?”
Lu Hanzhi: …
He had just been insulted.
But it was true.
He cleared his throat. “Second Sister-in-law, this trip may take about half a month. Can your belly… hold out until I return?”
Yuwen Jue said, “Of course. I need at least another month to stabilize the pregnancy before Ah Yu is born.”
Lu Hanzhi nodded. “Also, no one can know I’m going to the western frontier. But keeping it secret for half a month will be a hassle for you.”
Yuwen Jue nodded firmly. “I have my ways. Don’t worry, Han’er.”
Looking at Yuwen Jue, Lu Hanzhi felt an unprecedented sense of peace.
Entrusting the entire rear safely to someone else—he had never felt this before.
Lu Hanzhi said, “I can’t bring Ah Chan on this trip either. Looks like I’ll be troubling you again.”
Yuwen Jue said, “Ah Chan isn’t a trouble.”
Lu Hanzhi felt a pang in his nose. He stepped forward, hugging Yuwen Jue. “Second Sister-in-law, take care. You are my second brother’s life—make sure to wait for him to return!”
Yuwen Jue said, “Han’er, rest assured. I grew up in the whirlpool of royal struggles. Maybe I was too kind in the past, but now, for the sake of the child you and my second brother share, I will not hold back.”
Tears streamed down Lu Hanzhi’s face as he said, “Second Sister-in-law, take care of yourself.”
Yuwen Jue sighed and stepped forward, embracing him. “Why are you crying? Hanzhi, you’ve grown up—you’re no longer the child I once saw. I’m truly comforted. You will surely help Ah Min defeat the Six Kingdom Alliance sooner.”
In truth, Lu Hanzhi couldn’t quite explain what had come over him. It was as if madness had taken hold, driving him to want to go to the western frontier immediately.
He instinctively felt that Su Wan’ning’s scheme targeting Yuwen Min was far more complicated than it seemed.
If it were an open plot, Lu Hanzhi trusted Yuwen Min completely.
If it were a hidden scheme, Lu Hanzhi believed he could handle it.
But if it was a mysterious, insidious plan?
Su Wan’ning was not someone of integrity. He couldn’t imagine the consequences if Yuwen Min fell into her hands.
Death might be the best outcome—but what if she treated him the way she treated Yuwen Mingji and Yuwen Jing?
A scholar can be killed but not humiliated. With Yuwen Min’s character, if Su Wan’ning forced him into her harem, who knew what he would become.
In the original accounts, Yuwen Min was the only one never mentally manipulated by Su Wan’ning, which showed his willpower was extraordinarily strong.
Even so, Lu Hanzhi didn’t want him to fall into her traps.
For the next half month, he resolved to go quickly and return quickly, hoping to help Yuwen Min win the battle against the Six Kingdom Alliance.
The next day, Lu Hanzhi entered the palace with Yuwen Jue.
This time they didn’t bring Ah Chan, as they had serious matters to discuss.
Imperial Concubine Rong looked worried. When she heard Lu Hanzhi intended to go to the western frontier to find Yuwen Min, she felt extremely reluctant.
Especially since she had recently learned about his pregnancy—she hated the thought of him laboring all the way there.
She shook her head repeatedly, but no matter what she said, she couldn’t convince Lu Hanzhi.
Lu Hanzhi knelt before her. “I know that Mother Concubine treats Ah Min and me as her own sons. Your care for us is no different than Second Sister-in-law’s. It is precisely because of this that I don’t want to make you unhappy. Since I know Ah Min is in danger, I cannot stand idly by. I promise you: I will bring back Ah Min safe and sound, and I will return myself unscathed. Staying in the capital would be safe, but if something happens to Ah Min… what meaning would my life have?”
By the end of his words, Lu Hanzhi’s own eyes had turned red.
He didn’t know whether it was because he truly cared so deeply for Yuwen Min or because he had spoken with too much emotion and had fully immersed himself in it.
In any case, after speaking, tears filled his eyes, and he lowered his head to the ground, choking out, “I beg Mother Concubine to grant me permission.”
Imperial Concubine Rong personally stepped forward to lift him and wiped his tears. “…Very well. Mother Concubine will give you a token. At all checkpoints along your way, it will grant you protection. As for your movements, rest assured—over half the soldiers guarding the checkpoints belong to the Rong family army. But… concealing your path will be difficult. Claiming illness is a last resort; if you could say that I kept you in the palace…”
Lu Hanzhi suddenly thought of someone. “Mother Concubine, perhaps… the Empress Dowager could help?”
“The Empress Dowager?” Imperial Concubine Rong hesitated.
No one in the palace really understood Empress Dowager Xiao.
Previously, she rarely stayed in the palace; throughout the year, she was there no more than two months.
This year, for some unknown reason, she had been in residence for a full six months.
Yet even so, the Empress Dowager never met anyone or left Cining Palace, only practicing Buddhism in seclusion.
Even the Empress herself had never been allowed in.
So when Lu Hanzhi had previously been able to meet the Empress Dowager in Cining Palace, it had genuinely surprised her.
She shook her head. “I cannot be sure. I’ve heard the Empress Dowager is very fond of the white porcelain Guanyin you gave her. But this matter is serious. If she is willing to help, that’s good; if not…”
Imperial Concubine Rong did not continue. The Empress Dowager Xiao was simply too unpredictable.
Everyone in the palace knew her status and influence; even the Emperor treated her with great respect.
Yet she never extended a hand to anyone—hence Imperial Concubine Rong couldn’t be certain of her response.
Lu Hanzhi thought for a moment. “I’ll go see her shortly. Besides, I came prepared today—I’ve brought a special gift for the Empress Dowager.”
“A gift?” Imperial Concubine Rong’s expression became slightly melancholic.
She suspected he meant the same trick as before—last time he had given her lipstick that had been meant for the Empress Dowager.
Lu Hanzhi immediately presented the exquisite gift boxes he had prepared. “Mother, rest assured. This time, I brought two sets. One is a delicate, youthful makeup set specially designed for you; the other is an earth-tone set carefully designed for the Empress Dowager. You can choose which you like first; the one you select is yours, and the other can be given to the Empress Dowager.”
Upon hearing this, Imperial Concubine Rong shook her head. “Han’er, you really don’t understand women. How could we ever choose? Normally, we want everything. Never mind—there’s plenty of time. When you return, make ten sets for Mother Concubine. For now, both of these will go to the Empress Dowager. As long as it helps, Mother Concubine… is willing to give up everything.”
Lu Hanzhi: …Mother Concubineis really too adorable!
In the end, Lu Hanzhi took the two makeup gift boxes to Cining Palace.
He had assumed he might be obstructed by the Empress Dowager’s attendants again, but Bing Gonggong directly allowed him and Yuwen Jue to enter.
Once inside, they both bowed. “Grandson greets the Empress Dowager.”
The Empress Dowager waved her hand. “Han’er, perfect timing. Today, someone brought me the new incense balm from Han Ji Fragrant House. They say it conceals flaws and whitens the skin. Hanzhi, how would you apply this?”
Lu Hanzhi’s face turned black with exasperation—so it was Han Ji’s new makeup powder.
This powder was made from rice flour—the most basic ancient foundation.
In fact, most ancient powders were made from lead. Lead is toxic; the ancients didn’t know, but Lu Hanzhi did.
So he never made lead powder, only rice powder.
Lu Hanzhi looked at the Empress Dowager’s faint smile and said, “Your Majesty, although this makeup powder is also a completely natural and harmless product, I actually have an even better set, specially prepared for you. Would you like to take a look?”
The Empress Dowager’s interest was immediately piqued. She said, “Quick, quick, quick! Let me see it!”
Lu Hanzhi immediately took out the two gift sets he had meticulously prepared and placed each item neatly on the table.
Seeing the tall, short, big, and small bottles and jars, the Empress Dowager was momentarily overwhelmed.
She asked in surprise, “This… Han’er, what are all these?”
Lu Hanzhi replied, “Your Majesty, don’t be impatient! Let me put on some makeup for you. While I do, I can introduce each of these cosmetics.”
The Empress Dowager eagerly sat down, allowing Lu Hanzhi to begin applying the makeup.
The whole process was utterly fascinating for the Empress Dowager; it was completely new and exciting for her!
As he applied the makeup, Lu Hanzhi explained, “First, we use this rose toner to moisturize your skin. That way, when we apply makeup, it won’t dry out. Then, this balm locks in moisture, making it even more nourishing. Next, this cotton pad…”
Thus, the Empress Dowager became acquainted with Lu Hanzhi’s homemade foundation, eyebrow pencil, eyeshadow palette…
By the time the full makeup was finished, her age spots were concealed, fine lines covered, dark circles disappeared, her eyes appeared larger, eyebrows thick and dark, lips red, cheeks rosy.
Looking at herself in the mirror, the Empress Dowager could hardly believe her eyes. She said, “If I go to pay respects at the late emperor’s tomb like this, wouldn’t he just leap straight out of the coffin?”
Yuwen Jue, standing nearby, could not help but chuckle.
From the smile lines around her eyes, it was clear that Lu Hanzhi’s request had been successful—most likely.
Everyone wanted to please the Empress Dowager, yet no one expected that she could be so won over by Lu Hanzhi’s deft hands.
Her delight, however, did not cloud her judgment. She happily put away the two sets of cosmetics Lu Hanzhi had given her and said, “Alright, little fox, now tell me what business brings you here. You clever little thing, you didn’t just come to give me gifts, did you?”
Lu Hanzhi cleared his throat, embarrassed. “Your Majesty, you guessed it already?”
The Empress Dowager chuckled twice and said, “All this flattery without reason is either mischief or deceit. Tell me honestly—can this old lady help you?”
So Lu Hanzhi immediately knelt and laid out his request.
The Empress Dowager asked, “What? You want to go to the frontier? To see Ah Min?”
Lu Hanzhi nodded. “Your Majesty, as you know, we were only recently married, and I… am truly worried about him.”
The Empress Dowager looked at him intently and sighed, “I suppose you have other plans as well?”
Lu Hanzhi did not hide anything from her. “I have naturally heard some rumors. This trip… I only seek to ensure Ah Min’s safety.”
The Empress Dowager said nothing further, leaving Lu Hanzhi there while Yuwen Jue returned to Imperial Concubine Rong’s residence.
Before leaving, the Empress Dowager instructed Yuwen Jue, “Just go back to your Mother Concubine and tell her I left Han’er here. He is to copy the management of the monastery for half a month. Even the emperor, without my permission, would not dare force his way in.”
Your favorite BL chaos wouldn’t be possible without coffee… lots of coffee….
Support Ciacia’s translation temple on Kofi—and if the cliffhanger demons are haunting you, join the Han’er Tier to purge them with advanced chapter access (up to 5!) before the masses even blink.
