After being reborn, the empress only wanted to seduce the emperor and seize the empress's posit

Chapter 28 Madam Lu's Attempt to Frame Lu Jingning
Upon receiving the letter, Madam Lu's face turned ashen. Enraged, she slammed the letter on the table, cursing, "That vile woman! How dare she treat my son like this! I should never have sent this scourge to the palace!"

She was trembling with anger, her eyes blazing with fury.

Seeing this, Xiao Cui quickly stepped forward and gently patted Madam Lu's back, softly comforting her, "Madam, please calm down. It's not worth getting sick over such a person."

A sly glint flashed in her eyes as she leaned close to Madam Lu's ear and whispered, "Madam, the Dragon Boat Festival is just around the corner. According to palace rules, you are entitled to attend the banquet in the palace. At that time..."

As Xiao Cui spoke, she gestured, and Madam Lu's expression gradually softened. A ruthless glint flashed in her eyes, and a cold smile curled at the corner of her lips: "Good idea, we'll do it your way! Shi Wei must be short of money in the palace. Go and prepare some, and find a way to send it into the palace."

"Don't worry, Madam."

After Xiao Cui finished speaking, she carefully wrapped the silver notes and loose silver separately, and put the letter written by Madam Lu into the sachet.

She stepped out of the room and instructed a trusted servant: "Quickly take this, and remember to do so out of sight. Be sure to personally deliver it to Eunuch Liu at the palace gate. He knows what to do."

The servant nodded, took the basket, and nimbly disappeared from the Lu residence.

As evening fell, Granny Li hurried through the corridor, clutching an inconspicuous sachet tightly in her hand, her eyes gleaming with anxiety.

She gently pushed open the door to Consort Lu's bedchamber, only to see Consort Lu sitting alone in front of the mirror, her brows furrowed with anxiety. Granny Li quickly stepped forward and whispered, "Your Highness, the Madam has brought in some things."

As she spoke, she gently placed the sachet on the table.

Consort Lu turned around abruptly, a hint of urgency flashing in her eyes. With trembling hands, she opened her purse, revealing a stack of silver notes and letters.

"Great! I knew Mother would help me!" A smug smile crept onto her lips as she hurriedly took out the letter inside.

After a while, Granny Li asked anxiously, "Your Highness, what did the Madam say?"

After reading the letter, a resolute glint flashed in Consort Lu's eyes. She whispered, "Granny Li, go and secretly prepare peach blossom powder. Remember, whatever you do, don't let anyone know."

Upon hearing this, Granny Li's expression hardened. Knowing that this was the Madam's idea, she quickly nodded in agreement.

Consort Lu's fingers, gripping the letter tightly, turned white from the force. She silently vowed, "Lu Jingning, you just wait."

Then, she took out all the silver notes, handed some to Granny Li, and kept the rest.

Having been tricked by Lu Jingning once, she was still somewhat frightened and couldn't help but instruct Li Mama: "Make sure no one finds out, otherwise I'll have no chance to turn things around."

After accepting the silver, Granny Li tucked it into her sleeve and nodded heavily, "Your Highness, rest assured."

Yunlu hid in the shadows outside the palace, her heart pounding like a drum, her eyes flashing with excitement and determination. She had finally gotten her chance to gain Consort Lu's trust.

Using the faint moonlight, she quietly passed through the empty palace corridor and arrived at Chengqian Palace.

Tonight, Xiao Jingheng went to the Imperial Concubine's palace. Lu Jingning was reading when he noticed the commotion: "Xiao Linzi, go and take a look."

"Yes, Your Highness."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Linzi hurriedly went out to check and happened to run into Yun Lu.

Yunlu lowered her eyes, clasped her hands in front of her, and said softly, "I have something to ask to see you, my lady."

Seeing this, Xiao Linzi, though puzzled, dared not delay and led her to Lu Jingning.

Lu Jingning was sitting by the window when Yue gently raised her head, her gaze sharp as she swept over the grove of trees. Her voice was low: "Has anyone else seen Yunlu?" "Reporting to Your Highness, no, this servant secretly brought Miss Yunlu in, and no one saw her."

Lu Jingning nodded in satisfaction, then warned him, "Don't mention Yunlu's visit today to anyone, or you'll regret it if you betray me..."

Xiao Linzi trembled and nodded hurriedly, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead: "Yes, please rest assured, my lord. This servant is only loyal to you. Even if someone puts a knife to my throat, I will never utter a single word."

Lu Jingning still trusted Xiao Linzi and instructed, "Go and guard outside the hall. Anyone who wants to come in must report to me first, understand?"

"Yes, this servant understands," Xiao Linzi replied, walking solemnly to the outside of the hall. He stood with his back against the door frame, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

Lu Jingning stared sharply at Yun Lu for a moment, then slowly asked, "What brings you here so late at night?"

Yunlu's body trembled slightly, and a resolute look flashed in her lowered eyes. She mustered her courage and said softly, "My lady, I overheard Li Mama, who serves Consort Lu, mentioning that Consort Lu sent a message to the Madam. I was worried about you, so I risked coming to tell you."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jingning frowned slightly, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes: "What did the letter say?"

Yunlu bit her lip, as if making a decision: "This servant only vaguely heard Her Highness instructing Granny Li to prepare peach blossom powder, and some words of curses directed at you, Your Highness."

After she finished speaking, she secretly glanced at Lu Jingning and saw that his face was solemn and his eyes seemed to be flashing with fire.

Seeing this, Lu Jingning's brows furrowed even more. She parted her lips slightly, her voice low and powerful: "Did they say what the peach blossom powder is for?"

Yunlu gently shook her head, her expression showing a hint of fear and unease.

Her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her dress, her voice barely audible: "This servant dared not get too close, for fear of being discovered, so I only vaguely heard these things."

After speaking, she looked up at Lu Jingning, hoping to gain her trust.

Lu Jingning nodded slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and said in a low voice, "You did a good job. Go back and continue to keep a close watch on them. Report any suspicious activity immediately."

Upon hearing this, Yunlu felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She nodded firmly, "Yes, this servant understands. This servant will definitely keep a close watch on them and report to Your Highness at the slightest sign of trouble."

Lu Jingning whispered, "Be careful not to be discovered."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Suddenly, Yunlu had a thought and said urgently, "My lady, I think I heard them mention that they want to make a move at the Dragon Boat Festival banquet."

A resolute glint flashed in Lu Jingning's eyes. She murmured softly, "Dragon Boat Festival banquet, huh? I'd like to see what tricks you can pull."

Seeing that Yun Lu was loyal, Lu Jingning's eyes softened and he said softly, "If you can handle this matter well, I will reward you with some silver and let you leave the palace."

Upon hearing this, Yunlu's eyes instantly welled up with tears. She trembled with emotion, immediately kneeling down and kowtowing repeatedly, her voice trembling with sobs: "Thank you, Your Highness. This servant will do everything in my power to help you."

Her forehead gently tapped against the cold ground, making a "thump-thump" sound.

"Okay, let's go back."

Yunlu stood up, hastily wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve, and turned to leave quickly.

(End of this chapter)