After transmigrating into the book, I helped my mother reconcile with her divorced husband.

Clutching the prescription tightly, she left without making a sound, wanting to see if Ji Wanwan's poison would actually work.

Later, Qingzhi returned and said that Young Master Xie had returned to the manor, and Second Young Master Xie and Commandant Ma had taken Miss Xie into the palace.

Upon hearing that Lu Zhiyuan had entered the palace, Xie Chaoyun stood up anxiously, but Qingzhi pressed her down: "Miss, don't be anxious. The Second Young Master said that the young lady will be rewarded for entering the palace this time, and the Emperor will certainly not make things difficult for her."

Despite saying that, Xie Chaoyun was still very uneasy.

Inside the palace, the Emperor stared at Lu Zhiyuan. She was the daughter of Marquis Pingnan, Lu Huai, and was said to be in poor health, recuperating at the Xie family's villa. Her last public appearance was at the Mid-Autumn Festival chrysanthemum-viewing banquet hosted by the Empress, where she made a stunning debut, winning not only the Empress's favor but also high praise from his most beloved little princess.

In the candlelight, she appeared thin and small, as if a gust of wind could blow her away.

Yet this little guy had the courage to go to the garrison headquarters alone to mobilize troops.

"So you are Lu Zhiyuan? Raise your head and let me see you."

Lu Zhiyuan slowly rose and looked directly at the Emperor.

In the dim candlelight, her complexion looked unusually poor, which was consistent with the rumors of her poor health.

"I've heard you're not feeling well. Shall I summon an imperial physician to examine you?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. My illness came from an abortion, and even if Hua Tuo were alive, he would find it difficult to cure."

The Emperor didn't know who Hua Tuo was, only thinking he was a revered physician among the common people. He originally intended to have the eunuch summon Physician Jiang, but then he thought that Physician Jiang was on good terms with Xie Chaoyun, and probably had already seen Lu Zhiyuan's illness. If it were curable, he wouldn't have waited until now.

Rumors are circulating that the eldest daughter of the Marquis's family will not live to the age of marriage. What if she does live to the age of marriage?

Judging from Lu Zhiyuan's appearance, she will surely become a stunning beauty in the future. Given her background, it wouldn't be unreasonable to bestow her in marriage to the Crown Prince. The Xie family's daughter doesn't need to live to a ripe old age; she only needs to serve the royal family.

The emperor narrowed his eyes.

Seeing this, Xie Yubai cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, Yuan'er suffers from a heart ailment. There is no cure for this disease; we can only use those precious medicines to care for her."

"What a pity. In my opinion, this woman is most like the old general." The Emperor gestured for Lu Zhiyuan to come closer and asked her about the garrison.

Lu Zhiyuan answered every question, neither taking credit nor shirking responsibility.

She said that the first to discover the strange man was not the Xie family, but the soldiers on patrol. Because the street was close to the Xie family, they were able to promptly notify her second uncle, Xie Yubai, who was the Vice Minister of Revenue.

The reasons for sending her to the garrison headquarters for help were twofold: firstly, her young age made her less likely to be discovered by the strange man; and secondly, she had connections with the garrison commander's children. It was already late when the incident occurred, and anyone else who went to knock on the door would certainly be driven away by the garrison commander. Her mother had saved the garrison commander's son, and she was just a young girl; both morally and logically, they would let her in.

She wasn't alone; she went with her bodyguard, Lu Yun. Lu Yun was highly skilled in martial arts, and if the garrison commander didn't believe her, they could even take him out of the mansion to investigate. As long as he saw those strange men committing violence in the streets, given his loyalty to the Emperor, he would surely mobilize troops to protect the Emperor and the safety of the capital.

With Wu Shoubei and his steward dead, only she and Lu Yun know the truth about the garrison's residence. A half-truth would be enough to fool the emperor.

After speaking, she handed over the garrison's token and said innocently, "This humble woman has protected the token very well. Would Your Majesty like to give this humble woman some reward?"

The Emperor gestured for the eunuch to step forward and examine the token. After confirming that it was indeed Wu Shoubei's, he said, "What reward do you want? As long as it is within my power, you may have it!"

"Your Majesty, please allow me to consider it."

Lu Zhiyuan lowered her head, looking as if she was racking her brains and deep in thought.

Xie Yubai, Commandant Ma, the Emperor, and the eunuch standing beside him were all somewhat nervous. They feared that Lu Zhiyuan might propose a reward that would put the Emperor in a difficult position. Whether or not a reward was given, it would displease the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, I've got an idea! I want the chefs in the Imperial Kitchen to cook me a big feast of delicious dishes." Lu Zhiyuan's eyes shone brightly. "I want to eat meat, all kinds of meat, and I'd like to take home any leftovers."

"You're asking me for a reward—an imperial meal? A whole table of dishes?"

"It's not just a big table of dishes, it's a big table of delicious imperial cuisine, the kind with meat." Lu Zhiyuan revealed a hint of craving, patting her own stomach: "To be honest, Your Majesty, I'm hungry."

As soon as he finished speaking, his stomach rumbled in perfect unison.

The emperor was delighted and ordered a banquet to be prepared in the palace, specifically instructing that there must be plenty of meat.

"Besides the imperial cuisine, what else do you want? My treasury has quite a few treasures. Or, you can ask me to promote your father and grant your marquisate a title."

Lu Zhiyuan shook her head: "The treasures in His Majesty's storeroom belong to His Majesty. Even if you bestow them upon me, I can only move them back to the Marquis's storeroom to hide them. I can't sell them, and I can't eat them. What would I do with them? If someone touches them or breaks them, I'll lose my head."

Lu Zhiyuan counted on her fingers with a sincere expression: "My father is already a marquis, but he is not as capable as my uncle. He is not good at business and has ruined all the shops that my grandfather gave him. He is not good at handling political affairs and has not achieved any political achievements in his ten years in Weinan. He is not good at networking and could not borrow a single penny when the marquis's mansion was in dire straits. For someone like him, it is already a blessing that he can enjoy a fifth-rank salary. How dare I ask Your Majesty for anything more?"

The Emperor suppressed a laugh: "That's your father, and this is how you see him?"

Lu Zhiyuan shook her head: "It's not that I see him that way, it's that other people see him that way. I just think what they say is very true. My father is just like that."

"The shop is gone, there are no political achievements, and you lack connections..." The Emperor stroked his beard: "That's true! Then wouldn't you like to ask for a reward for your uncles?"

Lu Zhiyuan glanced at her second uncle and shook her head: "They will ask for their own rewards! Uncle is an elder, and Yuan'er is a junior. How can a junior ask for rewards for an elder?"

Xie Yubai cupped his hands and said, "Yuan'er is right. It is indeed unreasonable for a junior to ask an elder for a title. Besides, I have only done what I should do. I would never dare to ask the Emperor for a reward."

The Emperor was overjoyed and slammed his hand on the table, saying, "As expected of the children of the Xie family, just like you Xie family members, you are all afraid of my rewards. What? Do you think my rewards are too hot to handle? Fine, fine, after all this commotion, I'm hungry too. Minister Xie, Minister Ma, and Yuan'er, you will all come with me to the banquet."

Lu Zhiyuan followed behind, deliberately speaking loudly: "May I take the leftovers back with me? I would like my grandmother, father, and mother to have a taste as well."

The Emperor waved his hand and granted permission.

Taking advantage of the Emperor's inattention, Commandant Ma leaned close to Lu Zhiyuan and whispered, "Is this not the reward Miss really wants?"

That's not it at all! What she wanted from the Emperor was a letter of divorce! She didn't ask for it because her status was inappropriate. She was the legitimate daughter of a marquis, yet she wanted her mother and father to divorce, especially at this critical juncture; it would inevitably arouse the Emperor's suspicion.

It's better to avoid trouble; let's discuss the divorce later.