1 A Royal degree
"'Duke Wu resident Here my degree, The Lu family has always been loyal to Wei Empire and humble on all their doings.
The Emperor has seen this and wishes to reward them for this. The imperial Royal family and the Lu family are to be joined in marriage.
Lu Xiaolian the sixth Miss of Duke Wu's family is kind, beautiful, and talented.
The Crown Prince has been without a secondary consort for too long. Lu Xiaolian is a good match for his highness Prince Zhongshan Huang.
Lu Xiaolian is to be married to Crown Prince Zhongshan Huang as his only imperial consort.
She has been given the title of First rank Princess, Princess Xi'an second only to the Empress" the Emperor's Eunuch An Yue read out in front of the entire Lu family who all knelt to receive the decree.
"This humble servant Xiaolian accepts the decree," Lu Xiaolian said walking forward then kneeling to accept the decree.
Duke Wu quickly stood up and walked up to Eunuch An Yue and with a smile said
"Eunuch An Yue come let's have some tea to warm up your bones from your journey, I know it must have been very stressful" he then began directing him towards his study.
"No need to worry yourself, Duke Wu, this small one doesn't mind the cold when doing the work of Tianzi," Eunuch An Yue said in reply as he moved his horsetail whisk to the right.
"It not a worry at all, Eunuch An Yue should not turn down my hospitality and save me some face come let's head to my sturdy"
Duke Wu said as they left the room and headed to the General's sturdy
"Since you don't mind then this little one will comply" Eunuch An Yue replied.
* * *
Meanwhile the Prime Minister Xu Honghui sturdy
"what, how can this happen Husband what should we do" Zhao Mingxia the Prime Minister's first wife said in distress.
The palace had just announced that the Emperor had decreed a marriage between the Crown Prince and Lu Xiaolian the Sixth young Miss of Duke Wu Manor and the only daughter of Duke Wu as his imperial consort.
"He had even gone to the extent of raising her rank to the first-class princess, Princess Xi'an" Zhao Mingxia continued.
"His majesty has always been difficult to read, he always kept his card close to his heart I really can't tell what he is thinking" the prime Minister replied deep in thought.
The Emperor pulled a fast one on him this time, he never even mentioned his plan. This was a power play, everyone knows that the Lu family holds a quarter of the military power in their hands, even if they never got involved in court matters.
"What will become of our daughter now, Husband, Lu Xiaolian's rank is second only to the Empress" Zhao Mingxia cried out.
They had already struggled and barely managed to put their daughter Xu Mingzhu as the crown Princess consort and now the crown Prince was getting an Imperial Consort that outranked even her, just what was the Emperor up to?
"The Empress dowager had not been pleased with Mingzhu for some time and frankly neither have I," Prime Minister Xu said angrily.
"honey please don't be angry it's not good for your health," Zhao Mingxia said softly.
"Hmm, Mingzhu knows her duty to this family and the imperial Royal family she had better perform it, you tell that unfilial daughter of mine that she had better perform her duty or lose the Xu family faith in her" Prime Minister Xu said and walked out of his sturdy.
Zhao Mingxia waited a few minutes before leaving for her courtyard.
Back at Duke Wu Manor
"To have done this the Emperor must have Finally grown tired of the Prime Minister and the Xu family," Left General Lu Guiren said to his elder brother Lu Guoliang Duke Wu.
The senior members of the family and their wives were currently seated in his study. 'i wouldn't be so sure that his mother the Dowager Imperial Noble Consort is a Xu, after all, Xu Honghui's elder sister to be precise " Lu Guangzhou said.
"One can't presume to tell the Emperor plans, the Emperor is very tricky after all he did manage to rule without a regent at just Fifteen years old," Lu Guoliang said softly.
"That's very true but you keep forgetting that the Emperor wasn't raised by the Dowager Imperial Noble Consort but by the Empress so he may have no familial loyalty to the Xu family or Prime Minister Xu Honghui for that matter, he has been too bold with his power after all" Ming Meiren the General's second wife said softly.
"That's very true, I will have to trouble you to get Xiaolian prepared for marriage, I feel like I failed to train her well and may not have prepared her well for this new obstacle," Lu Guoliang said sadly.
"You did a great job with her my dear, Xiaolian is a smart girl I don't think she would suffer much loss," Ming Meiren said as she placed her hands on his back.
"I very much hope so," Duke Wu said as she held on to her hands.
The next day
Back at the Prime Minister's Manor, Zhao Mingxia's Courtyard.
"Mingli how come Honghui isn't yet here for breakfast," Zhao Mingxia asked her maidservant.
"answering Madam, Master spent the night at Madam Jian's Courtyard" Ming li answered softly.
"What ! that b*ch is laughing at me right now, quickly tell the servants I am headed to the crown Prince Manor," Zhao Mingxia said angrily standing quickly and heading to the dressing table to get ready.
* * *
The Crown Prince Manor
Zhao Mingxia walked towards the crown princess Consort Courtyard when she heard a loud sound of glass falling to the ground and breaking. She quickly walked into the chamber she didn't need anyone to tell her what was going on.
"Mingzhu controls yourself," Zhao Mingxia said as soon as she walked in.
"Mother !, Mingzhu greats you," Mingzhu said bowing slightly as soon as she heard her mother's voice. she could already tell that her mother was very displeased with her.
"Leave us," Zhao Mingxia said to the kneeling servants, who stood quickly and left the room.
"Have you no control, is this what you were taught? Zhao Mingxia said as the door was shut. She already knew Ming Li was guarding the door
"Mother what am I to do," Mingzhu said softly.
"When you don't know how to behave why should I give you any more tasks, you don't even know your duty to the Xu family," Zhao Mingxia said walking closer to her daughter and raising her face.
"Your father's instructions to you are to behave well and perform your duties least he loses faith in you" Zhao Mingxia continued.
"Duty I am already the crown princess Consort what else am I to do next," Mingzhu said with tears rolling down her eyes.
"Have a child Mingzhu, give the prince an heir, a Xu family heir only then can you have a solid foothold in the imperial family" Zhao Mingxia said angrily.
She had no idea why her usually smart daughter always behaved dumb when it came to the crown prince of she wasn't careful she would lose everything
Her husband was already displeased with her and her children especially since her only son refused to marry the Minister of works granddaughter and now with the crown prince marriage that bitch was getting too many opportunities.
"But how the Prince has been visiting That Sl*t in the south courtyard Yang Shuang every night for the past two weeks," The crown princess Consort said weakly.
Since she was five years old she had always loved the prince but he never seemed to look at her at all. Her wedding day was the happiest day of her life but even that day wasn't for her.
She always thought that if she was patient he would finally grow to love her but that never happened.
That b*ch Jang Suyin never let her have any breathing space, it wasn't enough that she married her on her wedding day or that she spent the night with her.
"A mere vice Minister of lands Daughter shouldn't be difficult for you to handle it isn't Jang Suyin now is it, I suggest you make it quick until then," Zhao Mingxia said and walked out of the room.
