Not Your Typical Villianess

Chapter 124: The Confessions of a traitorous official

The Empress's palace

The mood in the Empress palace was mellow, it was even more mellow than usual. The Emperor had the Empress detained in her palace for a month and a half. He had ordered the Empress to stay indoors and pray for the nation after the Crown Prince's marriage.

Empress Lu wasn't surprised by the order when it came in. She had been expecting something like this since she arranged the Crown Prince's marriage. Emperor Zhong wasn't pleased with her intrusion in his plans and he always punished her whenever he was in this type of mood.

This time was no exception, he placed her on grounded her in her palace. The news came as a surprise to everyone except the few in the know since the Empress never made any mistakes. Empress Lu had gotten used to his temper tantrum, she didn't take this little punishment to heart. Instead, she took it as a vacation since it saved her from having to deal with his ever-expanding Haram.

She enjoyed the freedom it gave her. As usual, on the first day of September, she held a memorial ceremony for her elder brother the Late Duke Wu. It had been a long-standing tradition since he died over a decade ago. She was very close to her elder brother, he was like a father to her. He has taken care of her after her parents died.

She dressed in white, she didn't put on any hair accessories and she packed her hair on a simple burn. Her elder brother liked to sky gaze and enjoyed watching birds as they flew around the sky. She was very good in embroidery and even after her marriage, always embroidered a flying magpie flying over a flower garden on the handkerchief she gave him.

Every year on the anniversary of his death, she always embroidered a set of handkerchiefs with the same signature design. She burned the handkerchief for him every year to remember him and the sacrifices he made for her. She owed her brother a lot that one life may not be able to repay him all her debt.

Empress Lu looked up from the embroidery screen when she heard the maids outside chorus greetings to the Emperor. She glanced at her elderly maid Xuanyi, who stood by her side and sighed. She couldn't deal with this husband of hers today, she pieced the needle into a small ball of yellow thread, dropped it beside the screen and muttered "of all the days he could visit me, it had to be on the anniversary of my brother's death. Shameless!"

Xuanyi walked forward, stretched out her hand and supported Empress Lu up from her seat. As she did, she whispered "this servant heard that the Emperor had been in a good mood, this visit might not be so bad"

"We will see how it goes" Empress Lu replied as she walked into the living room.

Emperor Zhong stood by the top seat backing the entrance from the bedroom, he turned around when he heard footsteps from behind him. The slight smile on his face disappeared when he caught sight of her white clothes. His expression darkened as gave her a thoroughly look down.

"Why are you dressed like this? Just what game are you playing Lu Meirong! Are trying to annoy me, why are you dressed in mourning clothes? Don't tell me that you are so desperate for my death that you now choose to wear mourning clothes?"

Empress Lu and her maid fell on their knees immediately, "no you Majesty, today is the anniversary of my brother's death. I dressed this way to burn some incense_"

"Your brother? You have a lot of nerve hosting a memorial for the father of a criminal of the crown"

Empress Lu looked up in shock, "A criminal of the crown?"

Emperor Zhong nodded like he suddenly remembered something, "that right you have been under house arrest for some time. You must not be aware of what is ongoing in court". He walked closer to her and held up her chin, " Your "loyal' Lu family was arrested for treason".

"What" she fell back, she would have fallen further, if Xuanyi hand"t held her back. She shook her head and muttered "why? It's not true... This cannot be happening!"

Emperor Zhong laughed, "why would I low about something as serious as this? There is clear evidence pointing to them, Your Lu family is over and you have your precious A'Zhu to blame for this. Don't worry about your position, I have no intention of changing how things are in the haram. I will protect you because of the years we spent together. You don't have to thank me".

Empress Lu watched the smile on his face get wider, he was enjoying seeing her this way. He had away wanted to destroy her family and finally, he can. How did they get this way, how did she miss this sinister side of his during those years he visited her brother as a young Prince.

Tears rolled down her face but she made no sound, she just sat there watching him smile down at her. She couldn't hold it in any longer and whispered, "Why?"

He tilted his face to the side, "why what? What is your question, tell me? I am in a good mood right now, I will answer any of your questions"

Empress Lu wiped the tears off her face and stood with her maid's help, breathing heavily she said quietly "why do you hate me so much?"

Emperor Zhong open and closed his mouth then took a step forward. He stretched out his hand to touch her shoulders but she stepped away from him and avoided his touch. He breathed out loudly and whispered "I don't have you, Meirong. I never did!"

"Then why do you like to hurt me, why won't you let my family be! Why do you always hurt people I care about! You know that my family is loyal, you keep attacking them! You got angry that I am holding a memorial ceremony for my brother, forgetting the part you played in his death! Why do you have to get rid of anyone I care about! Why! Why!"

She sighed, collected herself and bowed. "Please excuse my manners, your Majesty, I lost control of myself. I will lock myself in the temple and meditate on myself". She left without looking back. She didn't want to look at his face and just left Jiangxi palace for the small temple in the palace.

Emperor Zhong stretched out his hands to hold her back but drew his hands back when she turned around and walked away. He had tried to suppress the Lu family for years. However, now that he had succeeded, he did not feel any better.

********

Meanwhile, at the ice Prison 

A loud sound of footsteps was heard as Prime Minister Shi led a team of armed guards into the prison. Lu Yaozhu and Lu Yingjie stood at various ends of the prison as they walked in. Prime Minister Shi stood a few steps away from the prison door and smiled

"General Lu, Duke Wu. It has been a while. Chief inspector Mu Yitze has been dismissed from the case. I will be taking charge of the investigation" he smiled coldly and then waved the soldiers at his side forward, "Get the General, I will be taking him for questioning".

From the prison cell behind Madam Lu, cried out "No! Please don't hurt him!"

Prime Minister Shi just flawed at her and smirked "the words of a criminal are worth noting". 

The door of the prison cell was opened at four guards rushed in, the held Lu Yaozhu on the arm and dragged him forward. They dragged him out of the prison while Prime Minister Shi followed them behind.

Lu Yaozhu has led to a small room a hall away from the cells and chained to a chair. Prime Minister Shi rolled up his sleeves and walked into the room. Two muscular men stood at both sides of Lu Yaozhu, the men were dressed in dull coloured guard uniforms with a leather apron wrapped around the front of their uniform. 

The muscular men strapped strong leather and cold chains around his wrist and ankle. Prime Minister Shi dragged a chair forward and sat in front of him. "How the mighty had fallen, General. Who would have thought that one day the powerful Lu family would find themselves stripped the low? What a pity, his Majesty is willing to give you all a reduced punishment. If you would confess to your traitorous acts"

Lu Yaozhu smiled and replied in a jovial tone "Never!"

Prime Minister Shi frowned, "then you leave me no choice" he looked to the two muscular men and said, "Begin!"

"Yes, my lord" they chorused. The men picked up a thorny whip and began to whip him. Prime Minister Shi felt like it wasn't painful, he picked up a sharp dagger and pierced Lu Yaozhu at his side. Lu Yaozhu hissed at the pain and tried to you'll back but the chain held him back.

The guards kept whipping him until his skin drew blood but Lu Yaozhu refused to give the Prime Minister what he wanted. The Prime Minister lost his patient after two hours of prolonged torture. He put on an iron edged knuckle and punched Lu Yaozhu twice. While shouting "Admit your crimes and get peace"

"No! No!"

"You, why are you as stubborn as your father! Don't tell me it is a family trait!" Prime Minister Shi breathed loudly and then instructed the guards "Continue until she confesses, revive him if he faints and continue, don't stop until he confesses"