tallest building

Chapter 374 Issuing the Kill Order

The Emperor went to court early in the morning, and before leaving, he specifically instructed Yu Lu: "The Empress did not sleep well last night. After breakfast, please ask the imperial physician to come and take a look."

"This servant understands, and will certainly go and fetch the imperial physician later," Yu Lu hurriedly replied. "Respectfully seeing Your Majesty off."

Although the Empress had already stood up, she still supported half of her head with her hand, feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty just said that you didn't rest well last night and asked that the imperial physician be summoned after breakfast to take a look at you," Yu Lu said cautiously as he approached.

"Is it still raining outside?" the Empress asked, frowning.

"It's still drizzling a bit! Looks like the weather is about to change." Every September there are several autumn rains, and each rain brings a layer of coolness, the weather gets colder and colder, and finally, when it freezes, it means winter is coming.

"It's all so damp, why didn't you add a few more charcoal braziers to the room?" The Empress suddenly became angry. "What use are you?! I have to worry about such a small thing myself!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down. This servant will have them bring in the charcoal brazier right away. It was all my oversight, I deserve to be punished!" In fact, in previous years the Empress preferred cool temperatures and disliked heat, so at most one charcoal brazier would be brought in at night and removed during the day.

Yu Lu remembered that the Emperor had stayed here last night, so he put in an extra charcoal brazier, but the Empress still felt cold.

Yu Lu, of course, could not argue with the Empress, so he could only take all the blame upon himself.

A little while later, two more charcoal braziers were brought in, and breakfast was served.

The empress only drank half a bowl of porridge and then stopped eating.

Yu Lu sent someone to fetch the imperial physician, but the empress stopped him, saying, "What's the point of summoning the imperial physician? He can't do anything better than the same old thing; I can recite it myself."

“But His Majesty said…” Yu Lu thought that since it was the Emperor’s personal instruction, he couldn’t disobey, otherwise it would seem disrespectful.

"I know my own body well. Tell them all to leave. You can stay by my side and serve me," the Empress said.

Once only the Empress and Yu Lu remained in the room, he cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, shall I help you lie down and rest?"

"Yu Lu, how have I treated you?" the Empress suddenly asked.

Yu Lu was startled and immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty's kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain."

"Whether it's as good as a mountain or not depends on your own thoughts, but I have ultimately done you a favor." The Empress sighed and said, "I have always treated the people around me this way. When your master was alive, it was like this. Later, before he died, he recommended you, and I didn't say a word."

"When my master was alive, he repeatedly instructed me to be loyal to Her Majesty the Empress. Before he passed away, he held my hand and said that he regretted that he could no longer serve Her Majesty and could only take the kindness Her Majesty had given him to the afterlife. He also instructed me that no matter what, Her Majesty should always be the most important thing in my heart. I was originally a disappointment, but thanks to my master's guidance and Her Majesty's promotion, I am where I am today."

Seeing his sincerity, the Empress nodded: "Very good. I know you are loyal, otherwise I would not have kept you by my side and regarded you as a confidant."

Upon hearing this, Yu Lu knew that the Empress had something for him to do, and that it was no small matter.

"Your Majesty, I have noticed that you seem quite worried lately. I wonder if I could have the honor of sharing your worries?" Yu Lu knew that she couldn't let the Empress speak first; she had to take the initiative to show her sincerity.

"I do have something to entrust to you. This matter is extremely confidential and can only be known by you. It must not be entrusted to anyone else. Otherwise, if the news leaks out, it will surely cause a great disaster." The Empress lowered her voice. "Your Majesty, please give your orders. This servant is willing to die for you." Yu Lu knew that he could not show the slightest ambiguity at this time, otherwise the Empress would become suspicious of him.

"I only need you to do one thing, and I will reward you handsomely if you succeed," the Empress said, leaning slightly forward towards Lu. "Find a way to kill Gong Chang'an, and do it as discreetly as possible."

"Huh?!" Although Yu Lu had mentally prepared himself to agree to whatever the Empress said, he still couldn't help but show surprise when the Empress actually told him to kill Gong Chang'an.

He truly hadn't expected the Empress to want to kill Gong Chang'an.
"Are you afraid? Or do you not want to do it?" The Empress's eyes suddenly turned sharp.

"No, no, whatever Your Majesty commands, this servant will certainly do as you say," Yu Lu replied through gritted teeth. "But why..."

He still couldn't help but want to know the reason, knowing that Gong Chang'an hadn't interfered with the Empress in any way.

He could understand if the Empress asked him to get rid of Wen Mingqian. After all, the Emperor was always visiting her, which inevitably made the Empress uncomfortable.

Just like when the Empress wanted to kill Shen, she knew it would displease the Emperor, but ultimately her jealousy was too strong and she couldn't suppress it.

"You don't need to know why, just do as I say." Of course, the Queen wouldn't explain to him.

If Yu Lu knew that Gong Chang'an was actually a prince, would he still do it? He would definitely have reservations, and might even turn against him.

After all, the emperor only has this one son left. If Yu Lu defectes on the battlefield, the emperor will definitely give him a great credit.

The Empress knew that Yu Lu was loyal to her, but to what extent was that loyalty? She couldn't be sure, and she dared not gamble.

Besides, if I were to tell him Gong Chang'an's identity, only to find out later that I had killed the wrong person, wouldn't that make me look foolish?
Therefore, no matter how you look at it, the Empress would never tell Yu Lu why she killed Gong Chang'an.

"This servant understands," Yu Lu replied, forcing a smile. "However, this matter must be handled with secrecy. We cannot rush it. This servant must slowly find a suitable opportunity."

"It's good that you know, but don't drag it out too long. It's best to resolve it within a month," the Empress said. "Don't forget the saying, 'The longer you wait, the more problems may arise.'"

She was reminding Yu Lu, and also reminding herself.

She ultimately decided to believe her father's words, even if he killed the wrong person, it was better than being tricked.

"Your Majesty, Consort Wen has come to pay her respects," a palace maid announced through the curtain.

"Let her in," the Queen said. "I was just thinking of having her massage my head."

Wen Mingqian came in the rain. Although the rain was not heavy, the road was wet and quite slippery.

"Your Majesty, I heard that you have been sleeping poorly these past few days. I came here specifically to check on you, knowing that you certainly do not wish to be examined by the imperial physician." Wen Mingqian was as respectful as ever.

But the Empress saw it with a different meaning. Wen Mingqian was really cunning. She had never noticed anything wrong with her.

"Alright, I was just talking about you with Yu Lu. I suppose it's because of the changing seasons; I haven't been feeling well these past few days." The Empress said, raising her hand to rub her temples.