A Golden opportunity 5

The next day, hours before the dinner at the Empress palace

 Empress Lu stood still while her lady's maids helped her undress, she had just spent the night taking care of the Emperor. Those hours spent with the Emperor to a toe on her, both mentally and physically. No matter what she did or said, she was forever connected to the Emperor. It was difficult to wipe off decades of experiences and feelings. The time spent at the Imperial temple didn't change him she felt about the Emperor, it was Embarrassing that he still held quite a grip on her. 

Empress Lu held on to her lady's maid's outstretched hand as she got into the wide wooden bathtub. The water was warm, chasing away the coolness at her bones. She sighed as she was fully submerged and leaned back in the bathtub, resting her head on the rim of the bathtub.

"Leave", she said, "just Xuanyi is enough to help me take a bath".