A change in plan 2

"Oh…  then there is no need for that, '' Empress Lu replied softly. The Empress and Emperor had an estranged relationship. They both stayed out of each other's business. Since the Emperor sent over a doctor, there was no need for her to call another doctor.

Lu Yaozhu stayed for some time and conversed with the Empress before returning to Duke Wu's residence. 

*****

Back at the Emperor's end.

Minister Zhu walked into the Emperor's study some minutes after Lu Yaozhu Left. Eunuch Caihong set up the "Go" board as soon as Minister Zhu arrived. 

Minister Zhu and Emperor Zhong's chess tradition was already known, Caihong dismissed the maids after the "Go" board. He stood by tge Emperor's side as the game commenced.

*How is our plan coming up?" Emperor Zhong asked moving a go piece forward.

Minister Zhu see down the Go piece and sat forward "Our plans are coming up well your Majesty, minister Sheng has settled in the border towns. The first tribute from Chu state will arrive in four days."

Emperor Zhong laughed softly and replied, "that's good, Lu Yaozhu never disappoints! I won't bother keeping him alive if he wasn't so useful".

Minister Zhu picked up the cup of homered tea and brought it to his lips. The light brown liquid went down his throat warming him up. Out of his six unmarried daughters, he had finally decided on the best fit for the job. 

Minister Zhu dropped the teacup on the table "With the General back at the capital we should find a good opportunity to sent out the marriage decree"

"Hmm, your right" Emperor Zhong replied, "it has been three years since imperial mother's death. The capital can do with some happy news".

"I will get everything ready" Minister Zhu said 

"Good, with the Empress Dowager out of the picture there is no one else that can restrain me. The Lu family has no strong ba kings apart from the Empress, getting rid of them would be much easier" 

"Your Majesty, if we want to clip the Lu family's wing, we get rid of the Empress_"

"NO!!" the Emperor said in a tone more than two Octaves higher than normal. "No one is allowed to touch the Empress. She is my wife, I will handle her".

Minister Zhu smiled and nodded " okay, then I will think of something else". He continued to play the game as nothing happened. 

******

Minister Zhu's residence, Zhu Fengyin's room.

It was a little after 5 pm, Zhu Fengyin sat in front of the mirror while Su Liya gently ran a brush through her silky black hair. Everyone kept long hair during these times so combing one's hair was a long task.

Su Liya sighed heavily as she moved the comb to the other half of Zhu Fengyin's hair. It took close to an hour just to pack up Zhu Fengyin's hair. Su Liya lamented that The time spent on just grooming this hair was enough to get to her part-time job during rush hour. 

After weeks in this fictitious world, Su Liya was starting to dread morning grooming, styling her hair was a pain. Su Liya placed the brush on the dress straightening the tangles in Zhu Fengyin's hair and picked up a hairpin.

Zhu Fengyin's second class maid, Tian Tian Who was more proficient than Su Liya in the styling of hair was sent out on errant. Su Liya was filling in for her while she was gone. Su Liya only mastered one simple hairstyle after weeks of observation so she quickly whipped up that simple style. 

Tian Tian rushed in as Su Liya put in the finishing on Zhu Fengyin's hair. Tian Tian rushed to Zhu Fengyin's side carrying two brown wrapped paper packs of baked snacks. She had gone out early to queue in front of the bakery to buy the snacks.

Tian Tian ran to Zhu Fengyin and panting heavily she said "Young Miss!!! Third Young Master is back!" 

Su Liya and Zhu Fengyin said at the same time "Zhu Faye is back' "The third brother is back".

Zhu Fengyin and Su Liya voices were a bit off, Tian Tian looked from one irritated expression to the other, her brow furrowed as she thought "That is odd…. What is wrong with their expression".

Su Liya and Zhu Fengyin shared a look briefly and looked away. Zhu Fengyin cleared her throat gently "You took a while, were you able to buy our snacks"

Tian Tian nodded and held up the brown package "Yes I did".

"mm, please drop it on the table. Send over a pack to third brother's place, he just got back from a long journey. He might be hungry" Zhu Fengyin said.

Tian Tian dropped the packaged snacks on the table and ran out to deliver the snacks to Zhu Faye. Su Liya cleared the dressing table when she was done with Zhu Fengyin's hair.

As she did, Su Liya tried to make sense of the change in plot, Zhu Faye's return came much earlier than it should. Zhu Faye was the third son of Minister Zhu and the sixth Prince's right-hand man.

Zhu Faye was the last person Su Liya wanted to run into right now. The original Su Liya had a complicated relationship with Zhu Faye. A relationship that ultimately led to her death. The Sixth prince was a saint compared to Zhu Faye who killed non-stop. 

Zhu Faye was the mastermind behind a lot of deaths, Zhu Fengyin's death included. He had hurt a lot of people that Su Liya was overjoyed when Zhu Faye was finally killed by the male lead's friend Lu Yaozhu.

At the end of the first volume of"the Emperor's cunning bride," the male lead and female lead killed the entire Zhu family and were crowned the Emperor and Empress. The first volume ended with Lu Yaozhu's sudden invasion of northern Wei.

Although Su Liya could not pinpoint what changed the plot, the prospect of the plot change gave her much hope.