56 Hot Springs

"Your Majesty...I have been feeling weak lately."

"Master Gu, please."

Following the guidance of General Manager Sun, Gu Ningxi stepped into the hall and stood at the window below Prince Zhao's hall to admire the scenery.

It was still the picture window that Gu Ningxi was familiar with, facing a flower garden.

The flower garden was surrounded by high walls, leaving only a secret door for the gardener to enter and exit. On weekdays, it was hidden under the flowers and trees and was not very conspicuous.

The flowerbeds were filled with rare flowers, though, being winter, they couldn't match the splendor of spring. Plum blossoms were in full bloom, and there were a few early daffodils.

"What do you want to see me for?" Lu Jing asked with a smile.

The picture window in the dream left a very bad impression on Gu Ningxi. After looking at it for a few more seconds, he felt as if his legs were still weak and trembling.

Gu Ningxi pursed her lips and took two steps towards His Royal Highness Prince Zhao.

She said, "I met an old man in the bamboo forest. Is he your Highness's guest?"

Yuan Le ran into Imperial Preceptor Song first, much to Lu Jing's surprise. However, he had been busy with government affairs for the past two days and knew that Yuan Le had nothing better to do and liked to wander around Changqing Garden.

"Yes," Lu Jing said, without mentioning Imperial Preceptor Song's identity. "I heard he's from the same school as Imperial Preceptor Li in the palace. If you have any questions, you might want to ask him for a divination."

Lu Jing was also curious about whether Master Song could predict Yuan Le's past life marriage. But he was hesitant. He feared Yuan Le might not accept the information if he told him too early.

Gu Ningxi shook her head, thinking of the kind-faced old man, and left some room for her words.

"I believe... that the stories of ghosts and gods cannot be fully trusted. Your Highness needs to carefully consider the words of that old man."

I don't know what Yuan Le had said to Master Song that led to his advice. But Yuan Le was clearly concerned for me. Lu Jing smiled, "Okay, got it."

Master Song was only used by him to build momentum, so Lu Jing naturally wouldn't rely on him much.

They were going back to Beijing tomorrow afternoon. Lu Jing thought for a moment and said, "There are hot springs in the garden. You can—"

His original intention was simply to remind Yuan Le that there were several hot spring pools in Changqing Garden. A dip in the hot springs on a winter's day would be quite relaxing. But somehow, the moment he said it, it felt awkward and awkward.

He dropped the subject, thinking that he had no ulterior motives.

"I, I... have been feeling weak lately," Gu Ningxi's reaction only exacerbated the awkwardness. The image of the hot spring in her dream inappropriately flooded into her mind, and she paused. "The doctor said I shouldn't soak in hot springs too often."

"I see."

"Yeah, what a pity."

The two of them quickly brushed off the topic, completely unaware that the other shared the same attitude. After they separated, Gu Ningxi and Lu Jing were both feeling frustrated.

It was just a normal soak in the hot spring, why did I feel so guilty just now?

…

The moonlight was bright, and the people in the bedroom had been awake from their dreams for a long time.

Lu Jing rubbed his eyebrows, and as soon as he closed his eyes, the beautiful scene appeared in front of him again.

The hot spring pool was shrouded in mist, a dreamlike illusion. The lotus-like face of the woman in his arms was stained with lust, a completely different person than usual.

Yuan Le just lay on his back under him, his clothes torn off, revealing a large area of skin on his neck that was as delicate as jade, allowing him to play with it.

The water vapor is so thick that the rest cannot be distinguished.

He only remembered Yuan Le's enchanting eyes and her soft lips that were slightly parted.

It was almost three o'clock in the morning, and His Royal Highness Prince Zhao was no longer sleepy at all.

He stood up and opened the window. The moonlight covered the flower garden like water, peaceful and quiet.

But my mood did not become peaceful because of this.

Lu Jing looked at the bright moon. The word "Duanxiu" is easy to say, but it is as difficult as climbing to the sky to put it into practice.

I can't even understand my dreams.

He sat in silence from midnight until dawn. On the journey back to Beijing, Lu Jing did not ride in the same carriage with Gu Ningxi, but rode a horse outside instead.

The people in the carriage were peacefully enjoying the scenery along the way, completely unaware that someone was upset because of her and was deliberately avoiding her gaze.

Xie Qian rode his horse beside His Royal Highness Prince Zhao. Since the beginning of winter, His Majesty had issued edicts one after another, sending several military generals from Prince Zhao's palace out of the capital under different pretexts to disintegrate the power of the palace.

As for him, Brother Qin Yu, and Brother Zhen Yuan, His Majesty may not want to keep them in the capital.

It’s just that Brother Zhen is the prince of Zhending Palace. Zhending Palace has 30,000 soldiers to guard one side. Your Majesty must keep the prince of Zhending in Kyoto.

As for him, he was a descendant of the newly surrendered Duke of Bohai. With the empire just beginning to settle, the imperial court was even more hesitant to send him abroad.

As for Brother Qin Yu, he is originally from the capital and has not been back for half a year. Moreover, Brother Qin Yu worked hard and made great contributions in the battle of Sishui Pass. It is neither reasonable nor proper for Your Majesty to send him away.

Now that we are not at war, Your Highness has no military power. If anything unexpected happens, the only ones he can mobilize are the 800 soldiers from Prince Zhao's palace.

Your Majesty may not be unaware that both the Crown Prince and the Prince of Huai are expanding their private armies. However, as long as they do not exceed the rules, Your Majesty will turn a blind eye.

But if Prince Zhao's Mansion does the same thing, I'm afraid the matter may not end well.

Not to mention anything else, the Eastern Palace and the Huai Palace would be the first to submit a petition for impeachment.

His Majesty's intention to suppress Prince Zhao's Mansion became increasingly obvious. Xie Qian took the reins, and the capital was like a bottomless whirlpool, far less reckless than they were on the battlefield.

Kyoto can still maintain superficial peace, but this is only because His Highness is willing to give in.

A change of court will definitely not end well.

…

When the court resumed after the New Year, the ice and snow had not melted.

Military reports from Hebei arrived sporadically, with Xu Lang's troops achieving victory after victory, seizing Guanzhou, Zhaozhou, and Hengzhou, establishing themselves as kings. Many of Zhao Jianan's former subordinates throughout Hebei responded, and Hebei, having submitted to the Jin dynasty only six months earlier, was plunged into conflict again.

At the court that morning, His Majesty dispatched an additional 20,000 infantry and cavalry from Guanzhong to support Hebei. The army marched north, intending to join forces with Lu Zhuo, Prince of Linchang, in a pincer attack to eliminate the rebels.

The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War urgently dispatched money and food and counted the weapons. His Royal Highness the Prince of Huai is fully responsible for this matter.

Gu Ningxi held a sceptre and stood behind the civil officials. He was used to hearing about important military and national affairs from the Ministry of Works.

When the court meeting was over, the officials who left the hall were all preoccupied with their own thoughts, with some occasionally discussing things in groups of three or four.

Judging from the current situation, His Majesty is clearly leaning towards the Crown Prince and Prince Huai.

No matter how illustrious His Royal Highness Prince Zhao's military achievements may be, the legitimate position remains the Crown Prince. The order of seniority cannot be abolished, and the position of heir apparent is crucial to the foundation of the nation. Furthermore, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace is diligent in government and tolerant of his subjects, making him the most suitable candidate for the new ruler.

Gu Ningxi didn't engage in conversation, heading towards the Ministry of Works. Unknowingly, she had been excluded from the Eastern Palace's inner circle, and no longer considered important to the Crown Prince. But in the eyes of other court officials, she was still a confirmed member of the Crown Prince's faction.

The Xuanping Marquisate still follows the Eastern Palace. If things continue as planned, there will be a 70 to 80 percent chance of winning the battle for the throne.

The Ministry of Works was under the purview of the Shangshu Province, and even though he was constantly involved in the construction, he could not completely stay out of it.

Gu Ningxi has submitted a petition requesting to oversee the construction of the Renzhi Palace outside the capital. Since no colleagues are competing with her for the position, the Minister of State should approve it.

With this not-so-small achievement, Gu Ningxi felt more confident when he was sent out.

Her life was relatively peaceful. When she went to report matters to the Minister, Gu Ningxi's eyes unconsciously looked towards the duty room in the center of the six ministries.

Considering the situation of His Royal Highness Prince Zhao in the court, starting from the beginning of the year, the Crown Prince and Prince Huai's siege of Prince Zhao's palace became more and more urgent.

His Majesty still dotes on Prince Zhao, and whether it's imperial construction or external offerings, His Majesty always prioritizes Prince Zhao's mansion. But at the same time, His Majesty doesn't want this son, whose achievements are so great that they threaten the emperor, to achieve any more.

Gu Ningxi sighed softly. The dream's ending seemed clear, but she knew nothing else. In the current political situation, it was as if a white fog had covered her eyes, forcing her to grope her way forward.

…

The second half of the day was free of work, and Gu Ningxi left his shift as scheduled. He met His Royal Highness Prince Zhao on the palace road.

Even though he had been constrained recently and was in a bad situation in the court, Gu Ningxi felt relieved when he saw that His Royal Highness Prince Zhao was still calm.

"You seem to be in a hurry. Where are you going?"

Gu Ningxi smiled and replied, "I want to try my luck in the West Market and find a book."

My sister's birthday is approaching, and Gu Ningxi knows that she is thinking about the "Collection of Mr. Hedong" very much, so she wants to do her best to find it for her.

My sister would definitely be very surprised if I could give it to her as a birthday gift.

However, "Mr. Hedong's Collection" was privately printed, and few copies survive. Official bookstores didn't sell it, so Gu Ningxi decided to try her luck in the West Market. She knew of an alleyway with many used bookshops, and she might find something unexpected.

After thinking for a moment, Gu Ningxi took the initiative to invite him, saying, "I know of a good winery. If Your Highness has some free time, why not go with me?"

In the past half month, His Majesty had only assigned one task to His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, which was to arrange the spring hunt in March. Gu Ningxi thought it would be nice for His Royal Highness Prince Zhao to get out and relax.

"Okay." Lu Jing agreed happily.

Tonight, Gu Ningxi hosted a few drinks with Prince Zhao at the tavern. Wine could help ease some of the pain, but beyond that, Gu Ningxi didn't know what else she could do for her friend.

Originally, after dinner, Gu Ningxi wanted His Royal Highness Prince Zhao to return to the palace first, and he would go look for books.

However, His Royal Highness Prince Zhao said that he had nothing to do and wanted to go with her, so Gu Ningxi agreed.

Gu Ningxi had asked someone to find out in advance which bookstores there were in the alley. Naturally, the bookstores in the West Market were not as grand as those owned by the government.

In a small shop, books are often piled up tightly on wooden shelves. Even the shopkeeper cannot clearly tell what books are in the shop, and customers have to look for them themselves.

These folk bookstores are often a haven for scholars from poor families.

Gu Ningxi had searched the three houses on the east side two days ago, and today he went to the remaining three.

"Your Highness has never been here, has he?"

This area is full of good and bad people, so Gu Ningxi even brought two extra servants with him.

She warned His Royal Highness Prince Zhao to be careful and not let anyone steal his purse at dusk.

Lu Jing was silent for a moment: "...Have you lost it?"

Gu Ningxi nodded angrily: "Two hundred yuan was stolen, and that was my new salary."

Lu Jing couldn't help but smile at the cute look.

Putting aside other things, searching for books in a used bookstore is a fun thing. It's like a treasure hunt, and you often find unexpected surprises.

Gu Ningxi took His Royal Highness Prince Zhao through the alleys, and seeing that His Royal Highness was enjoying it, he did not ask His Royal Highness Prince Zhao to go back first.

After visiting two bookstores in succession and finding nothing, Lu Jing asked, "Which one should I go to first?"

Gu Ningxi pointed to the right: "There."

She intuitively felt that she would find something in this bookstore; if not, then... she would go to another one.

Lu Jing laughed: "Let's go."

This bookstore is larger than the previous ones and has a rich collection of books.

It was still light outside, and Lu Jing and Gu Ningxi searched separately.

On a wooden cabinet in a corner of the bookstore, Lu Jing casually opened a book, glanced at it briefly, and then closed it.

He took a half step back. It turned out that the shelves were filled with esoteric pictures. No wonder they were placed in the corner. On the top shelf were two books, covered in dust.

Out of curiosity, Lu Jing took it down and opened it. It was still a secret play picture, but the painting was... all of them?

It was so strange that His Royal Highness Prince Zhao couldn't help but turn another page.

“…Your Highness?”

Yuan Le's voice came from the other side. Lu Jing hurriedly put the book back to its original place and pretended that he had not moved it.

Only there was some dust on my hands.

Gu Ningxi gained something and found the middle volume of "Collected Works of Mr. Hedong" on the shelf, but he was still missing two volumes.

"Your Highness, have you found anything?"

"No." Lu Jing said firmly.

"Your Highness, is there anything you want to buy?"

“No.”

So Gu Ningxi began to negotiate with the shopkeeper. Since it wasn't the full copy, the shopkeeper's asking price was relatively low. As Gu Ningxi was paying, His Royal Highness Prince Zhao couldn't help but glance in the direction he had just been.

He still remembers the name of the book.

Gu Ningxi took the "Collection of Mr. Hedong" and said, "Shall we go?"

At least it wasn't a complete failure, there was a hint of smile in her voice.

"Um."

…

At nightfall, inside Prince Zhao's mansion, the secret guards were ordered to bring back the things His Highness wanted.

The bookstore was really hard to find. The two secret guards wandered around for half a day before they found the place His Highness had ordered.

This mission was not easy. If His Highness's order had been delayed a moment, the bookstore would have closed and they would have had no choice but to go to the owner's house to wake him up.

The two small books were wrapped in cloth, and the secret guards naturally did not dare to move them without the order of His Highness.

"Everyone, go down."

"Yes, Your Highness."

There was no one serving in the hall, and the candlelight flickered dimly.

After staring at the cloth package for a long time, His Royal Highness Prince Zhao quietly took out the book.

The artwork in these two thin booklets is actually quite good. But the paintings are of Long Yang, so it's no wonder that no one paid attention to them among the other atlases, and they are now gathering dust on the top of the cabinet.

Lu Jing didn't expect that when he was looking for books today, he would become the person destined to own this book.

What a bad fate.

It was a dark and windy night with no one around. His Royal Highness Prince Zhao carefully turned one of the pages.

The pages of the book have turned a little yellow, but there are not many signs of reading.

The painter poured a lot of effort into the painting, with the details between the scenes being just right, especially the expressions of the characters, as if the painter had been there in person.

After quickly flipping through three or five pages, the scene of men entangled in the book caught his eye, and Lu Jing couldn't help but turn the book upside down again.

No, it still doesn’t work.

【Author’s words】

(Look left) (Look right) (Retract into shell)

Xiao Lu's dream has mosaics, hehehe, there is nothing that shouldn't be there