Chapter 415 Who has the better move?

"Have you heard? Prince Lu and Miss Liang were childhood sweethearts..."

"That's right! The Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery's Mansion is right next to the Duke of Wei's Mansion. Prince Lu and Liang Yuhua are of similar age, so it's not surprising that they have some stories."

"I heard that if it weren't for the engagement, Master Lu would never have married that orphan girl Yuan Wanru!"

"Tsk tsk, no wonder the prince was willing to offend the fifth prince in order to bring her into the palace..."

"Yes, it's really infatuated. I heard that it was Prince Lu who made the royal family pardon the Liang family's second branch by intervening in front of the emperor, and then knelt down to beg the emperor to grant the marriage."

"No wonder a woman who is a criminal can be given the status of a concubine."

In just two days, this erotic rumor spread like wildfire to every corner of the capital.

In teahouses and taverns, storytellers vividly described how Master Lu lost his temper for the beauty he loved, and many people secretly admired Lu Jiangnian's deep love and his loyalty.

-

"Bang--!"

The rosewood desk broke into pieces under Lu Jiangnian's palm, and wood chips flew like snowflakes.

There was a terrifying murderous aura in his eyes, and his voice was cold enough to freeze ice: "What a great way to sow discord!"

Yuan Wanru frowned and stroked the broken wood grain with her fingertips: "The best Huanghuali wood is worth fifty taels of silver."

She raised her eyes and glared at him, "Prodigal son."

Lu Jiangnian turned his head suddenly, and his eyes, which had been as sharp as a knife just now, softened in an instant.

He pulled her into his arms and rubbed his chin against her head: "My lady, I don't like my name being associated with other women."

The tone was so aggrieved that he sounded like a big dog whose meat bones were stolen.

Yuan Wanru chuckled, raised her head and pinched his cheek: "Are you stupid?"

There was a glimmer of insight in her eyes, "Why did the emperor spread this rumor? Don't I understand?"

She tiptoed close to his ear and said in a sweet voice, "Since we have decided to take that path, he makes the move and we just respond."

Suddenly her eyes became cold, and she drew a circle on his heart with her fingertips, "Why don't you go and put on a show to make our emperor...happy?"

Lu Jiangnian's eyes darkened suddenly: "I'll go right away."

Before leaving, he leaned over and bit her bright red lips, and only let go when Yuan Wanru was out of breath. "Fortunately, my wife is smart and can distinguish right from wrong, otherwise I would have been wronged."

Yuan Wanru's eyes lit up: "How about you sleep in the study room starting tonight?"

Lu Jiangnian pinched her slender waist and said, "Never!"

"I can't sing the play my lady ordered."

After saying that, he snorted and strode away.

-

East Palace.

"Bang!"

The celadon teacup exploded at Lu Jiangnian's feet, and the scalding hot tea splashed on the corner of his robe.

The prince stood up suddenly, the cuffs of his brocade robe were stained with spilled tea, and his usually gentle and handsome face was now frighteningly gloomy.

"Lu Jiangnian, you know that I hate the Liang family deeply, but you actually went to ask my father for the Liang family girl?"

Lu Jiangnian sneered, "Why are you so stupid? Can I like that woman?"

The prince also sneered: "Then tell me, why did the emperor give this person to you?"

"The Fifth Prince obviously wanted to marry her. If you hadn't intervened, how would she have ended up in your palace?"

"I've said it eight hundred times!" Lu Jiangnian's forehead was bulging with veins. "This matter has nothing to do with me. It was the emperor's decision."

"The Emperor suddenly issued an order. I have to accept it whether I want to or not!"

"If the prince wants to understand, he can just ask the emperor directly."

The prince looked at him coldly: "You really found a good excuse. Why would I ask my father about this?"

"If you and the Liang family are innocent, why do people say that you have deep feelings for Liang Yuhua, and you still want to hide it from me?"

"Lu Jiangnian, I am not a fool."

"Not originally."

Lu Jiangnian raised the corners of his lips sarcastically, "It seems to be the same now."

"Besides, those evil things were committed by Concubine Liang. They have nothing to do with the Liang family's second branch. You shouldn't vent your anger on her!"

"Lu! Jiang! Nian!"

The prince spoke word by word, "My mother..."

He stopped talking hastily: "There is no good person in the Liang family. Lu Jiangnian, if you still consider me a friend, you should not have anything to do with the Liang family."

Lu Jiangnian said with a wooden face: "At this point, do you think it's still possible?"

The prince lowered his voice very low, but every word was as cold as ice: "Are you really going to turn against me for a woman?"

Lu Jiangnian: "You are unreasonable and have lost your gentlemanly demeanor."

"Besides, Your Highness is meddling too much. I am the Emperor's subject, and Your Highness has no right to interfere now!"

"Get out of the East Palace!"

The prince threw an inkstone at Lu Jiangnian. The inkstone flew past Lu Jiangnian's temples and made a black hole in the wall.

Lu Jiangnian turned his head away, a cold light flashed in his eyes, and he grabbed the prince by the collar: "Your Highness, don't go too far!"

The tips of their noses were almost touching. The prince winked at Lu Jiangnian and whispered, "Smash the table."

Lu Jiangnian understood and kicked the wooden table over: "Bang--"

"From now on, I will not come again."

Before leaving, he slammed the door loudly.

-

"Did they really quarrel?"

The emperor stroked the secret report in his hand, his eyes gleaming.

The secret guard knelt on the ground: "It is absolutely true! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince smashed Lord Lu's inkstone, and Lord Lu was so angry that he kicked the table and broke it."

"Okay!" The emperor suddenly laughed, and his laughter echoed in the empty palace. "Let Lu Jiangnian come to see me tomorrow."

Ever since the Second Prince's rebellion, he has looked upon everyone as harboring evil intentions.

Lu Song is loyal to him, Lu Jiangnian is his son, and the emperor also values him.

But after all, Lu Jiangnian was once the prince's companion, and because of this relationship, the emperor always felt uneasy.

Now that they have cut off contact, it suits him just fine.

-

"puff--"

Yuan Wanru spat out a mouthful of tea and pounded her pillow with laughter: "Did the prince really swing the inkstone to hit you?"

She touched the red mark on Lu Jiangnian's forehead with her fingertips, "If this mark is half an inch off, it will be disfigured."

"However, you two are quite good at arranging the plot. Did you enjoy the performance?"

"You're treating it as a joke. You really don't care about your husband."

Lu Jiangnian grabbed her wrist and pressed it on the pillow, his nose rubbing against her neck: "Also, my face is disfigured, so does my wife dislike me?"

Suddenly he took her earlobe in his mouth and rubbed it, "You are such a heartless bad girl."

Yuan Wanru smiled and pushed his chest: "Let's talk business!"

When he stood up, his eyes suddenly became sharp, "Will the old fox of the emperor really believe your play?"

"Of course he does."

Lu Jiang grinned coldly, and the candlelight cast flickering shadows in his eyes.

"People who sit on the throne for too long have long forgotten that human hearts are the most difficult thing to control."

"He thought that by giving me a woman he could alienate me from the prince, and that by spreading rumors he could create a rift between me and my wife."

The emperor has been in the palace for too long, his heart has become an iron prison, and he no longer believes that sincerity can exist in the world.

Yuan Wanru sneered: "It's just that the higher you stand, the more you fear falling badly."

In the first place, who would want to harm him?

If he insists on scheming against others everywhere, then he shouldn't blame others for scheming against him in return.

Lu Jiangnian let out a low, hoarse laugh and covered the back of her hand with his palm: "Yeah, it's lonely at the top. Actually, there's nothing good about that position."

The emperor thought he was playing a big game of chess, but he didn't know that the real chess player had already set up a killing plan before he made his move.

How ridiculous.