Chapter 185 Ginseng Soup

Concubine Shu concealed the bitterness in her heart and personally helped Lu Bin sit in the first seat. Her voice was choked with sobs and filled with longing:

"Your Majesty, it's been a while since you've been here. I remember you loved the Longjing shrimps I made. Would you like to try it?"

Lu Bin recalled, "The Imperial Concubine loved this dish when she was young. Ever since the death of the chef at Duke Qin's residence, no one in the world has been able to make the Longjing shrimp that the Imperial Concubine loves. In order to please the Imperial Concubine, I indeed sought out countless famous chefs to come into the palace and cook for her."

Concubine Shu choked up and said, "Then Your Majesty, please try it and see how it tastes. If Your Majesty likes it, I will make it myself tomorrow and send it to the palace of Sister Noble Concubine."

The poison-testing eunuch stepped forward and tried each dish one by one. Concubine Shu maintained her smile and stood up to serve Lu Bin the dishes.

Lu Bin picked up his chopsticks and put the food into his mouth, savoring it carefully. He nodded and said, "It tastes good indeed, but it's probably not the Imperial Concubine's taste."

Concubine Shu's face froze slightly as she continued to pick up dishes and said, "Then Your Majesty, please try something else. I will learn how to make this dish. I may not be able to present it to the Imperial Concubine in the future."

"Hmm." Lu Bin hummed lightly, raised his eyes slightly, looked at Concubine Shu and said, "I remember that you haven't worn clothes of this color for a long time. Now that I look closely, you have regained some of your former elegance."

"As long as Your Majesty likes it," Concubine Shu's cheeks flushed as she spoke shyly, "It's just that I have Your Majesty by my side every day, but Zhen'er doesn't have anyone who understands her feelings. Whenever I think about it, I feel worried."

"What does Concubine Shu mean?"

Lu Bin put down his chopsticks and said in a deep voice, "Since Concubine Shu said so, does that mean she already has a candidate in mind?"

Concubine Shu was filled with joy, her heart and eyes filled with her son Lu Zhen. She couldn't help but say excitedly:

"Your Majesty, there's no need for me to specifically grant you a marriage. I think the beauty pageant will be held every three years in September, and my niece Yue'er will be participating then. Yue'er is my biological niece, and she and Zhen'er have been childhood sweethearts. If she could marry my cousin, it would be a wonderful story."

Listening to Concubine Shu's unrestrained and even increasingly rampant words, Lu Bin's face suddenly turned ugly and he threw his chopsticks down suddenly.

Suddenly, everyone knelt down with a loud noise. The palace maids and eunuchs knelt on the ground, trembling for fear that the emperor's power would be released on them.

The most taboo thing in the former dynasty and the harem is to implicate too many people. Concubine Shu's move is tantamount to stepping on Lu Bin's sore spot.

Concubine Shu trembled all over, her charming expression suddenly turned pale, and fear appeared in her eyes, thinking of her son Lu Zhen who had endured for many years but still lost to Lu Yong.

She stood up and knelt, raised her head stubbornly, and cried with red eyes: "Your Majesty! Zhen'er has been a young woman for three years. I just want someone to take care of Zhen'er. I have no other thoughts."

Lu Bin looked at the person in front of him with a serious gaze. He had experienced countless brothers fighting for the throne, and he won the throne and became the master of Dagan because of...

Only a ruler who has sat on the highest throne would desire immortality and be wary of his children's power.

In order not to let his four sons become like him in the past, he has not allowed them to get married until now. Lu Cheng only agreed to hold a concubine selection banquet for him before the selection because of the influence of Lin Chong and Queen Lin.

Lu Bin, who had just put his mind at ease after the downfall of the Lin family and Lu Cheng, is now filled with suspicion again. The Qin family has given up their military power, Qin Xiu has devoted himself to his cause, the imperial concubine is deeply loved, and his youngest son Lu Yong is even more brilliant.

But if it weren't for the persuasion of Master Qingyangzi, he would never have handed over power to Lu Yong so early and appointed him as King Yong.

But in addition to his deposed eldest son Lu Cheng, he had two grown-up sons, the second prince Lu Zhen, born to Concubine Shu, and the third prince Lu Qi, born to Concubine Xian.

I have been practicing with the Immortal Master so attentively these days that I have become lax about them.

"Your Majesty, there are men of the same age as Zhen'er who already have children, but not only has he not married, he doesn't even have a concubine..." Concubine Shu choked and knelt on the ground.

Lu Bing looked down at him and said, "Since Concubine Shu loves the child, I will arrange a marriage for him."

Shufei's face lit up with joy, but before she could express her gratitude, she was shocked by Lu Bin's next words.

"Someone come!"

"Your Majesty." The young eunuch hurriedly knelt forward and responded respectfully.

Lu Bing glanced at Concubine Shu, who was suppressing her joy, and said in a deep voice, "Pass on my decree. Second Prince Lu Zhen is a man of noble character. I grant... the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Rites as the Second Prince's consort. The wedding date is set for after the New Year. Third Prince Lu Qi has reached adulthood this year. I grant Chen Yue, the legitimate daughter of Minister Chen, as the Third Prince's consort. They will marry on the same day!"

After he finished speaking, Lu Bin waved his sleeves and sat back, looking at Concubine Shu with a cold expression.

Concubine Shu fell to the ground, staring at Lu Bin in a daze. After she reacted, she felt more fear than anything else. Seeing the anxious look of the palace maids, she quickly bowed and saluted: "On behalf of Zhen'er, I thank Your Majesty for granting me the marriage!"

At this moment, even the thick scent of incense could not suppress the subtle tension.

Concubine Shu's face was gray and she looked listless. She knew when to stop and raised her head slightly to observe Lu Bin's expression.

At times like this, one must behave oneself. Otherwise, it would be fine if she is given to the niece of the virtuous concubine of the rival family, but if she is given to a daughter of the same clan as the Qin family as a concubine, then one would be in a state of silence and unable to express one's suffering.

"Get up." Lu Bin's expression calmed down a little and he said in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty," Concubine Shu said in a sweet and gentle voice, "You have been frightened for days and have been unwell. I am deeply distressed to see this. I specially ordered someone to find the finest century-old ginseng and brewed this ginseng soup myself."

She gently placed the white jade cup on the small table beside the couch, opened the lid, and a rich ginseng fragrance immediately filled the air.

"I have even consulted the young Taoist servant who serves the Immortal Master. He said that the ingredients in this soup complement the elixir Your Majesty takes daily and are most effective in strengthening the body, calming the mind, and calming nerves. Your Majesty, why don't you try some?"

"oh?"

Lu Bin's interest was piqued.

Now he has no resistance to words like immortality and elixir.

Especially the fragrant ginseng soup, which was made by Concubine Shu herself, the vanity of being cared for and considered instantly overwhelmed the remaining doubts in her heart.

A smile appeared on his face. "My beloved concubine, since you are so thoughtful, please bring it to me for a taste."

The palace servant standing beside her immediately bowed and carefully picked up the white jade cup.

A hint of joy flashed across Concubine Shu's eyes, but her expression became even gentler. She reached out to take the food and feed it to Lu Bin herself.

"Your Majesty, wait!"

A sharp and rapid shout rang out at the door of the hall.

Wang Deshun hurried back after finishing his errand. As soon as he stepped into the palace, he saw Concubine Shu about to feed Lu Bin soup.

His old face changed color instantly, and he rushed to the bed in two steps. His movements were so swift that he didn't look like an old man at all. He actually stopped the palace servant's hand that was handing him the soup.

"Wang Deshun, you are so outrageous!"