Chapter 14 It hurts so much. Clearly, the general is very capable.

After the torrential rain that day, the sky remained clear, and the flash flood that Jing Hui had been worried about did not occur.

She and Lu Songyuan rested peacefully in the mansion for a few days to recover from their injuries. Before dusk that day, Bai Zhi came to the general's mansion to deliver the new confessions of the camel-wind people.

The moment the envelope was opened, a strong smell of blood filled the air. Jing Hui wrinkled her nose, opened it, and found a confession that was very different from the one she had received when she woke up a few days earlier.

The Tuofeng people said that when they saw that Jing had returned to threaten Lu Songyuan, Lu Songyuan refused to give him the takgan, so they had to find a pretext to frame him so that Emperor Jingwen would order Lu Songyuan to be punished.

Whether he is imprisoned or exiled, as long as the guard around Lu Songyuan is relaxed, they will have plenty of ways to force him out of Tagan once they capture him.

Jing Hui chuckled. The back-and-forth testimonies sounded like a child's words, full of loopholes.

She tossed the confession onto the table and asked Bai Zhi, "Have you found any clues about the hunter?"

Not yet.

Bai Zhi said, "There are too few residents near the deep mountains. We searched the area for a long time but didn't find any clues. Later, the Prime Minister ordered the search area to be expanded. Our men stumbled upon a real hunter on the next mountain and that's when we got some leads. The man said he had seen the fake hunter at the foot of the deep mountains. The Prime Minister has already sent people to find a portrait of him. When we post the portrait on the reward notice, we should get results."

Jing Hui nodded, glanced at the testimony on the table, and asked, "What did the Prime Minister say?"

"The Prime Minister said that this confession should not be entirely believed, nor should it be completely disregarded."

Bai Zhi said, "The Prime Minister has already reported this to His Majesty."

Jing Hui nodded.

Now that things have come to this, they have done all they can. All that remains is to see what Emperor Jingwen has to say when they go to the palace for their homecoming banquet tomorrow.

A moment of silence.

Jing Hui suddenly remembered something and looked at Bai Zhi, asking, "Has your young master recently sent any letters home to the Prime Minister's residence?"

Bai Zhi paused for a moment, then lowered his eyes and replied, "Passed it on."

Jing Hui smiled and asked, "He's been gone quite a while this time. Has he said when he'll be back?"

Bai Zhi bowed and said, "Young Master said it would be no later than next month."

Next month will be the winter month, and the weather will get colder. It should be time to successfully retrieve the important items from the southern border.

"Yes, it'll be over in the blink of an eye," Jing Hui nodded and said.

Bai Zhi pursed his lips and said, "Young Master mentioned the princess many times in his letters home. He was very angry about the princess's marriage and also regretted not being able to attend the princess's wedding in person..."

"What is he doing here, ruining my wedding?"

Jing Hui chuckled and waved his hand, "It's better that you didn't come."

"He misses the princess very much."

Bai Zhi spoke with a serious tone, but Jing Hui didn't notice. She raised her chin and chuckled, saying, "He has ulterior motives for wanting me."

She didn't say anything more, but said, "You'll have to take care of things in the deep mountains."

Bai Zhi replied, "Your Highness is too kind. I will take my leave now."

After Bai Zhi left, Jing Hui sat on the couch and read the confession over and over again before calling A Yu in to help him wash up.

The two walked together toward the clean room. As they passed the bed, Jing Hui hesitated, as if he wanted to say something.

Looking at Jing Hui's expression, A Yu covered her mouth and said, "After the princess went to sleep last night, the general also came back to sleep. Before the princess woke up this morning, the general left again."

Newlyweds sleeping in the same bed is a consensus that has been held for thousands of years.

Even though the two were not familiar with each other and there was a distance between them, apart from their wedding night, neither of them mentioned wanting to sleep in separate rooms.

But when Jing Hui applied the medicine to Lu Songyuan that day, Lu Songyuan's reaction made her feel ashamed, angry, and scared. She simply kicked Lu Songyuan out and made him sleep in the study.

Lu Songyuan readily agreed, but he never went there even once.

Jing Hui snapped, "Who wants to ask him!"

Ayu couldn't help but laugh, and Jing Hui reached out to cover her mouth, "Little brat, what are you laughing at!"

"Princess, how could I dare!"

Ah Yu laughed and dodged, "Actually, the general just looks cold, but he's a very nice person! After we came back from the woods, you clung to him and wouldn't let go, and you wouldn't let anyone get close, so he took care of everything for you himself and stayed with you in bed for a whole day and night!"

Compared to that arrow, this is nothing...

etc.

Jing Hui froze, then suddenly remembered the clean nightgown. "Did he change my clothes too?"

Ah Yu caught her breath and turned to run away.

"Stop right there!"

As she was about to go to sleep, Jing Hui still felt uneasy. No matter how she asked A Yu, A Yu wouldn't say who had put the nightgown on her.

Having slept too much during the day, Jing Hui was no longer sleepy. As she lay in bed, just as she was about to fall asleep, she indeed heard the sound of a wheelchair rolling in the corridor.

Lu Songyuan is back.

Just as Jing Hui turned over to lie down and closed her eyes, the sound of the wheelchair stopped behind her at the bedside.

There was no movement for a while, as if to confirm whether she was asleep. After a moment, it rolled into the clean room.

Jing Hui pursed her lips. She had intended to catch Lu Songyuan red-handed when he returned, but the longer she waited, the sleepier she became, and she eventually fell asleep.

She was in a daze and didn't know how much time had passed when Jing Hui felt someone hug her from behind.

Lu Songyuan, carrying the fresh scent of bath beans, had one hand around her waist and the other under her neck, which was quite uncomfortable.

Jing Hui was trapped. She turned over with her eyes closed and pushed, "Don't strangle me, it hurts."

After she finished speaking, Lu Songyuan moved, and Jing Hui felt a little more comfortable, but it was still very uncomfortable.

"Lu Songyuan".

Jing Hui braced her arms on Lu Songyuan's chest, closed her eyes, and tilted her head back.

"let go."

Lu Songyuan neither spoke nor let go. The pain couldn't overcome the drowsiness. Jing Hui's hand, which had been pushing Lu Songyuan, gradually softened, and she fell into a deep sleep.

As the person in his arms gradually calmed down, Lu Songyuan slowly opened his eyes and adjusted his posture again.

He pressed Jing Hui's back, making her upper body press tightly against him, while his lower body trapped Jing Hui's legs between his own, the two of them pressed tightly together, with almost no gap between them.

After finishing, Lu Songyuan sighed and then went to sleep.

The next day, Jing Hui woke up with aches and pains all over his body, especially in his lower back.

She was alone in bed. Jing Hui sat up, rubbed her waist, and got out of bed. After washing up, she sat in front of the dressing table and looked in the mirror at Lu Songyuan, who had already washed up and was sitting in a wheelchair by the window.

"woke up."

Lu Songyuan was reading a book when he heard Jing Hui's noise and looked up at her.

Today, Lu Songyuan's hair was tied up high with a red crown, and a huge ruby ​​hung on the black hairpin on his head. He was dressed in a crimson and gold-threaded robe.

A thin layer of morning light fell on his shoulders, making his face look rosy, as if something joyous was about to happen.

His tone was so intimate and natural, as if the two had been married for a long time and were deeply in love.

Jing Hui suppressed her discomfort and frowned, "Last night you..."

Lu Songyuan asked, "Last night, Your Highness kicked me awake several times. What were you dreaming about?"

"What?"

Jing Hui was taken aback. "I already told you to sleep in separate rooms, and you still sneaked into bed with me last night!"

Lu Songyuan said, "The newlyweds have been married for less than a month, and they want to sleep in separate rooms. If this gets back to the palace, what will His Majesty think?"

This is him returning all the words he said on their wedding night to her!

Jing Hui stared at him in the mirror.

Lu Songyuan took a sip of tea, slowly looked at Jing Hui in the mirror, and said, "I wouldn't dare lie. Your Highness likes to roll around at night when you're asleep. With me here, I can prevent you from falling and getting hurt."

"Yeah?"

Jing Hui chuckled, pushed away A Yu's hand that was drawing her eyebrows, and walked towards Lu Songyuan.

Jing Hui walked to the edge of the bed, leaned on the bed, looked up at Lu Songyuan, and said, "If you're afraid I'll fall off, why don't you do it openly and honestly, instead of sneaking into this princess's bed in the middle of the night?"

Her breath, as fragrant as orchids, sprayed onto Lu Songyuan's face.

He looked at Jing Hui's face, which was so close to his own, and swallowed hard.

"Could it be that he's been a thief too many times?"

Jing Huixin, his eyebrows dancing with excitement, said, "Oh dear, a dignified general, yet he's actually a petty scoundrel in secret. I'll have to report this to my father and ask him to take charge of things for me another day."

Lu Songyuan stared at Jing Hui's opening and closing lips. After she finished speaking, he chuckled and turned his face away, "Whenever you encounter trouble, you only know how to turn to your father. Are you still a child?"

"yes."

Jing Hui said frankly, "In my father's eyes, I will always be a child. If you want me to stop complaining, you have to admit that you are a treacherous and cunning person, and I will forgive you."

Lu Songyuan remained silent.

Jing Hui was beaming with pride, his smile growing wider and wider. Just as he was about to burst out laughing, someone grabbed his chin.

This posture was really unsightly. Just then, the servants brought in breakfast one after another. Jing Hui struggled for a moment and whispered, "Let go!"

Lu Songyuan not only didn't let go, but also lowered his head to get closer to Jing Hui. Jing Hui was afraid that the commotion would attract attention and cause rumors, so she glared at Lu Songyuan.

Lu Songyuan chuckled softly, moving closer and closer. As their breaths mingled and their lips were about to touch, he tilted his head, resting his chin on Jing Hui's cheek, and whispered in her ear, "I am a treacherous and cunning person."

A tingling sensation ran through her ear, followed by an itch throughout her neck and shoulders. Jing Hui's hand, which was supporting her on the couch, went limp, and she stumbled into Lu Songyuan's arms.

Lu Songyuan reached out and caught her, ignoring Jing Hui's struggles, he held her hand in his palm and restrained her, then said, "Please forgive me, Your Highness."

After he finished speaking, Jing Hui remained silent for a long while before finally mustering the strength to push Lu Songyuan away.

"Shameless!"

She cursed with red eyes.

I have never seen her like this before.

Lu Songyuan hadn't expected to really provoke her. He remained silent for a moment, then helped Jing Hui up by the waist to steady her.

"It's almost time to enter the palace, let's have breakfast."

After Jing Hui regained her balance, her chest heaved a few times, she glared at him fiercely, and turned to walk to the table.

After having breakfast, the two walked out of the mansion together, preparing to go to the palace.

Jing Hui hadn't noticed it before, but now, as he walked, his back was hurting so badly it was almost killing him. He grabbed A Yu's arm and helplessly supported his back as he slowly moved forward.

The servants in the mansion were loading things onto the carriage. After they were all in place, the two masters got into the carriage.

As the carriage slowly drove away, the little maid who had been outside Lu Songyuan's study that day pulled another person aside and said, "Sister Ayu said that General Lu was impotent, but this doesn't seem like it."

The man asked, "Why doesn't it look like it?"

"Placed in the bedchamber, the princess nestled in General Lu's arms."

The maid whispered, "Besides, I used to serve my mistress in the palace, and... afterwards, the ladies often had back pain. The princess was holding her back today, wasn't she?"

"But I didn't hear any shouting for water last night," the man said, puzzled.

"Perhaps we didn't hear it, but I think the general should..."

"Should be what?"

"Great!"

I think so too!

After they finished speaking, they looked at each other and their faces turned bright red. "No, no, no, no, you're not allowed to say anymore. Go get to work. If someone hears us talking about our master, we'll lose our heads."

"Okay, let's go."

After the two ran away hand in hand, Lu Qingyue slowly walked out from behind the white jade nanmu gate with his hands behind his back.

He watched the two maids' retreating figures and asked Lu Zhouxue, who had come out after them, "Sister, what do you think of my idea to help the general regain his former glory?"

Lu Zhouxue took a step to the side to avoid him, "Aren't you afraid the princess will kill you if she finds out?"

"The princess will not know."

Lu Qingyue said matter-of-factly, "I wasn't the one who spent the night with the princess, so what does it have to do with me? Besides, judging from the general's appearance, he'll probably have to prove himself to the princess someday. Tsk, an old tree can still bloom, but I don't know if the princess will agree."

"boring."

He kept rambling on and on, and Lu Zhouxue, looking impatient, strode out and said, "Hurry up and follow me."

"yes--"

Lu Qingyue drawled, "Yes, sir."

-

The carriage traveled along Taiping Street and slowly entered the palace. When they arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the two of them went in together to pay their respects to Emperor Jingwen.

Today, the Hall of Mental Cultivation was very bright and airy. The curtains were lifted and hung on the beams, and the sunlight shone into the room through the cracks in the windows, making Emperor Jingwen, who was sitting at the table, look much better.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be well."

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty be well."

"Get up, Ah Zhu, come here quickly and let your father see you."

Emperor Jingwen had just recovered from a serious illness. No matter how well he looked on the surface, he was still weak inside, and you could tell just by listening to him speak.

Jing Hui hadn't seen Emperor Jingwen for several days. She strode forward and bent down to let him touch her head.

With her peach-blossom eyes curving upwards, she asked, "Father Emperor seems to be much better. Is he still feeling unwell?"

"Father is well."

Emperor Jingwen's eyes were filled with mixed emotions as he stroked Jing Hui's head and said, "But what about you? Are your injuries any better?"

"I'm completely healed now."

Jing Hui blinked. "When I rolled down the mountain that day, he protected me and I wasn't seriously injured."

After saying that, he turned to look at Lu Songyuan.

Regardless of what happens within the manor, in front of outsiders, one should still speak highly of Lu Songyuan.

Emperor Jingwen followed Jing Hui's gaze and looked at Lu Songyuan, who was sitting silently in a wheelchair behind her.

Emperor Jingwen's attitude toward Lu Songyuan was quite complex.

On a larger scale, if imperial power and military power were not simultaneously in the hands of the emperor, and military power fell into the hands of generals who were not his direct subordinates, Emperor Jingwen would naturally be wary.

On a smaller scale, Emperor Jingwen was deeply saddened that his beloved daughter married him, and he had no way to intervene. Not to mention the various reckless actions this man later took, disregarding Jing Hui's life.

Even when dealing with a ruler and his subjects at a distance that is neither too close nor too distant, they would begin with official business, even when it came to family matters.

Emperor Jingwen looked at Lu Songyuan and asked directly, "That day, when the gunpowder exploded in the deep mountains, even Lao Lai reported to me that it was your men who discovered it in time and prevented a larger explosion. Why were your men near the deep mountains?"

Lu Songyuan lowered his eyes and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Qingyue and Zhouxue have never been to the capital. A few days ago, Zhouxue said she wanted to eat glutinous rice dumplings from the border town, so Qingyue took advantage of her free time to buy them for her."

"Um?"

That was an unexpected answer.

Emperor Jingwen and Jing Hui exchanged a glance, and Emperor Jingwen asked, "In that case, have any of your men been injured?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am not injured."

Emperor Jingwen asked, "You stopped the loss of the national treasury in time and risked your life to save my daughter, Azhu. I want to reward you handsomely. Do you have any favorite possessions?"

Lu Songyuan looked flattered and bowed, saying, "I dare not. What I did was only my duty. I dare not claim credit."

As he spoke, he glanced at Jing Hui and said, "Your Majesty's willingness to allow me to stay by Your Highness's side and protect you is the greatest favor Your Majesty can bestow upon me."

There was a moment of silence in the hall after he finished speaking.

Jing Hui looked at Lu Songyuan with a complicated expression.

He's always putting on an act.

Before the marriage, she knew that Lu Songyuan had ulterior motives, but now she could hardly see through what he was after.

After all, it's truly perplexing that someone with an illness would risk everything to protect someone they barely know.

Emperor Jingwen picked up his teacup, took a sip, glanced at Jing Hui, and then said, "According to ancestral rites, after your marriage, Azhu should return to the Northern Border with you. However, after her injury the other day, I want Azhu to stay by my side for a few more years. So you can stay in the capital with her for a few years and take the opportunity to recover from your leg injury. Also, based on your military achievements, you should have been ennobled and appointed prime minister long ago, but since you are not in good health right now, you will be temporarily appointed as the commander of my Imperial Guards."

Lu Songyuan was already a first-rank official in Shangjing. Although the position of Commander of the Forbidden City was not high, all his duties revolved around Emperor Jingwen, and he had to frequently enter and leave the palace, and even control the deployment of troops in Shangjing.

Lu Songyuan was more than happy to accept this. After pretending to think for a moment, he said, "Your Majesty's decree will be obeyed. However, if there is war in the northern border, I would like to ask Your Majesty to allow me to return to guard the country's gates."

Emperor Jingwen gave Lu Songyuan a deep look and said, "I am very fortunate to have you, my beloved minister."

"Your Majesty flatters me."

The two were preoccupied with their own thoughts. Jing Hui glanced between them and asked, "Has Father Emperor sent anyone to investigate the matter in the deep mountains?"

"The Censorate investigated."

Emperor Jingwen withdrew his gaze and generously took out several testimonies from the other box, handing them to Jing Hui, "Azhu, take a look."

Jing Hui took it and opened it, only to find that what was written on it was basically the same as the testimony that Bai Zhi had given to Jing Hui.

It's clear that either these camel-like people were telling the truth, or their backers were incredibly powerful.

"A dead end."

Jing Hui put down his testimony, "But it can eventually be proven wrong."

Looking at her serious expression, Emperor Jingwen said, "Well said. Ah Zhu, I'll leave this matter to you. Find out the truth for me before the end of the year."

Jing Hui accepted the order: "Yes!"

Emperor Jingwen glanced at Lu Songyuan and said to Jing Hui, "Although you are married, your studies must not be neglected. Ah Zhu, do you understand what I mean?"

Emperor Jingwen was diligent and hardworking, and had been in control of the government for many years. He knew about most of the princes' thoughts and actions even without leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

At this time, the court was unstable, and if necessary, someone needed to serve as Emperor Jingwen's regent.

Jing Hui was the most suitable, she knew it perfectly well.

She rose and bowed, saying, "Your subject understands, Your subject obeys."

"Even if there are thousands of extraordinary people, none of them can compare to one ten-thousandth of my Azhu."

After getting married, Jing Hui thought he had grown up, and now, hearing such praise, he was a little embarrassed. "Father!"

Emperor Jingwen laughed heartily. As Lu Songyuan watched the father and daughter laughing and joking, the gloom that had been hanging over his brow for many days finally dissipated a little.

It wasn't lunchtime yet, so the three chatted idly.

Emperor Jingwen took a sip of tea and suddenly looked at Lu Songyuan and said, "Last time I was too tired to ask you what the Tuofeng people meant by 'Tagan'?"

Jing Hui also looked at Lu Songyuan.

Lu Songyuan shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, I do not know what Tagan is, nor do I know why that person slandered me in such a way. As for the military force he mentioned, it is utter nonsense. I feel very guilty for causing Your Highness to be injured."

His tone was solemn and clearly showed remorse, which surprised Emperor Jingwen.

"Cough cough cough."

Emperor Jingwen coughed loudly. Seeing that he could not get any information out of him, he waved his hand and said, "Enough. I have already ordered that after the Tuofeng people confess, they should be executed by slow slicing and sent back to Tuofeng. If you do not want to start another war, the Tuofeng king should give an explanation."

After the three finished speaking, it was lunchtime, and the Imperial Concubine also arrived.

After exchanging greetings, they went together to the banquet hall for a royal lunch, which was neither too close nor too far, thus concluding today's homecoming banquet.

After Jing Hui and Lu Songyuan returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation with Emperor Jingwen and talked for a while, Jing Hui said, "Father, I would like to go see my elder sister."

Emperor Jingwen's face, which had been bright just moments before, suddenly darkened. "That bastard, what is he looking at her for!"

A note from the author:

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