Chapter 32: Playing the victim. It's related to your husband.

After that, for five or six days in a row, Jing Hui did not allow Lu Songyuan to enter the main hall again, let alone the sleeping quarters.

Just then, Emperor Jingwen woke up again after being in a coma for several days. Jing Hui went straight to the palace after waking up in the morning and stayed there for a whole day. Now Lu Songyuan couldn't even see Jing Hui.

Two days later, Lu Songyuan could no longer bear it. After finishing his business in the military camp and the palace during the day, he had Lu Qingyue push him to the door of the sleeping quarters to wait for Jing Hui.

Although Jing Hui always ignored him, Lu Songyuan was going crazy if he didn't find some relief from his longing.

Upon first learning of what was meant by "heartfelt feelings" and peeking into his own heart, Lu Songyuan was frustrated and remained in a bad mood for several days, even finding the wilted flowers under the eaves an eyesore.

Are the people working in the greenhouse just sitting around doing nothing?

The courtyard was filled with his trusted confidants. Lu Songyuan sat under the eaves of the main hall, stepped on the drooping branches by the flowerpot, and said, "What's the point of having withered branches here? They're an eyesore."

Lu Qingyue raised an eyebrow, tilted his head to look at his general's tense jaw, and thought to himself, "Back when you were in the Northern Territory, you wouldn't even look at someone who had knocked over an oil bottle, or tripped up. Now you're even bothering with the flowers in front of a young lady's boudoir."

"that is!"

He gave a forced smile, "I'll talk to them about it later, it's absolutely outrageous!"

After picking the thorns off the flowers, Lu Songyuan turned to look at the courtyard and said, "The jade stones on the path in front of the gate are not good either; they should be replaced."

"yes--"

This man is really annoying when he starts nagging.

While Lu Qingyue was dealing with Lu Songyuan, he saw Lu Zhouxue striding in from outside the door, sword in hand.

"My sister is back!"

Lu Qingyue was so happy that she almost jumped for joy when her savior arrived.

He took two steps forward and went down the steps. "Sister, what did you find out?"

Lu Songyuan also looked at Lu Zhouxue.

"Reporting to the general, Rong Xiren just came to the military camp and said that Rong Xiren has replied to the matter you asked us to inquire about."

It was Lu Songyuan who asked someone a couple of days ago whether Rongxi King had specifically requested Jingning to marry into his family.

“Speak,” Lu Songyuan said.

Lu Zhouxue said, "King Rongxi did not specifically name the Fifth Princess to marry into the family. He only said that if Emperor Jingwen's own daughter married into the family, the Empress Dowager's people would be released. However, if you give the order, these people can also be released. I hope that when you return to the Northern Border in the future, you will show mercy on the battlefield."

The Empress Dowager ordered the release of the man, but the Rongxi King refused. He went over and said something, and the Rongxi King released the man. What does this mean?

Knowing this, the Rong attack became much easier to handle.

After being depressed for several days, Lu Songyuan's face softened a little. He responded and instructed, "The day after tomorrow is the winter solstice. Keep an eye on them at the palace banquet and don't let them cause any trouble."

There's still a month until Jingning's wedding, so there's no rush to talk about her affairs after the winter solstice.

"yes."

Lu Zhouxue accepted the order and left, while Lu Songyuan glanced at the doorway.

The flickering light from the corridor lamp cast shadows on his face. He asked, "It's late, why hasn't she come back yet?"

Not long after he finished speaking, the lights in the room behind him suddenly turned on.

The two looked out together and saw their shadows cast on the window. The one with his arms outstretched, waiting for others to change, was Jing Hui, and the other person was either A Yu or A Yan.

"..."

To avoid Lu Songyuan, even a princess has started using back channels!

Jing Hui grew angrier the more she thought about it. After A Yu helped her take off her clothes, Jing Hui, still wearing her undergarments, plopped down on the couch by the window and asked, "Is he still here?"

Ah Yu carefully put away Jing Hui's clothes, sent someone to check the door while bringing over a bucket of water.

The maid returned and reported, "Your Highness, General Lu stayed in front of our gate for about an hour before leaving."

They're catching rabbits!

Jing Hui angrily drank the tonic soup that A Yu brought him and said, "Tomorrow, we'll walk through the main gate and run over Lu Songyuan!"

"Alright, the princess has the final say!"

Ah Yu agreed as she made the bed.

Jing Hui has been traveling back and forth between the palace and the two palaces these past few days, and he is very tired.

After washing up, she curled up in the cold blankets, leaving only her eyes sticking out, and asked in a muffled voice, "Didn't the earth dragon catch fire?"

Ayu, who was standing behind the screen tidying her clothes, replied, "It's burning. I specifically asked them to make it burn brighter. Does the princess feel cold?"

Because Emperor Jingwen was ill and could not tolerate the cold, the underground heating in the palace was burning brightly, while the underground heating in the general's mansion had only been put on a few days ago.

Upon returning to the mansion, the temperature difference was enormous.

Normally, with Lu Songyuan by her side like a furnace, Jing Hui's feet often felt cold as she had no one to warm her bed for several days in a row.

She sniffed. "A little."

"Then this servant will find you a few hot water bottles."

"good."

Ah Yu turned and went to the outer room, but returned shortly afterward with seven or eight hot water bottles.

The blankets were placed around Jing Hui's feet, hands, and waist, and instantly became warm.

"call--"

Jing Hui sighed, "It's much warmer now."

Why would she need a man? She'd be better off with a hot water bottle; at least a hot water bottle won't bite her!

Jing Hui touched the earlobe where she had been bitten that day and ordered, "Turn off the lights. This princess is going to sleep. I may have to go to the palace tomorrow."

"good."

Ayu lowered the bed curtains, and Jinghui stared at the swaying curtains for a while before falling asleep.

-

The next morning, someone from the palace came and said that His Majesty was awake that day and invited the princess to the palace.

After Jing Hui woke up, A Yu reported the matter to him.

As long as Emperor Jingwen was awake, Jing Hui was overjoyed.

After she agreed, she went to wash up and change her clothes, and then went to have her meal.

Lu Songyuan was sitting at the dining table.

Jing Hui stood there, stunned.

Lu Songyuan, who was serving soup, placed the bowl in front of Jing Hui and turned his head to say, "Your Highness is awake."

Such shamelessness!

Jing Hui wanted to turn around and leave, but remembering how she almost fell when she went through the back door yesterday, she stopped and sat down at the table.

"snort."

Jing Hui gave Lu Songyuan a soft snort, then picked up the bowl to drink the soup. There was no spoon in the bowl or on the table. Jing Hui looked around and saw that the spoon was on Lu Songyuan's other side.

If she wanted to get the spoon, she would have to go past Lu Songyuan, which would inevitably involve physical contact with him.

When she dined with Lu Songyuan, she never needed anyone to serve her.

Jing Hui frowned, and was about to call out to A Yu when she saw a fleeting smile in Lu Songyuan's eyes.

He did it on purpose, that cunning man!

She didn't follow Lu Songyuan's lead.

Jing called out, "Ayu."

"Give."

Before Ayu could even approach, Lu Songyuan reached out, picked up a spoon, and handed it to Jing Hui.

Jing Hui frowned, wondering what trick he was playing. She stretched out two fingers to pinch the spoon, but Lu Songyuan simply ignored her hand, brushed the back of his hand against her fingertips, and put the spoon into her bowl.

"Enjoy your meal in peace."

Lu Songyuan leaned back in his wheelchair, looking at Jing Hui's profile, and called out, "Azhu."

He's almost ruined the meaning of the name with his pronunciation, so Jing Hui ignores Lu Songyuan.

After taking a few bites, she suddenly realized that the fingertips that had brushed against Lu Songyuan's hand were icy cold.

Jing Hui raised her head, frowned, and looked at the person behind her who was leaning against a wheelchair, not eating, but just staring at her.

After several attempts, she finally asked, "Where did you sleep last night?"

Lu Songyuan blinked, his voice slightly hoarse, "Study."

Even with underfloor heating, the bedroom was still cold; one can only imagine how cold the study was without it.

No wonder his hands were so cold.

He was never seen with a blanket wrapped around his legs before, but today he was wrapped up tightly as well.

As if guided by some unseen force, Jing Hui reached out her hand to Lu Songyuan, who understood and took Jing Hui's soft hand in his.

After giving it a light squeeze, Lu Songyuan withdrew his hand and said, "Don't let it get cold."

Jing Hui chewed on her food and glared fiercely at Lu Songyuan.

"It was definitely cold."

Lu Songyuan was taken aback. "I soaked you in hot water this morning, but I didn't expect it to be so cold. I'll soak it for a little longer tomorrow, so it won't be too cold for you next time I hold your hand."

The fact that the hands cooled down so quickly after being soaked in hot water shows that the cold air had already penetrated the body.

His leg is still broken.

It's as if she's bullying him.

Jing Hui swallowed a mouthful of soup. "I'll come back to sleep tonight."

Lu Songyuan raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth curled up slightly, but he quickly suppressed it again.

"Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness."

Jing Hui glanced at him indifferently, "Sleep on the floor."

Lu Songyuan's smile froze for a moment, then he nodded and said, "Okay."

After breakfast, the carriage was already prepared outside the mansion, and Jing Hui got up and hurriedly walked out.

Looking at Jing Hui's retreating figure, Lu Songyuan said to Lu Zhouxue beside him, "When Azhu enters the palace in the future, you will stay by her side and never leave her side. Remember that?"

Lu Zhouxue bowed and said, "Yes, I will remember."

"Go."

"yes."

Lu Zhouxue bowed to Lu Songyuan, then strode after Jing Hui.

After the two figures disappeared from sight, Lu Qingyue stepped forward and asked, "General, do you feel that something is amiss in the palace?"

There were too many odd things going on. He hadn't paid much attention to Jing Hui before because he didn't care about her.

Things are different now.

"Hmm, let's see."

Lu Songyuan twirled his fingers and said, "During the palace banquet, go and arrange something."

Lu Qingyue listened intently.

-

While Jing Hui was lost in thought in the carriage, he dozed off for a moment, and then he heard the carriage enter the palace.

Upon arriving at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Jing Hui alighted from the carriage and saw Lu Zhouxue.

What are you doing here?

Lu Zhouxue replied respectfully, "The general sent me here, and I am at the princess's disposal."

To be at someone's beck and call?

The one who dispatched Lu Songyuan's guards was none other than Lu Songyuan himself!

Jing Hui's mood brightened instantly. She covered her face and smiled, then raised her chin. "Then help me up."

"yes."

Lu Zhouxue immediately stepped forward, reached out to help Jing Hui get off the carriage steadily, and escorted her to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Perhaps because he had been unconscious for too long and had rested too well, Emperor Jingwen was able to get out of bed and walk around after only half an hour of lying down when he woke up this time. He also ate the most meals he had had since he fell ill that day.

He even reviewed memorials at night, his face glowing with health and his gait exuding power and authority, showing no signs of illness whatsoever.

The only difference from before was that he clung to Jing Hui and the Empress Dowager, wishing he could see them every day.

A sick person always needs more care. With the affairs of the deep mountains settled, Jing Hui had nothing to do in the mansion except to read unimportant memorials every day.

So, in accordance with Emperor Jingwen's wishes, she came to the palace every day to serve him his medicine.

When Jing returned today, it was already quite late. Emperor Jingwen had already eaten breakfast, but had not yet taken his medicine.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Emperor and Empress Dowager sat on couches, with concubines seated in order of rank on chairs on either side of the couches. Behind them stood several princes and Lianzhu.

The concubines, who had been chatting and laughing, fell silent when they saw Jing return.

Jing Hui stepped forward and bowed, "Your subject greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be well."

Emperor Jingwen's eyes were full of joy, and his smile made the wrinkles around his eyes deepen. "Azhu is here. Come to Father Emperor."

After Jing Hui and the others finished their greetings, before he could even get close, the Empress Dowager stood up and said to Jing Hui, "Since you're here, spend some time with your father. Your Majesty, I'm tired, I'll go back to the palace to rest."

"Very well, I respectfully see off the Empress Dowager."

"Respectfully seeing off the Empress Dowager."

As they passed each other, Jing Hui clearly felt the pressure emanating from the Empress Dowager.

Emperor Jingwen sat down and beckoned to Jing Hui, "Azhu, come here quickly."

"good!"

Jing Hui walked toward the emperor with a smile, ignoring what was happening behind him.

After having lunch at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Emperor Jingwen summoned his ministers to discuss matters. Jing Hui and Lian Zhu then headed towards the Lotus Jade Hall to visit Jing Ning.

After walking for a while, Lianzhu looked at Jing Hui's thoughtful profile, then glanced at Lu Zhouxue behind her, and said, "Hey, didn't your husband forbid you from being with me? Why are you still traveling with me?"

Jing Hui's thoughts were interrupted, and she glanced sideways at him. "Why do you insist on following me on such a wide road?"

Lian Zhu chuckled and said, "Seriously, do you have any way to help Jing Ning?"

Jing Hui shook his head. "Not for now."

Speaking of this matter, Jing Hui thought of Lu Songyuan and felt angry.

Seeing her distressed expression, Lianzhu said, "I have a solution that involves your husband. Would you like to hear it?"