Chapter 56 Four mouths want to take a bath

After seeing the three off that day, Lu Wensheng's mood never recovered. He felt depressed and couldn't muster the energy to do anything. He would just do the bare minimum if he could, and leave the rest to his subordinates.

Unexpectedly, this perfunctory attitude earned him several praises: governing with ease, knowing how to use people well, not competing or grabbing, and treating subordinates gently.

Lu Wensheng poked at the rice in his bowl and sighed deeply.

The storybooks are gone, my friends are gone, the red-light district has been raided by Shen Hegui, and the court is full of new faces. I have to work during the day and copy books at night. There's no joy in living!

"The food isn't to your liking?" Shen Hegui, who was sitting at the head of the table, had looked up at some point and, seeing her lack of interest, couldn't help but frown and ask.

"The food is fine, the problem is with me." I don't want to be the Vice Minister of Rites, it's so tiring! She clearly has so much money, but she has to endure hardship and be a corporate slave every day.

It's true what they say, young and naive, they didn't know the value of editing, and they mistook the Vice Minister for a treasure!

And these past few days, for some reason, Shen Hegui has been sending Feng Gou to call her for lunch every day at noon. Although the imperial meals are delicious, eating under her superior's nose every day is truly torture.

Moreover, one must be polite and follow the rules; one cannot stand up and pick up food oneself. Therefore, one can only look at the plates further away. After this happened many times, the servants mistakenly thought that she only liked the few dishes in front of her, and then they frantically brought out dishes that were almost identical.

At this moment, she had been eating goose breast, stir-fried watercress, ham and bamboo shoot soup, cherry meat, and braised shark fin for nearly ten days. Just smelling the food made her want to vomit.

A plump beef meatball is placed in a bowl.

"I heard you really like beef, so I specially asked the imperial kitchen to make some. Try it."

Lu Wensheng took a bite without any real enjoyment and insincerely praised, "Very good!"

In the evenings, various beef soups, roasted beef, and beef brisket, along with seasonal vegetables, were delivered to the Ministry of Rites. Because these were imperial gifts from the Crown Prince and were served in full view of everyone, people had no choice but to eat them.

Shen Hegui frowned, his gaze falling on the meatball that had only been bitten a little. "That day, I sent someone to the outskirts of the city to bring your mother home. Your mother clearly said that you really liked beef meatballs, but the imperial chefs made them wrong?"

"You did a good job, but I suddenly don't like it anymore." Oh right, Shen Hegui, the head of the court, has found out about our old hideout outside the city. Things are getting more and more hopeful.

Lu Wensheng put down his chopsticks and tried to make his tone sound calm: "I'm done eating. I'm going to the Ministry of Rites for my shift."

Shen Hegui nodded in silent agreement.

He stared quietly at the beef ball with a small missing corner, and after a long while, he picked it up and put it in his mouth.

It seems a bit too old, not young enough.

"Tell the imperial kitchen to make the beef balls more tender; they're too tough!" Shen Hegui instructed Feng Gou, glancing sideways at him.

Feng Gou's face showed a mixture of unspoken words and hesitation. He had endured so many days, but he simply couldn't hold back any longer. His Highness was good in every way, but he was exceptionally oblivious to these trivial matters.

Feng Gou: "Your Highness, even if you like something a lot, you can't eat it every day, or you'll get tired of it!"

Shen Hegui didn't understand: "But I eat fish every day and never get tired of it." Isn't it more enjoyable to enjoy what you like every day?

Unable to refute it for a moment, Feng Gou had no choice but to make up a reason: "People are different. Lord Lu must be the kind of person who gets tired of eating the same thing every day."

Shen Hegui's gaze became obscure, and his thin lips gradually tightened.

Yes, he always forgets that Lu Wensheng is a human being, while he is not.

Seeing that Shen Heguizhen had taken the advice to heart, Feng Gou seized the opportunity to suggest, "This old servant observes that Lord Lu has been clearly in low spirits lately, probably due to being overworked. The Shangsi Festival is just around the corner, why doesn't Your Highness take Lord Lu out for a stroll to relax?"

“Shangsi Festival…” Shen Hegui blinked slowly, his thick eyelashes casting a small shadow. “Go and make arrangements, choose a lively and interesting place.” Lately, Lu Wensheng has indeed become less lively and active than before, and he needs to coax him back to his former self.

"This old servant understands, I will take care of it immediately."

When Lu Wensheng returned to the Ministry of Rites in his private carriage, a fight was taking place inside.

"This is utterly absurd!" The Minister of Rites spat as he slammed his fist on the table, making the teacups rattle. "Of the three commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals, the Zuo Zhuan should be the foundation. You insist on taking a different path. If things go wrong, who will bear the responsibility?"

"That is incorrect. His Highness has clearly decreed that those who are well-versed in the classics and capable of applying their knowledge should be selected. If we follow the old precedent, how will it differ from previous years?"

"You're misinterpreting this!"

"You're stuck in your ways!"

"Where is everyone?! Someone come and judge this!"

Lu Wensheng shook his head and quickly retreated through the back door.

Shen Hegui told her about the merchants' collusion with the Japanese pirates, and in the past few days she had personally witnessed how pulling up a radish brought up the mud, revealing that the smuggling and collusion with the enemy had led to the leak of the imperial examination questions.

All officials, both high and low, who were in charge of the imperial examinations have now been placed in the Ministry of Rites. They are not allowed to go home or have their relatives visit them, and all three examination questions have been revised.

During the court assembly today, she made a point of counting and estimated that less than one-tenth of the old ministers remained. Throughout history, it seems that once people hold power, they cannot withstand scrutiny; few are truly clean and honest. They are either corrupt here or have accepted bribes there.

Lu Wensheng skillfully climbed back into his private office through the window and shook Xiao Yuan, who had gained weight.

Has anyone been here?

Xiao Yuan: [No. The two old men arguing outside knocked on the door, but when they didn't see you, they went somewhere else to continue arguing.]

Lu Wensheng gently pulled out the armchair and hung himself up in it: "That's good."

No one was looking for her, which meant she could slack off and take a nap in the afternoon.

Xiao Yuan climbed from the table onto Lu Wensheng and mumbled, "[Host, a new mission has arrived.]"

Lu Wensheng refused without hesitation: "I'm not in the mood, I'm not doing it!"

Xiao Yuan emphasized: "This is a main quest! You can't skip it!"

Lu Wensheng took a deep breath, lifted Xiao Yuan forward with his legs crossed, grabbed its neck, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Tell me, how many mouths do you have this time?"

When I read novels before, other people would just take a task and start doing it, but she did it differently, she would play word games.

Xiao Yuan: [Four times, in a situation with more than ten people, verbally abuse the Crown Prince, and verbally abuse him for at least ten seconds.]

Lu Wensheng thought for a moment: "How about meeting the Crown Prince in a group of more than ten people and striking up a conversation with him for at least ten seconds?" He absolutely couldn't dig another hole for himself.

Xiao Yuan: [No, I have to maintain the sullen persona.]

"..."

Lu Wensheng remained silent, staring at Xiao Yuan intently, trying to get it to compromise and submit.

Xiao Yuan, with her adorably innocent round eyes, suggested: "How about I fill in the blanks for the host? Sleep with the Crown Prince in front of more than ten people, and kiss him for at least ten seconds? Or, trip the Crown Prince in front of more than ten people, and pounce on him for at least ten seconds?"

"Heh." A vein throbbed on Lu Wensheng's forehead. "If you want a different owner, just say so. Your head isn't big, it's full of yellow waste." She was asleep, what was she going to sleep on?

After pretending to be a boy for so long, Lu Wensheng had forgotten that she was a girl and could sleep normally.

Xiao Yuan, feeling wronged: [Then, host, how should I fill this in?]

Lu Wensheng touched the tip of his nose thoughtfully.

The wording shouldn't be too rigid; it needs to be flexible and subtly suggestive.

She pondered for a moment, then slowly turned her gaze to the plate of glistening candied fruit on the table. "How about biting the Crown Prince and pouncing on him in a crowd of more than ten people?"

She put Xiao Yuan down and began to deceive, "People only bite when they have desires, and they only pounce when they like someone to the point of madness..."

Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Yuan excitedly spun around: [It's lit up! It's ready!]

Well, she's destined to be a workaholic. Time to skip work!

After changing into casual clothes and taking the token that Shen Hegui had given her that allowed her to freely enter and leave the palace, Lu Wensheng led Xiao Yuan through the window to the entrance of the government office.

Xiao Yuan peeked out from her sleeve, looking at the layers upon layers of imperial guards outside: [Weren't we told not to go out?]

“Those are other people, I can’t be like them! Besides, I’m only responsible for preventing and catching cheaters, I don’t participate in drafting the exam questions!”

Xiao Yuan wasn't very bright, but he sensed something was wrong, yet he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Lu Wensheng cleared his throat, walked up to the Imperial Guards, and flashed his gleaming golden token: "I'm leaving!"

The heavily armored Imperial Guard general glanced at them briefly and refused outright: "My lord, please forgive me. There is an order from above that this time is different from the past. No matter who you are or what your position is, you are only allowed to enter and not leave, unless you have His Highness's decree or oral instruction."

Lu Wensheng was somewhat surprised. She pointed to the sign and said, "Look carefully, with this sign you can freely enter and exit the palace."

He then pointed to his face, "These days, His Highness the Crown Prince can't eat lunch unless he sees my handsome face! And those pastries yesterday afternoon, weren't they delicious? I asked His Highness for them too!"

She goes back and forth between the palace and the Ministry of Rites every day and hasn't been home to take a bath for over a week. Today, she absolutely has to go back and take care of her personal hygiene.

Besides, it was dirty, and she was too embarrassed to shamelessly climb into Chen Hegui's bed at night, let alone bite him against her conscience.

A warm breeze ruffled the stray hairs on Lu Wensheng's forehead. The general's gaze shifted downwards and landed on the token. A hint of difficulty flashed in his eyes, but he remained resolute: "This subordinate recognizes this token, but it really won't do!"

Lu Wensheng persisted: "I definitely won't do anything bad, please be lenient and let me out. I swear a solemn oath!"

"My lord, please don't make things difficult for me!" The general's tone carried a hint of pleading. Lord Lu was a favorite of His Highness, and the order also came from His Highness.

"Release Lu Wensheng."

Just as the stalemate was at hand, Shen He arrived on horseback.

Lu Wensheng asked in surprise, "Your Highness, what brings you here?"

After reviewing the mountain of memorials, it was decided not to prepare for war along the coast. At this hour, Shen Hegui unexpectedly appeared outside the palace.

"May Your Highness be well!" The imperial guards knelt down instantly.

Shen Hegui reached out his hand, his voice cold and clear: "Get on." After Lu Wensheng left, he found that he couldn't concentrate on reviewing the memorials. He also remembered that he had found out that sharing a ride could cultivate feelings, so he wanted to give it a try and take Lu Wensheng out for a drive to relax.

Looking at his well-defined knuckles, Lu Wensheng's emotions began to crumble once again.

She just wanted to go home and take a shower, but why was it so difficult? She couldn't possibly bring Shen Hegui home to take a shower with her!

Seeing that Lu Wensheng remained motionless for a long time, Chen Hegui lightly spurred his horse forward a few steps, urging it on silently.

The commotion outside reached inside, and the Minister of Rites led a group of officials rushing towards the door.

Lu Wensheng glanced back at the group of old men, his heart tightened, and he immediately realized that he couldn't worry about anything else. He hurriedly grabbed Shen Hegui's hand, "Quick, quick! Your Highness, take me away quickly! Once we're entangled, we won't be able to leave!"

The group of people Shen Hegui recently recruited were like new officials making a big splash in their new roles; they were incredibly dedicated, and once someone got involved, they wouldn't let her go until eight or nine o'clock at night.

"Okay!" Shen Hegui raised his hand to firmly support Lu Wensheng's waist, gently pulling him into his arms, and said in a gentle voice, "Sit tight."

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Author's Note: Spring is in the air, and the boss and his future wife skipped work together, driving a BMW [doge emoji]