Chapter 46 Chapter 46 We

Imperial City, King Hui’s Yuxing Palace.

When Lu Shenru arrived, Imperial Concubine Lu Huairu was already waiting for him.

"Are you really going to just let go of the Rongchang Marquis's Mansion?"

The imperial concubine sat on the brocade couch with her hands clasped in a handcuff made of snow rabbit fur. A charcoal was burned in the room, and she came over to ask.

Lu Shenru rubbed his hands in front of the charcoal mirror and snorted, "It seems that Miss Yang has found the queen here."

The imperial concubine on the couch did not deny it. "After all, the two families are in-laws. Miss Yang is my second brother's cousin, and the two who committed the crime are also my second brother's cousins. Even if my second brother is no longer alive, we still have to take him into consideration, so as not to embarrass my aunt."

When mentioning the deceased Master Lu, Lu Shenru was silent for a few breaths.

There was a very subtle sound of charcoal fire breaking coming from the charcoal jar. Seeing that his brother didn't say anything, Lu Huairu said another sentence.

"Lord Rongchang has made great military achievements outside the Great Wall. I have seen that the emperor seems to be quite hesitant these days. But when Dou Ge Lao and others saw that Shao Shi could not escape this time, they insisted on the matter of Lord Rongchang's mansion. I think the emperor is also in a difficult situation."

The two cases were intertwined, and the final result was that both sides suffered losses.

For the people, these two cases were truly major crimes that brought disaster to the country and the people, and heavy sentences were the most appropriate to rectify the court atmosphere and clean up the government. However, for the emperor, the two sides fought and both suffered heavy losses, which was also a loss for the emperor, and it was not necessarily a good thing.

Lu Shenru didn't want to interfere in this matter anymore, but when he heard the emperor's attitude, he thought about it.

"I can let the Dali Temple handle Shao Boju's case impartially, and let's just leave it alone, and not let anyone continue to implicate Shao Zun, the Shao family, and other members of Prince Yong's party. The rest is up to Lord Dou."

If he did not take the opportunity to suppress Prince Yong's party, if Lord Dou could see his intention, he would also let the Rongchang Earl's Mansion go, maybe he could leave a way out for the two men.

Both sides stopped their movements, and the emperor had a way out.

Seeing him say that, Lu Huairu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. She said, "I don't think Lord Dou wants to kill them all. After all, Lord Rongchang is at the border, so the Tatars dare not go south at will."

But Lu Shenru disagreed. "Your Majesty is kind-hearted, but don't think too much about this matter. If Lord Dou had been so kind and cared about the merits of us generals who have worked hard for the court, he would not have blindly supported Prince Yong and opposed us. We have long been at odds with them."

When mentioning King Yong, Lu Huairu pursed his lips and sighed softly.

When she first married the emperor, who was then the King of Yin, the child was only two or three years old, and his biological mother, Shao, died of illness shortly after giving birth to him.

The Queen, who was still the Princess of Yin at that time, did not care much about him and only handed him over to the care of a wet nurse, but the wet nurse actually lost him in the garden in the middle of winter.

After much thought, she told the emperor to take him to her side to raise him.

He was raised like this for many years, until the crown prince passed away. He became the King of Yong supported by the court officials. Shao's people surrounded him, and those civil officials who had been at odds with Lu and wanted to surrender that year also surrounded him.

He turned around and stood opposite her, no longer secretly calling her "Mother" like he did when they were young...

The sound of charcoal fire crackling came from the charcoal jar again. Lu Huairu held his face with his hands and looked out the window in a daze.

"Your Majesty, please don't think too much about it. Just let the past go and start a new chapter."

Lu Shenru's words caused Lu Huairu to look at him.

Let’s move on from the past and start a new chapter?

She wanted to ask her brother something, but he obviously didn't want to talk about it, so he spoke.

"If Dou Ge Lao and others insist on holding on, Your Majesty should not be too kind and go to the Emperor to plead for mercy. It will embarrass the Emperor and will not be a good thing."

The imperial concubine understood, and she said, "If we can't save him, we can only use this as a way to establish our authority."

She said that she should establish her authority and make these noble generals and military commanders behave their children properly, otherwise they would go out and do evil and no one would be able to save them if they got into trouble.

But Lu Huairu also said, "I'm afraid some people don't think so."

They did not think that Lu was establishing his authority. Instead, they believed that Lu's refusal to shield him was because he had new ministers and had forgotten his old party.

The imperial concubine thought about this and asked him, "Have you thought about using those officials of the Fu Party?"

Lu Shenru had no hesitation on this point.

"The people of the Fu Party are a little too aloof, but if they can be used in practical matters, they are much better than those under Lord Dou. Besides, we really lack these upright and capable officials in the court, and this is a perfect opportunity. As for the others..."

He smiled indifferently.

"Everyone knows how the Lu family treats people. No matter if they are new ministers or old party members, as long as they are loyal to King Hui and the Lu family, I, Lu Shenru, will not treat them unfairly. Otherwise, I will have to abandon them."

... ...

When Lu Shenru came out of the palace, he met Prince Hui who had just left the school. Perhaps he had heard that Lu Shenru had entered the palace, so he hurried to Yuxing Palace.

At this moment, when I saw him from afar, my steps quickened and I almost ran.

The man stopped immediately, and his eyes instantly showed love and pity.

"Your Highness, please don't run. You might fall. I won't leave."

Although he said this, the little prince still walked quickly to him.

Lu Shenru raised his hand and sent away all the eunuchs and palace maids who followed him. He lowered his head to look at his little nephew and listened to him talking with his head raised.

"My uncle hasn't been here for some days."

I have been very busy recently, traveling from Beijing to Baoding and then back from Baoding to deal with these two cases. It is also the end of the year, and people keep coming to my door one after another.

He helped the little prince straighten his clothes and noticed that his nephew had grown taller. After all, he was only eight years old and there was still a long way to go for him to become a prince who could command the support of everyone and take charge of things on his own.

He saw that he was holding a flute in his hand and then he remembered what he had promised him before.

"I was negligent. I promised Your Highness that I would learn the flute, but I didn't find the time."

He looked apologetic, but the little prince kept waving his hands at him.

He said that the imperial concubine had hired two gentlemen to teach him the flute and he was already learning. As he spoke, he blinked and looked at his uncle who was as tall as a mountain in front of him.

"Mother also said that my uncle has an aunt and a family, so he should go home more often whenever he has some free time."

This made Lu Shenru laugh, but Prince Hui suddenly thought of something and asked a palace servant to bring something from his bedroom.

After the things were brought, they were handed over to Lu Shenru.

The item was in a small box made of wenge wood. Lu Shenru wanted to open it, but Prince Hui said, "This is from me for my aunt. Please take it back and let my aunt open it."

The man was startled, his eyes became softer, "Okay."

... ...

When Du Lingjing came back from Guilin Tower, she saw an exquisite little box made of chicken-wing wood on the desk. She couldn't help but ask the two maids Yingbi and Xiangyi who came in to help her change clothes.

"Did the Marquis have someone bring this here?"

He had people send some things to her almost every day. Qiulin would report them to her one by one at first, but there were so many things that Qiulin and her friends would just put the things away for her. Sometimes she would not realize that she had bought new things until she remembered to use them.

However, there are not many of them placed on the desk.

She asked, but it was not the two maids who answered.

The man walked in from outside and said, "His Royal Highness Prince Hui asked me to give it to my wife."

Du Lingjing was startled and wiped her hands before picking up the wenge box.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I don't know either."

She was even more surprised. Was there something he didn't know?

The man looked at her surprised eyes and said helplessly, "Madam, do you think your husband knows everything about the world?"

He added, "If my lady insists that I know everything, I will do my best."

Du Lingjing didn't say anything, but he added a lot of drama to himself.

She couldn't help but pursed her lips and wanted to smile. She ignored him and opened the box.

But there is a wooden box inside the box, which is even more exquisite and has a bit of Western style.

Du Lingjing opened it again, and just slightly, music came out from inside the wooden box, and the finely carved objects began to move.

"What is this?"

Du Lingjing had never seen it, but she didn't expect that her husband actually knew it.

"A music box? I heard that some missionaries returned from the West and presented many Western treasures to the emperor. I think Your Highness got this item and gave it to you, my lady."

The music was a tune I had never heard before, but it was very pleasant to the ear, especially when the sound box was brought close to my ear.

She said, "Loud and beautiful."

But these words made the marquis next to him stunned for a moment.

Du Lingjing thought of something and asked him, "Your Highness has given me this wonderful thing. Should I go to the palace to express my gratitude?"

The man came back to his senses and said that it was not necessary. "It's just a small item. If you are interested, you can prepare one for him some other day."

He paused, "Your Highness likes these little gadgets that make sounds and move."

Du Lingjing pondered, "Does it sound like movement? When I was young, my father's old friend from Ju County gave me a set of flower bells made of seashells. They were colorful and sounded like the wind from afar, but the sound of waves when you listen closely can be heard. It lingers for a long time."

She had kept it in Mianlou, and she asked him, "Is it appropriate to give this to His Highness?"

If it is suitable, she will have someone get it from Qingzhou.

Unexpectedly, the man kept watching her.

Lu Shenru knew what she was talking about.

She really liked the set of flower bells made of seashells. When it was windy in summer, she would hang them under the window to listen to the wind and the sea.

He looked into her eyes, thinking that the thing was hers for many years and she loved it so much, so he should not give it away and could just find another one.

But if he said this, she would be scared.

He could only say, "Since Lingling has been the bridesmaid for many years, forget it. It's the same if you look for another one."

But she smiled and said, "What does it matter? It's what I loved to listen to when I was young, and I think it's just right for your age."

She really wanted to give the seashell bell to His Highness, and His Highness secretly prepared this music box for her as a gift.

Lu Shenru's heart softened again and again.

He seemed to have really taken her home...

He said nothing, and just looked into her eyes.

Du Lingjing didn't know whether the bell was acceptable as a return gift or not, but she heard him ask the question inexplicably.

"How do you want to celebrate the New Year?"

Du Lingjing was stunned, "How else can we celebrate the New Year?"

He lowered his head and laughed, then reached out for her and pulled her into his arms.

Yingbi, Xiangyi and Qiulin, who was about to come in, all retreated in a hurry.

They retreated quickly, Du Lingjing's face became a little hot, and she was surrounded by this man again, and heard him say.

"This is the first year you spend the New Year with me in the Marquis' Mansion."

This year is indeed different from previous years. If she were to go back to this day last year, how could she have imagined that she would be here at this moment?

She was in a trance for a moment, and just as her thoughts were drifting away, he suddenly spoke again.

"I just wanted to ask Quanquan how he would spend the New Year. I didn't want you to think about anything else."

He could even guess what her thoughts were about?

She couldn't help but ask him how he could always guess what she was thinking.

Unexpectedly, he said again, "Don't ask me."

Du Lingjing: "..."

Is he the weirdest guy in the world?

Anyway, she couldn't understand his thoughts, so she might as well leave.

Today, he brought back several books from Guilin Tower. But before she could get out of his arms, he carried her to the desk.

He lowered his head and gently kissed her lips.

At first it was gentle like water, then the waves surged like an army approaching the city. In a moment, her breathing became rapid.

The room was already quite hot, and the snow on the eaves had melted long ago, dripping onto the banana leaves.

His attack became more and more fierce, and his hands quietly grasped her slender waist.

Du Lingjing's body froze. He pressed his lips against hers and asked hoarsely, "What's wrong?"

The nanny had just come to light incense the day before yesterday, and today he wants to...

"My period has come." She whispered.

This time it was the man's turn to be slightly startled. He pecked the corner of her lips again before moving away from her.

His eyes fell on her lower abdomen.

Not pregnant?

But that's okay.

They had been married for less than half a year.

In fact, he couldn't imagine that she would give him a child...

No, it's his and her child.

It's like a dream.

He placed his palm on her lower abdomen, and the heat from his palm came through her thin shirt.

"Does your period hurt?"

Du Lingjing heard him ask.

The heat from his palms came through the thin shirt, making her feel warm and comfortable in her stomach, but there was an unspeakable meaning in his actions with her.

Du Ling quietly thought about the pills he had to take after each action, and his eyelids drooped slightly.

She shook her head and said it didn't hurt, but she didn't want to talk about it anymore.

Unexpectedly, he spoke for her.

He chuckled.

"Don't worry, there's still a long way to go."

*

Although it was cold in December, the meeting room in the outer courtyard of the Yongding Marquis' Mansion was bustling with activity.

Lu Shenru wanted to support Lord Hong, who was in the opposition party, and restore him to the position of the third-rank assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

Feng Xiang's father had been an official in Nanjing for ten years and it was time for him to return to the capital. He had already arranged a position for him as the Minister of the Ministry of Public Security.

There is also Feng Xiang's uncle, the second son of old Master Feng, who used to follow Du's new policies the most. Lu Shenru appointed him as the chief priest of the Imperial College, and only waited for the original chief priest to retire and return home half a year later, and then let Feng take over. It seems that he is a fourth-rank official, but he affects the officials in the court in the future.

Shao Bo used this case to pull out most of the members of the Fu Party. Many of them had been excluded for many years and were at odds with Dou Ge Lao and others. Originally, they would rather be excluded or resign and return home than have anything to do with the Lu family.

Firstly, he did not want to get involved in the fight for the crown prince, and secondly, he did not dare to trust Marquis Lu, who came from a noble family.

But this time it was different. Marquis Lu became the son-in-law of the late Lord Du, and he would rather sacrifice the Rongchang Earl's Mansion and save the people of the Fu Party.

Some members of the Fu Party even took the initiative to express their intention to surrender.

The staff of the Marquis' Mansion discussed that when the officials were reorganized in the spring of next year, all these dissidents would be employed.

Everyone was discussing the matter heatedly, but one person's position could not be decided.

"Mr. Liao Xuliao is a man of talent. This time, the Marquis has saved him. If we can make him important to us, he may be able to compete with Lord Dou in the future."

When someone mentioned this, someone said, "But Mr. Liao was beaten by the Marquis in the past. Even if he saved his life, he still supported Prince Yong to enter the East Palace instead of Prince Hui. How can we reuse him?"

Another person thought that this was not important. "He has been teaching in Baoding for many years. This time he was able to return to the court, all thanks to the Marquis. I think the Marquis should just use him and let him choose his own master."

This person also said that there are indeed some people in the Fu Party who are more inclined to support Prince Yong. "The Marquis married a lady and saved people, so it is legitimate to use them. This is the current court. They should also think clearly about who to side with."

What he meant was that the Marquis should be decisive and resolute in employing people.

Everyone expressed their opinions and looked at the man at the top, waiting for his final decision.

But Lu Shenru just raised his forehead and looked outside the hall without saying anything for a while.

*

However, when Du Lingjing went to visit Hu Tinglan again, she happened to meet Mr. Liao.

She walked up to Mr. Liao and was about to ask him how he was doing, but Mr. Liao said he had something to do and turned to leave.

Du Lingjing felt something was not right and called him again, "Where are you going, sir? I heard that your previous house in Beijing had been sold a long time ago. If you are not satisfied with the current residence, you can move to Chengqingfang."

When he was with his father, he also lived in Chengqingfang.

But Mr. Liao waved his hand and said, "Jingniang, don't worry about me. I have something else to do and I'm leaving first."

He left after he finished speaking. Du Lingjing felt strange and turned to see Hu Tinglan and asked, "Sir, what's wrong?"

Hu Tinglan glanced at her.

Mr. Liao had just mentioned to him that an aide from the Marquis's Mansion had come to them and mentioned that the Marquis intended to use him.

But Mr. Liao is a man of upright character. He still believes that Prince Yong is older and the emperor's health may not last for many more years, so Prince Yong is a more suitable choice for the crown prince than Prince Hui.

But once he is used by Marquis Lu, he will inevitably fight for the interests of the Marquis, which will be contrary to his own opinion.

The master was in a dilemma, and was afraid that Jingniang would be caught between him and the Marquis, so he simply stopped talking.

But Jingniang seemed unaware of it.

Hu Tinglan didn't say much, so he just said that the gentleman was indeed busy and covered up the matter.

No one said much, except Du Ling.

*

A few days later, the twelfth lunar month was almost over and the New Year was approaching. The entire mansion became busy.

Du Lingjing didn't know how the marquis would celebrate the New Year. It seemed that the Soseki Pavilion Night Banquet was no longer enough for him.

She just waited quietly to see what he would do.

However, when he came back, he learned that arrangements for this year's palace banquet had been made and it would be held the day before New Year's Eve.

As the wife of Marquis Lu, Du Lingjing must attend this palace banquet.

But he reminded her, “The old ladies and wives of each family will be there by then.”

He said that the wife of the Prince of Weiguo and the eldest daughter of the Yang family would also go.

After the new year, the emperor will sentence the two young masters of the Yang family, and she is extremely anxious.

He said to his wife, "If she comes to you, ignore her. Don't listen to what she says. I have my opinion on this matter, just ignore her."

The last time Miss Yang met her in her carriage, she seemed to have no intention of having anything to do with her.

Will Miss Yang come to see her specifically for this palace banquet?

What else could she say? He wouldn't let her hear it.