After Lu Huan returned to the manor, he heard that Su Qingci was almost injured by an eagle. He was extremely anxious and immediately pulled her arm over and examined it carefully.

Su Qingci smiled slightly, gently pulled his hand back, and said, "Don't worry, I'm fine. Fortunately, Zitan blocked it for me today."

Lu Huan finally breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."

"By the way, I heard that you met people from Fengyuan today?"

Su Qingci nodded and said, "Yes, I always feel that the man is a little weird and doesn't seem like a good person."

"Recently, quite a few people from Fengyuan have come to Shangjing City. It's best for you to stay at the manor and avoid going out as much as possible to avoid dangers like today."

Su Qingci nodded obediently, but she felt a little confused and asked, "Why did the people of Fengyuan come to the capital?"

"I heard it's related to a small town on our border called Puzhou."

"The governor of Puzhou took advantage of the remote location of Puzhou and the emperor's incompetence, extravagance and debauchery, and his indifference to Puzhou, so he became more and more unscrupulous.

Originally, there was frequent trade between the two countries on the border. Merchants from Fengyuan would take the animal furs, precious snail ink, unique spices and other items they hunted to the market to sell in exchange for silks and satins from the Central Plains, women's exquisite jewelry, fresh fruits or money.

However, the governor of Puzhou deliberately lowered the exchange rate between the two countries, resulting in their hard-earned money being exchanged for only a meager amount.

Furthermore, the governor allowed his men to burn, kill, and loot, wantonly oppressing the people of Fengyuan State, causing chaos in the border area. Economic disputes between the two countries continued, and the people's lives were miserable.

Su Qingci asked angrily, "Is there no one to take care of it?"

"Most of the people they oppressed were passing merchants. Most of the people of Fengyuan lived in tribal settlements, in felt tents, and had to migrate every summer and winter.

These businessmen were the only ones who wandered around the area, making their homes everywhere. Therefore, at the beginning, not many Fengyuan people knew about this matter.

"Later, the governor of Puzhou allowed his men to burn, kill, and loot. They even stopped doing exchange business with the merchants and instead focused on robbing their supplies and property. From then on... the situation escalated."

"I heard that the governor of Puzhou was killed by a prince of Fengyuan State. The emperor also heard about this, but he never asked about it."

"Perhaps the reason why the people of Fengyuan came to the capital this time is because of this matter."

Lu Huan held her in his arms and sighed, "In short, those Fengyuan people don't have a good impression of us Nanchang people. Don't go out unless you have something to do in the future, so as not to be targeted by them."

Su Qingci nestled in Lu Huan's arms and listened to him talk about these things. Her mind couldn't stop thinking of that man's eyes, a look of disdain, filled with the word "plunder".

If Lu Huan had not said in person that it was the Puzhou governor who first harassed the people of Fengyuan, Su Qingci would have mistakenly believed that the people of Nanchang were the ones being oppressed.

"I understand." Su Qingci said.

…

"By the way, when I came in just now, I saw several large vats filled with lotus flowers and lotus seeds."

"Did the Madam buy it?"

Su Qingci: "Yes, this is probably the last wave of lotus viewing season. We won't be able to see them anymore in a while, so I thought, while they can still bloom for a while, I should buy some back... to add some color."

Lu Huan raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and raised his eyebrows in a smile: "That's all?"

"Of course not only that." Su Qingci's voice was slightly lower. "I also plan to use lotus seeds to make lotus porridge and lotus cake! Boiling porridge is good for the body and is the most nourishing."

"Oh...I see, I thought so."

Su Qingci's face instantly became hot, and she shyly scolded: "What do you think?"

"I thought Madam wanted to get pregnant for me as soon as possible." Lu Huan raised a wicked smile.

Su Qingci muttered with a hint of pouting: "No."

Lu Huan smiled and said, "Okay, if it's not true, then it's not true." After that, he reached out to unbutton her lapel.

…

The next day, Lu Huan, who had just finished court, hurried out of the palace, but unexpectedly met Pei Ji who came to look for him.

Pei Ji came forward with a broad smile and said enthusiastically, "Ziyi, I heard there's a new restaurant opened in the city recently. They have some amazing food. Would you like to go and enjoy some delicious food?"

In fact, Lu Huan had no such intention. After all, Su Qingci was at home looking forward to his return.

"Ziyi, we haven't been together for a long time since you got married. Today... are you still going to refuse?"

Although Lu Huan and Pei Ji are on good terms on the surface, he knows in his heart that Pei Ji is a hypocrite with sweet words but a sharp tongue.

Although it was difficult to refuse, he wanted to know what Pei Ji was thinking when he invited him to the banquet, so he finally agreed to go with him.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Lu Huan was surprised to find that besides himself and Pei Ji, there were already quite a few people sitting at the table.

He turned his head to look at Pei Ji, who was chatting with other bureaucrats, feeling a little dissatisfied.

Pei Ji only invited him to dine at the restaurant, but did not mention that there were other people present.

Among these people, the civil officials look elegant and the military generals look majestic, but they are not good people.

Seeing Lu Huan coming, one of them said in a strange voice: "Wow, even General Lu is here today, what a rare guest."

Lu Huan has never been keen on large gatherings, so he rarely shows up. If he can refuse, he will do so. If he can't, he will sit alone in a corner and drink by himself.

At such banquets, most people present had ill intentions and impure motives, so Lu Huan did not take his sarcasm to heart.

He ignored it and walked straight to an empty seat and sat down.

As soon as Lu Huan sat down, a prostitute came over gracefully.

This prostitute was born beautiful and charming, with a graceful figure. Many of her colleagues present were eyeing her beauty, but she just went towards Lu Huan.

She opened her red lips slightly and whispered softly, "Sir, I offer you a toast."

After saying that, he picked up the wine glass and handed it to Lu Huan.

Lu Huan frowned slightly and did not take her drink.

Pei Ji beside him raised his hand to toast him with a glass of wine and said with a smile: "Zi Yi, it's okay, just enjoy yourself today."

Lu Huan completely ignored the prostitute's expression, poured himself a glass of wine, nodded to Pei Ji, and drank it all in one gulp.

"We're already at the restaurant drinking, why are you still pretending?" An official said sarcastically as he looked at Lu Huan's behavior.

All the officials who came here to drink were there for the prostitutes, but Lu Huan insisted on pretending to be honest and incorruptible and not interested in women.

"Hey...Master Ji, you can't say that."

"Just be clear in your mind," someone present reminded him. The official snorted and fell silent.

After several rounds of wine and five dishes, everyone's eyes and thoughts shifted to the prostitutes serving them.