Obviously, he can't.

She can't either.

Lu Xingjian was getting a little impatient: "How will you know it can't be done if you don't try?"

When it comes to matters of life and death, how could he so casually say "let's give it a try"?

Su Wanwan's tone was somewhat cold: "You can go and try it with someone else."

"My child is not someone to be tested."

Lu Xingjian's face immediately turned cold. He narrowed his eyes slightly, stared at her expressionlessly for a while, and finally said coldly:

"Okay, you said it."

Su Wanwan looked at him, wondering what had gotten into him tonight.

Just two days ago we seemed very close, exchanging sweet nothings, but tonight she seems completely unreasonable to me.

"Yes, I said it. Don't worry, I will fulfill my duties as Empress."

Su Wanwan said calmly, "I don't plan to have children myself. No matter who you have the child with, you can raise it under my name as my legitimate child."

Lu Xingjian's face turned ugly, and he coldly uttered two words:

"what ever."

Get out of bed and leave.

Su Wanwan watched his figure disappear outside the door, then simply took off her torn undergarment, changed into a new one, and went back to sleep.

But he couldn't fall asleep anymore and stayed awake until dawn.

The undergarment she was wearing just now was the same style she had seen at the Jinxiu Pavilion in Nanjing.

The hazy, semi-transparent black material, the delicate and intricate lace, and the bold and sexy cut made her fall in love at first sight.

Unfortunately, she was a widow at that time.

If she were to make a garment like that, she would surely be ridiculed for being promiscuous and dissolute.

She and Lu Xingjian have been getting along well lately.

She specially had a set of these undergarments made to cheer him up.

To my utter surprise, before he could even admire it, the clothes were already torn.

The two even had a falling out.

That's fine too.

From now on, she won't have to be foolish and waste her time trying to please him.

For the next two days, Lu Xingjian remained missing.

Su Wanwan felt that living alone in Xiaoyuan was not a long-term solution.

She was, after all, the Empress, so what was the meaning of her living alone in Xiaoyuan?

In the past, only deposed empresses lived in the West Garden.

In any case, she had to go back to Kunning Palace and maintain the dignity of the Empress.

Since Lu Xingjian isn't coming back, she might as well go back to Kunning Palace.

This time, however, she will personally select the palace servants for Kunning Palace, unlike before when they were filled with spies and leaked like a sieve.

Even what she said to Madam Yu and what gifts she received could be known by others.

According to custom, the Empress's palace should be staffed with twelve eunuchs and ten palace maids.

Apart from He Ying, whom she brought into the palace, she discarded all the palace servants from Kunning Palace.

She selected clever and reliable eunuchs from the inner study, even if they were a little young.

The Inner Study Hall was a palace institution established during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. It was specifically designed to select talented young eunuchs and have them taught to read and write by the Hanlin Academy.

It should be said that most of the eunuchs who were highly valued in the palace came from the Inner Study Hall, and many of them became the emperor's trusted right-hand men.

It was also an important tool used by the emperor to control his civil and military officials.

The Inner Study Hall was under the supervision of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Liu Jin didn't pay much attention when he heard that the Empress had selected several twelve- or thirteen-year-old eunuchs from the Inner Study.

The eunuchs who were allowed to study in the Inner Study Hall were all selected from the best of the best, intelligent, and of excellent character.

But they're just kids who don't know any better, so what use are they?

It can only be said that the Empress was "once bitten by a snake, twice shy".

After narrowly escaping death, I became much more timid and only dared to hire children.

As for the palace maids, Su Wanwan selected only twelve or thirteen-year-old girls. They weren't necessarily clever, but they were all dull and honest.

Just as Su Wanwan settled into Kunning Palace, someone from Renshou Palace came to invite her over.

This time, Madam Wang returned to her usual kind and gentle demeanor, warmly inviting Su Wanwan to sit down.

"The Empress looks much better than she did a while ago," Lady Wang said with a smile.

Su Wanwan, unaware of her true intentions, steered the conversation towards Yanruo:

"Where is Yanruo?"

Lady Wang sighed: "The Emperor is at Yongshou Palace today, hosting a banquet and having singing and dancing performances."

"I was afraid that Ma Ji wouldn't be able to handle it, so I sent Yan Ruo to help out."

After saying that, Wang's gaze fell on Su Wanwan's face, trying to find some clues.

These days, the Emperor and Empress are staying in Xiaoyuan Garden in the West Garden. Wang Shi is too far away to be of any use and is completely unaware of the situation there.

Su Wanwan smiled and said, "Wouldn't Grandmother be all lonely here?"

Wang smiled meaningfully: "It is a bit lonely. The Empress should come and talk to me more often."

If the emperor and empress have a very good relationship, how could Yanruo possibly have any chance?

Now that the emperor has gone to Yongshou Palace, it's likely that he's finally tired of Su Wanwan and wants to try something new.

No matter how capable Maggie is, she's still just an uncultured wild girl.

How can anyone compare to Yanruo?

If Yanruo just spends more time in front of the emperor, gaining his favor is only a matter of time.

Su Wanwan paused.

Oh.

It turns out he really intended to find another woman to have his child.

They even said they wouldn't involve others in their own disputes.

They're all just empty lies and deception.

Of course, she wouldn't compromise with him.

Giving birth is a life-threatening experience for women.

In this imperial palace where even a sip of tea or a bite of food cannot be taken lightly, she would never be foolish enough to risk her life to give birth.

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