However.

This move caused an uproar in the imperial court.

Ma Zhongxi's reputation is too great.

He was a leading figure in the opposition to Liu Jin's tyranny and was hailed by scholars as a representative of integrity.

Currently, Li Dongqian, who flatters Liu Jin, enjoys high official rank and generous salary, while Ma Zhongxi, a leading figure in opposing Liu Jin, has been imprisoned.

Scholars value integrity above all else; how could they accept this outcome?

"With the victory of the surrender of the Ma Dutang bandits in sight, and a great calamity about to be averted, the bandits have not only not been wiped out, but have also fled to Shandong to commit evil deeds again. Who should bear the responsibility for this?"

"The Grand Secretary is clearly a remnant of Liu Jin's faction, persecuting loyal officials!"

There was even a student from the Imperial College who wrote a poem at Li Dongqian's doorstep under the cover of darkness:

"His talent and fame should be on par with Dou Shan, yet he served as a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat until the sun set. Looking back, the Xiang River is already green with spring, and the partridge's cry has ceased, only the cuckoo's cry remains."

Scholars can insult others without using vulgar language.

Because the partridge's cry sounds like "I cannot go any further, I might as well go home."

Li Dongqian's protégés were not to be trifled with either; they used a tactic of shifting the blame to Yang Yiqing.

“Back then, Grand Secretary Yang said that Ma Zhongxi was a scholar and could not be competent.”

"It was Minister of Personnel Yang Yiqing who insisted on the recommendation. In terms of responsibility, Yang Yiqing bears greater responsibility for the recommendation and should be punished the same as Ma Zhongxi!"

"Yang Yiqing has only been promoted because he is related to the Empress by marriage. In terms of ability, how can he be qualified to be the Minister of Personnel?"

While the court was in an uproar, another urgent military report arrived.

The bandits attacked Jining Prefecture but failed to capture it, and burned 1,218 grain transport ships.

Large numbers of refugees from Shandong, Beizhili, and Henan fled to the capital due to the constant harassment by bandits.

Many bandits were mixed in with the refugees, and chaos broke out in the capital.

On the Emperor's birthday, Lu Xingjian went to the Fengtian Hall to greet the civil and military officials and envoys from all over the world. He had no interest in holding a birthday banquet for the officials and returned to the inner palace early after the ceremony.

Su Wanwan is not here.

Kunning Palace was deserted and quiet.

Both Yan Ge'er and Yan Ge'er are here.

"Where did the Empress go?" Lu Xingjian's heart sank slightly.

The palace servant replied, "The Empress left the palace without saying where she was going."

Lu Xingjian's face turned cold. "Nonsense."

Now, bandits are rampant in the capital, and Qian Ning is busy arresting people everywhere with the Imperial Guards.

What if she encounters danger again after leaving the palace?

Yan Ge'er and Yan Ge'er hadn't seen their mother for a while, and they looked at Lu Xingjian with longing eyes, "Can we go see our mother?"

Anyway, they just came back from outside the palace. I should have known better than to rush back.

Lu Xingjian was silent for a few moments: "Send someone to the Su family to check."

Su Wanwan left without saying goodbye on his birthday; she must have had her reasons.

It seems that the news he had kept hidden for several days eventually reached her ears.

The palace servant quickly reported, "Her Majesty the Empress is at the Su residence, and she has brought the imperial physician with her."

Lu Xingjian took Yan Ge'er and Yan Ge'er to the Su family.

...

Su Wanwan's eyes were red and swollen from crying.

The person on the bed was wrapped in bandages all over, even their head was completely covered.

The crimson blood seeped through the bandages, a shocking sight.

She was extremely familiar with the hands that were outside the blanket, with their distinct knuckles and burning hot.

This hand once pulled her out of the icy, bone-chilling river.

She once held her newborn child, frantically changing diapers.

I also used to pull her onto the ice sled and let her play on the ice.

He was there for all those easy and mundane days.

Su Wanwan slowly pried his fingers apart and buried her face in his palm.

Tears wet the man's palms.

The man's fingertips twitched slightly.

"Xiao Bin, Xiao Bin!"

Su Wanwan quickly looked up and called out urgently.

The person still did not wake up.

The imperial physician's words echoed repeatedly in Su Wanwan's ears like rolling thunder.

"The injury is too severe; all we can do is try our best and leave the rest to fate."

"The arrow entered through the face and exited through the ear. The head injury was the most serious, followed by the knife wounds on the body."

"If relatives are nearby and calling out to them, it might ignite their will to live, and there might be a glimmer of hope."

Su Wanwan was overcome with grief, her heart felt like it was being torn apart.

Where do he have any relatives left?

He was orphaned and never married or had children.

She could have married him, but she gave it up herself.

"Xiao Bin, please don't die, please don't die!"

She owed him a debt she could never repay in this lifetime.

If he dies like this, how will she live a peaceful life for the rest of her days?

"Xiao Bin, what I say, you can do it all, can't you?"

"I beg you, don't abandon me, don't leave me..."

Su Wanwan cried hysterically.

In her heart, Xiao Bin had long been her family.

He was the person she trusted most.

There is no other.

There were three figures standing at the doorway: one adult and two children.

It looked like a mannequin, completely still.

Su Wanwan's crying was like a thunderclap, exploding in their ears.

Yan Ge'er glanced at Yan Ge'er.

Seeing Yan Ge'er's pale face, he felt a little smug.

He was always very jealous of Yan Ge'er.

You can receive more love from your mother.

He knew that he was not his mother's biological son, but was adopted.

So when the teacher praised Yan Ge'er for writing better than him, he burst into tears on the spot.

He had no other qualities that surpassed Yan Ge'er's.

She would never receive her mother's praise again.

Yan-ge has so much, can't we even give him this little compliment?

Mr. Yang spoke to him privately for a long time, telling him that he should be grateful, not jealous.

But he just couldn't help being jealous.

Now it's all right.

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