This sweet taste is so enviable, even the old eunuch was green with envy.

Su Wanwan's body immediately tensed up.

Lu Xingjian replied calmly, "No need. Things are still unsettled in the palace; it's safer here."

The issues of "ominous signs" and "disaster stars" remain unresolved.

If Su Wanwan were to appear in the palace, she would easily become a target again.

This is also why he deliberately didn't bring Su Wanwan back to the city with him.

Firstly, I was afraid that something unexpected might happen on the way and affect her.

Secondly, she was worried that Empress Dowager Zhang would turn against her again, and she wouldn't be able to defend herself.

After Su Wanwan finished taking her medicine, Lu Xingjian handed her mouthwash and carefully wiped the medicine from her lips with a handkerchief.

He Ying stood aside, sighing to herself.

When the emperor takes care of someone seriously, he's just as attentive as her personal maid.

Chief Eunuch Li glanced at the sky and softly reminded the emperor, "Your Majesty, it's time to return to the palace."

Lu Xingjian looked at Su Wanwan and ruffled her slightly messy hair. "Is there anything else you want to ask?"

After thinking for a moment, Su Wanwan asked, "How are my guards doing now?"

Lu Xingjian's expression was somewhat ambiguous. "I thought you would ask Prince Rong first."

"Your Majesty is wise and will naturally make a decision. This humble woman dares not presume to speak." Su Wanwan smiled faintly.

Even in that critical situation, he didn't kill Prince Rong. Now that the situation is settled, it's even less likely that he would kill him.

What he should be considering is how to make the most of Prince Rong and maximize his own interests.

Lu Xingjian's lips curved slightly, his tone gentle: "Then guess how I will decide?"

Steward Li lowered his eyes but listened intently.

There has been a great deal of controversy recently regarding how to deal with Prince Rong.

Those who supported the monarchy, especially the ministers who had made contributions that night outside the city, all suggested that Prince Rong be severely punished and that he be accused of treason.

Thus, the royalists' contributions would naturally be even more outstanding.

However, the new emperor has only been on the throne for two years when his uncle rebelled, which may lead to turmoil in the court and the possibility that regional princes may take the opportunity to cause chaos.

This is really not conducive to overall stability.

That's why, to this day, there's still no definitive answer to this matter.

Instead of answering directly, Su Wanwan asked, "Does Your Majesty still remember Li Guang?"

Lu Xingjian fell silent instinctively.

The fire at Qingning Palace that year was a result of the extreme conflict between the late Emperor's Empress Zhang and the Grand Empress Dowager Zhou, a situation that was irreconcilable.

However.

In the end, Zhou only let the matter go lightly.

All the blame was placed on the eunuch Li Guang.

The late emperor and Empress Zhang were merely stripped of their power; their noble status remained unchanged.

The officials in the imperial court and the princes in various regions also quickly ceased their activities.

A wave of change vanished without a trace.

The list of bribe-givers found in Li Guang's home included many civil and military officials.

The final list was burned and no further action was taken.

To be honest, this kind of sentimental approach is not in line with his usual style.

However, he could understand Zhou's choice.

If things had completely broken down back then, and the late emperor had abdicated or passed away, would the situation have been better?

The elderly Empress Dowager and the still young Crown Prince.

This will likely embolden even more ambitious individuals.

Putting aside others, Zhou's youngest son, Prince Jian, kept submitting memorials requesting to go to the capital to serve his elderly mother.

When the time comes, will the Zhou family forcefully support their youngest son to ascend the throne, or will they support the young crown prince?

This turn of events forced Lu Xingjian to step out of the Zhou family's protective umbrella and learn to face a complex and dangerous situation on his own.

Therefore, he still harbors deep hatred for Li Guang to this day.

If it weren't for that fire, his life might not have been so difficult.

Su Wanwan couldn't see his expression and didn't know what he was thinking, so she didn't say anything more.

There was a moment of silence in the air.

Lu Xingjian found her cautious demeanor somewhat amusing, and with a smile, he leaned close to her ear and whispered:

"We agreed that you would decide."

The posture and tone were really ambiguous, especially in front of Steward Li and He Ying, making Su Wanwan feel very embarrassed.

"I don't have any thoughts."

She's not that stupid to give the impression of "meddling in politics."

Lu Xingjian's hot breath brushed against her ear, "Are you sure?"

His lips parted and closed, gently touching her earlobe, an inappropriate intimacy.

Perhaps because she was blind, Su Wanwan's sense of touch was unusually acute. Her body froze instantly, and her face turned bright red.

Images flashed through her mind: him panting, holding her hand tightly, coaxing her in her ear:

"Are you sure you really don't want it?"

Lu Xingjian noticed her embarrassment, and his mood improved involuntarily.

After a moment's hesitation, he finally said:

"Your guards have done a great job this time. They destroyed both cannons and even shot the assassin with a perfect aim. They are quite skilled."

"I intend to bestow upon them an official position or a minor post."

Su Wanwan's brow twitched, and the corners of her lips involuntarily curled upwards.

But she simply obediently said, "Mmm."

Lu Xingjian looked at her and made another decision: "There are a few who are still injured. Let them go back to the Su family to recuperate?"

Su Wanwan turned to He Ying and said, "Go and ask if there's enough housing at home to accommodate us?"

These words greatly pleased Lu Xingjian.

She didn't even mention Xiao Bin's name.

I don't know if it was intentional or if they genuinely didn't care that much.

So when Heying said the back room was still empty, he stood up generously and said, "Then it's settled."

A flustered young eunuch appeared outside the door, peeking in anxiously.

Steward Li went out first, scolding, "What kind of behavior is this, clumsy and sloppy? What's the rush?"

The eunuch lowered his voice deliberately: "Her Majesty the Empress has fallen ill and requests Your Majesty to come and see her... saying there is great joy ahead."

His words were clearly heard by everyone in the room.

The air instantly turned cold.

Like a thousand-year-old ice, it is icy cold to the bone.

Su Wanwan's breath caught in her throat, her body tensed, her face turned pale, and she shrank back.

The smile on Lu Xingjian's face also vanished completely.

His brows and eyes were filled with frost, his thin, pale lips were tightly pursed, and his dark eyes were as cold and deep as a still well.

He clenched his fists tightly at his sides, wanting to lift them up to touch Su Wanwan's hair, but the old wounds inside his body were aggravated, and pain came from his chest.

Finally, the hand fell limply back down, the veins on the back of the hand bulging out one by one.

He glanced at Su Wanwan, his jawline taut, remained silent for a long time, and then whispered, "I'm leaving."

These three simple words convey a subtle sense of oppression.

Upon hearing those three incredibly familiar words, Su Wanwan instantly calmed down.

She gave a stiff smile, and bowed politely yet distantly, saying, "Take care, and don't bother seeing me off."

Lu Xingjian frowned, said nothing more, and left directly.

He Ying helped Su Wanwan lie down and asked in confusion, "The Empress is ill, yet there's such a joyous occasion? How strange."

Su Wanwan curled up into a ball, her face looking extremely pale.