"What are you having for dinner, brother?"

Murong Jin was still focused on her homework. She had already told everyone in the palace that the Prince's mansion had no hindrance to Di Junlan. Without turning her head, she stared at the contents of the table and said to him, "Just tell the kitchen what you want to eat."

"oh."

Di Junlan understood that Murong Jin planned to give him new homework, and the questions covered issues related to men, women, the elderly, and children; education; survival; making money; and even the problems of old age.

Last time, I listed some issues for him regarding the country's environmental problems, how to solve the harsh environment and help the people adapt... as well as other survival issues, and those related to the imperial examinations and the military...

What's emerging now is the question of how to keep the people in mind, and how to solve their problems of food, clothing, and education...

Emperor Junlan felt that Murong Jin cared more about the lives of the people than he, the emperor, did...

When Yi Yi entered, he saw their emperor sitting beside his master, his gaze fixed on his master, motionless...

Ever since His Majesty said he liked the master, they have all gotten used to His Majesty seeing the master that way.

Anyway, the master doesn't have those kinds of feelings for him, so His Majesty can only say that his efforts are in vain.

In the future, won't the ministers eventually petition him to expand his harem in preparation for the succession to the throne...?

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, dinner is ready."

Murong Jin put down her fine pen and said, "Hmm." Then she asked Yi Yi, "Has Qiao'er returned?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Junlan exclaimed, "Hmm? ???"

Has Ling Qiao'er returned?

What, is that girl living in the Prince's mansion?

Yi Yi: "On my way back."

Murong Jin turned her wheelchair around. "Then let's go sit down and wait for her."

Di Junlan stood up and immediately came to Murong Jin's side. "Brother, let me do it."

After pushing Murong Jin out of the study, Yi Yi followed behind them, shaking his head frantically.

What a terrible thing to do!

When will Yi Er come back? It's only when Yi Er is by the master's side that the master smiles more.

After all, when Master was young, he was just as carefree and unrestrained as Yi Er.

When Ling Qiao'er returned, she went to her room. When she came to the hall for dinner, she naturally saw that annoying guy.

"Brother." Her voice was sweet and cloying, then turned icy cold. "This humble woman greets Your Majesty."

Don't make the differential treatment too obvious.

Yi Yi: "..." He knew that Qiao'er disliked His Majesty, but he didn't expect that she would find His Majesty an eyesore even at the slightest glance...

Murong Jin naturally knew, "Busy today?"

Ling Qiao'er immediately sat down next to Murong Jin. "It's a bit busy, but business is pretty good. Many people come here because of its reputation."

"That's good, let's eat."

Ling Qiao'er was very obedient in front of Murong Jin, and her voice was sweet: "Okay." But when she accidentally glanced at Di Junlan opposite her, the smile on her face immediately disappeared, and she became expressionless.

Emperor Lan: "..."

That's a speed at which he can change his expression—it's like a master!

"By the way, brother, have the ministers been targeting you lately?"

Murong Jin ate a piece of meat and said, "It's alright."

"That's good. If anyone bullies you, tell me and I'll punish them."

Murong Jin stared at him with a half-smile.

Di Junlan felt a little guilty under his gaze.

He could suppress others, but he had to give some face to the veterans of three reigns. If he targeted them, it wouldn't just be the veterans targeting him, but also their accomplices...

Whether he gets the throne or not is irrelevant. He was able to sit in this position not only because someone advised him, but also because of some luck.

Moreover, his initial goal was to get this position so he could arrange for more people to find his "older sister." Later, he realized that this position not only offered no freedom but also involved backstabbing and infighting, keeping him incredibly busy and leaving him no time to inquire about his "older sister"...

After meeting Murong Jin, I realized what it means to be a monarch: to serve the country and its people, and to sacrifice oneself for others.

Who knew he'd be so lucky? After meeting Murong Jin and then Consort Yixuan, he learned that the little girl from before was actually Murong Jin, who had been taken to Consort Yixuan's palace to change into girl's clothes because her clothes were wet...

Thinking back to that time, Murong Jin had black hair and wore a light blue dress, but her hair was not styled like a girl's... it was tied up in a ponytail.

My gaze fell on the person eating. Elegant and poised, this person always gave off a calm and collected vibe, no matter what they did.

It was as if nothing in the world could attract his attention.

Just like what he said back then, when you stand on high ground and look down at all living beings, you realize that the world is nothing more than this.

Only the strong can have everything they want.

Murong Jin ignored the gaze, and then a piece of tender meat appeared in her bowl. She heard Di Junlan's voice, "Brother, eat this."

"Mmm." Then a piece of fish appeared in the bowl. "Brother Ajin, you can eat this too."

Murong Jin: "..."

Whenever these two are in her presence, they always inexplicably start arguing and fighting...

They do seem like a pair of bickering lovers.

Murong Jin no longer wanted to utter the word "helplessness."

Before Murong Jin could even get up after finishing her meal, someone came to report, "Master, something has happened at Jin Manor."

Jinzhuang is an estate under the name of Murong Jin.

"What happened?"

The old steward glanced at the two people beside him and said to Murong Jin, "Steward Zhao is dead."

Murong Jin's brows furrowed; Steward Zhao was dead.

"Go to Jinzhuang."

Old butler: "Yes."

Emperor Junlan looked at Murong Jin, who was pushing his wheelchair, and was about to reach out to push him when he heard Murong Jin's voice, "By the way, Your Majesty, I'm going out for a bit. You should rest first."

Emperor Junlan's hand froze in mid-air. "Can't I go with you?"

"A steward from Jinzhuang has done this before. I'll go check what's going on and come back in a bit."

Di Junlan looked at Murong Jin, whose brows and eyes showed some displeasure, and said, "Alright, then I'll wait for my brother at the palace."

There are some things he can't interfere with too much.

Murong Jin left the palace, and Ling Qiao'er naturally didn't follow. Looking at the somewhat lonely figure behind her, Ling Qiao'er opened her mouth, wanting to say that Di Junlan should stop bothering Murong Jin, but when she thought about how high this person's status was, if it weren't for Murong Jin, she might have been killed by this person several times over, so she could only say, "Your Majesty, please rest early."

...

On the carriage.

Yi Yi whispered something in Murong Jin's ear.

“Master, Steward Zhao knew Lin Hexi before, and they had a good relationship.”

Yi Yi's last words made Murong Jin pause for a moment.

"Manager Zhao once touched the evil eye."