Chapter 57
The peace locket was thrown on the ground but did not break.
The teacup fell to the ground, and the tea spilled onto the table, soaking the rice paper that had just been written on. Some of the tea flowed to the edge of the table and fell drop by drop.
Lu Ling was pushed against the table by Nan Rongjing, with her hands restrained by him. The man slowly approached Lu Ling and kissed her.
Lu Ling wanted to struggle free, but found that Nan Rongjing was very strong and he couldn't get free, so Lu Ling soon gave up.
Nan Rongjing kissed her seriously, and his tongue tried to pry open Lu Ling's teeth, but Lu Ling didn't want to cooperate with her and kept his lips tightly pursed.
Seeing that Lu Ling was not cooperating, Nan Rongjing changed his method and pecked Lu Ling's lips.
But Lu Ling didn't fall for it and still didn't cooperate with him.
After a long time, Lu Ling felt that her face was a little wet. She opened her eyes and looked. Nan Rongjing's lips were pressed against hers, but tears kept falling.
Lu Ling was released. His hands were in pain from being restrained, so he shook them uncomfortably.
Although Nan Rongjing let go of him, the two of them were still very close, their bodies pressed against each other.
He was still shedding tears.
Lu Ling avoided his gaze and looked away uneasily.
"You, don't cry... How can a man cry like you?" Lu Ling couldn't help but say when he saw Nan Rongjing still crying.
"I, I can forgive you, but you can't stay here forever. You are the King of Baipu, not... well..."
Nan Rongjing covered Lu Ling's mouth to prevent her from making any more sound.
He was still crying, and his moist, red eyes stared straight at Lu Ling: "Don't tell me, if I can't be with you, then I would rather die."
After saying that, Nan Rongjing let go of Lu Ling and kissed her again, but this time he was not as honest as before. He held Lu Ling's hands with one hand and wrapped the other hand around Lu Ling's waist, touching the belt carefully.
With a slight tug, the belt was torn off and Lu Ling's clothes were scattered.
Lu Ling widened his eyes, not understanding what Nan Rongjing had done.
"A Ling, don't be afraid." As he said that, Nan Rongjing slowly took off Lu Ling's coat.
Although Lu Ling didn't understand what Nan Rongjing was going to do just now, this time she understood and would not give him a chance.
Nan Rongjing was still taking off Lu Ling's clothes, and the hand holding Lu Ling loosened unconsciously. Lu Ling took the opportunity to pull her hand out and then slapped him.
This time he used all his strength. As soon as he finished hitting, a red palm print appeared on Nan Rongjing's face.
"Shameless! Do you think if you take me, I will follow you wholeheartedly?"
"Do you think I can forgive you just because you threatened me with your own life? Do you think you are that important to me?" Lu Ling sneered, as if he had become a different person. "Don't forget, back on the cliff, I wanted to take your life."
Lu Ling's eyes were already red. She had thought that if she spoke nicely to Nan Rongjing, Nan Rongjing would give up, but this man not only did not know how to advance or retreat, but also became more and more aggressive.
She didn't want him to die, but if he threatened her and wanted to force her, Lu Ling didn't want to endure it anymore.
As if remembering how sad he was when he first learned about Shen Wangyou's death, Lu Ling laughed at it, finding it a little ridiculous.
She looked at Nan Rongjing and said, "The one I loved, Shen Wangyou, died early. The man now is Prince Bai Pu, Nan Rongjing!"
"If you want, I can have you arrested and made public. I'm sure many people want your life."
Because he was the King of Baipu, a Baipu people who had been enemies of the Han people for a hundred years.
Lu Ling picked up the belt and straightened his clothes.
"A Ling, I'm sorry. I was too impulsive just now. I just... I just missed you too much, but you kept being stubborn..."
As if realizing he'd said something he shouldn't have, Nan Rongjing changed the subject and said, "A Ling, do you really want me to die? Don't you feel a little bit fortunate that we met on the battlefield?"
"No." Lu Ling said ruthlessly.
She looked at Nan Rongjing, her eyes fixed on him, as if this could prove that she was not lying.
But soon, Lu Ling felt a pang of pain in her heart, because she saw Nan Rongjing's eyes dimmed slightly after hearing what she said.
It's like someone who has been away from home for a long time finally returns home, but when he gets home he finds that everyone in the family has left and feels lonely.
"No? Then why did you hesitate to kill me when you saw me on the battlefield that day? Why didn't you kill me that day?"
Nan Rongjing questioned Lu Ling word by word, making Lu Ling panic.
Lu Ling wanted to retreat, but found that there was a table behind him and he had no way to retreat.
Unexpectedly, Nan Rongjing's questioning was not over yet: "If you don't have me in your heart, then how do you explain the words on the grave outside the city?"
"A Ling, admit it, you still have me in your heart."
Lu Ling's heart tightened. It turned out that he had seen it. At first, he thought Shen Wangyou was dead, so Lu Ling built a cenotaph for him, and wrote five big words "The late husband Shen Wangyou" on the tombstone.
Nan Rongjing said this, he must have seen it before, otherwise he wouldn't ask himself this.
Lu Ling knew that it was useless to argue. She still had him in her heart, but that didn't mean she had to be with him. It also didn't mean she could forgive him.
So Lu Ling admitted frankly: "Yes, I still have you in my heart, what's wrong?"
"A Ling, since you have me in your heart, can you please stop being angry with me? I was wrong in the past, but I really have my reasons." As he said that, Nan Rongjing was about to hug Lu Ling in his arms.
Lu Ling was quick-eyed and quick-handed and dodged it.
She stared at Nan Rongjing, her tone calmer than ever before: "Just because I have you in my heart doesn't mean I have to be with you; just because I have you in my heart doesn't mean I can forgive you; just because I have you in my heart doesn't mean I can't find someone else!"
Perhaps because he wanted Nan Rongjing to leave so much, Lu Ling didn't intend to say the last sentence.
Nan Rongjing's eyes darkened, as if hiding turbulent waves.
But soon, he returned to normal.
He walked over to Lu Ling, hugged her without letting her refuse, and pleaded gently, "A Ling, don't look for anyone else, okay?"
Lu Ling was held in her arms like this, listening to him quietly without hugging her back.
"I'll tell you whatever you want to know. I really..."
"Your Majesty, I found out." Yuan Qing knocked on the door outside and said.
Or maybe he knew what was going on inside, so he didn't come in.
Lu Ling opened Nan Rongjing's eyes and asked him to stay aside.
"Come in."
Yuan Qing walked into the hall with his back bent. When he reached Lu Ling, he glanced at the person standing next to Lu Ling without any expression.
The clothes that man wore were the same as his own, both were eunuch attire, but he was tall and strong, and looked wealthy, so how did he become a eunuch in the palace?
Yuan Qing was puzzled.
Yuan Qing wanted to continue looking at this person's appearance, because he knew everyone around Her Majesty the Queen, but he didn't know this person. Could he be new?
As soon as Fu looked up, he saw the man looking at him viciously, as if he wanted to eat him alive.
Yuan Qing didn't dare to look up again and stood on the stage to report to Lu Ling.
"I checked, and the jailer said they did use torture, and they said it was ordered by the Dali Temple Secretary Heze."
Lu Ling has been investigating the Dali Temple Secretary these days. He originally thought that he would behave himself, but he didn't expect that he would extend his hands into the palace and even know what was happening around him.
Moreover, Lu Ling remembered that he had already said that torture was not allowed, but he still wanted to use it. Wasn't he deliberately trying to go against him?
It seems that there are still many people in the court who are dissatisfied with their throne.
Lu Ling sneered, thinking these people were really overestimating their abilities. "That's perfect. Since he left evidence, that's a good excuse to arrest him."
Yuan Qing: "Yes."
Nan Rongjing was secretly delighted when he heard the conversation between the two. It turned out that Lu Ling had never thought of torturing him. When he was tortured that day, he was a little disheartened and thought that Lu Ling didn't want him anymore.
She was a little sad at first, but she didn't expect that Lu Ling would come to see her the next day. This made Nan Rongjing regain her confidence and felt that Lu Ling was just angry at her behavior, not that she didn't love her.
As long as you stick with her and coax her well, the chances of the two of you getting back together will be greater.
Thinking of this, Nan Rongjing laughed out loud accidentally.
Lu Ling turned around and glanced at him. Nan Rongjing saw Lu Ling's eyes and responded with a polite smile.
Yuan Qing, who was standing below, was far away and did not notice what the two people were doing.
"By the way, ask someone to clean up Changle Palace." Lu Ling ordered.
Yuan Qing was stunned. He didn't understand why His Majesty wanted to clean up Changle Palace. His Majesty was not married yet and had no male favorites. Why did he want to clean up Changle Palace? It was the queen's palace in the previous dynasty.
But Yuan Qing did not dare to disobey the emperor's will. He responded and hurried out to ask people to clean up Changle Palace.
Nan Rongjing was a foreigner, and although he had served as a minister in the previous dynasty for a few days, he did not know that Changle Palace was the queen's residence.
So when Yuan Qing left, he walked to Lu Ling and looked at Lu Ling with some grievance.
"A Ling, please don't drive me to another palace, okay? I'll live wherever you live."
These words were said with a hint of coquettishness.
Lu Ling didn't want to explain to him, so he said coldly: "Either leave the palace and return to Baipu, or live in Changle Palace, choose one."
"Live in Changle Palace!" Nan Rongjing blurted out.
You know, if I keep refusing, I won’t be able to see my beloved A Ling anymore. Nan Rongjing comforted himself in his heart.
Lu Ling laughed and said, "Okay, you can go after Changle Palace is cleaned up."
*
As soon as the news that someone was living in Changle Palace came out, all the ministers in the court began to get restless.
But before anything could happen, bad news came one after another.
Dali Temple Secretary He Ze was arrested for disobeying the emperor's will.
Her Majesty the Queen demoted and exiled a group of people in the court some time ago, and she is here again today. Does she feel that her position is too secure?
The ministers in the court were discussing this matter.
Lu Ling naturally knew that she had just ascended the throne, and in their eyes, she was just a woman, how could she be worthy of such a great responsibility. Therefore, many people laughed at her, wondering how long she could sit on the throne and whether she would be overthrown soon.
As soon as he ascended the throne, he dealt with the ministers in the court on a large scale, which was detrimental to him and had no benefit at all.
But Lu Ling didn't want to wait. She had the confidence and ability and felt that she could handle it.
If we delay dealing with these corrupt officials for one day, one more person will suffer. It is urgent to clean up the government.
During the court session, many people pointed out to Lu Ling the unreasonableness of He Ze's arrest. The ministers talked one after another, and Lu Ling's ears were callused from listening.
After all, I still feel that I have killed innocent people.
Lu Ling, under the crown, showed no expression, but her eyes changed after hearing one of the ministers speak.
"You say he is innocent, then I will let you see if he is innocent. Come here——"
Then someone entered the hall with a book in his hand.
"Your Majesty, this is a detailed list of the bribes Lord Hezehe has accepted from the Dali Temple over the years. The gold alone amounts to 4,300 taels."
Yuan Qing walked down the stairs, took the booklet and handed it over.
When Lu Ling opened it, he saw that the time and place were very clear, and there was not only money but also a lot of land.
Lu Ling slammed the booklet to the ground. Before he could speak, someone else stood up.
"Your Majesty, please do not listen to slander. Copying a booklet is too easy. It would be better to have someone else..."
"Slander?" Lu Ling laughed. "How could it be slander? I went to Lord He to seek redress for my grievances. It's just that Lord He is too noble and looks down on a humble person like me."
Lu Ling recognized the person who had just spoken. This person was related to He Ze. It seemed that he wanted to protect He Ze. It seemed that this person also needed to be investigated carefully.
As soon as Lu Ling finished speaking, people in the court began to talk. Some said that Heze was corrupt and committed adultery, some said that Heze's reputation had been ruined for a long time, and some felt sorry for those who wanted to seek justice but could not.
After hearing what Lu Ling said, the person who had just spoken didn't dare to say anything more.
Lu Ling had already replaced all the officials in the Dali Temple, but he did not touch the people above him. He was just waiting for the opportunity.
He Ze's commotion gave Lu Ling an opportunity.
"Duke Fuguo, I'll leave these matters to you." Lu Ling said to Chu Liuyun.
Chu Liuyun obeyed the order and didn't say anything more.
After dismissing the court, Lu Ling returned to the Qinzheng Hall. Not long after he sat down, Chu Liuyun came over.
He was so aggressive that when Lu Ling saw him, he felt like he was coming to take his life.
"Cousin, what are you going to do?" Lu Ling asked Chu Liuyun.
Chu Liuyun threw the book he had just read on the table in front of Lu Ling and said, "Why did you ask me to do this?"
Lu Ling was drinking tea, but when he heard this, he put it down and asked in confusion, "Why not? You are my cousin. In the court, you are the one I trust the most. I don't trust anyone else."
Chu Liuyun sat down on a stool beside him in a bad mood and said, "It's not that I don't want to do it, it's just that it's too difficult to investigate. I'll definitely be running around and not coming home at night. I'm afraid your sister-in-law will worry."
Lu Ling rolled his eyes at Chu Liuyun in his heart.
"Cousin, you weren't like this before."
In the past, no matter what Chu Liuyun could do, he would definitely do it. What happened today?
Chu Liuyun rubbed his hands embarrassedly and said, "Well, your sister-in-law is pregnant, and I want to spend more time with her at home."
"My sister-in-law is pregnant! Congratulations, cousin. Okay, I'll find someone else to do it, okay?" Lu Ling said with a smile.
Chu Liuyun nodded, then asked, "I heard someone moved into Changle Palace. Who is it?"
"It's me!"
The door that was originally closed was opened from the outside, and the sunlight sprayed on the man's body. His face was hidden in the darkness and could not be seen clearly for a moment.
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