Extra 2
It's winter again, and the ground is covered with a layer of white snow. Someone is bending over to sweep the snow in front of the door so that they can travel better.
Inside the Zichen Hall, the charcoal fire was crackling, but it did not affect the people around at all.
Lu Ling was reviewing memorials. In recent years, there had been no wars around Da Chu, and the people had been recuperating and living and working in peace. Officials in the court who were originally dissatisfied with Lu Ling's administration now had no objection to Lu Ling's will.
"Your Majesty, Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess is requesting an audience outside the palace."
Lu Ling paused while flipping through the memorials, looked up at Yuan Qing, and asked in a calm tone, "What is she doing here? Is she done with her homework?"
Yuan Qing glanced at Lu Ling's expression and said, "Her Highness said she has something important to discuss with Your Majesty and that Your Majesty must see her."
Lu Yi would say this every time he wanted to find Lu Ling. Yuan Qing didn't know what this ancestor was going to do today, and he wiped the sweat off his forehead unconsciously.
Lu Ling naturally knew that there was nothing big going on when Lu Yi looked her up today, but after thinking about it, she still asked her in.
Lu Yi changed her usual flamboyant attire today. She wore a white cape over her light pink gown and pinned a water magnolia hairpin to her usual bun. She looked neither flamboyant nor lacking in royal style.
In his early years, Lu Ling adopted Zhao Zhenzhen as his adopted daughter and changed her name to Lu Yi. Not long after, Lu Ling named Lu Yi the Crown Princess.
Although the ministers in the court were dissatisfied with Lu Ling's decision to adopt an unknown woman as his adopted daughter, they did not dissuade him. However, when Lu Ling wanted to make his adopted daughter the Crown Princess, the ministers in the court could no longer sit still. Among them, the one who opposed the most strongly was Gu Xingchang, the Prime Minister, whom Lu Ling had invited to "come out of retirement" a few years ago.
Although Gu Xingchang had political talent, he was also too stubborn. He felt that Lu Yi was just a girl from the countryside and could not handle such a big responsibility.
But Lu Ling believed in Lu Yi and had been nurturing her since she was little. After knowing that she would never have children, she trained Lu Yi as her heir. Although she occasionally slacked off on her, Lu Ling was never careless when it came to governing the country.
A few days later, perhaps because Gu Xingchang's son Gu Huai said something to him, Lu Ling no longer heard any voice in the court opposing Lu Yi as the Crown Princess.
Perhaps it was because Lu Ling spoiled Lu Yi that Lu Yi became more and more arrogant, but her arrogance was only towards Lu Ling and Gu Huai. When dealing with servants, she did not treat herself as a superior princess, but was more kind to everyone around her, except Gu Huai; when dealing with ministers, she was dignified, polite and courteous, except for Gu Huai.
Lu Ling remembered that they had a good relationship when they were young, and he didn't know when it became like this. After all, he was just a child, so Lu Ling didn't care.
Lu Yi would usually come to him whenever there was something going on. Lu Ling didn't know what had happened today and couldn't help but feel a little headache.
Seeing that Lu Yi didn't come to him in a threatening manner as usual, Lu Ling's headache eased a lot. It shouldn't be a complicated matter.
"Mother, do you have anything important to do today?" Lu Yi asked Lu Ling tentatively.
Lu Ling put down the memorial in his hand and said, "Nothing important happened today. What? What do you want me to do?"
Normally, when Lu Yi asked this question, it must be because he had something to ask Lu Ling, and what he asked for was definitely not something pleasing.
Lu Yi laughed and said a little aggrievedly: "Why does mother miss me so much? Why would I bother you with everything?"
"Isn't it?" Lu Ling asked back.
Lu Yi's smile froze on her face, and then she forced out another stiff smile: "Mother, you misunderstood. I wanted to invite you to go out of the palace with me to have fun today. Mother hasn't left the palace for a long time, right?"
This was true. Lu Ling hadn't left the palace since his wedding to Nan Rongjing. Firstly, there were many people in the court who were eager to find something to hold against him and dethrone him. Secondly, Lu Ling felt he couldn't let his people down. He had to do his job. As the emperor, he had to set a good example for the people and work for their well-being. He couldn't play around like a child.
"Where's Prince Yong? Why don't we see him today?"
Because Lu Ling seldom left the palace, Nan Rongjing settled down in Changle Palace. Sometimes when Lu Ling was busy with government affairs, Nan Rongjing would go to find Lu Yi when he was bored. In fact, Nan Rongjing also had half the credit for Lu Yi's current personality.
Lu Ling once thought about asking Lu Yi to call Nan Rongjing father, but Nan Rongjing refused, saying that he felt too old to be called that.
"Prince Yong returned to the palace today and said he would not return to the palace tonight." Lu Yi answered with his head down.
Lu Ling was puzzled. Nan Rongjing had not returned to Prince Yong's Mansion for a long time. Even if he went back, he would come back soon and would not stay overnight.
The more he thought about it, the more Lu Ling began to wonder if something had happened to Nan Rongjing and he didn't want him to see it.
Lu Ling's face turned pale in an instant. "Zhenzhen, tell me, has something happened to Nan Rongjing? Is he afraid that I will say something about him, or worried about him, so he won't return to the palace?"
Lu Yi was confused as to how it was related to the injury. Lu Yi wanted to tell her the truth, but when he remembered Nan Rongjing's instructions today, he shut up again.
"Mother, that's not the case. Prince Yong is fine, and he's not injured. He went back to the palace today to deal with some matters. He probably thought it might be too late to deal with them, so he'll return to the palace tomorrow."
Lu Yi seemed to remember something and said with a smile, "Oh right, mother, let's go out of the palace to play for a while today and stay at Prince Yong's Mansion tonight. Isn't that perfect?"
"Forget it, let's go out and play for a while and then go back to the palace. He has things to deal with, and my presence there will disturb him." Lu Ling refused.
Lu Yi nodded awkwardly and said nothing more.
Lu Ling was already starting to develop wrinkles. She had been sitting on the throne for nearly ten years, working diligently and conscientiously, with very little recreational activity. She only occasionally took a break when Lu Yi and Nan Rongjing were around. She was a little unaccustomed to the fact that she had agreed so easily today.
But Lu Yi didn't think much about it. Fortunately, he completed the task assigned by Prince Yong, otherwise he might be punished by him to do something else. Lu Yi secretly rejoiced.
Lu Ling was wearing a red suit with patterns embroidered with gold thread, which made him look very noble.
The snow started falling again. Lu Ling and Lu Yi left the palace in a carriage, and their shoes and socks did not get wet.
Not long after the two of them left the imperial city, the snow stopped again, as if it had stopped especially for Lu Ling and the others.
"Where are you taking me to play?" Lu Ling asked in confusion as he watched the carriage going farther and farther away.
Lu Yi smiled and said, "Don't worry, mother. You will definitely like it."
The carriage stopped at a farm on the outskirts of the capital. Lu Ling and Lu Yi got off the car and looked inside. They saw that the farm was full of plum blossoms. There were so many of them that it had become a plum forest.
Lu Ling had been in the capital for so many years, but he had no idea that there was such a beautiful plum forest in the suburbs.
The bright fiery plum blossoms are clustered together and vying to bloom. The snow has just stopped and snowflakes are falling on the plum trees. The red and white are in harmony and look very beautiful.
Lu Ling turned around and was about to ask Lu Yi how he found this place, but found that this person had left at some point and was no longer visible.
The door was pushed open, and Lu Ling stepped in step by step on the snow. He saw a man in a black robe standing in front of him. The man was holding a bunch of plum blossoms in his hand and looking at Lu Ling with a smile.
When Lu Ling saw the man's face clearly, he also smiled and slowly walked towards him.
When he reached the man, Lu Ling spoke, "Did you ask Zhenzhen to call me?"
Nan Rongjing's smile widened, and he said, "I can't hide anything from you."
Lu Ling glanced at the plum blossom in his hand, then raised his head and asked Nan Rongjing, "Are you not going to give this to me?"
Nan Rongjing then realized that he had not given the flowers away yet, and hurriedly handed the flowers to Lu Ling.
Lu Ling took it and looked at it carefully, then smiled with satisfaction. Then he handed the flower to Nan Rongjing and said, "Take it." It's too cold.
Lu Ling didn't want to keep holding it with frozen hands.
Nan Rongjing only obeyed Lu Ling. If Lu Ling said to go east, he would never dare to go west. Seeing Lu Ling return the flowers to him, he was a little unhappy, but still picked up the flowers obediently.
Nan Rongjing also felt cold, so he stood outside with Lu Ling for a while and then pulled Lu Ling into the house.
There was a charcoal fire burning in the room, and as soon as Lu Ling entered, he felt a lot warmer.
After his body warmed up a little, Lu Ling was pulled to the back of the farm by Nan Rongjing.
The water in the hot spring was gurgling and emitting hot steam, as if inviting Lu Ling to come in.
"This..." Lu Ling looked at Nan Rongjing.
"I discovered this farm half a year ago. I heard there was a hot spring here, so I bought it and wanted to give it to you as a gift." Nan Rongjing looked at Lu Ling with gentle eyes. "You've suffered so much for the people and the court over the past few years. I want you to relax, at least on your birthday."
After Nan Rongjing said this, Lu Ling realized that today was her birthday. She was too busy and had forgotten about it.
Although he was the king of a country, the previous dynasty had been in constant war, which led to the emptiness of the Chu treasury. Lu Ling had always lived in seclusion and never allowed anyone to hold a birthday party, so naturally he forgot his birthday.
The same was true in previous years.
Fortunately, Nan Rongjing would always celebrate Lu Ling's birthday in the way she liked and please her.
Although the national treasury is now full, Lu Ling has never thought of holding a birthday party.
"A Ling, do you want to go down and take a bath? We still have a lot of time today." Nan Rongjing hugged Lu Ling, rested his forehead against Lu Ling's, and asked softly.
Lu Ling glanced around and saw that some spare clothes had been placed beside the hot spring. Everything was so well prepared, so how could Lu Ling spoil Nan Rongjing's fun?
"Okay, change my clothes for me."
When the two entered the hot spring, they couldn't help but sigh.
The weather was too cold, and I felt much warmer after standing in the hot spring.
Lu Ling sat by the hot spring, stretched out his hands, and asked Nan Rongjing to massage him.
Nan Rongjing's strength was just right. Lu Ling felt extremely comfortable and closed his eyes unconsciously.
"How is it?" Nan Rongjing asked.
"That's it. There's still room for improvement." Lu Ling denied it.
"Oh, how about this?" Nan Rongjing loosened his hand and put his hands on Lu Ling's shoulders. He was very close to Lu Ling, and his breath sprayed on Lu Ling's face.
When Lu Ling opened his eyes, he saw Nan Rongjing who was full of lust.
Afterwards, the water in the hot spring pool began to shake continuously until dark.
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