Mu Jingrui always felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
Xiao Zhenting's self-abandonment came too suddenly.
"No matter what, he is a dangerous person. Your Highness should send someone to keep an eye on him."
"Yeah." Xiao Yujue also thought so, "He is very cunning, and I don't know what he is planning this time."
The two played another game of chess and then dispersed.
"Miss, wear this," Lu Tong took out a light yellow gauze dress from the closet for Shangguan Wan Ning, "This was made by the tailor a few days ago and sent over. It's elegant and plain, perfect for paying respects to the Queen Mother."
Shangguan Wanning looked back. "Let's take this."
After entering the palace, she paid her respects to the Queen Mother. She saw Ling Zhiru was also there today, so in order to avoid another conflict, she disappeared on her own.
"Miss, would it be bad if we just leave like this?" Lu Tong said worriedly.
"What are you afraid of? I've already asked the Queen Mother for instructions. Besides, there are so many people around the Queen Mother, one more or one less won't make a difference."
Shangguan Wanning saw that the flowers in the imperial garden were blooming brightly, so she stopped to look.
The weather was a bit hot and she felt dry mouth.
"Lutong, I'll be waiting for you in the pavilion in front. Go get me some water."
"yes."
Lu Tong handed the fan to Shangguan Wan Ning and took it herself, then turned around and went to find water.
Shangguan Wanning walked slowly, stopping from time to time to admire the flowers.
Suddenly, she heard faint voices of conversation behind the rockery, as if... it was Xiao Zhenting's voice.
Shangguan Wanning's heart instinctively became alert.
She hesitated slightly and slowly moved closer.
"Your Majesty, I have returned all the gifts I sent to Master Jian. I sent them three times, and he returned them three times. I really have no other choice."
"He has rejected the gift three times. It seems that he really doesn't want to accept it. It doesn't matter..." Xiao Zhenting raised the corners of his mouth, smiled slightly, and said, "Go check the people around him to see if there is anyone who needs help. No matter what, we must make Jian Lu accept the favor."
Shangguan Wanning's expression changed slightly, and for some reason, her heartbeat quickened.
Jianlu was a seventh-rank official in the Department of Personnel among the six departments.
In such a huge capital city, people like Jian Lu were insignificant, and almost no dignitaries would even look at him.
It is said that this man studied hard since childhood, but failed in the imperial examinations again and again. The reason why he was able to become a seventh-rank official was because the emperor showed him special favor.
The only identity of Jian Lu that made people look up to her was that her mother was once the emperor's wet nurse.
Jian Lu was an honest official. He never formed cliques with others. He just focused on doing his own job well and did not seek personal gain by relying on his relationship with the emperor.
However, Shangguan Wanning had a different opinion of him.
Because, in the previous life, when Xiao Yujue and Xiao Zhenting were fighting for power, the person who stayed by the emperor's side was Jian Lu.
He knew where the emperor put the will.
In fact, this person is the key figure in who will ascend the throne in the end.
Because the will is dead, but people are alive.
Based on Shangguan Wanning's understanding of Xiao Zhenting, he would not do anything without benefits, so how could he take Jian Lu, a mere seventh-rank official, seriously?
What exactly does he want to do by trying to win over Jian Lu from now on?
Shangguan Wanning only felt a chill on her back, and a strong sense of uneasiness spread in her heart.
"What is Princess An Ning doing here?"
The voice behind her brought Shangguan Wanning back to her senses. She turned around and saw Ling Zhiru coming over with her maid and Shangguan Xiaoxiao.
"It's terrible."
Shangguan Wan Ning secretly thought that it was not good, but she still calmed down, smiled and said, "I saw that the flowers in the Imperial Garden were blooming brightly, so I walked around to take a look."
"Yeah?"
Ling Zhiru was originally skeptical, but at this moment Xiao Zhenting walked out from behind the rockery.
"Zhiru." Xiao Zhenting walked past Shangguan Wanning without even looking at her, and walked straight towards Ling Zhiru, "Have you finished paying your respects to the Queen Mother?"
"Hmph." Ling Zhiru didn't appreciate it. She angrily shook off Xiao Zhenting's hand and scolded, "What? It's not enough that you misbehave at home. Do you want to have secret meetings with those questionable people after entering the palace?"
Ling Zhiru was making an indirect complaint, how could Shangguan Wanning not hear it? Her face darkened and she turned around to leave.
"Some people really don't know what's good for them. They're already betrothed, but they're still so undisciplined. Aren't they afraid of bringing shame to their parents? They're all from the same family, none of them are good people."
When Shangguan Wanning heard this, she felt that the insult was too much, so she took a deep breath and stopped.
"Who is Princess Qin talking about?"
"Whoever responds, says what he says."
"Yeah?"
Shangguan Wanning did not leave, but walked towards Ling Zhiru. She was about to retort when the Queen Mother came over with a group of palace maids and maids.
"Why? The flowers in my palace aren't as pretty as here? Why are you all gathered here?"
Everyone bowed and saluted, and Ling Zhiru clung to the Queen Mother like a spoiled child.
"Queen Mother, I have been wronged. You have to make the decision for me."
The Queen Mother patted the back of Ling Zhiru's hand with a smile on her face and looked at Xiao Zhenting who was kneeling beside her.
"I know that young people always love beauty and coquettishness, especially men." The Queen Mother turned to Ling Zhiru and said with a smile, "As the legal wife, you should behave like a legal wife. The King of Qin has come to pick you up, so you can go back with him."
"but……"
"However, King Qin, please don't be too self-indulgent. You still need to take good care of your health and put the overall situation first."
"Yes, grandson understands."
Xiao Zhenting stood up, pulled Ling Zhiru over, said some sweet words and then left.
Shangguan Wanning returned home, her thoughts still restless for a long time.
The fact that Xiao Zhenting tried to win over Jian Lu lingered in his mind like a curse.
She thought for a long time, asked Lu Tong to go out and find out about Jian Lu's recent situation, and then sent someone to keep an eye on his every move.
Shangguan Wanning had thought about asking Mu Jingrui to win over Jian Lu as well, but she must have a reasonable reason for making such a suggestion.
Should she tell Mu Jingrui that she has foresight?
After a period of heavy rain, the court began to allocate money to help people rebuild their homes.
Late at night, an urgent document from eight hundred miles away was delivered to the palace, waking up the sleeping emperor.
After the new emperor of Western Xia ascended the throne, he tore up the peace treaty with the imperial court, gathered an army of 200,000 and launched a massive attack. He had already captured three cities in succession and was confronting the imperial court outside the Great Wall. The generals defending the city died on the battlefield.
The emperor was furious and threw the document to the ground, angrily scolding: "This is outrageous. Xixia is doing this and it is clear that they do not take our great country seriously."
The emperor urgently summoned Xiao Yujue, Xiao Zhenting, Mu Jingrui and relevant officials to the palace for discussion overnight.
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