The two smiled at each other, and everything that happened next would be faced by them together.
However, the two were stopped when they reached the gate of the palace. It was unknown whether they were really newcomers who didn't know Chen Yan, or if they were bewitched by the embarrassment of these two people.
"Who are you! This is a restricted area of the imperial palace. You are not allowed to enter." One of the guards shouted loudly, and was suddenly pulled by his companion. He looked at his companion in confusion, not knowing what was going on.
"Newcomer! Don't worry about your head! This is the Regent Prince, why don't you apologize to the prince immediately!" He was afraid that this new guy would implicate himself.
Chen Yan naturally wouldn't care about these things. This was the guard's performance of fulfilling his duties. He shook his head and took Lu Wan in.
On the way to the Council Hall, the two of them were stared at by everyone, especially Lu Wan. Some officials could at least recognize Chen Yan, but Lu Wan was a real stranger.
"Your servant Chen Yan pays homage to your majesty, the Queen Mother."
"I, Lu Wan, pay my respects to Your Majesty, the Queen Mother."
"Lord Shen and Miss Lu Wan...what happened? How did it turn out like this?" The little emperor sitting in front of the palace was just a puppet, and the one who really spoke was the empress dowager behind the curtain.
The Queen Mother was born in a poor family. After gaining the emperor's favor, she led the entire family. However, since she came to power, she has increasingly suppressed the poor families and forgotten her own original identity. Naturally, she is despised by the poor families, but most of the poor families are in decline and cannot make much waves.
Most of the Queen Mother's followers are old-established dignitaries, while most of the Shen Yan's followers are from emerging families or poor families, and now they seem to be clearly at a disadvantage.
"Please forgive my impoliteness. Miss Lu Wan and I were assassinated on the way to the palace. I had no choice but to end up like this." Shen Yan stepped forward and explained the whole story.
Lu Wan just stood behind. She knew that it was better to say less and make fewer mistakes. If this matter had not been reported to the emperor, in fact, it was the queen mother who specifically asked her to come, she would not have gotten involved in this mess.
Now, in this situation, we can only take it one step at a time. As long as it doesn't involve her, she will just keep quiet.
"Miss Lu Wan is the illegitimate daughter of the Lu family?" The Queen Mother was originally discussing other topics with Shen Yan. Lu Wan finally breathed a sigh of relief, but she didn't expect the Queen Mother to change the subject and ask directly about her.
"To reply to the Queen Mother, I was once a bastard of the Lu family, but I have been expelled from the family." This is indeed a fact. From the day Lu Wan married into the palace in place of her sister, in order to avoid any problems in the future, the name Lu Wan had been removed from the family tree.
Now Lu Wan has no family, he is just alone, which is easier to explain. It can be said that the two of them have a good relationship, but since the relationship with the Lu family has been severed, it does not involve political issues and is much easier to solve.
"In this case, Miss Lu Wan has such abilities, why not enter the court as an official and do her part in building our dynasty. I wonder what Miss Lu Wan thinks." The Queen Mother was behind the curtain, and Lu Wan could not see her expression.
But she guessed that it was not a good expression.
Is this an attempt to win people over first, or is it an attempt to lure people into your territory first so that you can easily convict and kill them?
Lu Wan thought that he did not have the ability to be the former, so it was most likely the latter.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I am a commoner, used to being idle, and I am afraid that I am not qualified for an official position. However, if the court needs me, Lu Wan will certainly do my best to help." Lu Wan said it beautifully and refused the Hongmen Banquet.
At the same time, it also avoided the suspicion of being unwilling to contribute to the court to a certain extent.
"Since Miss Lu Wan has said so, I won't force you. I have already understood what happened. The court will send reinforcements, so please rest assured." The Queen Mother was about to order them to leave.
Don’t mention how happy Lu Wan was, she wished she could leave this place of trouble right now.
However, things did not go as planned...
"You two are considered meritorious officials. If it weren't for your keen observation, I would have wronged a loyal and good person. Therefore, I have held a banquet to reward you. I hope you will do me the honor." After the Queen Mother finished speaking, she turned and left the curtain without giving the two a chance to refuse.
Under the current circumstances, if I don't go at night, it will definitely be regarded as disobeying the order. This is not an invitation, it is clearly coercion.
"I obey your order."
"I thank your majesty for his grace."
The two thanked each other and left. They both had their own ulterior motives. Chen Yan wanted to find out the Queen Mother's intentions, while Lu Wan was more inclined to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible.
But no matter what, the two of them are now tied to the same rope, inseparable.
Lu Wan had to attend the banquet in the evening, but he had no choice because the harem was where all the green tea girls gathered.
Lu Wan was still thinking about the evening banquet when he saw the figure in front of him flash and walk quickly forward.
"Your Highness, where are you going?" Shen Yan left without even asking Lu Wan for details.
What on earth is so important?
It can be said that Chen Yan is isolated and helpless in the palace. His only relative is his sister who married him. But now she can only be regarded as a relative and can not provide any help to Chen Yan in his career.
"Sister, have you been well these years?" It was this sister who had always taken care of Shen Yan when he was in favor, so to him, although she was not his biological daughter, she was closer to him than his biological daughter.
For so many years, Chen Yan has been wrapping himself in a shell, and only when facing his sister Li Qingyuan, will he show a smile that suits his age.
It is recorded in history that the happiest years in Chen Yan's life were the few years before Li Qingyuan got married.
After that, even after Shen Yan ascended the throne, he never experienced such family affection again, and his sister had died before he ascended the throne, and she never felt the care of her brother in her life.
"Everything is fine, sister. You don't have to worry about food and drink here, and no one will come to disturb you. Sister is really living a good life." Li Qingyuan has become much thinner than before she got married. A woman who has no family at all will not have a good ending in the harem, a place where people are eaten without leaving any bones.
Chen Yan had tried countless times to secretly take Li Qingyuan out of the palace. But Li Qingyuan rejected them all, simply because she didn't want to implicate her brother. She would rather suffer a little herself than let her brother's efforts over the years go to waste.
Neither of them said much, and Shen Yan didn't dare to stay for long. He just glanced at her and left.
The reason why he indulged Lu Baixue so much before was actually because of this relationship. Lu Baixue was too much like his sister...so much so that he wanted to compensate Lu Baixue for all that he owed his sister.
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