Spring of the ninth year of the reign of Emperor Qianlong
As nature comes back to life, the capital city and its surroundings are teeming with vitality.
After a long journey, the group finally arrived in the capital.
Wang Xiuxiu lifted the carriage curtain and saw the true face of the Great Xi Dynasty for the first time, so shocked that she was speechless for a long time.
Unlike the magnificent and dazzling Jinzhou, the city gate of the capital of Dagan was like an unshakable giant, standing between heaven and earth.
The city walls are astonishingly high, stretching out like a sleeping dragon, silently guarding this prosperous land.
The carriage slowly approached, and through the carriage window, Wang Xiuxiu saw Lu Jingze take out a waist token from his pocket and hand it to the city gate guard.
The waist tag gleamed faintly in the sunlight, and it seemed to be engraved with some intricate patterns.
Before she could even take a closer look, Lu Jingze had already swiftly and decisively put the waist token back into his pocket.
Wang Xiuxiu was slightly taken aback, and a sense of curiosity arose in her heart.
Just as she was about to ask, Lu Jingze turned his head, raised an eyebrow, and looked at her with a half-smile: "Want to see?"
Wang Xiuxiu's heart tightened. The past few days of getting along had given her some understanding of Lu Jingze's temperament.
Judging from his expression, he probably has ulterior motives!
Wang Xiuxiu quickly shook her head, "I don't want to watch, there's nothing to see anyway, hahaha."
Lu Jingze chuckled lightly, said no more, turned around and got out of the carriage, then rode a tall, fine horse.
He was tall and straight, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. He looked majestic on horseback, attracting the attention of passersby.
Wang Xiuxiu peeked through the car window and couldn't help but sigh in her heart: This person really is so dazzling wherever he goes.
Lu Jingze whispered a few words to his subordinates beside him, then spurred his horse and rode far away from the group.
Wang Xiuxiu watched his receding figure, feeling both uneasy and helpless.
He simply packed his bags and left, not knowing what he would have to face in a little while.
The carriage continued its slow journey and eventually stopped outside a high wall.
Wang Xiuxiu lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside.
The wall soared into the clouds, its imposing presence gleaming in the sunlight.
Is this the palace wall?
Lu Jingze has gone to the palace? Am I supposed to wait for him here?
Wang Xiuxiu was left behind. She sat in the carriage, her thoughts in turmoil.
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the carriage, and a guard bowed respectfully and said, "Miss, please wait a moment."
Shortly after they entered the city, a palace messenger rushed over to convey the emperor's decree to Lu Jingze.
Upon receiving the news, Lu Jingze went ahead to the palace to report back.
Inside the palace, the solemn emperor sat in a magnificent golden palace.
The table in front of him was piled high with memorials. He frowned, his vermilion brush constantly gesturing across the memorials.
The eunuchs and palace maids stood quietly on both sides, not daring to make a sound.
However, all of this is just an appearance.
The emperor's mind was no longer on these memorials; a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips, but his thoughts had already drifted to the gossip he had overheard earlier.
After a while, the emperor finally couldn't keep up the act any longer. He put down his vermilion brush, stood up, and stretched.
"I am a little tired and need to rest. You can put these memorials away and present them to me tomorrow."
The eunuchs quickly agreed and put away the memorials.
"Has Jingze arrived yet?"
The head eunuch, Eunuch Ning, who was serving Lu Nancheng, stepped forward and replied, "Your Majesty, the message just now said that they have already entered the city."
"Oh, then they should be arriving soon," the young emperor mused, stroking his chin.
When the eunuch came in to report that Prince Jing was waiting outside, Lu Nancheng was just about to eat his third piece of pastry.
"Quickly, let him in!"
Lu Nancheng hurriedly put down his teacup and gestured to the palace maid beside him to remove the plate of pastries. He then picked up a memorial and pretended to be very busy.
Lu Jingze entered the main hall and first paid his respects.
As for Lu Nancheng, after letting the person get up, he immersed himself in his work again.
Feeling ignored, Lu Jingze could only softly call out, "Your Majesty."
Lu Nancheng chuckled inwardly, but maintained a dignified demeanor. "What's wrong? I have some important matters to attend to. Please wait a moment. Ningxi, go and get Jingze a stool."
"yes."
"Brother, stop fooling around. You haven't even wiped the crumbs off your mouth yet."
Lu Nancheng quickly reached for his mouth, and when he touched it, he showed a slightly embarrassed expression and smiled ingratiatingly.
"Oh dear, I was so busy with official duties today, it's normal that I didn't notice these things! And you too, after finishing your business in Yongzhou, you didn't even come back earlier, I've missed you!"
Lu Jingze watched his silly older brother awkwardly transition between scenes, his silence speaking volumes.
"Look at you, look at you! You've been like this since you were little!" Lu Nancheng complained.
"The matter of the mission to Yongzhou is clearly stated in the letter. Is there anything else you wish to ask, Your Majesty?"
"I trust you to handle things! Besides, didn't I already say I missed you? Of course, I wanted to call you over to reconnect with my brother!"
After hearing this, Lu Jingze practically had "No contact, no feelings" written all over his face.
Lu Nancheng jumped off the chair in anger, pointing at his wretched younger brother with a pitiful expression.
"If you don't tell the truth, I'm leaving," Lu Jingze said, making it seem like he was about to leave immediately.
"No, no, no! Well then, let me tell you the truth! What is the identity of the girl you brought back?" After saying that, he winked mischievously at Lu Jingze.
“She’s just an ordinary girl,” Lu Jingze replied simply and directly.
Lu Nancheng didn't believe him and teased, "Oh, oh, oh! You're still keeping it a secret from your own brother! All these years I've been telling you to take a concubine, but you either didn't find her attractive or you had no interest in her. How come you brought back someone you like after just one trip?"
Seeing his younger brother staring at him with clear, bright eyes, Lu Nancheng immediately couldn't take it anymore and surrendered.
"Alright, alright, as long as you're happy, I won't ask anymore. I won't ask anything. If you need anything, just come to me. It's not easy to meet someone you truly like. Although I can't give you the position of principal wife, I can certainly give you the position of concubine."
Lu Jingze nodded slightly, indicating that he accepted his kindness, "Then I will take my leave."
Just as Lu Jingze was about to step out of the room, the young emperor's voice came from behind him, "Jingze, since you made your choice back then, no matter what, Yingxue's status as the principal wife and Yunian's position as the heir are related to the dignity of the royal family, and no one can shake them."
“Brother, Jingze knows.” Lu Jingze stopped, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, and then turned and left.
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