Lu Jinshu looked at Pei Jiuyan with a smile, "Master Pei, you're really too nervous. Just as His Majesty said, I'm definitely not a vicious person. The Fourth Princess is such a lovely little person. I love her so much, how could I possibly prick her with a silver needle?"
Pei Jiuyan snorted coldly, "That sounds nice, but who knows what you're really thinking?"
The look in Lu Jinshu's eyes was icy cold, but his smile was even more kind. "Mr. Pei, you don't have to be so hostile towards me. Since this incident happened in Chenyou Palace, I promise you that I will give you an explanation. Who put this silver needle in the quilt? I will find out the truth."
Pei Jiuyan sneered and said disdainfully, "It's really like the thief crying thief, it's so unreasonable."
Ling Shumo couldn't bear to listen any longer. She interrupted Pei Jiuyan coldly, "Alright, stop talking. No one saw Jin An put the embroidery needle into the quilt, and I didn't even convict him. You, a young man of no rank, have no right to say anything irresponsible to the Queen."
Ling Shumo's words were extremely biased towards Lu Jinshu. Pei Jiuyan had never expected that after all his painstaking planning, he would end up with such a result. Although he was extremely reluctant in his heart, he had no choice but to follow Ling Shumo's words and said, "Of course, I will obey the arrangements of His Majesty and the Queen."
Ling Shumo had originally planned to carry Ling Xijie and accompany Pei Jiuyan to his new residence, the Biluo Palace. However, after the incident with the embroidery needle falling out of the quilt, Ling Xijie had already woken up from his deep sleep, so Ling Shumo no longer needed to accompany him to the Biluo Palace.
She said to Pei Jiuyan, "You go back and settle down first. I will stay here to finalize with the Queen the details of the ceremony required to posthumously confer the title of Queen on your brother in three days."
Ling Shumo seemed to suddenly remember something when she said this. She clenched her right hand into a hollow fist and tapped the side of her head lightly, looking very annoyed. "Look at my memory, it's really getting worse and worse. The officials of the Ministry of Rites calculated several posthumous titles for Pei Jiusheng, and I chose two of them, 'Huixian' and 'Chunyi'. I think these two are equally good, and I haven't made up my mind yet. I'm waiting for you to return to the imperial capital from Blackwater City so that I can ask you, Pei Jiusheng's younger brother, for your opinion."
"Huixian" means virtuous and tranquil. "Chunyi" represents purity and elegance, describing Pei Jiusheng as a dignified and elegant person. Either choice is a high evaluation, an honor only bestowed upon a father of a nation.
Pei Jiuyan stood there for a long moment, without answering. Unlike Ling Shumo, the flames of jealousy in his heart nearly set him on fire. His Majesty cared so much about his brother, but why? Besides his extraordinary beauty, what else was so special about his brother?
Ling Shumo coughed lightly. "It doesn't matter if you can't choose right now. I feel the same way as you. I just think that all the best words in the world should be applied to Jiusheng. In my heart, he is the most perfect existence."
Pei Jiuyan was afraid of revealing any emotion he shouldn't have. He lowered his head to hide the irritation in his eyes and said gently, "Yes, my brother is such a good person, he truly deserves the best in the world. The founding emperor of the previous dynasty left a profound mark in history for his dignified character and brilliant literary talent. After his death, his daughter chose the two characters 'Xiaoyi' as his title. I think 'Chunyi' is more solemn than 'Huixian' and is more suitable for my brother."
Ling Shumo nodded with great satisfaction, "Then as you said, I will posthumously confer upon Pei Jiusheng the title of the First-Rank Pure and Proud Queen."
Lu Jinshu smiled and continued, "If Queen Chunyi were still alive, she would surely be very happy to know Your Majesty's feelings for him."
At this time, Pei Jiuyan finally calmed down. He raised his head and smiled naturally, "Your Majesty treated my brother with such deep affection. Even if my brother passed away, he must have no regrets in his heart."
Shi Qi ordered his servants to add another chair opposite Lu Jinshu's chair.
After Pei Jiuyan and the fourth princess said goodbye, Lu Jinshu and Ling Shumo sat opposite each other and reviewed the details of the posthumous ceremony three days later.
Lu Jinshu looked up at the sky outside the window and closed the book in his hand. "It's almost time for lunch. Your Majesty, would you like to stay here and have dinner with me?"
Ling Shumo shook her head. "No, I promised He Fanghua that I have to go to Yaotai Palace today. I'll come to accompany you another day."
He Huiyuan had just led an army of 200,000 to attack the Qilan Empire, so it made sense for Ling Shumo to accompany General He's brother. Lu Jinshu stood up and said with a smile, "Then I will escort Your Majesty out."
Lu Jinshu reached the door first and was about to lift the falling bead curtain when Ling Xihe rushed in from outside. Running too fast, he failed to brake and crashed into Ling Shumo.
She was not even five years old this year, and her forehead just reached Ling Shumo's waist. As luck would have it, it bumped into the emerald green jade pendant on Ling Shumo's waist, and she cried out in pain.
Ling Shumo had originally put on a stern face, wanting to tell her eldest daughter to "watch your way from now on and stop running around like that." But seeing her daughter grimacing in pain, she softened her stance. She squatted down and looked Ling Xi in the eye. "Let the Queen Mother see the extent of your forehead injury. You're not a bright child to begin with, and if you get hit on the head like that, you'll really become a fool."
Ling Xihe's hand was originally pressed on the bruise on her forehead, but when she heard Ling Shumo say that she would be knocked into a fool, she unconsciously put her hand down, her eyes suddenly widened, and she retorted angrily, "Your Majesty, your mother is talking nonsense. The Grand Tutor has clearly praised me more than once, saying that I am very smart."
Lu Jinshu said helplessly, "Look at the homework you hand in every day. How many crosses are there on it? How come you, child, have no self-awareness at all? Your grandmother (Lu Taichuan) is just trying to coax you."
Ling Xihe no longer cared about the bruise on her forehead. She covered her ears and said, "I don't want to listen. I don't want to listen. My grandmother said that I am most like my father. She said that I am as smart and wise as my father, and I will definitely be able to help my mother govern the country when I grow up."
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