Pei Jiuyan's eyes widened in shock, nearly falling out of their sockets. He still remembered how dignified and proper Lu Jinshu had been at his brother Pei Jiusheng's posthumous title ceremony, a stark contrast to the disheveled and unkempt figure he was now.
Ling Shumo was equally surprised, as Lu Jinshu looked even more haggard than the last time they'd seen him. She immediately released Pei Jiuyan's hand, a deep sense of heartache flashing across her eyes. "Did you have insomnia again last night? Those quacks at the Imperial Hospital are so incompetent. The tranquilizing incense they prescribed for you had no effect at all."
Lu Jinshu felt the concern in Ling Shumo's eyes as she looked at him, knowing that the person His Majesty cared about most was him, and his heart warmed. But when he saw Pei Jiuyan standing next to His Majesty, he couldn't help but feel sick to his stomach. Pei Jiuyan, the seductive woman who had seduced His Majesty, he just wanted to get rid of her immediately.
But Lu Jinshu was a shrewd man after all. He wouldn't show all his anger on his face like Shangguan Xu did. He simply revealed an unusually vulnerable expression. "Your Majesty, I know you asked Shu Rongze to bring me the Lotus Seed, Five Ding Zhi, and Red Date Soup out of concern for me. But please forgive me. I truly cannot accept this kindness."
Ling Shumo's eyes showed confusion, "Why is this?"
Lu Jinshu gently wiped the moisture from the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief and sighed tiredly, "After His Majesty went to the morning court, Shu Rongze came to Chenyou Palace immediately. At that time, I was feeding Xihe breakfast and had no time to receive Shu Rongze, so I asked the attendants to ask Shu Rongze to leave. Shu Rongze said that he was very worried about my health and insisted on seeing me. So, in order to express my respect for Shu Rongze, I asked my personal attendant Jiufu to go out and convey my exhaustion to Shu Rongze. I thought I had understood the seriousness of the matter by now, but he used His Majesty to pressure me and still refused to leave."
When Pei Jiuyan heard this, he didn't feel much. No matter what Lu Jinshu said, he could dismiss all the questions Ling Shumo asked by saying that he was worried about the Queen and wanted to see Lu Jinshu in person.
However, at this moment, Lu Jinshu changed the subject and pointed toward the window, "Your Majesty, look at the sky outside now. The sun is already directly overhead. Shu Rongze has been in Chenyou Palace since the end of the morning, and he's been pestering me until lunch is almost served. Anyone with a discerning eye can tell whether he truly cares about me or is just being unreasonable and disturbing me."
Pei Jiuyan's indifferent expression suddenly changed. He stayed here for a while because he was concerned about Lu Jinshu's health, but since he had spent the entire morning here, this concern had turned into coercion, and the meaning behind it was very different.
Ling Shumo's expression suddenly turned cold. He said to Pei Jiuyan, "You should also go back and reflect on your mistakes for three days. You have disturbed the Queen's rest, and you have also done something inappropriate."
Pei Jiuyan still wanted to force a few excuses, but after looking up at Ling Shumo's face, he finally accepted the punishment obediently.
Shangguan Xu couldn't help but stare at Lu Jinshu, his admiration for his ally growing even stronger. Originally, Ling Shumo's wrath was directed solely at him, and Lu Jinshu had merely spoken a few words, but now the situation had become a situation where both sides were punished, and anyone who came would have to praise his clever tactics.
However, Lu Jinshu didn't feel the slightest bit of triumph in his heart. He was truly tired, too tired. So tired that he didn't even want to say a word.
Shi Qi said to Shangguan Xu and Pei Jiuyan, "My two masters, please go back. His Majesty will stay here to dine with Queen Lu."
Seeing that Lu Jinshu still looked weak, Ling Shumo waved away the servants on both sides and stepped forward to support Lu Jinshu personally.
Lu Jinshu's voice was hoarse. "Your Majesty, please don't try to persuade me here. I really can't eat."
Ling Shumo sat him down at the dining table and said with a smile, "Since you have no appetite, I won't force you to eat." As she spoke, she picked up a jug of wine from the jade table beside the dining table. Ling Shumo poured a glass for herself and Lu Jinshu respectively. Instantly, the mellow aroma of unfiltered rice wine wafted into Lu Jinshu's nostrils.
Ling Shumo took the wine glass in her hand and swirled it gently. The rice wine residue at the bottom of the glass slowly floated up, and the aroma trembled again, diffusing into the air. She downed the entire glass of wine in one gulp. "Although I am in the imperial capital, I am constantly worried about the treacherous changes on the battlefield. You are in the harem, crying every day because of your daughter's illness. Neither of these two problems can be solved by me. Since people can't solve the problems, let's drink to relieve our worries. I have already turned down all official duties today and will stay here with you today. We won't leave until we are drunk."
Lu Jinshu looked down at the wine glass in front of him. The wine, which had been a little cloudy a moment ago, had become clear again after a short period of settling, with the dregs sinking. As he watched, a tear fell into the wine, causing ripples to ripple across the previously calm surface.
Ling Shumo's heart ached when she saw this scene. She was just wondering what to say to comfort him when she saw the person in front of her surprisingly smile. "Your Majesty really knows how to make fun of me. You still want to get drunk? If this rice wine can make people drunk, wouldn't it be a laughing stock if it got out that I have such a low alcohol tolerance?"
Ever since Ling Xi and Luo Shui fell ill, Ling Shumo had never seen a smile on Lu Jinshu's face. Now that she saw that he was in the mood to joke with her, she felt that all her painstaking preparations were not in vain.
Lu Jinshu lifted the cloisonné enamel lotus leaf cup before him and gulped down the still-warm wine. Drinking on an empty stomach hurts the stomach, so His Majesty had found him a warming brew, rice wine. How could one not be moved by such thoughtfulness and concern?
He emptied two cups of rice wine in a row. When he went to pour the third, he caught sight of his own reflection in the glass—a disheveled, dishevelled man. Lu Jinshu paused, his hand on the glass involuntarily. For the first time, he reflected on himself: had he been too indulgent?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
