The emperor sent Gu Shouxin to help the mother and daughter carry three loads of potatoes, ostensibly because "a man shouldn't let a woman do chores!"
Gu Shouxin knew he definitely wanted to find Lu Zheng, so he went along with him and let him go out for a stroll, saying he would go find them later.
From the time he became a eunuch until his death, Gu Shouxin lived through the reigns of three emperors, young, middle-aged, and old. He knew how to get along with emperors.
As soon as the emperor and Xue Qianyu stepped out the door, they saw Eunuch Fu and four guards standing at the entrance.
"Afu, you come with us. The four of you go and see if there's anything you can help with at the Gu family, and go and lend a hand!" the emperor ordered.
The four guards looked at each other, wondering what help they could offer.
Your Majesty, can we say that the old lady of the Gu family carried two large buckets of pig feed without even panting?
Your Majesty, can we say that the eldest son of the Gu family carried a bundle of firewood on his back and a shoulder full of tree trunks without breaking a sweat?
Your Majesty, can we say that when the eldest daughter of the Gu family returned from the second branch of the family, she simply climbed over the wall to enter the house?
Is there anything I can do to help?
Should I help Grandpa Gu water the flowers?
...
"Xue Xiaoer, do you know Zhou Yuan? I saw you getting along quite well with him on the way here yesterday," the emperor asked as they walked along the village path.
"Master, he didn't speak to me at all! He still looks the same, but he won't admit anything no matter what I say!" Xue Qianyu said dejectedly.
"He's Lu Erlang, the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, right? What's his name again... Lu Zheng, the 'Zheng' in 'iron-willed and unyielding'?" The emperor stopped, glanced at Xue Qianyu, and asked again.
"Yes." Xue Qianyu breathed a sigh of relief. The emperor wasn't stupid after all. He even changed his personality during his incognito visit, which scared him to death.
"Heh, this kid is interesting! His father hasn't been to the battlefield since he married his mother. His family is now unworthy of the title of Duke of Zhenguo! That old coward Lu Zhenyuan, he doesn't dare to take up a sword and go to the battlefield, so I'll let his son go! Anyway, he has many sons, and he probably wishes this brat who has taken the position of heir of the Duke's mansion would die so he wouldn't have to see him!" The emperor sneered.
"Your Majesty, you want to send Lu Er to the battlefield? He won't be sixteen for another two days!" Xue Qianyu said in surprise.
"Qianyu, Lu Erlang is different from you, Xue Erlang. You have loving parents, your aunt is the Empress, and your cousins are princes and princesses. But Lu Erlang has nothing, yet at the age of ten, he managed to persuade his sister to marry and even personally chose a good brother-in-law for her. Look at Chen Yujiang's actions these past few years; it shows that Lu Erlang has a good eye for people! His stepmother, Lin, thought he was being kept as a spoiled brat in the ancestral home. Several months have passed since last year, and he hasn't managed to get the people of the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion to realize he's no longer there. That's quite an achievement. He's trying every means to get into my sights. He's patient, not impatient for quick success, but planning to present crops two years later—just to be on the safe side! I would trust someone with such courage and wisdom, even if he's only a sixteen-year-old boy. Besides, I didn't say I'd send him away now; he still has to stay here and watch over these seeds for me!" The Emperor seriously analyzed for Xue Qianyu.
Xue Qianyu pursed his lips and clenched his fist, clearly somewhat unconvinced.
We all grew up together, he's just as good as us!
How come it's different?
Just because he has both parents and a harmonious family, does that mean he's worse than Lu Er?
The emperor caught a glimpse of Xue Qianyu's micro-expression out of the corner of his eye, and his lips twitched slightly. Xue Xiaoer still needs more training; he can't keep his composure!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com