"What's more," Lu Anyuan continued, "he's brought the Queen and the Prince with him this time, making such a grand appearance. Would he dare to let me appear in front of everyone? If he doesn't dare, then he can only come to see me alone. Do you think he will take that risk?"
"I feel much more at ease now that you've said that. So shall we wait here for him to arrive?"
"Of course not. Since he intends to make a show of force, then we should fulfill his wish and stay out of the way."
"Where are you going?"
"Suzhou is right here, and I've heard the embroiderers there are incredibly skilled. How about we go make some clothes for you and Xiaobao, and then go to Jinling for a stroll?"
"Hmm~" Although Xu Yixing felt that Lu Anyuan's evasive strategy was not like his style, who would argue with the emperor? Anyway, as long as she was going out to play, she would be happy!
In mid-June, just three days before the emperor's imperial ship arrived, Xu Yixing and his entourage left Jiangnan City at dawn. Qiu Ling was still in charge of security, while Ada and Er accompanied the carriage. However, Xia Xiao was left at Yuanzhi Garden, and Lu Anyuan left him to make his own arrangements.
The new emperor sailed on a large ship, enjoying beautiful scenery along the way. However, the closer he got to Jiangnan, the more uncertain he became, and the more uncertain he became, the more angry he became. At some point, the empress came on deck and put a cloak on him.
"Your Majesty, the wind is strong on board. Put on some good windproof clothing."
Lu Hexin patted the queen's hand to show his gratitude, but his eyes were always looking at the river without looking up.
"I heard that Master Fu of Jiangning has prepared a magnificent garden to welcome the Emperor. I would like to see what kind of beautiful garden it is."
"The best garden in Jiangnan, naturally it must be good."
Seeing that the emperor was still unhappy, the queen gritted her teeth and said against her will: "There are many beauties in Jiangnan. If the emperor likes any of them, he can choose them to be concubines in the palace, which will also enrich the harem."
Lu Hexin finally raised his head, his tone unhappy: "I know the Queen is magnanimous, but she just selected a group of beauties, and there is no shortage of people in the palace."
The Queen remained silent, lowered her head, and retreated back into the boat. After following the Emperor for so many years, she found it increasingly difficult to see through him. What had happened?
Little did she know that Lu Hexin, seeing his father's numerous concubines and the constant jealousy, had long since resolved not to indulge in women. Even with the newlyweds, he remained indifferent, not showing excessive favoritism. Seventh Brother was truly blessed, actually abandoning his harem for a woman who had abandoned him. Humph.
Lu Hexin, upon ascending the throne, personally oversaw the late emperor's funeral. Naturally, he discovered that the so-called "empress" who had been buried alive with the emperor was merely a body double. Only today had he completely uncovered the secret of his seventh brother's faked death. He couldn't help but despise him internally: Giving up the throne for a woman? Lu Anyuan was truly useless!
But he couldn't help but wonder, is all this true? So he had to come to Jiangnan to see if his good brother was really devoted to the world and had no other plans.
The new emperor's southern tour brought him to Jiangnan, and everyone from the provincial governor to the common people crowded into the docks to greet him. It was a lively occasion. Lu Hexin went through the formalities for a long time, and after a lot of trouble, he finally settled into Huayuan and had a moment of leisure.
"Master, are we really going to Yuanzhi Garden? That's..." Qiu Zhi gripped his sword tightly and looked at the emperor who had put on his cloak. As the most capable person around the emperor, he naturally knew what the garden was.
"Go quickly while you're still free today. When we start rectifying the Jiangnan officialdom tomorrow, we won't have time to worry about those things!"
"But we only have twenty people with us, is that enough?" Qiu Zhi didn't know how many guards there were in Yuanzhi Garden, but he knew that before the late emperor faked his death, he led a large army to fight against the Western Hu. Who knew how many of those reported dead in battle were really dead and how many were in hiding.
"Don't worry, he won't let anything happen to me."
Qiu Zhi had no other choice but to wave his hand and lead him out of Huayuan through the side gate, heading all the way to Yuanzhiyuan. When they arrived, he realized that these twenty people were more than enough, they were actually more than enough—Yuanzhiyuan only had one gatekeeper.
"Sir, my master has gone out for a trip with his wife. Except for the servant who went with them, everyone else in the mansion has been given a day off. I am the only one here."
Qiu Zhi didn't know Xia Xiao, and Lu Hexin didn't know him either, so he could only ask patiently, "When will your master come back?"
"I don't know that."
"My master and your master are old friends. May I enter the garden for a look?" Qiu Zhi felt a little overreaching when he asked. How could a guest ask to enter when the host wasn't around? However, the emperor in the carriage remained silent, showing no sign of leaving, so he had no choice but to ask.
Xia Xiao smacked his lips and weighed the silver he handed over. It was a full ten taels. "Well, the master said that if there are distinguished guests with the surname Xin, they can come in. What's your master's surname?"
"Ahem." A sound suddenly came from the carriage which had been silent. Qiu Zhi quickly ran to the carriage and supported the emperor who got off the carriage. He was still wearing a cloak, covering his face tightly.
"My last name happens to be Xin." Lu Hexin pulled out a jade plaque from his waist. It had the character "Xin" engraved on it. It was a gift from his father, and every prince had one, each with their name engraved on it. The fact that his seventh brother acted this way clearly showed that he knew he was coming.
"Well, then please come in. Just follow this path and you will reach the main house. Please make your own way."
"Hey!" Qiu Zhi stopped Xia Xiao and said, "Why are you so confident in letting us go in on our own? Aren't you afraid that we might steal your things?"
"Hey! Looking at the way you two are acting, you don't look like people who are short of money. Besides, since you are the host's friends, how could you do such a thing? Are you scammers?" Xia Xiao showed a suspicious expression at the right time. Lu Hexin gave Qiu Zhi a slap from behind, signaling him to shut up, and then he led his men in.
"Master, that man's posture and size don't look like a gatekeeper at all. Why are you..."
"Since he knew I would come and knew how to avoid the limelight, why shouldn't I appreciate it?" Lu Hexin walked all the way to the main house in the main courtyard and observed the plants planted in the courtyard, which was quite elegant.
"He knows how to enjoy himself."
Qiu Zhi pushed open the door and entered the main room first, confirming there was no danger before letting Lu Hexin in. At a glance, he felt a sense of trance. The furnishings and ornaments in this house were just like those in the original Xiaoyi Palace. Even the toys, decorations, and jades displayed on the shelves were originally brought back by Qin Li from the capital.
"He can't let go of a woman?" Lu Hexin looked at these things and knew very well that his seventh brother didn't like these fancy things. Apart from Miss Xu, why would he move these things to Jiangnan specifically?
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