Chapter 440 Fulfillment
Seeing Wen Zhiming's aggrieved look, Meng Lingge felt sorry for him and was about to go forward to comfort him when she saw that his eyes had turned mournful and dangerous.
"My wife."
"Um... don't come any closer." Meng Lingge took two steps back. "I have some important business to attend to, I'll be back when I'm done."
She was all too familiar with that look.
If she feels sorry for Wen Zhiming now, she'll soon have to feel sorry for herself.
Wen Zhiming felt even more frustrated when he saw Meng Lingge backing away.
His wife won't even give him a chance to try...
"My wife, I'm just doing something important."
"Stop being so glib." Meng Lingge said with a helpless sigh, knowing that if she didn't give him a little something, Wen Zhiming would keep pestering her for a while. She lowered her head and said softly, "You wait here, we'll take care of our business tonight."
Upon hearing this, Wen Zhiming's face immediately lit up with a smile, and he said with utmost seriousness, "Then my wife, hurry up."
He dared not push his luck.
As long as my wife is still willing to give him a chance tonight, that's fine.
Meng Lingge nodded and quickly ran away.
In fact, apart from the few days of menstruation each month, the two of them always have endless important matters to attend to.
She was used to it long ago.
She'd feel uneasy if Wen Zhiming didn't make a fuss at night.
But nighttime was her limit; if she continued to act recklessly during the day, she really couldn't take it.
It was almost dinnertime, and Meng Lingge figured that the old ministers should have already gone home for dinner, so she could explain the situation to Lushui quietly without being disturbed.
When they arrived at the destination, they found the Imperial Hospital to be very lively. Several old imperial physicians on duty were sitting outside, some sighing and others craning their necks to join in the fun.
At the other table, four or five ministers surrounded the green water, babbling on about benevolence, morality, and responsibility. Xu Wangyan was squeezed into a corner by them, his eyes red and swollen, arguing in a low voice, looking helpless and pitiful.
Lu Shui kept a cold and stern face, carefully arranging the medicinal herbs in her hands, ignoring the advice of the people around her.
As the palace maids announced the arrival of the Empress, everyone snapped out of their busy work and immediately bowed in greeting.
The ministers were not worried when they saw Meng Lingge arrive.
Although it is well known that the Empress and Lushu are like sisters, they came to persuade her with the Emperor's permission. Besides, personal feelings are insignificant in the face of national affairs.
Let alone the fact that they were like sisters with the Empress, even if she were the Empress's own sister, when faced with matters of great importance, the Empress should stand with them and persuade her sister to agree to the matter.
No need for formalities.
No sooner had Meng Lingge finished speaking than a minister stepped forward and began to denounce Green Water as if filing a complaint.
"Your Majesty, we have spent half a day without eating or drinking, trying to persuade Princess Jiahe with reason and emotion to agree to the marriage alliance and make peace between the Jin Yue and Lan Yu nations possible. However, Princess Jiahe turned a deaf ear and refused to listen to reason, leaving us at a loss."
"Your Majesty the Empress is a paragon of virtue, and you are as close as sisters with Princess Jiahe. One word from you is worth a hundred from us. It seems we will have to rely on Your Majesty for this matter. Peace talks between the two countries will benefit future generations and the people. On behalf of the people of both countries, we would like to express our gratitude to Your Majesty the Empress and Princess Jiahe."
Meng Lingge frowned slightly as she listened to the ministers' words.
"Do you ministers know the meaning of 'knowing when to stop' and 'too much of a good thing'? His Majesty has allowed you to advise Princess Jiahe, but only to advise, not to coerce or harass her. Princess Jiahe is currently serving as an imperial physician, and she has her duties and responsibilities."
"You can offer a word or two as advice, but blocking the way for half a day becomes coercion and harassment. How can Princess Jiahe's status allow you to be so disrespectful? She hasn't even blamed you for overstepping your bounds yet, and you're already making false accusations?"
The ministers were slightly startled upon hearing this, unsure of what Meng Lingge was really thinking.
However, Princess Jiahe was, after all, a young lady, and it was indeed improper for her to be surrounded by a group of grown men for so long. If the Empress seized upon this and complained to the Emperor, the Emperor, who doted on his wife, would surely punish them.
The ministers thought for a moment and could only reluctantly agree.
"We have overstepped our bounds and beg Your Majesty the Empress and Princess Jiahe for forgiveness."
Meng Lingge waited a while before speaking.
"Considering your dedication to the country, I will not pursue this matter this time. You may leave. Princess Jiahe, I will persuade you."
When the ministers heard that Meng Lingge was willing to persuade Lu Shui, they immediately nodded in agreement.
"Your subject takes his leave."
When Lu Shui saw Meng Lingge reprimanding the minister, her eyes were filled with excitement yet restraint.
Upon hearing the words "I have come to persuade you," the light in her eyes instantly dimmed.
After the ministers and imperial physicians withdrew one after another, Xu Wangyan, seeing that there was no one else around, knelt down before Meng Lingge with a thud.
"Your Majesty, please save Princess Jiahe! She is not a member of the royal family and has no responsibility to bear the burden of a political marriage. I have heard that Mo Sixuan is ruthless and has many wives and concubines. Once Princess Jiahe marries him, she will only have one path: death!"
"Your Majesty, I dare not deceive you. Princess Jiahe and I have long been in love and deeply in love. Although I am not rich or noble, I am willing to do my best to treat Princess Jiahe as a precious treasure and cherish her with utmost care. I beg Your Majesty to spare Princess Jiahe and let her be a simple couple with me. Do not let her become a sacrifice in the peace talks between our two countries for the sake of a political marriage."
After Xu Wangyan finished speaking, seeing that Meng Lingge was unmoved, he quickly tugged at Lushui's trouser leg. Lushui looked down and saw the affection in his eyes. Touched, she knelt down beside him and looked up at Meng Lingge.
"We beg Your Majesty to grant our request."
Meng Lingge observed the expressions of the two people, her face remaining calm.
"Your Majesty and I do not wish to force anyone, but unfortunately Mo Sixuan has taken a fancy to Lushu. The peace talks between the two countries are of great importance, and I am also troubled by this."
Seeing that she hadn't spoken definitively, Xu Wangyan quickly expressed his opinion.
"I have a solution to this predicament. I will immediately arrange a marriage between myself and Princess Jiahe. No matter how arrogant and rude Mo Sixuan is, he cannot forcibly take another man's wife in the Golden Moon Kingdom."
Meng Lingge sat down, rubbing her forehead, and looked at the two of them with a helpless expression.
"Since Mo Sixuan has asked for Lushui, he must have thoroughly investigated her situation. A hasty engagement now will not only fail to solve the problem but will also exacerbate the conflict. If Lushui really doesn't want to marry into the family, there is a way, but I wonder if you are willing?"
Lu Shui and Xu Wangyan spoke in unison: "Your Majesty, please speak."
Meng Lingge said, "Fake death to escape. The person is dead, so if Mo Sixuan wants to arrange a marriage again, he can only change the person. But if he does that, Lushui will no longer be Princess Jiahe, nor even a royal physician. She will have to hide forever as an unknown person who cannot see the light of day. Otherwise, if Mo Sixuan finds out, he will definitely not let it go."
She stared intently at Xu Wangyan, her face filled with worry.
“Mo Sixuan is a very vengeful man, and he has many skilled men under his command. If he finds out that Lushu has rejected him and faked her death to marry you, he will definitely take your life. I suggest that you give up being a royal physician and run away with Lushu. Only then will you have a chance to survive.”
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