Chapter 79 Lobbyists
At daybreak, the thick fog had just dissipated, and Sima Jun had already boarded the boat to Yuzhou.
Deng Lian inspected the inside and outside of the boat, gave some instructions to the boatman, and went up to the deck, where he saw Sima Jun standing alone at the bow.
The remaining mist on the sea is dissipating under the sunlight, and the towering islands are looming.
Sima Jun faced the sea breeze with his sleeves fluttering, and it was unclear whether he was looking at the scenery or watching the seagulls chasing each other in the sky.
"If the prince wants to know what the princess is doing in Yuzhou, why not ask her in person?" Deng Lian walked up to him and couldn't help but say, "When the prince asks, please be calm and don't argue all the time."
Sima Jun did not answer and continued looking ahead.
"Look at that gray-winged gull," he said slowly. "Although it's small and weak, it refuses to give in or leave. It insists on fighting. What do you think it wants to do?"
——
Ever since Sun Wei left yesterday, Princess Wanshou has locked herself in the Buddhist temple, and apart from eating and resting, she just recites scriptures.
It was not until the old palace maid came to report that the Prince of Yuzhang was visiting that she stopped the rosary in her hand and opened her eyes slightly.
"It's been years since we last met. I never imagined we'd meet here, in this desolate mountain region." Princess Wanshou stroked the raccoon cat and studied Sima Jun, smiling. "When you were a child, the late emperor said the Sima family was known for producing handsome men. Unfortunately, after the migration south, each generation has become less handsome. Looking around, you're probably the only one of your generation who has managed to regain some respect. It seems the late emperor had a keen eye."
Sima Jun also smiled and said humbly, "Grandma Aunt, you are too kind."
Princess Wanshou and the Empress Dowager were of the same clan and generation, calling each other sisters. When Sima Jun was young, he privately addressed Princess Wanshou as his great-aunt. Princess Wanshou doted on him deeply, often inviting him to her house to play. However, ever since Grand Tutor Zhou disappeared, the two had not seen each other for ten years.
"When you were little, your eyes resembled your father's, and your nose and lips resembled your mother's," Princess Wanshou said. "Now that you've grown up, you look like no one, but you've become even more beautiful."
Sima Jun hadn't heard anyone mention his mother for many years. He asked, "Aunt, do you still remember my mother?"
"Of course I remember," Princess Wanshou said, "Your mother was a famous beauty in Jiankang City. I can never forget her."
After saying that, she changed the subject: "It is much better than the current Lu family."
When Sima Jun heard this, he knew she was angry.
Yesterday, he had questioned Guo Shun and other attendants, and they said that when Lu left Princess Wanshou's house, her face looked unhappy.
Sima Jun knew Princess Wanshou's temper, and he knew that Lady Lu must have gotten something bad from her. As for why, that was something he wanted to find out.
He spoke calmly, "This concubine came to the East Sea on the orders of the Empress Dowager to pray for the Queen Mother. She learned that the princess was living in seclusion on Yuzhou Island, and considering her a lady of high rank, she owed her due courtesy, so she came specially to visit her. I was offering sacrifices on behalf of the Crown Prince, and I was deeply regretful that I didn't accompany her yesterday. I have nothing to do today, so I came here early this morning."
Princess Wanshou glanced at him and said, "So you're not here to lobby for the Lu family?"
Sima Jun's heart moved.
"Lobbyist?" he asked with a smile. "My great-aunt is still angry with the step-concubine. I guess she was a bit rude."
Princess Wanshou snorted.
"It's more than rude," she said. "She's a powerful concubine. She came to me and kept saying she wanted to use Grand Tutor Zhou to threaten me."
Sima Jun looked at her with a fixed gaze.
Princess Wanshou also looked at him and said, "This concubine is from your house. Wasn't everything she said your idea?"
"My nephew would never dare!" Sima Jun said sternly, "The Concubine has been at your house for less than a month. Furthermore, she is still young, so she doesn't know how to behave and is often impolite. Please tell me everything she said yesterday. When I return, I will punish her according to the patriarchal family rules and regulations, and she will not be allowed to deny it."
Princess Wanshou let the cat slave go and brushed off the cat's fur on her body.
The maid then brought a basin of water and helped her wash her hands.
"She truly didn't know how to handle herself. She made me so angry I was almost breathless," she said. "You know, I've been searching for Grand Tutor Zhou for years. Yesterday, Mrs. Lu came to my house and said Grand Tutor Zhou was in Mount Lu. This should have been a happy occasion, but she kept me in suspense, dropping the story mid-sentence. Mount Lu is so vast, where was I supposed to find him? Tell me, she knew Grand Tutor Zhou's location, but she didn't tell me. Wasn't she teasing me?"
Sima Jun remained calm, his eyes fixed on the teacup in his hand.
He knew that Lu Shi had a reason for what she did, but he never expected that she would involve Grand Tutor Zhou.
"Has the Concubine ever explained why she's keeping it a secret?"
"Then I don't know. You also said that she is often rude. Why don't you go back and ask her?"
"Since Consort Consort is only telling half the story, I think there's something she's keeping secret," Sima Jun said amiably. "Please explain clearly, Grand Aunt."
It's not easy to fool.
Princess Wanshou looked at Sima Jun, showing no emotion. She changed her posture, leaning on the table, twirling her rosary beads with one hand.
"Mrs. Lu asked me to go back and celebrate your grandmother's birthday."
Sima Jun was stunned and couldn't help laughing, "If returning to the capital can get news about Grand Tutor Zhou, why wouldn't my great aunt accept it?"
Princess Wanshou snorted, "Even a small matter won't do. Who is she to dare to negotiate with me?"
"The Consort is a junior, so it's indeed unbecoming of her to be such a concubine," Sima Jun asked with a smile. "But despite her youth, she is still the Princess of Yuzhang, chosen by the Empress Dowager. She is the wife of the late king and the mistress of the Yuzhang Palace. This time, she has come to Donghai as a woman of high rank at court. I imagine this condition was also the idea of the palace?"
He paused, then slowly continued, "Or rather, what the Concubine wants isn't as simple as asking my aunt to return to the capital. It would take a lot of effort for my aunt to achieve it. My aunt feels that the Concubine wants too much, but she hasn't been able to get along with Grand Tutor Zhou, so she got angry, right?"
Princess Wanshou looked at him and the rosary in her hand stopped.
"You are quite clever. Now that you know, why don't you go back and ask Madam Lu why she is so greedy? Tell her to tell Grand Tutor Zhou the news as soon as possible, otherwise, don't blame me for being rude."
Sima Jun smiled, lowered his head and took a sip of tea.
"If my great-aunt wants to find Grand Tutor Zhou, she doesn't need to be a concubine."
Princess Wanshou said, "Oh?"
"Lushan is located in Jiangzhou." Sima Jun said, "No matter how big Lushan is, it can be conquered as long as the Jiangzhou military headquarters is mobilized."
Princess Wanshou's brows relaxed and she finally smiled.
"People in our Sima family are more responsible. I deserved your love back then." She showed a look of relief and said excitedly, "In that case, I think we can set off tomorrow."
Sima Jun said, "But my nephew also has two conditions."
After saying this, he met Princess Wanshou's surprised gaze and said calmly, "First, I want to ask my great aunt to return to the capital to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday, saying that it was the Concubine who invited me. Secondly, I want to know what the Concubine asked my great aunt for yesterday."
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