Chapter 14 [14]
【14】
Before coming here, Lu Zhiwan guessed that he would ask this question, so he was not panicked at this moment. He quietly pinched the corner of his clothes and told the whole story -
"My biological mother is the only daughter of the Wang family, a merchant family in Yuezhou Prefecture. My father grew up in poverty. My grandfather, seeing his literary talent, took him in as his son-in-law and funded his studies for the imperial examinations..."
When Wang Shi first married the original owner's biological father, Lu Jun, the couple had a pretty good relationship. Later, Lu Jun passed the imperial examination and returned to his hometown to become a county magistrate. Wang Shi then settled down to be the county magistrate's wife in the back office, taking care of the household chores and raising her daughter.
But a few years later, his grandfather, Mr. Wang, passed away. In the winter of the same year, Lu Jun brought back a boy who was two years older than Lu Zhiwan. He said that this was the child he had with a peasant girl during a night of romance with her when he went to Beijing to take the imperial examination.
"He cried and apologized in front of my mother, saying that he was drunk and confused, and that he regretted his past actions. Now that the child's biological mother has passed away, people who know him have no choice but to send his son here. They can't let the child freeze to death outside in the winter. My mother was furious, but she was injured when giving birth to me, and it would be difficult for her to conceive again... In the end, she still accepted the illegitimate child, my brother Lu Fuan..."
"But this incident became a knot in my mother's heart. Her health was already poor, and she became even more depressed. Finally, she couldn't bear it and passed away when I was eight years old."
Speaking of this, Lu Zhiwan's voice was a little choked. He was lamenting for the original owner's mother, Wang, and also sighing for the tragedy of the original owner losing his mother at a young age.
She lowered her head, not even looking at Xiao Jingting's expression. She continued in a hoarse voice, "About a year later, my father married his distant cousin, Chen. Chen treated me well, and even treated my brother Lu Fuan as if he were her own son. Everyone praised her as a kind stepmother. I was still young at the time, and I also thought Chen was a good stepmother. It wasn't until I grew up a little that I overheard a conversation between my father and stepmother. Only then did I realize how much my mother had suffered because of this pair of adulterers!"
What a one-night stand of a peasant girl, what a distant cousin coming to live with her, Lu Jun and Chen had known each other for a long time, but Lu Jun coveted the Wang family's property, so he married Wang.
While he and Wang were deeply in love, he was secretly keeping in touch with Chen and made a promise that once Wang died and Wang had no support from her natal family, he would take Chen into his house.
"Lu Fuan is the son of Lu Jun and Chen. All three of them know it, but I and my mother are the only ones who remain in the dark." Lu Zhiwan pinched her palms, her heart ablaze with indignation on behalf of the original owner. "They swallowed up my grandfather's property, and fearing I might snatch it away, they simply took advantage of the provincial beauty pageants and sent me to the capital like a hot potato. From then on, the mountains are high and the road is long, and no matter how angry I am, I can't do anything to them."
After saying all this in one breath, Lu Zhiwan couldn't help but admire the original owner's father's cruelty and scheming.
If she hadn't happened to travel through time, all these dirty things would have been sunk into the pond in the harem with the original owner, just as that damn scumbag wished, and buried deep underground, never to be known again.
"It's said that family disgrace should not be made public. These trivial matters should not be told to pollute your Majesty's ears, but in my heart, your Majesty is the person I trust most in this world." Lu Zhiwan raised her sleeves to tuck her eyes and bowed deeply to the man beside the couch again: "Your Majesty, please withdraw your order and don't promote my father..."
Why did the original mother and daughter perish in bitterness, dying with hatred, while the scumbag man and the slut woman were able to live freely and carefree? Beauty cannot kill them.
If the dog emperor really wants to show his favor, he should give her a title and reward! She wouldn't mind it! Even two kowtows would be fine.
Xiao Jingting, who was sitting on the edge of the couch, listened to everything quietly without saying a word. His slender hand touched the lion cat on his knees, his long, thick black eyelashes drooped, as if he was thinking about something.
It was only when Lu Zhiwan carefully called him again that he opened his eyes and looked at her.
That gaze was deep and calm, like a pool of still water without ripples, unlike the unpredictable one before. At this moment, there was an inexplicable power that made people feel calm.
After a long time, Xiao Jingting looked away, his thin lips pulled out a slightly cold arc: "Another infatuated man."
Lu Zhiwan was stunned by these unreasonable words. What did "again" mean? Was he being ironic when he said "infatuated"?
Before she could figure it out, Xiao Jingting suddenly raised his finger towards her: "Come closer."
Lu Zhiwan blinked lightly and stepped forward: "Your Majesty."
Xiao Jingting looked her up and down, paused when his gaze fell on her slightly red eyes, then quickly moved away. He lowered his head to stroke the cat in his arms and asked nonchalantly, "Do you hate him?"
Of course I hate him! This scumbag who cheated on his wife and died from poverty should be punished by everyone.
But Lu Zhiwan pursed his lips and didn't answer immediately. After all, this was in ancient times, when filial piety was paramount, and the emperors of the Daxing Dynasty had always advocated benevolence and filial piety in governing the country. Lu Jun was certainly hateful, but as a child, if he criticized his father's right and wrong, he could also be charged with unfilial piety.
I don’t know what kind of answer Xiao Jingting wanted to get from her by suddenly asking this question?
After much hesitation, Lu Zhiwan still couldn't say anything against his will. He clenched his fists, put on a heroic expression of "giving it all up", and replied in a clear and loud voice: "Hate!"
After this honest answer was given, the hall fell into silence.
Lu Zhiwan couldn't help but hold her breath and secretly glanced at the man in front of her. Seeing that his face was cold and emotionless, she felt worried. Did she choose the wrong answer?
Just when she was about to give in and couldn't bear the silence anymore, the man beside the couch suddenly chuckled, "What a hateful thing."
Lu Zhiwan looked up in surprise. What was going on?
Just like ice and snow melting, the handsome face that was stern just now now showed a cold smile. His beautiful narrow eyes looked at Lu Zhiwan steadily: "Since you hate them so much, then I will help you to avenge them and kill them, okay?"
Kill, kill?
Although he said this with a smile, Lu Zhiwan didn't think he was joking at all.
In other words, as long as she nodded, Lu Jun and his family of three would soon be beheaded.
The feeling of having the power of life and death of others directly in her hands did not make her feel refreshed, but rather an indescribable panic and fear - just like not long ago, when Yu Mingjiang handed her the blood-stained confession and told her that Concubine Zhao had hanged herself this morning, she felt a chill all over her body and was filled with anxiety.
Her words really cost a life. Even though Concubine Zhao was not a good person, this terrible power that could arbitrarily dominate human life was a big shock to Lu Zhiwan, who had been influenced by modern society for many years.
"Why aren't you talking?"
Xiao Jingting knocked on the table, frowning slightly: "I didn't say I hate them, so what are you hesitating about now?"
Lu Zhiwan came back to her senses, and seeing the man's unhappy face, her heart tightened. She quickly replied, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was just thinking that if I killed them directly, it would be too easy for them. Otherwise, I should demote Lu Jun or find a reason to exile him to a bitter cold place, making their lives worse than death..."
If they die on the way to exile or in the place of exile, it is what they deserve.
Xiao Jingting looked at her expression and understood something. He lowered his eyelids and commented coldly, "Womanly kindness."
Lu Zhiwan: “…”
She wasn't being soft-hearted at all; she just didn't want to bear the burden of several lives.
Forget it, there is nothing much to explain to this feudal emperor who kills people like chopping wood.
After calming down a bit, she walked over to Xiao Jingting, hooked her delicate hand around his sleeve, and shook it coquettishly: "Your Majesty, please be kind and agree to my request. I know you are the best. Besides, if I demote you, I can save you some salary, which can be used in the national treasury for other purposes."
Xiao Jingting seemed amused by her words and raised his eyebrows to look at her: "So, I have to thank you?"
"I dare not, I dare not." Lu Zhiwan shook her head, looking like a considerate little white flower: "Now that I have entered the palace, I am your Majesty's person. From now on, everything I do will naturally be based on your Majesty's priority and my thoughts will be with your Majesty."
Xiao Jingting didn't say yes or no. He simply stroked the lion cat in his arms and said calmly, "I wanted to give you a favor by promoting Lu Jun. Now, instead of a promotion, you've been demoted. Others, unaware of the situation, think you've fallen out of favor again."
Lu Zhiwan's eyes lit up when she heard this: "Your Majesty has treated me very well, and I am deeply grateful. However, if Your Majesty really wants to show me more grace, I will have no choice but to refuse..."
She can raise her status, grant her mansions and land, and reward her with gold, silver, and jewelry! !
Looking at her sparkling eyes, Xiao Jingting raised the corners of his mouth and said in a steady voice, "I see that you are not the kind of vulgar and greedy person. Rewarding you with those yellow and white things would be an insult to you. Well, let me think about what to reward you with."
Lu Zhiwan shouted in his heart: No, I am a vulgar and greedy person, hurry up and use the silver to kill me and humiliate me!
"Yes." Xiao Jingting smiled and said, "When Xiao Caiyun gives birth, I will give you a little leopard. How about that?"
Lu Zhiwan: “……?”
That's not necessary.
***
Regardless of whether Lu Zhiwan was willing or not, two days later, Xiao Jingting took her to Jinliyuan and witnessed the entire process of Xiao Caiyun's delivery.
Whether it is a human or an animal, giving birth is not easy for a mother.
Seeing Xiao Caiyun endure the pain and finally give birth to four cubs, Lu Zhiwan was so excited that she almost cried. So when Xiao Jingting held a leopard cub in her hands, her first reaction was not fear, but that this little guy was really cute and adorable.
When the thought came to her mind, Lu Zhiwan was stunned for a moment, and then she secretly glanced at Xiao Jingting who was squatting beside Xiao Caiyun and feeding her, and muttered in her heart that she must have been infected by this man!
But the way he patiently and seriously tried to calm Xiao Caiyun was really... pretty.
The little leopard was just born and could not leave its mother, but since Xiao Jingting said he would give one to Lu Zhiwan, he asked her to name the first little leopard and send it to her to raise when the cub grew up a little.
Lu Zhiwan wanted to say, "Your Majesty, you don't have to keep your promise," and she didn't really want to raise a leopard. But she couldn't spoil the fun on such a good day, so she decided to wait and see, so she named the little leopard "Fugui."
The two of them stayed with the leopards for most of the day, and only returned to the palace when dusk fell.
Perhaps Lu Zhiwan was not so happy about Xiao Baozi's kindness, so before going to bed that night, Xiao Jingting gave her a jade pendant.
Looking at the jade pendant, which was smooth and delicate and obviously valuable, Lu Zhiwan's eyes lit up: "I knew that Your Majesty was the most generous. Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Xiao Jingting squinted at her: "Do you like it that much?"
"I like it!" Lu Zhiwan stroked the pattern on the jade pendant: "But the pattern on this jade pendant is quite unique, like an alien pattern."
"This is a treasure presented by the Nanzhao tribe as tribute last year. It's said to be a magical jade. Wearing it will ward off evil spirits and bring peace and health."
Xiao Jingting hooked her black hair with his long fingers, and said lazily: "Since you like it, you can wear it in the future."
Lu Zhiwan had heard of the saying "good jade nourishes people", but she didn't think much about whether it had the effect of warding off evil spirits, keeping the body safe and healthy. Anyway, this small and exquisite jade pendant looked nice, so she decided to wear it.
…
As the days passed, the rash on Lu Zhiwan's face gradually improved, and the situation in the harem that His Majesty favored Lu Jieyushi alone became increasingly clear. The other concubines were indignant and ran to Concubine Gu to complain.
The resentment in Yonghe Palace every morning was stronger than a mass grave. The courtiers in Taihe Hall were also dissatisfied with the exclusive favoritism. The death of Concubine Zhao and the exile of the entire Zhao family to Bazhou made the courtiers alarmed. They all complained: "Has Your Majesty forgotten the disaster of Concubine Zhen fifteen years ago? Are you planning to follow the example of the late emperor and favor another treacherous concubine?"
The disaster of Concubine Zhen was not only a source of worry for the court officials, but also a past event that the emperor and the entire royal family deeply hated.
As soon as this crime was brought up, Lu Zhiwan became the target of public criticism.
The concubines in the palace scolded her: a vixen!
The officials in the court scolded her: Beauty brings disaster!
Lu Zhiwan asked all the palace maids around her, but no one dared to mention it to her. Even hearing the word "Concubine Zhen" scared them so much that they knelt on the ground and begged her not to ask any more questions. This left Lu Zhiwan confused and even more aggrieved. Being scolded was one thing, but the point was that she didn't even know why she was being scolded. Who on earth was this Concubine Zhen, and why was she going to become another Concubine Zhen?
So that day, after Xiao Jingting left the court, she wiped her tears and threw herself into his arms, sobbing, "Your Majesty, I feel wronged."
Xiao Jingting was stunned for a moment when he was hit by the warm and soft beauty.
The elegant fragrance unique to women filled his nose, and his hands subconsciously grasped her slender waist. After he stood firmly, he lowered his eyes and saw her crow hair and half of her snow-white cheek.
During this period of time, the woman's gestures of throwing herself into his arms seemed to become more and more skillful. And he seemed to enjoy this warm and soft intimacy more and more...
Xiao Jingting's dark eyes dimmed slightly. Could it be that he really doted on her too much?
"Your Majesty, although I am in the deep palace, I have heard some rumors outside. They are just jealous and can't stand seeing me and you being so affectionate. Please stand up for me..."
Xiao Jingting pursed his lips and was about to speak when a strange voice suddenly entered his ears.
[The dog emperor wants to pamper me, so why is he scolding me? Being a favorite concubine is too difficult!]
This voice...
Looking at the delicate and well-behaved beauty in his arms, Xiao Jingting narrowed his eyes: "Dog Emperor?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
