After dinner, Lu Xiaomei planned to go back to her room to take a bath after digesting her food. Her mother, feeling sorry for her daughter, insisted on bathing her herself, but Lu Xiaomei refused.
"Mom, I'm all grown up now, I don't need you to bathe me anymore. Hehe, let my sister-in-law come in with me to chat and scrub my back."
"Alright, you young people have a lot to talk about, but don't chat too late, you need to get some rest. I'm going to take care of the kids now, I won't disturb you two sisters-in-law catching up."
After the servants filled the bathtub with warm water, Lu Xiaomei took off her clothes, leaving only her breast binder, and began to show off her biceps to Gu Nanjiao.
With her petite arms and well-defined muscle lines, Lu Xiaomei lifted a solid black sandalwood table with one hand, startling Gu Nanjiao so much that her chin almost hit her heel.
She couldn't help but think of a saying: "Like a lotus emerging from clear water, Daiyu slays a dragon."
Who would have thought that the petite and slender Lu Xiaomei could develop such muscular biceps and be so strong?
If Lu's mother knew that this seemingly delicate daughter possessed unparalleled strength and power, one wonders what she would think.
"Alright, I know you're good, put it down quickly." Gu Nanjiao was afraid that Lu Xiaomei might twist her arm if she wasn't careful, so she anxiously urged her to put it down.
Lu Xiaomei slowly put the table down and wiped the sweat from her forehead: "After practicing for so long, I have to show my sister-in-law what I've learned. Strength is only one aspect."
Gu Nanjiao wet the towel and beckoned to her, "Come here, I'll scrub your back."
"Hehe, sister-in-law, be gentle. Don't tickle my armpits!" Lu Xiaomei was ticklish, and before Gu Nanjiao had even started rubbing, she shrank her shoulders and tried to avoid it. Gu Nanjiao had no choice but to stop and toss the towel to her: "You rub it yourself!"
While rubbing, Lu Xiaomei kept chattering: "Sister-in-law, don't you know? Our nun was troubled by love when she was young. After she became a nun, she always had a stern face and was very fierce. She doesn't let us trust men's words. She said that men are unreliable, otherwise pigs would fly."
"Then your nun must have been heartbroken by men when she was young. But she's right, you really can't trust a man's foul mouth."
Lu Xiaomei blinked and suddenly leaned closer to Gu Nanjiao mysteriously: "Sister-in-law, do you think my brother is a scoundrel? Is he reliable?"
"Hmm..." Gu Nanjiao pondered for a moment: "If we're talking about the past, your brother would definitely be considered an unreliable scoundrel, but now, he's been trained by me to be obedient. Besides, I don't rely on your brother."
“That’s true!” Lu Xiaomei lay back down in the bathtub, scrubbing herself as she said, “It’s rare to see my brother so docile. Before, he would always have a cold face whenever he saw you. I don’t know where he got his arrogance. Our family was so poor, and only my sister-in-law was willing to marry into our family. My brother would still have a long face and look miserable. Now, he looks like a lapdog, so obedient in front of my sister-in-law. I wish I could find a man like my brother. If he doesn’t listen to me, I can just use my fists. Hahaha.”
After Lu Xiaomei finished speaking, for some reason, the image of Wen Zhang's face popped into her mind. She paused and asked, "I wonder how that boy Wen Zhang is doing? Has he grown taller?"
I remember meeting Wen Zhang once a few years ago. He looked rather frail and wasn't even half a head taller than her.
"I'll take you to meet him tomorrow!"
"That's so embarrassing, how can a young lady meet a stranger?" Lu Xiaomei became reserved.
"Hehe, you care about these formalities!" Gu Nanjiao teased. "How about this, since you don't want to see them, I'll take you to the capital tomorrow to shop around and buy some things you like, how about that?"
Lu Xiaomei perked up and quickly washed herself clean: "That's great! I haven't explored the bustling capital city yet. Hurry up and wash, I want to go to bed early tonight."
...
The next day, the emperor summoned Chu Luoxun to his bedchamber and inquired about matters of state. Before leaving, he asked, "Xun'er, do you think I'm about to die?"
Chu Luoxun's eyes reddened: "Father, please don't talk nonsense. Father will surely live for thousands of years and be without end."
The fleeting sadness in his heart was genuine, but it was only momentary. From childhood to adulthood, he had never been favored by his father, the emperor. After his mother was banished to the cold palace, he was repeatedly demoted and even hunted down multiple times. He suspected that his father was behind all of this, and of course, he could not rule out the possibility of Minister Zhou and Consort Yue. If it weren't for the protection of the former chief minister, there probably wouldn't be the Chu Luoxun he is today.
Therefore, he had to be ruthless!
He doesn't trust anyone, not even Headmaster Zheng, who is completely open with him.
"Cough cough!" The emperor coughed violently a few times, then said, "Don't try to comfort me. I know my own body. It's just that there's a snow disaster in the north, and your brother went to provide disaster relief. I'm really worried about his safety. If another country were to invade at this time, how would you deal with it alone? I'm worried that you won't be able to handle it by yourself. If such a vast country were handed over to you, wouldn't you have no peace to live in?"
"Father, don't worry too much. Prince Cheng will definitely return safely, and nothing will happen."
The Emperor sighed: "But your brother hasn't sent any news for many days, and I'm truly worried about his safety. If it were just due to environmental factors preventing him from sending messages, that would be one thing. What I'm worried about is that someone doesn't want him to return to the capital!"
Chu Luoxun's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, realizing that his father was definitely testing him. However, he had done his job very discreetly, and Prince Cheng would surely die during the disaster relief efforts, so no one would find out.
Thinking of this, Chu Luoxun smiled knowingly: "Father, do not worry too much. My brother is a lucky man and I believe he will return soon."
The body has returned!
"I hope so!"
"Father, please take good care of yourself and don't worry about anything anymore. If you trust me, I will handle all the affairs of the court on your behalf. You can take care of these things after you recover."
The emperor stared at Chu Luoxun for a long time, but did not answer his question. Instead, he waved his hand and said, "Go down. I'm tired."
Chu Luoxun "..."
Even now, his father is still unwilling to relinquish power. Although he has been appointed as regent, important matters still require his father's approval. He only has the nominal title of regent but no real power.
Important matters cannot be handled according to one's own opinions, and one is hindered at every turn.
He felt a little guilty under the emperor's gaze, as if his little thoughts had been seen through. Chu Luoxun lowered his eyelids, cupped his hands, and withdrew without daring to linger.
The incense sticks inside the room emitted wisps of smoke, and a man dressed in casual clothes walked out from a side hall.
The emperor, who had been on the verge of death on the bed, suddenly regained his clarity: "In your opinion, does the crown prince harbor any disloyal intentions?"
Lu Yanzhao curled his lips and bowed to the emperor on the bed: "Your subject is not allowed to pry!"
The emperor sneered: "I summoned you here not to hear your useless nonsense. Don't give me that platitude. Tell me the truth, do you think it exists or not?"
Lu Yanzhao was taken aback for a moment, then bowed again: "How could I know if Your Majesty is unsure? Perhaps Your Majesty should rest for a few more days and test the waters?"
The emperor glanced at Lu Yanzhao indifferently, then pointed at him with a helpless expression: "You, you probably already have a decision in your heart, but you just won't say it. Sigh, then I'll just lie here for a few more days."
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