Chapter 187
For her, there is no such thing as hard work or not.
In fact, everything that has passed is not too painful.
Luo Yining leaned against him and actually felt a little sleepy. In truth, if she were to speak, she really didn't know what to say. If she did, it would inevitably involve Lu Jiaxue. That year wasn't entirely painful; Lu Jiaxue hadn't forced himself on her. So when she learned of Lu Jiaxue's accident, she was deeply shocked and devastated, with mixed feelings.
If someone is really good to you, how can you not have sympathy for him? What's more, her past with Lu Jiaxue is too complicated.
She said, "Everything was fine in Jinling. It was a little harder when Bao Ge'er was born, but it was okay."
Luo Shenyuan slowly closed his eyes: "Where's he?"
This was the first time he had taken the initiative to ask about Lu Jiaxue. Luo Yining was so stunned that she didn't react for a moment, but she knew exactly who he was referring to.
"Lu Jiaxue..." Luo Yining murmured, "I don't understand him. When he got into trouble, he asked Ye Yan and the others to take me to find my father, which was like letting me go back." It might be ridiculous to say it, but after all these years, Luo Yining still felt that Lu Jiaxue was a contradictory and complex person. She understood some of it, but still didn't fully understand it.
Perhaps sensing the hesitation in her words, Luo Shenyuan didn't want to listen anymore. Why bother asking? He regretted it the moment he asked. He was right to want to kill Lu Jiaxue. There's no room for two tigers in one mountain. Now the conflict of interest between him and Lu Jiaxue was too great.
In reality, Luo Shenyuan had already informed the Emperor of the Empress's affair. He had discovered the identity of the man two weeks earlier: his brother, Lu Jiaran, a victim of Lu Jiaxue's power struggle. However, he wasn't prepared to tell the truth; he wanted to take advantage of Lu Jiaxue's illness to kill him. Unfortunately, there was no direct evidence, and with Lu Jiaxue's return from battle, even if the Empress's affair was indeed with him, the Emperor wouldn't dare pursue the matter. He couldn't do anything to Lu Jiaxue right now.
But suspicion and doubt are inevitable, and Luo Shenyuan needs this suspicion.
"He's back today, right?" Luo Yining looked at him sideways. "I know you must have done something about the border issue. You are..."
"I want to kill him." Luo Shenyuan said lightly.
Although Luo Yining guessed it, she still didn't know what to say when he said it so casually.
"He wants to kill me too, it's the same." Luo Shenyuan pressed her head down and let her sleep well.
Luo Yining heard his steady heartbeat and sighed softly. This wasn't something she could interfere with, even if she wished for peace and stability. But the darkness and bloodshed still existed. The calculations, alienation, and veiled defiance in the officialdom were something she couldn't stop or change. Because this wasn't just about her.
Just talking about the issue of appointing a crown prince, Lu Jiaxue and Luo Shenyuan's positions are very different.
On the issue of the crown prince, Lu Jiaxue sided with the Qingliu faction, supporting the Third Prince. Wang Yuan, seemingly uncommitted, was in fact the most adept at understanding the Emperor's thoughts. Even without expressing his stance, he was actually siding with the First Prince. His interests did not conflict with Luo Shenyuan's, so he acquiesced to Luo Shenyuan's support for the First Prince.
Luo Shenyuan kissed her gently from the side of her face, his lips dry yet hot. "Go to sleep." He patted her back gently, like she was coaxing a child. "No matter what, don't worry. I won't let you get involved."
He protected her in his little shell, where there was no wind or rain, and no one could hurt her.
Yi Ning looked at his face quietly for a while, hummed softly through her nose, and hugged his arm. She had believed in him since she was a child.
*
It was almost late at night when Lu Jiaxue finished talking with the emperor.
The emperor leaned back in the rosewood chair, with incense burning in the room. He suddenly remembered what Luo Shenyuan presented to him yesterday.
Luo Shenyuan told him, "I had the Imperial Guard investigate the Empress's Zhou clan and also follow clues to investigate some of her close relatives. Later, we found an old maid who served in the Lu residence and confirmed that the Empress frequently visited the Lu residence. Now, she is also in frequent contact with the Governor, and is even often summoned to the palace... Of course, these are just what others have seen. I have only collected witnesses and dare not make any assumptions. If Your Majesty wishes to summon you, I will arrange it for you. It is up to you to consider."
Lu Jiaxue sat in front of him drinking tea with a serious expression on his face. He had just returned from military service and he was helpless against him.
Luo Shenyuan must have thought of this, so he didn't say anything today.
The emperor suddenly opened his eyes, and his gaze was still extremely sharp.
Lu Jiaxue was talking to the Minister of War. When he turned around, he accidentally caught the emperor's eye, but the emperor smiled and said, "I see it's getting late. You two should take your leave first."
Lu Jiaxue stood up and said with a smile, "Then I shall withdraw." As he walked out of the palace gate, he saw Zhao Mingzhu standing outside the palace, wearing a long, gold-plated gown with long sleeves and a full set of Haizhu headdress. She was now pampered and delicate, and even more beautiful than before. No wonder the emperor still favored her. Lu Jiaxue stopped talking to the minister and said lightly, "Jieyi."
"How are you, foster father?" Zhao Mingzhu bowed to him. Seeing that he was about to leave, she hurriedly asked, "Foster father, wait a moment. I haven't heard from sister Yining in a long time. I wonder if her illness has improved?"
"She's recovered." Lu Jiaxue smiled gently.
The Minister of War was waiting for him up ahead. He left after he finished speaking. Zhao Mingzhu looked at his back with some confusion, but didn't ask any more questions. Then, she placed her hand on the hand of a palace maid and entered the Qianqing Palace.
As soon as Lu Jiaxue got into the sedan chair, a palace servant came running over to tell him that the third prince wanted to see him.
Lu Jiaxue frowned and ordered a sedan chair to the Third Prince's residence outside the palace. The Third Prince had moved out of the palace when he turned fourteen, but as he had not yet been granted the title of Prince, he still lived in the Forbidden City. Lu Jiaxue entered the courtyard and dismounted. The Third Prince was handsome, somewhat similar to Concubine Duan. Seeing him, he hurriedly came forward and said, "Your Excellency has finally arrived. Queen Mother has been waiting for you for a long time!"
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