Chapter 714 Collaboration - Doubts
Seeing Ji Wenjin's somber expression, Lu Hexuan also composed himself, then thought for a moment and said, "She seems quite happy."
"This shouldn't be happening! Something's fishy, the whole thing is suspicious."
Ji Wenjin couldn't help but mutter to herself that the emperor's usual behavior was so different from what she was doing today.
After Ji Wenjin's words, Lu Hexuan also fell into deep thought. To be honest, he also felt that the emperor's behavior today was strange, but he couldn't quite put his finger on why.
Furthermore, Lu Hexuan didn't want to try to figure out the emperor's thoughts, so he naturally put the matter out of his mind upon returning. Now that Ji Wenjin brought it up again, Lu Hexuan began to rack his brains for ideas.
After a long silence, the two talked about the cause and effect of the matter, as well as the words the emperor had spoken to Lu Hexuan. Finally, they said in unison, "Gu Renjie."
Yes, the person most easily overlooked, yet who runs through the whole affair, and who makes the emperor happy, is Gu Renjie.
"Looks like I'll have to talk to my older cousin tomorrow!"
After figuring out what had happened, Ji Wenjin suddenly felt much more at ease.
Seeing him get up to leave, Lu Hexuan hurriedly said, "If you get the result, remember to come and tell me tomorrow night!"
"Aren't you afraid I'll ruin your good time?" Ji Wenjin teased, raising an eyebrow.
Lu Hexuan thought that Ji Wenjin, this unmoved old monk, knew nothing, but he didn't expect that he was as clear-headed as a mirror.
Knowing full well that he was doing something important in his room, she still dragged him over, and now she's talking to him like this! How despicable! Utterly despicable.
"Ji Wenjin, you better not get married, or I'll teach you a lesson."
Lu Hexuan gritted his teeth, and Ji Wenjin smiled at him, raising her eyebrows before turning to leave.
Before leaving, Ji Wenjin turned back and glanced at Lu Hexuan one last time, "Remember to behave yourself tomorrow night, or don't blame me if things go wrong."
Before Lu Hexuan could even react, Ji Wenjin had already rushed out the door and climbed over the courtyard wall.
Watching the figure disappear, Lu Hexuan made a series of punches and kicks, but in the end, he had no choice but to return to his bedroom dejectedly.
The next day, for the first time in over twenty years, Lu Hexuan stood in the imperial court wearing the robes of a prince.
When the ministers saw him, some were curious, some were puzzled, and some understood, but most whispered among themselves.
"The wise prince never interferes in state affairs, so why has he suddenly come today?" a minister asked in a low voice.
Upon hearing this, the other adults immediately said, "It has been a tradition for princes to attend court since ancient times. Previously, His Majesty allowed Prince Xian to act recklessly because of his youth. Now that he is older, it is only natural that he should attend court to avoid violating the imperial edict."
"In my opinion, the Prince Xian was probably forced to attend court by His Majesty! Otherwise, look at the bruises under his eyes. Otherwise, why would he look so listless?"
There are many different opinions, but Lu Hexuan makes no attempt to defend himself.
However, upon seeing the bruises on his face, Lu Hexuan couldn't help but glance at Ji Wenjin. Seeing Ji Wenjin's serious expression, as if it were none of his business, Lu Hexuan suddenly felt a strong urge to punch him.
Unfortunately, he was in the main hall at that moment and could only silently endure it.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
At the eunuch's shout, all the ministers knelt down to welcome the emperor. Once the emperor was seated on his high throne, they all kowtowed and said, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Get up, all of you!" The emperor raised his hand, and everyone stood up in unison.
The emperor's gaze swept over the crowd, then fell upon Lu Hexuan, who was clearly somewhat dejected.
"Judging from your appearance, Your Majesty, could it be that you were so worried about me sending you to court that you didn't sleep all night?"
Although the emperor didn't say it, he was quite satisfied with Lu Hexuan's appearance.
Yesterday, Lu Hexuan tried to refuse, but it was I who insisted on making him participate in politics. He had never attended court before, so it was natural for him to be afraid.
Lu Hexuan never expected that being disturbed by Ji Wenjin last night and not sleeping well would have such an effect.
"Your Majesty, I felt a great sense of responsibility yesterday and had difficulty falling asleep."
Lu Hexuan's flattery made the emperor's smile even wider. He had been worried that his choice would be wrong, but now it seemed that it was the best choice.
After teasing Lu Hexuan and temporarily assigning him to some affairs of the Hanlin Academy, today's morning court session ended as boringly as ever.
On the way back, Ji Wenjin said she was going to visit the Ji family at their residence, so she squeezed into a carriage with Gu Renjie.
Having no other choice, Gu Jin boarded the Yun family's carriage with Yun Yichen.
"Yichen, there's something I'm wondering if I can ask you!"
Gu Jin had never felt awkward in front of Yun Yichen, but today, when he spoke to him, Gu Jin actually became nervous.
Seeing Gu Jin rubbing his thighs somewhat uneasily, Yun Yichen was puzzled, but nodded and said, "Father, please speak frankly."
Even with Yun Yichen's words, Gu Jin still hesitated. After struggling for a while, he finally asked, "When the Eldest Princess passed away, did she leave you anything or say anything?"
The eldest princess passed away before Yun Yichen even remembered anything, so the issue of Gu Jin was quite difficult for him.
"Weren't the things my mother left behind given to me by my parents-in-law? Could it be that my mother left something else?"
Yun Yichen thought of the jade pendant that he and Gu Renjie each owned, and wondered if there was something he didn't know!
Seeing that Yun Yichen seemed genuinely unaware, Gu Jin's tense expression finally relaxed, and he slowly exhaled.
"It's nothing. I was just thinking that since the princess loves you so much, she might leave you something else."
Gu Jin thought he hadn't revealed anything, but Yun Yichen could clearly sense his relaxation. He felt genuinely relieved upon learning that he had nothing else left by his mother.
Back at the Yun residence, Yun Yichen felt increasingly uneasy, so he immediately sent Zhong Lin back to the Duke of Anguo's residence to find out what was going on.
Since Ji Wenjin came to the Marquis's residence under the name of the Ji family, he naturally had to pay his respects to the Ji family.
While Ji was busy finding a reliable midwife for Gu Shuyan, she exchanged a few pleasantries with Ji Wenjin and then sent him directly to Gu Renjie's place.
Ji Wenjin was naturally more than happy to accept this.
So the two cousins sat down in Gu Renjie's study.
"My cousin has only been in office for two short years, but he has already become a favorite of His Majesty. I'm afraid his future prospects will be no worse than my uncle's."
As soon as Ji Wenjin sat down, she began to speak in official jargon with Gu Renjie.
Although Gu Renjie did not understand why Ji Wenjin would speak like this, seeing his attitude, he followed up and said, "Cousin, you have only been in office for two years. To be honest, I am only a fifth-rank official, while you have already been promoted to the third rank. I am afraid that I will have to rely on you for guidance in the future."
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