Xia Xueyi quickly knelt down, banging her forehead hard against the broken floor tiles, in a pleading gesture:
"Please spare their lives! The Xia family has already fallen to such a state, are you still going to wipe them out?"
"Please, I'll tell you all the secrets I know!"
Su Wanwan watched her without showing any emotion.
"I have served the Empress Dowager for many years and know a lot of things, which will surely be of use to you!"
Xia Xueyi was afraid that Su Wanwan would not give her this chance, so she raised her tear-streaked face and looked expectantly at Su Wanwan standing in the morning light.
The golden sunlight shone on her, making the gold threads on her robe gleam.
At that moment, she truly seemed like a deity.
...
Because it was the day after the emperor's wedding, all the civil and military officials were very sensible.
The morning court session was quickly concluded after a few trivial matters were casually arranged.
He asked Chief Steward Li, "Where is the Empress?"
"Currently in Kunning Palace."
Lu Xingjian strolled leisurely towards the inner court.
Chief Eunuch Li asked with a smile, "Your Majesty, shall we go to the Imperial Study to review memorials, or shall we proceed to Kunning Palace?"
Lu Xingjian stopped in his tracks.
After a while, he turned around and headed towards the Imperial Study.
He had originally planned to kill some time, but when he saw the secret document in his hand, he still frowned.
Even after Ma Ji's brother was transferred to Dushima Camp, he remained restless and had a very strained relationship with Chen An, the deputy commander of Wanquan Military Command who was in charge of defending Dushima Camp.
They seemed irreconcilable.
One was a guerrilla general, and the other was a garrison commander. They were of the same rank, so it was difficult for them to obey each other's orders.
If a conflict arises, it can easily lead to wrangling and could ultimately delay military operations, with serious consequences.
Lu Xingjian quickly issued instructions to transfer Chen An away, while leaving Ma Ang in Dushima Camp.
By the time he returned to Kunning Palace, it was already lunchtime.
Su Wanwan was listening to the head maid of Renshou Palace speak.
The Empress Dowager invited Lu Xingjian and Su Wanwan to lunch.
This is Su Wanwan's first lunch after marrying into the family, so she should serve her elders.
The head palace maid was somewhat surprised that Lu Xingjian had come in from outside.
It seems the emperor's attitude towards the new empress is not as warm as one might imagine.
This is a good thing.
With Miss Yanruo's talent, beauty, and virtue, it's only a matter of time before she gains a place in the harem.
Hopefully, Empress Su will be tolerant.
Inside Renshou Palace.
Besides Empress Dowager Wang, Wang Yanruo, there were also two of Wang's younger siblings from her maternal family: Lady Sun Qingyu, wife of the Marquis of Ruian, and Lady Chongshan.
Empress Dowager Zhang was also among those invited, but she declined to attend due to illness.
When Sun Qingyu saw the emperor, his face paled slightly.
Very embarrassing.
This was the first time she had seen the emperor, and she recognized him as the man she had warned at the temple.
In just two or three months, he actually married her and made her his empress!
She mistakenly thought he was a lecherous man with ill intentions.
Su Wanwan accepted the greetings and exchanged pleasantries with a calm expression, and then presented gifts to the two ladies.
Because Lu Xingjian was present, the atmosphere was somewhat solemn, and there was a moment of awkward silence.
Madam Wang smiled and said, "Let's have our meal first."
Su Wanwan was setting out chopsticks for the Empress Dowager and was about to serve the dishes when Wang Shi told her to sit down.
"Wanwan, there's no need for such formalities. Yanruo is young; let her keep busy."
Su Wanwan still respected this kind elder and politely said:
“Miss Yanruo is a distinguished guest in the palace, and her granddaughter-in-law should serve the Empress Dowager.”
According to ancient customs, a new bride should serve her parents-in-law meals for the first three days after her marriage.
Aunt and uncle are the same as parents-in-law.
However, since Empress Dowager Zhang is not here today, she should be serving the older Wang family member.
Madam Wang was pleased with Su Wanwan's respect and invited Yanruo to sit down and have her meal.
Today we are seated at separate tables, with each person having a table in front of them.
Yanruo sat down gracefully and quietly, only occasionally glancing at Lu Xingjian out of the corner of her eye.
She was somewhat disappointed that Lu Xingjian didn't initiate a conversation with her.
She was carefully groomed by her family and was a proud, talented, and beautiful young lady.
However, my great-aunt encountered danger in the palace, my former great-grandmother, the Lady of Ruixing Marquis, died of poisoning, and my third grandfather, the Earl of Anren, died from serious injuries.
A series of blows came down.
Her family had no choice but to arrange for her to enter the palace to serve the emperor and win his favor.
She had no other choice.
Fortunately, the emperor was a handsome and accomplished young man with an excellent temperament, whom she admired greatly.
Especially that kind of refined elegance that exudes aloofness can easily arouse a woman's desire to conquer.
Not to mention that the original Empress Xia Xueyi was of average talent and appearance, far inferior to her.
Take the newly appointed Empress Su Wanwan, for example.
She was just a widow who had been married before, and she was quite old. How could she compare to herself when she was sixteen?
During the meal, she secretly glanced at Lu Xingjian several times with tender affection.
Once, their eyes met, which startled her so much that she hurriedly looked away, her heart pounding wildly.
Lu Xingjian, however, remained indifferent.
His gaze fell on Su Wanwan, who stood respectfully serving him, and was somewhat cold.
Su Wanwan personally served Wang Shi dishes, soup, and rice.
Of course, I noticed the subtle tension between the people at the table, but I pretended not to see it.
The meal was eaten quietly.
After the meal, Su Wanwan even ate some of the leftovers from Wang's table to show her respect and filial piety, strictly adhering to ancient etiquette, leaving no room for criticism.
After the meal, tea was served.
Su Wanwan served tea to Wang Shi.
Yanruo obediently took the teacup from the palace servant and served tea to Lu Xingjian.
"Your Majesty, your tea."
A shy, smiling young girl is like a delicate flower on a spring branch; the scene itself is very pleasing to the eye.
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