These days, she's been furious and anxious because of Zhang Zonghui's broken leg. She wants to find the emperor to help her get revenge, but she can't find anyone.
Lu Xingjian glanced indifferently at the entire room, his gaze lingering on Su Wanwan for a moment.
When Su Wanwan saw his gaze sweep over her, she quickly lowered her head to avoid meeting his eyes.
Lu Xingjian quickly withdrew his gaze, sat down directly, and answered the Empress Dowager in a casual tone.
"There are many affairs of the previous dynasty. Has Your Majesty consumed all the bird's nest porridge that has been sent over these past few days?"
Empress Dowager Zhang paused.
He thought to himself, "What a deep and scheming guy."
She sent people to invite him countless times, but he refused to show himself, showing no regard for her, the Empress Dowager.
However, he was very good at putting on a show, having people send him bird's nest porridge every day to express his filial piety.
Her accusations of being unfilial are baseless and could easily give outsiders the impression that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor are at odds.
She frowned and glanced at the trembling Han Xiufen, but still softened her tone and put on a kind and gentle expression.
"I am naturally pleased by the Emperor's filial piety."
"It's just that a while ago, the court officials submitted a memorial impeaching the Empress, which caused her to become depressed and seriously ill. The Emperor should visit her more often."
Xia Xueyi had lost a lot of weight, and her eyes were red from crying, making her look rather pitiful.
Lu Xingjian looked at her and gently comforted her, "The Empress was frightened. How is the medicine from the imperial physicians?"
His face showed a hint of gentleness and care.
Xia Xueyi was so moved that tears streamed down her face; her eyes were filled with unconcealed love and emotion.
"Your Majesty, I am very grateful for your concern. As long as I can see Your Majesty every day, my illness will be greatly cured."
"Instruct the Imperial Kitchen to send bird's nest porridge to Kunning Palace every day," Lu Xingjian instructed Chief Steward Li.
Su Wanwan stood in the corner, quietly watching Xia Xueyi's deep love for Lu Xingjian, and also watching Lu Xingjian's gentle care for Xia Xueyi, only lowering her eyes.
She recalled that in the first month of the year before she got married, she caught a cold and, fearing that the illness would be passed on to the Empress Dowager, moved to the West Garden to recuperate.
The illness lingered, and coupled with his depressed state of mind, he was sick for a full month.
Lu Xingjian did not offer a single word of greeting.
Zhou Wanxiu often came to visit, saying that he was accompanying Xia Xueyi to admire the plum blossoms today, or that he would take Xia Xueyi to see the lanterns tomorrow.
Love or not, it's really obvious.
Fortunately, she had already accumulated enough disappointment back then, so seeing them so affectionate now, she felt no ripples in her heart.
Besides.
Even if he loved Xia Xueyi, didn't he still go to brothels to solicit prostitutes?
That scoundrel who can't control his lower body, she must have been blind back then.
Lu Xingjian's gaze fell on Su Wanwan again without him noticing.
Xia Xueyi sat opposite Lu Xingjian and noticed his gaze towards Su Wanwan. Her expression turned ugly for a moment.
She has been married to the emperor for almost a year, but they have not yet consummated their marriage because the mourning period for the late emperor has not yet ended.
A while ago, she excitedly dressed up, hoping to curry favor with the emperor.
It turns out that the Emperor followed Su Wanwan on his way to Kunning Palace!
Recently, the Empress Dowager wanted to see the Emperor about Zhang Zonghui's matter. She had been in a great hurry for several days, but she had not been able to see him.
As soon as Su Wanwan entered the palace, the Emperor made his appearance.
He held her child and kept looking at her.
Even though the Empress, Consort De, and Consort Rong were right in front of him, he didn't even glance at them.
Xia Xueyi couldn't help but think more about it.
After a moment's thought, she sat down in the chair next to Lu Xingjian and symbolically patted Xu Bangrui's head.
She then grasped Lu Xingjian's hand, blushing and saying tenderly, "Your Majesty, I also wish to give birth to a son as soon as possible, to carry on the royal lineage."
After speaking, he glanced at Su Wanwan, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally.
Su Wanwan looked at their clasped hands and lowered her eyes.
Was Xia Xueyi deliberately showing off her relationship to herself?
Is this necessary?
Lu Xingjian frowned slightly.
He casually withdrew his hand from Xia Xueyi's grasp, adjusted Xu Bangrui's sitting posture, and pinched his chubby little face.
This child has such fair skin, just like Wanwan.
Wanwan is not only fair-skinned, but also very delicate. A light touch will leave a finger mark on her snow-white skin, and a little pressure will cause her to frown and cry out in pain, begging for mercy with teary eyes.
He felt a sharp pain in his heart.
Would her deceased husband, who died young, be as reluctant to hurt her as she is?
When she lies beneath another man, receiving his pleasure, does she think of his anger?
Consort Rong said enviously, "The Emperor and Empress are so loving, which reminds me of the late Emperor's deep affection for the Empress Dowager."
These words were extremely flattering to Empress Dowager Zhang.
Empress Dowager Zhang wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and sighed:
"The late emperor appeared to me in a dream a few days ago, telling me to prioritize having offspring and to give birth to a prince as soon as possible, as this is the key to stabilizing the court and the harem."
Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent.
Consort Rong and Consort De also wanted to curry favor with Lu Xingjian, but they dared not act rashly and had a hard time holding back.
Xu Bangrui, who had been sitting quietly on Lu Xingjian's lap, pouted as if he was about to cry and reached out to Su Wanwan: "Mother, Mother..."
All eyes then fell on Su Wanwan and Xu Bangrui.
Su Wanwan felt a little embarrassed and went over to take the child, but Lu Xingjian showed no intention of letting go.
She had no choice but to squat down and stuff a pastry into Xu Bangrui's mouth, then step aside.
Xu Bangrui stopped crying immediately after receiving some snacks.
Empress Dowager Zhang smiled faintly and said, "This child is quite bold."
Han Xiufen quickly apologized: "Your Majesty, Bangrui is young and has been spoiled by his family. Please forgive him."
Empress Dowager Zhang looked at Su Wanwan and asked, "Is the child Wanwan's biological child? The features don't look like it."
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