She neither wanted nor dared to cause any trouble.
Getting a few scoldings won't hurt you, so just take it.
She's just too useless.
He couldn't even protect his own kitten.
A palace maid dug a hole under a persimmon tree in the palace's rear garden, stretched out two fingers, and disgustedly picked up the kitten's body and threw it into the hole.
The kitten fell to the bottom of the pit like a rag, and remained motionless.
The palace servants shoveled soil into the pit and stomped on it several times to flatten it.
She watched all of that quietly, not daring to speak or cry.
It felt as if I was the one who had been buried in the pit.
Perhaps, one day, she will be buried like this too.
It was all very quiet, except for the people who buried her, who were cursing and complaining.
After the palace servants left, she walked to the persimmon tree and quietly looked at the spot where the kitten was buried for a long time.
Later, she quietly returned to Qingning Palace without mentioning the kitten again.
She didn't even have time to give it a good name.
No one in Qingning Palace ever mentioned the kitten again.
It was as if it had never existed.
And no living creatures such as cats and dogs have appeared since.
Lu Xingjian would deliberately skip the character "cat" only when he encountered it while reading or practicing calligraphy.
That's when she realized that the kitten really did exist.
These weren't the friends she only had in her dreams.
Now, he has become emperor, and she has become his empress.
Was he planning to give himself another kitten?
Su Wanwan stared at him intently for a long while before asking softly, "Really?"
His voice was filled with disbelief.
Lu Xingjian tucked her stray hairs behind her ear, his eyes gentle yet firm: "Really."
Su Wanwan sniffed, silently finished her porridge, and took her medicine.
She should be able to protect her kitten now, right?
She wanted to give it the most beautiful name.
It deserves the best treatment and care.
After they fell asleep that night, Lu Xingjian hugged her from behind, his warm hands resting on her cold lower abdomen.
A warm current flowed from his palm into her lower abdomen.
The man's embrace behind me was broad and warm, making me feel very safe.
The night was exceptionally quiet.
Only a very low, almost inaudible sound was heard.
"Wanwan, I won't let you cry again."
Su Wanwan was probably asleep and didn't respond.
The very next morning, a member of the Imperial Guard came to report:
"The man in the portrait is Yu Chengen, a student of the Imperial Academy, and a close friend of Yang Zhen."
"That painting, 'Osmanthus Lake Song,' was written by Yang Zhen last year in his hometown of Xindu, Sichuan. Osmanthus Lake is a lake in Xindu. This poem was written by Yang Shen to bid farewell to his friend Hu Xiaosi, but the painting was taken away by Yu Chengen."
The visitor paused before saying, "He said there was a girl named Ma Ji who asked Yu Chengen to find that painting and calligraphy for Yun Qing."
Upon hearing this, Lu Xingjian's expression darkened slightly. He glanced towards the bedroom and impatiently interrupted the visitor:
"Can't you handle this yourself? You came all this way so early to give me your reply. Did I shortchange you?"
Su Wanwan happened to come out of the bedroom door and heard his angry rebuke. She glanced at the Imperial Guard again.
The Imperial Guards were so frightened that their faces turned solemn, and they dared not raise their heads.
He hadn't expected the Empress to be here.
If those words had reached the Empress's ears, wouldn't that have put the Emperor in a difficult position?
One is the newlywed Empress, and the other is the beloved beauty whom he spoils rotten.
If the two really fight to the death, the one who will be in a difficult position is the emperor.
A man's enjoyment of having multiple wives is always a bit of a hassle.
The emperor is the same.
"Get out of here! Are you waiting for me to invite you to dine?" Lu Xingjian glared at the Imperial Guard, his eyes gesturing for him to leave quickly.
The Imperial Guards quickly got up to leave, but Su Wanwan stopped them.
"Is it Lord Qian?" she asked hesitantly.
"Last time, my father and sister escaped from danger thanks to Lord Qian's great help. I will definitely repay him in the future." Su Wanwan's tone was very sincere.
The Imperial Guard had no choice but to turn around and bow: "This humble servant is Qian Ning, carrying out the Emperor's orders, and dares not claim credit."
Lu Xingjian stepped forward, took Su Wanwan's hand, blocked her view, and changed the subject:
"Why didn't you sleep a little longer? Are you feeling any better?"
Su Wanwan nodded: "Much better."
She tiptoed over Lu Xingjian's shoulder and found that Qian Ning had disappeared.
Su Wanwan looked at Lu Xingjian suspiciously: "What's going on that you're being so secretive about?"
Lu Xingjian absentmindedly changed the subject:
"It's nothing. They say that the problem of embezzling public funds in Liaodong is very serious. Compared to the time of Emperor Taizu, the army is less than half the size, but the land reclamation is more than half the size."
"During the reign of Emperor Taizu, the army was not only self-sufficient in food and pay but also had a surplus. Now, not only is there a shortage of food and pay, but the court also has to allocate funds every year to support the border troops."
This was the content of the memorial he had just seen last night, and he casually used it to make excuses.
The relationship between the two has been extremely cold and strained lately.
The situation had finally eased up a bit, and he didn't want to cause any more trouble.
Su Wanwan did not intend to interfere in such important military and political matters; she simply stated:
"Why scold someone for no reason? Such a diligent subordinate should be more considerate and rewarded."
"Okay, you can sleep a little longer and wait for me to come back?" Lu Xingjian said.
Su Wanwan shook her head: "I'm not going to sleep anymore. I have to go back to Kunning Palace. Grand Princess Chun'an and Princess Rong are still there."
Lu Xingjian paused, then said in a deep voice:
"I will have someone arrange for Prince Rong to be enfeoffed. As for Princess Chun'an, she is quite old and should rest at home and stop causing trouble."
Su Wanwan raised an eyebrow: "The Empress Dowager's side..."
"I will deal with this matter after the Annam issue is settled," Lu Xingjian said, frowning.
This time, Empress Dowager Wang's provocation was a blatant slap in the face to the emperor.
If it weren't for the incident involving the Annamite envoy, and the fact that Guangdong and Guangxi still relied on the Marquis of Anyuan's help, he would have already taken action to put pressure on the Wang family.
Su Wanwan understood immediately and offered a way out:
"Your Majesty, please handle the matter at your discretion. I will not interfere further."
Lu Xingjian's slender fingers gently caressed her cheek, his face filled with tenderness:
"You've been wronged in this matter. Does your stomach still hurt?"
Su Wanwan replied calmly, "It's much better now, it was just more painful on the first day."
He didn't think she was the one who was wronged yesterday; instead, he took his anger out on her.
She doesn't want a sweet word or a gentle promise right now.
"Rest well, take your medicine and get your body in order, okay?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Su Wanwan's calm tone carried a hint of detachment.
Lu Xingjian paused for a moment, then said nothing more.
He knew all too well how difficult it was to coax her.
She actually finds it difficult to truly trust anyone.
Like a frightened little hedgehog, saying things it doesn't mean, raising all its quills, always wanting to escape.
After they finished their breakfast, one went to the morning court session, and the other returned to Kunning Palace.
Princess Chun'an and Princess Rong had been sitting in Kunning Palace all night, their minds tense the whole time. Now they were finally allowed to leave.
At the entrance, I bumped into Su Wanwan, who was returning from the direction of the Qianqing Palace, looking radiant.
The two, looking haggard, said no more and obediently performed their greetings.
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