The emperor is using this as a warning to Lady Wang.
Wang sneered: "When the late emperor was alive, he always remembered to be considerate of his old ministers and to give important positions to meritorious officials. If the emperor wants to make a fuss about this, why does he need to come to me and say such things?"
Lu Xingjian silently pondered the words "show compassion to veteran officials and make good use of meritorious nobles".
The month before the late emperor passed away, he had just appointed Marquis Jiang Ji of Dingxi as the Commander-in-Chief of Huguang.
Jiang Ji's eldest son, Jiang He, the heir of the Marquis of Dingxi, married Wang's niece, the eldest daughter of Wang Yuan, the Marquis of Ruian.
The Jiang and Wang families are closely linked by marriage.
The Wang family's ambitions are evident.
Not content with the honor of having three members of his family holding the titles of Marquis and Earl, he also desired local military power.
Yet now she still insists on interfering in the harem; she is truly insatiable.
Lu Xingjian's voice was indifferent: "Grandmother is right, trust those you employ, and don't employ those you don't trust."
"If war breaks out in Annam, Guangdong and Guangxi, and even Hainan Island, will find it difficult to remain unaffected."
Wang couldn't help but flinch.
I don't know if it was the influence of Guangdong and Guangxi or Hainan that provoked them.
The "Young Master Xing of Qiongzhou" that Su Wanwan mentioned that day still hung like a sharp blade over Wang's head, ready to fall at any moment.
I've lived to a ripe old age, and spent over forty years of my youth on it.
If, in his old age, his reputation is tarnished, he loses face, and brings shame upon the Wang family, it would be a terrible loss.
Lu Xingjian lowered his head, picked up the medicine bowl, and, looking every bit the dutiful son and grandson, scooped up the medicine and handed it to Wang Shi.
"Grandmother, please take good care of yourself so that you can look after the future."
Having come this far, Wang had no choice but to accept the situation and drink the medicine.
She wasn't worried that the emperor would poison her.
However, it was imperative to hand Yanruo over to the emperor.
When she was almost finished with her medicine, Wang finally covered her face with a handkerchief and began to sob.
“Yanruo is a sincere child; her heart is entirely devoted to the emperor.”
"The emperor took her into the harem, which can be considered as finding a family member for me to keep me company."
"Otherwise, I might as well be dead."
This is directly playing the victim card and bringing the matter to the forefront.
They've all escalated to the point of threatening suicide.
What's the difference between this and a shrew throwing a tantrum in the marketplace?
Lu Xingjian's face gradually darkened.
The air was eerily quiet.
Wang's crying also stopped, and she waited for the emperor's statement.
Yanruo looked at Lu Xingjian timidly, her sorrowful and pitiful appearance was truly heartbreaking to see.
It was as if she would die on the spot if he refused her.
At this incredibly tense moment, Steward Li arrived, bowing deeply with a serious expression:
"Your Majesty, it's time to go to the morning court session. If we don't leave soon, the civil and military officials will be getting impatient."
Su Wanwan finally spoke: "Your Majesty, please go ahead. I will take care of my filial duties here."
Lu Xingjian nodded to her: "You're not feeling well either, don't push yourself, go home and rest early, don't faint from exhaustion."
Wang's subtle, manipulative tactics don't matter who he targets, but he can't target Wanwan.
Su Wanwan saw him to the door and whispered, "I can handle it."
Lu Xingjian took her hand, rubbed his fingers against her palm, and whispered, "Wait for me tonight."
His eyes held a meaningful look.
Su Wanwan pretended not to hear: "Go quickly."
Lu Xingjian said absentmindedly, "Have you forgotten what you said?"
For some reason, Su Wanwan immediately thought of what he had said that morning: "I can do whatever I want, hmm?"
It would be extremely inappropriate to flirt with her at Renshou Palace at this time.
Yanruo stood at the bedroom door, watching Lu Xingjian hold Su Wanwan's hand, his eyes filled with a mixture of doting and teasing as he looked at Su Wanwan.
That ambiguity and intimacy deeply pierced her heart.
It turns out he has such a vivid and lively side.
This contrasts sharply with his coldness and aloofness in public.
Upon noticing Yanruo's appearance, Lu Xingjian merely raised his eyes and glanced at her indifferently.
The coldness in her eyes sent a chill down Yanruo's spine.
Lu Xingjian turned and left.
Su Wanwan watched his figure disappear through the door, completely unaware of the hateful look Yanruo was giving her behind her.
Instead of rushing to serve the Empress Dowager at her bedside, he first summoned Lady Sun Qingyu, the wife of the Marquis of Rui'an, who had been taking care of the Empress Dowager's health in the palace.
Su Wanwan watched as Sun Qingyu bowed with a haggard expression, her gaze falling on her hands, which were intentionally or unintentionally protecting her lower abdomen.
There's something going on.
She thought to herself.
This is a common unconscious action that first-time pregnant women often exhibit.
It's probably due to stress.
Su Wanwan smiled and said, "It seems I should congratulate Madam Sun on her pregnancy."
Under normal circumstances, married women would try to avoid staying overnight in the palace, so as not to damage their reputation.
But the previous Lady of Rui'an had already set this precedent.
Moreover, she was an elderly woman nearing sixty and with a distinguished reputation.
The emperor, who was only in his twenties, was the only man in the palace who would spread such a rumor.
Sun Qingyu was just a young woman of seventeen or eighteen.
If she gets pregnant someday, and it's diagnosed in the womb, then that would be troublesome.
It's best to plan ahead.
Sun Qingyu's face turned pale, and two lines of tears rolled down her cheeks.
After much deliberation, she knelt down and wept bitterly, pleading, "Your Majesty, I beg you to extend a helping hand and save my child!"
Su Wanwan raised an eyebrow, stepped forward to help Sun Qingyu up and sit down in a chair, her voice carrying a hint of earnestness.
"Madam Sun, don't worry, this is good news."
Before long, Su Wanwan took Sun Qingyu's hand and came to the Empress Dowager's bedside.
"Your Majesty, I wish to offer my congratulations. It turns out that Lady Sun is three months pregnant."
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