Lu Xingjian was not appeased; his face remained icy cold.
"If there's a next time, you'd better get out of here and go grow vegetables at Xiaoling Mausoleum in Nanjing."
Steward Li's pupils contracted sharply, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.
This wasn't the first time Maggie had entered the imperial study, so why was she so angry today?
Was it because the Empress saw them and they lost face?
Countless thoughts raced through his mind, and finally he said:
"Your Majesty, I am doing this for your own good. You must not have exclusive favor, you must not have exclusive favor!"
Lu Xingjian's eyes shot towards Steward Li like sharp arrows, his voice sinister:
"You want to run my household?!"
Steward Li quickly explained, "How dare this servant overstep the bounds? It's just that 'the tallest tree in the forest will surely be felled by the wind.'"
"His Majesty's excessive devotion is not a good thing for you or for the Empress!"
Ever since Lu Xingjian risked his life to make a trip to Xuanfu, Steward Li has been on edge, not wanting Lu Xingjian to devote all his attention to Su Wanwan.
Lu Xingjian was his master.
Only when Lu Xingjian sat securely on the throne could Old Li have a good life.
If he hadn't personally gone to Xuanfu, the matter of checking the border reserves wouldn't have been put on the agenda so early, offending so many people.
Maggie is capable and knows how to flatter.
She was also the sister of a border general.
If she could persuade Lu Xingjian to loosen his grip on the matter of border reserves and not be so insistent, then Steward Li would certainly support her.
Lu Xingjian paused for a moment.
Zhao Feiyan and Yang Guifei are both known as "femme fatales".
However, it was actually their men who were too incompetent that made these women take the blame.
"The late emperor was devoted to the empress dowager for many years, why didn't you say anything about it?!" Lu Xingjian sneered, his anger not subsiding in the slightest.
Steward Li spoke with a hint of earnestness: "Perhaps, they don't really care."
The look in his eyes as he looked up at Lu Xingjian was unusually deep.
Lu Xingjian looked sharply at Steward Li.
After a long while, he finally looked away, slumped into a chair, and remained silent.
Everyone in the world says that the late emperor was deeply in love with Empress Zhang, and there were no other women of high rank in the harem.
Their daily routines are just like those of an ordinary couple.
This was the first time he had ever heard Steward Li say such a thing.
Does this mean you don't take it to heart?
If this isn't something I truly care about, then what is?
Lu Xingjian was upset and his face was expressionless, only showing a faint weariness.
The image of Su Wanwan's indifferent face was stuck in my mind.
She clearly minded Maggie and other women, but she always said things that didn't mean what she meant.
She always took her anger out on him.
The two argued about this a lot.
He didn't know if other couples were like this, arguing many times in less than a month after getting married.
He was already busy and tired enough, having devoted himself to the affairs of state every day.
She not only lacked understanding, but also constantly doubted him.
That's so boring.
Lu Xingjian's tone was lazy, but his whole body was full of hostility: "Bring the wine."
Steward Li's eyes flickered, and he probed with a half-smile:
"How about we have Miss Ma perform a dance to cheer us up?"
Lu Xingjian looked at him again with eyes like poisoned knives, reached out to grab him, but grabbed nothing.
The teacups on the table were gone.
He grabbed a decorative item and threw it at him, yelling, "Get lost!"
Chief Steward Li shielded his face with his arm and was about to get up and slip away when a young eunuch rushed in to report:
"Miss Ma has been poisoned in the Imperial Study!"
Lu Xingjian and Steward Li's expressions changed simultaneously.
...
Renshou Palace.
Empress Dowager Wang's face turned ashen.
Yanruo's eyes were red, and she looked extremely aggrieved.
"Grandmother, what should we do? The Empress is so jealous, how can she tolerate Yanruo?"
Wang's expression turned fierce, and she slammed her well-maintained hand against the cushion:
"Hmph! It's not her place to run the palace!"
"Does she think she can rest easy after getting rid of Maggie? She's dreaming!"
Yanruo finally felt a little relieved.
A barely perceptible hint of smugness flashed in his eyes.
The oriole stalks the cicada, while the mantis lurks behind.
Su Wanwan truly lacked the magnanimity expected of a proper empress, actually poisoning Ma Ji.
How could the Empress Dowager still tolerate her?
Ideally, both of these women would die, then the Emperor would be able to see me.
Wang called for Yanruo to come closer so she could carefully plan.
As they were talking, Sun Qingyu came in carrying a bowl of medicine.
Wang and Yanruo both fell silent.
Sun Qingyu didn't dare to ask any more questions. After serving Wang Shi her medicine, she withdrew.
Although she held the title of Lady of the Marquis in the Wang family, she actually worked as a female physician.
Yanruo watched Sun Qingyu's retreating figure and asked hesitantly, "Grandmother, what if she heard something?"
Madam Wang waved her hand: "She is a member of the Wang family, and her life and future depend on the Wang family. I don't think she would dare to say anything reckless."
Yanruo's eyes flickered: "How about we let her stay out of the way for now? Yanruo saw that she was chatting and laughing with the Empress, and they seemed to have a good relationship."
Madam Wang raised an eyebrow, then said in surprise, "Yanruo is truly meticulous. I'll do as you say."
Out of caution, they still sent Sun Qingyu out of the palace.
Sun Qingyu and Su Wanwan have some personal relationship, so if she finds out something and tells Su Wanwan, it would be a loss for her.
Sun Qingyu had no intention of returning to the Marquis of Ruian's residence.
She knelt down and begged Wang to arrange another place for her to stay.
Once she returned to the Marquis of Ruian's residence, she knew she would lose the child sooner or later.
After losing her child, her life became difficult only after Marquis Rui'an died.
After a moment's thought, Lady Wang agreed.
"The East Garden has been empty for a while, so you can stay there for now. It will be convenient for you to come to the palace every now and then. Come and talk to me every now and then."
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
