The Ministry of Rites was the main administrative body for foreign affairs, responsible for broader foreign policy and etiquette.
The Court of State Ceremonial was mainly responsible for specific reception work, such as arranging accommodation and meals for foreign envoys.
The Ministry of Rites' decision to allow Wang Yong to directly cause trouble before the Emperor was indeed an oversight.
Wang Yong, the chief interpreter of the Court of State Ceremonial, was sweating profusely and nervously defended himself:
"Your Majesty, Xie Yihu Xian is truly a powerful and corrupt official from the barbarian lands. He actually controls Hami and is conspiring with various tribes to provoke conflict on the border. We must be wary of him!"
Lu Xingjian paused, then narrowed his long, narrow eyes slightly.
A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.
What Wang Yong said is true.
But this was not his reason for going directly to Xiaoyuan to spy on his whereabouts.
If it weren't for Wanwan's quick wit and her ability to portray him as someone busy having fun and neglecting politics, it would have been very easy for him to find out the truth.
He encountered several assassination attempts during his trip.
If this happens a few more times, there's no guarantee that I'll be able to escape by sheer luck.
Lu Xingjian suppressed his anger and said coldly:
"Alright, I'm too lazy to punish you severely for this mistake. But you must be more careful in the future, consider the bigger picture, and never humiliate the Hami envoy."
Wang Yong quickly kowtowed to express his gratitude, secretly relieved.
He thought to himself that the emperor hadn't discovered his little scheme, which was really lucky.
Hopefully, the heir of the Chongshan Earl, who has been arrested and imprisoned, will not implicate him.
When the meeting ended, the study door was opened, and the ministers filed out.
Lu Xingjian also walked into the courtyard and looked towards the gate.
I'm so hungry.
The person hasn't arrived yet.
Su Wanwan was leading He Ying, who was carrying a food box, into the courtyard.
She was busy lifting her skirt to cross the threshold and didn't see Lu Xingjian.
Her graceful figure attracted everyone's attention.
Lu Xingjian spotted her first and quickly took a few steps to block everyone's view of Su Wanwan.
His tone still carried a hint of reproach.
"My wife, why are you only arriving now?"
Those cunning and shrewd officials were startled by the word "wife" and immediately bowed to Su Wanwan.
This is how husbands traditionally address their wives, and it clearly carries a tender and affectionate tone.
Several of them were from the Ministry of Rites, and had organized the emperor and empress's wedding. Of course, they had also met Su Wanwan and He Ying.
The emperor's favor towards Consort Ma was already common knowledge.
Moreover, news of Maggie's pregnancy had already spread like wildfire.
In their minds, the relationship between the emperor and empress was not good.
Otherwise, why would Maggie get pregnant first?
Lu Xingjian ignored the officials and pulled Su Wanwan to the east wing where he occasionally rested.
"You're starving! What have you been doing?" He said this, but his gaze was fixed on Su Wanwan and he couldn't take his eyes off her.
Her eyes flickered, and she said decisively, "This outfit doesn't look good. Don't wear it out in public anymore. Wear it at home for me to see."
In the past, she would wear a long jacket that reached her knees, covering her slender waist, and she would still look graceful and elegant.
Now, her slender waist is cinched with a belt, and her breathtakingly beautiful proportions are simply stunning.
Her long, fair swan neck was accentuated by the silver-red short-sleeved shirt, making her appear to glow.
He was a man, and he knew all too well what men were thinking; he didn't want her to be seen like this.
Su Wanwan was speechless.
Just now, when the ministers bowed to her, he didn't even give her a chance to excuse herself.
Now he's saying contradictory things again.
Why do I have to wear something that doesn't look good to him at home?
Is it good-looking or bad-looking?
"I think it's fine, you should eat your food."
The food box contained four dishes, a soup, and several bowls of rice.
"Let's eat together." Lu Xingjian pulled her to sit down.
Su Wanwan set out the bowls and chopsticks, and then ladled a bowl of soup and placed it in front of him.
She smiled gently and said, "Eat up."
Just then, Gu Ziyu's loud and clear voice rang out in the courtyard: "Your Majesty, I have important matters to report."
Lu Xingjian glanced at Su Wanwan, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Come in."
As soon as Gu Ziyu entered, he saw Su Wanwan sitting opposite Lu Xingjian, and the simple meal on the table.
Stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, scrambled eggs with chives, stir-fried green beans with pork, and shrimp with bamboo shoots.
There was also a bowl of West Lake beef soup.
It was even simpler than the food at his house.
He paused for a moment, then said bluntly, "Is this all the Emperor and Empress eat? That's far too simple."
Lu Xingjian glanced at him lightly: "My wife made this herself, how dare you complain about its simplicity?"
Gu Ziyu has been married for some time now.
I secretly left the capital with Lu Xingjian a while ago, and served as his personal bodyguard, enduring a lot of hardship along the way.
On one occasion when they were in danger, he tackled Lu Xingjian to the ground, preventing a fatal blow.
The bond between ruler and subject, forged through life and death, transcends that of ruler and subject, and has taken on a degree of brotherhood.
Of course, there was less distance between the two of them, and they would occasionally joke around.
Gu Ziyu shook her head in disdain: "Wanwan's cooking skills are too bad. She really should learn from her."
"My husband is incredibly strong."
Lu Xingjian quickly glanced at Su Wanwan, then warned Gu Ziyu, "Finish what you're doing and leave. Don't get in my way."
Gu Ziyu objected: "Your Majesty, you are so stingy. I ran myself ragged, and you wouldn't even give me a sip of tea."
"They really are the type to use people when they need them and discard them when they don't."
Su Wanwan could obviously see that their relationship had become much more familiar, and offered her advice at the opportune moment:
"How about we share some?"
Gu Ziyu, taking advantage of the situation, beamed with delight: "Alright!"
Lu Xingjian gave him a disdainful look: "I've never seen anyone as shameless as you."
But He Ying still prepared a bowl and chopsticks for him.
Gu Ziyu, having gotten a free meal, didn't say anything more.
The food was completely devoured, not even the soup was left.
This surprised Su Wanwan quite a bit.
After rinsing his mouth, Gu Ziyu said, "Your Majesty, the food that Sister Wanwan made wasn't as bad as you said."
These words were like stirring up a hornet's nest.
Su Wanwan's expression darkened slightly.
Lu Xingjian quickly punched him: "Stop talking nonsense."
Gu Ziyu shrugged and continued to kick someone when they were down.
"When we stopped for a bite at that run-down noodle shop in Zijing Pass, didn't you say that the noodles there were even worse than what Sister Wanwan makes?"
"If you have something to say, say it. If not, get lost!" Lu Xingjian glared at him coldly.
He then said to Su Wanwan, "My wife, you've worked hard. Wait here for me for a while, and I'll come over as soon as I'm done."
Su Wanwan was captivated by the four characters "Zijing Pass" and nodded absentmindedly.
"You go about your business."
What was he doing outside Zijing Pass?
They were still stopping at a run-down noodle shop, eating unpalatable noodles to fill their stomachs, which suggests they were deliberately hiding their whereabouts.
Lu Xingjian squeezed her hand tightly, said nothing, and quickly led Gu Ziyu to the study.
As soon as the study door closed, his face darkened: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Gu Ziyu pouted: "I just can't stand it."
"Wanwan treats you so well, yet you still look down on her and let that Maggie get pregnant."
"Do I deserve this?"
Lu Xingjian snorted coldly: "Stop with your petty thoughts, and don't be jealous of our success."
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