"Did the Ma family receive no information whatsoever about Ma Ji's assassination attempt on me last time?"
"She returned to the Ma family home without revealing a single word?"
Shi Niang's face turned deathly pale for a moment, but she quickly recovered.
Madam Wen, standing to the side, turned pale, her eyes dark and darting around.
She genuinely didn't know about it.
The Ma family knew that Ma Ji had attempted to assassinate the emperor, yet they still dared to ask her to bring Shi Niang into the palace to express their gratitude.
Upon meeting the Empress, he immediately proposed entering the palace to serve her, practically making his desire to become an imperial concubine written all over his face.
Now things are really messed up. We've completely offended the Empress, and I'm afraid she'll be implicated today as well.
The Empress is carrying a legitimate imperial heir!
Wasn't he deliberately trying to frame her?
Shi Niang vehemently denied that Ma Ji had attempted the assassination, calmly refuting the accusation.
"Your Majesty's words are far too alarmist."
“My ninth sister has always been kind-hearted. She never harms ants when she walks and cherishes moths that fly around in the lamplight. How could she possibly have the audacity to assassinate the Empress?”
"Someone must have deliberately distorted the truth."
"Besides, if my ninth sister really did assassinate the Empress, why would the palace issue an imperial decree to grant her a marriage? Wouldn't that be a slap in their own face?"
"This humble woman is only concerned that Her Majesty the Empress is pregnant and unable to serve His Majesty. I wish to share Her Majesty's burdens and hope that Her Majesty will not believe the rumors and wrong an innocent person."
Su Wanwan paused.
This Shi Niang is indeed quick-witted and adept at twisting the truth.
Heying could no longer bear it!
Do you think our ladies are so gentle that they'd let just any Tom, Dick, or Harry bully them?!
He Ying stepped forward, her tone forceful and full of sarcasm:
"Miss Ma has quite the sharp tongue."
"The Empress is pregnant, and everyone in the palace will help her. Why should a mere daughter of an outsider like you volunteer?"
"Is this to show that you're good at socializing and flattering?"
"Whether you truly wish to serve the Empress, or whether you intend to take advantage of her pregnancy to seduce the Emperor into becoming a concubine, only you know the answer."
"Everyone in the world knows that your sister got pregnant out of wedlock and spread the news everywhere that she is carrying the emperor's child. She doesn't know what privacy is and is still smug about it."
"But as the saying goes, if the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked too. When Ma Ji failed to enter the palace, a younger sister appeared and asked to enter the palace to serve her."
"If the Emperor values you and insists on bringing you into the palace to favor you, then that's fine."
"The Emperor hasn't said a word, yet you're spouting nonsense and distorting the truth!"
This merciless rebuke made Madam Wen unable to sit still, and she quickly knelt down to beg for forgiveness.
"Your Majesty, I am terrified. I was unaware of these matters concerning the Ma family. I have disturbed Your Majesty. Please forgive me!"
Su Wanwan spoke calmly.
"Alright, Miss Ma is very loyal. Since she wants to serve, let's grant her wish and let her serve for half a day first."
"Go, fetch a basin of water and let Miss Ma take good care of Yunxi under the sun. She'll get warm enough to bathe Yunxi tonight."
But I felt much more at ease.
Crane Shadow has finally grown up.
He Ying quickly had someone make arrangements.
Su Wanwan exchanged a few more words with Madam Wen before having someone see the guests out.
When Madam Wen left, she saw Shi Niang holding a full copper basin of water high in the sun, kneeling in the scorching heat.
Sweat had ruined her meticulously applied makeup, leaving her face covered in streaks and looking utterly disheveled.
The brocade robe she wore was dazzling and colorful in the sunlight, reflecting an unusual light that was also quite glaring.
Madam Wen left with a heavy heart, still shaken and inwardly grumbling.
I had heard that the Empress was gentle and allowed Ma Ji to bully her.
Looking back today, he wasn't exactly a clay idol without a temper.
If you don't want Shi Niang to enter the palace, then don't. Why punish her?
They're not afraid of being labeled as jealous.
In the households of officials of high status, who doesn't have several concubines and many maids?
When Shi Niang lost her grip on the basin for the third time and spilled water all over the ground, Su Wanwan finally had someone escort her out of the palace.
The brocade robe he was wearing had been splashed with water several times and was now ruined.
Lu Xingjian returned earlier than usual today, and as soon as he entered Kunning Palace, he asked the palace servants:
"Has someone angered the Empress?"
Su Wanwan was furious when she heard his voice. She went into the bedroom, locked the door from the inside, and went to the bathroom to take a shower.
Lu Xingjian followed, but couldn't open the door.
He wasn't annoyed. He took out a dagger from his pocket and slowly pried open the bolt through the crack in the door.
He Ying and the others watched from afar, their foreheads breaking out in a cold sweat, and they quickly hid far away.
The couple should try to avoid arguing again.
If we kick down the door again, who knows what kind of gossip will spread in the palace.
When Su Wanwan came out of the shower, Lu Xingjian had just opened the door to the bathroom next door, wearing only a pair of trousers.
His hair was still wet, dripping water, which rolled down his pale, muscular back and into the waistband of his dark blue silk trousers.
His broad back has well-defined, strong muscles that exude a unique masculine power.
The refreshing scent of bath beans, accompanied by steam, is quite tempting.
Few women could resist such a young and sexy male body.
Su Wanwan was slightly dazed.
Lu Xingjian raised an eyebrow slightly, walked up to her with a half-smile, and gently nuzzled her ear:
"Who angered my wife? Your husband will stand up for you."
Su Wanwan's eyes flickered, but she simply said, "Since you cherish those border generals so much, forget it."
Anyway, Ma Shiniang has already been given a small punishment.
She couldn't be bothered to pursue the matter any further; if it escalated and caused instability among the border troops, it wouldn't be worth it.
Lu Xingjian's eyes darkened slightly as he ruffled her half-wet hair.
"Come with me to Xiyuan tomorrow, okay?"
Wanwan could have easily regained her dignity by relying on her status as the Empress.
Instead, he chose to sulk, and in the end, he minimized the problem and let it go.
At most, I'll take my anger out on him.
Commonly known as "a bully at home".
Firstly, she is too sensible, and secondly, she really lacks a sense of security, always choosing to suffer losses herself.
"What are you going to do?" Su Wanwan asked casually.
Lu Xingjian shrugged lazily, "You should personally visit your overseas factories."
Su Wanwan perked up and opened her eyes wide.
"Um?"
Lu Xingjian pulled her into his arms, glancing at her as he asked:
"I've worked so hard to personally train your troops, how do you plan to thank me?"
Su Wanwan's slender fingertips touched his strong chest; the skin felt delicate and firm, warm yet slightly cool, with an excellent feel.
I asked with some doubt:
"Have you been training troops lately?"
"Otherwise what?"
Lu Xingjian picked her up and carried her to the bedside. "The training exercises at the West Garden are making quite a racket, didn't you hear?"
The distance was quite far, and she really didn't hear it.
There was a large drill ground to the north of Xiaoyuan, which she had indeed seen before.
Last month, Xiyuan had a lot more expenses, but she just assumed it was because Xiaoyuan had started construction again and the craftsmen's food and drink expenses were high.
She wanted to ask Shi Niang about the brocade dress she was wearing, but after thinking it over, she decided to keep quiet.
The next morning, Su Wanwan got up early, and Lu Xingjian had someone bring her military uniform so she could change into it.
The size is just right.
With the helmet on, it's impossible to tell if someone is male or female; they look incredibly imposing.
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