Empress Dowager Zhang coldly rebuked: "Empress, why don't you kneel down and admit your mistake?"
Lu Xingjian's eyes instantly turned cold. He grabbed Su Wanwan to stop her from kneeling and asked in a deep voice:
"What wrong has the Empress done that warrants the Empress Dowager's harsh words and attitude?"
Empress Dowager Zhang hadn't expected him to protect the Empress so much; a hint of resentment flashed across her face, and she snorted coldly:
"The imperial ancestral precepts clearly state that the empress is only permitted to govern the women of the palace, and shall not interfere in any affairs outside the palace gates."
"The Empress is indeed arrogant and domineering, daring to interfere in the affairs of the previous dynasty!"
The Empress lost favor after suffering a miscarriage a while ago.
The selected women were all punished by the emperor, which was a slap in the face to the empress.
Empress Dowager Zhang believed that Su Wanwan had been completely rejected by the emperor.
Unexpectedly, he came with the Empress today and even defended her in person.
Lu Xingjian's eyes were cold as he calmly pulled Su Wanwan to sit down.
He said slowly, "I had no idea that the Empress was interfering in politics. How did Mother know that she was recuperating in the inner palace?"
His chilling gaze fell on the palace servants attending the Empress Dowager.
The palace servants were so frightened that they immediately knelt down and prostrated themselves, fearing that they would be implicated.
Empress Dowager Zhang's gaze flickered for a moment as she sensed the emperor's subtle threat.
These palace servants were originally placed by the emperor to her side. Recently, she has been trying to win them over in various ways, and they are showing signs of wanting to pledge allegiance. They shouldn't be scared off by the emperor and back down.
But when she thought that the person guarding the palace had been replaced by the Imperial Son-in-Law, Commandant You Tai, she felt a little more confident.
Back then, the Zhang family did a lot of work to win over You Tai.
One of You Tai's favorite concubines was a gift from the Zhang family.
Moreover, the Zhang family's relatives by marriage, such as the Marquis of Huaining and the Earl of Jingyuan, also held positions in the capital's military.
She straightened her back again.
"The Ningxia grain bill has caused a great uproar and is known to everyone. The Empress's maternal uncle was involved, but he was only dealt with lightly. Was it not because the Empress exerted influence in the matter?"
Lu Xingjian stared at Empress Dowager Zhang, his eyes narrowing slightly, his tone calm yet chilling:
"Your Majesty is mistaken."
"The Ningxia grain bill involves hundreds of officials, from Gu Zuo, the Minister of Revenue, to retired officials. It has been brought up three times. I am extremely annoyed with it and have forced the Ministry of Justice to close the case as soon as possible. How did it get dragged into the Empress's hands?"
"Guards, take the Cikang Palace servants to the Palace Justice Department for severe interrogation and find out who has been gossiping to the Empress Dowager. Torture them severely!"
Su Wanwan didn't say a word, quietly watching Empress Dowager Zhang's face turn ashen with impotent rage, and the palace servants of Cikang Palace were taken away one by one.
Even after leaving Cikang Palace, she was still a little dazed.
Lu Xingjian, still fuming, said, "The Empress Dowager is up to her old tricks again."
Su Wanwan found it amusing, "I can handle these things."
Lu Xingjian's gaze dimmed slightly. "But I still prefer that you can rely on me."
If he hadn't insisted on coming today, she probably would have had to confront the Empress Dowager herself.
Given her status as a daughter-in-law, she was already inferior to the Empress Dowager, and she was bound to suffer countless losses and humiliations.
Moreover, proving one's innocence after what just happened will be extremely difficult.
Su Wanwan fell silent.
If he were reliable, pigs could fly.
She didn't expect anything from him.
Today's maintenance was just because he was in a good mood. Who knows what will happen when he's in a bad mood?
Seeing her indifference, Lu Xingjian knew that she didn't have any expectations of him.
I feel down.
He sincerely offered the following remedy:
“You can try relying on me again, really, I’m sure I can do better than before.”
"Alright, release Liu Qi. I have something I need him to do."
Lu Xingjian frowned, wanting to refute, but seeing Su Wanwan's "See, I knew it" look, he suppressed his impatience.
"Okay, I'll listen to you. Use it if you want, but there's one condition: you're not allowed to see him again."
Su Wanwan remained silent.
The way she's saying this makes it sound like she and Liu Qi are having an affair.
She said calmly, "Then kill him."
The voice was light and airy, as if it were talking about something trivial.
Lu Xingjian paused, then turned to carefully observe her expression.
She didn't seem to feel any pity for Liu Qi at all.
It just seems like she's really angry.
"Do you think I'm petty?" Lu Xingjian frowned, asking with some dissatisfaction.
Su Wanwan stopped and turned to look intently into his eyes, her tone even more subdued:
"You think I'm promiscuous and unfaithful, that I might have an affair with any man. Since you're so worried about me, why don't you lock me up and never let anyone see me again?"
Lu Xingjian pursed his lips, a hint of guilt and embarrassment flashing in his dark eyes as if his thoughts had been exposed.
Ultimately, it was her inconsistent treatment of him that kept his heart constantly in suspense, leaving him feeling uncertain and uneasy.
She's done things like getting intimate with me one minute and then quickly getting married the next.
Their relationship had only recently improved considerably, and he didn't want to argue about these things anymore.
The man backed down and flatly denied it.
"That's not true. Fine, I'll release Liu Qi. You can see him whenever you want, okay?"
Su Wanwan didn't take the bait: "No, please don't. You mustn't wrong His Majesty the Emperor."
These words carried a hint of sarcasm.
Lu Xingjian's lips curled up, his tone involuntarily softening with affection as he took her hand and squeezed it firmly.
"I think Liu Qi is quite capable, so I insist on sending him over to do things for you, is that alright?"
As for her meeting with Liu Qi, she just needs to find a way to prevent Liu Qi from causing any trouble.
It's not worth arguing over someone like that.
Su Wanwan didn't say anything more.
Lu Xingjian quickly changed the subject, pulling her towards the imperial study: "Go grind the ink for me."
...
Liu Shu's private residence.
Liu Jin gave a forced smile: "Lord Zhang is actually using our family's name to bully men and women and steal other men's wives and concubines?!"
Zhang Cai remained calm and composed, frowning as he retorted, "Why does Your Excellency say such a thing?"
Liu Jin snorted coldly and summoned his fellow villager, Liu Jie, the prefect of Fuzhou, for a face-to-face confrontation.
Unlike other scholars, Liu Jin did not have his own circle of classmates, teachers, or peers.
He recruited people to join him, prioritizing those from his hometown.
Liu Jie is facing a three-year probationary period in the capital and hopes to secure a promising official position. He has recently managed to gain entry into Liu Jin's household and naturally wants to make a good impression.
Liu Jie's eyes were bloodshot and filled with tears. He gritted his teeth and rebuked:
"Your Majesty, Zhang Cai saw that my newlywed wife was beautiful and forcibly took her from my home. I beg Your Majesty to do me justice!"
Zhang Cai did not deny the matter, but merely coldly rebuked:
"Liu Jie, you said back then that you would give me everything except your own body, so why are you turning around and biting me now?"
"How can someone as fickle as you gain the trust of others?"
Liu Jie, his face flushed with anger, retorted, "You're spouting nonsense!"
She glanced guiltily at Liu Jin.
He had finally caught the eye of the Ninth Prince and was willing to serve as a soldier, but he didn't want to be rejected by the Ninth Prince because of his character.
No one would dare to use someone who bites back.
Liu Jin narrowed his eyes.
A look of understanding flashed in his eyes, and a weight was finally lifted from his heart.
He wasn't worried about Zhang Cai's bullying of men and women and his many bad deeds; he was only worried that Zhang Cai was trying to gain fame and reputation and cherish his reputation.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
