When Lu Xingjian returned to Kunning Palace, it was already dark.
When the young palace maid who was tidying up saw him coming, she knelt down and bowed, the scroll she was holding rolling off her hands.
Lu Xingjian glanced over, then his gaze froze.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
The portrait depicts a woman.
Her clothes were revealing, her figure was graceful, her outline was fully visible, and her posture was ambiguous and seductive.
Her face, however, bears a resemblance to Su Wanwan's.
Lu Xingjian's blood froze instantly, and a murderous intent rose in his eyes.
How dare they insult the Empress!
She was already so sick, and yet she still had to suffer such humiliation!
He ordered the young palace maid to be detained, the scroll to be kept, and then summoned Gu Dayong.
"Investigate that little palace maid and find out who is in charge of her."
Gu Dayong accepted the order and left.
Lu Xingjian took a few deep breaths to compose himself, changed his clothes, and then went into the bedroom to see Su Wanwan.
Su Wanwan was asleep.
I woke up when I heard a noise.
"Did I disturb you?" Lu Xingjian asked gently.
Su Wanwan moved over to make room for him on half of the bed and gave him half of the blanket.
Once he lay down, she naturally snuggled into his arms.
They haven't slept together in a long time.
Her small hand slipped under the man's shirt and pressed against his well-defined abs.
It feels really good.
The man's body stiffened for a moment.
"Stop fooling around." He didn't dare move again.
Su Wanwan asked, "Do you want it?"
"In no mood."
Her body is not completely out of danger yet; if he wanted to, he would be an absolute beast.
However, physical reactions cannot fool one's spouse.
Instead of continuing to tease him, Su Wanwan offered a very practical suggestion.
"I'll hold a selection of concubines for you, and take a few as your wives..."
Before she could finish speaking, Lu Xingjian suddenly opened his eyes and turned to look at her face.
Su Wanwan's eyes were closed.
“No need.” He refused decisively and reached out to tuck the blanket around her neck.
"Don't mention this again."
His voice was calm and even, as if he were having a casual chat.
Su Wanwan remained silent.
He's a very stubborn person; if he doesn't want to do something, he won't accept it even if it's done.
The next day, Gu Dalai replied:
"That young palace maid was in the Imperial Household Department and was highly valued by Zhang Yong. The painting she took was a personal item that Zhang Yong had left in Kunning Palace."
Gu Dayong didn't know what he was talking about; he simply interrogated the palace maid and gave a factual report.
"What personal belongings does Zhang Yong have in Kunning Palace?" Lu Xingjian's aura was extremely low, and his presence was chilling.
Gu Dayong didn't dare to breathe loudly:
"It is said that before the Emperor returned to the palace, Zhang Yong often stayed in Kunning Palace, so some things were left behind."
The air fell silent.
The silence was frightening.
Gu Dayong mustered his courage and looked up.
The emperor's face was expressionless, but his eyes were extremely cold.
“Xuan Zhang Yong.”
Lu Xingjian knew that Zhang Yong had feelings for Su Wanwan.
However, after being warned, he put away that idea.
However, if someone were to secretly covet the Empress while he was away and she was seriously ill, this was something he absolutely could not tolerate.
He was away for six months.
Wanwan's illness was getting worse and worse at that time, if he...
Lu Xingjian dared not even think about it.
This matter concerns Wanwan's reputation, and he doesn't want to make a big fuss, so he questions Zhang Yong alone.
They simply threw the testimony that Gu Dayong had uncovered in Zhang Yong's face.
Upon hearing Gu Dayong's testimony, Zhang Yong immediately knelt down and cried out that he was innocent.
"This is pure fabrication and slander! Your Majesty, please see the truth!"
There are clues to this.
Lu Xingjian didn't say much. He just questioned everyone in Kunning Palace, as well as the palace staff and guards around the inner court, and he was able to find out the truth.
The investigation results were as Zhang Yong had stated.
Zhang Yong rarely visited Kunning Palace.
But after the Empress fell seriously ill and went into a coma, he also had to take charge of the overall situation.
However, he would always go to see the Empress with several palace maids, eunuchs, and imperial physicians, and he was very careful to avoid suspicion.
The claim that the person stayed overnight at Kunning Palace is entirely fictitious.
Even when the Empress fell into a coma several times and the imperial physicians treated her all night, he simply worked with them to carefully examine the prescriptions and medicines to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation.
However, such a thorough investigation still had a slightly negative impact on the Empress's reputation.
Zhang Yong's defense:
"Such slanderous rumors have damaged the reputations of both your humble servant and the Empress. I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and not let the mastermind behind this go unpunished!"
This matter touched a nerve with Lu Xingjian.
He certainly wouldn't let it go so easily.
The young palace maid who first dropped the scroll couldn't withstand the torture and committed suicide.
However.
This is not the end.
Her family and friends were all arrested and interrogated.
It took several days to get to the bottom of this.
The result was not surprising.
The young palace maid's parents were coerced and instructed by Liu Jin's people to make her make such accusations.
Su Wanwan was completely kept in the dark and had no idea about it.
However, she still keenly sensed Lu Xingjian's suppressed anger.
"What happened?"
Lu Xingjian didn't want her to worry about this, so he just made up an excuse.
I can't go see the lanterns with you this year.
Su Wanwan paused.
It seems they never had the chance to see the lanterns together.
Last year, we agreed to watch the lanterns together, and I agreed to bring Yan Ge'er with me. But he didn't say a word and just left her there for several hours.
So she no longer looked forward to seeing the lanterns.
Lu Xingjian's eyes dimmed slightly. "Next year, I'll take you to see the lanterns. We'll bring Yan-ge'er along too, okay?"
Su Wanwan smiled and said, "That's a long way off. We'll talk about it when the time comes."
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
