Lu Xingjian's expression immediately changed.
"Why are we bringing up the Ma family again?"
Su Wanwan's expression was indifferent.
“You knew that Wen Gong was on good terms with the Ma family, and that Madam Wen even brought Ma Shiniang into the palace to provoke me, yet you still reinstated Wen Gong to his original position.”
"You don't care about the grievances I suffered."
Lu Xingjian frowned. "You're overthinking it."
In the past, Su Wanwan might have tolerated it.
But now, she has Zhang Yong, and among the civil officials, there is Yang Yiqing.
These days I'm getting better at handling government affairs, and I feel much more confident.
They didn't want to suffer a loss and settle things peacefully.
"Did you meet Ma Ji on your trip to the frontier? You might even have dined with her and met with the generals together."
"No. I could never like a dirty woman." Lu Xingjian's voice was cold and impatient.
They always argue whenever Maggie is mentioned.
Su Wanwan didn't stop: "You might have reservations and won't sleep with her."
"But if she expresses her love to you and deliberately seduces you, you will still enjoy it."
"On the one hand, you uphold your fidelity and are proud of your nobility; on the other hand, you enjoy the admiration and flirtation of other women. You have always done a good job."
Lu Xingjian's jawline was taut, and the veins on his forehead bulged.
The atmosphere became tense for a moment.
After a long while, he took a deep breath to suppress his frustration.
"My wife, I was very busy and worked very hard on the frontier. It was freezing cold, and I just wanted to come back as soon as possible. I wasn't thinking about so many other things."
"Besides, yesterday the Duke of Baoguo personally pleaded with me to forgive Wen Gong, and I can't refuse him that request."
"You're really wronging me by dragging the Ma family into this."
Having said all that, Su Wanwan decided to take it a step further.
"What do you plan to do about Li Dongqian's memorial urging the imperial succession a while ago?"
Yan Ge'er has been raised in the palace for a long time, but still doesn't have a formal title.
Lu Xingjian spread his hands, his eyes turning cold.
"That old geezer is ugly, and he can't even take care of his own family matters, yet he's meddling in mine."
Su Wanwan paused slightly.
Lee Dong-kyum's appearance is indeed average, but the fact that he used it to launch a personal attack shows that he harbors resentment.
"Next, he might suggest that the emperor expand his harem to increase the number of offspring."
Her gaze fell on him, her voice light and airy.
"You're on the frontier, so you must have had plenty of women sent to you, right?"
Lu Xingjian's tone softened, perhaps out of guilt, as he gently squeezed Su Wanwan's shoulder.
"Those blind fools think I'm like them, only interested in things that involve the lower body."
"Aren't you one?" Su Wanwan looked up at him.
She knew better than anyone how lustful he was.
The man grinned wickedly and gently bit her ear.
"My wife is a henpecked husband; she's afraid of him, so even if I had the desire, I wouldn't have the guts."
“On the other hand,” he said, his tone tinged with grievance and a hint of ingratiation.
"For you, I gave up a whole forest."
You must not let me down.
Su Wanwan was speechless.
He even turned the tables on them.
"In this world, there are very few men who are capable who do not take concubines."
"It's only natural to have a few good-looking confidants to serve, so don't overestimate yourself."
"Even Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, who devoted most of his life to loving his wife, eventually fell in love with a younger woman in his later years, which ultimately led to his wife's death and earned her the reputation of being the most jealous person in history."
Lu Xingjian gritted his teeth, remained silent for a moment, and then said:
"I can't guarantee that things will stay the same forever, but right now, all I care about is you."
"Don't generalize about all men. Our founding father, the Prince of Kaiping, didn't he stay with his wife his whole life and never take a concubine?"
The Prince of Kaiping was a famous general who followed Emperor Taizu in his campaigns in the south and north. He was posthumously honored as the Prince of Kaiping, but he died at the young age of forty.
Emperor Taizu once said that, in terms of the contribution to the expansion of the country, if we were to give ten points, the Prince of Kaiping would account for seven or eight.
Su Wanwan said in a low voice, "I heard that the founding emperor gave him two beautiful palace maids as concubines. When he was washing his face, he praised the palace maids for their white hands."
"As a result, the lady cut off those hands, put them in a box, and gave them to him as a gift."
"You want me to become that kind of jealous woman?"
Lu Xingjian remained silent for a while.
Su Wanwan didn't say anything more.
In the days leading up to the Spring Festival, Lu Xingjian was very busy. He spent most of his daytime at Xiaoyuan and didn't return until very late.
At the same time, Qian Ning also frequently visited Xiaoyuan.
Soon, a piece of news quietly spread.
They say the emperor was a homosexual.
Some people also say that they saw the emperor drunk and sleeping with his head on Qian Ning's lap, and the two were almost inseparable.
The rumor was so detailed and convincing that it quickly spread from the palace to the outside world, becoming a closely guarded secret discussed in hushed tones throughout the streets and alleys.
"No wonder the Emperor has been on the throne for many years without having any offspring; it turns out he has homosexual tendencies!"
"Your son is quite handsome. Should we send him to the palace so he can show his face to the Emperor?"
Someone scrutinized their face in the mirror, wondering, "Who is more beautiful, me or Qian Ning?"
The most disheveled one was Qian Ning, who would get stared at by others whenever she went out.
He thought to himself that this person was indeed exceptionally talented.
He was first adopted by the eunuch Qian Neng, and later recognized Liu Jin as his godfather.
Liu Jin fell, but he not only escaped unscathed, but was also promoted to Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and given even more important responsibilities.
So she knew how to please men.
Some people even made bets privately about who was on top and who was on the bottom between the Emperor and Qian Ning.
Mrs. Qian Ning was deeply affected by the rumors, and her health, which was already damaged by the difficult childbirth, was further aggravated, causing her to fall ill immediately.
The period around the Lunar New Year is a good time for families to visit each other and exchange information.
This only further confirms the rumor of homosexuality.
However, very few people in the palace dared to gossip about Su Wanwan.
Before they knew it, the New Year's Day had passed. Yang Yiqing was promoted from Minister of Revenue to Minister of Personnel, and He Jian, the Minister of War in Nanjing, was transferred to the capital to become Minister of Justice.
He Jian once studied under Su Jian.
As a result, two of the six ministries' ministers belonged to the Su family faction.
Su Wanwan's strength has been further enhanced.
The imperial eunuch Zhen Jin was also transferred to guard Henan.
Zhen Jin had a good relationship with Su Wanwan's people overseas because she went abroad to buy grain.
He was capable among the eunuchs and was also considered close to Su Wanwan.
With the grand sacrificial ceremony concluded on the sixth day of the first lunar month, the busiest period of New Year's rituals and trivial matters finally came to an end.
The entire imperial court was given a ten-day holiday.
Lu Xingjian finally had some free time to spend with the mother and son.
"Now you believe my sincerity, right?" That evening, Lu Xingjian twirled a strand of Su Wanwan's hair with his fingers, lazily seeking praise.
Su Wanwan was speechless. "If it weren't for my aunt from the Yang family telling me, I wouldn't have known that you had homosexual tendencies."
"To put my wife at ease, gaining a reputation for homosexuality is nothing," Lu Xingjian said, acting as if he had nothing to lose.
"Anyway, you know me."
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