When Lu Xingjian arrived at Kunning Palace, it was already dark.
Su Wanwan was standing to the side, holding a handkerchief, serving Xia Xueyi a late-night snack.
He barged in, radiating a chilling aura, his imposing manner causing the palace maid who came to greet him to stumble.
When he saw Su Wanwan standing straight, his brows furrowed and his face turned cold.
The Empress immediately rose and curtsied, greeting her with a graceful smile:
"Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you."
really.
By controlling Su Wanwan, one can control the Emperor's weakness.
Su Wanwan was enduring excruciating pain in her legs, and her back was soaked with sweat, making her look extremely disheveled.
This contrasted sharply with the radiant and cheerful Empress Xia.
When Su Wanwan saw him, a hint of grievance and vulnerability flashed across her pale face.
The moment their eyes met, she quickly lowered her head, concealing all the emotions on her face.
It was as if they had never suffered any harm or humiliation.
Lu Xingjian pursed his thin lips and casually tossed the riding whip in his hand aside.
With his hands behind his back, he exudes an indescribable sense of oppression.
Xia Xueyi's heart tightened.
Her smile froze, and she dared not meet his gaze, her eyes fixed on him.
The narrow-sleeved, dark-colored, cross-over dragon robe, with a loosely tied belt at the waist, accentuated his handsome and imposing appearance.
His boots were still covered in grass clippings and dust, a stark contrast to his usual neat and elegant appearance.
It seems they came back from outside the palace in a hurry and didn't have time to change their clothes.
Xia Xueyi blinked, her smile widening, tinged with a hint of flattery.
"Your Majesty, I would like to invite my sister over tonight to catch up."
"I really got along well with her, so I promoted her and transferred her to Kunning Palace to keep me company."
"You won't mind, will you?"
Lu Xingjian's voice was cool and gentle.
"If I mind, will I simply give up being Empress?"
Su Wanwan kept her head down and didn't say a word.
She didn't want to use the tactic of complaining, as it was too low-level and had little effect.
Xia Xueyi is courting death.
Offending a mere palace maid like her has far more serious consequences than offending the emperor.
Xia Xueyi's face showed a hint of timidity, her eyes flickered, and there was a hint of tears in them, as if she had been frightened by him.
That feeling of being wronged was truly heartbreaking.
"If Your Majesty truly minds, I will speak to Your Majesty in advance next time."
"The Empress Dowager is still ill, so I dare not hold a grand celebration for my birthday. I just want to have a chat with a few close friends."
As she spoke, she looked at Su Wanwan gratefully, "Sister Wanwan has taught me so many things."
Su Wanwan sneered inwardly.
That's a brilliant tactic.
With just a simple "Sister Wan," a close friend, the Empress was placed in a vulnerable position.
It was as if Xia Xueyi was still the timid and submissive daughter of a scholar, and Su Wanwan was still the granddaughter of the Grand Secretary, who was praised by everyone.
Therefore, there is no such thing as "the strong bullying the weak".
What a clever tactic of "retreating to advance"! No wonder she became empress.
Bringing Xia Xueyi down from her position requires more than just simple tactics.
Su Wanwan will have to wait for another opportunity.
Lu Xingjian glanced at Su Wanwan.
Her face already wore a respectful and gentle smile, confirming Xia Xueyi's words.
The two seem to get along very well.
It was completely different from the tense situation he had imagined.
This only made his haste seem like a joke.
Lu Xingjian became even more indifferent.
As if she hadn't seen Su Wanwan, she pulled Xia Xueyi down to sit, her tone returning to its usual gentle and refined manner.
"I was too busy today to celebrate your birthday with you. Are you not angry?"
Xia Xueyi climbed up the pole and sat down next to him, snuggling into his arms, her eyes brimming with tears of emotion, pouting.
"I am content as long as Your Majesty comes to visit me."
Lu Xingjian's body stiffened.
But he quickly relaxed again.
After a moment's hesitation, he reached out and put his arm around Xia Xueyi, his coldness turning into tenderness and care.
"Why are you so delicate?"
Xia Xueyi wiped her eyes, tilted her head up, and pleaded sweetly:
"Your Majesty, would you mind staying at Kunning Palace tonight?"
That pitiful look made it impossible to refuse.
Lu Xingjian paused slightly, his peripheral vision catching sight of Su Wanwan not far away.
Her face was very pale, and her body was trembling slightly.
A faint smile graced his face, as if he were happy about something.
Lu Xingjian's jawline tightened for a moment, then a smile appeared on his face, his eyes gentle and captivating.
"good."
Xia Xueyi nestled in his arms, trembling with nervousness, yet unable to suppress a triumphant smile.
She dared not neglect her duties and busied herself arranging for Lu Xingjian to wash up.
She tentatively asked Lu Xingjian, "Should Sister Wan help you with your washing up?"
Lu Xingjian acted as if he hadn't heard these words. He got up with a cold expression, brushed past Su Wanwan, and went to the bathroom.
Su Wanwan was already at her limit by this point.
Even moving one's feet is extremely difficult.
Naturally, he didn't follow along and risk making a fool of himself.
Xia Xueyi had already bathed and changed. After tidying herself up briefly, she sat on the edge of the bed, anxiously waiting for Lu Xingjian.
Su Wanwan took her leave: "This servant takes her leave."
Xia Xueyi frowned and hesitated, but finally said:
"Wait a while before you leave."
If Su Wanwan hadn't been here today, she wouldn't have been confident she could have kept Lu Xingjian here.
However, there must have been a problem between the two of them.
I heard that the Emperor left the Eastern Palace in anger that night, probably because he was annoyed by Su Wanwan.
This became her opportunity.
Su Wanwan clenched her fists tightly.
My heart was ecstatic.
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