Lu Xingjian was getting impatient. "Who is the Empress to you? You're still thinking about her."
Su Wanwan deliberately teased him: "After all, I've been through this before. Women have many thoughts, and having a husband by your side to comfort you often makes life easier."
"Since you've married her, you should treat her well. Don't be fickle and hurt her feelings. Otherwise, even if you win her back later, there will still be a rift."
Lu Xingjian's expression turned cold again.
In a nonchalant tone: "Do you think I'm fickle?"
How dare you ask such a question?
If you're intimate with another woman in front of the Empress, are you supposed to be praised for your fidelity?
Su Wanwan retorted, "You should know this best yourself, right?"
"Su Wanwan, what are you pretending to be stupid for?"
Lu Xingjian leaned back in his chair, his posture no longer steady and upright as usual, but rather showing a hint of laziness and nonchalance.
"Or are you saying you have no heart at all?"
Su Wanwan didn't want to get entangled in these meaningless words with him, so she changed the subject.
"Madam Yu said that there is currently much discussion outside about welcoming back the Emperor's birth mother. Grand Secretary Yang seems to have his own opinions, and His Majesty should listen to what he has to say."
Yang Ting was a former official of the Crown Prince's Palace. He was transferred from the sinecure of Minister of Revenue in Nanjing to the cabinet thanks to Lu Xingjian's patronage.
His insights were definitely for Lu Xingjian's benefit.
Lu Xingjian followed her words and said, "Tell me, why should I welcome my birth mother back?"
Su Wanwan frowned and lowered her head slightly: "Of course, it's hard to sever the bond of blood."
"Anything else?"
"This humble woman dares not presume to know."
Lu Xingjian stood up and walked to her, extending two slender fingers to lift her chin.
He met her gaze.
"No, you know best."
When he said this, his voice carried a faint ambiguity, was a little hoarse, and seemed to contain a kind of inexplicable emotion.
Su Wanwan couldn't figure it out.
I don't want to think about it too deeply.
She raised her hand to try to remove his, but he grabbed it, held it back, and gently pulled her forward.
His breath fell on her face, and he lowered his head, the two of them very close.
His lips stopped at the corner of her lips.
Their noses touched lightly, their hot breaths mingling together, indistinguishable from one another.
The lamplight on the table fell on the two of them, their shadows overlapping on the ground.
Su Wanwan's heart was pounding, but she dared not move, fearing that any struggle would worsen his injuries.
Su Wanwan's eyes held panic, wariness, and a hint of aloofness.
Lu Xingjian did not kiss her; he simply looked at her quietly.
Su Wanwan wasn't used to the two of them being so close, so she tilted her head back slightly to create some distance between them.
Ask him, "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Lu Xingjian, however, smelled a strange scent.
It doesn't belong to her.
Where did this tendency to turn come from?
It must have gotten on her when she was hugging and cuddling with that guard, right?
He suddenly lost interest, let go of her hand, and walked towards the bedroom.
"Let's go back."
Su Wanwan stood there, not reacting for a moment.
Lu Xingjian paused, glancing at her: "Want to stay overnight?"
Su Wanwan felt an indescribable coldness in that glance.
Lu Xingjian said in a somewhat lazy tone, "Not tonight. I don't like women who have other men in their hearts."
Su Wanwan's eyes sharpened, and she said resentfully:
"What a coincidence! I hate married men the most! Especially those who are full of scheming schemes!"
After saying that, she opened the door, slammed it against the wall, and stormed out.
Her bedroom was in the west wing across the street.
Even after lying in bed, Su Wanwan still felt a tightness in her chest that she couldn't release.
I feel like I didn't perform well somewhere just now.
After thinking it over and over, she angrily pounded the pillow.
It's one thing to suffer mistreatment in the palace.
Now that she's back home, she's still being harassed and bullied?!
...
Early the next morning, Su Wanwan went to the Yang family to visit Madam Yu.
Madam Yu was overjoyed and discussed the disaster relief plan with her in detail. She also invited several other officials' wives who were familiar with her and enthusiastic about disaster relief to come over.
"First, we should raise money from the wealthy and powerful in the capital to settle the food and lodging needs of the displaced people around the capital."
"As for the refugees outside the capital," Madam Yang frowned, "we are too far away to help them. It would be even better if we could persuade the local wealthy families to contribute grain and labor."
"The Minister of War's family is holding a grand banquet in a couple of days. It would be even better if we could get his wife involved first."
This is a good opportunity to gain exposure and build a reputation, and I imagine Madam Qiu wouldn't refuse.
Su Wanwan had met Madam Qiu once before, so she took on the job. After having lunch at the Yang family's house, she went with Madam Yu to the home of Liu Yu, the Minister of War.
Madam Yu had lived in the capital for many years and was quite well-connected among the families of civil officials, something that Madam Qiu lacked.
The group discussed for an afternoon and finalized the detailed rules for raising funds for disaster relief at the banquet.
Madam Qiu smiled and said, "This time, our family will be opening its doors wide and inviting many guests."
Because Liu Yu was promoted and ennobled this year, he rose from the Right Inspector General of the Frontier to the Minister of War, and even received the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. He was promoted several ranks in a row and enjoyed unparalleled honor and favor.
There are many, if not many, families willing to curry favor with and curry favor with them.
Those families who oppose Liu Yu also need to be appeased during this opportunity.
Mrs. Qiu happened to send them invitations under the guise of disaster relief fundraising.
When they left the Liu family, Madam Qiu gave Su Wanwan a meaningful look several times and personally escorted them to the door.
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