Power struggles are inherently bloody and cruel.
It would be a real shame to let all that effort and time go to waste in setting up this foreign affairs office.
Lu Xingjian wasn't just talking offhand; he directly restored the Western Depot and even appointed a supervising eunuch, Gu Dayong, one of the "Eight Tigers."
Gu Ziyu and the others transformed into members of the West Depot, only now they had an eunuch as their superior.
Gu Dayong was quite capable, bringing earth-shattering news on his very first day in office:
"In order to capture the murderer of Li Rong, Liu Neixiang ordered his men to drive out the city's wandering knights and wolves, sparing not even bartenders, millers, and water sellers."
"Now, four thousand martial arts heroes have gathered outside the capital, determined to take the head of Minister Liu."
"Prime Minister Liu was terrified and ordered the Imperial Household Department and the Eastern Depot to go and arrest him."
Lu Xingjian didn't care and casually asked, "Who is the leader of the bandits?"
"They say it was a chivalrous man named Liu Qi who was the murderer of Steward Li."
Lu Xingjian's expression shifted between light and dark, and he let out two cold laughs, his voice chilling:
"Go tell Ma Yongcheng to capture him alive. I want to meet this Liu Qi in person."
Gu Dayong had just been given an important position and was eager to prove himself, so he gladly accepted the order and left.
...
September 27th is the Emperor's Birthday.
Lu Xingjian made a rare trip back to the palace, first visiting the Fengxian Hall and Fengci Hall to pay respects to his ancestors.
He then went to the palaces of the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager to pay his respects, and then went out to the Fengtian Hall to receive congratulations from civil and military officials and envoys from foreign countries.
The annual birthday banquet, which was held every year, has been cancelled this year.
He didn't see Su Wanwan until he returned to the palace.
Seeing Lu Xingjian return to Xiaoyuan with a sullen face, Meng Yue's eyes flickered, and he advised:
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Observatory says there will be strong winds and thunder tonight. I'm afraid this study is not sturdy enough. Why don't you return to the palace to stay?"
He didn't dare to mention going to Kunning Palace directly.
He wondered if it was just his imagination, but he even thought that the Emperor hated the Empress.
The marriage of Ma Ji to a distant place and the death of Ma Shiniang clearly demonstrate that the Empress was jealous and intolerant.
Now, even Master Li, the steward, is dead.
The empress failed to protect the imperial heir in her womb.
The emperor became completely isolated, unable to sleep at night.
Fortunately, Lord Qian Ning often presented various fighting beasts and hawks, which occasionally piqued the Emperor's interest.
Lu Xingjian remained silent for a while, then finally took out a brocade box and asked Meng Yue to make a trip to Kunning Palace.
...
Su Wanwan opened the brocade box, inside was a sachet.
The fabric and pattern were exactly what she had prepared for Lu Xingjian to make.
He only needed a few stitches at the time.
The sachets are now finished.
that is……
The workmanship is really not good.
Crane Shadow peered over and exclaimed in surprise, "Huh, is that an embroidery of wild ducks?"
Su Wanwan put away the brocade pouch and lowered her eyes, saying:
"They are mandarin ducks."
He Ying gave a meaningful "Oh".
He then asked, "Was it a mandarin duck sachet sent by the Emperor?"
Su Wanwan absentmindedly replied, "Mm."
He Ying raised an eyebrow, her mood improving considerably, and flattered with a smile:
"His Majesty still cares about our Empress."
The Empress Dowager was thinking of the Emperor; others might not notice, but she could.
However, her smile faltered halfway through before she realized something was amiss.
"Why did His Majesty send such an ugly sachet to the Empress? Is the needlework bureau out of people?"
Su Wanwan coughed awkwardly and changed the subject:
"Go and bring me a bowl of bird's nest porridge, I'm hungry."
It wasn't until she went to bed that night that Su Wanwan took out the sachet again and examined it carefully.
It's clear that he made this sachet himself, not by impersonation.
He really does keep his word.
The embroidery work was so arduous it was almost inhuman.
It has a kind of beauty that is ugly to the extreme.
However, it was already quite an achievement to finish it.
One can imagine a grown man hiding under the bedroom lamp, embroidering a sachet alone without any guidance.
Su Wanwan chuckled and then glanced towards the door.
My mood, which had been depressed and heavy lately, was actually relieved a lot because of this incredibly ugly sachet.
She gripped the sachet tightly, about to tuck it under her pillow.
But then I noticed a sound like paper rubbing inside.
Inside the sachet was a piece of paper with a few lines of poetry written on it:
I gaze at the moon from the ridge, and sit atop the mountain, feeling the wind.
He harbored a deep resentment, which he refused to share with women.
Su Wanwan: "..."
She clutched the note in her hand, remaining silent for a long time.
...
Lu Xingjian kept looking towards the door with agitation.
Even after Meng Yue returned, she glanced behind him.
There was no one there.
He dejectedly looked away.
Meng Yue was stunned for a moment, then quickly reported:
"Sister Heying accepted the sachet, saying that Her Majesty the Empress was recuperating and that she would pass it on to Her Majesty. This servant was unable to see Her Majesty."
"The Kunning Palace didn't leave any message either."
Lu Xingjian's face remained expressionless; he simply said in a cold and indifferent tone:
"Go down."
After much deliberation, Meng Yue still dared to offer his advice:
"Is Your Majesty still not fully recovered? Would Your Majesty like to go and take a look?"
Lu Xingjian paused for a moment, his expression calm and composed: "No need."
...
As dusk fell, Su Wanwan, dressed neatly, said to Heying, "Let's go."
He Ying carried a food box in her hand, her face beaming with joy.
"Your Majesty should set off sooner rather than later. It's dark and the roads are slippery now. The road to the West Garden will be difficult to travel."
Today is Halloween, and the Empress should be going to present gifts to the Emperor.
Now that it's over, it doesn't seem so sincere.
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