Chapter 368 Something is wrong with you
The palace banquet was finally coming to an end. Ever since being severely warned by Lu Enyou, Bailixi had become much quieter and didn't dare to say anything more.
The national teacher Jing Luoquan had no intention of helping at all. He was afraid that he would be targeted after he opened his mouth.
Lu Shuyi hinted to Lu Wenxue several times, but Lu Wenxue just listened to Lu Ennan and didn't react at all.
Lu Shuyi was a little angry. Didn't Lu Wenxue like to curry favor with her before? Now that her mother was gone, who would be willing to help her? She could give her a chance, and she should cherish it.
She asked the maid to go to Lu Wenxue and tell her that someone had to take the lead in some matters, but Lu Wenxue retreated even more.
This made Lu Shuyi even more angry, but she could only hold it in and not lose her temper.
After all, today is a palace banquet, and she doesn't want this little thing to be known to everyone and embarrass her father.
Although Bailixi had calmed down, there was still a glimmer of unwillingness in his eyes.
He repeatedly looked in the direction of Lu Enyou and Gu Yuxuan, his eyes full of jealousy and resentment towards Lu Enyou. After all, the other party was already the prince, and he had no way to retaliate, otherwise he would be doomed.
As for Gu Yuxuan, a boy who had not yet entered the officialdom, he had made him lose face, and he wanted to avenge this grudge.
The national teacher Jing Luoquan always maintained a calm expression, as if all this had nothing to do with him.
He knew in his heart that the performance of everyone at the palace banquet was under the eyes of Emperor Dayao, so it would be better for him to remain honest and not cause trouble.
As time passed, the palace banquet finally ended.
Bailixi breathed a sigh of relief, as if he had been pardoned.
The people from the Ministry of Rites had also arranged accommodation for them in advance, and this time they asked Xue Chenglun to take them there.
On the way out of the palace, Xue Chenglun specifically asked for leave from Bailixi and Jing Luoquan, asked them to wait for a while, and caught up with the Zhou family's team.
"Lord Jing'an, please stay..."
Zhou Zhili was a little confused when he heard this voice.
When he turned around and saw that it was Xue Chenglun, he felt a little unhappy.
"Minister Xue, if you're not busy entertaining the distinguished guests from Yamato, how can you find time to come and see me?"
In front of Xue Chenglun, Zhou Zhili still put on airs.
After all, he is the younger brother of Ye Lanxin's original wife in the Marquis of Qingyang Mansion. As Ye Lanxin's current husband, he cannot lose face.
Ye Lanxin was already getting nervous. What on earth did Xue Chenglun want to do?
Xue Chenglun, however, didn't care. With a smile on his face, he said, "Lord Jing'an Hou, I'm afraid I'll be quite busy these days. Before returning to Dizhou, I prepared a gift for Qin Zhu. I thought of giving it to her. Do you mind?"
Zhou Zhili was stunned when he heard this. A gift? For Qinzhu?
But then he thought again, when Zhou Qinzhu was born, Xue Chenglun's family had already been exiled, and they must have thought that this was his brother's daughter.
Thinking of this, Zhou Zhili's guard dissipated a lot, and his expression softened. He said, "So it's a gift for Qin Zhu. Minister Xue, you're too polite. Since it's a kind gift from your uncle, why would I mind?"
Xue Chenglun was overjoyed upon hearing this and said, "Thank you, Lord Jing'an. This piece of jade was given to me by the Heavenly King of Yamato when we were negotiating in Yamato. I will bring it back for Qinzhu... Come, Qinzhu, take it."
Zhou Qinzhu looked confused. Could she accept this kind of thing?
Zhou Zhili also felt that this gift was a bit too expensive. Seeing that Liu was already walking towards them with her two sons, he quickly asked Zhou Qinzhu to put it away.
"Minister Xue is thoughtful..."
When Liu arrived, she saluted Zhou Zhili, then looked at Ye Lanxin and said, "It's been too long since I've been back to Dizhou. Should I call you sister-in-law or the wife of the Marquis of Jing'an?"
She had already seen it when Xue Chenglun delivered the things just now.
In fact, he was angry over the years because Xue Chenglun always thought about the mother and daughter in Dizhou, but every time Xue Chenglun said that Zhou Qinzhu was the last blood of his eldest brother, she had nothing to say.
Ye Lanxin and her eldest brother had been married for many years but had no children. They originally thought that they would never have an offspring, but unexpectedly, after her eldest brother's death, it was reported that Ye Lanxin was pregnant.
When this news reached their ears, Xue Chenglun was happy for several days. He said that his eldest brother's lineage had finally not been extinct, and God had eyes.
Liu also agreed that it was her eldest brother's suicide that saved their family and gave them a chance to live, so she did not object to Xue Chenglun's desire to take care of Zhou Qinzhu.
It's just that some things shouldn't be done too ostentatiously, as they will make her lose face.
"Now that I'm no longer a wife of the Xue family, you should still call me Madam..." When Ye Lanxin was in the Xue family, her relationship with her younger siblings was just ordinary.
When we meet now, there is naturally a bit of comparison.
Xue Chenglun, standing by, said, "Once a sister-in-law, always a sister-in-law. You and my elder brother didn't divorce, it's just that he passed away first. If we don't acknowledge you, won't that make him restless in his grave?"
Zhou Zhili felt very uncomfortable after hearing this. Your elder brother is dead, but I am still alive. Now your sister-in-law sleeps with me every day!
Zhou Qinzhu didn't understand what happened that year and was a little uncomfortable with Xue Chenglun's enthusiasm.
She didn't show it on her face, but she was sneering in her heart.
Minister Xue was good at talking, calling her "big brother" and "sister-in-law" so affectionately. But where was he when she and her mother were orphans and widows struggling to survive in Dizhou?
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Liu quickly tried to smooth things over, "Look at me, I just can't talk. Madam Jing'an, please don't be offended. I've actually prepared some small gifts and will personally deliver them to you someday. I hope you won't be offended."
Ye Lanxin glanced at Liu indifferently, with no ripples in her heart.
"Mrs. Xue, you are so polite. Since it is such a kind gesture from you, I would be very rude to refuse. If you wish to come over someday, just let me know, and I will have the courtyard swept and await your arrival."
The two women were hypocritical to each other, and neither wanted to lose to the other.
Xue Chenglun then said, "If I can regain my foothold in Dizhou City in the future, I will have the audacity to acknowledge Marquis Jing'an as my sworn brother. Then my sister-in-law will still be my sister-in-law..."
Zhou Zhili felt even worse when he heard this. His sister-in-law was still his sister-in-law, but his elder brother had changed.
Is he implying that I'm taking his elder brother's place?
In the end, he didn't say anything to refuse, because Xue Chenglun didn't want to wait any longer.
"My lord, it's getting late. The distinguished guests from Yamato are still waiting, so I won't bother you any more. I will prepare a generous gift and visit you in person another day." Xue Chenglun bowed and spoke sincerely.
Zhou Zhili nodded slightly, as a sign of agreement.
Only after Xue Chenglun and Liu left did he loosen his tightly clenched hands, then snorted, flicked his sleeves and strode away.
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