"Speaking of which, this is the first time I have had a private banquet with the Marquis. I have admired the young and talented Marquis for a long time. I have always wanted to make friends with him, but I have no chance. Coupled with some misunderstandings, the Marquis is afraid that It’s because I don’t have a good impression of this palace.”
The fifth prince walked slowly, and Lu Xingyue had to slow down to accompany him. Hearing this, he smiled slightly and said, "Your Highness is serious. You are the prince and I am the minister. It is not good for the two of us to be too close to each other. As for Impression... Since you and I haven't gotten to know each other, how can we say whether the impression is good or bad?"
The fifth prince looked at him deeply, "I used to think that the Marquis was not good at speaking, but today the Marquis has made me look at him with admiration."
Lu Xingyue: "It's a blessing to be a low-ranking official."
No matter how the fifth prince tried to test him, Lu Xingyue was able to fend him off without missing a beat. Although his words didn't sound so nice, he couldn't find fault with them.
The fifth prince was silent for a while, then his eyes fell on a pine tree outside the corridor in front and stopped.
Lu Xingyue asked: "What's wrong, Your Highness?"
"What do you think of this green pine, Lord Marquis?"
"Evergreen is undefeated and life is tenacious."
The fifth prince smiled and repeated: "Life is tenacious?"
He shook his head, "No matter how stubborn it is, it can't escape from the soil. If there is no soil, if you leave it in the yard, it will die after a long time."
Lu Xingyue raised his eyebrows, turned his head to meet his gaze, and whispered, "Your Highness, if you have something to say, you might as well say it directly."
"Okay, Lord Marquis is a cheerful person, so I won't go around in circles with you."
The fifth prince pointed to the pine tree and said: "Now the Marquis is that pine tree. Although it is tall and green, it looks like it has nothing to rely on and it is a scene of its own. In fact, it lives tightly adhering to the earth. If one day, the water and soil change, What should you do?"
His ambition can be said to be unabashed.
Lu Xingyue was silent for a moment and suddenly asked: "Your Majesty, are you not afraid of reporting this to your Majesty?"
The fifth prince narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at him. After a moment, he chuckled and said firmly: "You can't."
"How can I see it?"
"If my father knows that you are so popular with the prince in private, it will not only be us who will be suspected, but also you - Lu Xingyue, a gentleman will not stand behind a dangerous wall."
Lu Xingyue stared into the eyes of the fifth prince. Logically speaking, this was very rude, but at this time, the two of them were not only in a relationship of superiority and inferiority, but also rivals.
After a while, the fifth prince looked away first, and Lu Xingyue chuckled, "Your Highness, there is no need to test the official. The official has no intention to participate in the struggle for imperial power. He just wants to live a good life with his wife and be a pure minister. As the emperor's order dictates, Wherever the blade goes, no matter who is sitting on it.”
"No matter how pure I am, if the new emperor doesn't like him, how will you treat him?"
The fifth prince's tone darkened.
Lu Xingyue, who was neither humble nor arrogant, raised his hands and said, "But based on the handling, I will never complain. I have a clear conscience."
"Okay, what a clear conscience."
The fifth prince laughed twice, turned around and waved his hands: "You go back and greet the others, I will go out on my own."
"Your Highness, walk slowly."
Lu Xingyue waited for his figure to disappear at the end of the corridor before he straightened up.
The fifth prince walked out of the gate of the Hou Mansion and turned to look at the plaque of the Hou Mansion before getting on the carriage.
His confidant Qiao He set up a low stool and asked doubtfully, "What's wrong, Your Highness?"
The fifth prince looked away with a cold expression, "It's nothing, I just think it's interesting."
Qiao He was puzzled: "Who is interested?"
"There are some people who I thought were quite smart, but I didn't expect them to be dull-headed. It's just a waste of my efforts. Let's go back to the palace."
Qiao He looked at him in confusion as he got into the car. He vaguely felt that he might be talking about Lu Xingyue, but he didn't dare to speak nonsense, so he kept silent and drove.
*
Lu Xingyue returned to Nuange, and when he glanced around, he saw Shen Lansui walking out supporting Princess Rong Zhao.
"Come back? Both Your Highnesses are gone?" Shen Lansui asked warmly.
Lu Xingyue nodded, "You stay with them, and I'll take the princess back."
"Ah? Is my sister leaving? Then I'll leave too."
The seventh prince staggered to get up. He was not a good drinker and had drunk a lot. He was a little confused now. He was still confused after drinking the hangover soup.
Princess Rong Zhao didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "It's time for Seventh Brother to go back."
"I will help His Highness Seventh." Liang Ci stood up and glanced at Rong Zhao.
Shen Lansui was in a subtle mood, "This..."
Rong Zhao and Liang Ci looked at each other for a moment, then nodded and said, "Then General Lao will be here."
She all agreed that Shen Lansui couldn't be stopped. The four of them went out together, and the others also stood up and left.
Zhuangji patted Lu Xingyue on the shoulder and said sincerely: "You, please take care of yourself in the future."
Lu Xingyue nodded, "I know."
Ruan Huai wrote: "It's getting late, I'll give Shopkeeper Luo a ride."
Luo Yisu didn't refuse and said with a smile, "Thank you."
The two left together, and in the end only Qin Wangshu was left alone, still thinking to himself.
Lu Xingyue turned to look at him, "You're not leaving yet, are you planning to stay for dinner?"
Qin Wangshu stood up lazily, his face was slightly red, but his mind was very clear. He smiled slightly, and his expression was unparalleled.
He walked up to Lu Xingyue, put a hand on his shoulder, and asked in a low voice: "Hey, now that you know the identity of your biological mother, you asked me to check it before, do you still check it?"
"Check, I want to know who my biological father is."
Lu Xingyue's face turned gloomy.
Qin Wangshu hesitated for a moment and said: "Actually, you are doing well as you are now. Even if you know who your biological father is, what will happen? Do you still plan to recognize your ancestor and return to the clan? Maybe he is no longer alive. You have to look for him. It’s all in vain, are you still looking for it?”
"Why aren't you looking for it?" Lu Xingyue turned to look at him, his eyes that were regarded as ominous shining with a calm light.
Qin Wangshu was startled and then listened to him: "I have always felt that being confused is the most incompetent escape in life. Why pretend to be confused when you know everything well? Only cowardly people will think of escaping, no matter what my biological father is. Whether he is dead or alive, whether he is a prince, nobleman or a trafficker, I have the right to know. Even if he dies, I still want to know what kind of virtue he has lived."
These words were so powerful that Qin Wangshu could not refute him. After a while, he smiled helplessly, "Okay, I will continue to investigate, but you must be prepared first. More than 20 years have passed since this matter, and the insider has kept it secret. I don't I’m sure I can find it.”
"It doesn't matter, just do your best." Lu Xingyue's face softened a little, "The more secretive you are, the more it explains the problem. Either that person is precious, or that person is not worth mentioning."
"I know." Qin Wangshu paused and suddenly laughed, "The younger siblings are back."
Shen Lansui raised her eyebrows: "Brother and sister?"
Lu Xingyue slapped Qin Wangshu's paw away, turned around and held Shen Lansui's hand, his face softened visibly, "Ignore him, the princess and the seventh prince are gone?"
"Well, General Liang escorted them away."
"Okay, then I won't bother you anymore. Let's meet up another day." Qin Wangshu cupped his hands at the two of them and walked away with a smile.
