The emperor took a deep look at the two people standing at the door. This look was full of meaning.
His eyes were deep and it was impossible to guess what was in his mind.
But the look was fleeting, and soon the emperor put on his usual warm smile and spoke to Sining.
"Girl, you have been wronged this time. I have already severely punished the Queen. If you have any other demands, feel free to ask for them."
Si Ning shook his head, "Your Majesty is wise, and I have no other requirements."
The emperor was satisfied with Si Ning's sensibleness, smiled and nodded, and said to the eunuch in charge who stepped forward.
"It is my word that Mrs. Lu, who has both political integrity and talent, will be rewarded with thousands of taels of gold and thousands of pieces of silk and satin."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Si Ning thanked him.
The emperor smiled and waved his hand, and then said to the eunuch in charge.
"Send Mrs. Lu back to the front, Han Xiao, come with me."
Those secret letters still need to be verified one by one. The emperor has calmed down now and needs to discuss it carefully with others.
Lu Hanxiao looked at Si Ning worriedly. Si Ning nodded and followed the eunuch in charge to the banquet in front.
Everyone was looking forward to it, and their eyes deepened when they saw Si Ning coming back.
Si Wan had been humiliated because of Si Ning before, but now that he finally got an opportunity, he naturally wouldn't let it go and questioned him in public.
"Sister, what's going on with you? Why are you having a conflict with Concubine Shu? This is the palace, how can you be so ignorant of the rules?"
The emperor and the queen never came back. The ladies who followed the queen to find Si Ning became silent after they came back. No matter who asked them what was going on, they all kept silent.
Si Wan took it for granted that they were planning to wait for the emperor and queen to come back to make a decision. Presumably this was a palace banquet, so it was not their turn to talk nonsense.
But the queen and Si Ning still didn't return, so Si Wan felt that something happened to Si Ning.
Now seeing Si Ning coming back, Si Wan couldn't wait to add insult to injury. As soon as he said this, the eunuch in charge brought the emperor's oral instructions.
"The Emperor has decreed that Mrs. Lu, who has both political integrity and talent, will be rewarded with thousands of taels of gold and thousands of pieces of silk and satin."
Si Wan froze on the spot, stared at the eunuch in charge in disbelief, and asked unwillingly.
"Father, didn't Si Ning hurt Concubine Shu? Did you declare the wrong decree?"
"How dare you question the emperor?" the eunuch scolded with a pinched voice.
Upon seeing this, the Duke of Zhen hurriedly pulled his daughter. Si Wan came to her senses, realized her gaffe, and hurriedly bent down to salute.
"It was Si Wan who made a mistake. It's just father-in-law. How is Concubine Shu?"
The chief eunuch raised his eyebrows and glanced at her, but instead of answering her words, he spoke to the ministers.
"Everyone, the Emperor has important matters to attend to. Let's all enjoy the upcoming palace banquet."
"yes."
All the ministers stood up and replied in unison.
The eunuch in charge glanced at the absent-minded Si Wan coldly, then turned to go to the emperor's side to serve him.
In the imperial study room, the emperor took the letters and read them again and again. The more he read, the more angry he became.
"Rebellion, really rebellion. She dares to collude with the Turks. She is really ambitious."
The emperor is no longer in his prime, his face is covered with wrinkles, but his only eyes are still very energetic. When he looks at people, his eyes are sharp, with the majesty of a superior.
Lu Hanxiao stood below and didn't say much. When it came to the Queen, it was the Emperor's household affairs, so he couldn't say much.
The emperor sank deeply and asked Lu Hanxiao.
"What do you think about this?"
"I thought we should investigate carefully. The queen should not do such a thing. Maybe there is some misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding, oh, I also hope it is a misunderstanding. Han Xiao, you don't need to comfort me. I know very well what kind of virtue she has. She just hopes to help the third child sit in my position, but where is the third child? With such a delicate mind like hers, she is just shaving off her head and picking a hot head, and her work is in vain."
The emperor did not intend to affect Han Liangan, Lu Hanxiao understood clearly.
The emperor pointed to the letters on the table and said.
"This matter is not trivial, but it involves her face for many years. Please don't make it public. I will send someone to investigate carefully later."
"Han Xiao, the Turks are so ambitious. I can rest assured that you are at the border."
He planned to use this incident to ask Lu Hanxiao to go to the border. The border really needed someone to guard it.
He didn't want others to go to the border, and he didn't want Lu Hanxiao to stay in the capital.
Lu Hanxiao listened, did not refuse, and accepted.
"I obey the emperor's arrangements."
The emperor patted his shoulder with satisfaction, "Don't worry, I will send someone to take good care of Mrs. Lu, and nothing will happen to her."
This is to allow Si Ning to stay in the capital as a hostage. Once Lu Hanxiao intends to rebel, the emperor will be the first to attack Si Ning.
Lu Hanxiao's eyes darkened and he didn't say anything.
The emperor also knew that he was not happy, but Lu Hanxiao's superb skills shocked the master, so he had to guard against it.
Si Ning had been waiting outside the palace gate for a long time before Lu Hanxiao entered the carriage.
Seeing that she looked a little anxious, he reached out and held her hand.
Si Ning's fingers were slender and had the unique softness of a girl, which softened his heart a little.
"Are you tired of waiting?"
"How's it going?"
Si Ning was really anxious. She was anxious to know the result.
"Let's go back and talk first," Lu Hanxiao said.
Si Ning met his deep gaze and frowned, but finally endured it and nodded at him.
The two of them were speechless all the way. When they arrived at the Ning'an Marquis Mansion, Lu Hanxiao got off the carriage first, then turned around and helped Si Ning down.
The emperor's reward had been sent back to the mansion before the two came back, alarming the first and second bedrooms. Jiang Linrou and Lu Zhiheng were waiting at the door just to congratulate Si Ning.
Seeing the two men returning, Jiang Linrou hurriedly led Lu Zhiheng to greet them.
"Third brother, Aning, you are back. How was your participation in the palace banquet?"
There was hospitality in her tone. Although their eldest brother-in-law had been allocated the old lady's private property, the money was not enough compared to the money in the hands of the third brother-in-law.
Jiang Linrou still had to live in the house, so she had to curry favor with Si Ning and Lu Hanxiao. Besides, she still had something to ask of Si Ning.
Si Ning had no intention of dealing with Jiang Linrou. She felt that something was not right with Lu Hanxiao along the way and planned to go back to the room to ask him what the emperor had said.
Being stopped now, he replied perfunctorily.
"Everything is fine, sister-in-law. I'm a little tired. I'm going back to the yard first."
With that said, she pulled Lu Hanxiao back.
Jiang Linrou was about to catch up, but was stopped by Lu Zhiheng.
"Mom, why are you following me? It's obvious that Third Aunt doesn't want to talk to you anymore."
Jiang Linrou said in a low voice with an unhappy face.
"What do you know? Although you and your father are back, you can't just sit idle at home all the time. The three bedrooms are soaring to the sky. They are all from the Ning'an Marquis Mansion. We can't lose all the benefits of our elder bedroom."
"Those are all earned by the third uncle himself. Although the son is not as capable as the third uncle, the son feels that he can make a career on his own."
Jiang Linrou was angry, "You were stupid at the border. You will have to stay in this courtyard for the rest of your life. You are not allowed to care about this matter. Mother knows it well."
She planned to go find Si Ning, but thinking about it, she probably wouldn't see anyone if she went there now, so she turned around and went to the kitchen, intending to make something to eat and send it over.
