Chapter 376 Undercurrent
In the early winter of that year, the eldest daughter of the East Mansion, Lu Xian, entered the imperial city as queen. The whole country celebrated and the wedding was unprecedentedly grand.

Although the little girl is only sixteen years old, she has been receiving strict training day and night since she was chosen to be the queen of the current dynasty. Now that she has entered the palace, she has complete etiquette and her behavior is exemplary.

The lights in the harem were bright and the red candles were swaying. The young Queen Lu was sitting in the Pepper Room. The personal maid slowly came in from the outer hall, came closer and replied: "Your Majesty, His Majesty has not come to the harem yet."

Lu Xian looked at it and said "Oh", then asked in a low voice: "What time is it now?"

"It's almost midnight." The little maid couldn't help but grumble and complain, "According to the rules, the wedding ceremony should be held. Why hasn't His Majesty come yet?"

"Just wait a little longer." Although the little girl couldn't help but get anxious, she still pretended to be calm: "Your Majesty might be stuck with something. The palace has strict rules and he can't be late."

These words were more like the little girl's self-consolation. Although she kept the queen's dignity and sat upright on the dragon and phoenix bed, her big eyes were looking towards the palace door, and her clear eyes were full of expectations.

Today is the new emperor's wedding. After the palace banquet, Lu Ji was appointed as a director of the Regent Palace as usual.

Although it was a day of national celebration, important matters could not be delayed. Because of the delay in attending the palace banquet, a thick stack of memorials was piled up on the desk of the Regent's Palace. Lu Ji was busy dealing with them when he heard a familiar sound of footsteps. He looked up and was stunned when he saw who was coming.

"Your Majesty, why are you here?"

Zhao Pan entered the main hall and looked around. His eyes finally fell on the memorials on the desk. "I saw my uncle drank quite a bit of wine at the palace banquet just now. It's so late now. Why doesn't my uncle go back home to rest?"

"Is your uncle happy that you are getting married today? That's why I drank a few more cups." Lu Ji stood up, patted the young man's thin shoulders with his big hands, and asked, "Your Majesty, why don't you return to the harem?"

Zhao Pan did not answer Lu Ji's question, but asked in return: "Why doesn't uncle call me by my nickname anymore?"

In the past, Lu Ji always privately called his younger brother and nephew Pan'er, just like Empress Dowager Lu did.

Lu Ji smiled and said, "Now that you are married, you will be an adult from now on. Naturally, your uncle will no longer call you by your childhood nickname as before."

"From now on, I will respectfully address you as Your Majesty." Lu Ji said in a gentle voice.

Zhao Pan smiled and said, "Uncle, you are too polite. My mother often reminds me to remember your kindness."

Hearing this, Lu Ji looked at his nephew deeply and said, "I dare not take credit for it."

Zhao Pan paused, then looked at Lu Ji and replied, "Uncle, you are too modest. The battle for the throne was treacherous, cruel and bloody. If I hadn't received your protection and assistance, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to sit on the throne."

Lu Ji did not pursue the topic any further, but instead urged, "It is getting late, Your Majesty, you should return to the harem. Today is your wedding night with the Queen, so don't keep her waiting for too long."

Zhao Pan glanced at the clock on the wall and said, "Oh, it's really late."

As he spoke, he smiled coldly: "My mother often praises Xian'er in front of me, saying that she is sensible and polite. I believe that even if I am a little negligent today, she will not blame me."

Lu Ji frowned slightly, but his expression remained the same: "The queen is my Lu family's daughter. If Your Majesty is not satisfied with her, you don't have to agree to this marriage. Since Your Majesty married Xian'er, then Your Majesty should be a man of integrity and treat your wife well."

"Uncle, are you angry with Pan'er?" Zhao Pan forced a smile. "I was just joking with you. Do you think I really want to treat Xian'er badly?" The young man looked at Lu Ji with a dark look in his eyes. He said, "She is the daughter of the Lu family, born in a famous family, and she is also my cousin. For both public and private reasons, I have no reason to neglect her, right?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Ji fell silent.

Zhao Pan stopped talking, and the huge palace fell into silence. Only the ticking sound of the clepsydra on the wall could be heard. Although the sound was soft, it was heart-wrenching in the silent night.

After a long while, Lu Ji spoke in a serious and cold voice. He looked at Zhao Pan and said, "Your Majesty, you will be an adult after you get married. From now on, I will gradually withdraw from the affairs of the court. It is time for you to rule the country."

As the man said this, his deep eyes carefully observed the boy's expression. Although Zhao Pan tried hard to maintain his calmness, the joy that flashed in his eyes could not escape Lu Ji's eyes.

"Uncle, what are you talking about?" Zhao Pan said, "You have devoted yourself to the court for so many years. With you in charge, the court can be revived. I am still young, how can I bear this burden?"

Lu Ji laughed inaudibly: "Your Majesty is young, but smart and capable. Uncle believes that you can shoulder this responsibility."

"From now on, I will gradually hand over the affairs of the court to Your Majesty. From now on, if Your Majesty needs me, I will do my best to help."

Zhao Pan still looked calm: "I still have to rely on my uncle to worry about the affairs of the court."

As he spoke, he turned his head and glanced at the clock on the wall: "It's really getting late. I have to go back to the harem. We can't let the queen wait in vain in the wedding night tonight."

"Uncle, Pan'er is leaving now."

Lu Ji looked at him and said, "Goodbye, Your Majesty."

After finishing his official duties, it was already late at night. The eunuch who served him bowed and came in, offering him a bowl of tonic tea, and advised him in a gentle voice: "Your Highness, it is too late today. I have already prepared the side hall, you can stay there."

Lu Ji took a sip of tea and replied, "No, I'd better go back home."

"Your Highness, it's already three o'clock in the morning. You will have to come back to court in a few hours. Why don't you have a good sleep in the side hall?" The eunuch advised, "You must take good care of yourself."

Lu Ji said nothing more. He put on his cloak stubbornly and strode out of the Qinzheng Hall.

It was late at night, the autumn wind was cold, and the whistling northwest wind made the man's clothes rustle. He strode out of the inner palace, and his attendant led the horse over. The man jumped on the horse and when he reached the gate of the outer palace, he took out his badge from his waist. The servant took it and ran to hand it to the guard at the door. After a while, the side door of the city tower opened wide. The man squeezed his legs together, and the horse under him ran out of the palace and went straight back to the mansion.

Today is the wedding of the Emperor and the Empress, and several ladies of the Duke's Mansion have been ordered to attend the banquet in the palace. After Qin Xiaoning returned, she slept until midnight and woke up on her own. Seeing that Lu Ji had not returned yet, she could no longer sleep.

She simply sat up, put on her clothes, and waited for the man to come back.

She had always been a good sleeper, and had become even more sleepy since she became pregnant. But for some reason today, Qin Xiaoning felt restless. She was staring at the candlelight at the head of the bed in a daze. Song Zhi hurried into the inner room and saw Qin Xiaoning sitting up. The little maid was startled. Qin Xiaoning immediately woke up and asked, "Is the prince back?"

"Not yet." The little maid looked pale, and tried to calm herself down. She stepped forward quickly and replied carefully, "I just heard from the steward that there was a disturbance in East Street, and it seems to be related to the prince."