Chapter 82: Like a couple? Brother and sister? Father and daughter?
Outside the palace, the eunuchs' voices rang out: "Your Majesty, here we are!"

Concubine Shu quickly pushed her son out through the back door and said, "Go out quickly, and don't come back before your father leaves."

The emperor was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe and had obviously come here straight after the court session.

The concubine came forward to greet her. The Saint leaned over and lifted her up, smiling, "My beloved concubine, please get up." He sat down on the chair and joked with her, "My beloved concubine, you always love to joke. Why are you so reserved today? Are you blaming me for not visiting you recently?"

You even killed your own son, who can still laugh with you?

Concubine Shu thought so in her heart, but she dared not show it on her face. She smiled and said, "Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, so it is normal that you can't take care of me for a while. How can I blame you?"

"Where is Pan'er? Why haven't I seen him?" The emperor asked casually while sipping his tea.

Hearing him mention her son, Concubine Shu couldn't help but feel surprised: "Pan'er, he went out to practice martial arts. Haha, he was a little unwell a while ago, which delayed his studies in the study. He has been anxious to make up for it these two days. He can't come to my place for a while."

The sage nodded when he heard this and praised: "Pan'er is a child who has always been motivated and has won my heart."

In the past, the person the sages praised the most was Prince Ning. They would say "This boy is good," or "He quite pleases my heart." They would hold him in the palm of their hands and love him, but would then mercilessly kill him with a cup of poison.

Hearing him praising her son, Concubine Shu's heart was beating fast: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. Pan'er is not that good. He is a naughty boy and the most disobedient."

The saint smiled and said, "My beloved concubine is always straightforward, but today she is a little abnormal."

"Really?" Concubine Shu smiled awkwardly: "Maybe there are too many things going on in the palace these days, so I am a little uncomfortable for a while."

The saint asked directly, "Are you frightened by the incident involving the noble concubine?"

Without waiting for Concubine Shu to answer, the Saint held her hand and said affectionately, "Don't be afraid, my beloved concubine. You are not the same as Concubine Chen. Prince Xuanchen is ambitious and submits to me on the surface, but secretly supports Prince Qin. That's why I killed him. Your Lu family has always been loyal to me. Shouzhi helped me recover the Sixteen Continents of Hexi, and he has made great contributions. Don't worry, my beloved concubine, I will not treat the Lu family unfairly, and I will not treat you and Pan'er unfairly."

As he spoke, he pulled her closer and said, "Although I have three thousand beauties, in my heart, the only one I care about is you, my beloved concubine. I want you to become the queen and let our Pan Er become the crown prince."

Although the emperor was cold-blooded and heartless, he had a pair of peach blossom eyes. When he looked at them with affection, even Chang'e in the Moon Palace would be unable to resist drowning in his warmth.

Listening to his words, Concubine Shu snorted in her heart: Although I am straightforward, I am not stupid. You are using the same tricks you used to coax Concubine Chen to treat me. Humph! I will not be fooled.

Concubine Shu smiled and replied, "I am already very satisfied to have your majesty's favor. As for the position of empress, please forgive me, your majesty. I am not talented enough to take on this important task."

After Lu Ji finished the morning court session and before he even walked out of the palace, he saw his nephew Qi Wang running towards him.

"Uncle, wait."

Zhao Pan ran to Lu Ji in one breath and bowed: "I haven't seen my uncle for a while. Pan'er came here specially from the inner palace."

Lu Ji asked, "How is your mother?"

Jiang Pan glanced around, then approached Lu Ji and whispered, "The imperial concubine was demoted and sent to the cold palace, Prince Ning was poisoned by my father, and my mother was so scared that she didn't sleep well for several days."

Lu Ji glanced at his nephew and asked, "Are you scared?"

Zhao Pan puffed out his chest and said, "I'm not afraid." He smiled at Lu Ji in a flattering way, "My mother and I are protected by my uncle. My uncle is an omnipotent hero, so I'm naturally not afraid."

The children of the royal family have experienced the treacherous circumstances of life since childhood and are therefore smarter than ordinary children.

Having seen the cold-bloodedness of his father, the emperor, he knew who to look for support and protection. Lu Ji sneered: "Good boy, you are good at flattering." Then he raised his hand and touched his nephew's head: "Go back and tell your mother, don't be afraid, you too, just study hard, your uncle will take care of the outside world."
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The private school ended early today. Qin Xiaoning came out of the school and was about to return the book to Mr. Su when she happened to meet Shen Qingshu.

He came in from outside, carrying something in his hand, and saw Qin Xiaoning coming out of the bamboo forest. Shen Qingshu stopped on the bridge, looked at Qin Xiaoning, and greeted her with a smile: "Miss Qin, you just got out of school."

"That's right." Qin Xiaoning stepped onto the bridge, holding up her skirt as she walked towards Shen Qingshu, saying, "I've finished reading Mr. Shen's travelogue and was just about to return it to Mr. Su. It just so happens that I ran into you here."

Shen Qingshu said, "The Autumn Examination has just ended. I am here on my aunt's orders to give Mr. Su a thank-you gift."

Qin Xiaoning stopped in front of him and asked, "How did Mr. Shen do in the exam?"

Shen Qingshu smiled and replied, "It's okay."

"Mr. Shen is a talented person. He will definitely be on the list of successful candidates in this autumn's examination." Qin Xiaoning said without thinking.

Shen Qingshu looked at Qin Xiaoning with a bright smile on his face: "I hope to receive your good wishes."

Lu Ji was returning from duty when he passed by here. He looked up and saw his little woman chatting happily with a young man with a smile on her face.

The bright autumn sun shone on the smiling faces of the two people, and Lu Ji was furious.

"what are you doing?"

He stood under the bridge, staring at the two of them, and spoke in a deep voice.

Qin Xiaoning was just about to return the travel book to Shen Qingshu when she suddenly heard Lu Ji's voice. She subconsciously retracted her outstretched hand.

"What did you get?"

Without waiting for Qin Xiaoning to speak, Lu Ji had already taken three or two steps to the two of them and snatched the book from Qin Xiaoning's hand. Seeing that it was the travelogue that the little woman had read that day, his face immediately darkened.

Qin Xiaoning was afraid that he might misunderstand, so she quickly explained, "This is a book written by Mr. Shen. I just happened to come across it and was just about to return it to him."

Hearing this, Lu Ji glanced at Shen Qingshu beside him with a cold look, as if he wanted to kill someone.

Shen Qingshu was just a scholar who had never seen such a world. Looking at Lu Ji's noble demeanor, he guessed that he must be a nobleman in this mansion. However, judging from his attitude towards himself and Qin Xiaoning, he was unsure about the relationship between Lu Ji and Qin Xiaoning.

Looking at the way the man was restraining others, the two of them looked like a couple. As soon as this thought came to his mind, he immediately rejected it. How could a married woman go to a private school to study?

That means they are brother and sister, but seeing that the little girl is so afraid of him, it doesn't seem like that. The little girl is already an adult, and as an older brother, he has no right to restrict his sister like this.

One is in charge, the other is afraid. They look most like a father and daughter. But looking at the man's age, he doesn't seem like the type who would have such an old daughter.

The man snatched the book away, and then with a cold face, he scolded the little girl: "You are secretly giving it to a strange man! Have I ever taught you about propriety, righteousness, and shame?"

Judging from the tone of their voice, they are father and daughter!

It is not surprising that the children of powerful and wealthy families look younger as they take good care of themselves.

Glancing at the little girl who looked like she was about to cry due to grievance, Shen Qingshu couldn't bear it and stepped forward to bow to Lu Ji: "Uncle, you misunderstood. Let me explain the twists and turns here in detail. Please don't wrongly accuse your daughter."

　Please give me a monthly ticket!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)