After entering the book, the cold prince begs for favor

Chapter 391 Even the Emperor Cannot Harm Her

As the morning light streamed in through the gauze window, Yuan Wanru lay lazily curled up in bed, even her fingertips feeling soft and yielding.

Lu Jiangnian wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head, his hands still lingering on her waist, occasionally stroking it lightly.

Still tired?

His voice was husky with satisfaction as he kissed the skin behind her ear.

Yuan Wanru gave a soft hum and leaned back into his arms: "You seem quite energetic..." Before she could finish speaking, she felt his arms tighten and his warm lips press against the back of her neck.

"We've been apart for so long, and you wouldn't let me touch you before."

His voice was muffled in her hair, "You were relatively restrained last night."

Yuan Wanru's ears burned as she recalled the events of the previous night, and she couldn't help but scold, "You've been traveling all this way, and you're keeping me up so late at night. I bet you didn't even have a sip of hot tea before..."

She was suddenly pinned down by him as she spoke, and the rest of her words were swallowed up in a lingering kiss.

A long kiss ensued, and the two were inevitably moved, but it was already getting late.

Lu Jiangnian could only suppress his desires and hold her tightly in his arms.

Yuan Wanru rested her head on his arm, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the scar on his chest: "Consort Liang really won't let this go. In front of the Emperor, she said I poisoned the Second Prince. Although I managed to deceive him, the Emperor is probably..."

Lu Jiangnian caught her mischievous fingers and gently bit them: "Who can prove something without evidence?"

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. "Even the people at the Imperial Hospital couldn't find out that Murong Xiao was poisoned, could they? Consort Liang is just making baseless accusations; the Emperor won't believe her."

Yuan Wanru looked at him. "You really think so?"

"Yes, it's alright. Even if the Emperor suspects it, there's nothing he can do."

His tone was resolute, "Let's deny it to the death then. My father has been guarding the northern frontier for many years; the Emperor won't easily harm anyone from the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion."

Yuan Wanru sighed softly and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

His aura gave her a strange sense of peace.

A soft cough came from outside the window: "Your Highness, it's getting late."

Lu Jiangnian frowned, but had no choice but to release the person in his arms.

Yuan Wanru propped herself up, her black hair cascading down like a waterfall, revealing red marks on her snow-white skin.

"Where are you going?"

Lu Jiangnian took the clothes from the bedside and put them on. "The Emperor did not summon me last night, but I still need to report the matter of Qingzhou clearly this morning."

Yuan Wanru suddenly realized, but was also a little annoyed with him: "Since you dared to do that, why didn't you say so earlier? Getting up earlier and having breakfast before going to the palace would have been perfect."

“I’ve already eaten.” He took her hand and kissed it gently. “You won’t be hungry.”

Yuan Wanru was stunned for a moment: "When did you eat?"

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly remembered something and stopped.

Lu Jiangnian's fingertips lingered on her waist: "Hehe, what do you think?"

He looked at the bed, glancing meaningfully at the disheveled bedding.

Yuan Wanru suddenly chuckled: "You, you're really in a hurry..."

Lu Jiangnian's eyes darkened, and he suddenly pulled her closer, biting her lip hard: "I'm just impatient. Wait until I get back, then I'll make a deeper impression on you."

Yuan Wanru patted him on the shoulder, "Go on, don't do anything reckless."

When Lu Jiangnian left the Marquis's residence, he looked back at the direction of Lingshui Residence.

Just now, he was of course thinking of Kuan Yuan Wanru's feelings. The Emperor is getting older and is increasingly distrustful of others.

This time, the insistence on transferring him out of Beijing is simply because they suspect him, isn't it?

The Emperor doesn't even trust him, let alone his wife.

This separation is enough. From now on, he will not let his wife face all these storms alone.

"The Crown Prince?"

Xuanqing whispered a reminder.

Lu Jiangnian withdrew his gaze and straightened his clothes.

The palace eaves gleamed coldly in the morning sun, and he suddenly recalled Yuan Wanru's whisper in his ear last night: "I miss you too."

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips as he strode toward the palace gate.

Even the emperor could not harm his wife in the slightest.

-

"My dear minister, you have rendered meritorious service in suppressing the bandits." The emperor's voice came from the gilded dragon throne, tinged with a hint of nonchalance. "You are indeed swift and efficient in your work; in less than a month in Qingzhou, you have already investigated and dealt with all twenty-seven officials involved in the case."

"What's wrong? Is something in the capital that's bothering you?"

"I cannot bear to see snakes and rats running rampant." As he looked up, he met the emperor's probing gaze. Lu Jiangnian's respectful eyes were tinged with a chilling coldness. "The longer these vermin linger, the more uneasy I become."

"Your Majesty has entrusted me with this important task, so I dare not slack off. I have been investigating day and night, just to return to the capital as soon as possible to report back and bring these people who are holding positions without doing their jobs to justice."

His face was cold and stern, showing no sign of discomfort despite the emperor's teasing.

"My father often taught me that both thunder and rain are acts of imperial grace, just like these petty villains of Qingzhou—they should have long been exposed under Your Majesty's holy light."

The emperor gazed at him, then suddenly sighed, "Excellent! Excellent! Truly, like father, like son!" His pearl-encrusted court hat trembled slightly. "You, the Lu family father and son, truly deserve to be called my pillars of support."

"I am fortunate to have fulfilled my mission."

Lu Jiangnian changed his tone, "If my father knew that His Majesty praised him so highly, he would surely blame me for stealing his thunder."

The solemn atmosphere of the hall was shattered by this jest, and the emperor's laughter shook the dust that had accumulated on the beams and caused it to fall in a flurry. "Your father wouldn't do that, he would only be happy."

The hall was quiet for a while.

The Emperor mentioned Yuan Wanru.

"I had heard before that your father was kind and adopted the orphan of one of his subordinates, but I never expected that he would marry this woman to you."

"Last year, I told your father that Princess Le'an was chasing after you all day long, causing quite a few laughs in the capital. Your father also said that you were engaged to the Yuan family and that the wedding was approaching."

"After you get married, Le'an will no longer be so attached."

Lu Jiangnian's mind stirred slightly. He hadn't expected that there was such a thing back then. He hadn't heard his father mention it. No wonder his father had let him marry Yuan Wanru so readily back then.

It turns out that the emperor had inquired about his marriage.

Lu Jiangnian continued to listen, and the Emperor continued, "Speaking of which, the Yuan family's background is too low. This marriage is unfair to you, but your father is willing to accept it."

The emperor spoke casually, as if he were just chatting about everyday things.

Lu Jiangnian did not flinch. He answered frankly, "I dare not deceive Your Majesty. Yuan Shi grew up in my family since childhood, but perhaps she is introverted and timid. At first, I really looked down on her."

"Although her father was a guard, he was loyal and courageous. Before he passed away, he entrusted his daughter to my father, and the marriage was arranged at that time. I was unaware of it until now."

“I could not disobey my father’s orders. At first, I just gritted my teeth and married her. I did not really regard her as my wife.”

The Emperor's eyes flashed, as if he were in a lively conversation: "And now?"

Lu Jiangnian rarely blushed.

"This... a haven of gentle pleasures, a graveyard for heroes, Your Majesty should understand my thoughts."

"Hahaha, you little rascal..."

Suddenly, the Emperor asked, "When you returned home last night, did your wife mention to you about her visit to the palace a few days ago?"

“Consort Liang and Murong Xiao have ulterior motives and are plotting rebellion. The evidence is conclusive, and I have already imprisoned them. However, Consort Liang keeps saying that Yuan Shi poisoned Murong Xiao.”

"What do you think?"

Lu Jiangnian felt a chill run down his spine.

coming.