Sheng Songyan became even more complacent and said in quick succession, "Zhaoyang, this is your fault. Qingniang is my person, and it's up to me to arrange things for her. Qingniang, come here. You should pour wine for the prince."
Sheng Jinyu actually showed a hint of a smile on his face. Only then did he wave his hand and say, "No need. I'm not used to it."
Lu Wanning saw that Qingniang seemed not to understand human speech and was about to move closer to Sheng Jinyu again. Looking at Sheng Jinyu, even though he refused, it wasn't as tough as before. It seemed that he probably thought it was okay to flirt with and get intimate with a brothel girl.
All men were the same. How boring.
Then Lu Wanning looked at He Nanfeng and thought that he must be the same. If she hadn't been smart today, he might have fallen into Shi Aohan's trap and really become a fish in her pond.
He Nanfeng looked up and saw Lu Wanning staring at him with a hostile look. He subconsciously touched his nose and asked, "Ning'er, do you have something to say?"
Lu Wanning said irritably, "Of course I do. Have you forgotten what you were going to do? Is it more important to have a good time here or to help Sister Jiang?"
He Nanfeng looked wronged. He hadn't wanted to come here just now. Of course, he wanted to go to the Jiang family and deliver the prescription to Shishi earlier. It was she who insisted on coming here.
Sheng Songyan stopped He Nanfeng who was about to get up and leave. "Hey, Nanfeng, have you forgotten that you promised me first?"
"Promised you? What?"
Sheng Songyan reached out and put his arm around He Nanfeng's shoulder. "Let's go. First, accompany me to take care of something. Qingniang, come with me."
Qingniang didn't forget to throw a flirtatious look at Sheng Jinyu. After instructing the two women under her to serve the prince well, she followed Sheng Songyan and He Nanfeng away.
Sheng Jinyu raised his eyes and swept a sharp look at the remaining women. The singing and dancing stopped, and the four women immediately bowed and retreated.
Lu Wanning blinked in surprise. "Why... did they all leave?"
Sheng Jinyu moved the wine cup away, brewed the tea himself, and handed it to Lu Wanning. "Do you like scented tea?"
Lu Wanning took the tea, frowned, and whispered, "Can I say... I actually don't like tea? I like to drink plain water."
Sheng Jinyu paused, withdrew his hand, and said nothing.
Lu Wanning fidgeted for a while and then asked, "Do you often organize such parties with the Prince of Qishan's heir?"
Sheng Jinyu took a sip of tea and said coldly, "I don't have the time."
Lu Wanning paused and then said, "Then why are you so idle today? You..."
"I have something that troubles me greatly."
"What is it?" Lu Wanning blinked and subconsciously asked.
Sheng Jinyu looked at Lu Wanning with a smile. Seeing the curiosity in her eyes, he couldn't help showing a hint of a smile. "It's about the Supreme Court. Father has entrusted me to sort out the affairs of the Supreme Court. But now, because of the case a while ago, I've offended the Prince of Xiao. I'm really troubled. On one hand, there's the just and fair Supreme Court, and on the other hand, there's my uncle. I don't know what to do."
Lu Wanning's round eyes widened. "What do you mean? Are you going to show favoritism just because he's your uncle? Didn't people say that you're impartial? Well, now that it's your own uncle, you can't bear it?"
Sheng Jinyu's silence seemed like guilt to Lu Wanning. "Since the Supreme Court is supposed to be just and fair, how can it show favoritism? If the Supreme Court bends the law for personal gain, do the common people still have a way out? Is there still the law in the Great Zhou?"
Every word of hers was like a pearl, and she wished she could scold Sheng Jinyu to pieces.
Sheng Jinyu still looked calm. After Lu Wanning had finished venting her anger, he continued, "It's not that. What troubles me is that if I make a big deal out of it and let the Supreme Court confront the Prince of Xiao, I'm afraid the clan won't allow it. After all, there are already many memorials on my desk today accusing Lord Fang. It's really difficult."
Lord Fang?
Lu Wanning realized later that in the last case, Lord Fang had made the most noise. He was like a sitting duck, so the Prince of Xiao's attention had been drawn to him.
How hateful.
Sheng Jinyu sighed helplessly. "Why am I telling you all this? You're just a girl. Drink your tea."
Lu Wanning's mind had been turning. She was now on duty in the Supreme Court, and Lord Fang was her superior. How could she stand by when her superior was in trouble? Although she believed that His Highness the Prince of Yu could handle it, if he used too much power and offended too many royal family members, it wouldn't be good for his future struggle for the throne.
Since she wanted to help him become the emperor, she might as well help him to the end. It could solve his urgent problem and help her get on his good side. Why not?
However, how to help was a big problem. She had to think it over carefully.
Lu Wanning thought for a while, moved closer, and asked, "Your Highness, can't we find out about all the evil deeds the Prince of Xiao has done?"
Sheng Jinyu seemed to be recalling or having a hard time. "Zhaoyang, you're a girl. You don't need to worry about these things. The relationships of the Prince of Xiao in the court are complex. Pulling one hair will move the whole body. Even Father has to think twice before acting. Many things can't be solved overnight."
Lu Wanning frowned. The heir of the Prince of Xiao's mansion was still young, but Princess Hejia was almost fifteen. She wasn't young anymore. Hejia had always had a good relationship with the queen. When she was a child in the Empress Dowager's palace, Hejia was always in the queen's palace and was very favored.
At that time, the original owner didn't think much of it. She only knew that Hejia was left in the palace not because the emperor doted on her but because she was used as a hostage to restrain the Prince of Xiao. But Lu Wanning wasn't that stupid. She understood that in the emperor's heart, both Hejia and she were hostages, just pawns placed in the palace to restrain others.
Pawns. Lu Wanning stroked her chin. Whether they were pawns or not, there was no doubt that the Prince of Xiao was on the Crown Prince's side. No wonder it was difficult for the Prince of Yu. But she was different. In front of others, the Lu family was also on the Crown Prince's side. Her father, Lu Hongxi, was a tough man. He didn't participate in the court struggles before because he was preoccupied with military affairs and didn't have the time, but it didn't mean he didn't have the ability...
"Your father is going to Luocheng, isn't he?" Sheng Jinyu asked casually.
Lu Wanning was stunned. Go to Luocheng? What for without any war? No, at the end of last year, Lu Hongxi had said that it might not be safe in Luocheng. In the original book, Lu Hongxi had left the capital not long after her marriage.
"I went to visit the Empress Dowager yesterday. She only has your father on her mind. Zhaoyang, if you have time, go into the palace to visit the Empress Dowager too."
Lu Wanning lowered her head. It wasn't that she didn't want to visit the Empress Dowager. It was just that the Empress Dowager always looked at her with sadness in her eyes. It seemed like the sadness of life and death separation, but she knew it wasn't. The Empress Dowager just missed Lu Hongxi and didn't want him to continue being a general.
She summoned up her courage and looked up. "Your Highness, can you... find a way to replace my father and send someone else to Luocheng? My father isn't in good health. I don't want him to go."
Sheng Jinyu raised his eyebrows. "You don't want him to go?"
Lu Wanning glanced at him and quickly lowered her head. "Your Highness, I once asked you if you believed in my father's absolute loyalty."
With just this one sentence, the corners of Sheng Jinyu's mouth twitched. It seemed that this little girl had the same thought as him.