Sheng Jinyu let out a soft chuckle. "Your Majesty, the human heart is unfathomable. Why bother to test others?"
He got up to leave. The emperor didn't mind his rudeness. Instead, he raised his voice and said,
"A Yu, aren't you really going to consider Zhao Yang? Then I..."
Sheng Jinyu staggered and almost fell. He turned back with a panicked look in his eyes. "Your Majesty... Your son... Your son doesn't like the Lu family..."
The emperor burst into laughter and waved his hand proudly, signaling him to leave first. Then he said to the eunuch beside him with a smile, "Zhao Yang is such a lively and lovable child. How could anyone not like her? My son is just being coy."
The eunuch bent down with his head lowered. "Your Majesty, this servant thinks that the prince is not being coy but has the same intention as Your Majesty."
The emperor nodded in satisfaction. "Well, I have a total of six sons, and only this one suits my wishes the most. It's a pity. If Zhao Yang weren't a daughter of the Lu family, I'd be happy to fulfill his wish."
After Sheng Jinyu left the main hall, his face remained calm. Just as he reached the imperial garden, he saw the queen and several concubines enjoying the flowers there. The crown prince was also there.
The queen, with sharp eyes, waved her hand and smiled. "Prince Yu has entered the palace? Was it summoned by the emperor? Come and enjoy the flowers with us."
Sheng Jinyu bowed. "Your Majesty the Queen, I still have something to do, so I won't accompany you ladies."
The crown prince also got up to say goodbye and walked out with Sheng Jinyu.
"The third brother is getting busier and busier these days, making this lonely one seem like a spare person."
Sheng Jinyu chuckled. "When has Your Highness the Crown Prince ever been idle?"
A magnolia flower hung down from a tree by the roadside. The crown prince casually picked it. "I heard that Zhao Yang really likes the third brother. She even said that you are the big shot she's relying on. I'm afraid only Zhao Yang is so bold as to say such things."
Sheng Jinyu's eyes didn't move. He calmly glanced at him. "Relying on His Majesty's favor... Is this the first time Your Highness the Crown Prince has known about her like this?"
He left the palace first and got into the carriage, ignoring the meaningful look from the crown prince.
The carriage was heading towards the Prince Qi Shan's Mansion. At this moment, He Nanfeng was packing his things, preparing to return to the He family.
Sheng Songyan stopped him. "That's a den of tigers. Nanfeng, if you really go back, do you know what awaits you?"
He Nanfeng nodded. "Even so, I still have to go back. That's my home, and the memorial tablets of my father and mother are there. Don't worry. It's only a little over half a month until the anniversary of my grandfather's death. I'll be careful."
Sheng Songyan was almost furious. "What you should do most now is to find the Princess of Zhennan. She's your aunt, and she can support you."
He Nanfeng sighed slightly. "Now Prince Yu is in a difficult situation. If I get too close to the Lu family, it will be bad for him. If you can't endure minor setbacks, you'll ruin a great plan."
"Since you know that you can't ruin a great plan for minor setbacks, isn't your current action just like sending a lamb to the tiger's mouth?"
He Nanfeng turned around and saw Sheng Jinyu coming. He quickly bowed. "Your Highness went into the palace, didn't you? Why are you here at this time?"
Sheng Jinyu said, "Songyan is right. You're not fully recovered yet. Going back at this time is a dead end. If he wants to harm you, how could he tolerate you living for another half a month?"
He Nanfeng hesitated. "But the matter of family division is urgent. I wish them eternal damnation, but I don't want the He family, which my grandfather and father have fought hard to maintain, to perish in vain."
Sheng Jinyu walked to the table, looked at him and raised his eyebrows. "You don't have to go back to the He family. The He family also has a mansion in the city. Why don't you go there?"
He Nanfeng hesitated. "But if..."
"If he says he wants you to go back?" Sheng Jinyu sneered. "You just go and live in the city, and make as much noise as possible. Bring your servants and guards to guard day and night, so that everyone knows that you're afraid of the Duke of He and think he will harm your life."
Sheng Songyan clapped his hands and laughed. "That's great. In this way, the Duke of He will be even more afraid to act rashly. However, in this way, Brother Nanfeng, your reputation won't be so good."
He Nanfeng said, "I used to be burdened by my reputation, but now I've seen it clearly. Reputation is not as important as living happily."
Sheng Songyan pointed at him. "These words don't sound like yours. They sound more like what your cousin with a not-so-good reputation said."
He Nanfeng laughed. "Ning'er never cares about what others say about her. I really envy such a carefree life."
Speaking of Lu Wanning, Sheng Songyan walked to Sheng Jinyu's side and patted his shoulder. "There have been a lot of rumors in the capital recently. Lu Wanning is really bold. She directly said that she's relying on you. I went to your mansion this morning and saw that your old butler was so worried that his hair was all white."
Sheng Jinyu sat down casually to drink tea and didn't say a word.
Sheng Songyan sat down beside him and asked, "Are you just going to tolerate her ruining your reputation? Jinyu, don't tell me you...?"
Sheng Jinyu gave him a sharp look. "This lonely one has said that he will never be bothered by love affairs."
Sheng Songyan didn't believe it. "But you clearly went to handle business the other day. Why did you save Zhao Yang?"
"I can't stand her stupidity..." Sheng Jinyu was very dissatisfied. He turned his face and thought for a while and then said, "This lonely one staged a play in the palace. Now, of course, I have to play it to the end."
He got up and stroked the sword on his waist.
Sheng Songyan stood up too. "What are you going to do? You haven't had lunch yet. Even if you're going to act, you should have lunch first, right?"
Sheng Jinyu shook his head. "No need. The time is just right."
He walked out of the door and headed towards the Zhennan Prince's Mansion aggressively. Just after noon, most people in the Zhennan Prince's Mansion were taking a rest at this time. Lu Hongxi and Lu Hanchi had gone out, and there were almost all female family members in the mansion.
Sheng Jinyu barged in without asking anyone to announce his arrival. He just asked angrily, "Where is Lu Wanning?"
The old doorkeeper was stunned. Seeing his sword about to be unsheathed and surrounded by the servants of the Prince Yu's Mansion, he almost cried. "Your Highness, please spare my life. Your Highness, please spare my life. Our prince is not at home."
Sheng Jinyu's servant pressed against him. "We're asking about the princess. Who's asking about your prince?"
This doorkeeper was also a man of backbone. He just closed his eyes and looked like he was ready to die, refusing to say anything.
Sheng Jinyu left him behind and walked straight in. He charged straight in without any hesitation. He seemed to be very familiar with the place. Before the princess got the news, he had already reached Lu Wanning's courtyard.
The courtyard was very quiet. Usually, when Lu Wanning took a lazy nap, she didn't like anyone to move around. The whole courtyard had to be quiet. Only an old woman guarding the door was dozing off in the side room in the courtyard.
Before she could react, Sheng Jinyu waved his hand to signal his servants to guard here. Only two of his personal servants followed him in and stopped the maids and old women who rushed over.
When he entered the room, Sheng Jinyu sneered in his heart. Today's scare could not only make this nonsense little woman timid but also cover up the eyes and ears in the palace. It was really killing two birds with one stone.
When he lifted the curtain and entered the inner room, he was stunned.
Usually, there was a screen between the inner room and the bed, but Lu Wanning's boudoir was not like this. As soon as he looked, he saw a bed and the sleeping woman on it.