With Lu Wanning by his side, the Emperor's spirit indeed improved a great deal, and he could talk to her about other things.
"Has your father returned?"
Lu Wanning guessed that the Emperor was testing her, so without even raising her head, she simply said, "Zhaoyang doesn't even know where he's gone. The mansion was burgled the other day, and there was no way to tell him."
"Oh? There was a thief in the prince's mansion?"
Lu Wanning was gently blowing on the medicine in the bowl. The Emperor was overly suspicious. He probably liked her because of her innocence and simplicity. Without these qualities, the Emperor would only be more suspicious.
At present, only the Emperor could save the Lu family.
While feeding the Emperor the medicine, she said, "It was just a petty thief. The prince's mansion has strict guards, and nothing was lost. Father, in this vast world, nothing is more important than your health. You don't need to worry about such trivial matters. Listen to Zhaoyang and drink your medicine properly."
The Emperor let out a hearty laugh. "I have seven sons and one daughter, but none of them are as filial as Zhaoyang."
Lu Wanning beamed with pride. "The Empress Dowager used to say the same thing."
After her moment of pride, as if thinking of the Empress Dowager, her mood turned gloomy.
"Zhaoyang used to persuade me, but why can't you practice what you preached?"
Lu Wanning pouted, looking a bit aggrieved. "Everyone understands the principles... But you are the Emperor of the Great Zhou. Naturally, you're different. Zhaoyang is just a little girl. How can she always do what she says?"
The Emperor was in a good mood. He raised his eyebrows and looked around the palace hall, then sighed. "I've been in a coma for more than two days. I wonder if anything important has happened during these two days."
Lu Wanning asked, "What counts as an important matter?"
The Emperor was taken aback. Women in the Great Zhou were not supposed to be involved in politics, especially those in the harem. He disliked it when women in the harem talked about state affairs.
Lu Wanning counted on her fingers. "The snack shop on Lang Street closed down. Their water chestnuts in summer and winter jujube cakes in winter were so delicious, even better than the imperial cuisine. They also rebuilt the canal in the western suburbs and cut down that huge ancient tree at the foot of the mountain. We used to like to enjoy the cool under that tree when we went out in summer. There won't be such a place anymore. And..."
The Emperor listened with great interest and asked, "Are these the important matters?"
Lu Wanning tilted her head and thought for a while. "Father said these were trivial matters. State affairs are the important ones. But I don't know anything about state affairs. The only thing I know is that Sheng Songyan molested Concubine Jiang some time ago and was punished by you. Humph, I'm still angry when I think about it. Sheng Songyan used to make solemn vows in front of Sister Zhen. I thought he had really changed. I didn't expect that he would even dare to make advances to a woman in the palace. He's really bold."
The Emperor looked at Lu Wanning with a smile. "Does Zhaoyang know where your father has gone?"
Lu Wanning blinked her eyes. "Where has he gone?"
The Emperor sighed. "The most difficult thing for the Great Zhou at present is the war in the northern desert. I'm not at ease..."
Lu Wanning's eyes widened in surprise. "You sent my father there?"
The Emperor gave a half - smile. Now that his spirit had recovered, he motioned for Lu Wanning to help him get up and take a walk.
After asking the imperial physician and making sure it was okay, Lu Wanning carefully helped the Emperor out of bed and slowly walked around the room for a while.
The Emperor said with a bitter smile, "Your father is six years older than me, but I look much older than him."
Lu Wanning frowned and thought for a while before saying, "Father once told me that he only has to take care of the border defense, while you have to manage the entire Great Zhou. You have a much more difficult job than him."
"Did he really say that?"
Lu Wanning nodded. "Yes. He always said that since I entered the palace, I should respect and be filial to you. But at that time, I was young and ignorant, and I was in awe of your imposing manner, so I didn't dare to get too close to you. Looking back now, many of father's words make sense. Even when I was at home helping mother and sister - in - law manage the household, I found it so complicated and difficult. How much more difficult it must be to manage a country."
In the evening, Sheng Chenyi came in with two women.
Lu Wanning looked up. She knew these two women. One was Concubine Gong, who had been in the palace for a long time, and the other was Concubine Jiang, a new favorite of the Emperor.
Concubine Jiang entered the palace half a year ago. Although the Emperor was only in his forties, in recent years, he had been indulged in cultivating Taoism and didn't pay much attention to women. It wasn't until Concubine Jiang entered the palace half a year ago that the Emperor immediately granted her the title of Concubine and doted on her regardless of the period of mourning. The incident caused quite a stir for a few days. Later, Concubine Jiang voluntarily went to the Buddhist hall to practice and avoid seeing the Emperor, which finally put an end to the matter.
However, Lu Wanning was extremely disappointed when she saw Concubine Jiang in person, despite all the rumors about her beauty.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she was the second Shi Aohan. Of course, her figure was much more enchanting than Shi Aohan's. She was a delicate beauty with a perfect complexion. Because of her youth, her figure was graceful. If there was one thing most beautiful about her, it was her pair of eyes, which were so clear and innocent that a man couldn't help but want to take care of her.
Sure enough, after Concubine Jiang came in, the Emperor's eyes were fixed on her and couldn't move away.
Lu Wanning sneered and said loudly, "Zhaoyang greets Prince Chen. Hmm, why have the two concubines come at this time?"
Sheng Chenyi said in a flat tone, "It was I who asked them to come. Father has woken up, and he can't be without attendants by his side. The two concubines are used to serving, so I asked them to come and attend to Father."
Lu Wanning said straightforwardly, "No need. I'll take care of Father here."
Father?
Sheng Chenyi was taken aback and looked at Lu Wanning in surprise. "Bold! Father has conferred the title of princess on you, but you're not Father's adopted daughter. How can you change your address without regard for etiquette?"
Lu Wanning smiled slightly. "From now on, Zhaoyang will call him Father."
Sheng Chenyi gritted his back teeth secretly. Seeing that the Emperor didn't offer an explanation, he smiled gently. "Has Father taken Zhaoyang as his adopted daughter?"
The Emperor shook his head. "I just envy Lu Hongxi for having such a daughter. Well, during the two days I was in a coma, has anything important happened?"
The Emperor had asked Lu Wanning the same question in the afternoon.
Lu Wanning raised her eyebrows and looked at the Emperor. Seeing that his expression was as calm as usual, it seemed that he was really just asking his son who was acting as regent about what had happened in the past two days.
For some reason, Lu Wanning had always thought that the Emperor, although not a fatuous ruler, was by no means a wise one. But at this moment, she seemed to see wisdom in his eyes.
However, this wisdom seemed more like an illusion. Maybe it was because the Emperor now trusted the Lu family and Lu Hongxi that she had such an illusion.
Sheng Chenyi said in a calm and soft voice, "There's one thing, but I don't know if I should say it."
The Emperor showed a tired look on his face and waved his hand. "Just say it."
Sheng Chenyi looked at Lu Wanning and waved to the two concubines. "I need to discuss state affairs with Father. You two go out and wait first."
The two concubines bowed and left, but Lu Wanning still sat beside the Emperor's couch and showed no sign of moving.
Sheng Chenyi raised his eyebrows and gave a soft laugh. "Princess Zhaoyang, I have important matters to report to the Emperor. The princess should avoid this."
Lu Wanning just pursed her lips and asked naively, "Why are Father's concubines so obedient to you?"