"Jiang Huaiqing is going there for Da Huan. No matter what, I don't want him to die in the Northern Desert. Naturally, I have to take some measures. Not only the Hidden Dragon Guards, but also the Hidden Dragon Guards. When he reaches the Northern Desert, the Hidden Dragon Guards will listen to his orders." Shang Junlin caressed Shen Yu's cheek.
More importantly, he knew that Shen Yu valued Jiang Huaiqing a lot. As one of Shen Yu's few friends, Shang Junlin didn't want anything to happen that would make Shen Yu unhappy.
Jiang Huaiqing's trip to the Northern Desert this time was risky. Everyone knew this, including Jiang Huaiqing himself. Shang Junlin wasn't heartless. He gave Jiang Huaiqing a choice. If Jiang Huaiqing didn't want to go, he wouldn't force him.
"Actually, when I sent someone to deliver the secret edict, I asked for Jiang Huaiqing's opinion. If he didn't want to go, I would choose someone else."
"Your Majesty is so nice." Shen Yu leaned on Shang Junlin's shoulder. "The other force around Jiang Huaiqing is my man. I think Your Majesty has already guessed it."
Compared to his previous life, Jiang Huaiqing's career in this life was much smoother. If he could return from the Northern Desert smoothly, he would definitely be able to gain a foothold in the imperial court in the shortest time possible.
Shen Yu always had a bit of selfishness towards Jiang Huaiqing. He didn't deny this. Shen Yu wouldn't mistreat his subordinates who had gone through fire and water with him in his previous life, even if he didn't experience those things in this life.
Soon, it was the New Year. The palace was decorated in festive red. With Shen Yu as the host, the palace was even more lively.
There was a big banquet in the palace. The ministers brought their families to attend this banquet. In some ways, it showed how much the Emperor valued the ministers.
When Shen Yu and Shang Junlin arrived, the ministers had already arrived.
Shang Junlin led Shen Yu directly to the highest position. The ministers were already used to His Majesty's preferential treatment of Shen Yu, so no one stood out to say anything.
In fact, this kind of banquet was quite boring. Shen Yu was not interested in listening to the compliments of the ministers. He focused on the delicious food in front of him.
Having learned their lesson from last time, this time, there was no wine on the table in front of them. There were only various kinds of soups and fresh fruit drinks that the imperial chef had concocted.
Shen Yu picked it up and tasted it. It was sweet and had a unique fruity aroma. It was exceptionally delicious. He looked down and saw that no one was paying attention to them. He scooped up a spoonful and brought it to Shang Junlin's mouth. "Your Majesty, try it."
Shang Junlin opened his mouth and ate the food in the spoon. "It's very sweet."
Their little interaction did not escape the eyes of the ministers who had been secretly watching their movements.
The courtiers rarely saw how Shen Yu and Shang Junlin got along in private. Seeing this scene, they couldn't help but widen their eyes.
Was this still their decisive and unyielding His Majesty who would not allow strangers to approach?
They knew that Shen Yu was favored, but they only had a vague idea of how favored. Only when they saw the two interacting with each other did they know that Shang Junlin didn't just favor Shen Yu.
The favor of the Emperor was the easiest to get and the easiest to lose. But that was when favor came before love. Looking at the current situation, it was obvious that His Majesty was sincere.
The ministers had different thoughts in their minds.
Shen Yu didn't care what they thought. He was still clingy with Shang Junlin.
How they interacted in private was how they interacted now.
"Is it still the same group of dancers today?" Shen Yu put down his chopsticks and calculated the time. It was almost time.
"No." Shang Junlin pursed his lips. "It's someone else this time."
"Is His Majesty still jealous of what happened last time?" Shen Yu leaned forward and almost leaned on Shang Junlin. "It's been so long, His Majesty still hasn't forgotten?"
Shen Yu was talking about what happened last time at Shang Junlin's birthday banquet. Although Shen Yu paid a "heavy price" afterwards, Shen Yu still felt that it was very interesting when he thought about it.
Shang Junlin raised his hand and stroked Shen Yu's waist. With a little force, Shen Yu's waist softened and she fell into the man's arms.
Shen Yu leaned in the man's arms and trembled with laughter. "His Majesty didn't send them away, right?"
Did he have to be so cute? Just because he looked at them a few more times, he changed them. Shen Yu found that Shang Junlin's jealousy was really strong. Sometimes it was quite interesting to see a man jealous. Even if he was jealous, he would also be jealous.
Shang Junlin held the shoulder of the person in his arms. "Zhen let them out of the palace."
Shen Yu trembled even more. She couldn't hide the smile in her voice. "If I looked at them a few more times today, wouldn't His Majesty also send the dancers out of the palace?"
Shang Junlin pursed his lips and didn't answer. Obviously, he had this thought in his heart.
"If this continues, after a few more times, there might not be enough dancers in the palace. His Majesty really doesn't need to do this. Today, I will only look at His Majesty, not them, okay?"
Shen Yu propped herself up and withdrew from Shang Junlin's arms. There was still a smile on her face and her eyes were full of moonlight.
Shang Junlin used his free hand to touch Shen Yu's face. "A Yu, you have to do what you say."
Shen Yu did what she said. No matter how attractive the following songs and dances were, she only supported her head with her hands and looked at Shang Junlin.
Shang Junlin wasn't interested in singing and dancing. His attention fell on Shen Yu. He knew Shen Yu's taste, so he constantly put the dishes that Shen Yu liked into his bowl.
The fish meat was deboned, so Shen Yu only needed to eat it directly.
The dishes at the banquet were very rich. The dishes that were sent to Shen Yu were all freshly scooped out of the pot. They were steaming hot. The atmosphere was very harmonious.
Of course, Shen Yu didn't only eat by herself. When she saw something she liked, she would also pick it up and feed it to Shang Junlin. Shang Junlin didn't refuse. As long as Shen Yu picked it up, he would eat it.
Feeding Shang Junlin was a very fulfilling thing. He wasn't picky about food. No matter what Shen Yu fed him, he would get a positive response.
The atmosphere between the two was harmonious. There was no room for the existence of a third person.
Many ministers who had married and established their own careers saw the interaction between the two and felt a burst of toothache. Even when their relationship with their wives was at its best, they weren't so clingy.
Fang Jiayi was far away in Subei. In the Fang family, only Fang Daren and Madame Fang were left. After entering the cabinet, the Fang family's status rose. Many people wanted to establish a relationship with Madame Fang.
"His Majesty treats Guijun very well." A madame sighed with emotion.
"No wonder His Majesty doesn't want new people to enter the palace. His Majesty's grace is indeed very rare." Another madame whispered.
"The election will be held after spring. I don't know if His Majesty will agree this time."
"I don't think so. I've already found a marriage for my daughter. Whether His Majesty chooses or not, it has nothing to do with us."
"Your daughter is only 15 years old this year. She's at the prime of her life. Why settle down so early? What if His Majesty agrees? "
"Look at how clingy His Majesty and Guijun are. Do you think His Majesty will agree? In the past, when there was no one in the harem, His Majesty refused to hold the election. Now that Guijun is here, he won't. "
The madame who spoke was a first-rank noble. Her husband was competent, and so were her children. She had a 15-year-old daughter who was raised like a pearl. Her talent and appearance were superb.
Madame Fang pulled her hand and said in a low voice, "You're doing the right thing. You love your own daughter. The harem is not a good place."
"Yes. Originally, we thought that if His Majesty agreed to hold the election this year, we would send our daughter into the palace. I'm not boasting, but with my daughter's talent, there's still a chance. But now, I don't think so. His Majesty obviously has someone in his heart. If His Majesty is willing to hold the election for Guijun's sake, I'll admire him. If he does, it's not worth it for my daughter to enter the palace."
Parents always wanted the best for their children. Although it was normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines, how many women in the world could truly be unaffected by this matter? It was just that they didn't have a choice.
"Actually, I'm very envious of you. Not only me, but most of the madams here are envious of you." She pulled Madame Fang's hand. "If it's possible, I hope that my daughter's future husband can be like Lord Fang, who can only have one in his life. If your Jiayi is a boy, I'll be thick-skinned and ask for her hand in marriage."
Shen Yu and Shang Junlin couldn't feel the movements below. After a while, Shen Yu was a little full.
Shang Junlin had been paying attention to his expression. Seeing this, he put down his chopsticks and took a handkerchief to wipe the corners of his mouth.
Shen Yu touched his stomach, and a trace of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
"Is His Majesty full?"
Shen Yu didn't need to ask to know that most likely not. This kind of banquet was like this. The purpose was not to eat, but to represent the meaning.
The ministers raised their glasses and the atmosphere was quite warm.
Outside the palace.
The leader of the Imperial Guards and his men lay in ambush in the dark, watching the movements in front of them intently.
On the surface, the roads leading to the prison of the Ministry of Justice seemed empty, but in fact, they were all heavily guarded. Tonight was the night of the banquet in the palace. In comparison, the security was at its weakest. If they wanted to do something, it was the best time to choose.
On the surface, the leader of the Imperial Guards was attending the banquet in the palace. In fact, he was lying in ambush on the roads leading to the prison of the Ministry of Justice with his men.
As the night deepened, a grand firework was lit by the moat. The people flocked to the moat, and the other places seemed empty.
"Kacha —"
Very light footsteps were heard. The Imperial Guards lay in ambush. After 15 minutes, men in black appeared at the entrance of the alley like ghosts. After confirming that the road was safe, they rushed to the prison of the Ministry of Justice with a clear goal.
Little did they know that they had stepped into a carefully arranged trap.
In a quiet corner, a silent killing was going on.
Blood dripped down and dyed the bluestone road red.
Occasionally, there were sounds, but they were drowned out by the loud roar of the fireworks.
The people in the palace knew nothing about what was happening outside.
The music was pleasant to the ears. The dancers in the middle of the hall were moving. They were wearing light-colored muslin dresses. As they danced, their sleeves fluttered, making them look like fairies.
Shen Yu ate and drank to his heart's content. He couldn't help but take a few more glances. Shang Junlin held his head and turned to look at him. "A Yu said he wouldn't look today."
There was a subtle complaint in his voice.
Shen Yu calmly looked away and his eyes fell on Shang Junlin's face. His eyebrows curved. "Your Majesty is still the most handsome."
Shen Yu didn't lie. When he first saw him, he was stunned by his face. His facial features were deep, his eyebrows were sharp, and his narrow eyes were emotionless. When he looked at Shen Yu, his heart trembled. But now, his eyes were filled with warmth because of him. When he looked at Shen Yu, his eyes were always filled with restrained and unbridled affection.
Under his direct gaze, Shang Junlin's earlobes were tinged with light crimson. Shen Yu curiously reached out to touch them.
His wide coat accidentally swept the cup on the table. The cup fell to the ground and made a crisp sound.
It was just a small episode, so Shen Yu didn't take it to heart. Unexpectedly, a dancer who was closer to them suddenly pounced on them.
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