Chapter 183: Betting on a Kiss
Chapter 183: Betting on a Kiss
Lu Yuan entered the inner hall and bowed to the Retired Emperor, "Your Majesty."
The Retired Emperor gave Meng Qianqian a glance.
Meng Qianqian understood and helped the elderly emperor sit up, taking the cushion from Jiang Dehai and placing it behind him.
The Retired Emperor, who rarely smiled at Lu Yuan, did so now, "Your respectful demeanor is making me feel uncomfortable."
Lu Yuan feigned ignorance, "I don't understand what you mean, Your Majesty."
The Retired Emperor laughed again, his gaze fixed on Lu Yuan for a long moment before speaking, "Jiang Dehai and Yang Prefect have informed me of the recent events. Return to court, Lu Yuan. From now on, the Jinwu Guard will be under your command, and they will serve as my personal guard."
The Retired Emperor's personal guard would outrank even the Jin Yi Wei and Jinwei Army.
Meng Qianqian exclaimed, "Wow!"
Lu Yuan's lips twitched, suddenly thinking of the little one. Was it true that those close to pigs would turn red?
Seeing Lu Yuan's silence, the Retired Emperor asked, "Are you unwilling?"
"I am willing!" Meng Qianqian nodded vigorously, afraid that the Retired Emperor might change his mind, "Ninth Young Master, on behalf of your husband..."
Lu Yuan raised his hand to stop her from kneeling and lifted his hem, kneeling to thank him, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace."
Although the Retired Emperor was still ill, his words were few but precise, with not a single word wasted.
Meng Qianqian had expected the Retired Emperor to reward Lu Yuan, but she hadn't anticipated his decisiveness.
Those who achieve great things must possess both courage and wisdom.
Ordinary people might need more tests to gauge Lu Yuan's loyalty and determination, but for the Retired Emperor, one was enough.
"Speaking of which, you're too daring. What if I couldn't cure you..."
Meng Qianqian escorted him to the corridor.
Lu Yuan replied nonchalantly, "But I did cure you, didn't I?"
Meng Qianqian couldn't argue with him, so she decided not to debate and instead smiled, bowing, "Congratulations, my husband, on your rise again!"
Lu Yuan cleared his throat in his usual aloof manner.
Meng Qianqian stared at him intently, "You should thank me."
Lu Yuan's eyelashes trembled slightly, avoiding her intense gaze as he replied calmly, "Thank you... Madam."
Meng Qianqian heard him call her 'Madam' for the first time and murmured, "Madam? That sounds nice."
The Retired Emperor had passed the critical period, and that night, he showed a slight appetite.
From soup to food, Meng Qianqian took charge of everything, ensuring nothing was left to chance.
Lu Yuan brought water and ingredients from outside the palace to prevent secondary infection.
She prepared a pot of green vegetable congee.
Li Taishi glanced at the congee in her hand and muttered, "Is this edible?"
Meng Qianqian sat on the dragon bed and glared at him, "You can't eat this."
Li Taishi humphed, "I don't think this is fit for human consumption."
Meng Qianqian raised an eyebrow, "My congee is not meant for humans, but for dragons! Isn't that right, Your Majesty?"
The Retired Emperor couldn't help but smile, "Alright, all of you can leave. Only Lu Madam and Yang Prefect need to stay."
The group dared not disobey and retreated respectfully.
The Retired Emperor looked at Meng Qianqian and smiled helplessly, "They were wrong to stop you. You are generous and won't hold it against them, right?"
Meng Qianqian thought for a moment, "For the sake of Your Majesty and Yang Prefect, I agree!"
Yang Prefect was startled.
The Retired Emperor laughed, "She's praising you. This girl is very clear about her gratitude and grudges."
Yang Prefect had assisted Meng Qianqian during the critical moment, which meant he would share the risk of failing to cure the Retired Emperor.
Meng Qianqian was known for her protective nature.
Yang Prefect stood up and bowed to Meng Qianqian, "Lu Madam, your medical skills are exceptional, and your magnanimity is admirable. We are truly humbled."
"Yang Prefect, you mustn't!"
Meng Qianqian was like this; when others were blunt with her, she could retort without hesitation, but when they were soft, she didn't know how to respond.
After finishing his congee, the Retired Emperor spoke to Meng Qianqian, "Go and check on Fu Dequan for me."
Meng Qianqian went to Fu Gonggong's room.
Fu Gonggong was awake, and Yan Niangzi was sitting on a stool, cracking sunflower seeds. A bowl of medicinal soup was placed on the table.
"Where did this come from?" Meng Qianqian asked.
Yan Niangzi spat out the sunflower seed shells, "From the leftover medicine in your jar."
Fu Gonggong weakly propped himself up, "Lady Lu..."
"Fu Gonggong, lie down first," Meng Qianqian stepped forward and examined him. Like the Retired Emperor, he was also suffering from the plague.
He had been infected while caring for the Retired Emperor, and his symptoms were slightly milder. The Dalinglong Decoction should also be effective for him.
Meng Qianqian brought over the medicine bowl, "Fu Gonggong, drink this medicine first."
Fu Gonggong glanced at Yan Niangzi and then looked at Meng Qianqian, "Is...this really medicine? She said...it would poison me. She said...either I die or the plague does."
Meng Qianqian: That's actually true.
Meng Qianqian smiled, "Don't worry, the Retired Emperor has already taken it. There's only a fifty percent chance that it will kill you."
Fu Gonggong: "..."
---
After three days and nights of investigation, Lu Yuan finally discovered the source of the plague in the imperial palace—a cook in the Imperial Kitchen.
A month ago, the cook had taken a day off and on his way back from the palace, he encountered a young girl selling herself to bury her father.
Feeling pity for the girl, he bought her to be a servant girl.
Little did he know that shortly after the girl arrived at his home, she fell ill and died.
Soon after, he also became ill and passed away.
He had no children of his own, only a nephew who took care of his funeral arrangements.
Fortunately, neither his nephew nor the pallbearers were infected.
The cook had been working in the Imperial Kitchen for a long time and usually didn't cook himself. It was only because the Retired Emperor enjoyed the vegetarian dishes he made that he personally prepared them.
Lu Yuan truthfully reported his findings to the Retired Emperor.
The Retired Emperor asked, "Has there been an outbreak of the plague among the commoners?"
Lu Yuan replied, "No."
This was a scheme targeting the Retired Emperor. The plague patient should have been under constant supervision, and apart from the cook, there had been no direct contact with anyone else.
Hearing this, the Retired Emperor said, "As long as the commoners are safe. Lu Yuan, I'll borrow your wife for a few more days. Once the plague is completely eradicated in the palace, I'll return her to you."
Lu Yuan said, "Then you must return her quickly."
The Retired Emperor asked, "Oh? Are you reluctant to part with her?"
Lu Yuan replied calmly, "My family is waiting for her. The grandmother is looking for her great-granddaughter, and the child is missing her mother."
The Retired Emperor took a sip of his medicine, "I think you're the one who misses your wife."
Lu Yuan denied, "No."
The Retired Emperor smiled triumphantly.
Lu Yuan immediately turned around, and there stood Meng Qianqian at the door, holding a bowl of lean meat congee.
Lu Yuan opened his mouth in surprise and looked at the Retired Emperor.
The Retired Emperor wore an expression as if watching a show.
Meng Qianqian thought, "What should I do now? My marriage with Lu Yuan is a pretense, so of course, he doesn't want me. But the Retired Emperor doesn't know that, so what should I do now..."
She burst into tears and walked away, heartbroken.
Lu Yuan hurriedly chased after her.
Under a big tree, Meng Qianqian stood with her back to him.
"I..." Lu Yuan began.
Meng Qianqian turned around with a smile, "Did you fool the Retired Emperor?"
Lu Yuan was taken aback.
Meng Qianqian said, "The Retired Emperor must have made a bet with Fu Gonggong again, but I never thought it would be at our expense. I'll take my leave first. You should also go and attend to your duties."
After taking a few steps, Lu Yuan suddenly pulled her back, "Yu Zichuan and Qing Shuang also made a bet."
Meng Qianqian had never seen such a deep and passionate look in his eyes.
She asked hesitantly, "A bet on...what?"
Lu Yuan looked at her intently and took the congee bowl from her hand, "A bet on whether I will kiss you or not."
Oh my, how embarrassing! Are there double monthly votes for blushing? Digging through her pockets, she casts a vote for Qianqian, summoning a wave of little Qianqians!
(End of Chapter)
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