The emperor just doesn't treat everyone equally, and it's none of my business!

Gu Shijin's guess was not entirely wrong. Lu Junze did come back on purpose after hearing the noise.

But Lu Junze did not expect that he would encounter Concubine Rou looking for trouble with Gu Shijin when he was strolling in the Imperial Garden today. It was just a coincidence. Since it was such a coincidence, Lu Junze took advantage of this incident to deal with Concubine Rou.

There are actually not many people in Lu Junze’s harem, and even fewer who have been favored by him.

Perhaps it was because the various forces of the previous dynasty of the Great Xia Dynasty had stabilized, and Lu Junze had strong control and supervision over the previous dynasty, so the people behind the scenes reached out to his harem.

"Your Majesty, there is nothing unusual." After Su Deyuan went out, Tianlin came out and said.

Lu Junze tapped his fingers on the table and said thoughtfully, "Continue to monitor."

The person behind was too cautious. He would retreat whenever there was something unusual. Lu Junze tried several times to catch him but failed to catch him completely.

But now he has a guess.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The time when Gu Shijin first appeared in Lu Junze's world was very coincidental. Lu Junze's feelings towards Gu Shijin were complicated. On the one hand, he sincerely hoped that Gu Shijin would be well and could always maintain his current nature. On the other hand, he did use Gu Shijin intentionally or unintentionally.

"Send another person from Ningyu Pavilion to protect Concubine Jin." Lu Junze said.

"Your Majesty, Shadow Six to Shadow Fifteen have all been sent out." Tianlin disagreed with Lu Junze's words: "If we send anyone else, they can only be the ones who protect your safety."

Shadow guards are different from ordinary guards. They are at the highest level in terms of both combat power and loyalty. Each of them is very rare. Currently, Lu Junze’s shadow guard team has only thirty people.

Among them, Shadow Sixteen to Shadow Thirty were not in the palace, as they were not primarily responsible for the Emperor's safety.

Ten of the fifteen people responsible for Lu Junze's safety were sent by Lu Junze to monitor the harem.

Lu Junze: "What kind of accident can happen to me in the palace? Besides, you are by my side."

"Your Majesty..." Tianlin wanted to persuade him again.

Lu Junze interrupted him: “This is an order.”

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Gu Shijin didn't know that the number of people protecting her had gradually increased from one to three, and was almost catching up with Lu Junze.

At this moment, she was directing Xiao Linzi to make pickled chicken feet. Although she was injured, she could still give the orders.

"My lady, is it ready?" Xiao Linzi asked after doing what Gu Shijin had instructed.

"It's ok. You can eat it in two days."

The chicken feet are boneless, so they will absorb the flavor faster than those without bones.

Two days later, Gu Shijin asked Xingzhu to carry the food box while he dragged his still unhealed hand to the Yangxin Palace.

"Madam Jinpin." Su Deyuan hurried forward to greet Gu Shijin when he saw her.

Gu Shijin smiled and nodded: "Eunuch Su."

"Eunuch Su, is the emperor busy?"

Su Deyuan looked at the gate of the Yangxin Palace, lowered his head and whispered, "The Minister of War is coming."

Gu Shijin handed the food box to Su Deyuan: "Then please give this to the emperor, Eunuch Su."

As soon as he finished speaking, the door of the Hall of Mental Cultivation opened.

A tall middle-aged man with a serious face walked out, and at first glance he fit the image of the Minister of War in Gu Shijin's mind.

When Su Deyuan saw the man coming out, he stepped forward and said a few words. Then the middle-aged man glanced at Gu Shijin and left.

That look made Gu Shijin confused, and there was a hint of hatred in it. She had not offended the Minister of War before, right? This was the first time they met.

Su Deyuan: "My lady, the emperor invites you in."

"Thank you, Eunuch Su."

"Your Majesty, your concubine pays respect to you." When Gu Shijin walked into the Palace of Tranquil Longevity, she saw Lu Junze rubbing his temple, looking very tired.

Lu Junze took Gu Shijin's hand and said, "Sit down."

Gu Shijin sat down next to Lu Junze obediently and reached out to rub Lu Junze's head.

"Is the emperor feeling unwell?" Gu Shijin asked, "Have you asked the imperial physician to come and see him?"

Lu Junze waved his hand: "I'm fine."

"Why are you here, Jin'er? Your injury hasn't healed yet."

"The food I made is ready, and I want to share it with Your Majesty as soon as possible." Gu Shijin smiled gently, a little embarrassed.

Lu Junze pulled Gu Shijin into his arms: "Jin'er is thoughtful, bring it to me for a taste."

"it is good."

Xingzhu took out the pickled pepper chicken feet from the food box and placed them on the table. Immediately, the sour and spicy smell spread throughout the Yangxin Palace, making people salivate.

After seeing this, Lu Junze pulled up Gu Shijin's left hand. The gauze had been removed, leaving only a faint scratch. Doctor Song said that it would disappear after a few more days of applying medicine.

"Is this the food you have to eat even if it hurts you?" Lu Junze said.

Gu Shijin stayed in Lu Junze's arms and pushed him, saying, "It was because the emperor scared me that I was scratched by the knife."

Xingzhu and Su Deyuan had already quietly retreated.

Lu Junze lost the argument, sighed, picked up a chicken claw with chopsticks and handed it to Gu Shijin's mouth: "Blame me, I'll feed Jin'er first."

Gu Shijin opened his mouth and ate the chicken feet. Sometimes one does not have to care too much about the relationship between the emperor and his subjects. The emperor is also a human being, and such pleasures can be experienced appropriately, as long as one is careful in moderation.

And Gu Shijin is the one who knows how to handle things in the best way.

After being with Lu Junze for such a long time, Gu Shijin has roughly figured out some of Lu Junze's bottom line. Although he cannot say that he completely understands Lu Junze, Gu Shijin can still grasp the necessary measure.

Lu Junze is actually a person who lacks love in his heart. His biological mother died early, and the late emperor had high hopes for him. He has always been growing up according to the expectations of others and rarely gets to be his true self.

So the emperor, although seemingly free and possessing supreme power, is actually the least free person in the world. He is firmly trapped by the country and the people.

"Delicious." Gu Shijin swallowed the chicken feet in his mouth and said happily.

As soon as the chicken feet were soaked, she brought them to Lu Junze without even tasting them herself.

Gu Shijin picked up a chicken claw with another pair of chopsticks, caught it with his other hand, and handed it to Lu Junze's mouth: "Your Majesty, try it too."

"Okay, I'll taste the fruits of Jin'er's labor."

This was Lu Junze’s first time eating pickled pepper chicken feet. It was really delicious, not as greasy as braised chicken feet. It was sour and spicy, and he didn’t have to spit out the bones.

"Yes, it's really delicious." Lu Junze affirmed.

Gu Shijin was afraid that the chicken feet would taste bad, so she didn't bring too many to the Yangxin Palace. Unexpectedly, she and Lu Junze took turns eating one after another and finished the whole plate of chicken feet in a short while.

Gu Shijin put a lot of chili peppers in the pickled chicken feet. She ate a lot of them in one breath. Her lips turned red immediately and looked particularly tempting.

Lu Junze's eyes darkened, and he couldn't help but bend down and bite Gu Shijin's lips.

For a moment, both Gu Shijin and Lu Junze were stunned.

Gu Shijin didn't expect Lu Junze to kiss him, and Lu Junze didn't expect that he would do this involuntarily.

There are so many women in the harem, but Lu Junze has never kissed any of them, including the queen.