Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

Emperor Shenwu hugged Lan Qingwu and whispered softly: "I just want you to stay by my side forever."

Lan Qingwu thought helplessly that the emperor had his own helplessness and responsibilities, and as the supreme emperor, there were some things that he had to endure and some people he had to protect.

"Ruoruo will always be with His Majesty and Brother Heng, so..."

Emperor Shenwu interrupted Lan Qingwu: "I sent Ruping to your side back then just to know if you were okay. She has been yours for a long time, and you are the only one in her heart."

Lan Qingwu lowered his head slightly: "Brother Heng, I was just emotionally agitated today and said those words."

Emperor Shenwu gently stroked Lan Qingwu's black hair and said, "If you have any grudges, I will transfer her away."

"No!" Lan Qingwu blurted out subconsciously, "Ruoruo is used to Ruping serving her. Besides... Ruping herself has done nothing wrong."

Ruping was just following orders. If Ruping had been transferred, no one knew what her fate would have been.

Emperor Shenwu couldn't help but chuckle: "Well, it's my fault."

Lan Qingwu curled the corners of his lips slightly and hugged Emperor Shenwu's waist tightly.

Early the next morning, Emperor Shenwu went to court early.

Lan Qingwu woke up at noon. She looked at Ruhan swaying in front of her and asked, "What's wrong?"

Ruhan bowed before saying, "Master, Ruping has been kneeling outside all night. I don't know what crime Ruping has committed. I asked her, but she didn't say a word."

Lan Qingwu frowned slightly, got up from the bed and said, "Go and call Ruping."

Ruping walked slowly into the dormitory and knelt on the ground again. Lan Qingwu looked at her and said, "Ruping, you get up first."

Ru Ping shook her head gently: "Master, please listen to me first. Ru Ping was sent to you by the Seventh Prince, now His Majesty."

Ruhan, who was standing next to her, suddenly widened her eyes. She looked at Lan Qingwu in disbelief, but saw that Lan Qingwu looked calm.

Ru Ping continued, "Master, when the Seventh Prince sent me to you, he only gave me one order: to ensure my safety! Although I have since passed on information that my master is safe, the Seventh Prince has never ordered me to do anything that would harm my master. Even though...my master has already made a verbal engagement, His Majesty has never asked me to do anything. I suspect that even if my master marries someone else, His Majesty intends for me to stay with her forever."

Lan Qingwu was silent for a moment. Ruping didn't know Emperor Shenwu well enough after all.

Ru Ping bowed her head and knelt on the ground again, "Master, ever since you gave me your name, I have only you as my master. I was once homeless and helpless, but I am fortunate to have met you in this life. I have long sworn in my heart that I will never marry and will follow you forever!"

Ruhan listened to Ruping's past and had some guesses in his mind. Lan Qingwu finally spoke: "Ruping, you get up first. I have already reported to His Majesty and I want you to stay by my side."

Ruping's eyes suddenly lit up, and her heart, which had been worried all night, finally calmed down. She slowly stood up.

Lan Qingwu looked at Ruhan again, "I think you two also have many doubts in your hearts, especially Ruhan."

Lan Qingwu's watery eyes gradually became empty, as if lost in memories. "I was only eight years old back then. Ruhan should know that I've had a habit since childhood of playing outside alone for a while every day. It was then that I met the Seventh Prince, who went by the alias Yun Heng. We... have known each other ever since. Six years later, the Seventh Prince was recalled to the Imperial City, and we parted ways until I was confined to the palace last year."

The room fell into a brief silence. Ruhan thought about the time when Lan Qingwu was fourteen and nearly lost his life due to illness, the different way the emperor treated Lan Qingwu after he came to the palace, and Ruping's vague concealment... He finally understood.

Ru Ping knew very little about the Emperor and his wife. It turned out they had known each other for so many years. What had happened between them in those past years? And what had kept them apart for so many years?

Lan Qingwu's calm voice reached their ears: "Ruhan, Ruping, from now on, I hope you will no longer have any doubts in your hearts and do your own things well. We still have to live well in this deep palace. This matter only needs to be known to you two, and don't let outsiders know about it, even the Lan family."

They both replied, "Yes."

That afternoon, Ruping brought back news that Concubine Qi was seriously ill and had died in her Langhuan Palace.

After hearing this, Lan Qingwu gently closed her eyes. She was afraid that the struggle for favor in the harem would never end, and she would live in such conspiracies and intrigues for the rest of her life.

Lan Qingwu recalled Master Zhiyan's words. Would his arrival in the Dasheng Dynasty change the fate of some people? Would anyone lose their life because of him?

In Qianzheng Hall, Emperor Shenwu's desk was covered with a collection of imperial secrets. He was carefully leafing through one of the scrolls. When Li Zhong entered the hall to report on Concubine Qi, the emperor, without taking his eyes off the scroll, simply asked, "Is everything done?"

Li Zhong replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty."

After Li Zhong bowed and left, Qian Hui and Leng Qujing were summoned into the Qianzheng Hall again.

Emperor Shenwu inquired about the progress of the Deer King, and Leng Qujing replied, "Your Majesty, the Deer King's followers have gone into hiding. I have only arrested a dozen of them. The Deer King's whereabouts are secretive and there is no trace of him. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

A cold light flashed in the Emperor Shenwu's phoenix eyes. "I have no patience with the Family Deer King. Pass on my decree and issue a special search warrant. Search every household in the entire imperial city. Pay special attention to places with basements and... families that have been involved with the Family Deer King in the past. Leng Qujing, you will handle this matter personally!"

Leng Qujing's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately saluted: "Yes! Your Majesty!"

It seems that there will be a big movement in the imperial city. His Majesty is finally going to take action against those courtiers and families who previously supported King Jialu.

Ruhan took the token given by Lan Qingwu and left the palace and returned to the Lan Mansion in the imperial city.

At the Lan Mansion, Ruhan finally met Lan Hao as she had hoped. Lan Hao carefully looked Ruhan up and down, and the heavy stone in his heart finally fell: "Ruhan, I was really scared to death when I heard the news. Fortunately, you are okay."

Ruhan smiled faintly and comforted Lan Hao: "I am blessed with a long life and good luck. Lord Leng rescued me in time, so how could anything happen to me? The young lady guessed that you would be worried, so she let me leave the palace today. Are you relieved now?"

A smile finally appeared on Lan Hao's honest face.

When the two finally parted ways, Lan Hao remembered something and reminded him, "Ruhan, recently there have been plague-like symptoms in several villages outside the imperial city. You and the young lady should be careful in the palace."

Ruhan hesitated and said, "This... shouldn't be spread to the palace, right?" She thought of her master's health, and her heart sank slightly.

Lan Hao saw Ruhan's expression and quickly comforted her, "Don't panic. General Wei told me that an official in the court has reported this matter and the imperial physician has been sent to treat him. I'm just telling you this as a precaution."