My husband, who abandoned his father and kept his son, actually wants me to be his concubine.

Chapter 20 How to prove that Zhang'er is your child

Rong Yi withdrew his hand from the gauze curtain and placed it behind his back, his gaze coldly fixed on Lu Jinshi in front of the gauze curtain.

Seeing that the Seventh Prince behind the gauze curtain had not spoken, Lu Jinshi said in a low voice, "Your Highness, is there anything else? If not, I will take my leave."

When Lu Jinshi did not receive a reply from the Seventh Prince behind the gauze curtain for a long time, he curtsied and withdrew.

As soon as he stepped out of the Jade Palace gate, Lu Jinshi breathed a slight sigh of relief.

After leaving the Jade Palace, Lu Jinshi realized that he had never seen the Seventh Prince's face and wondered what he looked like.

However, since both His Majesty and the Imperial Noble Consort are of exceptional beauty, the Seventh Prince must also be extremely handsome; otherwise, why would He Jinlan be so infatuated with him?

Not long after Lu Jinshi returned to the small courtyard on East Street, she heard that her aunt had come looking for her with her two cousins.

Lu Jinshi hurried to the door to greet them. His eldest cousin, Lu Yiran, was seventeen years old, and his younger cousin, Lu Yiying, was fifteen. Both sisters were very beautiful. This was not the first time Lu Jinshi had seen them. Several years ago, they had accompanied His Majesty and the Empress Dowager to Jiangnan.

"cousin!"

"You've finally returned to Chang'an."

Lu Yiran and Lu Yiying were wearing the same style of clothes but different colors. Lu Jinshi smiled lightly and said, "Cousin Yiran, Cousin Yiying."

Princess An smiled at Lu Jinshi and said, "We were just here. I heard that you were summoned to the palace by the Seventh Prince?"

Lu Jinshi nodded slightly and said, "Yes."

Princess An looked at Lu Jinshi and asked, "What business does the Seventh Prince have with you in the palace?"

Lu Jinshi did not hide anything from Princess An and said, "Aunt, His Highness wants me to be his princess consort and does not care that I already have a child."

"Sister, you already have a child?" Lu Yiying was very surprised.

Lu Jinshi chuckled and beckoned the group inside. She then instructed Caiyun to bring Zhang'er out.

Upon seeing the smiling baby boy, Princess An went over and held Xiao Zhang'er in her arms, saying, "How come this Zhang'er looks so much like the Imperial Noble Consort? If you didn't know, you would think he was the Imperial Noble Consort's grandson. Who is his father?"

Lu Jinshi said, "His father is dead."

The two sisters, Lu Yiran and Lu Yiying, had never seen such a small baby before. They stretched out their fingers for the baby to play with, and couldn't help but pinch Zhang'er's little face.

"What an adorable baby."

"My dear son, call her Auntie."

When Xiao Zhang'er saw the two beautiful, unfamiliar girls in front of him, he swayed his little hands and feet and babbled softly.

Lu Jinshi chuckled and said, "Zhang'er really likes his two aunts."

Princess An looked at Lu Jinshi and said, "The Seventh Prince is willing to marry you as his principal wife even though you already have a child? There must be something fishy going on here?"

Lu Jinshi said, "Perhaps the Seventh Prince wants to make his position as crown prince more secure in the future."

Princess An still felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. It was a happy occasion that Lu Jinshi could become the Seventh Prince's wife even after having a child.

Lu Yiran chuckled and said, "He Jinlan has always considered herself the Seventh Prince's consort, which shows how little she understands her own identity."

Lu Jinshi smiled faintly and said, "Let her dream for a few more days."

Lu Jinshi admired the He family for their cleverness in trying to seize the position of the Seventh Prince's consort, but then he thought that the He family had always been clueless.

If he had been clear-headed, he wouldn't have divorced the Empress Dowager's adopted daughter to make Liu Xiuxiu his legal wife. "Cousin, you've just arrived in Chang'an. I'll take you out for a few days. Once you enter the palace, you won't have much time to play around in Chang'an."

Lu Jinshi smiled at Lu Yiran and said, "I have some things to attend to these past few days. I promised Uncle Lin of Lingxiao Academy that I would help him properly teach a few students at Lingxiao Academy so that they can pass the imperial examination in the autumn."

Princess An asked, "You're going to teach at the academy?"

Lu Jinshi smiled slightly and said, "I also taught in Jiangnan. Every year, our Tianzhang Academy has students who pass the imperial examination. Uncle Lin is probably so angry with that Mr. Qian from Jinming Academy that he has no choice but to ask me to help him teach the students in Tianzhang Academy."

Princess An said, "Master Qian's daughter is a concubine in Prince Jin's mansion. Apart from some sons of military officers who are on good terms with the Seventh Prince, most of the students in Lingxiao Academy have gone to Jinming Academy with Master Qian and are now under Prince Jin's command."

Lu Jinshi said, "They are all so confused. Prince Jin is the eldest son. If he could inherit the throne, he would have been made crown prince long ago."

Princess An said, "Scholars value their reputation the most. Prince Jin has a good reputation among civil officials, while the Seventh Prince was influenced by the Imperial Noble Consort. In the eyes of scholars, the Imperial Noble Consort is a bewitching concubine who brought disaster to the country and bewitched the emperor. Those scholars pride themselves on being disciplined, and for the sake of their reputation, they would not stay in Lingxiao Academy, where the Seventh Prince once studied."

"The Seventh Prince studied at Lingxiao Academy?"

Princess An nodded and said, "That all happened two years ago. The Seventh Prince should no longer be studying at Lingxiao Academy."

Lu Yiran chuckled and said, "Cousin, do you teach in Chang'an for the whole day?"

Lu Jinshi said, "Not really, I'll just be gone for half a day and return in the afternoon."

Lu Yiran said, "Tomorrow is Princess Yongjia's birthday. She is hosting a banquet at the princess's residence. Would you like to come with us to the princess's residence for the banquet?"

Lu Jinshi thought for a moment. This Princess Yongjia should be the Seventh Prince's older sister. It wouldn't hurt for her to go. So she agreed and said, "Okay, I will go to the princess's residence with you tomorrow."

Lu Yiran and Lu Yiying played with Zhang'er for a while before leaving in the evening.
-
The next day.

Lu Jinshi got up early to dress up, changed into a fine dress suitable for the princess's birthday banquet, styled her hair in an exquisite updo, and put on a set of red coral headdress.

Lu Jinshi felt a little sleepy while getting ready early this morning.

Suddenly the carriage stopped.

Lu Jinshi saw someone lift the curtain and enter, and Lu Jinshi's gaze met Rong Yi in front of him.

When Rong Yi saw Lu Jinshi dressed up specially today, he wondered if she was deliberately dressed up like this for the Seventh Prince.
Rong Yi couldn't help but feel a little jealous, but he also felt that it was ridiculous for him to be jealous of himself.

"Get out!" Lu Jinshi said coldly. "Men and women should not touch each other. Who gave you permission to get into my carriage?"

Rong Yi approached Lu Jinshi, inhaling the delicate fragrance of orchids in her hair, and said, "You have the nerve to talk to me about the proper distance between men and women? You want me to help you recall how you approached me two years ago and stole my..."

Rong Yi whispered the rest of his words close to Lu Jinshi's ear.

Lu Jinshi looked serious and glanced at Rong Yi, saying, "You are slandering me. I have never had any improper relationship with you. Slandering a respectable woman is a serious crime."

Rong Yi raised an eyebrow and said, "Nothing shameful? Lu Jinshi, a true man should be responsible for his actions. Are you trying to deny our past?"

Lu Jinshi said, "I'm not a real man. What can I do if I want to deny it?"

Rong Yi laughed in anger. No wonder Lu Jinshi dared to agree to be the Seventh Prince's wife even though she knew he was the Seventh Prince's "cousin". She was determined to put on a show and then deny it.

Rong Yi said, "Zhang'er is right here as living evidence, how dare you deny it?"

Lu Jinshi chuckled and said, "How can you prove that Zhang'er is your child?"

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(End of this chapter)