The Prodigal Son

When Shangguan Youyi brought Qin Yu to the outside of the Imperial Study, a female official hurriedly stepped forward. "His Majesty is discussing matters with Prime Minister Song and the others. He cannot be disturbed! His Majesty said that if Lord Qin arrives, he should be taken to bathe and change first."

Bathing and changing clothes?

Upon hearing this, Qin Yu felt a strange stirring in his heart.

But he quickly suppressed the commotion.

What nonsense are you thinking!

The weather is getting hot, and I've sweated a lot on the way here. Taking a bath and changing clothes before seeing the Empress is the most basic thing I should do.

Shangguan Youyi nodded, then turned to Qin Yu: "Then you should take Lord Qin to bathe and change his clothes first!"

"yes!"

The female official obeyed, bowing respectfully, "Lord Qin, please!"

"good!"

Qin Yu left with the female official.

Led by the female official, Qin Yu arrived at the side hall.

As Qin Yu stepped through the door, he discovered that the fragrant bath water had already been prepared, and two palace maids stood there respectfully.

"Greetings, Lord Qin!"

The two bowed in unison, their voices soft and sweet.

"No need for such formalities."

Qin Yu chuckled, "You can all leave now! I can wash myself, I don't need you to serve me."

Although he wasn't exactly a gentleman, he was genuinely embarrassed to be stripped naked in front of strangers.

He didn't want to embarrass himself in front of the two delicate palace maids!

The two men's faces changed instantly, and they knelt down in unison, pleading in fear and trembling, "Lord Qin, spare our lives!"

"What are you doing?"

Qin Yu was speechless. "When did I say I was going to kill you? Get up!"

However, neither of them dared to get up.

The older palace maid, Xiao Chan, raised her head tremblingly. "His Majesty ordered us to serve Lord Qin as he bathed and changed. If Lord Qin refuses our service, His Majesty will surely think that we have angered him..."

"Please spare my life, Lord Qin!"

Another palace maid also joined in, weeping and pleading.

Looking at the group of people crying their eyes out, Qin Yu was speechless once again.

They don't want them to serve them, yet they act like they're trying to harm them?

Count the ball!

Just think of it as going to a public bathhouse!

"Alright! Get up, everyone!"

Helpless, Qin Yu simply opened his arms wide.

"Thank you, Lord Qin."

The two quickly stood up, stepped forward, and skillfully helped Qin Yu undress.

Qin Yu hadn't had any food since he transmigrated, and now, facing two delicate palace maids, even though he had no particular thoughts, he couldn't help but react.

Seeing Qin Yu's condition, the two palace maids blushed deeply.

Qin Yu's face was even redder than theirs; she was so embarrassed she wanted to disappear into the ground.

Nima!

This is hardly service!

This is clearly a public execution!

Once his clothes were stripped off, Qin Yu quickly entered the large bathtub.

Fortunately, the soup was milky white, which could cover up his embarrassment.

Seeing Qin Yu, who was even more nervous than they were, the two palace maids almost burst out laughing, and were secretly amazed.

This guy used to be an expert in everything from eating and drinking to gambling and whoring!

Isn't it just taking a bath and changing clothes?

How could you be so embarrassed?

Surely he wouldn't be faking his drinking, gambling, and womanizing?

Did he used to go to brothels to compose poems with the women there?

Unaware of what the two were thinking, Qin Yu simply closed his eyes and let them do as they pleased.

The palace maid's hands were very smooth.

As the palace maid's soft hand brushed against Qin Yu's skin, Qin Yu felt the fire within him burn even more intensely.

He didn't know if it was psychological, but he always felt that the two palace maids were intentionally or unintentionally flirting with him.

Ok?

Could the female demon have done this on purpose?

Knowing that he had to abstain from sex, he deliberately had two palace maids serve him while he bathed and changed clothes, trying to arouse him.

Do you just want to make yourself miserable?

Qin Yu was secretly suspicious, and then grabbed Xiao Chan's hand that was gently stroking his chest.

Xiao Chan panicked and instinctively pulled her hand back, but Qin Yu firmly grasped it.

Qin Yu narrowed his eyes, staring at Xiao Chan with a half-smile. "Was it His Majesty who sent you to seduce me?"

No, no.

Xiao Chan hurriedly replied, "It was Li Yisi, this servant, who served Lord Qin during his bath and changing..."

Qin Yu's face fell. He released Xiao Chan's hand and warned sternly, "If you're going to take a bath, then take a bath properly. If you dare to provoke me again, I'll have you both beaten to death!"

"This servant wouldn't dare."

The two answered cautiously and quickly.

"That would be best!"

Qin Yu gave the two a warning look, then slowly closed his eyes.

When the two women resumed serving him a bath, Qin Yu clearly sensed that they had become more obedient.

really!

Qin Yu understood immediately and cursed the female demon for being so unscrupulous.

Isn't she just trying to make herself suffer?

If she's so capable, why doesn't she come and seduce him herself?

What's the point of sending two palace maids to seduce me?

About an hour later, Qin Yu finished bathing and changing.

When he returned to the outside of the Imperial Study, the door was still closed.

"Is Your Majesty finished with your work?"

Qin Yu asked the female official who was guarding outside.

The lady-in-waiting smiled and replied, "His Majesty said that she will see Lord Qin as soon as she is done with her work. Please wait a moment, Lord Qin."

"All right!"

Qin Yu had no choice but to wait obediently.

He's practically soaked and wrinkled, and this female devil still isn't done?

This female boss is a real workaholic!

Inside the Imperial Study, Zhao Luan was still discussing the marriage proposal of the Prince of Chengyang's heir with Song Zhuo, Su Yu, Du Zhiwen, and Xue Chengdao.

Zhao Luan had already received a secret report from someone planted in the Prince of Chengyang's residence.

The King of Chengyang has been frequently in contact with the State of Chu recently, seemingly intending to form a marriage alliance with Chu.

Faced with the remonstrances of the three ministers, Zhao Luan couldn't help but roar angrily, "The Prince of Chengyang isn't proposing marriage at all; he's forcing me into it!"

She even suspected that the King of Chengyang had deliberately made contact with the State of Chu.

If he did not agree to Zhao Yan's marriage proposal, the King of Chengyang would turn around and form a marriage alliance with the State of Chu.

If I were to harm Zhao Yan, the King of Chengyang would immediately side with the State of Chu!

Song Zhuo looked at Zhao Luan, whose face was pale, with a complicated expression, and bowed again: "Your Majesty, please consider the well-being of the nation!"

Zhao Luan clenched her fists, her voice trembling, "Master, are you even forcing me to agree to the marriage with Zhao Yan?"

"Your Majesty, I am not forcing you, but I implore you to consider the well-being of the nation."

Song Zhuo felt somewhat ashamed. "Since ancient times, the marriage of emperors has never been just an ordinary marriage, but a matter of national importance! Now that His Majesty has agreed to the marriage between the emperor and the heir of the Prince of Chengyang, it is beneficial to the court and the country, and this is the best outcome!"

As Zhao Luan's mentor, he naturally hoped that Zhao Luan could choose the man she desired.

However, as the prime minister of Da Ning, he had to consider the issue from the perspective of the nation.

The Prince of Chengyang commands an army of 100,000!

If Zhao Luan refuses the marriage alliance and pushes the Prince of Chengyang to the State of Chu, the court will lose 100,000 troops and territory for nothing before it has even done anything!

If the King of Chengyang leads the Chu army into Daming, even if Daming defeats the enemy, it will still suffer heavy losses.

Moreover, trade between Da Ning and the State of Chu would be interrupted.

It's only June this year, and several places have already experienced small-scale droughts.

In the next month or two, the drought is very likely to continue to worsen, and may even turn into a major disaster!

At this time, trade with the State of Chu must not be interrupted!

This will not only affect people's livelihoods, but also the grand plan to destroy Yan!

Conversely, if Zhao Luan agrees to the marriage, then the Prince of Chengyang will be the most loyal minister of Da Ning, and can guard the border for Da Ning with peace of mind.

And their grand plan to destroy Yan can proceed smoothly!

Faced with a choice between personal feelings and national interests, Zhao Luan could only choose the latter!

This is the price of ascending the throne!

Zhao Luan knew that Song Zhuo made sense, but she still didn't want to be forced into it.

If an empress can't even decide her own marriage, can she still be considered an empress?

Zhao Luan retorted angrily, "According to my master, if other people with significant military power use this as leverage to force me into marriage, am I also obligated to marry them?"

Song Zhuo paused slightly, hesitated for a long time, and managed to force a smile.

"Well... it's not entirely impossible..."