I, the villainous eldest prince, will suppress everything!

It wasn't until evening, when the sun was setting, that the window was opened a crack again.

Lu Shushu discovered that Zhou Biao had returned, bringing back a large amount of stuff, but his father, Lu Heng, still hadn't come back.

Does she intend to lock herself in her room for the rest of her life?

It's fine for a day or two, but what if it goes on for a long time?

What does she eat and drink? How does she manage to urinate and defecate?

Why not shout and report it to the authorities? But as soon as the idea popped into his head, Lu Shushu nipped it in the bud.

She took Qin Li's jade thumb ring; if she dared to report it to the authorities, she would be crying wolf.

At that time, she and the Lu family will lose all face, and most importantly, her maternal grandfather Huangfu Song will lose face.

She couldn't bear such a sin.

"Your Highness, are we just going to keep stalling her like this?"

In the courtyard, Zhou Biao brought all of Qin Li's daily necessities and packed them all up.

At that moment, the master and servant were roasting meat around a stove in the courtyard, the meat sizzling and the aroma filling the air.

Several tabby cats were attracted and gently rubbed their heads against the two men's trouser legs, begging for meat.

"If you don't want to waste time, do you have a better idea?" Qin Li asked.

Zhou Biao shook his head.

Using force is the worst possible strategy.

Then we can only wait it out; I don't believe Lu Shushu won't come out.

Thinking of this, Zhou Biao picked up a piece of roasted meat and said in an exaggerated manner:

"Ah, it smells so good! I've never eaten meat that smells so good before. This is venison, freshly caught this year, and the meat is so tender and delicious."

After saying that, Zhou Biao put the meat in his mouth, closed his eyes, and savored it carefully, making sounds of enjoyment.

Inside the room, Lu Shushu's mouth watered, and her stomach rumbled.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Shushu began to observe the room, intending to hide the jade thumb ring before going out.

All the two wanted was the jade thumb ring. As long as she hid it where they couldn't find it, Lu Shushu didn't believe they would dare to do anything to a young girl like her.

This is the capital city, and there's a government office right next door, so the two men didn't dare to force themselves on her.

However, after looking around the room, I couldn't find a suitable place to hide the jade thumb ring.

In the end, she still hid the jade thumb ring in her bosom.

The most dangerous place is the safest place. She didn't believe the two of them would dare to reach out and snatch it directly. If they did, she would definitely yell "molestation!"

After patting the jade thumb ring he had hidden, Lu Shushu carefully opened the door and came out.

"Your Highness, she's out," Zhou Biao reminded him.

Qin Li slowly grilled the meat and said, "I know, don't reveal my identity."

Zhou Biao nodded, stood up, stepped aside, and extended his arm in a gesture of invitation: "Miss Lu, please."

Lu Shushu snorted and sat down in Zhou Biao's seat.

Pick up the grilled meat with chopsticks and enjoy it to your heart's content.

Qin Li stopped her with his chopsticks, saying, "Miss Lu, this isn't quite right. You've studied the classics for so many years, which one tells you that you can just eat other people's food?"

Lu Shushu was so hungry that she said, "Won't it be alright if I teach you?"

Qin Li then put down his chopsticks and said with a smile, "Eat up, eat more, there's more if you're not full."

Lu Shushu put the meat in her mouth and trembled with pleasure. She had never eaten such delicious meat before.

Soon, most of the roasted meat was gone into her stomach, making her belly round and chubby, which was extremely cute.

After stretching comfortably, Lu Shushu said:

"Who are you? What brings you venison?"

She admitted that Qin Li was very rich, but no matter how rich a person from Jiangnan was, it was impossible for him to bring venison to a place like the capital.

Venison was such a rare delicacy that only noble families in the capital could enjoy it.

Qin Li pointed to the sky with his chopsticks and said, "I have connections."

Lu Shushu indicated that she understood.

"To be honest, you lot are really unfortunate. In previous years, with your status, you could have easily become officials. But this year is different. The exam is based on real ability. If you can't write an essay, you can't become an official. It's a real pity."

As he spoke, Lu Shushu seemed to be gloating.

"So, whether I can become an official depends on how well Miss Lu teaches me."

Lu Shushu was shocked and looked at Qin Li: "Do you really believe that I, a young woman, can teach you to pass the imperial examination with flying colors?"

Lu Shushu herself didn't believe she had such an ability.

Qin Li said, "As long as you are willing to teach and I am willing to learn, nothing is impossible in this world."

Hearing this, Lu Shushu really wanted to agree immediately.

But she still didn't. Over the years at the Imperial Academy, she had seen too much deceit and treachery. Qin Li's visit here was definitely not as simple as seeking a master; he must have other purposes. She couldn't fall into Qin Li's trap.

"We'll see," Lu Shushu said vaguely, still refusing to accept him as a disciple.

……

Dusk falls on the imperial palace!

Leaving the main hall, Huangfu Song raised his head and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

During the last few days of the year, the imperial court grants a holiday, and all officials can go home to rest.

But these trusted confidants of Emperor Xuan were summoned to the palace by him every day, and his old bones could hardly bear it anymore.

It's fine if there's something important to do in the palace, but there's nothing important to do.

Emperor Xuan would only complain to them and say things that were neither painful nor meaningful.

Huangfu Song really wanted to quit or feign illness and not come.

Thankfully, another day has passed. With a long sigh, Huangfu Song prepares to go home.

But the sound coming from behind made him stop in his tracks.

The two brothers, Zhao Guanwen and Zhao Guanli, walked up behind them.

The two brothers took turns speaking:

"I really don't know what His Majesty was thinking. How could he take a fancy to a female schoolteacher and even want to make her Empress? Is she worthy? She's not worthy at all!"

"Who can argue with that? The age isn't right either. What can a sixteen or seventeen-year-old do? They can't even manage the maids, how can they possibly command respect in the harem?"

"Sigh, I don't know what someone whispered in His Majesty's ear, but he actually managed to get a female teacher to be made Empress."

Although Zhao Guanwen and Zhao Guanli did not say these words intentionally to Huangfu Song, Huangfu Song knew that the two brothers had deliberately made him hear them.

Huangfu Song snapped out of his daze and looked at the two of them: "What's wrong with a female teacher? At least she's better than some vixens who only know how to seduce His Majesty."

These words infuriated the two men. Originally, His Majesty wanted to establish a new empress, and he was going to choose from among the three families. Both of them were eliminated, and only Lu Shushu, Huangfu Song's granddaughter, was selected.

They were selected, fine, but Huangfu Song deliberately disgusted them. How could they tolerate that?

"Lord Huangfu, this is not good."

"You don't think becoming the new empress is a good thing, do you? The one outside the palace is watching closely. Anyone who dares to lay their hands on the empress's position will die."

After saying this, the two brothers laughed heartily and left the palace together.

Huangfu Song looked displeased, flicked his sleeves, and walked out of the palace.

He hadn't taken two steps when he heard steady footsteps behind him. Turning around, he saw it was Sui Ge, the commander of the Imperial Guards.

Sui Ge extended his hand and said, "Lord Huangfu, this humble general will escort you out of the palace."

Huangfu Song refused. Unlike Han Zhen, Sui Ge was already the Crown Prince's man, and he couldn't get too close to Sui Ge, otherwise Emperor Xuan wouldn't be happy.

However, Sui Ge insisted on sending Huangfu Song out of the palace, leaving Huangfu Song with no choice.

On the way, Sui Ge said, "I heard that Lord Huangfu's granddaughter is going to become the new empress. Congratulations!"

Huangfu Song was not pleased; he merely snorted coldly…