This scholar is a bit cruel

Chapter 245 Queen: Call me Long Live the Queen!

A sudden rainstorm overnight left the garden in a mess.

As dawn broke, Fenfen deliberately shouted loudly in the courtyard, "Young master, it's time to get up!"

He called out several times, but no one responded.

Pinky snorted, pouted, and stormed off.

Upon returning to Luoxue Residence, she complained, "Miss, that scoundrel of a son-in-law knew perfectly well that he was to accompany you to the palace today, yet he still acted recklessly all night. He's truly despicable."

Bai Meixue, dressed in a white dress, stood beautifully under a plum tree in the backyard, looking at the few buds that had sprouted on the branches overnight. She calmly said, "What's worse is that I didn't do anything indecent with you last night, did I?"

Pinky: "..."

The morning sun rises slowly.

Golden sunlight bathed the earth.

In the courtyard, the traces of last night's rain, mud, stains, and mess were quickly wiped away by the sunlight.

After getting up, Luo Zijun took a shower first.

Then, with Xiao Huan and Zhi Yuan's help, she dressed up carefully, changed into a brand new scholar's robe with incense, and combed her hair meticulously.

"Dressed up so nicely and smelling so good, people who don't know me would think I'm going on a date with my girlfriend."

Luo Zijun sat in front of the dressing mirror and complained.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Huan and Zhi Yuan's expressions changed, and they hurriedly covered his mouth together.

"Young master, you mustn't speak recklessly, or you risk being beheaded!"

The two little girls were quite frightened by his audacious words.

Seeing that both of them were terrified and pale when Luo Zijun looked in the mirror, he didn't dare to say anything more and could only joke, "Last night I shut you up, and today you shut me up. We're even."

The two were stunned for a moment, then Fang blushed and playfully punched him.

"Young master is never serious."

At noon.

Miss Bai brought Hua'er over and invited him to eat in the front.

As Luo Zijun was leaving, Miss Bai, who was also wearing a veil, came out of the neighboring courtyard, followed by Bai Bai and Qing Qing.

Sunlight fell on the figure dressed in white, as beautiful as snow and as ethereal as a fairy. Against the backdrop of her long, black hair that reached her waist, Miss Bai's skin was dazzlingly white, so beautiful that she seemed otherworldly.

Bai Qingtong suddenly looked at him and laughed, "Brother-in-law, can you really stare blankly at your own wife?"

Luo Zijun came to her senses and said, "Ah, is that the young lady? She was wearing a veil, so I didn't recognize her. I thought she was a fairy who fell from the sky."

Upon hearing this, the maids all chuckled.

Bai Qingtong looked at her older sister and laughed, "Sister, when did you start to train your honest and simple brother-in-law to like flattering people?"

Bai Meixue said in a calm tone, "Haven't you been the one disciplining me?"

Bai Qingtong blushed immediately and laughed, "How could I dare?"

At this moment, a maidservant was sent from the front to urge them on.

The three of them didn't say anything more and went to the front yard surrounded by maids and nannies.

The meal is ready.

Luo Zijun and Miss Bai walked together and entered the dining room first to pay their respects to her parents.

Miss Bai followed the two of them in.

Bai Ming smiled and said, "Zijun, sit down and have a meal together. We'll rest for a while before heading to the palace. The Queen may need to take a nap, but you'll have to go to the palace first and wait there."

The three of them sat down one by one.

Luo Zijun sat down only after Miss Bai had taken her seat.

Chu Meixiang nodded slightly as she watched this scene.

At the dinner table, they didn't discuss national affairs anymore, but only matters concerning the household.

“Zijun, if there’s anything you need to do in the manor, you can come and tell us. If you’re shy, just tell Qingtong. I’ve noticed that you and Qingtong are close and often go out together. She’s your sister-in-law, so you don’t need to be polite with her.”

Chu Meixiang said with a smile.

Luo Zijun quickly thanked her.

Bai Qingtong laughed from the side, "Don't worry, Mother, my brother-in-law is thick-skinned and won't be polite to me."

Chu Meixiang glared at her and said, "You have no manners, you're the one with the thick skin."

Bai Qingtong smiled and said nothing more.

The maids inside couldn't help but laugh.

The attitude of the Bai family towards their new son-in-law has changed significantly since the beginning.

Now they truly treat him as the master of the household.

After lunch.

Bai Ming and his wife chatted with Luo Zijun for a while about her studies and the upcoming autumn imperial examinations, before beginning their preparations to enter the palace.

The carriage was already waiting at the door.

After everything was ready, Bai Ming led Luo Zijun and Miss Bai out of the house and into the carriage.

Surrounded by the maids and nannies of the Bai family, Chu Meixiang and Bai Qingtong were escorted to the steps outside the main gate. Only after the carriage drove out of the alley did they turn their gaze away.

Chu Meixiang turned to look at the servants behind her, her face serious, and said, "From now on, you must treat your son-in-law as you would your master. Anyone who dares to be negligent will be beaten to death and thrown into the well!"

All the maids and nannies bowed their heads and said in unison, "Yes!"

With the Queen personally inviting him and the Master personally accompanying him, which servant in the manor would dare to underestimate the new son-in-law?

"drive--"

The carriage soon arrived at the foot of the palace walls.

The guards conducted a routine check and then allowed passage.

Someone had already gone ahead to inform the palace.

After the carriage entered the palace, it began to slow down and move slowly.

Throughout the journey, Bai Ming repeatedly reminded the two of the proper etiquette upon entering the palace and meeting the Queen, showing utmost caution and reassurance.

As they approached Yaohua Palace, Bai Ming suddenly sighed and looked earnestly at the young man opposite him, saying, "Zijun, there are some things you may not be aware of. The four great families now only have a reputation; in reality, they're practically empty shells. The political landscape is constantly shifting, and lately, undercurrents have been surging. Our four families' power is being slowly stripped away. The officials we recommended have been demoted or dismissed. The collapse of our great empire could happen in the blink of an eye. So this time, you must seize the opportunity and perform well before the Queen. If you can gain her favor and attention, our Bai family might have a better chance of survival than the other three great families..."

Luo Zijun nodded and said, "Father-in-law, rest assured, Zijun will do her best to win the Queen's favor."

Miss Bai, who was sitting next to him, turned her head and glanced at him, but her face was covered by a veil, so her expression could not be seen.

The carriage stopped outside Yaohua Palace. Bai Ming did not get out of the carriage.

Two rows of palace maids were waiting outside the palace. One of the maids said, "Please, Young Master Luo and Miss Bai, alight from the carriage!"

Luo Zijun looked at Miss Bai beside her.

Miss Bai was also looking at him.

Sitting opposite him, Bai Ming quickly said, "Zijun, take Meixue's hand and go downstairs together. From now on, you won't have to treat yourself as a live-in son-in-law. Husband and wife should follow each other, especially when you're out together."

Luo Zijun then stood up and extended her hand.

Miss Bai glanced at him again before reaching out and placing her hand in his palm.

It feels soft and smooth to the touch, boneless, but slightly cold.

Luo Zijun gently grasped it, went over and lifted the curtain, helped the young lady down from the carriage, and entered the palace surrounded by a group of palace maids.

The carriage outside dared not linger and left immediately.

A red carpet was laid on the ground.

Luo Zijun led Miss Bai slowly across the wide square and up the steps.

At this moment, a palace maid came over and said, "Miss Bai, please go into the hall first to have some tea and rest. Young Master Luo, please come with me to pay your respects to the Queen."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zijun released Miss Bai's hand.

Bai Meixue suddenly tugged at his sleeve and said to the palace maid, "I want to go too."

The palace maid hurriedly and respectfully said, "The Queen only instructed me to take Young Master Luo there."

Bai Meixue tugged at Luo Zijun's sleeve, refusing to let go.

Luo Zijun was speechless and could only comfort her in a low voice: "Miss, it's alright. You go into the palace and sit down first. I'll go over and discuss state affairs with the Queen for a while, and then I'll come find you later."

Another palace maid said, "Miss Bai, please come into the palace to rest."

Be quiet for a moment.

Bai Meixue slowly released her grip, looked at him and said, "Come back soon, be careful..."

Suddenly, she leaned close to his ear, her breath sweet and fragrant, and whispered, "Be careful of her seductive arts..."

Luo Zijun's body went limp, her heart raced, and she almost couldn't stand. She turned her head and met a pair of serene yet beautiful eyes, as lovely as gemstones.

"Is this your true seductive art?"

Luo Zijun silently complained to herself, not daring to look any longer, and agreed before leaving with the palace maid.

Bai Meixue stood there, watching his figure disappear around the corner before entering the main hall.

"The main force behind the Rebellion of the Seven States was Wu and Chu..."

"Wu and Chu were defeated, the Seven Kingdoms were defeated..."

Along the way, Luo Zijun thought about how to respond later.

The palace maid led him through a long corridor, through a garden, along a path, and around a park. After a long time, they finally arrived at a beautiful, elegantly decorated waterside pavilion.

"Young Master Luo has arrived—"

The palace maids guarding the door said in unison.

Luo Zijun walked to the door and bowed, saying, "This humble subject, Luo Zijun, pays respects to Your Majesty the Queen. May Your Majesty live a thousand years!"

Suddenly, a chuckle came from inside the room, and a pretty maid dressed in a palace dress appeared. She looked at him and said, "Young Master Luo, my name is Qing'er. Her Majesty is upstairs. I'll take you up."

Luo Zijun quickly followed behind.

Seeing that he was bowing his head and behaving respectfully, Qing'er turned around and looked at him a few more times. She seemed to remember something, her eyebrows furrowed, her cheeks flushed, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. She then led him upstairs.

Luo Zijun had some doubts.

Why would someone discuss state affairs in a place like this?

However, he didn't think too much about it and continued to ponder how to respond to the question later.

"How is Young Master Luo's health?"

Once upstairs, Qing'er suddenly asked softly.

Luo Zijun was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, and then said, "It's alright, thank you for your concern, Miss Qing'er."

Qing'er smiled and looked back at him, saying, "I've heard that you scholars are all quite frail. Young Master Luo should take good care of your health and get strong so that you can... well, help Her Majesty the Queen with the affairs of state."

Luo Zijun had no intention of chatting with her, so she lowered her head and replied perfunctorily, "Yes."

Qing'er then said meaningfully, "The Queen values ​​Young Master Luo's talent highly and hopes that he will not disappoint her in the future."

Luo Zijun lowered her head and agreed.

Qing'er led him through the corridor to the door of a study, and respectfully said at the door, "Your Highness, Young Master Luo has arrived."

The room quieted down for a moment before a dignified voice called out, "Please come in, Young Master Luo."

"Squeak..."

The door is pushed open.

Qing'er greeted respectfully at the door, "Young Master Luo, please come in."

A fragrant breeze wafted out of the room.

Luo Zijun dared not think too much, and quickly lowered her head to walk to the door, bowing again and saying, "This humble subject, Luo Zijun, pays respects to Your Majesty the Queen, wishing Your Majesty a long life!"

Then we prepared to go in.

Upon seeing the spotless carpet on the floor, he quickly asked Qing'er in a low voice, "Miss Qing'er, would you like to take off your shoes?"

Qing'er nodded: "Yes."

Luo Zijun quickly took off her shoes and went inside.

I had assumed that besides the Queen, there would be many ministers discussing the Rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms in the room, but when I entered, the room was quiet. Only in the inner room separated by a beaded curtain could I vaguely see a tall and slender figure in a magnificent phoenix robe, seemingly looking at a map on the wall and thinking about something.

"Squeak..."

The door is closed.

The room was completely silent.

Luo Zijun glanced at the inner room, then quickly bowed her head and walked over, bowing in reverence once more.

After he finished shouting "Long live the Emperor!", the figure in the room suddenly spoke with an air of authority: "I'm tired of hearing 'Long live the Emperor' all this time. Why don't you just call me 'Ten Thousand Years'?"

Luo Zijun: "..."

(End of this chapter)