Discuss with you

Chapter 520 Giving a Seat
A short while later, the guard who had just run in returned and whispered a few words in the deputy captain's ear.

The deputy captain nodded, then clasped his hands in greeting to Lu Qing and Fan Wang's nephew, saying, "Your Highness, and this young master, His Majesty invites you to the Southern Study for a talk."

The deputy commander's words, "This young master," exposed the awkward situation of Brahma's nephew, who had no title or status and whose position was not legitimate. His face turned red and white in turn.

But to his surprise, Emperor Jin agreed to let him in so easily, which relieved him.

Lu Qing remained quite calm. After being untied by the palace guards, he merely moved his wrists slightly. Upon hearing that the Emperor had summoned him, he showed no particular emotion. He simply nodded to the head constable and then led Zhu Yu, Yan Daoxin, and the others into the palace gate.

Brahma's nephew secretly felt that as the aggrieved party who had come here to seek justice, he should walk in front to appear more imposing.

However, the attitude of the guards at the gate made him feel short of breath and he dared not do anything excessive.

There was another thing he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination.

Brahma's nephew felt that when the carefree king was helped down from the prison cart, his aura seemed different from the way there. Although he remained silent and his face did not show much change in expression, he exuded an undeniable pressure that made it impossible to muster any reckless thoughts.

Inside the palace gates, there were already eunuchs guarding the area.

Zhu Yu glanced up from afar and recognized the man as Eunuch Gao, whom she had met twice before when she accompanied Lu Qing to the palace. He was an old face who served Emperor Jin.

The eunuch Gao stood inside the door. When he saw Lu Qing from afar, a look of surprise appeared on his beardless old face. He hurriedly stepped out from behind the threshold and took a few steps forward to greet him: "Oh dear! Your Highness, what happened to you? Why do you look so haggard?"

This old servant has watched you grow up, but I've never seen you look like this before!

Brahma's nephew, who was blocked by runes and talismans, found these words unpleasant to hear, but dared not utter a sound, feeling extremely awkward.

He clearly came here to demand an explanation. The carefree prince was the culprit who killed his uncle. How come everything is different now than what people told him at the beginning?

Wasn't it said that Emperor Jin disliked this good-for-nothing adopted son very much? But how come this eunuch, who looks so extraordinary, is now being so respectful to Prince Xiaoyao?
With such trepidation, the group followed Eunuch Gao toward the south study.

The talismans and incantations had accompanied Lu Qing to the palace many times in the past, so they didn't react this time.

This was Yan Daoxin's first time here, but he disliked palace affairs, so he had a blank expression and seemed to be in a bad mood.

It's not surprising that he's like this. He usually appears dignified and otherworldly in public, but these days he's been trapped in the prison cart, his clothes are almost stinking, and his once handsome face is now covered in stubble.

However, he was different from Lu Qing. Lu Qing's appearance was already quite rugged, and the stubble on his face only added to his maturity and vicissitudes.

Yan Daoxin was different; his face was covered in messy stubble, making him look awkward no matter how you looked at him. He looked enviously at Zhu Yu, whose mouth was clean-shaven, and sighed.

Zhu Yu had no idea that Yan Daoxin was actually so upset that he envied her because she was a woman and therefore didn't have a beard.

As she followed Lu Qing toward the South Study, she pondered to herself.

Emperor Jin's palace is quite large, but the Southern Study is rather small. She refused to believe that there wasn't a more spacious and comfortable study in the palace where Emperor Jin could review memorials, read, and rest.

What a coincidence! Every time Lu Qing was summoned, it was always in the Southern Study...

They continued walking until they arrived at the entrance of Nan's study.

"Your Highness, gentlemen, please wait here for a moment while I go in and report." Eunuch Gao had always received many favors from Lu Qing, so his attitude towards him was always very respectful and warm.

After he finished speaking, he left the others outside and went in alone.

After a while, when he came out again, his expression looked somewhat unnatural. He frowned, looked at Lu Qing, and then glanced at the nephew of the King of Brahma a few times before asking, "Are you the nephew of the King of Brahma? Was the memorial that the palace guards brought just now written and submitted by you?"

“Indeed…” Brahma’s nephew was about to refer to himself as “this humble servant” when he realized that he did not hold any official position, nor was he Brahma’s biological son. He had not been adopted by his uncle, so he could not even be considered an adopted son, nor could he address himself as “your subject” in front of Emperor Jin. So he awkwardly murmured something in his throat before finally managing to squeeze out two words, “this humble commoner.”

"Then please come in." Eunuch Gao nodded coldly to him and opened the door behind him.

Several people entered the door one by one and knelt on the open ground inside.

Emperor Jin was still sitting behind that desk, much like the two previous times I had seen him here.

However, he didn't seem to be in good spirits today. He sat listlessly in his chair, one arm propped up on the armrest, looking rather dispirited.

Seeing the group go inside, his gaze swept over the Brahma King's nephew before quickly moving from his face to Lu Qing. He silently scrutinized Lu Qing from head to toe, his expression a mixture of dissatisfaction with Lu Qing's unshaven appearance, a feeling that his attire was beneath his dignity, or perhaps the fact that the group had been jostled around in the prison cart for days and their body odor was rather unpleasant. His brows furrowed even more.

"You told me before that you wanted to travel the world, and I agreed." After a while, he finally spoke, clearly addressing Lu Qing. "I never imagined that my son would grow up so much, with such strong legs and feet. How did this journey end up in the Kingdom of Brahma?!"

"Your Majesty!" Before Lu Qing could speak, the nephew of the King of Brahma knelt down three times without saying a word, "This humble subject begs Your Majesty to do justice for my uncle!"
My uncle governed the Kingdom of Brahma with diligence and dedication, a virtuous prince praised by all! He was compassionate towards his people and loyal to His Majesty; it is truly unfortunate that he was killed by the carefree prince and the quack doctor he brought with him!

Emperor Jin's expression became even more pained after being yelled at. He rubbed his temples, forcing a smile, and instructed Eunuch Gao beside him, "The King of Brahma's nephew is like my nephew. He has come from afar and is therefore my guest. Why don't you offer him a seat?"