Chapter 245: Queen: Call This Palace 'Long Live'!

A sudden rainstorm overnight left the garden in a mess.

As soon as the sky began to brighten, Fenfen deliberately shouted loudly in the small courtyard: "Young Master, it's time to get up!"

She shouted several times, but there was no response.

Fenfen hummed, pouted her little mouth, and left, looking indignant.

Upon returning to Luoxue Residence, she complained: "Miss, that stinky Young Master clearly knew he had to accompany you into the palace today, yet he still acted recklessly all night long. It's truly hateful."

Bai Meixue, dressed in a white gown, was standing under a plum tree in the backyard, looking as beautiful as an immortal. Watching the few flower buds that had emerged on the branches overnight, she replied calmly: "What's hateful is that he wasn't acting recklessly with you last night, right?"

Fenfen: "..."

The morning sun rose slowly.

Golden sunlight spilled across the earth.

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

After Luo Zijun got up, he first took a bath.

Then, attended by Xiaohuan and Zhiyuan, he dressed carefully, changed into a brand-new, incense-scented Confucian robe, and combed his hair meticulously.

"Dressed so handsomely and smelling so good, anyone who didn't know better would think I was going on a date with a mistress."

Luo Zijun sat in front of the vanity mirror and grumbled.

As soon as these words were out, the expressions of Xiaohuan and Zhiyuan both changed, and they hurriedly covered his mouth together.

"Young Master, don't talk nonsense, be careful of the charge of beheading!"

Both little maids were badly frightened by his audacious words.

Seeing from the mirror that both of them were pale with fright, Luo Zijun didn't dare to talk nonsense again and could only joke: "Last night I blocked your mouths, today you block my mouth; we're even."

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

"Young Master has no sense of propriety."

At noon.

Bai Third Miss came over with Hua'er and called him to go to the front to eat together.

When Luo Zijun went out, Bai Daxiaojie also happened to come out of the neighboring small courtyard wearing a veil, followed by Bai Bai and Qingqing.

The sunlight fell upon that white-clad, snow-like, immortal-like figure. Set off by her jet-black hair reaching her waist, Bai Daxiaojie's skin was dazzlingly white, beautiful to the extreme, not like something of the Human Realm.

Bai Qingtong suddenly looked at him and smiled: "Brother-in-law, can you even be dazed looking at your own wife?"

Luo Zijun came back to his senses and said: "Ah, is that Daxiaojie? She's wearing a veil, I didn't recognize her; I thought it was a fairy who had fallen from the sky."

Once these words were spoken, the maids all giggled.

Bai Qingtong looked at her sister and smiled: "Sister, when did you train your honest and simple brother-in-law to start liking flattery?"

Bai Meixue said in a flat tone: "Isn't that what you've been doing all along?"

Bai Qingtong immediately blushed and laughed: "How would I dare."

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

The three said no more and, surrounded by maids and nannies, went to the front courtyard.

The meal was already prepared.

Luo Zijun walked together with Bai Daxiaojie, entered the dining room a step ahead, and paid respects to his father-in-law and mother-in-law.

Bai Third Miss followed the two of them inside.

Bai Ming smiled: "Zijun, sit down, let's have a meal together, and after resting for a while, we'll head into the palace. The Queen might be taking a nap, but you need to go into the palace and wait first."

The three sat down in turn.

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

Chu Meixiang watched this scene and nodded slightly.

State affairs were not discussed at the dinner table; they only spoke of matters within the mansion.

"Zijun, if you have any issues in the mansion, you can come and tell us. If you feel embarrassed, just tell Qingtong directly. I see that you and Qingtong are usually on good terms and often go out together; she is your sister-in-law, so you don't need to stand on ceremony with her."

Chu Meixiang said with a smile.

Luo Zijun hurriedly thanked her.

Bai Qingtong smiled from the side: "Mother, don't worry, brother-in-law has a thick skin; he won't stand on ceremony with me."

Chu Meixiang glared at her and said: "You have no sense of decorum, your skin is the one that's thick."

Bai Qingtong smiled and said nothing more.

The maids in the room couldn't help but laugh.

Nowadays, the attitude of everyone in the Bai Family toward this new son-in-law had changed greatly from the beginning.

They now truly regarded him as a master of the mansion.

After finishing lunch.

Bai Ming and his wife chatted with Luo Zijun for a while about his studies and next year's Autumn Examination, then began preparing to enter the palace.

The carriage was already waiting at the entrance.

After everything was ready, Bai Ming took Luo Zijun and Bai Daxiaojie out and boarded the carriage.

Chu Meixiang and Bai Qingtong, surrounded by the maids and nannies of the Bai Mansion, saw them off all the way to the steps outside the main gate, and only withdrew their gaze after the carriage drove out of the alley.

Chu Meixiang turned to look at the servants behind her and said with a stern expression: "From now on, you must all treat the son-in-law as you would the master. Whoever dares to neglect him will be beaten to death and thrown into the well!"

The maids and nannies all lowered their heads and said in unison: "Yes!"

With the Queen's personal invitation and the master personally accompanying him, which servant in the mansion would dare to look down on that new son-in-law?

"Giddyap—"

The carriage soon arrived under the walls of the Royal Palace.

The guards performed a routine inspection and then let them pass.

Someone had already gone ahead to the Royal Palace to notify them.

After the carriage entered the Royal Palace, it began to slow down and proceeded at a leisurely pace.

Along the way, Bai Ming kept exhorting the two of them on the rules for entering the palace and meeting the Queen; he truly gave them a thousand instructions and was extremely cautious.

When they were close to Yaohua Palace, Bai Ming suddenly sighed, looked at the young man opposite him with earnest concern, and said, "Zijun, there are some things you might not be aware of yet. Nowadays, the Four Great Families have nothing but a reputation; in reality, they have almost become empty shells. The political situation is ever-changing, and during this period, there are even more undercurrents surging. The various powers of our Four Great Families are being slowly stripped away, and the officials we originally recommended have either been demoted or dismissed. The collapse of a great mansion can happen in the blink of an eye. Therefore, this time, you must seize the opportunity and perform well in front of the Queen. If you can gain the Queen's favor and regard, my Bai Family might find a bit more vitality compared to the other three families..."

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

Bai Daxiaojie, who was sitting to the side, turned her head and glanced at him, but because she was wearing a veil, the expression on her face 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, and one of the maids said, "Please, Young Master Luo and Bai Daxiaojie, step out of the carriage!"

Luo Zijun looked at Bai Daxiaojie beside him.

Bai Daxiaojie also looked at him.

Bai Ming, sitting opposite, hurriedly said, "Zijun, take Meixue's hand and go down together. From now on, you don't need to think of yourself as a matrilocal son-in-law; a husband and wife should act in unison, especially when outside."

Only then did Luo Zijun stand up and reach out his hand.

Bai Daxiaojie glanced at him again before extending her hand and placing it in his palm.

Her touch was delicate, soft, and smooth, as if she had no bones, only it was somewhat cold.

Luo Zijun held it gently, went over to lift the curtain, helped Daxiaojie out of the carriage, and entered the palace surrounded by a group of palace maids.

The carriage outside the gate did not dare to linger and left immediately.

A red carpet was spread on the ground.

Luo Zijun held Bai Daxiaojie's hand, slowly crossed the wide square, and walked up the steps.

At this moment, a palace maid came over and said, "Please, Bai Daxiaojie, enter the palace first to drink tea and rest. Young Master Luo, please follow this servant to pay respects to the Queen."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zijun let go of Bai Daxiaojie's hand.

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

The palace maid hurriedly and respectfully said, "The Queen only instructed this servant to bring Young Master Luo over."

Bai Meixue tugged at Luo Zijun's sleeve and would not let go.

Luo Zijun was somewhat speechless and could only comfort her in a low voice, "Daxiaojie, it's fine. You go into the palace and sit first; I will go over to discuss state affairs with the Queen for a while and will come to find you shortly."

Another palace maid nearby said, "Bai Daxiaojie, please enter the palace to rest."

There was a moment of silence.

Bai Meixue then slowly let go of his sleeve, looked at him, and said, "Come back early, be careful..."

Suddenly, she leaned into his ear, her breath like orchids, a faint fragrance assailing his nostrils, and whispered, "Be careful of her Charm Technique..."

Luo Zijun felt his whole body go soft, his heart rate accelerated, and he almost could not stand still. He turned his head to look and met a pair of calm yet beautiful eyes as lovely as gemstones.

"Isn't this the Charm Technique itself?"

Luo Zijun muttered to himself in his heart, not daring to look any longer, gave an affirmative response, and left with the palace maid.

Bai Meixue stood where she was, watching his back disappear around the corner before entering the main palace.

"The Seven Kingdoms Rebellion, the main force was Wu and Chu..."

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

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

The palace maid led him along the way, passing through long corridors, walking through gardens, stepping along paths, and winding around the grounds. After a long time, they finally arrived at a water-side pavilion with beautiful scenery and elegant decorations.

"Young Master Luo has arrived—"

The palace maids guarding the entrance said in unison.

Luo Zijun walked to the entrance, bowed, and paid his respects: "Commoner Luo Zijun pays respects to Her Majesty the Queen. May Her Majesty live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!"

There was a sudden "pfft" of laughter from inside the room. A maid wearing a palace dress with a pretty appearance appeared, looked at him, and said, "Young Master Luo, this servant is called Qing'er. Her Majesty is upstairs; this servant will take you up."

Luo Zijun hurriedly followed behind.

Seeing him with his head lowered and his attitude respectful, Qing'er looked back at him several times. Not knowing what she was thinking, her eyebrows held a hint of spring, her cheeks were slightly red, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly as she led him upstairs.

Luo Zijun felt a bit puzzled in his heart.

Discussing state affairs, why would it be in a place like this?

However, he did not think too much about it and continued to ponder the question of how to respond later.

"Is Young Master Luo's health well?"

After going upstairs, Qing'er suddenly asked in a low voice.

Luo Zijun was stunned for a moment upon hearing this and said, "It is well, thank you for your concern, Miss Qing'er."

Qing'er had a smile on the corners of her mouth, looked back at him again, and said, "I heard that you scholars have very frail bodies. Young Master Luo should take good care of your health and get strong, so that when the time comes, you can properly... um, properly help Her Majesty the Queen share the burden of state affairs."

Luo Zijun did not want to chat with her, so he lowered his head and perfunctorily replied, "Yes."

Qing'er added meaningfully, "Her Majesty the Queen values Young Master Luo's talent very much; I hope that in the future, Gongzi will not let Her Majesty down."

Luo Zijun lowered his head and agreed.

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

The room was quiet for a moment before a dignified voice came through: "Please, let Young Master Luo enter."

"Creak..."

The door was pushed open.

Qing'er said respectfully at the door, "Young Master Luo, please enter."

A fragrant breeze drifted out from the room.

Luo Zijun did not dare to think too much, hurriedly lowered his head, walked to the door, and bowed to pay his respects again: "Commoner Luo Zijun pays respects to Her Majesty the Queen. May Her Majesty live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!"

Then he prepared to go in.

Seeing the spotless velvet carpet spread on the floor, he hurriedly asked Qing'er, who was beside him, in a low voice: "Miss Qing'er, do I need to take off my shoes?"

Qing'er nodded: "Yes."

Luo Zijun hurriedly took off his shoes and walked in.

He had assumed that besides the Queen, there would be many ministers inside discussing the Seven Kingdoms Rebellion, but upon entering and looking, the room was quiet, and only in the inner room separated by a beaded curtain, a tall and slender figure wearing a magnificent phoenix robe stood faintly, seemingly looking at a map on the wall and thinking about matters.

"Creak..."

The door closed.

The room was silent.

Luo Zijun glanced at the inner room, hurriedly lowered his head and walked over, and once again spoke to pay his respects.

After he finished shouting "A thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand thousand years," the figure in the room suddenly spoke with majesty: "I have grown tired of hearing 'a thousand years,' you may call me 'ten thousand years' instead."

Luo Zijun: "..."

(End of this chapter)