After all, everyone had witnessed Jun Yulin’s capabilities firsthand. Some even found it strange that during the chaos back then, he hadn’t claimed the throne himself but instead chose to support Yan Luo.
“Yan Luo?” Yan Luo was dozing off on her side when the discussion over there was just about to wrap up. Jun Yulin looked up and saw the young girl, who was supposed to be listening attentively to their reports, propping her head up with her hand, eyes half-closed—clearly about to fall asleep.
Jun Yulin was the only one who dared to call Yan Luo by her full name in private. Yan Luo was startled and abruptly opened her eyes wide, a sheen of moisture glimmering in them as she stared straight at Jun Yulin.
She tugged at the corner of her lips awkwardly. “What is it?”
Jun Yulin : …
“Didn’t sleep well?” Jun Yulin frowned and asked as a formality.
To his surprise, Yan Luo nodded like a pecking chick.
Jun Yulin : …
He lowered his head, the corners of his lips twitching slightly. When he looked up again, his expression was one of solemn seriousness. “Your Majesty should be more diligent with state affairs.”
And yet, he managed to say such a thing with a completely straight face.
Standing beside them, An Bai couldn’t help but tug at the corner of his mouth when he heard this. He raised his eyebrows and looked over at Yan Luo.
What was with the little emperor today? It was rare to see Jun Yulin at a loss for words like this.
The matter had more or less been addressed. Outside the door, a female official who had served the original owner’s Mother was waiting. Once the door opened and she entered, she paused briefly at the sight of the two men inside, but then spoke up, “Your Majesty, the young master from the Empress Dowager’s maternal family has arrived. She’s asking for your presence.”
The Empress Dowager’s name was Lu Yan. That young master was her nephew, named Lu Xunche, and someone Lu Yan had long tried to plant into Yan Luo’s harem.
Understanding Lu Yan’s intentions all too well, a flicker of mockery passed through Jun Yulin’s eyes. He turned his gaze slightly toward the young girl on the throne, his eyes glinting faintly.
On the other hand, An Bai furrowed his brows slightly upon hearing about the young master from the Lu family. He instinctively took a step forward, then quickly came back to his senses, letting his expression fall blank again.
Yan Luo shot An Bai a puzzled look. Seeing that he made no further movement, she said nothing more. She rose to her feet and said, “Since Royal Uncle and Grand Chancellor have said all they needed to, I shall excuse myself first. Lin Yuan, see Royal Uncle and the Grand Chancellor out.”
With that, she dusted off her robes and left with the female official.
Lin Yuan paused, looked around, then turned to the two men who made no move to leave. She blinked, eyes filled with respect, and asked cautiously, “Your Highness? Prime Minister?”
The corners of Jun Yulin’s lips twitched almost imperceptibly. The image of Yan Luo’s spirited look from earlier flashed across his mind, and he glanced at An Bai, who appeared calm on the surface but whose thoughts were clearly elsewhere.
Hearing Lin Yuan’s words, An Bai finally came back to himself. He spoke in an odd tone, “Lu Xunche?”
Lin Yuan nodded and blinked. “The only young master from the Lu family who could enter the palace would naturally be Young Master Xunche.”
Meanwhile, Yan Luo had already arrived at Lu Yan’s palace. As soon as she entered, she saw Lu Yan beaming with a bright smile. Beside her sat a youth of about seventeen or eighteen, with bright eyes, pearly teeth, and a slightly roguish smile playing on his lips.
The two of them looked like they were chatting amiably, but Yan Luo could see the impatience and irritation hidden in the boy’s eyes.
This boy… gave her a rather strange feeling.
At that moment, Lu Xunche looked up and met her gaze. When he saw her, he tilted his head slightly and blinked.