Chapter 631: He Was Not Entirely Innocent
It was not until His Majesty and the officials had left that Long Chi finally lifted his head.
He stared maliciously at the imperial carriage as it got further and further away.
Abolish his title?
Too bad his Royal Uncle would not have the opportunity.
It was already the ninth lunar month. It would take another few more months, at most next year, when the poison would attack his Royal Uncle’s heart. All medicine would fail to cure him, and once his Royal Uncle passes, he will successfully take over the throne.
By then, not only would the land belonging to his Royal Uncle be taken over by Long Chi, but Long Chi would also possess his Empress.
It was only with this thought that the stress given to him by his Royal Uncle totally dissipated.
His Royal Uncle was but a man about to die. It meant nothing for his Royal Uncle to be throwing his weight around right now.
Why did Long Chi even bother feeling like a sword was hanging over his head just now?
Long Chi breathed a sigh of relief and completely shook off the pressure his Royal Uncle had given him. He waited in peace for Lu Liangwei to come over.
At that moment, outside the city gates.
Lu Liangwei was at Ling Lihua’s side.
She saw Ling Lihua on a horse, sitting in a daze as she stared toward the direction of where the troops had just left. A thought stirred in Lu Liangwei’s mind.
Her mother must be staring toward her father and big brother.
“Mother.” Her mother’s gaze remained unmoving for quite a while and Lu Liangwei could not help calling out to her.
Ling Lihua finally woke from her reverie when she heard Lu Liangwei’s voice. When she saw her daughter standing below the horse, the gloominess in her eyes disappeared and a smile bloomed on her face. “What are you doing here?’
She reached out to Lu Liangwei as she said this.
Lu Liangwei reached out to her too.
Ling Lihua pulled with some might and Lu Liangwei got onto the horse behind her back.
“Father and big brother had left for the conquest today. I made a special request for His Majesty to bring me here,” Lu Liangwei wrapped her hand around her mother’s waist and leaned against her back as she said softly.
Ling Lihua patted Lu Liangwei’s hand and turned to glance at her. “You can’t bear for them to leave, can you?”
Lu Liangwei nodded. “That’s right. It is pretty hard to accept. Although, I’m quite fine with Father as he’s always away on conquests when I was young. We don’t see each other often during those times, but with big brother, I am almost never separated from him. I can’t quite bear to see him leave.”
Ling Lihua understood how Lu Liangwei felt when she heard those words. She consoled Lu Liangwei, “Your big brother is a man. Men should have great ambitions and the battlefield is their world. You should support him.”
“I know.” Lu Liangwei nodded.
She gave some thought and tested the waters. “Mother, are you okay with Father leaving?”
Ling Lihua was caught off guard. An uneasiness appeared on her face as she shook her head to deny this. “Don’t be ridiculous. Why won’t I be okay with him leaving?”
Lu Liangwei nodded. “That’s true. How could Mother not bear for Father to leave? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have left for so many years in the first place.”
Ling Lihua was stunned. She grabbed Lu Liangwei’s hands. “Are you angry at me, Weiwei?”
Lu Liangwei shook her head. “Why would I be angry at you, Mother? I’m not angry at you at all. I’ve said before that you must have your reasons.”
Ling Lihua felt slightly dejected when she heard this. Her daughter was understanding and considerate.
Ling Lihua was the one who had been too selfish. All she cared about was living a peaceful life alone, and had abandoned her daughter at such a young age as she left on her own.
She was not a good mother.
“Don’t be worried about this, Mother. Big brother and I have lived well all those years. We have clothes on our backs and enough to eat. Even without Mother by our sides, we’ve managed to get by very well. So there’s no need for you to be bothered about this. I’m the one who is sad for Mother. You’ve been alone all these years. When you’re cold and hungry, you are all you have. Big Brother and I are the unfilial ones who did not go looking for you earlier,” Lu Liangwei consoled her softly.
It was not easy being a woman. Even though her mother was quite powerful, she was still a woman, after all. She had been drifting about out there alone all these years with no one showing concern to her. Moreover, she had to suffer over the betrayal of Lu Liangwei’s father.
This thought saddened Lu Liangwei.
This was also why her father was not entirely innocent.
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Chapter 632: Lu Liangwei Almost Threw Up
No matter how cold Ling Lihua’s heart was, it instantly softened when she heard her daughter’s gentle, comforting words, and her eyes grew wet with tears.
She turned and patted her daughter on the head, feeling that she was actually quite lucky.
What else could she ask for when she already had such a good and sensible daughter?
At that moment, the hatred that she had buried all those years in her heart seemed to become insignificant.
“Come, let’s go back first.” With a tug of the reins, Ling Lihua steered the horse and started riding in the direction of the city gates.
The horse trotted leisurely as Chu Jiu followed them on foot.
“Mother, Grandmother’s alone at home now, and she’s already old. I’m worried about her, but I can’t leave the palace so often. Can you move into the Grand Duke Mansion just to keep her company?” asked Lu Liangwei.
She was genuinely concerned about her grandmother.
Although Grandmother was in good health, she was already old, after all. Now that Father and Big Bro were not around, she could not help feeling worried.
Hearing this, Ling Lihua was a little hesitant. “But…”
“Dad’s not around, anyway, so you don’t need to be so uneasy. Besides, Grandmother’s always talking about you. Can you do it for the sake of keeping her company, please?” Noticing that she was already being swayed, Lu Liangwei nudged her further.
Ling Lihua sighed and agreed, “All right then.” The Dowager Duchess was indeed kind to her and treated her no different from her daughter.
Lu Liangwei finally relaxed when she heard this. Hugging her mother, she rubbed her face against her back gently. “You’re so sweet, Mother.”
“Silly girl!” Ling Lihua’s heart melted into a puddle.
The moment they entered the city, their horse was stopped by Long Chi.
Not recognizing him, Ling Lihua frowned and said, “Who are you, and why are you stopping our horse?”
Long Chi glanced at her and saw that her face was covered with a veil. Although her appearance was indiscernible, her eyes exposed outside the veil were undoubtedly gorgeous.
He was puzzled. Who was this person?
What’s more, Lu Liangwei was riding with her. Judging from their intimate posture, they seemed to be pretty close.
Suppressing the doubts in his heart, he said to Lu Liangwei behind her, “Weiwei, Royal Uncle ordered me to wait for you here.”
Lu Liangwei was already disgusted to see him, and when she heard what he called her, she was even more repulsed.
“I believe that your royal uncle didn’t allow you to call me that, did he?” she said bluntly.
When Long Chi saw the irritation on her face, his lips curved upward into a fond smile.
“What does it matter? We’re not that far apart in age. If I really were to call you Royal Aunt, you’d be uncomfortable too.”
Appalled at his shamelessness, Lu Liangwei said sarcastically, “Do you plan to rule the kingdom with skin as thick as the city walls in the future?”
Hearing this, Long Chi slightly lost his composure. “Weiwei, why have you become…”
“Crown Prince, you’re the Heir Apparent. Didn’t the Grand Mentor teach you how to address your elders? Please address me as Royal Aunt. If the imperial censor finds out that you don’t even know how to address your elders, he’s probably going to report you in court.”
Long Chi’s face was livid, but he suddenly thought of something, and regaining his cool, he looked at her a little helplessly. “I know that you’re still bitter about what happened in the past. Yes, I admit that I made a mistake, but do you have to hold onto the past so firmly?” He cast her an implicative glance.
Lu Liangwei almost threw up.
Did this sleazy Crown Prince have some kind of delusional disorder?
“As I said, Crown Prince, if you’re ill, you should seek treatment from an imperial physician. Otherwise, if your illness keeps acting up like this, you’re going to bring disgrace to the imperial family when you go out.”
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Chapter 633: Unhappy With Long Yang’s Decision
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
From their conversation, Ling Lihua finally realized who Long Chi was.
So this pretentious Crown Prince was the dirtbag who broke her daughter’s heart?
She looked him up and down. His appearance was still passable, but apart from that, she really could not find any aspect of him that was worth her daughter’s suicide attempt.
However, her daughter was still young, and she had only acted so preposterously because she did not know how to judge a person’s character.
Except for being younger, this filthy Crown Prince was miles away from coming close to his royal uncle.
After making such a comparison, she suddenly felt that the Emperor was so much better and was, in fact, a decent match for her daughter.
Long Chi’s face hardened at Lu Liangwei’s words.
He had only tolerated her all this while because he had indeed let her down, and now he wanted to win her heart back. However, since she kept rejecting his olive branch, how could he continue to let her have her way?
With a grim expression, he said to Lu Liangwei, “It’s getting late. Royal Uncle ordered me to escort you back to the palace. Get in the carriage.” He then pointed to a carriage already parked nearby.
The last thing Lu Liangwei wanted was to return to the palace with this slimeball, but the fact that he dared to say this meant that Long Yang had indeed instructed him to do so. She could not help feeling a little unhappy and confused about Long Yang’s decision.
Why did the Emperor let this despicable Crown Prince wait for her here? Was he trying to upset her on purpose?
“I don’t want to go back yet. You may go your own way, Crown Prince.” She then pushed her mother’s arm lightly. “Mother, let’s go back to the Grand Duke Mansion.”
Ling Lihua nodded. “All right.” As she pulled on the reins and spurred the horse forward, her fingers, shielded by her wide sleeve, silently flicked out a pinch of medicinal powder.
Long Chi let out a sneeze as a strong fragrance wafted up to his nose, and he glanced at the two women passing by. He assumed that it was Lu Liangwei and her mother’s scent, so he did not give it too much thought.
Seeing that Lu Liangwei was really about to leave, he snapped sullenly, “Since you refuse to go back with me, don’t blame me when Royal Uncle punishes you.”
“You think too highly of yourself!” Lu Liangwei snorted, and without sparing him another glance, rode off with her mother.
A gloom enshrouded Long Chi’s face as he watched her leave resolutely.
This woman should not be indulged at all.
Back when he had treated her coldly, she would always find a way to cling to him. However, now that he was slightly kinder to her, she turned up her nose at him.
Long Chi glared at Lu Liangwei’s retreating figure darkly, with extreme displeasure filling his heart.
She could be full of herself all she wanted now. When Royal Uncle dies, she would be in for a crying.
He would then take her for himself and toy with her to his heart’s content.
Lu Liangwei and Ling Lihua went to the Grand Duke Mansion to visit the Dowager Duchess.
The Dowager Duchess was delighted to hear that Ling Lihua was willing to move back and keep her company, and she immediately told Aunt Lan to tidy up Fragrant Blooms Court.
When Ling Lihua heard the words ‘Fragrant Blooms Court’, she was briefly lost in reverie.
That courtyard carried all the memories of her and Lu Hetian.
The beautiful, the painful; they were all there.
“Madam, I can stay in the guest room. There’s no need to…”
“What do you mean, no need? That’s always been your courtyard. Besides, Shenzhi’s been getting the servants to clean it all these years, and it’s still in good condition. I’ll have Aunt Lan tidy it up for a bit, and you can move in right away,” the Dowager Duchess said kindly yet firmly.
“Mother, Grandmother’s right, so you should just say yes..” Lu Liangwei quickly persuaded, seeing that her mother still wanted to refuse.
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Chapter 634: Unwilling To Let Go
Unable to dissuade the grandmother and granddaughter, Ling Lihua eventually said to Aunt Lan, “In that case, I’ll have to trouble you, Aunt Lan.”
Aunt Lan said kindly, “Please don’t say that, Madam. Now that you’re back, the Dowager Duchess won’t be lonely anymore.”
The Dowager Duchess was genuinely glad to have Ling Lihua back.
She had already promised her son that she would find a way to make Lihua stay in the Grand Duke Mansion, and she had been racking her brains for an idea. To her surprise, Weiwei came back with Lihua today, which saved her a lot of effort.
The smile on her face never faded for a second as she took Ling Lihua’s hand, unwilling to let go.
“I’m glad that Weiwei was sensible enough to bring you back. If you didn’t come today, I’d go and see you in two days, anyway.”
Lu Liangwei cut in at the right moment, “Then are you going to reward me, Grandmother?”
The Dowager Duchess scolded her jokingly, “I just praised you for being sensible, and you’re already asking for a reward? You get big-headed so easily. Fine then, you can look around my place and take whatever you like.”
After she spoke, she waved a hand generously.
Lu Liangwei was thrilled. “That’s a promise, you’d better not regret it.”
“In that case, I’m going to stop you right there. There are only a few rare items in my house; if you take them away, I’ll have nothing left,” the Dowager Duchess said hastily.
Lu Liangwei pursed her lips. “You’re so stingy, Grandmother!”
The Dowager Duchess and Ling Lihua both burst out laughing.
After having lunch at the Grand Duke Mansion, Lu Liangwei rose and said to Ling Lihua, “Please keep Grandmother company, Mother. It’s getting late, and I should be getting back to the palace.”
Seeing this, Ling Lihua got up too and said, “I’ll see you off. I also happen to have something to pick up from the medicinal shop.”
Lu Liangwei nodded. “All right.”
Ling Lihua turned and said to the Dowager Duchess, “I’ll be back in a while.”
The Dowager Duchess was relieved. Since Lihua had promised that she would return, she definitely would.
She nodded. “All right, be careful on the way.”
“We will.” Ling Lihua nodded, then took Lu Liangwei’s hand and walked out of Longevity Hall.
Just then, Chu Jiu said to Lu Liangwei, “Your Highness, before Heir Presumptive Lu left, he told me to tell you that he has some gold hidden in his house. He already promised to give it to you, but he doesn’t know when he’ll be back, so he said that you can get it when you have time.”
Lu Liangwei looked at her in surprise. “Big Bro said that?”
“Yes, that’s what he said.” Chu Jiu nodded.
Lu Liangwei felt warm inside.
She knew that her brother was not a money-grubber, and he could only have collected all that gold for her sake.
Just because she swiped Housekeeper Chen of his gold that time at the holiday home, her brother thought that she loved gold, so he must have collected it just to give it to her.
Lu Liangwei nodded. “I see. I’ll go and get it next time.”
Hearing their conversation, Ling Lihua said in amusement, “Why are you such a money-grubber, young lady?”
Lu Liangwei took her arm and said, “How am I a money-grubber? I just find gold shiny and pretty.”
“How uncouth!” Ling Lihua stroked her head with a laugh. “You’re clearly a money-grubber. You don’t have to sugar-coat it.”
“I’ve always been an uncouth commoner who loves gold.” Lu Liangwei was not ashamed at all and even looked proud of herself.
“Fine then, next time I’ll give you a chest of gold,” Ling Lihua said with a fond smile.
Lu Liangwei’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Of course. But you’re the Empress, why do you need that much gold? You don’t even spend that much.”
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Chapter 635: Harbor Inappropriate Thoughts
“Well, that’s true, but it’s just pleasing to look at,” Lu Liangwei said with a grin.
Ling Lihua shook her head in amused disapproval of her hobby.
“Let’s go, I’ll walk you to the palace gates.”
“All right.”
After walking Lu Liangwei to the palace gates, Ling Lihua went to the medicinal shop.
Only a few patients were getting their prescriptions filled in the shop. The old beggar and Youyou were capable of handling them, so she went straight to the backyard.
Wu Hongming had left to deal with the House’s affairs, and the backyard appeared somewhat lifeless without his presence.
Ling Lihua strolled into her room, planning to pack a few belongings to bring to the Grand Duke Mansion.
Just then, an almost unnoticeable frown creased her forehead.
At the same time, a sharp sword appeared slantwise, aiming straight for her heart.
She whirled sideways to dodge it, and without sparing a second, sent a dagger shooting out of her sleeve in the direction of the sword.
Ding!
The weapons clashed with a grating clang.
As the black-clothed man dodged the dagger, Ling Lihua took advantage of the moment to dart out of the house. Seeing this, the black-clothed man followed her out, each of his attacks deadlier than the last, hell-bent on taking her life.
“Who are you?” With a grim face, Ling Lihua whipped out her sword to ward him off.
“The one who is going to take your life!” The person’s voice was harsh.
The old beggar rushed in when he heard the commotion in the backyard.
At the sight of the scene in the backyard, he quickly joined the battle.
Seeing that reinforcements had arrived, the man in black had no desire to continue fighting, and after faking a move, he swiftly escaped.
The old beggar wanted to give chase, but Ling Lihua stopped him. “No need to go after him, Senior. You won’t catch up.”
The old beggar turned back reluctantly.
“Do you know who that was, Madam?”
Ling Lihua shook her head. “No, but it should be the same person who assassinated Madam Zheng last time.”
The old beggar also knew about Madam Zheng’s assassination and was a little worried to hear this. “This person hides in the shadows, and it’s almost impossible to guard against him. You need to be more careful from now on, Madam.”
Ling Lihua nodded. “I know. By the way, I’ll be staying at the Grand Duke Mansion these few days to keep the Dowager Duchess company, so I’ll have to trouble you with managing the medicinal shop. Of course, I’ll still come back to offer medical consultation.”
The old beggar said understandingly, “I see. The Dowager Duchess is already old and naturally needs someone to take care of her. Don’t worry about the medicinal shop, Madam, Youyou and I will be here.”
Ling Lihua nodded.
In terms of filling prescriptions, it was needless to say that the old beggar would handle it, and as for general consultations, Youyou could manage as well.
He was an intelligent and gifted child. During her time at the medicinal shop, he had acquired some medical skills through observing her. Of course, with Youyou’s skill level, he could only handle some common illnesses for the time being.
“If there’s any difficulty, you can look for me at the Grand Duke Mansion any time,” Ling Lihua reminded.
“I will.”
The palace.
As Lu Tingchen had joined the army on its expedition to Danjue, Chu Yi temporarily took over as commander of the imperial guards.
While he was patrolling the palace with other guards, he caught sight of the girl who had hidden and cried last time. She was standing under a flowering tree, staring vacantly into the northwest.
Boredom seemed to get the better of him in that instant as he waved a hand, signaling the imperial guards behind him to continue on their patrol. With a hand on his broadsword, he sneaked up behind her, planning to give her a scare.
Zhu Yu was gazing at the sky in a daze. The Heir Presumptive should have already set off for battle at this moment.
Thinking, she sighed quietly.
When Miss left the palace to see the Heir Presumptive off, she could have gone with her, but she made an excuse and stayed behind.
She had wanted to see the Heir Presumptive off too, but she was afraid that she would start harboring inappropriate thoughts if she saw him.
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Chapter 636: He Felt That He Had Instantly Become Younger
Just when Chu Yi’s palm was about to land on Zhu Yu’s left shoulder, the girl sighed softly and turned around.
His hand froze in midair—he was unsure if he should put it down or keep it raised.
Zhu Yu did not expect that she would run into this man again. After a while of them staring at each other in speechless dismay, she finally recovered her senses.
She looked at his raised palm warily.
“Brother Chu Yi, what’re you doing?” She took a step back.
Upon hearing her words, the uneasiness on Chu Yi’s face was replaced by a grin.
At least this girl had better taste, unlike that Miss Lin he met last time—she actually made him seem old by calling him ‘Uncle’.
How nice it was to be called ‘Brother’—he felt that he had instantly become younger.
“It’s nothing. I was just passing by and saw you, so I came over to say hello.”
The suspicion in Zhu Yu’s heart grew stronger when she heard this.
Did they know each other well enough to be saying hello every time they met?
He actually came over just to say hello to her?
She was a little cautious. “In that case, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving first.”
Chu Yi looked at her, smiling broadly. “Of course. While I was on my way here just now, I saw the Empress going back to her quarters. You should go back too.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yu thanked him and scurried off with her skirts lifted.
As Chu Yi watched the girl run off, he stroked his chin thoughtfully.
What a pretty young lady—so meek and good with words, and quite adorable, too.
He planned to continue patrolling, but the moment he turned around, he froze, staring in surprise at the boy squatting by the path.
“Chu Qi? Why are you here?”
Chu Qi stood up slowly, holding his sword. “I was passing by.” Shooting Chu Yi a glance, he was about to walk away when he suddenly thought of something and turned back to ask, “Why were you grinning like a creep just now? Were you having dirty thoughts?”
Chu Yi’s face stiffened, and he snapped, “What nonsense! Do you think I’m that kind of person?”
Chu Qi gave him a knowing look without saying anything. He was about to walk away when Chu Yi suddenly wrapped an arm across his shoulder, a mischievous smile on his face. “Lil Qi, what do you think of Zhu Yu, that girl who’s always next to the Empress?”
Chu Qi thought for a long time before finally remembering who the Empress’s maidservant was.
He paused, looking at the other man’s perverted expression, and said with a frown, “Well, she has two eyes, a nose, and a mouth—no different from everyone else.”
Speechless, Chu Yi released the hold on his shoulder and said in annoyance, “Of course there’s a difference. Didn’t you see how meek and well-spoken Zhu Yu is?”
“Not at all.” Chu Qi stared at him blankly.
Chu Yi, “…”
Tranquility Palace.
Liu Fu tore the cloth off his face and walked in.
Empress Dowager Xiaojing glanced at him, her hands stopping in the middle of the action of turning her Buddhist prayer beads. She asked, “You failed?”
Liu Fu dropped to his knees, bowed his head, and replied, “I’ve disappointed you, Your Imperial Highness.”
After pondering for a moment, Xiaojing finally said, “Go and bring the Crown Prince over. Tell him that I have important matters to discuss with him.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.” Liu Fu stood up, returned to his room, changed into a eunuch’s costume, and headed to the Eastern Palace.
Not long after, Long Chi hurried over.
“Why did you call for me, Royal Grandmother?”
Empress Dowager Xiaojing’s answer was candid. “Madam Ling is back.”
It took Long Chi a moment to place the name Madam Ling, and dismay clouded his face. “Isn’t she dead?”
Xiaojing sighed. “I thought that she was dead too, but Liu Fu saw her and even fought her. He can’t be wrong.”
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Chapter 637: Spent Every Night With Lu Liangwei In The Same Bed
Hearing this, Long Chi fell into a rare silence.
He mulled over all the events that had occurred up until now.
From Lu Liangwei’s transformation to Royal Uncle’s sudden decision to marry her…
Everything seemed to be thick with suspicion.
Also, there was that purity cloth that Royal Uncle had presented that day.
If Royal Uncle had not faked it, could the virgin blood on the purity cloth be real?
The thought filled his heart with horror.
All this time, he firmly believed that no one could cure his Royal Uncle of the Frostbite because the only one who could do it was Madam Ling, who had died more than years ago.
However, if Madam Ling was not dead, then Royal Uncle might have already been cured.
He then recalled what his royal uncle had said at the palace gates today.
He immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
So Royal Uncle was not just giving him an empty warning but was really thinking of deposing him as Crown Prince?
Narrowing his eyes, he said to Empress Dowager Xiaojing, “When did you find out that Madam Ling was still alive, Grandmother?”
“Just a few days ago.” Seeing his expression, Xiaojing also felt a sense of foreboding.
Long Chi smiled ruefully. “Grandmother, Royal Uncle might have already been cured of the poison.”
No wonder Royal Uncle suddenly wanted to marry Lu Liangwei, and Lu Liangwei was also willing to become Empress.
It was all thanks to Madam Ling.
Madam Ling must have agreed to cure Royal Uncle on the condition that he married Lu Liangwei.
Royal Uncle had probably already been cured when he decided to marry Lu Liangwei.
Meanwhile, Long Chi’s group was still in the dark, thinking that nobody could cure him.
Empress Dowager Xiaojing quickly figured out what she had overlooked all this time.
She gripped the Buddhist prayer beads in her hands, her usually kind face frighteningly twisted. “Cured, you say? If I can poison him once, then I can poison him again.”
“Do you have a plan, Grandmother?” Long Chi was relieved to hear this.
Although Grandmother was already old, she used to be a remarkably artful woman in her younger days. Otherwise, she would not have stood out from all those women in the harem and stayed on the throne as Empress for so many years. In the end, she was even capable enough to make Royal Uncle grant her the title of Empress Dowager.
With Grandmother around, he had nothing to worry about.
“The Emperor will only depose the Crown Prince if he has his own son. If Lu Liangwei can’t get pregnant, even if the Emperor wants to depose you, who else can he crown without an heir?” Xiaojing said calmly, having already thought everything out.
Long Chi’s chest tightened at her words.
If Royal Uncle had really been cured, would that not mean that he was spending every night with Lu Liangwei in the same bed, doing all the intimate things a couple would do?
The mere thought of it made him dreadfully bitter.
Before, he was not so worried as he thought that his royal uncle was impotent, but now that he may have already been cured…
“What’s wrong, Your Highness? Are you unwell?”
Matron Chen, who was nearest to him, suddenly asked worriedly.
Hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiaojing looked at Long Chi. Sure enough, she saw the peculiar expression on his face and hurriedly said in concern, “Don’t worry too much, Chi’er. I’ll take care of everything for you, and you only need to take care of your health. It’s best if you can make your concubines conceive an heir as soon as possible. Your position can only become more stable with an heir and then the Emperor can’t depose you so easily in the future even if he wants to. By the way, Shuang’er is still your principal wife, after all. You need to think of a way to have her conceive a child as soon as possible.”
Empress Dowager Xiaojing emphasized her final reminder.
Long Chi recovered from his daze. “I understand.”
Xiaojing nodded. “Good. As for the Emperor, you don’t have to be too anxious about him. Just pretend that you don’t know anything, and don’t give yourself away. That royal uncle of yours is difficult to read—I still can’t see through him after all these years.”
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Chapter 638: Not Turned On At All
After leaving Tranquility Palace, Long Chi ran into Lu Yunshuang when he arrived back at the Eastern Palace.
Lu Yunshuang hurried up to him, and seeing his brooding expression, she asked in concern, “Your Highness, are you unwell?”
Long Chi cast her a glance, impatience crossing his face. “I’m fine.” He was about to walk off when he remembered his grandmother’s words. He then turned back and swept her off her feet, much to Lu Yunshuang’s delighted surprise.
Thrilled, Lu Yunshuang snuggled inside his arms.
Some time later, Long Chi stormed out of Lu Yunshuang’s room, his face livid.
A disheveled Lu Yunshuang got up from the bed sullenly.
She could not believe that Long Chi was not turned on by her at all.
Was he no longer interested in her?
Recalling the scene just now, she clenched her fists.
It was all thanks to that witch Chen Qiyu influencing the Crown Prince.
Otherwise, there was no way the Crown Prince would not desire her!
“Hong Xiu—” she hollered.
Hong Xiu, who was standing guard at the door, hurried in.
At the sight of the Crown Princess on the bed, her heart thumped, and she quickly lowered her head.
The Crown Prince left not long after he entered the room—it was clear that they did not finish what they had been doing.
Moreover, seeing the Crown Princess’s current state, she had a vague guess in her mind of what happened.
“Your Highness,” she said respectfully, her head bowed.
Lu Yunshuang’s face was grim as she ordered, “Find a way to rescue Chen Xuping.”
Hong Xiu was startled. “But Chen Xuping is already on death row, and he’s going to be executed soon.”
Lu Yunshuang narrowed her eyes and said, “So what? Don’t forget that Chen Xuping still has a bosom friend. Send him a letter right away and tell him about Chen Xuping’s situation. He’ll surely save him regardless of the cost.” Without Chen Xuping, she seemed to be doing everything wrong. No matter what, she could not afford to lose a good partner-in-crime like Chen Xuping.
Hong Xiu was a little conflicted. “But that person’s whereabouts are unpredictable. I don’t know where to find him.”
Lu Yunshuang said confidently, “I’ll write a letter, and all you need to do is get someone to bring it to Yuelai Inn and give it to the innkeeper.”
Hong Xiu nodded. “All right.”
Lu Yunshuang got down from the bed, wrote the letter swiftly, and passed it over.
Hong Xiu took it.
Lu Yunshuang instructed, “You don’t have to go yourself. Just hand the letter to a spy who doesn’t have usual contact with you.”
After what happened last time, she had a feeling that she was under the Emperor’s surveillance, and as her close confidante, Hong Xiu was naturally no exception.
If they made any unusual moves, the Emperor would know at once.
Fortunately, she had already bribed a few capable people in the palace, and now they happened to be of use to her.
Hong Xiu took the letter and hurried off.
Lu Yunshuang finally felt at ease.
She wanted to rescue Chen Xuping not because she could not bear to let him die, but because he was still useful to her.
He was familiar with everything about her and was unwaveringly loyal to her, too. There was no one else in this world so devoted to her.
She could use such a person very effortlessly.
As long as that person was willing to rescue Chen Xuping, he would definitely escape his execution.
Afterward, Chen Xuping could live under a false identity and still work for her.
Her plan was well-devised, but she never would have imagined that Chen Xuping had already seen through her facade.
Grand Phoenix Palace.
Right after Lu Liangwei returned, she took a nap. After she woke up, she got dressed and came out, only to see Long Yang reading on the couch in the outer room.
He sat reclined with a book in his hand, a picture of leisurely languor.
Lu Liangwei smiled and sauntered over, saying with an air of surprise, “When did you come here, Your Majesty?”
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Chapter 639: Please Don’t Do Anything Like This Again In The Future, Your Majesty
Long Yang heard her waking up quite some time ago. When he heard her speak, he lifted his gaze from his book and looked at her with a smile. “I’ve been here for quite a while.”
Lu Liangwei sat down next to him and said in a casual tone, “Why didn’t you wake me up, Your Majesty?”
“You were sleeping so soundly, I couldn’t bear to wake you up.” Long Yang’s deep, soulful eyes glanced at her.
He reached out to pick up the cup of tea next to him and placed it in her hands. “You’ve just woken up. Have some hot tea and moisten your throat.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Lu Liangwei accepted the cup and thanked him lightly. She began to slowly sip the tea.
Long Yang could not help sighing. “Do you need to be so overly polite with me?”
Lu Liangwei placed the cup of tea down and looked at him in astonishment. “I wasn’t being overly polite.”
A small smile appeared on Long Yang’s lips as he stood up and held her hand, pulling her toward the table. “Let’s eat.”
It was only then that Lu Liangwei noticed the table filled with dishes.
“Why didn’t Your Majesty eat first?”
“I wanted to wait for you.” Long Yang pressed down on her shoulders and made her sit down.
He moved and took his seat opposite her. “I figured that you would want to get Zhao Qian to serve the meal once you woke up. The dishes are still hot. Have them before they get cold.”
Lu Liangwei eyed the food that was still smoking and felt touched that His Majesty was being so considerate.
She picked up her chopsticks and was about to pluck some food when she remembered something. She stopped what she was doing and lifted her eyes to look at the man opposite her.
His eyes were lowered as he ate, each movement looked classy and elegant.
Her gaze fell upon his face. When she confirmed that his expression looked normal and there was no sign of anything strange, she felt slightly relieved.
She had sensed that he was feeling a little upset this morning in the carriage, but he did not explain the reason to her.
She paused and began picking the rice in her bowl. She asked softly, “Why did you allow the Crown Prince to wait at the city gates and escort me back to the Palace?”
Long Yang stopped whatever he was doing and said, “I wanted to wait for you, but there was something that required me to settle in the Palace. The Crown Prince happened to volunteer himself, so I agreed to it.”
Lu Liangwei lifted her eyes to glance at him. Somehow, she felt the situation was not as simple as she thought.
Judging by his previous actions, he would never have agreed for Long Chi to wait for her even if he had to return to the Palace to settle work.
What was wrong with him today?
She suppressed the doubts in her mind and frowned as she said honestly, “I don’t like traveling with the Crown Prince. Please don’t do anything like this again in the future, Your Majesty.”
A smile flashed in Long Yang’s eyes when he heard this. He filled a bowl of soup for her. “Alright. I understand.”
Lu Liangwei glanced at him. She could acutely sense that His Majesty was in a good mood.
Also, now that he had made this promise to her, she was suddenly feeling light-hearted as well.
She really did not enjoy the sight of that dog of a Crown Prince moving about in front of her. Looking at him any more than necessary was a waste of energy.
Zhu Yu brought some servants in to clear the dishes from the table after they were done with their meal. Next, she led the servants toward the bathroom to prepare hot water before getting everyone to leave.
Lu Liangwei had taken a nap in the afternoon and did not feel sleepy now. As the weather was fine, she said to Long Yang, “Your Majesty, let’s go out to take a walk and digest our meal.”
Long Yang set down the book in his hands. “Alright.”
Both of them left the bedchamber one after the other, and headed for a walk in the courtyard.
It was now autumn and the night was a little chilly. Lu Liangwei was unable to stifle a sneeze.
When Long Yang heard her sneeze, he quickly grabbed her hand and found that it was a little cold. He pulled her into his arms. “Do you feel a little better now?”
Lu Liangwei nodded. “Much better.”
Long Yang gave this some thought and said gently, “It’s cold at night and we don’t want you to catch the flu. We should return to the room.”
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Chapter 640: If You Don’t Like It, I’ll Let You Go
“Alright.” Lu Liangwei nodded in agreement.
When they entered the bedchamber, Long Yang pulled Lu Liangwei along as he headed straight for the bathroom.
“If you’re feeling chilly, you should soak in hot water. You’ll feel better.”
Lu Liangwei paused, but did not reject him.
When they got into the bathroom, Long Yang’s hands instinctively reached down to remove Lu Liangwei’s belt.
However, a thought crossed his mind and he quickly pulled his hand away. All he did was pat her shoulder and smile as he said, “I’ll leave first. Just shout for me if you need anything.”
Lu Liangwei was taken aback and looked at him with slight surprise.
Long Yang said nothing more as he turned to leave the bathroom.
Lu Liangwei got even more suspicious about this.
His Majesty would never act so gentlemanly on a normal day, yet he was being so polite today. She felt this to be quite strange.
She removed her dress and walked into the pool. She was still a little guarded as His Majesty was still outside. So, she did a simple soak and got up to put her clothes back on before walking out.
When she exited the bathroom, she saw Long Yang had fallen asleep on the soft bed in the outer room.
His forehead was propped up on one of his hands. His long, dark hair hung from his shoulders, covering half of his face.
Lu Liangwei approached him when she saw this. She nudged his arm gently. “Your Majesty, you should sleep on the bed.”
Long Yang opened his eyes and looked at her with his deep, mysterious eyes. After that, his long, thick eyelashes blinked once as he spoke in a husky tone, “Are you done bathing?”
“Yup, I’m done.” Lu Liangwei nodded.
She continued to urge him, “Your Majesty, if you’re really tired, you should quickly get onto the bed for some sleep.”
Long Yang stared at the girl’s beautiful features from up-close and suddenly reached out to caress her petite face. His voice was sweet and filled with warmth. “Wait for me in bed. I’ll join you after I’m done with my bath.”
Lu Liangwei’s heart fluttered as she lowered her eyes and nodded. “Alright.”
It was only after Long Yang entered the bathroom that Lu Liangwei picked up a book and headed to the inner room.
Long Yang did not take too long as he came out very quickly.
He had changed into a white inner garment. His long, dark hair fell all around his shoulders and back.
His collar was a little loose and it revealed his solid muscles and sexy collarbone.
Lu Liangwei’s gaze moved downward as she shifted to the side.
Long Yang sat along the bed and plucked the book from her hands. He asked, “Why don’t we sleep now?”
Lu Liangwei nodded. “Alright.”
Long Yang smiled at her as he got up to blow out a few lights in the room. He left two lights by the bed burning as he turned to settle down in bed.
After drawing down the gauze netting, the lighting darkened around the bed.
Lu Liangwei blinked a few times before her eyes adjusted to the darkness.
She lay down and felt the space next to her sink a little. Long Yang had also laid down.
The next thing she knew, his strong arms reached over and pulled her into his arms.
Lu Liangwei’s body stiffened from nervousness.
Long Yang paused for a moment when he noticed how nervous she was. He patted her back gently. “If you don’t like it, I’ll let you go.”
With that, he released her and placed her back where she had been laying.
Lu Liangwei should have felt relieved, but when she heard his words, she once again felt that His Majesty was acting strange today.
She said softly, “It isn’t that I don’t like it…”
It was just that it made her feel a little nervous.
Long Yang laughed softly as he suddenly said, “But I don’t want you hurting yourself again because you don’t want to be with me.”
Lu Liangwei turned and looked blankly at him.
Unfortunately, the lighting was too dark for her to see the expression on his face clearly.
However, she was not stupid. When he said those words, she quickly made the connection.
No wonder he had not been visiting Grand Phoenix Palace these few days.
It was because he believed that those rashes on her were self-inflicted in order not to be with him.
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