Before long, the manor steward arrived with a message, informing the Princess Consort to prepare to accompany the prince into the palace to pay respects.
Chun Tao helped Lin Luoluo change into another outfit. Once she had washed up and finished dressing, Chun Tao supported her as they walked outside and whispered softly,
“Miss, next time, eat a little less. Look how uncomfortable you are from overeating.”
“Got it…”
Lin Luoluo rubbed her stomach as she walked. Never again. I’m definitely not doing that next time.
Soon, they arrived at the entrance of the manor, where the carriage was already waiting.
After climbing aboard, Lin Luoluo saw Chu Chenyu inside and immediately chose a seat as far away from him as possible.
“Sit here.”
Chu Chenyu patted the spot beside him.
“Oh…”
Left with no choice, Lin Luoluo obediently moved over.
Seeing her comply so obediently, Chu Chenyu said nothing more and simply closed his eyes to rest.
Lin Luoluo glanced at his expressionless face, clearly radiating don’t bother me, then noticed the bite mark on his lips and silently lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers.
After a while, boredom got the better of her. She lifted the curtain and peeked outside.
“Wow! It’s so lively!”
“Mmm! It smells so good!”
She rubbed her stomach regretfully.
Such a pity… I can’t eat another bite.
“Lin Luoluo, are you a pig?” Chu Chenyu opened his eyes and mocked. “You just ate enough for several people, and you still want food?”
Lin Luoluo immediately puffed up in outrage.
“Luoluo is not a pig! Luoluo wasn’t going to eat! It just smells good!”
Then she silently grumbled in her heart.
You’re the pig, you big pig-hoof jerk!
“Haha…”
Chu Chenyu chuckled in amusement and pinched her cheek.
This little girl really was adorable when she got angry.
That only made Lin Luoluo even more annoyed. Her cheeks puffed up even more, making her look unbearably cute.
Suddenly, the carriage jolted violently.
Lin Luoluo lost her balance and pitched forward—straight toward Chu Chenyu’s lap.
Panicking, she quickly reached out with her hands.
“Mmph… Are you planning to stay there forever?”
Chu Chenyu’s voice came out low, rough, and oddly hoarse.
Lin Luoluo opened her eyes.
Her face instantly turned bright red.
She hurriedly tried to get up, but her skirt was too long. She stumbled—
—and fell directly into his arms.
Watching the little girl blush furiously in his embrace, Chu Chenyu narrowed his eyes.
A testing thought rose in his mind.
His arms tightened around her waist.
Lin Luoluo wriggled, trying to crawl away, but no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn’t free herself.
She had barely opened her mouth to speak—
“Pret—mmph!”
Her words were cut off.
Chu Chenyu’s kiss came down fierce and possessive, giving her no chance to resist.
“Little girl,” he murmured after a while, lightly biting the tip of her ear, “do you like it?”
“Pretty big brother… let Luoluo go…”
Her voice came out soft and shaky.
“Hmm?” Chu Chenyu’s eyes darkened. “You don’t like it? Then I’ll keep going until you do.”
And before she could react, he kissed her again.
By the time he finally stopped, Lin Luoluo had gone completely limp in his arms.
Chu Chenyu held her tightly, breathing heavily against her ear.
That kiss had unsettled them both.
In the cramped carriage, all they could hear was the frantic pounding of each other’s hearts.
Only after a long while did Chu Chenyu finally let her go and help straighten her clothes.
“Jerk!”
Lin Luoluo glared at him, embarrassed and furious.
What she didn’t know was that, in Chu Chenyu’s eyes, that flustered little glare looked more charming than angry.
“Master, we’ve arrived at the palace gates.”
At that moment, the voice of Liuyun, Chu Chenyu’s personal guard, sounded from outside.
“You troublesome little temptress,” Chu Chenyu said, pinching both of her cheeks. “I’ll deal with you when we get back.”
Lin Luoluo used all her strength to stomp hard on his foot.
Only then did she successfully escape his clutches and jump out of the carriage first.
“Tsk… such a naughty girl.”
Chu Chenyu rubbed his foot with amusement. A second later, his expression returned to its usual cold indifference as he stepped out.
Without waiting for her, he headed straight toward the palace gates.
Lin Luoluo quickly followed behind.
Along the way, Chu Chenyu walked ahead while Lin Luoluo bounced happily behind him, looking here and there.
Everything felt fascinating.
She touched this, stared at that, and occasionally let out little gasps of amazement.
Chu Chenyu simply let her wander and explore.
After some time, they arrived outside the Imperial Study.
Not long after, the Emperor summoned them inside.
“This younger brother greets Imperial Brother. May Imperial Brother enjoy peace and health.”
Chu Chenyu cupped his hands in salute.
Lin Luoluo copied him awkwardly.
“Big brother! You look so much alike!”
Before Emperor Chu Chenyi could tell them to rise, Lin Luoluo had already stepped forward, pointing at Chu Chenyu as she spoke.
Inside, however, she was panicking.
I’m really risking my life to keep up this act… They’re not going to drag me out and execute me, right?
“Haha… We’re brothers, of course we look alike,” Chu Chenyu said with a smile.
The smile completely stunned Lin Luoluo.
What a beauty… graceful as jade, unmatched in the world.
Who knew even an emperor could be this handsome?
Seeing her blank stare, Chu Chenyu suddenly felt playful.
“Then tell me—which of us is more handsome?”
That snapped Lin Luoluo back to reality.
How am I supposed to answer that?
She pretended to think seriously, looking back and forth between the two of them.
Suddenly, inspiration struck.
She pointed proudly at herself.
“Luoluo is the prettiest! Daddy said Luoluo is the prettiest!”
She even puffed out a smug little expression as if declaring victory.
“Hahaha… What a clever little thing.”
Laughing heartily, Chu Chenyu ordered someone to escort Lin Luoluo to the Empress.
“A’Yu, this has been hard on you.”
Chu Chenyu patted his shoulder.
“Serving Imperial Brother is this younger brother’s duty. How could I call it hardship?”
“Have you found the item?”
“Not yet. But this younger brother will find out where it is as soon as possible.”
“Mhm. Mother Emperor heard about your marriage and is quite upset.”
“When Mother Emperor returns to the palace, this younger brother will coax her.”
“Play a game of chess with me.”
The Emperor gestured for the chessboard to be brought out.
“Alright.”
When Chu Chenyu later arrived at the Empress’s palace, what greeted him was a burst of cheerful laughter.
“Straight! Sequence! Bomb! Ahhh— Luoluo finally won one!”
Lin Luoluo bounced excitedly, making the Empress and the palace maids laugh uncontrollably.
“Imperial Sister-in-law, this younger brother has come to bring Luoluo home.”
Chu Chenyu stepped forward and saluted.
“A’Yu, you’re here!” the Empress said enthusiastically. “Come look—your wife taught us this game called Dou Dizhu (Landlord card game). It’s so fun!”
She waved him over before immediately diving back into the game.
Everyone played happily for quite some time.
In the end, even Chu Chenyu couldn’t resist joining them.
“Pretty sister, bye-bye!”
Only after everyone finally grew tired of playing did Lin Luoluo wave goodbye to the Empress and leave the palace with Chu Chenyu.
“Luoluo,” Chu Chenyu asked after staring at her for most of the journey back, “how do you know these things?”
“Daddy taught me!”
Lin Luoluo looked at him with a you seriously didn’t know that? So dumb expression.
Chu Chenyu awkwardly coughed.
“Pretty big brother, are you sick?”
“No. My throat just feels a little uncomfortable.”
“Oh.”
“Luoluo,” he continued casually, “did your father ever give you anything?”
“Hmm… Luoluo is thinking…”
Finally asking about his real motive, huh? she thought smugly. Well, maybe I’ll give it to him.
“Mmm… I don’t remember. But Luoluo has a huge treasure vault! Do you want to see it?”
“You have a treasure vault?” Chu Chenyu raised a brow, intrigued. “Now this king is curious.”
“Then Luoluo will show you next time!”
After returning to the manor, Chu Chenyu went to handle official business while Lin Luoluo took Chun Tao to the garden to play.
The entire afternoon, she busied herself picking flowers, chasing butterflies, and playing with mud until she was having the time of her life.
By the end of it, she had turned herself into a little dirt-covered kitten.
Meanwhile, in the study, Chu Chenyu sat at his desk and asked Ying Yi,
“Have you found out who the Da Mo Kingdom sent for these peace talks?”
“Reporting to Master, it’s the Third Prince and the Eldest Princess of the Da Mo Kingdom.”
“I understand. You may leave.”
Then he summoned Liuyun inside and asked what Lin Luoluo had been doing all afternoon.
___________________________________________
TL Note:The Male Lead and the Emperor are brothers and have similar names:
They are different characters. Their names are similar because they share the generational character Chen (宸).