As soon as these words were spoken, they shocked the two people opposite her!
Leng Yaoda knew this was a high-stakes gamble, but the hardest step had already been taken. As long as Lu Zhiyou agreed, the substitution would succeed.
These words carried an extremely high degree of confession. Even though it was a temporary measure for survival, Leng Yaoda still blushed slightly.
She couldn’t help but feel… a bit ashamed.
In the eyes of people of this era, Leng Yaoda’s actions were equivalent to a public confession, and the other party was her fiancé’s younger brother. It would be strange not to be shocked.
Therefore, to protect the young lady’s reputation, Shen Jinxiao dismissed all the palace attendants, including the chief eunuch who had been following him closely.
Even though he had long known why Leng Yaoda had come here, hearing her personally say she fancied someone else somehow made Shen Jinxiao feel stifled in his heart.
Thinking this, he glanced over again.
On the other side, Lu Zhiyou and Lu Shixiu slowly regained their composure. Lu Zhiyou was the first to look at Leng Yaoda, a flash of intense coldness passing through his eyes.
Liar.
Deceiver.
She truly didn’t like him much, and he didn’t care for the young lady either, but Leng Yaoda would definitely not like Ah Xiu.
For some reason, Leng Yaoda suddenly wanted to switch. Ever since the bestowed marriage, he had treated the young lady quite well—at least, in his view, there were no flaws.
His gentle and affectionate demeanor had almost convinced even himself several times.
During this time, Lu Shixiu felt his heart pounding wildly, his vision blanking out in large patches from excitement.
He swayed slightly, almost losing his balance.
In this immense happiness, Lu Shixiu didn’t even know what to say.
He had secretly admired Leng Yaoda for three years, but back then, the young lady was still too young, so he hadn’t made his feelings public.
Then, as he waited and waited, the young lady grew up, her appearance peerless and exquisitely beautiful.
But he didn’t dare anymore—he truly didn’t dare.
When one truly loves someone, the first feeling is inferiority, the instinct to retreat.
Yet he never imagined that his waiting and retreating would end up sending the young lady into his elder brother’s arms.
When the Imperial Edict was announced, he knelt beside his family, listening, feeling as if all the blood in his body had reversed its flow, leaving him cold and numb.
His elder brother also seemed surprised, but after a few seconds, he smiled and accepted the Imperial Edict, kneeling to thank the emperor’s grace.
Lu Shixiu couldn’t remember what he did at that moment, nor when the eunuch who delivered the edict had left.
Leng Yaoda took two steps toward their direction, wanting to look past Lu Zhiyou to see Lu Shixiu’s expression, but Lu Zhiyou sidestepped again, blocking her.
The young lady couldn’t help but glance at him, a flash of annoyance in her eyes.
She was certain—this man was definitely doing it on purpose!
The young man noticed the young lady’s anger and revealed a half-smiling expression on his face.
Why?
Why did she want to switch?
Was there something about him that fell short compared to Ah Xiu?
Lu Zhiyou’s appearance was indeed more refined, the phrase “as beautiful as a woman” vividly displayed on his face. In contrast, Lu Shixiu had a gentler temperament, making him less striking and dazzling.
But overall, both were exceptionally handsome.
Leng Yaoda ignored Lu Zhiyou’s various actions and spoke softly, asking, “Shixiu gege, you…”
Hearing the young lady call his name, Lu Shixiu trembled violently and took a step forward.
Now, only Lu Zhiyou stood between the two of them.
As long as Lu Zhiyou agreed, Leng Yaoda’s plan would succeed.
The young lady also thought of this and looked at Lu Zhiyou before her with almost eager anticipation.Leng Yaoda gazed at the young man with her exceptionally beautiful, watery eyes. It wasn’t hard to imagine that if she knew hypnosis or something similar, she would have already used it on Lu Zhiyou.
Agree quickly… agree quickly…
Leng Yaoda wished she could step forward and say those words for him.
Lu Shixiu was currently in an awkward position. He couldn’t say something like “Shixiu has also admired Yaoyao for a long time, please grant us your blessing, Brother and Your Majesty” in front of his brother and the Emperor.
But the joy in his heart couldn’t be hidden, slowly overflowing from the depths of his eyes.
Lu Zhiyou glanced at Leng Yaoda, then suddenly put on a hurt expression and turned back to face Shen Jinxiao.
Seeing this, Leng Yaoda’s heart skipped a beat. She curled her fingers and remained silent.
Sure enough, Lu Zhiyou bowed to Shen Jinxiao and said, “Your Majesty, please understand. I do not know why Yaoyao would say such things today. But I have long admired Yaoyao, only refraining from expressing my feelings because she was still young at the time.”
“The Imperial Edict of Bestowed Marriage is a joyous matter for me, as the one I have longed for day and night is finally by my side. Yet today, hearing Yaoyao’s words, my heart is filled with unbearable pain, and I cannot find a way to resolve it!”
How shameless!!
Leng Yaoda listened with furrowed brows, her teeth nearly grinding to dust!
According to the book’s description, the original owner had some admiration for Lu Zhiyou, so Leng Yaoda was somewhat willing to accept the bestowed marriage.
Lu Zhiyou, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. He would have gladly torn the Imperial Edict to shreds in private, seeking peace and quiet.
Now that she had taken the initiative to request a change of groom, Lu Zhiyou should have been inwardly cheering with joy. Why was he suddenly opposing her?!
If not for the last shred of reason holding her back, Leng Yaoda would have started cursing on the spot.
The one who had secretly admired Leng Yaoda all along was Lu Shixiu, yet Lu Zhiyou had the audacity to shamelessly claim otherwise. It was enough to make her laugh in anger!
Lu Shixiu’s face had turned completely pale, and he seemed on the verge of collapse.
Does Big Brother… also have deep feelings for Yaoyao?
No, impossible!
But… he knew his brother’s temperament to some extent. The warning his brother gave him the night before last also proved that he saw Yaoyao differently.
So that’s how it is…
But Yaoyao said the person she liked was him.
Lu Shixiu glanced toward Leng Yaoda, but the next moment, his face grew even paler.
The young woman was now staring intently at Lu Zhiyou, not paying him the slightest attention.
From Lu Shixiu’s angle, he couldn’t clearly see Leng Yaoda’s expression, so everything was left to his own imagination and speculation.
Thus, he didn’t see that Leng Yaoda was actually glaring at Lu Zhiyou with gritted teeth, far from the affectionate, loving gaze he had imagined.
Shen Jinxiao, facing the three of them, took in all their expressions, especially… Leng Yaoda’s.
The man couldn’t help but find it strange. Even if the young woman didn’t like Lu Zhiyou, she shouldn’t be looking at him like that.
Then, Leng Yaoda took a deep breath, reluctantly accepting Lu Zhiyou’s “affection,” and put on another expression as she said, “Your Majesty, I truly had no idea that Brother Zhiyou already felt this way about me… But after all, our relationship has always been more like siblings. I fear that even after marriage, we might still…”
She deliberately spoke vaguely, her eyes filled with worry.
Lu Zhiyou looked at her and smiled gently. “Don’t worry, Yaoyao. My feelings for you are sincere, and I will resolve any issues that arise.”Hearing the back-and-forth between the two, Shen Jinxiao felt an inexplicable restlessness stir within him for some reason, so he waved his hand and stood up.
“Enough. Since Physician Lu says so, let this matter proceed according to my earlier decree!”
Leng Yaoda bit her lower lip. She had failed.