Shen Jinxiao rose directly and departed. Lu Zhiyou raised his voice, declaring, “Your subject thanks Your Majesty for this grace!”
Leng Yaoda murmured softly, “Thank you, Your Majesty,” before standing up in silence.
Lu Shixiu’s voice was equally quiet. It seemed that this time, only the perverse and black-hearted Lu Zhiyou was pleased.
Leng Yaoda closed her eyes briefly, quickly steadying her emotions. She turned to the two men and said, “Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Daji must go out with Eldest Brother and Second Brother shortly, so I will take my leave first through the side door.”
Lu Zhiyou glanced at Lu Shixiu, then nodded to Leng Yaoda. “Very well. Be careful on the road, Yaoyao.”
The young girl inwardly grumbled: Careful of what? Careful that you might come and assassinate me?
Leng Yaoda lowered her head in acknowledgment. As she left, she stole a glance at Lu Shixiu.
He… had been dragged into this because of her.
After all, she had taken advantage of his affection for the original body. She wondered if her actions might bring him harm.
Lu Zhiyou, however, had already turned to speak with Lu Shixiu. Leng Yaoda turned away and slipped out.
Looking at the familiar young man before him, Lu Shixiu felt an unusual sense of estrangement at this moment.
“Eldest Brother,” he called softly, lowering his head.
A shadow of gloom flickered in Lu Zhiyou’s eyes, eventually dissolving into a sigh. “Ah Xiu, I’m sorry. Eldest Brother truly adores Yaoyao as well, so please don’t blame me.”
Hearing this, Lu Shixiu felt even more sorrowful. What right did he have to grieve?
Lu Zhiyou was his eldest brother and the one bestowed in marriage to Yaoyao by the Imperial Edict. At this moment, he didn’t even have the right to feel heartache or jealousy.
With that thought, Lu Shixiu forced a smile, though it appeared utterly desolate.
“Let’s go, Eldest Brother. We should return to the manor.”
Lu Zhiyou nodded. Lu Shixiu had already stepped out ahead of him.
In a place unseen by others, a dark expression briefly crossed Lu Zhiyou’s face.
Yaoyao, how could you willingly leave my side?
Lu Zhiyou almost felt like scoffing at the thought.
If she wished to leave, it should be he who spoke first.
Then, he couldn’t help but recall the girl’s appearance when she was ill. Instantly, his heart swelled with satisfaction.
Who would have thought that Leng Yaoda had so many endearing sides? Whether angry or frail, she was far more captivating than her former spoiled and willful self.
Leng Yaoda likely never imagined that, despite her constant efforts to distance herself from Lu Zhiyou, she had inadvertently drawn the two closer together.
Or rather, she had made Lu Zhiyou unable to resist approaching.
If the girl continued to act according to the original body’s temperament, or even more so, she might seize the chance to break free from the control of the original plot.
But unfortunately, Leng Yaoda did not know this.
Thus, from this moment on, the former plot had quietly begun to unravel, progressing toward an unknown direction.
Lu Zhiyou strode forward to catch up. After leaving the imperial study, neither could see Leng Yaoda’s figure.
Lu Shixiu clearly also wished to catch another glimpse of the girl. Discovering she was already gone when they emerged, and with his eldest brother now beside him, the young man pressed his lips together until they turned pale.
As for the Leng Yaoda they wished to see, she had already hurried back to the carriage. Once seated, she raised a hand to her forehead.
Fine, fine, fine.
The girl repeated the word three times in her heart, unable to hold back a bitter laugh.
Perhaps sensing his young mistress’s displeasure, the coachman slightly quickened the pace, eager to leave this place sooner.
An icy aura emanated from Leng Yaoda’s entire being, the cold severity in her eyes enough to startle anyone.
Had anyone seen her, they would surely have been greatly astonished.Realizing the coachman outside was also from the mansion, she couldn’t let this mood linger too long—it wouldn’t do to arouse suspicion.
The young girl gradually calmed her anger, striving to display the demeanor and attitude befitting “Leng Yaoda.” With a charmingly sweet voice, she said, “Old Li, don’t head back to the mansion just yet. Take me to Xunyang Street first. I still have to dine with my brothers at noon.”
Coachman Old Li immediately responded, “Ah! Rest assured, Miss, we’ll definitely make it before noon!”
Hearing the young lady’s voice unchanged from before, Old Li felt relieved.
He had thought so! That earlier demeanor of hers had been quite alarming, but it must have been due to some grievance—how could it possibly mean she had changed her nature?
The side palace path was somewhat narrow and cramped, originally built by an emperor of a previous dynasty for escape purposes. It had been sealed off by several generations of emperors afterward, until Shen Jinxiao ascended the throne and, for some reason, reopened it.
The young girl lifted the window curtain to glance outside. The walls were already mottled and worn. Fortunately, it was morning; if it were night, who knows how frightening it would be.
Letting the curtain fall, she idly thought of other matters. Soon after, she heard the sound of hooves approaching from outside, and the carriage was forced to a sudden halt, nearly causing Leng Yaoda to bump her head inside.
Immediately afterward, a conversation erupted.
“Oh, young master! This old servant’s carriage carries a noble and esteemed young lady. Charging ahead like this nearly startled our horse!”
Old Li’s voice, tinged with lingering fear, carried into the carriage. The horse had almost been frightened, but fortunately, Old Li had some skill in handling horses, so no major incident occurred.
Then came the voice of a youth, sounding about the same age as Leng Yaoda, as if he had just passed through puberty—clear yet slightly hoarse.
“You old servant! This general was riding leisurely from ahead. Who told you to suddenly appear at the corner? This general hasn’t even said that you startled my Contending Spring yet!”
As he spoke, the youth seemed to deliberately soothe his horse: “Contending Spring, don’t be afraid. When we return, I’ll give you extra fine hay!”
Old Li was somewhat angered by him. “You! You, you…”
Hearing the youth’s voice, Leng Yaoda felt a slight tremor of familiarity run through her body.
What a twist of fate—to run into him, of all people?
Old Li, after a moment’s pause, was about to say more, but Leng Yaoda had already lifted the carriage door curtain and leaned out.
Noticing the movement, the youth opposite looked over. Seeing it was Leng Yaoda, he froze for a moment, his handsome face furrowing into a deep frown.
“It’s you!” the youth exclaimed loudly.
Leng Yaoda, however, showed no particular reaction. She simply looked at the teenage youth and smiled faintly.
As the saying goes, one doesn’t strike a smiling face. The young girl’s smile left the young general momentarily speechless.
Su Luo’an, seventeen years old. A fifth-rank junior general of the Ling Dynasty, skilled in horsemanship, mounted combat command, and archery.
This was a palace path—though narrow, it wasn’t so cramped that two horses couldn’t pass side by side. However, the two individuals facing each other had some history.
Leng Yaoda looked at Su Luo’an and said, “What, are you afraid of me?”
Su Luo’an was young and, having been raised in a military family, had a somewhat fiery temper. Hearing the young girl’s words, he immediately flared up.
“Nonsense! Why would this general fear a delicate young lady like you? I just don’t want to see you, that’s all!”
Hearing his young lady being insulted like this, Old Li couldn’t bear it and wanted to retort, but Leng Yaoda stopped him.The girl’s eyes darted with a hint of mischief, but just as she was about to speak, another voice cut her off.
“My little disciple here has always had a fiery temper. I’m not sure whom she might have offended, but I hope you’ll forgive her.”
Hearing that lazy voice, Leng Yaoda’s expression abruptly changed.