Lin Changyue was caught off guard by Bai Susu’s sudden action, but the footsteps outside were already approaching. So Lin Changyue had to quickly lower her head and hastily wiped her face, trying to remove the cream. However, instead of removing it, she made her face look even more messy.
Soon, Feng Qingyang walked in with Mr. Lin.
"Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty!" Bai Susu immediately joined the other noblewomen in saluting Feng Qingyang.
Feng Qingyang glanced at Bai Susu, his gaze pausing on her for a moment before looking at the others.
"Arise, no need to be formal. I just heard that today happens to be Miss Lin’s birthday, and Changqing is not here, so I decided to come and have a look."
General Lin quickly added, "Did you not hear what His Majesty said? Everyone, please stand up quickly."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Bai Susu, Lin Changyue, and the others said immediately.
The next moment, everyone rose and looked up.
One charming and delicate face after another appeared before Feng Qingyang’s eyes like blooming flowers.
Meanwhile, General Lin also noticed the embarrassment on Lin Changyue’s face.
His face darkened immediately, and he sternly said, "Changyue, what’s the matter with you? What’s smeared all over your face? How improper you are."
Then he quickly said to Feng Qingyang, "Your Majesty, it’s my daughter’s fault for being so undignified in front of you. Please forgive her."
Lin Changyue hurriedly lowered her head, her expression flustered, looking like a frightened quail scared of sullying Feng Qingyang’s eyes.
Upon hearing this, Feng Qingyang looked at Lin Changyue’s face, which resembled a little flower cat, and said with a smile, "What’s the matter with that? Today’s Lin Miss’s birthday; as long as she’s happy, it’s fine. It’s my fault for coming at this time and scaring her."
"Your Majesty, you speak too seriously! Clearly, it’s my daughter’s fault," General Lin quickly said.
"Alright, General Lin, if you continue , the ladies might think I am some fearsome beast!" Feng Qingyang laughed.
Then he turned his gaze to Bai Susu and said with a smile, "Susu, you also came to Miss Lin’s birthday today? I didn’t expect you to have such a good relationship."
Upon hearing this, Bai Susu calmly replied, "In response to Your Majesty, I was not familiar with Miss Lin, but after chatting briefly during the autumn hunt, I found we got along quite well. So, being invited by Miss Lin to her birthday banquet this time, I came over."
Feng Qingyang then nodded slightly and suddenly turned his attention to Li Siyu’s charming face.
"Whose daughter are you? You look quite familiar to me," Feng Qingyang asked warmly.
Li Siyu quickly replied, "In response to Your Majesty, I am the granddaughter of Li Chuan, the Minister of Public Works."
Feng Qingyang nodded slightly, then asked with a smile, "Oh, so you’re Vice Minister Li’s granddaughter. No wonder you look familiar. How old are you this year?"
"In response to Your Majesty, I am thirteen," Li Siyu replied, her heart pounding uncontrollably under Feng Qingyang’s imperial pressure.
"Thirteen, ah, so you’re at the age to discuss marriage!" Feng Qingyang said, insinuating something.
When his words fell, General Lin’s heart jumped.
Bai Susu couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth silently.
What does Feng Qingyang, this old lecher, mean?
Could it be that he didn’t fancy Lin Changyue and instead has taken a liking to Li Siyu this time?
Li Siyu’s appearance is the opposite extreme of Lin Changyue’s inherent cold temperament.
She has large almond-shaped eyes and a sharp chin like the popular influencer style in modern times, but her dainty nose makes her features look sweet, lively, and full of youthful vitality.
For an older man like Feng Qingyang... of course, he would be drawn to someone lively and sweet like Li Siyu!
Li Siyu was also no fool. As soon as Feng Qingyang spoke, she understood somewhat, but dared not think deeply.
All she could do was respond bashfully, "Your Majesty is right."
"Do you have a sweetheart?" Feng Qingyang asked further.
Li Siyu blushed even more and replied, "No, I haven’t."
"I see," Feng Qingyang said, smiling contentedly.
Then, noticing the uneasiness on everyone else’s face, he told General Lin, "Since it’s a gathering of ladies, I won’t stay longer and make them uncomfortable."
With that said, he rose and headed outside.
Seeing this, General Lin quickly bowed to send Feng Qingyang off, while Bai Susu and the others bowed quickly, saying, "We bid Your Majesty farewell."
Only after Feng Qingyang and General Lin’s figures completely disappeared from the small courtyard did everyone breathe a long sigh of relief.
Someone then approached Li Siyu and asked gossipily, "Si Yu, what do you think His Majesty meant by that? Could it be that he wants to personally arrange a marriage for you?"
"I think maybe His Majesty himself fancies Si Yu! Otherwise, with so many of us here, even Sister Lin, why did His Majesty only ask about Si Yu’s age and marriage prospects?"
Upon hearing this, Li Siyu’s face turned red, and she glared at them, "What nonsense are you all talking about! If it weren’t Changyue’s birthday today, I’d tear your mouths off."
But her heart couldn’t help but race faster. Orıginal content can be found at novel⁂fire.net
Inside, a secret anticipation arose.
Although the emperor was indeed older and nearly her grandfather’s age, so what?
He is the most powerful man in the world!
Even the Mad Crown Prince, whom everyone avoids, is under his firm control!
Power is a man’s best adornment!
If the emperor truly fancies her and wants her as his woman, she wouldn’t refuse.
That’s far better than marrying into an ordinary influential family.
Amidst their discussions, they didn’t notice Lin Changyue’s slightly pale expression.
While everyone’s attention was on Li Siyu, Lin Changyue glanced at the composed Bai Susu.
At that moment, she suddenly understood why Bai Susu wiped something on her face as soon as she heard the emperor was arriving.
Although she knew she wasn’t a peerless beauty, she wasn’t that bad either.
With her brother being the emperor’s favorite now, the emperor might consider her for the palace to balance her father and brother...
That earlier action of Bai Susu seemed to ruin her image in front of the emperor, but it actually saved her.
After giving Bai Susu a grateful look, Lin Changyue said, "I’ll go in and change clothes first; you all take your time talking."
"Yes, hurry up. I don’t know how you managed with the emperor present and still ended up smearing pastry all over your face," a noblewoman said helplessly.
When they heard the emperor was coming, they all nervously stood up to salute, not noticing Bai Susu’s action. They all thought Lin Changyue accidentally smeared cream on her face while cutting the cake in her panic.