“No.” Chu Qi shook his head unrelentingly and left without paying him any more attention.
Zhao Qian leaned against the tree beside him in frustration.
He felt that he had stressed himself out worrying for his master and that he was the only one who cared for the master this much.
That brat Chu Yi had run off somewhere, and Chu Qi was not easy to coax.
It was just so difficult for him.
After thinking for a while, he ran after Chu Qi and tried to negotiate with him, “It’s okay if you don’t want to play the assassin, but you can’t ruin Master’s chance. Don’t you dare rush out.”
Chu Qi pushed the man’s fair, chubby face from coming closer and nodded impatiently. “Fine.”
Only then did Zhao Qian head off in relief to make his preparations.
Long Yang was unaware of Zhao Qian’s plan. After walking for a while, he realized that Lu Liangwei was very quiet and could not help turning his head to look at her.
He saw that the girl had already taken off her helmet and was holding it against her side. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with one hand, looking somewhat anxious.
Long Yang stopped in his tracks, his gaze falling on the heavy armor on her body. Pursing his lips, he turned around abruptly and took the helmet from her. “No more walking. Let’s go back first.”
Lu Liangwei stopped wiping her sweat immediately and looked at him in surprise, wondering why he had suddenly changed his mind.
She glanced around at the magnificent scenery in the imperial garden, feeling a little regretful.
It was currently the end of April, and the flowers in the garden were already in full bloom. All she could see were bountiful clusters of brightly colored flowers, creating a stunning view.
If it were any other day, she would be happy to admire the scenery. However, thanks to the heavy armor she was wearing, all she wanted now was to find a place and sit down quickly.
Therefore, she was astonished when she heard that he wanted to go back, but she was actually secretly relieved.
“Alright.”
Long Yang noticed the tinge of regret in her eyes. It seemed that she was unwilling to leave the scenery in front of her but had to give up because of her heavy armor.
Long Yang was amused at the display of inner conflict on her face. He asked in a low and gentle voice, “You like this place very much?”
Lu Liangwei frowned. The imperial garden was probably the most beautiful place in the world. Who would not like it?
She nodded without hesitation. “Yes, I do.”
Long Yang gazed at her with his deep eyes and said pointedly, “There will be plenty of chances in the future. Today won’t be your last.” With that, he strode toward the exit of the imperial garden.
Lu Liangwei pursed her lips. Plenty of chances in the future?
That was easy for him to say. It was not like her family owned the place, and she could come and go as she pleased.
She took one last glance at the imperial garden before leaving reluctantly.
When Zhao Qian changed his clothes, prepared himself, and finally returned sneakily to the imperial garden, Long Yang and Lu Liangwei were already long gone. Even Chu Qi had left.
Zhao Qian, “…”
Suddenly thinking of something, he ran back to Hidden Dragon Palace in a hurry.
It seemed that Master and Second Miss Lu had gone back.
He could not help grumbling inside. It was a rare opportunity to be alone with Second Miss Lu; was it so much to ask for the Master to give him more time? He should at least have waited until he came to help him put on a show of the hero saving the damsel in distress.
“Who’s there?”
At this moment, a shout came from behind him.
Startled, Zhao Qian ran even faster, but a flurry of footsteps followed him, accompanied by stern bellows. “There’s an assassin—catch him!”
Zhao Qian groaned privately, pressing one hand on his mask while dashing as fast as he could.
This place was nearest to Hidden Dragon Palace. He took a shortcut, hoping to throw off the palace guards and hide back inside the palace.
However, the palace guards were not so easily fooled. He knew the pathways well, but the palace guards, who patrolled the palace every day, were no strangers to them either.