“Yes.” Zhao Qian was so shocked that he broke out in a cold sweat, but he quickly responded respectfully. Just as he was about to leave, he heard his master say, “Forget it, I’ll go and wait for her myself.”
Zhao Qian was speechless.
Was Master not valuing Second Miss Lu a bit too much?
In the whole world, only Second Miss Lu had the honor of having the Emperor greet her personally at the gates.
Seeing his master emerge from behind the imperial table, Zhao Qian could not help sneaking a peek at his face.
Last night, Master was in low spirits and even wrote such a sorrowful phrase. He thought that Master would never get over it or perhaps stay away from Second Miss Lu, but it seemed that he had been overthinking after all.
Zhao Qian wiped his sweat in relief.
At this moment, Lu Liangwei was sitting in a carriage, thinking about what the Dowager Duchess had said to her before her departure.
“Naturally, she’s harboring bad intentions to invite you to the palace so suddenly, but you don’t have to be too nervous. Even if they plan to harm you, they won’t dare to be too obvious. They’re not so foolish as to let other people get the goods on them. Their purpose is to put you in your place and let you know that even though you’re the future Empress, they’re still more senior than you, and that you should weigh your actions carefully.”
Lu Liangwei’s heart warmed as she recalled these words. She was not worried at all, but her grandmother’s concern for her made her feel warm inside.
However, she disliked entering the palace in this manner.
Long Yang’s group of concubines wanted to invite her—the future principal wife—for a meal. It was hilarious just thinking about it.
Lu Liangwei could not help letting out a laugh.
Zhu Yu, who was on tenterhooks beside her, heard the sound and looked at her with wide eyes. “Miss, how can you still laugh at such a time?”
The smile did not fade from Lu Liangwei’s mouth, and she gave Zhu Yu a sidelong glance. “Then may I ask Miss Zhu Yu, should I not laugh but cry instead?”
Zhu Yu said in exasperation, “That’s not what I meant. It’s just that it’s your first time attending a banquet in the palace as the future Empress, so you should be more careful. Those women are not to be underestimated. They’ve probably already set up a trap and are waiting for you to walk right into it, Miss.”
Lu Liangwei said in amusement, “You said yourself that they’re not to be underestimated, so what makes you think they’d dare to set a trap for me? Relax, it’s no big deal.”
Zhu Yu was disheartened. “Miss, can you not be so carefree? No matter what, we should still be careful or think about what might happen later in the palace so we can prepare ourselves to face it.”
Lu Liangwei shook her head, ignoring her. This girl was too nervous.
The carriage continued on its way and finally stopped in front of the palace gates.
Lu Liangwei was about to get down when she heard Zhao Qian’s voice from outside the carriage, “Second Miss Lu, Master is coming up.”
Hearing this, Lu Liangwei gripped the handkerchief in her hands.
Long Yang was here?
Zhu Yu glanced at her mistress with a smile, then stood up and smartly went out.
Lu Liangwei thought for a while and was about to get up when a slender hand lifted the carriage curtains once again.
Long Yang stooped and walked in.
Lu Liangwei looked at him in surprise with her dark, lovely eyes.
After he sat down beside her, she asked in confusion, “Why are you here?”
Long Yang’s gaze fell on her face, a smile flitting across his eyes. “I was waiting for you.”
Lu Liangwei pursed her lips, privately admitting that she was feeling glad at this moment. She said sincerely, “Thank you.”
Long Yang was stunned for a while, then he lifted her chin, his dark eyes gazing at her. “Do we need to be so formal when it’s just the two of us?”
They were already very close to each other, and the narrow space somehow intensified the sparks between them.