Lu Liangwei blinked and shook her head. Even if she did know, she would not say it out.
“I’m too foolish to read your magnificent mind, Your Majesty.”
Long Yang’s lips twitched, and he pulled her hand and walked toward the bedside. “I’m a little sleepy too. Shall we sleep together?”
How could Lu Liangwei say no? Moreover, she just said that she was going to sleep, so she could only nod. “All right.”
When they reached the bedside, Lu Liangwei thought for a while, then reached out to help him take off his outer robe.
Long Yang paused and glanced down at her, allowing her to have her way.
After much effort, Lu Liangwei finally removed his outer robe and lowered her head to undo his belt.
When she finally undid it, a sheen of sweat had already covered her forehead.
She paused to catch her breath as she hung his belt on the folding screen. It was better to leave this tiring job to the maids next time.
Lu Liangwei was about to turn around when the man came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist.
Her breath hitched as she heard the man’s voice coming from the top of her head, his tone carrying a hint of a smile. “How could I not care for my Empress when she’s so virtuous? Let me undress you, my Empress.”
Lu Liangwei was about to refuse, but the man’s slender fingers had already untied her belt skillfully.
Her long and thick eyelashes quivering, Lu Liangwei wanted to reach out and stop him but gave up in the end.
Noticing her body stiffening rapidly, Long Yang sighed quietly. “Don’t be so nervous. If you don’t want to, I won’t force you.”
Lu Liangwei looked back at him, only to meet the vast pools of patience in his eyes, and the tension in her finally subsided.
She nodded lightly. “Mmm.”
Long Yang removed her dress and hung it on the folding screen next to them before returning and lying down with her in his arms.
Looking at the girl curling up meekly like a kitten in his embrace, Long Yang hugged her close affectionately.
At this moment, all his thoughts had faded away, and all he wanted was to hold her and sleep.
Lu Liangwei’s body gradually relaxed. Her eyelids drooped eventually, and she succumbed to slumber.
Gazing at the girl breathing softly in his arms, Long Yang sighed quietly, closed his eyes, and fell asleep as well.
It was already dark when Lu Liangwei awoke. Long Yang was no longer in the bedchamber.
She had just sat up when Zhu Yu opened the doors and walked in.
“Miss, are you awake?”
Hearing the way Zhu Yu addressed her, Lu Liangwei almost thought that she was still in the Grand Duke Mansion.
As Zhu Yu approached her, she saw her in a daze. Worried, she called out again, tentatively, “Miss?”
Lu Liangwei recovered her senses. “Huh, what’s the matter?”
Zhu Yu was relieved to see her all right, and she replied, “While you were still asleep in the afternoon, Matron Chen visited by decree of the Empress Dowager to invite you for dinner at Tranquility Palace.”
Lu Liangwei furrowed her brow but did not object. “I see. Help me freshen up for a bit.”
“Yes, Miss,” Zhu Yu replied obediently.
After cleaning up, Lu Liangwei changed into a modest light blue dress and left Grand Phoenix Palace with Zhu Yu and Chu Jiu in tow.
However, she had just walked out of Grand Phoenix Palace when she saw Zhao Qian hurrying over.
Lu Liangwei asked, “What’s the matter, Butler Zhao?”
Zhao Qian took a quick gasp of air before saying, “Master sent me here. He wants you to wait for him and then go to Tranquility Palace together. Master’s still in the imperial study, he’ll be over in a while.”
Noticing how hasty he was, Lu Liangwei came to a vague realization and asked, “The Empress Dowager didn’t invite His Majesty?”
Zhao Qian nodded gravely. “Yes. Master also just knew about the Empress Dowager asking you over for dinner.”