Chapter 42: Luo Wushuang: Is My Status Dropping Again?

Witnessing the stark contrast in Luo Wushuang’s behavior, Shangguan Liqian couldn’t suppress a smile as she reached out to pinch the Empress’s delicate cheek.

Hmm. The texture is actually quite nice.

Just as Shangguan Liqian was considering indulging herself a bit more, Luo Wushuang lowered her head slightly. She began rubbing her fluffy head against Liqian’s palm, her voice carrying a soft, pleading tone.

“Sister, please look over the memorials with me in a little while.”

Shangguan Liqian glanced at the expectant Empress and hesitated. “That might not be wise. If the court ministers find out, I’m afraid they’ll start another uproar.”

Luo Wushuang froze. What does Sister mean by that?

Didn’t she help me organize the memorials yesterday? Why is she afraid of people knowing today? What about yesterday then?

Oh, I see. Yesterday, Sister wanted to help, so she wasn’t afraid. Today, she doesn’t plan on looking after me, so suddenly she’s worried about the ministers.

Meeting Luo Wushuang’s “you’re just making excuses because you don’t want to help me” gaze, Shangguan Liqian felt a rare prick of conscience.

After a tactical cough, Liqian spoke with a touch of sheepishness. “I found a rather good book this morning…”

Before she could finish, Luo Wushuang’s eyes widened, and her voice rose in disbelief. “So, you’re saying I don’t even compare to a scrap of paper now?!”

Shangguan Liqian’s eyebrows arched slightly. A scrap of paper? That is a rare, one-of-a-kind volume left behind by the literary giant Teacher Dongliu from centuries ago. It’s worth more than a thousand pieces of gold.

If she hadn’t been riding on Wushuang’s coattails, she likely would have never had the chance to see it in her lifetime. However, facing Luo Wushuang’s interrogation, she couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty.

Avoiding Wushuang’s gaze, she stubbornly replied, “I just really want to read it today.”

Luo Wushuang took a deep breath, suppressing the flames of jealousy in her heart, and stepped directly in front of Shangguan Liqian. When Liqian looked to the left, Wushuang moved to the left; when Liqian looked to the right, she shifted to the right.

Finally, Shangguan Liqian was the first to wave the white flag. “How about I help you organize the memorials tomorrow instead?”

Liqian had been running the numbers in her head. If she spent all day today reading, and then caught another glimpse tomorrow morning while Wushuang was at the morning court session, she could probably finish it. That would leave her plenty of time to help with the paperwork tomorrow.

It was a perfect plan in Liqian’s mind, but Luo Wushuang rejected it instantly.

“No!”

Seeing Wushuang’s indignant expression, Liqian gave a light chuckle and gave the girl’s arm a gentle shake. “Why not? Weren’t you the one who asked me to help?”

Seeing her sister acting so affectionately, Luo Wushuang’s heart wavered for a moment, but she quickly steadied her resolve.

“I said today, not tomorrow! And besides…” Luo Wushuang paused before continuing, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. If you promise to help me tomorrow, it means you intend to finish that book today. If I agree, you won’t just ignore the memorials today—you probably won’t even have time to pay attention to me!”

As Luo Wushuang grew increasingly aggrieved, Shangguan Liqian coughed again and made another compromise. “Fine. After breakfast, I will read my book right beside you. If you need anything, you can call for me at any time. How does that sound?”

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to help, but the allure of Teacher Dongliu’s rare manuscript was simply too great.

Though she hadn’t fully convinced her sister to work, the proposal was still quite tempting. Luo Wushuang’s eyes lit up, though she maintained a facade of reserve. “Won’t Sister get impatient?”

Seeing that she was clearly interested but unwilling to admit it, Shangguan Liqian shook her head with a smile. “I won’t. I want to be with you too, Wushuang.”

Luo Wushuang’s eyes shone even brighter as she pressed further. “Then… will Sister think I’m being too needy?”

Liqian patiently shook her head, her smile remaining. “No.”

“Then will Sister think—” Wushuang started to push her luck.

Seeing that the questions were never-ending, the smile on Shangguan Liqian’s face was gradually replaced by a hint of irritability.

“Quiet! Come eat breakfast with me.” Without waiting for her to finish, Liqian grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the outer hall.

Luo Wushuang stared at their interlaced fingers and muttered under her breath, “Sister is already…” getting impatient.

Before she could finish the sentence, the walking Shangguan Liqian abruptly stopped. She turned back to Luo Wushuang with a “gentle” smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Is there something else you wanted to say? Please, continue.”

Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Luo Wushuang immediately bit her tongue. Facing the dangerous-looking Liqian, she gave a submissive, sweet smile. “I didn’t want to say anything. I’m just hungry. Let’s go eat.”

As she spoke, she took the lead and pulled Liqian forward before the other woman could refuse. Only after Liqian was seated at the table did Luo Wushuang reluctantly let go of her hand.

Liqian watched as Wushuang expertly began serving her food as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Suddenly, Liqian remarked, “I noticed the peach blossoms in the courtyard seem to be blooming today.”

Luo Wushuang’s hand paused. Haven’t the peach blossoms been blooming for a while now? If they waited much longer, the petals would fall and the trees would start bearing fruit.

However, she quickly caught the underlying meaning in Liqian’s words. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, “Does Sister want to go for a stroll?”

Shangguan Liqian didn’t answer directly. Instead, she asked, “Don’t you still have memorials to review?”

She did have memorials, but the thought of letting Liqian go out alone was unbearable. After a moment of deliberation, Wushuang negotiated, “Then, after breakfast, wait for me for a bit. I’ll finish them very quickly.”

She paused, stealing a glance at Liqian’s expression, and continued cautiously, “Then, we can go to the Imperial Garden together. Would that be okay?”

She cherished the way she and her sister were currently getting along and didn’t want anything to change. She didn’t want to overthink things or wonder if this was some tactic Liqian was using to plan an escape. She only wanted to do everything in her power to make this harmonious time last a little longer, and then a little longer… Ideally, forever.

Luo Wushuang hid her anxiety and insecurity deep down, but Shangguan Liqian captured it nonetheless.

While Wushuang wasn’t looking, Liqian reached out and gently stroked her back. Feeling the tension in the younger girl’s body, a flash of heartache crossed Liqian’s eyes. She gave a reassuring pat.

“Of course we can. But will it affect your work?”

Upon hearing Liqian’s agreement, Luo Wushuang’s tensed nerves suddenly relaxed. Only then did she notice her sister’s touch. She turned slightly, caught Liqian’s hand, and responded happily, “It won’t affect anything! There aren’t many memorials today. I can finish them in no time. I won’t make Sister wait long.”

Seeing the joy on Luo Wushuang’s face, the corners of Liqian’s lips curled up. “Then let’s eat first, before the food gets cold.”

Luo Wushuang nodded obediently, looking every bit the submissive, well-behaved girl.

Even though she knew this persona was an act, Shangguan Liqian couldn’t help but feel her heart soften. “Eat more. You’ve grown thin lately.”

Having received her sister’s genuine concern, Luo Wushuang beamed with a radiant smile.