Chapter 158: To Be a Twin Lotus, Sleeping Together in the Lake

It didn’t take long before Luo Wushuang, who had rushed out in a frantic hurry, came scurrying back with a bounce in her step.

Shangguan Liqian paused her tidying and looked up at the girl whose eyes were sparkling like stars. “Where did you run off to? Your forehead is covered in sweat,” she chided gently.

Luo Wushuang wiped her face haphazardly and covered the distance between them in three quick strides. “Sister!” she called out excitedly.

While Shangguan Liqian watched her with a bewildered expression, the Empress spoke with rising fervor. “Let’s set out after our Grand Wedding!”

Liqian arched an eyebrow. Why the sudden change of heart?

“I just went to see Master Yujing. He said he would accompany me to Spirit Spring Valley. He’s certain he can cure you, Sister, so we aren’t in such a rush that we can’t spare a few days.”

A flash of realization crossed Liqian’s eyes. She beckoned for the woman standing by the bed to come closer.

Luo Wushuang obediently leaned down, leaning in toward her.

“I just finished embroidering this. See if you like it,” Liqian said, handing over the freshly finished pouch.

Wushuang’s eyes lit up. She couldn’t wait to take the pouch into her hands, examining it minutely with a gaze full of joy.

“I love it!” Wushuang nodded emphatically, but then she looked at Liqian with a hesitant, lingering gaze, as if she wanted to say something more.

Liqian stroked her head, finding her expression amusing. “What is it?”

“Sister hasn’t told me yet… why did you choose to give me a twin lotus?” Wushuang asked softly, her voice brimming with anticipation.

“Do you really want to know?”

Wushuang nodded vigorously. Her sister was shy and usually refused to say anything romantic.

Before, Wushuang could coax her into saying the words she wanted to hear during their nights together. But now that her sister was unwell, she naturally didn’t dare to act out at night. She could only take this opportunity…

As the thought crossed her mind, she saw Liqian beckon with a finger. Wushuang immediately leaned in like a puppy catching the scent of meat, looking at the woman on the bed with wide, expectant eyes.

Seeing the Empress looking so pitifully eager, Liqian covered her mouth to hide a light laugh. If this girl had a tail, it would be wagging faster than anyone else’s right now!

Seeing that her sister was only laughing and not speaking, Wushuang let out a soft, coaxing whine. “Sister~”

Liqian gave the “puppy’s” paw a playful scratch, then leaned close to her ear. Her breath was as fragrant as orchids as she whispered:

“Because… Two lotuses bloom upon a single stem, wandering together through heaven and earth.“

Having finally heard the words she craved, Wushuang’s heart thundered against her ribs. Was her sister confessing? She really was confessing!

Liqian looked down at the pouch gripped tightly in Wushuang’s hand and said softly, “I wish for Wushuang and me to be as a twin lotus, sleeping together in the lake year after year!”

Waaaah… I’m so happy!

Luo Wushuang, whose literary education was somewhat lacking, interpreted the sentiment in her own way: Sister says she wants to do nothing every day except sleep in a lake with me. She was so moved by her own interpretation that she actually started crying.

Shangguan Liqian: ??? What? Is that what I meant?

Liqian sighed helplessly as she watched Luo Wushuang—who had insisted on hearing sweet nothings only to break down in tears the moment she heard them. She reached out and tenderly wiped away the “golden beans” falling from the Empress’s eyes.

“You silly girl, what are you crying for?”

Wushuang looked at the pouch in her hand, then at the beauty before her. She grinned through her tears, looking both miserable and ecstatic. “I’m just happy!”

At the thought that the Grand Wedding would still proceed as scheduled, Wushuang cried even louder. She couldn’t help it; she was simply too joyful!

Shangguan Liqian: “…”

I don’t understand, but I’ll respect it.

In other words: She had already set her heart on this girl. If she was a bit of a fool, then so be it. At least she was a tiny bit smarter than the version of her that claimed to be a little bird who could fly…

After a hearty cry to vent her emotions, Luo Wushuang remembered something. When she had gone to find Master Yujing, the Imperial Household Department had just reported that the wheelchair had been modified according to her instructions.

She had been in a rush then and only caught a fleeting glimpse, but it certainly looked much more exquisite than the previous one.

The thought that she could now push her sister out to see the sights more often made Wushuang grin again, showing off her pearly white teeth.

“Wait here a moment, Sister. I have a gift for you too!”

With that, Wushuang went scurrying back out.

Shangguan Liqian: “…”

She certainly likes to show off the fact that her legs still work.

Seeing the girl vanish in the blink of an eye, leaving only the pearl curtains swaying in her wake, Liqian felt a mix of exasperation and amusement. How could she not know why Wushuang was always running around these past two days?

The girl was simply worried that Liqian would be inconvenienced on her own. Whenever there was something to be done, Wushuang wanted to finish it as quickly as possible so she could return…

Outside, Luo Wushuang inspected the wheelchair thoroughly and nodded with satisfaction. Just as she was about to push it into the hall, she seemed to remember something and paused.

After crouching by the entrance of the bedchamber and hesitating with a frown for a long time, she finally made up her mind and called out:

“Someone, come here!”

Leng Yu, who had just returned to duty after being forced to take over twenty days of leave, was still adjusting. She froze for a second before hurrying forward to salute respectfully.

“Your Majesty!”

A long silence followed. Leng Yu began to wonder if the Empress was annoyed that she had taken so much leave and was intentionally messing with her…

Finally, Luo Wushuang let out a long sigh and commanded, “Go and bring the one who plants mushrooms here.”

Planting mushrooms?

Leng Yu blinked, but she quickly realized who the Empress meant. It was that crybaby maid whom Lady Shangguan had brought from the Shangguan Manor.

“Yes!” Leng Yu complied and turned to leave.

As she walked, she wondered why the Empress had suddenly thought of Qingdai. Had her murderous intent finally caught up with her, or did she just want to kick the girl out of the palace?

It wasn’t just Leng Yu who was confused; when Qingdai heard that the Empress had summoned her, she was scared out of her wits! She felt she had been diligently “planting mushrooms” (moping in the corner) for the past few months and hadn’t been lazy at all.

Being summoned by the Empress didn’t feel like a good omen. She didn’t want to go at all, but she had no choice.

Qingdai followed Leng Yu with a heart full of trepidation and fear. Her steps were tiny, and she walked slower and slower.

At first, Leng Yu didn’t think much of it, but after prompting her several times, she finally realized this timid creature was terrified. Although she also felt the Empress’s summons boded ill, she still offered a bit of kindhearted comfort.

“Don’t be afraid! Whether you stretch your neck out or pull it back, it’s still just one stroke of the blade. It’s no big deal!”

The “comforted” Qingdai: “…”

Every time someone tried to comfort her, she felt even more terrified. She really wanted to tell Officer Leng that if she didn’t know how to comfort people, she shouldn’t force herself. But she was too cowardly to speak up…

The timid Qingdai followed Leng Yu through the long palace corridors, finally reaching the Phoenix Hall.

Taking a deep breath as if she were approaching the executioner’s block, Qingdai entered the hall with trembling legs. The moment she saw the Empress, her knees buckled, and she threw herself into a full prostration on the floor.

“Th-this servant… Q-Qing… Qingdai… k-kowtows to Your M-Majesty…”

Luo Wushuang’s brow furrowed. Was Sister’s maid always a stutterer?

She had been worried that her sister might be in a bad mood lately, so she had finally convinced herself to call for her former maid, thinking it might make her happy. If the girl was a stutterer, she might as well forget it. When her sister was annoyed, it would only make things worse.

Just as Wushuang was about to tell Leng Yu to take her away, she remembered that this girl had been quite sharp-tongued when she was bad-mouthing her to Liqian.

Is she… just scared?