Chapter 32: The Happiest Person in the World!

On the other side of the room, Shangguan Liqian sat hunched over the desk. Hearing that the commotion had finally died down, she let out a soft sigh of relief and returned her focus to sorting through the pile of memorials.

Busy hours always seemed to stretch on forever. It wasn’t until the sun began its westward slant that Shangguan Liqian finally stood up from the mountain of documents, rubbing her aching neck.

Those court officials were as idle as ever. All day long, they sent reports either asking what Her Majesty had eaten or inquiring about her mood.

Did they even need to ask? No matter how good one’s mood was, it would sour instantly upon seeing so much nonsense.

It was no wonder Wushuang looked so resentful every time she had to process these memorials.

However, there was still no movement from the inner chambers. Wushuang was likely still asleep. Thinking of how exhausted the woman had been before she drifted off, Shangguan Liqian abandoned any plan of going inside to disturb her.

Rising from the low desk, she picked up a travelogue at random and sat on a daybed by the window, which happened to be close to the inner hall.

This way, Wushuang would see her the moment she woke up…

At the thought, a faint smile played across Shangguan Liqian’s elegant face. That girl really knew how to get under one’s skin sometimes.

The lingering glow of the setting sun filtered through the window, spilling onto the pages of her book and casting a soft, focused light over her gentle expression.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Luo Wushuang finally rolled over on the phoenix bed. She opened her eyes blearily, her hand instinctively reaching out to the space beside her.

The sheets were ice-cold. There was no sign of anyone having been there. Luo Wushuang’s heart hammered against her ribs, and the haze of sleep vanished instantly.

Shangguan Liqian, who had been quietly reading, was startled by a sudden clatter from the inner room. She reflexively stood up to check on the situation.

The moment she turned around, she collided with Luo Wushuang’s panicked gaze.

“What’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare? Why did you run out barefoot?”

Shangguan Liqian moved forward as she spoke, not stopping until she had the other woman in her arms. Only then did she realize that Luo Wushuang’s body was trembling violently.

“Are you unwell?”

Shangguan Liqian reached up to feel her forehead, but her hand was caught mid-air.

In the next heartbeat, she was locked in a crushing embrace.

“I… I thought Sister didn’t want me again…”

Luo Wushuang’s voice was tiny and low, carrying a weight of insecurity that made one’s heart ache.

“I haven’t abandoned you. Look, we’re still tied together,” Shangguan Liqian said, lightly rattling the chain on her wrist.

The chain clinked melodiously. Hearing the sound, the tension in Luo Wushuang’s expression finally eased a fraction.

She remembered now. Before they slept, Sister had fastened the collar around her neck.

It was her own fault. In her moment of panic, she had completely forgotten…

“Sister will stay with me forever, right?”

Shangguan Liqian looked up slightly, meeting the unease reflected in those phoenix eyes. She sighed inwardly and answered softly, “I will.”

Hearing the promise, Luo Wushuang couldn’t help but pull her even closer.

Feeling like she was about to be strangled to death, Shangguan Liqian gasped for air. Fortunately, Luo Wushuang realized her strength quickly and loosened her grip, looking apologetic.

“I’m sorry, Sister. Did I hurt you again?”

Looking at the culprit’s guilty face, Shangguan Liqian gave a wry smile. “It’s fine. I’m still breathing.”

Luo Wushuang felt a bit sheepish and led Shangguan Liqian back to the daybed. Glancing at the face-down book nearby, she tried to find a topic of conversation.

“Was Sister reading just now?”

Shangguan Liqian spared her a glance but didn’t answer. Instead, she summoned a servant to bring a copper basin, shoes, and socks.

When Luo Wushuang saw Shangguan Liqian kneeling before her, intending to wash her feet, she quickly pulled back.

Shangguan Liqian’s hands grabbed empty air. She looked up in confusion, her beautiful eyes filled with inquiry.

Luo Wushuang looked at her and said awkwardly, “Sister, I can do it myself.”

“Sit still and don’t move!” Shangguan Liqian scolded lightly, pressing her back down onto the bed.

She knelt down again, captured the fair, tender feet, and plunged them into the water before Wushuang could struggle.

“Don’t run around barefoot in the future,” Shangguan Liqian lectured while washing.

Watching Shangguan Liqian kneeling on the floor, Luo Wushuang’s eyes grew red. She nodded fervently.

She knew that her Sister was the gentlest person in the world. If she could truly be loved by her, she would surely be the happiest person on earth.

Shangguan Liqian scooped up a handful of water and poured it over Luo Wushuang’s feet. Noticing the person in front of her was being uncharacteristically quiet, she looked up.

She was met with Luo Wushuang’s deeply affectionate gaze.

“Sister is too good to me. Even the Empress Dowager never washed my feet.”

Hearing the slight sob in Luo Wushuang’s voice, a line of black appeared on Shangguan Liqian’s forehead.

“Stop being so sentimental, or I might not be able to resist throwing this footwater at you.”

Luo Wushuang, who had been about to pour her heart out: “…”

Sister is so good at ruining the mood. She’s simply too mean!

However, looking at her from this angle, Sister seemed even more beautiful. Especially when she bowed her head—the loose collar of her robe couldn’t hide the glimpse of spring underneath. Next time, she wanted to…

Perhaps it was an unspeakable thought that suddenly flashed through her mind, but a rare blush crept onto Luo Wushuang’s face.

Shangguan Liqian, who knew Wushuang quite well, noticed her shifting, shifty eyes. She asked suspiciously, “Are you thinking about something inappropriate again?”

Just like before—she had clearly been feeling sorry for this girl, only to almost be eaten alive.

The moment she thought about what happened before their nap, Shangguan Liqian felt a spark of anger. That small flame quickly spread…

She had said no during the day! No, no, no! How could this person be so incorrigible? It was simply too much!

Seeing Sister’s expression shift from gentle to “fierce,” Luo Wushuang, whose mind had been read, quickly shook her head. “No, no!”

Seeing such a perfunctory denial, Shangguan Liqian knew she hadn’t wrongly accused this lustful brat.

With a slight glare of her beautiful eyes, a huffy Shangguan Liqian tossed the silk towel onto Wushuang’s lap and said crossly, “Wash them yourself!”

Suddenly abandoned, Luo Wushuang watched the retreating back and pleaded in a small voice, “Sister, wash them a bit more~”

Shangguan Liqian ignored her, picking up her unfinished book and continuing to flip through the pages.

Seeing that Sister really didn’t intend to pay her any attention, Luo Wushuang was forced to wash her own feet. At the same time, she felt a pang of regret—her naughty intentions shouldn’t have been so obvious.

Even after the maid carried the copper basin away, Luo Wushuang was still lamenting that her thoughts had been exposed too early.

Watching Shangguan Liqian, who still had her back turned and was possibly still angry, Luo Wushuang put on her shoes and socks and crept over.

At first, she just sat there quietly, watching Shangguan Liqian read. But soon, she wasn’t satisfied with her Sister just looking at the book and ignoring her.

“Sister, look at me. I’m much better looking than a book.”

Hearing the wheedling, almost shameless tone Luo Wushuang used to act cute, Shangguan Liqian just gave a soft “Heh,” too lazy to engage.

“Sister…”

Unwilling to be ignored, Luo Wushuang was about to continue her pestering when Shangguan Liqian tapped the page of her book and cut her off.

“There’s still half an hour until dinner. If you keep talking nonsense, you’re working overtime tonight…”

Shangguan Liqian tilted her head as if thinking, then looked at her with a “gentle” smile. “For about six more hours.”