Chapter 66: Beside Herself with Joy

A sudden pang struck her heart as Shangguan Liqian shook her head.

“I’m not unwilling.”

She paused, her voice thick with a sob before she could continue. “I’m happy. I just didn’t realize you had been working so hard for our future for so long, Wushuang.”

Those bright red lips moved before her, and a voice more beautiful than celestial music reached her ears. Luo Wushuang froze, momentarily lost on how to react.

Was Sister telling the truth?

Luo Wushuang looked up blankly, wondering if this was merely a hallucination brought on by her own despair.

Meeting the pain and flickering hope deep within the Empress’s eyes, Shangguan Liqian wiped away her own tears. She fought to steady her emotions and spoke softly.

“Your birthday is in three months. Once it passes, we shall choose an auspicious date for our wedding. How does that sound?”

Confirming that this wasn’t some figment of her imagination, Luo Wushuang bolted upright. “Sister… is that the truth?” her voice trembled.

Shangguan Liqian glanced at the chair that had been knocked over by the Empress’s sudden movement and nodded. She offered a gentle scolding, “Be careful. Why are you acting so restless?”

Hearing the confirmation from her sister’s lips once more, Luo Wushuang’s mood soared to the heavens.

“I am happy… Hahaha… So happy!”

Watching the sovereign laugh with her hands on her hips, Shangguan Liqian couldn’t help but remind her, “Mind your posture…”

“I don’t care about posture today!”

Luo Wushuang finished her sentence and scooped Shangguan Liqian up from the daybed. She bolted toward the door, shouting at the top of her lungs, “I’m getting married! I’m getting married! Sister and I are getting married!”

Caught completely off guard and without even her shoes on, Shangguan Liqian was stunned as she was carried out. “…”

It was over. This time, she was truly humiliated! And right out in the open, too…

After letting out her wild outburst of emotion, Luo Wushuang looked down, only to feel a sharp pinch at her waist.

It didn’t matter. Even if it hurt, she was still overjoyed!

A helpless Shangguan Liqian was about to tell her to get back inside when the palace servants, finally snapping out of their shock, dropped to their knees in unison.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Miss Shangguan!”

“Rewards! Everyone gets a reward today!” Luo Wushuang waved her hand grandly, acting every bit the wealthy, powerful ruler.

The pinch at her waist continued, but Luo Wushuang acted as if she couldn’t feel it, her face fixed in a silly, wide-mouthed grin.

In her desperation, Shangguan Liqian buried her head in the Empress’s chest and hissed through gritted teeth, “Take me back inside first!”

She wasn’t even wearing shoes! What would people think of her being carried out like this?

“Oh! Right!” Luo Wushuang barked an acknowledgment and obediently turned back toward the bedchamber.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the flush of shame and anger on her sister’s jade-like cheeks. Luo Wushuang’s fingertips trembled with excitement.

Sister had promised her! She had promised to be her Empress Consort!

In their relationship, finally… it was no longer one-sided!

Sister hadn’t lied to her. She was truly trying to accept her, truly placing her in her heart.

The mere thought made Luo Wushuang’s mood improve even further.

She strode toward the Inner Hall with a spring in her step, but perhaps she was simply too high on life. Suddenly, her knees buckled, and the beauty in her arms nearly went flying.

Shangguan Liqian gasped, her slender arms instinctively wrapping around Luo Wushuang’s neck. “What happened?”

The loss of strength lasted only a second. Luo Wushuang, also startled, carefully set her down on the bed. She moved around a bit to check her legs, and finding nothing wrong, she dismissed it.

“It’s nothing. I’m just too happy!”

Seeing her hopping and jumping around, it really didn’t look like anything was wrong, so Shangguan Liqian let out a sigh of relief.

Recalling her antics just now, she couldn’t help but complain, “In the future, you aren’t allowed to be so reckless. If you want to do something, at least give me a warning so I can be prepared.”

Luo Wushuang didn’t argue. She just stared at her and smiled.

The way her sister complained gave her the beautiful illusion that they were already an old married couple. The feeling was so precious she didn’t want to break it.

When Shangguan Liqian finished her lecture and heard no response, she looked up. Seeing the lingering grin on the Empress’s face, she grew a bit annoyed.

“I’m talking to you!”

Looking at the woman who was becoming more and more vibrant before her eyes, Luo Wushuang shook herself out of it. Hiding her delight, she hurried to promise, “I know, I know. After we marry, I’ll listen to everything Sister says. I’ll be even more obedient than I am now.”

Hearing this habitual smooth-talker make such grand promises, Shangguan Liqian played along. “Really?”

“Really!” Luo Wushuang nodded vigorously, her expression incredibly serious.

Wait, she’s not just painting a rosy picture?

Shangguan Liqian glanced at Luo Wushuang’s sincere face. She still wasn’t sure, but she decided to wait and see.

Sensing her sister’s doubt, Luo Wushuang asked, “Does Sister not believe me?”

“I didn’t say that!”

Shangguan Liqian denied it instantly, though only she knew what she was truly thinking.

Seeing her sister’s duplicity, Luo Wushuang pressed on. “Am I not obedient now?”

Shangguan Liqian thought about it. Aside from when they were in bed, she was actually quite well-behaved. Especially since she had started taking her herbal tonics, Wushuang had been much more restrained at night.

“I suppose you are… somewhat obedient.”

Luo Wushuang was dissatisfied with that answer. She leaned over, her teeth gently grazing the tender lips of the woman beneath her. “I’m clearly very obedient,” she murmured. “Sister is being naughty. I’ll have to punish you tonight.”

Had she said this a few days ago, Shangguan Liqian might have worried about her fate that night. But now…

Shangguan Liqian’s eyes crinkled with a smile as she reminded her nonchalantly, “The Imperial Physician said…”

Before she could finish, Luo Wushuang interrupted her with a smug look.

“I already asked the Imperial Physician. He said it’s fine starting today, as long as it isn’t too excessive.”

The smile on Shangguan Liqian’s lips froze. She looked up in disbelief, meeting Luo Wushuang’s smiling phoenix eyes. She felt like she could die of embarrassment!

She… she… she…

Did she have no shame?!

How could she just ask about such a thing?

“So, is Sister prepared to—ah!” Luo Wushuang’s teasing was cut short by her own cry of pain.

Looking down, she saw a small, bloody mark where she had been bitten on her collarbone. Luo Wushuang suddenly laughed.

“Go ahead, bite me! During the day, I’ll listen to Sister. You can bully me however you like.”

But when night comes, you’ll have to listen to me.

Luo Wushuang didn’t say the last part out loud, but Shangguan Liqian saw the wicked glint in her eyes.

Biting her lip, Shangguan Liqian took a deep breath, trying her best to ignore her burning cheeks. She put on a blank expression. “Not tonight. You just said you would be obedient. You wouldn’t go back on your word, would you?”

Luo Wushuang’s mouth fell open, stunned. Once she realized what had happened, she spoke weakly.

“But this is a punishment…”

“I don’t accept the punishment.” Shangguan Liqian maintained her expressionless face, her tone devoid of emotion.

The Empress, who had been glowing with triumph only a moment ago, instantly wilted like a dying flower.