Lou Yanshi took a quick step forward, blocking Shangguan Liqian’s path.
Liqian pursed her lips. Before she figured out why such a bizarre creature had appeared here, she had no desire to interact with him. She wanted to avoid giving Her Majesty—who was prone to finding any excuse to wallow in jealousy—any more reasons to overthink.
Liqian intended to ignore him, but this fellow was determined to make his presence known and flaunt his perceived superiority.
“This Prince will have you know that I am the only prince Her Majesty kept after this morning’s court. I am also your future Empress Consort. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll—”
Before Lou Yanshi could finish his arrogant drivel, a flurry of hurried footsteps echoed from the side hall, followed by a roar brimming with overbearing fury:
“Bullshit!”
Luo Wushuang had been waiting quietly in the side hall for the Imperial Physician. She had initially been displeased by the noise outside, but when she realized it was Liqian’s voice, she froze. She was just about to head out when she heard the Western Prince’s boastful nonsense.
She practically flew out the door, kicking it open with a bang to clear her name.
She would never like such a laughable joke of a man! That wretched Western Prince was going to ruin her reputation!
Seeing Luo Wushuang rush out in such a frantic state, desperately trying to distance herself from the man, Liqian couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter.
She finally understood where this peculiar specimen had come from. So, he was a prince sent as tribute from a small nation. However…
Liqian’s gaze swept over the Western Prince and his unique sense of style. She turned to the frantic Wushuang and arched an eyebrow. She had intended to tease her with a bit of feigned jealousy, but the sight of the man made her succumb to another fit of muffled giggles.
To think the tribute prince was of this “quality.” No wonder Wushuang’s face was so dark.
Seeing the Empress emerge, the Western Prince quickly tucked away his little pearl-encrusted mirror. He pinched his voice to a high pitch and swayed his hips as he stepped forward, speaking in a cloyingly sweet tone.
“Your Majesty~”
Luo Wushuang was so disgusted she felt sick. By sheer reflex, she raised her foot and kicked out, stopping the Western Prince from getting any closer.
Caught completely off guard, the Prince clutched his stomach. Just as he was about to try his “delicate” approach again, the Personal Guards snapped out of their shock and restrained him.
Seeing that the Western Prince was about to open his cavernous mouth to continue his “sweet” talk, the guards didn’t even wait for Wushuang’s command. They efficiently tore off the hems of their own robes and stuffed them into the prince’s mouth.
Watching the muffled, flailing Western Prince, Luo Wushuang frowned and grimaced. She looked up, meeting the unrestrained mirth in Liqian’s eyes.
Relieved that Liqian hadn’t misunderstood, Wushuang waved her hand at the people behind her and ordered, “Get this Western Prince out of the palace immediately.”
She regretted keeping this thing. She had originally thought Liqian might find the palace boring and wanted to provide her with some entertainment, but who knew this Prince would be so nauseating the moment he opened his mouth?
Better to throw him out. She didn’t want him disgusting Liqian any further.
However, remembering Liqian’s previous suggestion, Wushuang sighed inwardly. It was going to be difficult to choose a wife for this Western Prince. She felt that Lou Yanshi wasn’t even worthy of a lady from the Luo clan; in fact, she doubted any palace maid would be willing to marry him if he were bestowed upon them.
As she was thinking, a voice suppressed with laughter sounded beside her. “Is that the Prince of the Western Regions?”
Hearing Liqian’s question, Wushuang nodded. She took Liqian’s hand and led her toward the side hall, asking, “Why did Sister come here?”
She had only told Liqian yesterday that she could move freely through the palace, and today she had come to find her. Did that mean she was very important in Liqian’s heart?
No! Not just “very important,” but “vitally important!” After all… Liqian had already agreed to be her Empress Consort.
At that thought, Wushuang’s heart filled with sweetness.
Liqian glanced at the beaming Empress beside her and asked with a smile, “You’re that happy?”
Wushuang nodded, hiding nothing. “I am very happy that Sister came to find me.”
She paused for a moment before continuing, “In the future, will Sister come to meet me every day after court lets out?”
When she was a child studying in the Superior School, the mothers of her imperial brothers and sisters would always wait outside early. Only she had no one who cared.
Suddenly, she really wanted Liqian to meet her after court…
Facing Wushuang’s expectant gaze, Liqian cleared her throat and teased, “Are you a child?”
Seeing that Liqian seemed about to refuse, Wushuang turned and hopped onto Liqian’s lap, straddling her and acting spoiled. “Sister, please come! Please?”
Liqian raised her hand to stroke the head that was rubbing against her chest. She asked softly, “Then tell me first, why haven’t you returned to your chambers even though court ended a while ago?”
Reminded by Liqian, Wushuang remembered that she had sent for the Imperial Physician. Calculating the time, they should be arriving any moment.
Afraid that Liqian would worry if she knew the truth, Wushuang said, “Sister, wait for me here a moment.”
She quickly jumped off Liqian and hurried toward the exit of the hall. She needed to tell the servants to send the physicians back…
Liqian didn’t know what she was up to, so she frowned and stood up to follow.
Sensing the footsteps behind her, Wushuang was about to tell Liqian to go back and wait, but she looked up only to see a line of Imperial Physicians approaching with their medicine boxes.
Luo Wushuang: “…”
You old fogeys, why are your legs so nimble today? Your salaries must be too high; you’re clearly eating too well!
While Wushuang was fuming internally, Liqian asked with a frown, “Are you feeling unwell?”
Wushuang shook her head and lied with a straight face. “I’m not unwell. I just felt during the Morning Court that the Western Prince’s brain seemed diseased, so I wanted the physicians to see if he could be cured.”
Looking at Wushuang’s “compassionate” expression, Liqian felt something was off. Wushuang… shouldn’t be that kind-hearted.
“Then why did you just kick him out?” Liqian asked.
Wushuang cleared her throat twice and continued her solemn act. “I looked at him again and suddenly felt that his illness is likely incurable.”
“Mhm,” Liqian hummed softly.
Before Wushuang could breathe a sigh of relief, Liqian added, “If you are lying to me, I won’t come to meet you after court.”
Wushuang automatically ignored the first half of the sentence and exclaimed in delight, “Sister, you agreed?”
Liqian’s gaze swept over Wushuang’s joyful face, and she gave a faint, almost imperceptible sound of affirmation.
“Fantastic!” After waving the physicians away, Wushuang turned and gave Liqian a fierce hug, cheering with excitement.
From this day forward, she had someone to meet her too!
The Imperial Physicians who were summoned only to be chased away: “…”
Even more confused than the physicians was Lou Yanshi, who had been kept only to be thrown out of the palace.
Didn’t the Empress fancy him? Why was he kicked out the moment that female favorite appeared?
It must be that low-born female favorite bewitching the Empress.
Without anyone knowing, Lou Yanshi turned all the resentment in his heart into a burning hatred for Shangguan Liqian.
