Chapter 87: Summons from the Empress Dowager!

“No, it’s just that things in the Western Regions…” Luo Yunjin shook her head, her voice trailing off as she hesitated.

Though she didn’t finish her sentence, Lou Yanhui understood exactly what she meant.

Yanhui had only recently taken control of the various factions in the Western Regions, and her foundation was not yet stable. If she remained away for too long, internal strife could easily break out.

However, since she had dared to come to the capital of the Kingdom of Luo, she had naturally made exhaustive preparations. She had been laying the groundwork and plotting for so long for one reason only: to be with Little Jin forever. Until she had officially made Little Jin her wife, she wouldn’t let her guard down.

Therefore, the disaster Little Jin feared would not come to pass.

Even after they were married, Yanhui had no intention of completely relinquishing her power. In these chaotic times, should any unforeseen accident occur, they would be left defenseless without it.

Recalling her recent “heart-to-heart” with the Empress in the Imperial Study, Lou Yanhui’s voice took on a touch of helplessness. “Your Imperial Sister seems to have quite a few designs on the Western Regions…”

Luo Wushuang had been alternating between subtle threats and overt temptations. If Lou Yanhui’s willpower hadn’t been ironclad, it was hard to say how things would have ended.

Luo Yunjin’s brow furrowed instinctively. Her sister was no saint; if she truly had her sights set on the Western Regions, Lou Yanhui’s future would only become more difficult.

Seeing her worry, Lou Yanhui quickly stepped in to comfort her. “Don’t worry, I won’t let myself be taken advantage of.”

She had sacrificed so much to be with the woman she loved, and now Little Jin’s health was in tatters. After paying such a steep price, how could she willingly hand over the power she had spent years consolidating?

Still… they were currently on someone else’s turf and had to maintain a certain level of deference. But if the Empress pushed her too far, she wasn’t above burning everything down in a desperate gamble.

Catching the solemn look on Luo Yunjin’s face, Lou Yanhui was about to offer more reassurance when the younger woman let out a long sigh.

“In my memory,” Luo Yunjin said, rubbing her temples, “there aren’t many people who have ever managed to get the better of my sister.”

At those words, a vision of the woman who had sat beside the Empress at the banquet flashed through Lou Yanhui’s mind. She smiled, her expression turning enigmatic. “Is that so?”

She suspected it was simply a matter of every predator having its master. The Empress, who was so overbearing and aggressive in front of her, might not be quite so “formidable” in front of the one she loved. Perhaps, in places where no one was looking, the ruler of the realm even played the humble, submissive role to curry favor.

Of course, she had no intention of saying that aloud.

Since reuniting, Yanhui had become painfully aware of Little Jin’s stubborn streak. Her intuition told her that mentioning another woman right now would not be a wise move. To avoid trouble and keep Little Jin from overthinking, Lou Yanhui quickly steered the conversation elsewhere.

Luo Yunjin, whose energy was already flagging, had no idea how many thoughts had raced through her lover’s mind in that short span of time.

***

In the days that followed, Shangguan Liqian kept her word. Every day, she went to the front hall to meet Luo Wushuang after the morning court session.

On the rare occasion that she woke up late, Luo Wushuang would wait patiently for her in the side hall. The Empress no longer suffered from the frantic insecurity she once did; she didn’t spiral into dark thoughts or demand that the eunuchs carry her around in a frantic search for Liqian.

Once Shangguan Liqian picked her up and they finished breakfast together at the Qingluan Palace, they would separate briefly. Usually, Luo Wushuang would review memorials in the bedchamber while Shangguan Liqian wandered the palace grounds.

This served two purposes: it allowed Liqian to get some exercise, and it ensured the Empress wasn’t distracted from her imperial duties.

The arrangement worked perfectly. Every time Shangguan Liqian stepped out of the Phoenix Hall, Luo Wushuang would throw herself into her work with renewed vigor. Her goal was to finish everything as quickly as possible so that when her “Sister” returned, she could devote all her time to her without the interference of state affairs.

With such a reward waiting for her, her motivation was high, and her efficiency reached unprecedented levels.

Shangguan Liqian was more than happy with this outcome. To encourage the Empress’s diligence, she would often bring back “little gifts” from her walks.

Sometimes it was a single flower, a plate of fresh pastries from the Imperial Kitchen, or even snacks she had commissioned someone to buy from outside the palace. Even the simple grass blades she plucked out of boredom were treated like priceless treasures by Luo Wushuang.

It had to be said—scary possessiveness aside—being with someone like this brought a profound sense of happiness. Not only did Luo Wushuang provide immense emotional validation, but she also spared no expense on her. In their daily lives, the Empress deferred to Liqian’s wishes in almost everything.

A partner this perfect was truly one in a million. How could Liqian not be moved?

After opening their hearts to each other, they enjoyed several days of sweet, tender affection. Though their days were quiet, they were infused with a unique warmth. Both women were deeply satisfied with the rhythm of their lives.

One morning, following their usual routine, Luo Wushuang stayed behind to work on her memorials while Shangguan Liqian headed out with a large, bustling entourage of guards and maids.

However, when she reached the Imperial Garden today, she found that someone had beaten her to her favorite spot.

Several women dressed in pale blue palace attire were partially hidden behind a large patch of Chinese roses. The beauty of the women and the flowers complemented each other perfectly.

Just as Shangguan Liqian was wondering which palace these maids belonged to and how they had the leisure to admire flowers, the lead maid’s eyes lit up upon seeing her. She quickly led her group toward Liqian.

Liqian blinked in surprise. If she didn’t know for a fact that she was the only one in Luo Wushuang’s harem, she would have suspected some rival consort was approaching to start a palace drama over the Emperor’s favor.

While Liqian was lost in thought, the young lead maid reached her and performed a graceful curtsy.

“The Empress Dowager requests the young lady’s presence at the Palace of Benevolent Peace for a brief chat,” the maid said in a crisp, clear voice.

Shangguan Liqian’s brow knit together. The Empress Dowager?

After Luo Wushuang’s ascension, the former Empress, Feng Qingcheng—as Luo Wushuang’s birth mother—had naturally become the Empress Dowager. However, this woman had always lived in quiet seclusion within the Palace of Benevolent Peace, maintaining an incredibly low profile.

Even during the years Liqian had been imprisoned by Wushuang in her past life, she had never once seen the Empress Dowager show her face. What did she want now?

Liqian speculated inwardly. Could it be that she heard Wushuang intends to marry me and thinks a marriage between two women is too scandalous? Does she plan to bring me there to lecture or punish me into giving up on these ‘delusions’?

She glanced at the maid, who appeared respectful enough, and decided that didn’t seem quite right. Still, being in the palace, a summons from the Empress Dowager was something she could not avoid.

But if she followed them, would she be back in time? She remembered the eager, hopeful look in Wushuang’s eyes when they parted this morning, begging her to return quickly…

After a moment of thought, Liqian leaned back and whispered instructions to her own maid to bring news of the summons to Luo Wushuang. Only then did she follow the messengers toward the Palace of Benevolent Peace.