Yan Xiu had just finished feeding the little concubine a piece of pastry when he noticed the peculiar look in her eyes.
"What is it?" Yan Xiu asked, puzzled.
Li Yuyu let out a "hiss," moved slightly on Yan Xiu’s lap, and pointed to the clothes she wore: "Mr. Xiu, I’m wearing men’s clothes."
Yan Xiu raised an eyebrow, as if asking: So?
"Don’t you think it’s a bit strange, you know, doing this?" Li Yuyu tried to hint to Yan Xiu.
Strange?
Yan Xiu stared at Li Yuyu for a long time, and suddenly he understood. His face showed a myriad of expressions because he truly didn’t know how to react to the little concubine he held.
After a while, he exhaled heavily, teeth clenched: "Does my beloved concubine think that by changing into men’s clothes and titles, you cease to be female, cease to be my concubine?!"
Li Yuyu: "...no, I don’t, don’t talk nonsense."
She would never admit to having such thoughts!
Yan Xiu: ...
If you could just hide that revealing gaze, even a bit, I would have a reason not to deceive myself.
Yan Xiu was frustrated, but the little concubine in his arms was so captivated by the pastries, she hugged the box, eating so much her cheeks puffed, completely oblivious to his silent fury.
Finally full and satiated, Li Yuyu realized she was still sitting on Yan Xiu’s lap.
Blinking at the handsomely close face, she opened her mouth: "Burp."
Yan Xiu: ...
Li Yuyu: ...
Taking a deep breath, Yan Xiu smirked: "Are you full?"
Li Yuyu rubbed her round belly, eyes curved with satisfaction: "I’m full."
"Since my beloved concubine is full, it’s time for me to eat." Yan Xiu lowered his head, the depths of his phoenix eyes flickered with fiery passion.
Li Yuyu suddenly realized something and got up to flee.
A strong arm encircled her slender waist, fixing her back into his embrace, her lips sealed immediately.
...
On their way back, Li Yuyu refused to share the same carriage with Yan Xiu.
Chengyi arranged another carriage for her, similar in appearance to the one they had arrived in.
"Thank you, Master Chengyi, may we meet again someday."
After speaking, Li Yuyu climbed into the carriage on her own, without anyone’s assistance, and pulled down the curtain.
"Amitabha Buddha." Chengyi stood with hands joined, watching them leave.
Once the carriage went some distance away, Chengyi chuckled softly: "Destiny, it will come swiftly."
The side gate of the Imperial Palace welcomed two unassuming carriages, entering one after the other.
One headed towards Yangxin Hall, while the other went towards Luaxin Pavilion.
"Did you see clearly? Are you sure they went to Luaxin Pavilion?"
Beauty Qing asked warmly.
"This servant saw the man enter Luaxin Pavilion with my own eyes. Feng Yin was very cautious, looking around before leading him inside." Shui Bai spoke quietly: "Beauty, should we leak the news?"
"I still feel something’s amiss." Beauty Qing stood by the window, her voice gentle: "Why would Lady Li meet a stranger at this time? And how did that person get in? The Imperial Palace isn’t a place just anyone can enter."
"Perhaps Lady Li discovered some news but is unable to pass it on?"
Shui Yun speculated.
There was an ambiguous relationship between Lady Li and Prince Xuan, who sometimes exchanged information. But lately, she clearly displayed her intentions to cut ties with Prince Xuan, as if the end had truly come?
Beauty Qing’s hand on the window frame slowly tightened.