Who doesn’t know that the Emperor has favored Li Yuyu since ascending the throne?
Now that Li Yuyu is not around, this is precisely the time when the Emperor needs comfort by his side. She only needs to play this role well to surely win the Emperor’s favor.
As a myriad of thoughts crossed Zhao Mei’s mind, she and Wan Lingling had already reached the vicinity of Qingle Park.
Qingle Park was bustling at this time, even though the play hadn’t started yet. However, nearly all the seats downstairs and on the second floor were occupied.
Li Yuyu was seated by the window. The inn she had found was quite nice, just a street away from Qingle Park, and a little further down the street was Wangbao Building.
Wangbao Building was the largest restaurant in the Capital City.
Li Yuyu finished off the sunflower seeds in her hand and drank the tea that the waiter had just served before closing the room door to go out.
"Why won’t you let us in? We clearly reserved seats in advance!"
The familiar voice made Li Yuyu roll her eyes at the sky.
She had already found a place to stay and lingered for a long time before coming to Qingle Park. How could she still run into these two people?
"Yes, could you please check again? This is Lord Zhao’s daughter, and she reserved the seats." Wan Lingling’s charming tone revealed a hint of urgency.
Passersby, upon hearing this, began to curiously ask each other, "Lord Zhao’s daughter? Which Lord Zhao?"
"Who else but the one who serves at the Ministry of Justice?" someone replied. "This should be Zhao Mei, accompanied by the young lady of the Wan Mansion, Wan Lingling."
"So, it’s these two young ladies. Qingle Park really dares, to actually block these two ladies outside. Didn’t they say they had reserved seats?"
"Who knows? Maybe they didn’t reserve and are trying to rely on their status to force their way in?"
The murmurs around them made Zhao Mei’s face darken, but she said nothing, waiting for the staff to verify.
"Mei’er, just wait a little longer, there must be a mistake somewhere," Wan Lingling comforted Zhao Mei.
Zhao Mei nodded.
If she left now, those unfavorable rumors about her would spread.
The steward quickly came out and, cupping his hands to Zhao Mei, said, "Miss Zhao, you indeed sent someone earlier, but since you didn’t clearly specify when you wanted to reserve the seats, we didn’t take your deposit. Today is fully booked; perhaps Miss Zhao could come back another day?"
Once these words were spoken, Zhao Mei’s face immediately clouded over.
The onlookers expressed their outrage, and some even burst into laughter, "No wonder there were no reserved seats for Miss Zhao, turns out it’s because no deposit was paid."
"How could the Zhao family’s young lady not afford the reservation deposit at Qingle Park?"
"Not afford it? I think she didn’t want to pay," someone jeeringly said, "Didn’t they say just a few days ago that the Zhao family’s son was flirting with a virtuous woman on the street?"
Hiss.
This is truly...
Li Yuyu decided it would be better to find entertainment elsewhere.
Thinking about this, Li Yuyu prepared to slip away, reasoning that if she moved quickly enough, those two wouldn’t see her.
The result—
"Miss Li, why are you standing outside? Come in quickly, the show is about to begin."
The steward caught sight of Li Yuyu from the corner of his eye, and his eyes lit up immediately. Approaching with a bright smile, he respectfully invited Li Yuyu inside.
Li Yuyu: ???
It was at this moment that Wan Lingling and Zhao Mei also noticed Li Yuyu.
"How did Yu’er get invited in by the steward? When did she reserve a seat?" Wan Lingling murmured, her face full of confusion.