Unable to dissuade the grandmother and granddaughter, Ling Lihua eventually said to Aunt Lan, “In that case, I’ll have to trouble you, Aunt Lan.”
Aunt Lan said kindly, “Please don’t say that, Madam. Now that you’re back, the Dowager d.u.c.h.ess won’t be lonely anymore.”
The Dowager d.u.c.h.ess was genuinely glad to have Ling Lihua back.
She had already promised her son that she would find a way to make Lihua stay in the Grand Duke Mansion, and she had been racking her brains for an idea. To her surprise, Weiwei came back with Lihua today, which saved her a lot of effort.
The smile on her face never faded for a second as she took Ling Lihua’s hand, unwilling to let go.
“I’m glad that Weiwei was sensible enough to bring you back. If you didn’t come today, I’d go and see you in two days, anyway.”
Lu Liangwei cut in at the right moment, “Then are you going to reward me, Grandmother?”
The Dowager d.u.c.h.ess scolded her jokingly, “I just praised you for being sensible, and you’re already asking for a reward? You get big-headed so easily. Fine then, you can look around my place and take whatever you like.”
After she spoke, she waved a hand generously.
Lu Liangwei was thrilled. “That’s a promise, you’d better not regret it.”
“In that case, I’m going to stop you right there. There are only a few rare items in my house; if you take them away, I’ll have nothing left,” the Dowager d.u.c.h.ess said hastily.
Lu Liangwei pursed her lips. “You’re so stingy, Grandmother!”
The Dowager d.u.c.h.ess and Ling Lihua both burst out laughing.
After having lunch at the Grand Duke Mansion, Lu Liangwei rose and said to Ling Lihua, “Please keep Grandmother company, Mother. It’s getting late, and I should be getting back to the palace.”
Seeing this, Ling Lihua got up too and said, “I’ll see you off. I also happen to have something to pick up from the medicinal shop.”
Lu Liangwei nodded. “All right.”
Ling Lihua turned and said to the Dowager d.u.c.h.ess, “I’ll be back in a while.”
The Dowager d.u.c.h.ess was relieved. Since Lihua had promised that she would return, she definitely would.
She nodded. “All right, be careful on the way.”
“We will.” Ling Lihua nodded, then took Lu Liangwei’s hand and walked out of Longevity Hall.
Just then, Chu Jiu said to Lu Liangwei, “Your Highness, before Heir Presumptive Lu left, he told me to tell you that he has some gold hidden in his house. He already promised to give it to you, but he doesn’t know when he’ll be back, so he said that you can get it when you have time.”
Lu Liangwei looked at her in surprise. “Big Bro said that?”
“Yes, that’s what he said.” Chu Jiu nodded.
Lu Liangwei felt warm inside.
She knew that her brother was not a money-grubber, and he could only have collected all that gold for her sake.
Just because she swiped Housekeeper Chen of his gold that time at the holiday home, her brother thought that she loved gold, so he must have collected it just to give it to her.
Lu Liangwei nodded. “I see. I’ll go and get it next time.”
Hearing their conversation, Ling Lihua said in amus.e.m.e.nt, “Why are you such a money-grubber, young lady?”
Lu Liangwei took her arm and said, “How am I a money-grubber? I just find gold s.h.i.+ny and pretty.”
“How uncouth!” Ling Lihua stroked her head with a laugh. “You’re clearly a money-grubber. You don’t have to sugar-coat it.”
“I’ve always been an uncouth commoner who loves gold.” Lu Liangwei was not ashamed at all and even looked proud of herself.
“Fine then, next time I’ll give you a chest of gold,” Ling Lihua said with a fond smile.
Lu Liangwei’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Of course. But you’re the Empress, why do you need that much gold? You don’t even spend that much.”