Just when Chu Yi’s palm was about to land on Zhu Yu’s left shoulder, the girl sighed softly and turned around.
His hand froze in midair—he was unsure if he should put it down or keep it raised.
Zhu Yu did not expect that she would run into this man again. After a while of them staring at each other in speechless dismay, she finally recovered her senses.
She looked at his raised palm warily.
“Brother Chu Yi, what’re you doing?” She took a step back.
Upon hearing her words, the uneasiness on Chu Yi’s face was replaced by a grin.
At least this girl had better taste, unlike that Miss Lin he met last time—she actually made him seem old by calling him ‘Uncle’.
How nice it was to be called ‘Brother’—he felt that he had instantly become younger.
“It’s nothing. I was just pa.s.sing by and saw you, so I came over to say h.e.l.lo.”
The suspicion in Zhu Yu’s heart grew stronger when she heard this.
Did they know each other well enough to be saying h.e.l.lo every time they met?
He actually came over just to say h.e.l.lo to her?
She was a little cautious. “In that case, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving first.”
Chu Yi looked at her, smiling broadly. “Of course. While I was on my way here just now, I saw the Empress going back to her quarters. You should go back too.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yu thanked him and scurried off with her skirts lifted.
As Chu Yi watched the girl run off, he stroked his chin thoughtfully.
What a pretty young lady—so meek and good with words, and quite adorable, too.
He planned to continue patrolling, but the moment he turned around, he froze, staring in surprise at the boy squatting by the path.
“Chu Qi? Why are you here?”
Chu Qi stood up slowly, holding his sword. “I was pa.s.sing by.” Shooting Chu Yi a glance, he was about to walk away when he suddenly thought of something and turned back to ask, “Why were you grinning like a creep just now? Were you having dirty thoughts?”
Chu Yi’s face stiffened, and he snapped, “What nonsense! Do you think I’m that kind of person?”
Chu Qi gave him a knowing look without saying anything. He was about to walk away when Chu Yi suddenly wrapped an arm across his shoulder, a mischievous smile on his face. “Lil Qi, what do you think of Zhu Yu, that girl who’s always next to the Empress?”
Chu Qi thought for a long time before finally remembering who the Empress’s maidservant was.
He paused, looking at the other man’s perverted expression, and said with a frown, “Well, she has two eyes, a nose, and a mouth—no different from everyone else.”
Speechless, Chu Yi released the hold on his shoulder and said in annoyance, “Of course there’s a difference. Didn’t you see how meek and well-spoken Zhu Yu is?”
“Not at all.” Chu Qi stared at him blankly.
Chu Yi, “…”
Tranquility Palace.
Liu Fu tore the cloth off his face and walked in.
Empress Dowager Xiaojing glanced at him, her hands stopping in the middle of the action of turning her Buddhist prayer beads. She asked, “You failed?”
Liu Fu dropped to his knees, bowed his head, and replied, “I’ve disappointed you, Your Imperial Highness.”
After pondering for a moment, Xiaojing finally said, “Go and bring the Crown Prince over. Tell him that I have important matters to discuss with him.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.” Liu Fu stood up, returned to his room, changed into a eunuch’s costume, and headed to the Eastern Palace.
Not long after, Long Chi hurried over.
“Why did you call for me, Royal Grandmother?”
Empress Dowager Xiaojing’s answer was candid. “Madam Ling is back.”
It took Long Chi a moment to place the name Madam Ling, and dismay clouded his face. “Isn’t she dead?”
Xiaojing sighed. “I thought that she was dead too, but Liu Fu saw her and even fought her. He can’t be wrong.”