nycdaug Chapter 100 Dream Chapter
Chapter 100 Dream Chapter
"Lu Zhiheng!"
Chu Qingyin's expression changed, and she quickly interrupted the man.
As if guessing her reaction, Lu Zhiheng smiled without saying a word, simply standing with his hands behind his back.
Chu Qingyin was furious at his appearance, but she was also worried that this scoundrel might reveal some terrible secret, so she held her breath in the end.
"Lord Lu, this way please!" She gestured towards the pavilion next to her.
Lu Zhiheng nodded and took the lead in walking forward.
Xianglan tried to follow Chu Qingyin, but she stopped her, saying, "You stay here and keep watch. I'll call you if anything happens."
Xianglan frowned and said softly with concern, "Your Majesty, this is probably... against the rules."
Chu Qingyin reached out and patted her shoulder heavily, her gaze earnest and trusting: "That's why I trust you. If someone comes, remember to remind them in time."
Having said that, what could Xianglan say? She could only nod in agreement.
Looking at the two figures, one tall and one short, in the pavilion not far away, he couldn't help but feel puzzled.
Could it be that the young lady has some kind of leverage that Lord Lu has over her?
In the pavilion, a gentle evening breeze rustled through the air, and the misty white veil swayed in the wind, creating a scene reminiscent of a fairyland.
Chu Qingyin, now quite drunk, disregarded etiquette and sat down on a nearby stone stool.
"Lord Lu, speak, what business do you have with me?"
As she spoke, she looked up at him, her eyes filled with undisguised curiosity.
Lu Zhiheng turned and sat down on the stone stool in front of her before speaking: "What exactly is Your Highness plotting by flattering His Majesty like this?"
As he spoke, his gaze quietly fell upon her magnificent dress.
This dress is very special and complements her skin tone perfectly. Tonight, she looks like a fairy among flowers, captivating everyone's gaze.
Noticing the man's intense gaze fixed on her, the feeling of being pricked by needles from the banquet returned, and Chu Qingyin frowned uncomfortably as she met his eyes: "Lord Lu, aren't you being a bit too nosy?"
"Besides, as a concubine in the harem, isn't it only natural for me to please His Majesty?"
"Yes, it is indeed human nature, but—"
Lu Zhiheng narrowed his dark eyes slightly: "Aren't you being a little too hasty?"
The man's eyes were sharp and clear, as if he could see into Chu Qingyin's heart, and her brow twitched.
Did he see through something? Yes, she was indeed eager to please Pei Yuanling and gain power as quickly as possible...
Suppressing her nervousness, Chu Qingyin, slightly drunk, raised her eyelids and slowly looked at the man in front of her: "Lord Lu, have you taken a fancy to me?"
Lu Zhiheng's expression froze for a moment, then a suspicious blush crept onto his handsome face. He coughed lightly and said seriously, "Consort Qiao, be careful what you say."
"If you don't like me, why are you always staring at me?"
Chu Qingyin's brows furrowed with anger, as if she was still not satisfied. She leaned forward and pointed a finger at Lu Zhiheng's forehead: "Stay away from me from now on. I don't like you."
The woman spoke in an arrogant tone, with a hint of childishness, quite different from her usual demeanor.
Lu Zhiheng was speechless for a moment.
Could this be the real her, beneath the mask of pretense?
"Hey, did you hear me?" Chu Qingyin, her eyes still blurry, saw the smile on that annoying face and raised her finger in annoyance, waving it in front of his eyes.
Lu Zhiheng snapped out of his daze, brushed her fingers away, and looked at her intently: "Are you really drunk?"
Chu Qingyin seemed to have been struck by lightning, and suddenly retorted, "I'm not drunk."
"Okay, you're not drunk."
Lu Zhiheng spoke softly, as if coaxing a child, gently guiding him: "Then can you tell me, what exactly are you trying to achieve by flattering His Majesty?"
"Of course—"
Chu Qingyin paused, prompting Lu Zhiheng to look up at her, his voice soft: "Of course it is?"
He was waiting for her to continue, but he didn't want to startle her.
"Of course, of course it's all for gaining His Majesty's favor... What's it to you!"
The woman's clear eyes held a hint of hatred that seemed both real and feigned, like a delicate flower about to shatter.
Does she really hate him that much?
Lu Zhiheng frowned. When exactly did he offend her?
Chu Qingyin's drunkenness intensified, and her body suddenly went limp, about to fall to the side—
Lu Zhiheng was about to reach out to help her when the woman snorted, "None of your business." She then brushed his hand away and slumped onto the stone bench behind her.
Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, as if she had been hit hard. She propped herself up on the stone table, her eyes half-closed, and mumbled, "I'm not drunk, I can hold my liquor perfectly well..."
He looks like a little drunkard.
Lu Zhiheng watched quietly, his thin lips curving slightly. A hint of doting affection, which he himself had not noticed, appeared in his originally calm and still eyes, clear and gentle in the darkness.
"When you wake up tomorrow, will you regret it if you recall how you are now?" The man's voice was very low, and it was hard to hear unless you listened carefully.
Chu Qingyin's eyes were tightly closed, her eyelids twitched slightly, but the man who had already turned and left did not see her.
Only after he walked away did Chu Qingyin slowly open her eyes. Her eyes, which had been hazy and devoid of any spirit, suddenly turned cold.
Lu Zhiheng, if you knew that my flattery and vying for your favor were only to take your life, would you still be so nonchalant and indifferent?
As night deepened and the palace banquet ended, the once tranquil Xingyue Palace suddenly became lively again.
Pei Yuanling and Chen Zhongliang arrived under the cover of night. Kang Luhai saw them first and immediately turned around to instruct Yu Yan to wake Chu Qingyin.
"There's no need to wake Consort Qiao; I can go in myself."
After Pei Yuanling finished speaking, he walked straight into the inner room.
Chu Qingyin lay quietly on the soft couch, her cheeks still flushed from the alcohol. Her eyes were closed, and unlike her usual shy and lively self, she appeared exceptionally dignified and serene.
However, she didn't seem to be sleeping peacefully. Her originally relaxed eyebrows suddenly furrowed, and she murmured something under her breath.
Pei Yuanling leaned forward involuntarily, only to hear the woman whisper, "Lu Zhiheng..."
Was she calling out Lu Zhiheng's name?
When did they first meet? Before or after entering the palace?
As if his consciousness were being firmly gripped, Pei Yuanling's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and his handsome face seemed to be instantly covered with frost, making him look somewhat frightening.
Xianglan, who was holding the lamp for him, flinched and almost dropped the candle.
What's wrong, Your Majesty?
She clearly dislikes Lord Lu intensely, so why the sudden change...?
Even if there are some things, there are some things you can't say in a dream!
As Xianglan was pondering how to cover for the Empress, she heard a rustling sound beside her ear: "Lu Zhiheng, I'll kill you, I'm going to kill you..."
It turns out, it wasn't liking, it was hating.
The coldness in Pei Yuanling's eyes seemed to melt away like spring chill, instantly leaving only pity and doting.
He raised his hand and gently brushed away the strands of hair that were covering the woman's forehead, revealing the bright red mole on her forehead.
Now, without the floral adornments, only the red mole on her smooth, white forehead remained, its crimson color resembling blood, making her exceptionally alluring.
He couldn't help but raise his hand and gently stroke the red mole, his fingertips caressing it: "Yinyin, you belong to me, and can only belong to me."
The next day, Chu Qingyin sat up in bed, her head aching.
Seeing this, Xianglan instructed Yuyan to bring some hangover soup, and then she walked to the bedside: "Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
Chu Qingyin felt weak all over, as if she had been run over, which made her feel very uncomfortable.
"I want some water," she said in a hoarse voice.
Xianglan immediately brought over some water and handed it to her. She waited until Xianglan finished drinking before taking the water from her.
"If Your Highness is not feeling well, this servant will go and fetch Physician Chen to take a look at you, shall we?"
During this trip to the imperial palace, the Imperial Medical Academy arranged for some imperial physicians to accompany him, and Chen Yun was among them.
Chu Qingyin shook her head: "I just drank too much yesterday. A little hangover soup will make me fine."
"By the way, Your Majesty, you didn't come yesterday?" she asked, frowning.
She had put in a lot of effort for yesterday's dance, but it was ruined by a few drinks, which made her quite annoyed.
"How could His Majesty not come?" Xianglan said with a smile. "I heard from Eunuch Chen that His Majesty came as soon as the palace banquet ended. I just didn't expect that Her Highness would drink so much wine that she was unconscious."
"He's here?" Chu Qingyin asked doubtfully, but a sudden panic gripped her. She hadn't said anything incoherent when she was drunk yesterday, had she?
"And then what happened?" she pressed.
Xianglan noticed the worry in her eyes and immediately smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. His Majesty was very concerned about you yesterday and stayed by your side all night. If it weren't for Lord Lu having something to discuss, His Majesty would probably have stayed here with you until you woke up before leaving."
Did you keep watch all night?
Chu Qingyin, however, was only concerned with Pei Yuanling's attitude. She frowned and asked, "Did I say anything drunk?"
“Of course not.” Xianglan said, then seemed to remember something, leaned closer to her and whispered, “If I had to say something, Her Highness kept calling out Lord Lu’s name after she got drunk yesterday.”
Chu Qingyin panicked. She must have been drunk yesterday and Lu Zhiheng stopped her and interrogated her, which led to her dreaming and made it hard for her to sleep.
"What was His Majesty's reaction when he heard me call Lu Zhiheng by his given name?"