The Empress's words were just commands to him, and the Emperor's indifference was nothing more than a habitual form of pressure. Xiao Lingshou didn't know how long he could hold out in this struggle between the two.

Perhaps one day, he really won't care about anything anymore.

This wretched fate, this wretched heaven.

"I like the daughter of the Lu family very much. I heard that she is also preparing to enter the palace. You should help her more. When the time is right, ask His Majesty to bestow a marriage upon her. She must be the Crown Princess."

Xiao Lingshou had a faint sneer on his lips.

The Empress twirled her prayer beads and continued, "Regarding the Three Pages Gate incident, the Emperor seemingly transferred Meng Yuxiu away, but in reality, he was promoting him. The Emperor knows who he can rely on, and at that time, Meng Yuxiu's position was already too high. Hu Cheng is Xiao Shu'er's person, and to balance the two, the Emperor will definitely take this opportunity to promote Hu Cheng. As long as Hu Cheng has the opportunity to be on equal footing with Meng Yuxiu, then Consort Lan will be a threat to you. You must arrange a marriage with the Lu family, the sooner the better, do you understand?"

Xiao Lingshou should be right.

"Let's go back."

After the empress finished speaking, she slowly turned the prayer beads in her hand, facing the benevolent Buddha with kind eyes, like a devout believer sincerely seeking Buddha's help.

Xiao Lingshou glanced at the Buddha statue, then walked out in silence.

His horse stopped at the back gate of the Buddhist temple. As he walked out, the young monk led the horse over to him and respectfully said, "Please be careful going down the mountain, benefactor."

The path Xiao Lingshou took down the mountain was not a well-maintained stone staircase, but a mountain path.

To cover up the truth.

The Queen also knew that many people were watching her.

Xiao Lingshou rode his horse along the rugged mountain road, the moonlight illuminating the path ahead, yet he still did not know where his home lay.

Suddenly, he really wanted to see Chang Lili.

He didn't know what it was about Chang Lili that attracted him.

Perhaps it's that kind of radiant smile that has seen hardship yet still shines, and those clear, bright eyes.

He had been in the dark for too long, and when he saw something too warm, he couldn't help but want to get closer.

Thinking of that person, Xiao Lingshou spurred his horse, whipped it, and galloped away on the narrow road.

As he walked toward the forbidden area, he suddenly realized that, given his status, he had no way of getting in.

After glancing at the mountains beyond the forbidden area, Xiao Lingshou led his horse back.

It was already past dawn, and soon the sky would brighten. Small vendors were starting to set up stalls on the street, and wisps of steam rose from their open steamers and iron pots.

Xiao Lingshou didn't have a good appetite, and even the delicacies of the Eastern Palace couldn't tempt him, let alone the rough food on the street. Although he hadn't eaten anything since evening, he still walked straight ahead without looking to the side.

"Waiter, give me a bowl of wontons, and go get a steamer of steamed buns over there." A crisp voice broke the quiet street, and the wonton shop had its first sound of the morning. The waiter sounded very happy as he caught the money tossed into the air and said, "Alright, sir, please have a seat. I'll go get it for you right away."

Xiao Lingshou looked in the direction of the sound and saw a girl with a high ponytail sitting casually in a small shop on the street, tapping the table with a chopstick in her hand. Her face was fair and translucent in the hazy air.

It was Lu Ming.

The daughter of the Lu family.

His future crown princess.

Xiao Lingshou recalled several of her identities in succession, all of which the Empress had just mentioned to him.

A faint sneer curled at the corner of his lips. Xiao Lingshou, unaware of the malicious intent he harbored, led his horse over.

He can marry any kind of woman he wants, and he knows exactly what's best for him, but how he treats others is his own business.

Lu Ming was so hungry that her stomach was sticking to her back. She smelled the aroma and her nose twitched. She turned her head with a bitter face to see that her buns had not been served. Then someone sat down next to her.

Lu Ming didn't have the temperament of those spoiled young ladies. She could eat at a small street stall and didn't mind sharing a table with others.

But then he caught a faint scent of ambergris on the other person—a very familiar smell. He looked up in surprise and saw Xiao Lingshou's pale, handsome face. He exclaimed in astonishment, "Your Highness..."

A slightly cool hand reached out and covered her mouth, gently shaking its head at her.

Lu Ming nodded, her face flushed. After Xiao Lingshou removed his hand, she asked in a low voice, "Young Master, what brings you here?"

"I couldn't sleep, so I came out for a stroll to observe the lives of ordinary people. But what are you doing here?"

Xiao Lingshou countered with a question.

Lu Ming said, "I came out riding a horse and got hungry, so I came to eat something. Your Highness, you are very lucky to have found the best shop here as soon as you arrived. Today, I will treat you to a meal. Waiter! Please bring another set of chopsticks and a bowl of wontons, a large one."

After shouting, Lu Ming realized under Xiao Lingshou's ambiguous gaze that a lady from a respectable family shouldn't shout like that, and felt a little embarrassed, so she looked down at the table.

Xiao Lingshou said, "You are quite different from the girls I've met before."

She's a bit like Chang Lili, unconventional and innocent.

Lu Ming took it as a compliment and said, "My family didn't really discipline me much growing up, so I'm a bit carefree. I hope you'll forgive me, young master."

Even though the two had met quite a few times, Lu Mingzi still felt nervous and blushed easily when facing Xiao Lingshou. If she made eye contact with Xiao Lingshou for a few moments, she would definitely lower her head in embarrassment.

It was the same now. Eating at the same table, Lu Ming was afraid that she might do something wrong. Only when the steaming wontons were served did she slightly cover her increasingly red face.

Suddenly, a hand reached out and pinched her chin. Xiao Lingshou looked at her with a smile: "Are you afraid of me?"

"No, no."

Lu Ming's face turned as red as a peach, and she hurriedly made an excuse, "I'm just a little nervous."

Xiao Lingshou smiled faintly, a faint smile playing on his lips. Handsome and aloof, he said, "No need to be so formal. I don't stand on ceremony."

Lu Ming quickly lowered her head and ate her wontons, racking her brains to find a topic to talk about with Xiao Lingshou, and said, "Is it delicious, young master?"

Xiao Lingshou tasted a little, and found a fresh flavor on his tongue. He nodded.

Lu Ming looked up at him happily and said, "This is my favorite shop. When I was little, my dad would carry me here to eat. Now I come here by myself. I've been eating here for over ten years. This waiter is the son of the original stall owner. His family's cooking skills are not passed on to outsiders."

Looking at her radiant appearance and the way she ate a wonton with such good manners, Xiao Lingshou said, "You have a very good relationship with your father?"