Chapter 376 He doesn't mind... [8]
Ah Chu blushed instantly, as if she hadn't expected the Empress to ask her this.
"Mother! Why are you asking this?" Her voice was filled with barely concealed shyness and embarrassment.
The Empress said sternly, "What's so embarrassing about that? Did you consummate your marriage with him or not?"
She was mainly worried that her daughter, because she was in love with Lan Qingchen, would not want Lu Zhixing to get close to her.
If a husband and wife do not consummate their marriage, it is not a marriage alliance, but a feud.
Achu lowered her eyes, avoiding looking at the Empress, but quickly nodded in response.
But the Empress was still somewhat skeptical. She glanced at Xueyan standing there and questioned her with her eyes.
Only after seeing Xueyan nod did the Empress believe it.
It wasn't that she didn't want to believe her daughter; it was just that she knew all too well how much her daughter liked Lan Qingchen.
My daughter, who never seems to have a long-lasting crush on anything, has actually persisted in her feelings for Lan Qingchen for several years.
Lan Qingchen was definitely not comparable to any of the things she used to like.
Now that she knew her daughter and Lu Zhixing had consummated their marriage, the Empress was finally able to put her mind at ease.
As for the remaining half, we need to observe it further.
Because the emperor invited Achu to stay for lunch, she was able to stay in the palace for half a day.
Ah Chu didn't spend much time alone with the Empress either.
The Empress is the head of the harem and a very busy person with countless affairs to attend to.
As for Achu, she had a lot of trouble with Lu Zhixing last night, and she got up too early today.
While the Empress was busy handling palace affairs, Achu simply went to a side hall of Kunning Palace to catch up on sleep.
Achu was woken up by Lu Zhixing.
She opened her eyes groggily and saw him sitting by her bedside.
The curtains were drawn in the inner room, so the light wasn't very bright.
The man tilted his head slightly, revealing only half of his exquisite and intact face.
Lu Zhixing's thin lips curved slightly, and because his expression was obscured, he even appeared somewhat alluringly gentle.
Seeing Ah Chu looking at her with her beautiful eyes half-closed, perhaps because she was a little warm from sleeping, her fair cheeks were rosy and her cherry lips were red.
Lu Zhixing's eyes darkened, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
If this weren't in the palace, he wouldn't mind... indulging in debauchery in broad daylight.
Putting aside his inner thoughts, Lu Zhixing maintained a serious demeanor and said, "Your Highness, it's time to get up and have lunch."
His voice is clear, soothing, and very deceptive.
Achu seemed still very sleepy, burying her face in the soft pillow, her voice slightly hoarse and soft: "So sleepy~ I want to sleep more."
Looking at Achu's soft, bouncy cheeks being pressed against the pillow, Lu Zhixing knew how good that felt.
He was itching to try it.
But I still held back.
"If the princess doesn't get up, does she intend to keep the Emperor and Empress waiting for her?"
Ah Chu frowned, pouted, and muttered something unhappily.
Seeing her like this, Lu Zhixing didn't even realize that a faint smile had appeared in his eyes.
[Ding! Your target's affection level has increased by 10, currently at 50!]
Achu's eyelashes trembled, her face still showing signs of exhaustion. She squinted and reached out her hand to Lu Zhixing.
Looking at the slender, jade-like hand presented to her, its whiteness resembled the finest mutton-fat jade, with a faint pink hue at the fingertips, it was even more beautiful than any meticulously carved piece.
Lu Zhixing paused for a moment before raising his hand to grasp hers and then helping A Chu up from the bed.
He shook the bell hanging beside the bed, and Xueyan and Hanliu led the palace maids in to serve him with washing utensils.
Achu was practically leaning against Lu Zhixing's chest as the palace maids helped her wash up.
When she sat down in front of the dressing mirror to redo her makeup, she seemed to finally come to her senses.
Seeing that the princess had regained her usual arrogant and haughty demeanor, Lu Zhixing thought to himself that the princess who was still half asleep just now was much more likable.
Lunch was served in Kunning Palace, with the Emperor, Empress, Crown Prince, and Achu and his wife.
The five people dined like an ordinary family.
The emperor, thinking that no one else was around, did not adhere to the rules of not speaking while eating or sleeping.
During meals, he would either chat with Achu or ask about the Crown Prince's studies.
The meal was enjoyed by everyone.
After lunch, Achu and Lu Zhixing should leave the palace.
The emperor and empress both bestowed generous rewards, some upon Achu and others upon their son-in-law, Lu Zhixing.
When they left the palace, Achu was still riding in a sedan chair, with Lu Zhixing walking beside her.
The afternoon sun was a bit too bright and the heat was even more intense.
Wearing the heavy princess's court robes, Achu just wanted to hurry back to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion to take them off and cool off.
But then she heard Lu Zhixing, who was walking beside her, ask, "Would Your Highness like to stroll around the Imperial Garden and admire the flowers?"
Ah Chu held a delicate little round fan in her hand, fanning herself. Upon hearing this, she glanced at Lu Zhixing, then looked at the flowers in the Imperial Garden.
The flowers, which were so vibrant and beautiful this morning, are now a little wilted.
Achu frowned, and questioned him unhappily, "In this scorching sun, you want me to stroll in the Imperial Garden? Are you trying to make me get sunburned and ruin my face?!"
Lu Zhixing: "..."
This confirms it even more: this princess truly has no brains.
They couldn't even understand the implied meaning in his words!
Lu Zhixing felt both helpless and amused.
Since Achu 'didn't understand,' he had no choice but to explain it clearly: 'Didn't the princess say that she wanted a chance to meet with the Third Prince Yetu alone?'
“Just now I saw the Third Prince Ye Tu standing in that pavilion over there again. Now is the perfect opportunity.”
Upon hearing this, Achu seemed to suddenly realize something.
Her expression immediately became conflicted.
She wanted to see Lan Qingchen, but was afraid of getting tanned and becoming ugly.
In the end, she bit her lip and decided, "I'll see you today!"
Lu Zhixing looked at A Chu with some surprise.
Then he heard A Chu say to him in a commanding tone, "Another day, you invite Lan Qingchen to a teahouse outside the palace, and I will go to see him then!"
As a hostage, Lan Qingchen was not always confined to the palace.
He was allowed to leave the palace a few days each month.
However, his itinerary was always under the surveillance of others.
Lu Zhixing was not surprised at all by what A Chu said.
He replied, "Yes, Your Highness."
Ah Chu waved her round fan: "Hurry up and go, I'm melting from the heat!"
After leaving the palace and getting into a luxurious carriage with ice basins already set out, Achu felt a little more comfortable.
The carriage swayed and rocked all the way back to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
The Duke and his wife were waiting at the door to welcome the princess.
Upon seeing Achu, the couple immediately bowed.
Achu waved his hand and said, "Why should my parents wait for me in this hot weather?"
"I...I am already married to Lu Zhixing. If you continue to bow to me like this, others will probably think that I, as your daughter-in-law, am still putting on airs like a princess!"
Upon hearing this, the Duke and his wife repeatedly said they dared not.
Hearing what A-Chu said, Lu Zhixing, who was standing nearby, looked at her.
He wondered if the Empress had instructed her to say that.
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