Chapter 13 Oh dear, this is unbearable to look at! In what way am I inferior to Ying…
Lu Wensheng raised her hand and forcefully pulled Shen Hegui, who was trying to back away, into her arms.
He practically nestled into her arms; that's quite a deep embrace!
Shen Hegui never expected Lu Wensheng to be so bold. He lost control of his body and lunged straight at her. In the end, due to the huge difference in size between the two men, he was half in her arms and half outside.
Lu Wensheng was preoccupied with the urgent task at hand. Seeing an opportunity, he decided to go all out and try to pull Shen Hegui into a tight embrace, locking her in place.
The sounds of bowls and chopsticks falling to the ground and cups and plates overturning echoed in his ears, silently urging Lu Wensheng to hurry up, as there were acquaintances watching below.
In her haste, she didn't even know where she was grabbing; she just wanted to use the force to push Shen Hegui into her arms, using every ounce of strength she had.
She remembered that the wealthy patrons in the brothel loved to put their arms around the girls as soon as they sat down and then whisper sweet nothings to them.
Now, the two were completely and seamlessly joined together. Shen Hegui's upper body weight pressed entirely onto Lu Wensheng.
Shen Hegui: "Lu Wensheng, how dare you!"
Feng Gou's gaze was fixed on Lu Wensheng's hand. He felt that Lord Lu was completely finished now. Of all places to touch, why did he have to touch his buttocks? And even if his buttocks were fine, where were those four fingers digging at?!
Oh my, it's unbearable to look at!
Lu Wensheng gritted his teeth and took a deep breath, his attention completely focused on Shen Hegui's weight, and he didn't listen carefully to what he was saying at all.
What did Shen Hegui eat to grow up like this? He's so heavy!
Lu Wensheng gripped the lever tightly, silently counting to three in his mind. When he felt it was about time, he slightly loosened his grip. Having successfully taken the most difficult first step, he relieved some of his tense nerves.
In an instant, a delicate yet intensely fragrant scent enveloped her like an invisible net, impenetrable and all-encompassing. The overwhelming aroma disrupted her thoughts, leaving her mind blank for a few moments. She couldn't help but exclaim, captivated, "How fragrant!"
The smell made her weak all over, her bones felt numb, as if she had drunk too much alcohol, and she felt lightheaded, as if she was about to fly away.
Why does Shen Hegui smell different? Her clothes smell nice too, but she prefers this scent on her body! It's so intoxicating!
Through several layers of clothing, body temperature and the contours of their figures were clearly transmitted and magnified. Shen Hegui could not accept that Lu Wensheng, who was also a man, was so close to him.
At this moment, his thick, powerful hand had already placed on Lu Wensheng's shoulder, the calluses on his fingertips tightly gripping the body heat transmitted through the fabric, the veins on the back of his hand slightly bulging and knotted, ready to exert force.
The next moment, she spoke from the bottom of her heart, with a few words of intoxication, and stopped Shen Hegui in time.
His movements suddenly stopped.
His dark eyes surged, turning deep and mysterious in an instant. The narrow phoenix eye that had fallen into shadow transformed into a vertical pupil, cold and dangerous, yet his tone was gentle and seductive: "Lord Lu... what kind of fragrance do you smell on me?"
Shen Hegui's reaction was beyond Lu Wensheng's expectations. He wasn't angry or disgusted, and even spoke to her gently, which relieved her remaining tension.
She deliberately inhaled loudly to express her liking: "At first, it smells delicate and elegant, but upon closer inspection, it becomes strong yet not cloying. It's simply a heavenly product. The smell makes me feel refreshed and makes me want to eat three more bowls of rice..." She paused deliberately for a moment, taking the opportunity to think about how to express her liking next.
"Now, leaning on Your Highness..." Lu Wensheng leaned his head on Shen Hegui's broad shoulder, consolidating his mission, "The fragrance makes my heart race and my breath quicken. I long to hold Your Highness's hand, embrace you, and then steal you home and hide you away, so that Your Highness can only see me every day."
Why is her mouth getting more and more inappropriate? Why is it acting like this again? What's going on? System, she needs to get the system back and ask what's happening!
She used to think it was just because she was under too much pressure and had intermittent bouts of madness, but now that she thinks about it carefully, she's afraid it's the original character setting that's influencing her.
Shen Hegui felt Lu Wensheng's hot breath burning intensely, creeping down his neck and under his clothes, and his body suddenly stiffened. He turned his head to look at Lu Wensheng, whose face was full of intoxication.
The boy had snow-white skin, rosy cheeks, and a look of utter infatuation. His skull was much smaller than that of an average man; he could easily crush it with a mere flick of his wrist.
Should I expose them and then tear off the mask of civility? Shen Hegui asked himself.
Lu Wensheng still couldn't control himself from speaking his heartfelt confession: "Your Highness, do you know? The first time I saw Your Highness was on Chang'an Street outside the main gate of the palace. Your Highness was dressed in silver and rode a white horse, and it made my heart flutter..."
Shen Hegui expressionlessly covered Lu Wensheng's mouth to prevent her from continuing to spout nonsense and courting death. He ordered, "Get out of here, all of you. If even a single word is leaked, you will all be exiled to the army!"
"yes."
"Yes, yes..."
They had wanted to run away for a long time. Unexpectedly, Lu Wensheng, though not a high-ranking official, was quite bold, daring to fall for His Highness, this fearsome prince. Not only did he dare to fall for him, but he also dared to confess his feelings. Even their usually domineering daughter wouldn't dare to do such a thing.
Moreover, since Editor Lu and His Highness are both men, his courage is truly admirable!
Feng Gou glanced at the officials below him, then at his own spot, and seized the opportunity to slip away. It was better to get away quickly, lest he see something even more inappropriate and lose his life.
Interrupted by Shen Hegui covering her mouth, Lu Wensheng finally regained control of her speech. She raised her hand, pulled away Shen Hegui's hand, clenched it tightly, and hurriedly explained, "Your Highness, it's not what you think. Please let me explain!"
Shen Hegui shoved Lu Wensheng away and straightened his coat with extreme disgust: "How do you intend to explain this? You've said similar things to me more than once before, Editor Lu. All your backers will collapse under my hand. Be a good subject and stop thinking about things you shouldn't be thinking all day!"
"Also, forget the scent you smelled on me!"
"Yes!" The more you say, the more mistakes you make; it's better to say nothing. Since the palace coup, Shen Hegui has treated her normally. This is the first time he has brought up the past. She was too optimistic, thinking that Shen Hegui didn't care about those past grievances.
The system can just confiscate it; it's not around anymore, so it can't keep issuing missions! And as for her mouth, she shouldn't tell Shen Hegui anything except matters of the court, and then nothing should happen.
At the afternoon morning assembly, Lu Wensheng was able to stand at the door as if he were invisible.
The court session lasted until past 3 PM, when the sun's heat subsided before it ended.
In the morning, before dawn, Lu Wensheng specifically told Yingniang not to wait for her. He told her to wait until it was a little brighter and there were more people on the street, then drive the donkey cart straight home. He told her not to rush home in the afternoon and to walk back by herself.
Lu Wensheng mentally reviewed all the street food options, selected a few, and was about to buy some to take home when a pretty maidservant stopped him.
"Lord Lu, please wait!"
Lu Wensheng looked in the direction of the voice and, based on her clothing, determined that she was a palace maid.
Lu Wensheng: "Who is this lady...?"
Not only was she pretty, but she also had a sweet tongue. The round-faced woman was overjoyed when she was called "sister," and covered her mouth with a smile, saying, "This servant is Li Yun, who serves Princess Yongjia. The princess is waiting for you in the carriage over there."
Princess Yongjia, Chen Si.
Lu Wensheng didn't have a deep impression of her, having only seen her a few times from afar. However, he had heard some palace gossip, saying that this princess's birth mother died early, and her father was originally a general in the imperial guard with a bright future, but he died unexpectedly while protecting Emperor Qinghe during his southern tour. Shen Rui pitied her and had no one to rely on, so he adopted her as his goddaughter and made her a princess.
The princess just turned 18 this year, two years younger than her.
Lu Wensheng pondered for a moment, then silently followed Li Yun three steps behind. When they reached the low-key yet luxurious carriage, he stood respectfully outside the carriage to greet her.
"Your subject Lu Wensheng greets Your Highness. May I ask what Your Highness wishes to do upon summoning me?" She had no prior dealings with this princess, and this sudden invitation was truly perplexing.
A melodious voice, like that of a nightingale, drifted from inside the car, "It's some personal business, Editor Lu, would you mind getting in first?"
Lu Wensheng looked up at the sky, feeling a little anxious. If he went too late, he would probably have trouble buying those jujube paste rolls, sesame cakes, roast duck, and milk balls.
That's enough, let's finish this quickly!
Without further hesitation, she lifted the carriage curtain and entered.
Shen Rui only had two sons in his life, no daughters, so he doted on his adopted daughter, Shen Si.
She was well-cared for; she was pretty, elegant, innocent, and beautiful, with clear, bright almond-shaped eyes that seemed to speak volumes.
"It's getting late, so I'll take the editor home."
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Never mind, I'll buy it tomorrow.
Chen Si stared intently at Lu Wensheng, hesitant to speak. Lu Wensheng, observing proper etiquette, kept his eyes lowered, waiting for the princess's instructions. A subtle silence fell over the carriage.
Outside the car, the shouts of vendors from the market, the inquiries of passersby, and the heavier footsteps of porters could be heard. In the end, Lu Wensheng couldn't help but speak first.
"Your Highness, what is it that you need my assistance with?"
Chen Si reluctantly looked away from Lu Wensheng's face, poured a cup of tea, and pushed it towards her.
"I'm sixteen this year, and I'll be going on a blind date soon. Does Editor Lu have any thoughts on this?"
Without much thought, Lu Wensheng asked, "Which colleague in the Hanlin Academy has Your Highness taken a fancy to? I will answer to the best of my knowledge. If Your Highness wishes to express your feelings, I can also help deliver letters." There are several handsome men in the Hanlin Academy.
Seeing Lu Wensheng's reaction, a hint of disappointment flashed in Chen Si's eyes. She shook her head: "No, it's not like that?"
Could it be that business has come in?
Lu Wensheng picked up her cup, intending to take a sip of tea to quench her thirst, and inquired, "Is that a candidate taking the imperial examination this year? Do you need my help with predicting the exam questions?"
"No, not at all." Chen Si clenched her sleeves, silently encouraging herself, "Lord Lu, I want you to be my consort!"
"Cough cough cough..." In order not to spit it out, Lu Wensheng forced down the mouthful of tea he was holding.
She had witnessed twice the forced marriage of sons-in-law after the imperial examinations, and had seen several times the daughters of high-ranking officials fall for poor scholars and force them into marriage. Now it was her turn.
It seems she'll have to use the backup plan she prepared beforehand.
"Is Your Excellency alright?" Shen Si raised her hand to help Lu Wensheng, but due to social etiquette, she could only sadly withdraw her fingertips that were about to touch Lu Wensheng.
"Cough—I am unharmed."
“Your Highness, it is my fault for not announcing that I am already engaged. Several years ago, when I had just passed the imperial examination, I was already engaged to Yingniang in my family. She is my distant cousin. Yingniang and I have known each other since we were young and our feelings for each other are deep. I will marry no one but her in this life and will never take a concubine.”
Silence once again spread through the carriage.
Chen Si tried to open her eyes wide to stop the tears from falling. She lowered her voice, afraid of revealing her sobbing: "What is it about me that makes me inferior to Yingniang in your household?"
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