"Are you sure you didn't mishear?" Qi Sinan asked, sounding a little anxious.
"Sure"
Another person added, "When the Third Prince found out, he asked Princess Leyang if she was sure. After Princess Leyang nodded and said she was sure, the Third Prince ran away."
Upon hearing this, Qi Sinan didn't care about anything else and ran away as well.
Only Baili Zhou remained standing. The people who had been speaking looked at Baili Zhou and asked, "What's wrong with Prince Qi?"
"It's alright, thank you for letting me know."
After saying a few words, Bailizhou quickly followed Qi Sinan.
"Why did you follow me?"
"Just like you"
Qi Sinan wanted to say something after hearing this, but thinking of Bailizhou's father, she nodded, "Then let's go together."
Bailizhou and Qi Sinan walked together in one direction.
——————
"Master, look who I brought with me!"
Qin Ruoxi was followed by Qin Jingke and Lu Hua, with Lu Hua carrying a box containing food.
Zhang Shuhao watched Lu Hua enter the art studio and quickly lowered his head.
"This humble subject greets Your Highness, Consort Hua."
Do you really have to do this?
"Your Majesty, these are essential."
Qin Ruoxi didn't understand the meaning behind Lu Hua and Zhang Shuo's words, but Qin Jingke did.
"Master, what are you talking about?"
Qin Ruoxi asked Zhang Shuhao. Unfortunately, Zhang Shuhao was preoccupied with Lu Hua and didn't hear Qin Ruoxi's question.
So Qin Ruoxi looked at Lu Hua and said, "Let's eat."
"Your Highness, please eat. My father is coming home late tonight, so let's eat together."
"good"
Chunhe entered and led a few people into the restaurant. After Qin Ruoxi sat down, Qin Jingke immediately sat down to her left.
Lu Hua sat on the right, and Zhang Shuo wanted to sit on Qin Jingke's left, but Qin Jingke refused.
"Master, please sit over there."
Zhang Shubo glanced at the seat next to Lu Hua, but didn't say anything.
Zhang Shubo secretly longed to sit next to Lu Hua, but Lu Hua was no longer his Lu Hua; she was now the Empress. If he sat next to Lu Hua, it would inevitably bring gossip and rumors to her.
Just as Zhang Shuhao was about to say he was leaving, Qin Jingke spoke.
"Master, please sit here."
Hearing this, Zhang Shuhao walked over and sat down next to Qin Jingke.
During meals, Zhang Shubo would secretly glance at Lu Hua each time, but no one knew this.
After dinner, when Zhang Shubo taught Qin Ruoxi and Qin Jingke to paint, Lu Hua stayed by their side the whole time.
Anyone who didn't know better would think it was Lu Hua accompanying Qin Ruoxi.
After Qin Ruoxi and Qin Jingke finished drawing, Zhang Shubo left the Yangxin Hall.
I don't know how long Zhang Shuhao had been walking, but he finally spoke, "How long are you going to follow me?"
"Shubo, you still like me, right?"
"What are you saying, Your Highness?"
Just that one sentence—no, just the word 'Your Majesty'—froze Lu Hua in place.
"Shubo, do you really have to do this?"
"Your Majesty!"
Upon hearing Lu Hua's words, Zhang Shuhao immediately shouted Lu Hua's name loudly.
It's unclear whether this use of "Your Majesty" was an attempt to cover up Lu Hua's words or to conceal his own inner thoughts.
Lu Hua took two steps toward Zhang Shuhao and stopped in front of him.
"Shubo, I just want to know, why didn't you come when we made that promise?"
Hearing this, Zhang Shuhao lowered his eyes, said nothing, and turned to leave.
"This humble subject remembers that Your Majesty and I are not going the same way, so this humble subject will take his leave now."
Zhang Shuhao walked away without a backward glance, showing no sign of lingering. Lu Hua stood still, watching Zhang Shuhao leave. Even after seeing him turn the corner and walk away, she didn't move.
Zhang Shuhao stood behind the wall at the corner and looked towards Lu Hua. He found Lu Hua standing there motionless, and his heart was filled with bitterness.
And so, one person stood on the palace path looking forward, while the other stood at the bend, looking towards the person on the palace path.
Qi Sinan arrived at the door of the Imperial Study and saw Qin Jingtai kneeling on the ground.
Why are you here?
"Why is it that only a clueless Third Prince like you can come, but I, the shrewd and intelligent Prince Qi, am not allowed to come?"
Qin Jingtai, unusually, didn't argue with Qi Sinan, but instead gave Qi Sinan a look as if she were an idiot.
Qi Sinan naturally saw Qin Jingtai's gaze, but chose not to acknowledge it. He and Bailizhou knelt directly beside Qin Jingtai.
"Have you thought it through?"
"Nonsense! If you've thought it through, shouldn't we have to?"
"Your Highness, we came here as soon as we heard the news."
Qin Jingtai remained silent.
The three of them knelt outside the Imperial Study, not receiving Qin Jue's consent, but instead receiving Qin Ruoxi's arrival.
"Third brother, Qi Sinan, Baili, what are you all doing here?"
Qin Ruoxi looked at the three people kneeling on the ground and asked in confusion.
Qin Jingtai looked at Qin Ruoxi in front of him, gave a silly smile, and said, "That's because..."
After Qin Jingtai finished speaking, Qin Ruoxi nodded to indicate that she understood.
"Don't worry, I'll help you persuade Father."
"Really? Thank you, sister."
"Third brother, you're my older brother, why are you being so polite with me?"
"I'll go in first then~"
The three of them nodded in unison, and then all watched as Qin Ruoxi led Chunhe and Xiaju inside.
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