Chapter 54 I know everything, I did it voluntarily…
Chapter 51
Even with someone cushioning her fall, Shen Panyan still turned pale with pain.
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
The person who came helped her up, looking at her anxiously. Shen Panyan leaned against his body, looking dazed, her head buzzing.
"I, I'm fine..." She rubbed her arm, which was a little sore from the fall, and subconsciously looked up. Then her expression turned surprised. "Lord Lu?"
"Hmm." Lu Yunqi nodded, then asked, "Your Highness, are you really alright? Should I take you to see a doctor?"
Seeing that his anxiety and nervousness seemed genuine, Shen Panyan was immediately filled with doubt. She had only met him once today at the Spring Festival banquet, so why did he seem so nervous about her?
She and he don't seem to be that close, do they?
"No need. Thank you for saving me, Lord Lu." Shen Panyan shook her head.
At this moment, Zhuzhi and Qingdai also rushed over and took her from Lu Yunqi's hands. "Princess, are you alright? You scared us to death just now. We'll take you back to see a doctor right away!"
Seeing their anxious expressions, Shen Panyan smiled reassuringly, "I'm really fine, you don't need to be nervous."
Seeing that the commotion ahead was still ongoing, 'Lu Yunqi' leaped forward and kicked the brocade-clad youth off his horse, then tightened the reins and forcibly turned the horse around to calm it down.
The young man in brocade robes was not angry when he was kicked off his horse. When he landed, he flipped over to steady himself, which prevented him from falling too badly.
Seeing that the horse had calmed down, he quickly stepped forward to express his gratitude, "Thank you so much, Lord Lu. If it weren't for you..."
To his surprise, Lord Lu, sitting on his horse, gave him a cold glance, ignored him completely, dismounted, and headed towards where Shen Panyan was.
The young man in brocade scratched his head, looking completely bewildered.
Isn't Lord Lu supposed to be the most mild-mannered person? Even when he's angry, he wouldn't show it off to others. Why does he seem different this time?
But he couldn't quite put his finger on what was different.
Just then, a round-faced pageboy rushed over in a panic, looking at 'Lu Yunqi' with tears welling up in his eyes, 'Young...Young Master, your health has always been poor. You, you remember, how did you suddenly become so strong? Are you, are you alright now...?'
Lu Yunqi's steps suddenly stopped.
He couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
In the heat of the moment, I forgot that Lu Yunqi was a complete and utterly weak scholar who knew nothing of martial arts.
Lu Yunqi quickly circulated his inner energy, weakening his body. His lips turned pale, and he staggered. His pageboy quickly supported him, "Young master, young master, are you alright? It was all because you were in such a hurry that you didn't take care of your health. Let's go back quickly and find a doctor to take a look at you!"
As he spoke, the page pulled him quickly toward the carriage. If they didn't leave soon, the more people gathered to watch, the more their secret would be exposed.
Heaven knows how he felt seeing his usually gentle and weak master suddenly leap out of the carriage with surprising agility.
The pageboy's vision went black; he simply couldn't bear to recall it.
Lu Yunqi wanted to ask her about her situation again, but he was being held back by the pageboy and could only leave with him.
Although he could easily break free from the pageboy's grasp, they were still in the bustling city, and he couldn't easily reveal his true identity.
I can only see His Highness when I have time.
*
Shen Panyan looked at Lord Lu, who had just saved her, and suddenly became extremely weak, which struck her as strange.
Just now, he looked so agile, showing no signs of weakness whatsoever.
Shen Panyan began to doubt whether what Princess Nanhe had said about his poor health since childhood was true.
For some reason, Shen Panyan always felt that his weakness didn't seem real.
Lu Yunqi was elegant in demeanor. Although he had a gentle appearance, he gave her a feeling of being both refined and sharp. The sunlight fell on his pale and handsome face, without any gentleness.
It looks somewhat familiar...
Seeing him step onto the wooden stool, about to board the carriage, Shen Panyan finally couldn't help but speak up, "Lord Lu, please wait!"
Lu Yunqi paused, turned around and looked back.
Shen Panyan led Zhuzhi and Qingdai over, “I haven’t thanked Lord Lu for saving my life yet. Since Lord Lu is in poor health, and there is still a long way to go from Chang’an Street back to the Lu residence, there is a clinic ahead. Lord Lu might as well go to that clinic for a check-up, so that Mingyue can feel at ease.”
Without a second thought, the pageboy stood in front of Lu Yunqi and refused on his behalf, "No way!"
Shen Panyan's gaze fell on him. "Why?"
"Since it is a life-saving grace, Mingyue should repay it. What is wrong with that?"
The pageboy was sweating profusely with anxiety. "Princess Mingyue, it really won't work."
I don't know where His Majesty found this person. He doesn't resemble his young master at all. If this continues, and they run into someone they know, won't everyone know that his young master is a fake?
No, no, he couldn't let this fake young master ruin his young master's plans.
"My young master has been in poor health since childhood, and has been cared for by the family physician. I'm afraid the doctors outside wouldn't be able to treat him..."
"If the doctors outside can't do it, then come to my residence. I'll have someone take the token to the palace to invite the imperial physician."
Pageboy: "..."
Shen Panyan's gaze fell on 'Lu Yunqi', and she smiled gently, "What do you think, Lord Lu?"
Lu Yunqi's eyebrows softened, as if melting ice and snow, and he said, "This humble subject is at ease."
Shen Panyan told the Lu family members to go back on their own and took 'Lu Yunqi' with her.
*
As soon as she boarded the carriage, Shen Panyan dismissed Zhuzhi and Qingdai and looked at the man sitting opposite her. She scrutinized him from head to toe for a long time before speaking with almost certainty.
You know me!
"But I don't know you, and I've never had any interaction with you before, why?"
Lu Yunqi was slightly taken aback, then laughed, "As expected, nothing can be hidden from Your Highness."
His tone was so familiar that Shen Panyan was stunned for only a moment before confirming the unbelievable guess in her heart.
Everyone else calls her Princess, but there is only one person, and only one person, who calls her Your Highness—Lin Xiao.
Suppressing her joy, Shen Panyan recalled how he had seen her at Princess Zhaohe's residence but hadn't acknowledged her. Feeling annoyed, she deliberately put on a stern face and turned her head away, saying, "What are you saying? I don't understand."
"I'm sorry, Your Highness, I didn't mean to hide it from you."
“Previously at Princess Showa’s residence, there were always hidden guards nearby, so I was unable to recognize you.”
Lin Xiao stopped pretending to be Lu Yunqi, changed back to his own voice, smiled slightly, and looked at her with gentle eyes.
Shen Panyan wasn't angry to begin with, but now that he was looking at her like that, she was even less able to get angry.
"Okay, okay, I'll let it slide this time. I forgive you." Her almond-shaped eyes curved into crescents.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Lin Xiao smiled.
"How did you become Lu Yunqi?" Shen Panyan looked at him curiously.
Lin Xiao thought for a moment, then slowly said, "This matter begins on the day I returned to camp..."
Lin Xiao did not hide anything and told her everything he knew.
Regardless of whether this matter is dangerous or not, Your Highness should know the truth; he should not make the choice for Your Highness.
If Your Highness still insists on taking revenge yourself, he will help her; if Your Highness chooses not to do it yourself, he will still help her.
He said he would always be loyal to His Highness, so there would be absolutely no concealment.
After listening, Shen Panyan's eyes showed increasing surprise.
"So, you mean you're now acting on behalf of Lu Yunqi, investigating who else in the Crown Prince's faction is in the capital?"
Lin Xiao nodded, "Yes, but not exactly. Many civil and military officials in the court know that my 'Lu Yunqi' is an imposter. The real Lu Yunqi has already left the capital. My impersonation of 'Lu Yunqi' is mainly to investigate this spring's imperial examination and see how many people will still pledge allegiance to the Crown Prince."
"The imperial examination?"
"Hmm." After saying that, Lin Xiao hesitated again. He had something he wanted to say, but he didn't know whether he should say it or not.
Lin Xiao could see that His Highness did not actually have any ambition to seize power. To her, conspiracies and schemes were nothing more than a painful mountain weighing on her heart.
She was originally a pure and bright moon, so why should she be tainted with those undeserved filths?
He hoped His Highness would be happy.
She shouldn't have had to bear all of this in the first place.
After thinking for a moment, Lin Xiao still spoke up, "Your Highness, His Majesty already knows that the Crown Prince harbors wolfish ambitions. Even without your personal intervention, His Majesty can no longer tolerate the Crown Prince."
"Sooner or later, the Crown Prince will fall from his position."
"Back then, I reported all those things at the villa to His Majesty. Because there was no evidence, even though His Majesty could not completely believe it, he had doubts in his heart, and the Empress would not continue to be the Empress."
"Your Highness, I..." Lin Xiao pursed his lips, "I do not wish you to get involved. The things behind the Crown Prince are very dangerous."
"I think you could try relying on His Majesty. His Majesty actually cares about you a lot. You are not alone; you also have your father..."
Shen Panyan looked up at him. "So, you told Father Emperor everything about me?"
Lin Xiao knelt down on one knee. "I'm sorry, Your Highness."
"If Your Highness wishes to punish me, I will have no complaints."
Shen Panyan: "Why did you do this?"
"Without my permission, you told my father about my affairs..."
Shen Panyan wasn't actually angry; she was just puzzled as to why Lin Xiao had done this.
Lin Xiao lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I... I can't bear to see Your Highness suffer any longer."
“At the Royal Villa, no matter how I tried to cheer you up, you were unhappy. Your Highness is kind, and it is difficult for a person to go against their own nature. You should not have to bear these burdens. Your Highness, Lin Xiao knows your pain.”
"It was Lin Xiao who took it upon himself to tell His Majesty about your affairs, but Lin Xiao absolutely did not betray His Highness."
"Lin Xiao's vow has never changed."
"I didn't say you betrayed me." Shen Panyan's eyelashes trembled, and she could no longer maintain her feigned calmness. She lowered her voice, "Lin Xiao, do you even understand that you were by Father's side, yet you leaked the information to me? Once Father finds out, you will..." die.
Before he could finish speaking, Lin Xiao's serious voice rang out, "Your subordinate understands!"
Shen Panyan's heart trembled, and she bit her lip: "You know, you know, then why did you still...?"
"Do you even understand what I meant by giving you that knife...?"
"Your Highness, some things cannot be explained by reason," Lin Xiao said, raising his head and interrupting her.
His voice was calm and solemn.
"I only hope that Your Highness can be happy."
"Your Highness need not feel guilty. I know what I am doing."
"I know all this, I did it voluntarily."
"You!" Shen Panyan could no longer hold back, her eyes welling up with tears. "You, you're such a fool."
It turns out he knew everything, he understood everything... He knew all her pain and struggles.
Crystalline tears rolled down her fair cheeks...
Shen Panyan got up and walked to him, squatted down and hugged him, her voice muffled, "Lin Xiao, you're such a fool."
How could anyone be so stupid as to know everything and understand everything, yet still do this?
This does him no good at all.
Her Highness's soft body pressed tightly against his, a faint fragrance of orchids lingering around his nose, causing Lin Xiao's body to tense instinctively. After a long while, he hesitated before slowly embracing her supple waist.
"Your Highness, please don't cry."
"I hope that you can be happy every day, do what you want to do, do what you like, and not be as sad as before."
"Thank you, Lin Xiao..." Shen Panyan said softly.
How rare it is to find someone in this world who understands her suffering and her difficulties, and who genuinely only wishes her happiness.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
