Chapter 97 It’s Not Too Late
Lu Qiaoxiao could clearly feel the person next to him tremble, and a dense and warm feeling covered the place where their palms were joined.
After a while, Shen Yuheng chuckled and stared at her dimly, "Qiao Qiao, it's not too late now."
"From the day we get married until the day we die, we will be together."
Lu Qiaoxiao was shocked by these words. She raised her hand to cover the man's mouth and said urgently, "What's the use of life or death? Bah, bah, bah, we won't die. We all want to live well."
When she thought of the end of Shen Yuheng before her soul dissipated in her previous life, and her body was buried in the endless yellow sand, her heart seemed to be cut by a knife, leaving a series of cuts that were neither deep nor shallow, but left her with long-lasting pain and palpitations.
Shen Yuheng forcefully held her in his arms and didn't speak for a long time. All he could hear was the strong beating of their hearts. As if that wasn't enough, he held her hand in his palm and pressed it against his warm chest.
Shen Yuheng felt the rustling sound of the person in his arms, and for the first time, he felt that the feeling of happiness was so direct, regardless of the court, the people's livelihood and beliefs.
He had been self-disciplined and strictly abided by the rules for so many years. When he wanted to get close to her the most, out of his adherence to and compliance with the gentleman's conduct, he carefully hid his hand, which he had wanted to reach out countless times, in a carriage with curtains drawn, where it could not be seen in the light.
Even when he deliberately approached her and used high-sounding excuses to coax her into marrying him, and on the wedding day, when he and she were so closely intertwined and honest with each other, he was still uneasy, fearing that it was just his wishful thinking and her half-hearted obedience and compliance.
Until just now, she looked at herself with wet eyes, and said in a very melodious and emotional voice: If we could be together earlier, would everything be different?
Shen Yuheng suddenly felt that all these years of loneliness and hesitation were worth it.
He lowered his head to look at the person in his arms, only to find that she was squinting like a kitten, and his heart was filled with joy.
As they approached the venue of the palace banquet - Weiyang Palace, the carriage stopped. When Lu Qiaoxiao got off in a daze, he was startled by the cold wind.
It is deep winter now. Even if we eat indoors, we won’t even reach out to hold the chopsticks unless we light a charcoal brazier.
She was already regretting her argument with Bai Zhi in the Prime Minister's Residence that morning. Bai Zhi asked her to put on a large coat, but she thought it was too heavy and inconvenient, so she refused it on the grounds that people who practiced martial arts were not afraid of the cold.
Now that she was chilled to the bone by the cold wind, she finally behaved herself.
As she was rubbing her hands unconsciously, her shoulders suddenly felt heavy. Shen Yuheng turned her over. He had a fox fur cloak in his hand from nowhere. His slender and flexible fingers circled around her neck a few times and put the pink and white fox fur on her.
Today she wore her hair in a butterfly bun, revealing her smooth and full forehead. Her pretty little face was embraced by soft fur, just like a crisp white Bodhi fruit.
Lu Qiaoxiao felt warm immediately, and the hand hidden in his sleeve was captured accurately and squeezed inconspicuously.
"Let's go." Shen Yuheng's voice was cold and indifferent, and his eyes returned to their usual aloof and indifferent state.
It was completely invisible to others. When she woke up in the carriage just now, she saw him kissing her anxiously. When a color appeared in his cold eyes, it was as if a Buddhist disciple was dragged down to the mortal world by a demon.
Lu Qiaoxiao was surprised at his superb disguise skills, and secretly complained that if this man did not become the prime minister, he would also achieve great things if he went to the enemy country as an undercover agent.
After passing through the plum forest, they arrived at the Weiyang Palace. The two stood side by side, holding hands and strolling slowly. Suddenly, a young guard in black hurried over and blocked their way. "Prime Minister, the emperor has a request."
"Understood." Shen Yuheng nodded in response, then turned around and looked at Lu Qiaoxiao, "Madam, please go to Weiyang Palace first. I will come over later."
The young guard at the side lowered his head and dared not speak the whole time. He could not help but recall the ruthlessness with which Prime Minister Shen ridiculed officials of the same rank in the hall, and his decisiveness in cutting people's palms and tongues. Even now, the legend of Shen Yanluo is still circulating in the imperial prison.
Is the man in front of me, who keeps holding Commander Lu's hand and calling him "Madam" still the cold, ruthless and murderous official from before?
——
As soon as Lu Qiaoxiao walked into the Weiyang Palace, he immediately attracted many eyes in the palace.
Everyone was very curious about the marriage between the Yong'an Marquisate and the Prime Minister's Mansion. Shen Yuheng, a woman who was beyond the reach of others, actually married a woman with a bad reputation in the declining Marquisate and who was regarded as a joke by others. What could be more explosive than this?
But when everyone saw Lu Qiaoxiao's appearance, they all had an idea in their minds.
Regardless of what kind of person she is, just for the sake of such a beautiful and charming appearance, it would be a face-saving and glorious thing to keep her at home as a display.
Lu Qiaoxiao naturally had no idea about the evil thoughts in other people's hearts. She found a corner and sat down first, asking the eunuch for a cup of tea and drinking it slowly.
"Empress Yu is here." Lu Qiaoxiao looked over and saw her second sister Lu Qingyue, dressed in a goose yellow gown embroidered with a blue phoenix, walking towards her.
As Lu Qingyue passed the door, she glanced at the person sitting in the corner. Her knuckles were slightly white as she gripped the hand warmer, but she smiled gently. "Sisters, Concubine Li has caught a cold, and His Majesty has asked me to preside over this palace banquet. It's still early, so why don't you sisters go to Merlin for a stroll?"
As soon as this statement was made, many people agreed with it.
Although most of the wives of officials present looked down on this kind of woman who relied on scheming to become someone else's substitute for promotion, they did not dare to show it on their faces.
Lu Qingyue was just conferred the title of consort a few days ago, and she was in great favor with the emperor. No one would disobey her at this time.
Lu Qiaoxiao didn't move, but just sat there quietly. She wanted to wait for Ruan Qingqiu.
In the past, Ruan Qingqiu had no chance to attend such occasions, but since she went to the He Mansion in the name of the Prime Minister's wife to propose marriage for her younger brother, the people in the He Mansion naturally no longer dared to treat her badly.
She was certain that Ruan Qingqiu would come to today's banquet, so she wanted to stay and keep her company and exchange some sweet words.
Lu Qingyue's eyes swept around fiercely, finally landing on a corner. Her voice was still soft, but with a hidden edge: "Why? Sister, just because you've become the Prime Minister's wife, does that mean you're going to distance yourself from me?"
Lu Qiaoxiao curled the corners of his lips and said lightly: "Of course not."
"That's good." A hint of ruthlessness flashed across Lu Qingyue's eyes. If she wasn't lured over, how could today's plan be implemented?
She finally managed to seize the opportunity when Concubine Li was away, and she took charge of the palaces and arranged all matters.
Her good sister Lu Qiaoxiao - so what even if she married Prime Minister Shen?
In front of the royal family, she is ultimately a subject.
She had inquired in advance and knew that Mr. Pei from the Shangshu Mansion would be coming today. It seemed that he still had feelings for Lu Qiaoxiao.
If Shen Yuheng saw Lu Qiaoxiao having an affair with another man, would he be so angry that he would stab the lady to death with a sword?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
