Every time the prince opens his eyes, he sees

"Okay." This palace made Lu Yaoyao feel uncomfortable all over, and she wanted to leave quickly.

It’s best not to come here again.

However, before Liu Wenxuan could find the right moment to ask the Empress for instructions, the eunuch beside the Emperor came hurriedly and said, "Sir Liu, the Emperor has issued an urgent decree, saying that he has important matters to discuss. Sir Liu, please come with me."

Liu Wenxuan looked at Lu Yaoyao embarrassedly.

Lu Yaoyao said considerately: "You go, state affairs are more important, I will wait for you here."

"Okay, I'll come as soon as I go."

Not long after Liu Wenxuan left, the queen used the excuse of feeling unwell to disband the banquet.

The maid beside her walked over to Lu Yaoyao and said, "Miss Lu, Lord Liu has been summoned by the Emperor. It's not convenient for you to go back alone, let alone safe. The Empress is caring and sympathetic. Please go to the Empress's Palace for a visit. When Lord Liu has finished his business with the Emperor, he can come to the Empress's Palace to pick you up and take you back together."

Lu Yaoyao knew there might be a trap, but the other party arranged it so well that she had to agree.

After all, imperial power is greater than heaven.

Even if she disobeyed the order and escaped, what about Liu Wenxuan?

He is a weak scholar, should she just leave him alone?

If she resisted, the other party would definitely use Liu Wenxuan to threaten her.

"Then it would be disrespectful to refuse. Aunt, please lead the way."

Lu Yaoyao followed the palace maids through the winding palace corridors, taking every step with extreme caution and vigilance to prevent any danger that might arise at any time.

The decoration in the Queen's Palace is luxurious yet elegant, and the air is filled with a faint scent of incense, which makes people feel peaceful.

The queen sat on a high throne with a warm smile on her face, but behind that smile lay an elusive deeper meaning.

"Miss Lu, please sit down." The queen's voice was gentle and majestic, and no one dared to underestimate it.

Lu Yaoyao sat down as she was told and looked calmly into the Queen's eyes, trying her best not to let her see the strangeness in her heart.

"I've long heard that Lord Liu has deep feelings for Miss Lu. Seeing him today, I can see that his reputation is well-deserved." The Queen spoke slowly, as if testing her in her words.

Lu Yaoyao smiled faintly and replied in a neither humble nor arrogant manner, "Thank you for the praise, Her Majesty. Wenxuan and I have supported each other all the way to where we are today. We have a deep bond, and this is only natural."

The Queen nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with Lu Yaoyao's answer, but then changed the subject, "Miss Lu, do you know why the Emperor specifically asked Lord Liu to bring you to the banquet today?"

Lu Yaoyao's heart tightened, but she remained expressionless. "Your humble servant is ignorant and does not know the reason. I hope Your Majesty will explain it to me."

The Queen's gaze was deep, as if she was scrutinizing every expression on Lu Yaoyao's face. "This palace is just a guess. Perhaps the Emperor is curious about Miss Lu. After all, a woman who can attract Lord Liu so much must have something extraordinary."

Lu Yaoyao wondered in her heart, was the Queen's words a test or a warning?

She replied modestly, "I am but a country girl. I have no special qualities. It is only Lord Liu who has deep feelings for me."

Upon hearing this, the Queen curled up her lips into an ambiguous smile, "Miss Lu is too modest. However, I do look forward to Miss Lu adding some vitality to this harem in the future."

Lu Yaoyao's heart was filled with alarm. The Queen's words were clearly hinting at something.

She suppressed her uneasiness and maintained a proper smile on her face, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. I am just a person who will soon become Madam Liu. I have nothing to do with the harem."

The Queen smiled gently, her expression both polite and helpless. "Whether or not they are related is not something you and I can decide. Now, Yingliu, it's getting late. Take her over."

"Where are you going?" Lu Yaoyao looked alert.

"Don't worry, Miss Lu, you are safe in the palace." The queen said only this and said no more.

The palace maid beside her had already made a gesture of invitation. Seeing this, Lu Yaoyao could only stand up and follow the aunt away.

Lu Yaoyao was brought into a bedroom, which was low-key, luxurious, and full of masculine atmosphere.

There is an answer in my heart that is about to emerge.

Cold sweat began to seep out of her palms.

At this moment, there were slight footsteps outside the door, and Lu Yaoyao immediately turned around alertly.

The door slowly opened, and in came the emperor himself. He was dressed in a dragon robe, and his majesty was mixed with an indescribable gentleness. His eyes were deep, as if he could see into people's hearts.

"Lu Yaoyao."

Just three words made her heart sink into an icy cave, and she lost her composure.

But she still clenched her palms tightly, maintaining the last bit of rationality, "I don't understand what you are saying? Are you the emperor?"

The emperor walked up to her with heavy steps, grabbed her wrist, and spoke in a low and magnetic voice, forbidding her to resist or hide.

"Lu Yaoyao, how long are you going to keep this secret? Do you think I won't recognize you just because you've changed into a new identity?"

Lu Yaoyao was completely stunned.

Fresh breeze!

Thank you Qingchen!

It's really them!

How did they get here?

She took a deep breath, slowly raised her head, and met the emperor's gaze.

Those were a pair of eyes that could decide life and death in the world, and at this moment they were filled with deep affection and possessiveness for her.

"Why are you here?"

"You're finally willing to admit it." He chuckled, then added a sour, sarcastic tone, "I heard that you and Liu Wenxuan are deeply in love and have already tied the knot? It has to be mutual?"

For a moment, Lu Yaoyao had no idea how to respond. After all, she had thought she would never see her old friend Xie Qingchen again.

At this moment, memories of him came flooding back.

After a long while, she slowly came to her senses and tried to break free from his hand, but she found that he was incredibly strong and could not let her break free at all.

"Xie Qingchen, what happened between you and me is all in the past. Now, I am engaged to Liu Wenxuan, and I only wish to spend my life with him."

A trace of pain flashed across Xie Qingchen's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by ruthlessness. "Spend our lives together? Wishful thinking! Liu Wenxuan is just a weak scholar. If I want him to disappear, it will be as easy as crushing an ant."

Lu Yaoyao was shocked when she heard this. She knew very well the power of imperial authority, and Xie Qingchen's words were definitely not empty talk.

But she was finally about to succeed, but it was going to be ruined by Xie Qingchen again?

She didn't want to give up halfway, and she didn't want to drag down the innocent Liu Wenxuan.

"Your Majesty, please have mercy and let Liu Wenxuan go. He has nothing to do with this matter. There is no need to involve innocent people. I am willing to bear all the consequences." There was a hint of pleading in Lu Yaoyao's voice, but more of it was determination.

"Bear the consequences?" Xie Qingchen's eyes flashed with a domineering and cruel smile, "Very good, then return to my side."

"Impossible, we've already ended. If I wanted to be with you, I wouldn't have chosen to leave and start a new life."

"A new life?" Xie Qingchen sneered, "What you call a new life is nothing more than conquering new people, completing missions, and returning to your original world."

Lu Yaoyao was stunned, "You know everything."