âFurthermore,â Li Miaoâs eyes turned cold, âIn just a few days, the second madam Mrs Ruan will be raised to be the legitimate wife. At that time, Lou Lianxin will become a fully fledged legitimate born daughter. So she wonât be a burden to you. So right now, you have gain the emperorâs favor at tonightâs banquet, donât make any more blunders.â
â... Yes!â
âAs long as youâre clear about what you need to do. Right, what about your third brother? Why didnât he follow you back?â
âThird brother?â Li Jingshengâs heart started to beat faster. His lowered eyes showed his panic but he kept pressing it down, trying to force himself to be calm.
Carefully, he spoke, âI originally wanted to bring third brother back but third brother had already gotten used to living by himself. When he heard that he had to go back, he didnât say anything and completely disappeared. Your son was rushing back for the banquet so âŚâ
âThat child!â Li Miao furrowed his brows but his voice was full of affection. He didnât question it at all, âAs long as he wants to play, let him continue. Weâll just bring him back after a while.â
Li Jingshengâs lowered lids flashed dark, but when he spoke, it was courteous. âYes, your son will remember.â
When Li Jingsheng finally left the room, he finally let out a sigh of relief. He looked at the quickly darkening sky and his eyes darkened too.
His mind flashed Lou Qingwuâs beautiful and small face but he controlled himself.
In a choice between a beauty and the Ruan family, he would definitely choose the later.
As for Lou Lianxin, heâd marry her first and then think of a way to get Lou Qingwu too.
As for third brother âŚ
He will wipe away all traces!
After thinking it all through, Li Jingsheng started to prepare for when he would enter the palace.
After a while, when he sees Lou Lianxin in the palace, heâll just coax her a bit and then itâll be fine.
But Li Jingsheng didnât know that he would see Lou Lianxin that soon. Right as he got to outside of the palace and was lowered out of his palanquin, he saw two more not too far away.
One in front and one behind and when their inhabitants walked out, he saw Lou Lianxin and Countess of Chaoxia.
That Countess of Chaoxia was Prince Zhongâs only daughter and had been spoiled to the point of no return. Her personality was unruly and wildly stubborn but her base personality wasnât bad.
She just had no scheming heart but her temper was short and would easily blow, to the point where she would blow up at anyone, including her relatives.
Lou Lianxin relied on the Ruan familyâs connections to build connections with the other n.o.blewomen in society circles.
Furthermore, she was good at bootlicking and would always gift expensive things so that curried a lot of their favours.
She also gained the empressâ favour and was close with the Countess of Chaoxia.
This demonstrates how crafty Lou Lianxin is, and cemented her as more of a help than Lou Qingwu could be to Li Jingsheng.
As he thought, Li Jingsheng looked towards Lou Lianxin.
And Lou Lianxin had noticed Li Jingsheng at the first moment too but because she was standing by the Countess of Chaoxia, she had no option to leave.
The Countess of Chaoxia knew that Lou Lianxin had him as a fiance so she looked at Li Jingsheng and then back at Lou Lianxinâs face that wanted to go over to him, but was slightly hesitant and pitiful, she couldnât help but tease her.
âWhat? Did you two get into a fight?â
As she spoke, she didnât think that Lou Lianxinâs eyes would immediately redden.
âAh, I only said a bit and youâre already crying? Come, tell big sister, who bullied our Lian beauty? Look at how pitiful you look.â
Lou Lianxin held her handkerchief as she pressed it against her eye corners, hesitated for a bit before softly speaking, âItâs nothing, itâs only a small matter.â
âA small matter? A small matter would make you upset like this?â Countess of Chaoxia was full of disbelief. Her personality was straightforward and couldnât bear for her people to bullied at all.
She immediately patted her chest, âSpeak! Even if the sky falls down, you have this countess to hold it up for you!â
Lou Lianxin opened her mouth for half a day before softly saying, âMy big sister came.â
âEn? That legitimate sister who only knows how to steal your man three years ago? So what if sheâs back? Why are you feeling so wronged? Itâs not like she can flip the heavens?â
*
TL note
Countess fell for it, hook, line and sinker. LLX: 1, LQW: 0
Countess of Chaoxia: countess = junzhu (éĄä¸ť), n.o.ble rank thatâs below princes but above other n.o.blewomen, sheâs cousins with the emperorâs children. Her father is the brother of the current emperor. Important because of who she has a crush on. Cousins donât count as incest, unless they share a grandfather.
So the 'countess' t.i.tle makes her sound old but sheâs actually around the same age as Lou Lianxin.