Once inside the palace, there was still a long way to go. Gu Liyue followed behind Lu Jinchen. There were eunuchs and maids in front to lead the way. The four of them walked along the long corridor in complete silence.
Gu Liyue was extremely cautious. She felt her heart pounding so hard that it seemed everyone could hear it. Although the path was flat, she stumbled and almost fell.
Lu Jinchen, with a cold and stern face, gently took hold of her hand to steady her.
The maid in front looked back in surprise and asked, "Miss, are you all right?"
Lu Jinchen waved his hand coldly. "You may leave."
The maid and the eunuch exchanged a glance and looked at Gu Liyue hesitantly. They didn't dare to leave.
Lu Jinchen said again, "I know this way well. There's no need for a guide. As for Miss Gu, you don't need to worry. She is my fiancée. I'll surely take her to the Empress Dowager safely. It's actually you who are making her feel uncomfortable here."
The maid and the eunuch bowed and withdrew.
Now, only Lu Jinchen and Gu Liyue were left in the corridor. Although Gu Liyue was still nervous, she managed to keep herself from losing her composure. She just followed Lu Jinchen closely and whispered, "Thank you..."
Lu Jinchen didn't say much. It wasn't until they reached the outside of the Shoukang Palace that he spoke up. "The Empress Dowager likes tranquility. All the imperial concubines have gone to the royal garden and aren't in the palace. The North Palace only has the Shoukang Palace, and rarely does anyone come here."
Gu Liyue nodded vaguely. She thought Lu Jinchen was just trying to ease her nervousness by saying this.
Lu Jinchen continued, "Beyond here is the North Palace. Go straight for fifty steps, then turn left. After walking for a while, the place with guards on duty is the Shoukang Palace."
Gu Liyue nodded again. "Is my elder brother... still kneeling outside the Shoukang Palace?"
Lu Jinchen didn't answer. He quickened his pace. "Yunxi lives in the side palace of the Shoukang Palace. But if you go, you have to see the Empress Dowager first."
Gu Liyue didn't know what he meant by this. But since they were in the palace, she didn't dare to ask more. She frowned and hung her head in silence.
Just then, Lu Jinchen stopped. Gu Liyue wasn't paying attention and bumped into his back. Because he had walked fast just now, she had also quickened her pace. With this bump, her nose felt sore, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Lu Jinchen looked back at her and saw her with tears glistening in her eyes, looking like she wanted to cry but dared not.
With no one around, Lu Jinchen reached out and pulled her towards the palace wall, pinning her against the corner.
Gu Liyue widened her eyes in surprise and asked blankly, "What... what are you doing?"
Lu Jinchen lowered his head and kissed her lips passionately, making her feel dizzy with desire.
Gu Liyue's heart was pounding. She seemed to be completely lost, but a shred of clarity in her mind kept her rational.
"Um..." Gu Liyue finally managed to dodge him and said nervously, "This is the palace... How can you act so recklessly?"
Seeing that Lu Jinchen was about to come closer again, she quickly covered her face and buried her head. "If... if someone sees... The Empress Dowager... is still waiting."
Lu Jinchen didn't continue, but he didn't move either. He just gently held her in his arms. "Liyue, I miss you so much. I miss you so, so much."
Gu Liyue felt both nervous and sweet. Suddenly, she seemed to hear footsteps nearby. She widened her eyes in panic and looked at Lu Jinchen.
Lu Jinchen just smiled softly and whispered in her ear, "There are guards patrolling on the other side of the palace wall. There's no door here, so they can't come over."
His breath tickled Gu Liyue's ear. She felt her face flush and couldn't help but tremble.
Lu Jinchen's hand stroked her neck, and the other hand gently caressed her lips. Then he took a step back. "Liyue, do you miss me?"
Gu Liyue's face turned even redder. She was too shy to say a word.
Lu Jinchen smiled softly, lowered his head and bit her lips gently.
Gu Liyue winced in pain and quickly pushed him away, covering her mouth. "You... you can't be so... so rude..."
Lu Jinchen hugged her tightly and didn't want to let go. "But you've been on my mind day and night. If it weren't for my family affairs, I'd marry you right away."
Gu Liyue murmured softly, "Why are you in such a hurry... It's not been long..."
The Gu family and the Liang Prince's Mansion had agreed that they would choose a wedding date at the beginning of next year. It would take at least half a year after the date was set to get married. So, calculating the time, it would be at least a year before they could tie the knot.
Seeing Gu Liyue struggling, Lu Jinchen whispered, "Don't move, Liyue. Let me hold you for a while."
Gu Liyue obediently stopped moving. Her hand accidentally touched his belt. As if not satisfied, she touched it again.
Lu Jinchen quickly caught her hand. "What are you doing?"
Gu Liyue was startled. She curled her hand and explained, "I... I saw this pattern was special... and quite nice, so I..."
Lu Jinchen took a deep breath. "It's not nice. From now on, I'll only wear the ones you embroider for me."
Gu Liyue was taken aback. "But I've never embroidered anything for you."
"Then embroider something for me in the future."
Gu Liyue lowered her head. It took her a long time to nod. "Okay."
Lu Jinchen smiled again and hooked his arm around her neck. "Do you always like to lower your head? And you're always blushing."
Gu Liyue just whispered, "The Empress Dowager... is still waiting..."
Lu Jinchen said casually, "It doesn't matter. Let her wait a while."
Gu Liyue was anxious. She didn't dare to keep the Empress Dowager waiting. For a moment, she reached out and pushed his chest. "How can you do this? Do you usually fool people like this?"
Lu Jinchen let go of her. After a moment of silence, he tidied up the disheveled hair on her temples. "No, this is the first time. Time always flies by so fast when I'm with you. Once we enter the Shoukang Palace, I won't even be able to look at you properly."
Gu Liyue was slightly stunned and asked in a low voice, "Then... then... in the future, you can often ask my fourth elder brother to take me out..."
Lu Jinchen laughed. "I always have to find ways to coax him. Even when I see you, he always watches me warily, afraid that I'll do something to you."
Gu Liyue gave him a reproachful look. "You... you... We're not even married yet!"
Lu Jinchen felt happy seeing her shy. He held her hand and stroked it. "Just wait a little longer. It'll be soon."
Gu Liyue didn't quite understand. "What will be soon?"
Lu Jinchen didn't say much. He just shook his head. "The Empress Dowager wants to see you. Don't be nervous. Just follow me."
Gu Liyue was still a bit confused, but she followed Lu Jinchen into the Shoukang Palace. The maid and the eunuch were already waiting outside the Shoukang Palace. They had been waiting for them.
The maid heaved a sigh of relief and quickly stepped forward. She bowed and said, "Prince, Miss Gu, Her Majesty is inside the palace."
Gu Liyue nodded. She was a bit nervous and stole a glance around. It wasn't that she was impolite. She just couldn't feel at ease until she saw her fourth elder brother.