Lu Jinchen walked up to Gu Liyue and asked, "Is Yunniang all right?"
Gu Liyue nodded. "I coughed up blood yesterday. My aunt promptly invited a doctor, and my grandmother immediately sent a token into the palace to summon the imperial physician... Hey, how did you know about what happened in my family?"
Lu Jinchen just smiled and said nothing.
Gu Liyue frowned. "You've placed people around me? You've been keeping an eye on me?"
Lu Jinchen explained, "The people I've placed around you are only in the outer courtyard. They follow you when you go out, but they won't show up when you're at home. Liyue, rest assured. I know my limits and won't do anything inappropriate."
Gu Liyue murmured, "But how did you..."
She didn't finish her sentence and instinctively covered her mouth. That's right. After figuring things out yesterday, she decided to be herself more often in front of her family. But today she'd forgotten. He was Lu Jinchen, not one of her brothers. She shouldn't have spoken to him like that.
Lu Jinchen, however, was very happy and continued to explain, "Last night when I returned to the palace, I heard that the Marquis Mansion had summoned the imperial physician. The emperor was worried it was your grandfather or grandmother. Only later did I learn it was Yunniang."
Gu Liyue suddenly understood. She said in a low voice, feeling a bit embarrassed, "Sorry, I just..."
"Liyue," Lu Jinchen said seriously, "I like this."
Gu Liyue didn't quite understand and looked up at him.
Lu Jinchen continued, "I like it when you tell me everything directly. Liyue, I hope it can always be like this in the future. You'll be my wife. We're family. Let's... be honest with each other, okay?"
Gu Liyue stared at him blankly. "Honest..."
Lu Jinchen nodded. "Yes, Liyue. I'm not a very careful person. Sometimes I may not tell you some things in time. But if you notice something's wrong, please ask me directly. Don't keep it to yourself and think about it, okay?"
Gu Liyue felt Lu Jinchen's breath very close. Although there was a distance of about two feet between them, she just felt his breath seemed to be by her face and ears. Her ear tips turned red. Unconsciously, she remembered the tender kisses he'd given her in the manor and later in the palace.
She could feel his affection for her.
Gu Chengzhi was sitting at the table watching the two of them. Previously, he'd really disliked Lu Jinchen deliberately getting close to his sister. Although he was willing to bring his sister to see him, he really couldn't stand him deliberately getting intimate with his sister. But today, he didn't know what was wrong. He seemed to be under a spell. He was in a daze. Looking at the two people two feet apart, he had an urge to push them together...
How could he do that? Even if they were engaged, there could still be changes. Lu Jinchen was okay, but Liyue was his own sister. Before they got married, nothing was allowed! No getting close to my sister. Not even a hug, let alone holding hands!
Lu Jinchen didn't stay long. He turned around and went back to the table to make tea for them.
The tea had been brewed long ago. It seemed Lu Jinchen had already had some.
Gu Liyue sat down next to Gu Chengzhi and only then noticed that all the teacups were empty. And the teacup she'd just picked up and drunk from in one gulp was Lu Jinchen's.
Her face flushed red again. So just now, she'd drunk the tea from the cup he'd used?
Lu Jinchen didn't seem to mind. He picked up the teacup without rinsing it and directly poured some tea and placed it in front of himself.
Gu Liyue wanted to remind him, but she felt that if she did, it would seem like she was trying to cover something up. So she just felt an itch in her heart and didn't dare to make a single move. Moreover, seeing the smile on Lu Jinchen's lips, she always suspected that he might have noticed and that it seemed he'd done it on purpose.
Gu Chengzhi shook his head to get rid of all the random thoughts in his mind. He picked up his teacup to drink tea and unconsciously sized up Lu Jinchen and Gu Liyue again. He felt a bit proud. A handsome man and a beautiful woman were a perfect match. One of them was his sworn brother, and the other was his own sister. They were meant for each other and should be together.
Ah, there was the sour smell of love in this private room.
Love was really amazing. For two people in love, even their every move seemed different from others.
Leaning on his hand, Gu Chengzhi thought that if he could meet a beloved girl in the future instead of someone arranged by his uncle and aunt, how wonderful that would be. He would surely treat her well and cherish her like a precious treasure.
In front of his eyes, a girl's faint smile appeared. She was so shy and endearing - but the face was originally blurred and slowly became clear. He gradually saw clearly that it was actually Lu Yunxi?
Gu Chengzhi was startled and shook his head repeatedly. Oh my god, was he crazy? How could he think of Lu Yunxi? That wild woman. How could he possibly like her?
It must be... it must be... Right, it must be because he hadn't been in contact with any girls recently. He'd just met Lu Yunxi last night, so he unconsciously thought of her today. Like her? Impossible. The girl he, Gu Chengzhi, would marry in the future must be gentle and tender!
The time spent with Lu Jinchen was always short. Lu Jinchen had been very busy in the palace recently. After drinking the tea, they had to part ways soon.
Lu Jinchen accompanied Gu Liyue downstairs. As soon as they got downstairs, they saw Lu Jinxuan about to go upstairs. When the two brothers met, their expressions were both cold.
Gu Liyue felt a bit nervous. Her feet were unsteady, and she almost fell.
Lu Jinxuan quickly reached out to support her and politely let go. "Miss Gu, be careful."
Gu Liyue quickly moved closer to Gu Chengzhi. "Thank you, Young Master Lu."
It was just an episode, but Lu Jinchen's face was terribly dark. He didn't say a word until they reached the carriage.
Gu Liyue hesitated. After a long time, she bit her lip and said, "I just... didn't do it on purpose."
Lu Jinchen was a bit surprised. Then he came to his senses and quickly softened his expression. "It has nothing to do with you. You don't have to be so cautious. I've just never gotten along well with him since childhood."
Gu Liyue knew that the affairs in the Liang Palace were complicated, so she didn't say much. She said goodbye to Lu Jinchen and was about to get into the carriage.
But Lu Jinchen reached out and grabbed her wrist. Although there was clothing in between, she could still feel the warmth of his hand. "Liyue, stay away from him."
Gu Liyue was slightly stunned. Before she could react, Lu Jinchen had already let go and turned away.
After getting into the carriage, Gu Chengzhi said sullenly, "Lu Jinxuan serves in the Ministry of Works. He's very capable at such a young age. People say that if he'd been born half a year earlier, he would..."
Would what? Be the heir apparent?
Gu Liyue sneered. "In a noble family, can the heir apparent be chosen at will? It's not like choosing a crown prince in the palace. In ordinary families, shouldn't the eldest legitimate son be the heir?"
Thinking of this, she felt even more sad. Lu Jinxuan had such a good reputation, while Lu Jinchen was seen as an ignorant, stubborn, and willful playboy who provoked his elders and disrespected his princess mother. Now the princess was Lu Jinxuan's biological mother, so he was also a legitimate son. If he were the eldest son, it would be perfectly justifiable for him to be the heir apparent.
"Is Jinchen... going through such a hard time, and can't the Prince of Liang see it?"