On the day of departure, Luo Nanchen gave Lin Qiao a storage ring for her to put her own things in.
Spring Blossom and Autumn Moon were in tears as they helped Lin Qiao pack her things. "Your Highness, you must be careful on the way. We servants can't go with you. You must take good care of yourself..."
Lin Qiao comforted them like a mother would her daughter. "Don't worry. I can take care of myself. Just rest at home."
Spring Blossom still pouted. "But... when Your Highness wants to eat, I won't be able to cook for you..."
Lin Qiao seemed to think of something and smiled mischievously. "Don't worry. Zou Lurui will never treat her own taste buds badly. Whatever she eats, I'll eat."
After packing all her things into the storage ring, Lin Qiao was ready to go to the Hall of Diligent Government to wait for Luo Nanchen.
Unexpectedly, Luo Nanchen was already waiting at the gate of the Hall of Everlasting Joy.
Luo Nanchen was tall and straight, standing there with an imposing manner. Even without his breathtakingly handsome face, he would still be an exceptionally gentle and handsome young man.
His face was chiseled, with regular and delicate features. The distinct line of his jaw gave him a sense of strength.
Two seemingly incompatible qualities - the fragile beauty and the tough exterior, the gentle charm and the delicate face - complemented each other perfectly in Luo Nanchen.
He had the brightness and cheerfulness of a young man, as well as the calmness and composure of a youth. Most of all, he exuded the aloofness and pride of an emperor.
But in front of Lin Qiao, Luo Nanchen only showed a youthful smile. When he saw Lin Qiao coming out, he curved his eyes. "Let's go."
Zou Lurui rushed over in a hurry. "Your Majesty, Your Highness, wait!"
Lin Qiao was a bit puzzled when she saw Zou Lurui's numerous bags. "You... why did you bring so many things?"
Zou Lurui looked mournful. "I've already taken very little. There are still a lot of snacks I couldn't fit in..."
Lin Qiao quietly tiptoed up to Luo Nanchen's ear. "Didn't you give her a storage ring?"
Luo Nanchen immediately lowered his head when he saw Lin Qiao approaching. "... I completely forgot about her."
Then he threw a small ring to Zou Lurui. "Does it have spiritual energy? Put your things in here."
Zou Lurui was stunned for a moment, as if she had no idea such a thing was possible. Her anxiety immediately turned into surprise. "Then, then wait for me... I still have a lot of snacks to get!"
She turned around and rushed back to her palace in a hurry, completely forgetting to put the things in her hands and on her back into the ring first.
Lin Qiao shouted after her, "If you really can't manage, you can put your snacks in mine..."
Only after shouting did she realize that her persona might be a bit off.
She always presented herself as elegant, dignified, reserved, and generous in front of Luo Nanchen...
Luo Nanchen let out a soft laugh and took Lin Qiao's hand. "Let's go. There are others waiting for us."
When they reached the Hall of Diligent Government, Lin Qiao realized that they weren't the only ones going on the trip to the south of the Yangtze River!
In front of the hall, Mo Xiujie was chatting with a gentle - looking man. There was also a man and a woman standing beside them. With these four, the group was already quite large.
Not to mention the chatty Zou Lurui.
Previously, Lin Qiao had worried that if she was alone with Luo Nanchen, she might not be able to resist his temptation.
But now?
There was no need to worry at all.
On the way, she could easily divert her attention. Since she wouldn't be constantly facing Luo Nanchen, her self - control would be much stronger.
[Wake up. You won't be bewitched by Luo Nanchen because there are many people around, not because of your strong self - control...]
[Moreover, you'll be bewitched by him sooner or later...]
???
"Damn it, are you showing up now?" Lin Qiao communicated with the system in her mind using her thoughts, trying hard to keep her expression unchanged. "Can you be more reliable? Didn't you tell me last time that the system could perform disguise?"
[The system does have a disguise service, but last time... the system was in the process of an upgrade.]
Lin Qiao: "..."
She endured, she endured...
She couldn't endure anymore!
This stupid system had tricked her more than once or twice. This was simply intolerable!
Out of the corner of his eye, Luo Nanchen saw Lin Qiao grinding her teeth secretly, as if she was angry.
Although she was angry, she looked cute. Although she looked cute, she was still angry.
She looked cute, but the fact that she was angry couldn't be changed.
This matter couldn't be underestimated. Without a moment's delay, Luo Nanchen turned around and asked, "Don't you like to go with them?"
Lin Qiao quickly shook her head and regained her composure. "No, no."
Forget it. She'd settle the score with the stupid system next time.
Mo Xiujie seemed extremely excited. Uncharacteristically enthusiastic, he came over to introduce everyone to Lin Qiao one by one.
The man in white was Li Gusong, the youngest imperial top scorer in Yunjin's history and a rising star in the court. He was the assistant minister of the Ministry of War.
He was tall, gentle as jade, with a soft - looking face, but his eyes faintly showed shrewdness and sharpness.
He was also a remarkable figure.
Lin Qiao remembered that Li Gusong seemed to have a love line, and it was quite tragic. What was the name of that woman...
Before she could recall, Mo Xiujie led her to meet the next person, Qu Yinghan, who was standing beside Li Gusong.
Lin Qiao remembered. The tragic love story of Li Gusong was with this Qu Yinghan.
The top courtesan in the brothel, she was extremely beautiful. In her cyan dress, she looked cold and aloof. Although she had sung in the brothel for six years, she never curried favor with anyone.
Her face and figure were her capital.
The love - hate relationship between Li Gusong and Qu Yinghan was a long story and couldn't be explained in a short time.
In short, it was full of regret. Now, Lin Qiao had to take a good look at them.
While Lin Qiao was in a daze, Mo Xiujie introduced another person to her, Dong Peirong, the minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
This Dong Peirong... didn't seem to have many scenes in the original work.
Among the group, Dong Peirong wasn't very tall. He had a gentle appearance, looking well - educated, but there was an inexplicable sense of distance.
The so - called cold - tempered bottom.
Typical roles were usually professors, elder brothers, and masters...
Before she could finish her inner ramblings, she saw Dong Peirong shoot her a cold look.
No way, sir. Do you even have to mind my inner thoughts?
Lin Qiao immediately felt a bit guilty. Then she thought that she was the current empress dowager, and there was a distinction between monarch and subject between her and Dong Peirong.
Not to mention that Dong Peirong didn't know what she was thinking. Even if he did, he couldn't do anything to her.
Thinking of this, Lin Qiao regained her confidence.
Mo Xiujie was about to pull Lin Qiao to get to know the secret guards not far away when he saw Luo Nanchen shoot him a cold glance. "Have you had enough?"
Mo Xiujie: "..."
These days, even the excellent virtue of being proactive and motivated as a subordinate wasn't appreciated...
Luo Nanchen pulled Lin Qiao to his side. "Don't hang out with Mo Xiujie. He's very unreliable."
Lin Qiao thought Luo Nanchen at this moment was extremely childish and couldn't help but want to laugh. "Then who is reliable? You?"
Luo Nanchen nodded理所当然. "Of course."
Lin Qiao originally wanted to stroke Luo Nanchen's head to comfort him, but when she realized she couldn't reach, she changed the motion halfway and patted Luo Nanchen's shoulder.
She smiled. "Well, good boy. I believe you... like hell."