Including Zou Lvrui, who came late, there were a total of seven people.
This trip to the south of the Yangtze River was to observe the people's conditions, so they couldn't attract too much attention. Therefore, they only prepared two carriages.
They would make do for the time being and then take a water route after leaving the capital.
Li Gusuong said, "Once we're out, we need different identities. Your Majesty should decide on them first."
Luo Nanchen nodded. "Minister Li has given it very thoughtful consideration."
Mo Xiujie volunteered. "This subordinate will still be your guard."
Dong Peirong, who looked gentle and amiable, unexpectedly followed Mo Xiujie's lead and said, "This official will also be your guard."
"Not too many guards are needed. As the Minister of Revenue, Minister Dong will take a demotion and act as the steward for now," Luo Nanchen glanced at Zou Lvrui, who was still out of breath. "Concubine Zou will be a maid. To distinguish, we'll address Minister Li as the young master, and Miss Qu will naturally be the young mistress."
Qu Yinghan nodded, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Lin Qiao waited for a while. "What about... this empress? What's this empress's identity?"
Luo Nanchen turned to look at Lin Qiao, a faint, mischievous smile playing on his lips. "There's this young master's wife and this young master's maid. Little Lin can choose for yourself."
It seemed like a trap. Without a second thought, Lin Qiao said, "A maid. I'll be a maid."
Although her status had suddenly dropped from heaven to earth, at least her innocence wasn't at stake. That was good.
Luo Nanchen nodded, as if understanding. "If you're a maid, you'll naturally have to listen to this young master in everything, right?"
Lin Qiao: "..."
It seemed like no matter which option she chose, it was a trap?
Mo Xiujie beside them was used to it, and Dong Peirong also seemed unsurprised. As for Zou Lvrui, she could even predict what would happen next.
... Next, Lin Qiao would only have two reactions. One was to scold Luo Nanchen for being crazy, and the other was to ignore him.
It was more likely that she would ignore him.
Zou Lvrui predicted confidently.
Only Li Gusuong and Qu Yinghan stared round - eyed in a bit of panic, not knowing whether they should follow their instincts and keep watching or close their eyes quickly to save their lives.
Luo Nanchen smiled. "Alright, it's fine if Little Lin wants to be a maid. Then let's set off..."
"Madam! I want to be the madam!" Lin Qiao decided to throw caution to the wind. "Fine, let's go."
As the madam, she would at least have some autonomy. If she became a maid, she would really have no human rights at all.
She would only be at the mercy of Luo Nanchen.
Anyway, being the madam didn't necessarily mean they had to share a room.
Lin Qiao, as if throwing caution to the wind, fled onto the carriage.
But at this moment, Lin Qiao was too shy. With so many people around, she had forgotten to think about why they couldn't maintain the same relationship as in the palace, with her being Luo Nanchen's step - mother.
This was a good question.
Luo Nanchen, as the protagonist of a feel - good novel, was truly extremely intelligent and played his cards well.
Zou Lvrui stared in disbelief at Lin Qiao's fleeing back. Was Lin Qiao... surrendering?
No way, dude?!
... Should she say that the protagonist of the feel - good novel was awesome?
Here, Li Gusuong, with a faint smile on his handsome face, signaled Luo Nanchen and Lin Qiao with his eyes and asked, "Brother Mo, what's this?"
Mo Xiujie looked mysterious. Just as he was about to lean in and speak, seeing Qu Yinghan standing beside them, he also beckoned her over. "This matter is basically semi - public. You should just act as if you don't know."
Li Gusuong raised his eyebrows. "Brother Mo, I still don't quite understand."
"Don't try to understand it so clearly. Just take it as what it seems to be," Mo Xiujie said meaningfully, with a mysterious smile. "Anyway, His Majesty is serious, and it's quite scary."
"How scary? Scarier than His Majesty during court sessions?"
Mo Xiujie nodded vigorously. "You don't even have to offend the Empress Dowager. If you spend too much time with the Empress Dowager, His Majesty can glare at you with such a look that it feels like he's stabbing you with his eyes."
Li Gusuong nodded in understanding.
Just as Mo Xiujie was about to follow them, seeing Qu Yinghan listening silently, looking absent - minded, he suddenly had a mischievous thought. "It's just like your relationship. It's just that His Majesty is restricted by his status. Miss Qu, do you understand now?"
Qu Yinghan was stunned for a moment, then smiled faintly and nodded.
...
After getting on the carriage, Lin Qiao only then realized later that she shouldn't have to choose her identity only from the options Luo Nanchen provided!
Why couldn't she continue to be Luo Nanchen's step - mother?
Lin Qiao was so angry that she wanted to lash out at Luo Nanchen. "Luo Nanchen, you tricked me?!"
Luo Nanchen looked innocent. "What does 'trick' mean?"
Lin Qiao: "..."
Zou Lvrui stupidly got on the carriage. Seeing someone asking a question in her area of knowledge, she answered without thinking. "It means you're scheming and calculating. Of course, it's a neutral word, not a derogatory one."
Only after she said it did she realize that besides herself, who had rushed in, there was only Lin Qiao, pouting angrily, and Luo Nanchen, who was standing around Lin Qiao, almost sticking to her.
Zou Lvrui: "..."
She knew she was wrong and would correct it immediately.
She turned around and fled the carriage.
She bumped into Mo Xiujie, who was about to get on. Mo Xiujie covered his chest. "Damn, why is your head so hard? Do you know the Iron - Head Skill?"
Zou Lvrui pulled Mo Xiujie back. "Don't go. I'm sincerely warning you."
Mo Xiujie understood completely and quickly nodded.
Inside the carriage, Lin Qiao was still very angry. "I regret it. I want to change my identity."
"Oh, do you still think the maid identity is more suitable for you?" Luo Nanchen smiled. "That's right. A maid can't sleep in the same room as the young master. But... this young master can promote you to a concubine in front of everyone."
Luo Nanchen smiled wickedly, with a very rascally tone. At first glance, one might think he was a hooligan.
But listening carefully, it seemed like he was using a rascally and rogue tone to hide his inner uneasiness.
Looking closely, Luo Nanchen's expression seemed frivolous and dissolute, but Lin Qiao saw that there was actually a trace of imperceptible uncertainty and disappointment in his eyes.
Lin Qiao had read the entire original novel. Since Luo Nanchen's黑化, he had never been in such a humble and aggrieved situation.
Even when he knelt down to plead with the original owner for Li Yingmeng, he still had an unyielding backbone and refused to bend even a bit.
But Lin Qiao had never seen Luo Nanchen with such an expression, anywhere.
The harsh words she wanted to say suddenly got stuck in her throat.
"Never mind. This is fine. It's good."
Luo Nanchen was stunned. "Good... really?"
Lin Qiao nodded and pursed her lips without saying a word.
What else could she do if it wasn't good? She just couldn't bring herself to be cruel!
Especially to Luo Nanchen...
Luo Nanchen came to his senses, and a smile climbed onto his eyebrows. He seemed to be overflowing with happiness. "Yes, thank you, Little Lin."
"What are you thanking me for?" Lin Qiao pouted, sighing again at her own weakness and making a last - ditch struggle. "Then you, as this young master, have to be henpecked."
Luo Nanchen first nodded repeatedly, then asked, "What does 'henpecked' mean?"
"It means you have to listen to me in everything."
"Oh, I understand. The wife is strict with her husband, right?"
Luo Nanchen's face was beaming with joy, and Lin Qiao's old face blushed.
Why did she have to be so soft - hearted...