readytorunbook Chapter 99 Who are you?
Chapter 99 Who are you?
After bidding farewell to the Princess, Lu He prepared to return to the side hall to pack her things. She wanted to leave the palace, and she still needed to discuss the matter she had promised the female lead with her.
As she was walking, someone suddenly jumped out of the bushes, almost scaring Lu He into screaming. Fortunately, she had some light-footed skills and instinctively put some distance between them.
"Ah Qing, it's me!" The familiar young voice—was it Chao Huaiyuan?
"Huh?...Ah Yuan, what are you doing hiding here? You scared me!" Lu He patted her fragile little heart.
Chao Huaiyuan looked at her with a complicated expression: "I also attended the ceremony at the Qiling Palace last night."
"Oh, right, the Prime Minister's family should also have been invited." Lu He nodded, puzzled.
"...Who are you? Why do you seem to be A-Qing but not A-Qing at the same time?" Chao Huaiyuan's youthful eyes were like beautiful black crystals.
Lu He was completely overwhelmed by his innocent and aggrieved gaze, and for a moment she didn't know how to comfort him.
"So, are you A-Qing? Or rather, what did you experience to escape death?" Chao Huaiyuan had always thought that he cooperated with her ghost stories to hide his identity and deceive others, but what he saw yesterday showed that she really knew magic. But how could An Linqing possibly know magic? He couldn't understand this young man.
“Uh…” Lu He obviously didn’t expect that her actions yesterday would provoke Chao Huaiyuan. This was an unexpected complication, and she couldn’t let the male lead suspect her at this time.
"Ah Yuan, listen to me. I actually had a powerful patron. I didn't do those things myself." That's not entirely wrong, is it? It's not exactly lying. The system gave me all those rewards; I certainly didn't do them on my own. Lu He spoke with conviction.
"Who is that person? Can I meet him?" Upon hearing that a powerful figure was helping him, Chao Huaiyuan's eyes immediately blazed with jealousy. Wasn't this the classic scene of "Why can he do it but I can't?"—a classic display of jealousy?
"He's an old man. He saved me and even took me as his apprentice. He's an old man," Lu He emphasized.
System: Who are you calling an old man? (? x ?)
After finally managing to appease the male lead, Lu He suddenly remembered her plan and called out to Chao Huaiyuan, who was about to leave: "Wait, Huaiyuan, I want to ask you a question."
"What?" Chao Huaiyuan scratched his head, looked at her blankly, and was a little shy.
"Are you willing to do things you don't want to do for me?" Lu He asked tentatively.
"Of course! I'd go through fire and water for you..." Chao Huaiyuan hurriedly expressed his feelings. His sincerity was exactly what a pure and innocent young man should look like.
"Would you take someone else to be your wife?"
"Huh? What are you saying?" Chao Huaiyuan was stunned for a moment, afraid he had misheard: "What do you mean, marry someone else?"
"Would you agree to marry someone else to help me?" Lu He asked again seriously.
"I don't want to marry anyone else. If you doubt my sincerity..." Chao Huaiyuan suddenly became anxious: "Even if it means defying the imperial decree, I can take you and escape... I..."
“I’m not testing your sincerity, but I really need your help. Can you do it?” Lu He interrupted Chao Huaiyuan’s incoherent speech.
"Why? Are you in trouble? Did someone say something to you?" It seems that Chao Huaiyuan can't accept it for the time being.
"Never mind, it's alright, let's talk again next time." This child is still too young, driven by emotions, and completely unable to communicate calmly.
"Aqing, don't go!" Chao Huaiyuan reached out and grabbed Lu He who was about to leave: "Please..." His pleading eyes were as aggrieved as a puppy that was about to be abandoned by its owner.
Lu He softened.
"I was just saying it casually, don't take it to heart."
Chao Huaiyuan was about to say something more when he was interrupted by the sounds of palace maids and eunuchs in the distance welcoming His Highness the Crown Prince.
"The Crown Prince is here at this time, could it be that he's here to see me?" Lu He's mind raced, and she immediately pulled away Chao Huaiyuan's hand: "You go back first. The Crown Prince is probably here to see me. I'll go check. Be careful." With that, she quickly left.
Chao Huaiyuan was left standing there, his expression sorrowful.
"What? Is Mr. Lu not here again today?" The Crown Prince's voice came from the courtyard.
Lu He walked straight in: "Welcome, Your Highness! I was just wandering around outside and almost missed your arrival. I'm so sorry." She said respectfully.
"It's alright, we just made it in time." Li Guangqi flashed his signature smile, which was as warm as a spring breeze.
This person shows almost no other expression besides a smile; he has excellent control over his facial expressions.
Lu He sighed inwardly, thinking that if this were modern times, just based on her ability to manage her facial expressions, she would be perfect as an idol.
"I wonder what brings Your Highness here to see me?" Lu He preemptively asked.
"Of course, we've come to invite you, sir!" the Crown Prince said, suddenly bowing to Lu He with his hands clasped in a gesture of respect, a very high honor.
"Your Highness, you are joking. I am not worthy of such a title..." Lu He hurriedly reached out to help the Crown Prince's hands.
"Mr. Lu, are you rejecting me?" Li Guangqi looked up and smiled gently, but a chill spread through him, and Lu He clearly felt the coldness spreading to her limbs.