Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Braving the Wind and Snow

Either way, disaster was inevitable.

But she couldn’t admit to it, no matter what!

Liang Wan made up her mind.

"So what if this is Renshou Palace? You’re just a palace maid, but you’ve certainly got some nerve!"

Someone walked out from the inner room.

Liang Wan’s eyes flew open as she looked over.

The man who came into view was tall and slender, his dark hair bound high in a golden coronet. He wore purple robes, and his face was cold, fair, and so exquisite that one dared not meet his narrow eyes.

The person who had arrogantly charged in began to back away, step by step.

"G-Grand Commandant, this servant didn’t know you were inside."

"Heh," he tilted his head and chuckled, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "What, do I need to announce my arrival to you now?"

"This servant wouldn’t dare!" the Chief Maid shook her head, her face pale.

His steps were leisurely and his tone was casual, yet everything about him exuded an oppressive aura.

The Chief Maid fell silent.

Before Lu Xiu could even speak, the palace attendants holding her immediately let go, bowed, and stepped back.

Liang Wan stared blankly at the scene, unable to believe her eyes. ’Why is Lu Xiu here?’

’Does that mean Gao Qian has already left? Or did they run into each other on the way—’

’Just imagining the possibilities, that confrontation...’

Liang Wan’s mind was filled with questions, but she didn’t dare ask a single one, nor could she.

Even though she was the victim and nothing had happened, she felt an inexplicable sense of guilt and nervousness.

It was as if she hadn’t been framed, but was truly about to have a clandestine affair.

Liang Wan lowered her head slightly, not quite daring to look at him.

Once again, her gaze fell upon that pair of dark teal leather boots.

Just like that night on the street, not long after she had escaped the great fire, when he had stood before her.

Before Liang Wan could figure out what to say, he pulled her into his arms.

"Don’t come to Renshou Palace again."

His voice held an indescribable weariness, or perhaps... disappointment?

Liang Wan’s mind was in a daze. She tried to look up at him, but he held her tight.

’Is he saying the Empress Dowager did this?’

’Did she orchestrate this whole elaborate scene of catching lovers in the act, just for Lu Xiu’s benefit, to make him disgusted with me?’

’But unexpectedly, Lu Xiu saw right through it?’

’Gao Qian’s appearance was too much of a coincidence, but Lu Xiu’s... this wasn’t just a coincidence, it was downright bizarre!’

It wasn’t that Liang Wan hadn’t been suspicious, but she never imagined that the Empress Dowager would show such little regard for Lu Xiu’s dignity, especially since he also bore the surname Lu.

Lu Xiu released her, straightened her clothes, smoothed her hair, and looked down at her.

"Let’s go back."

His tone was very light, his voice soft.

Before Liang Wan could nod, Lu Xiu took her hand and headed for the main hall’s entrance.

Liang Wan was still a little worried. ’Is Gao Qian still here or not?’

If the matter ended here, it would be fine. But if it didn’t, and word got out, it wouldn’t matter whether the man in the room was Lu Xiu or someone else—her "impropriety" in Renshou Palace would be a major crime.

Just as they walked out of the side chamber, a few people came toward them.

"What has happened?"

The Empress Dowager emerged from the inner hall, supported by palace attendants.

She didn’t look as beautiful and noble as usual. Without her magnificent robes and exquisite makeup, she appeared haggard. She was truly ill.

Lu Xiu gave her a cool glance. "The Empress Dowager’s question is one this subject would also like answered."

The Empress Dowager was visibly taken aback. She looked doubtfully at the trembling Chief Maid by the side chamber door.

"You! Speak!"

The Chief Maid’s lips trembled. She looked at Lu Xiu, then at the Empress Dowager. ’An outer court official in the harem...’

Once those words were spoken and the fact established, that too would be a major crime.

How could she dare say it?

The Empress Dowager’s expression grew even more grim.

Liang Wan thought for a moment, then gave the Empress Dowager a respectful bow. "I ask that the Empress Dowager order someone to investigate the ’Goose-Pear Tent Incense’."

The Empress Dowager was confused. "What do you mean?"

Lu Xiu raised an eyebrow, his gaze cold. "Was it not the Empress Dowager who summoned this subject to come at this hour?"

After speaking, he showed no intention of continuing the conversation. He grabbed her hand, steered around the others, and headed for the exit.

Outside the hall, the snow had not yet stopped.

"Stop!"

Someone from behind chased after them.

It was the Empress Dowager.

Liang Wan stopped and looked up at the man beside her.

Lu Xiu didn’t turn around. He crossed the threshold into a world of swirling snow and vast white.

"What do you think Renshou Palace is?"

Liang Wan lowered her head. In her peripheral vision, she saw the Empress Dowager, her face contorted with rage, breathing heavily.

She was clearly livid.

Lu Xiu turned to look at her, utterly disdainful. "To this subject, it is no place at all."

Liang Wan was startled and looked up at him.

Lu Xiu’s face was expressionless, but his eyes were exceptionally cold.

"You—"

As expected, the Empress Dowager grew even angrier.

Her face flushed an unnatural red; whether from her illness or from her anger, it was hard to say.

Lu Xiu did not care. His voice was as cold as ice water. "Does the Empress Dowager have any further instructions? If not, this subject will take his leave."

Although he addressed himself as ’this subject’, his words and actions showed none of the humility and deference an official should have. Instead, he was cold and distant.

Liang Wan was astonished. She glanced at the other palace maids and eunuchs; every one of them had their head shrunk down, not daring to make a sound.

The Empress Dowager did not answer.

Lu Xiu took Liang Wan’s hand and headed out the door.

Their feet had just crossed the threshold.

"You think it was me?"

Lu Xiu didn’t look back. "Does it matter who it was? This is Renshou Palace."

The Empress Dowager said angrily, "This is the Imperial Palace!"

Lu Xiu stared straight out into the snow. "I thought I made myself very clear the first time I brought her here."

The Empress Dowager faltered for a moment, then said indignantly, "All for a woman?"

Her words seemed to carry a tone of bitter disappointment.

Hearing this, Lu Xiu didn’t answer. He just lowered his head and laughed. Only after he finished laughing did he lift his head and glance back.

But Liang Wan saw clearly that the Empress Dowager’s expression had changed, and she was rendered speechless.

Before she could react, Lu Xiu pulled her along, stepping into the heavy snow without hesitation.

He didn’t take her down the usual path, but instead took the shortcut that a palace attendant had shown her in her previous life. The path was narrow and secluded.

He was deliberately avoiding people.

She could feel that Lu Xiu was in a terrible mood.

He hadn’t said a word since they left Renshou Palace.

Since he wasn’t speaking, Liang Wan didn’t dare to either. She could only accompany him in silence, the only sound being the CRUNCH CRUNCH of the snow under their feet.

The snow was heavy. Before long, their heads and shoulders were covered in it.

In the past, whenever the two of them fell silent, she would always be the first to speak up. Later, she had also grown used to the silence, but now...

Liang Wan turned her head to glance at him. Snowflakes landed on his eyelashes, quickly melting into droplets of water. They looked wet, like crushed tears.

"The Empress Dowager dislikes me, but as for who is truly behind this, it’s hard to say."

It’s true that this happened in Renshou Palace, but precisely because it was Renshou Palace, if she and Gao Qian had really been caught in the act, wouldn’t that have affected the Empress Dowager as well?

And that Chief Maid... she could have just burst in with her people. Why bother alerting them first and giving them a warning?

Lu Xiu turned his head to the side, but said nothing.

Liang Wan sighed. There were indeed too many suspicious things about this matter. Judging by the Empress Dowager’s reaction, she was either truly innocent or truly devious.

And Lu Xiu’s reaction was also very different from usual.

Liang Wan looked at him. "I can also sense that the Empress Dowager is very tolerant of you."

Lu Xiu brushed the accumulated snow from her shoulder. "The Empress Dowager doesn’t like you. It’s not your fault; the reason lies with me. I will handle this."

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