You Yue's face was full of confusion. "Your Highness Princess, we didn't see Lord Gu today when we went out of the palace. Why should I tell my brother that you met Lord Gu?"
Lin Qinghe smiled and patted You Yue's little head. "It's hard to explain in a short while. In any case, you just do as I say. It's for your brother's good."
You Yue thought for a moment.
In recent days, Lin Qinghe had been exceptionally kind to her and You Rong. She trusted that Lin Qinghe would not harm her and her brother.
You Yue nodded heavily. "Yes, I will tell my brother as Your Highness instructed."
Lin Qinghe smiled in satisfaction. "Good, then hurry along. Come back soon."
"Yes, Your Highness Princess."
You Yue went from Yao Hua Palace to Qian Qing Palace and happened to see You Rong at the palace gate. She immediately ran over with a smile.
"Brother!"
You Rong stopped in his tracks and turned his head. Seeing that it was You Yue, he whispered a few words to the little eunuch beside him. The little eunuch responded with a "yes" and left first.
You Yue ran in front of You Rong and looked him over. Seeing that his complexion was not good, she frowned. "Brother... are you sick? Why do you look so pale?"
You Rong lowered his eyes and pretended to be nonchalant. "It's nothing, I just didn't sleep well last night. Why are you here at Qian Qing Palace? Did... Your Highness Princess send you?"
You Yue remembered Lin Qinghe's instructions and shook her head vigorously. "Your Highness Princess didn't send me. I went out of the palace with Your Highness Princess today for fun and bought some pastries on the street. I brought some for you."
For some reason, You Rong's complexion looked even worse.
You Rong recalled that Lin Qinghe had said yesterday that she had arranged to go out of the palace with Gu Ziye today. Was it true?
He asked in a deep voice, "You went out of the palace with Your Highness Princess today? Did... Your Highness Princess meet anyone?"
You Yue was surprised. She wondered how Lin Qinghe had guessed so accurately. You Rong was indeed asking who she had met when she went out.
You Yue still said what Lin Qinghe had instructed. "Your Highness Princess went out to meet Lord Gu and was playing with Lord Gu."
You Rong's heart ached. His face turned pale.
Did she really fall for Gu Ziye?
But she had clearly said... the person she liked was him!
Seeing You Rong remain silent and looking strange, You Yue asked worriedly, "Brother, why aren't you speaking? What's wrong? Are you really sick? I'll go back and report to Your Highness Princess, and have her send an imperial physician to see you?"
You Rong suppressed the bitterness in his heart and forced himself to reply, "...It's nothing. I won't eat the pastries. Take them back. I still have work to do. You should go back to Yao Hua Palace quickly."
With that, You Rong left without looking back.
You Yue stood in place, scratching her head in confusion, and muttered to herself, "That's strange, what's wrong with my brother..."
As soon as You Yue returned to Yao Hua Palace, Lin Qinghe eagerly asked, "How did it go? Did you see You Rong at Qian Qing Palace? Did you tell him what I told you to? What was his reaction?"
You Yue's little face was full of worry. "I told my brother everything Your Highness Princess instructed. Brother became a bit strange. He said he wouldn't eat these pastries and told me to bring them back, then he left."
Lin Qinghe raised her eyebrows upon hearing this, her face showing an expression of expectation.
She guessed that You Rong would be drowning in a sea of jealousy tonight.
Tomorrow, she would give him an even stronger dose of medicine and see if he still dared to be insincere!
He clearly liked her in his heart, yet he refused to say it.
Lin Qinghe was in a good mood. She patted You Yue's puzzled head and said with a smile, "Don't think about it. I'll tell you tomorrow why your brother is acting so strangely. Now, it's getting late, and it's time for dinner. Let's go eat!"
You Yue became even more confused.
Not only was her brother acting strangely, but she also couldn't understand what Your Highness Princess was saying.
-------------------------------------
Night fell.
You Rong's residence.
You Rong stood by the window for a long time. The cold wind of late autumn blew on him, making him feel cold. What made him feel even colder was Lin Qinghe's affection for Gu Ziye.
He closed his eyes slightly, a mixture of bitterness and regret churning within him, tasting complex and sour.
If he had told Lin Qinghe earlier that he also liked her, would all of this have been avoided?
But now that Lin Qinghe liked Gu Ziye, the Emperor would soon grant them a marriage. Was it too late to speak now?
You Rong did not sleep all night, and as a result, he made frequent mistakes while serving the Emperor to get up in Qian Qing Palace.
Fortunately, the Emperor did not blame him.
At noon, You Rong stood outside the Imperial Study, watching Lin Qinghe approach with You Yue and Mei Lan from a distance. His heart suddenly tightened, and he stared intently at her.
It wasn't until Lin Qinghe approached him and spoke that he came back to his senses.
Lin Qinghe's eyes flickered. She pretended not to notice You Rong's abnormality and asked as usual, "Is Father Emperor discussing matters with the ministers inside?"
You Rong clenched his hands at his sides. "Reporting to Your Highness Princess, His Majesty is inside, but he is not discussing matters with any ministers. If you wish to see His Majesty, I will inform him for you."
Lin Qinghe: "No need. I'll go in myself. You all stay outside. I'm here to discuss the marriage decree with Father Emperor!"
With that, Lin Qinghe strode into the Imperial Study. Her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of You Rong, and she saw his expression visibly freeze.
Lin Qinghe chuckled inwardly but did not stop.
After Lin Qinghe's figure disappeared from sight, You Rong, after an unknown period, managed to come back to his senses, his face ashen.
Did she intend to... ask the Emperor to grant her and Gu Ziye a marriage?
At this moment, You Rong's heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, making it difficult to breathe.
He wanted to rush in and grab Lin Qinghe's shoulders, to question her loudly, didn't she say the person she liked was him? Why did she fall for Gu Ziye?
He even wanted to tell Lin Qinghe that he was no worse than Gu Ziye, to wait! To wait for him... He could also clear the You family's name, achieve fame and fortune, and marry her!
But... it was all too late now.
You Rong stared at the door of the Imperial Study, his eyes burning hot, his eyes so sore that he could barely keep them open.
After about half an hour, Lin Qinghe emerged from the Imperial Study, refreshed and beaming.
She did not return to Yao Hua Palace immediately. Instead, she stood in front of You Rong and deliberately feigned a look of extreme joy. "You Rong, I'll have to trouble you to go out of the palace tomorrow. Go to Lord Gu's residence and read out the imperial decree for the marriage. Father Emperor has already agreed to grant Gu Ziye a marriage."
You Rong's body stiffened, and his complexion turned extremely pale, deathly pale.
Lin Qinghe's bright smile was not only dazzling to You Rong but also stabbed at his heart.