CHAPTER 686: CHAPTER 568: JOY

"Mom!"

The little one pointed out everything they saw to show Meng Qianqian.

She was in Lu Yuan’s arms but kept trying to crawl towards Meng Qianqian, so to prevent her from falling, Meng Qianqian had to walk very close to Lu Yuan.

The crowd surged, the noise was deafening.

However, Meng Qianqian could clearly hear the rustling sound of their sleeves brushing against each other.

Each sound seemed to collide into her heart.

She paused, taking a deep breath.

The great revenge has yet to be avenged, what is she thinking about love?

Encountering Zhaozhao is a gift from heaven, yet burdened with a deep hatred, she has no right to crave a simple and stable life.

The thought flashed by, she took a deep breath and gradually calmed her restless heart.

Suddenly, a distinctively jointed hand clasped her hand, the long, jade-like fingers were slightly cool, gently squeezing the back of her hand.

Her eyelashes fluttered.

Lu Yuan said, "Have I ever told you, being with me means not overthinking things?"

Meng Qianqian muttered, "Why are you referring to yourself as ’me’ again?"

Lu Yuan replied coldly, "Weren’t you the one who called me that first?"

Meng Qianqian couldn’t refute him.

Treasure Piggy fell asleep, his little face lay on Lu Yuan’s shoulder, pressing down softly, little drool sipping out.

Lu Yuan held him with one hand, full of fatherly strength.

And as he held Meng Qianqian’s hand, he gave her the warmth of a husband.

This person is always like this, no sweet words spoken, no bad deeds done.

Imperceptibly infiltrating her heart, disrupting her thoughts.

Lu Yuan said, "I don’t necessarily need children, one little rascal is troublesome enough."

"Wah!"

The little one in their sleep seemed to hear the dad-bashing and let out a fierce roar.

Meng Qianqian was amused.

The untimely sadness and hesitation instantly vanished.

His fingertips were clearly cool, yet she felt a slight warmth.

She blinked and asked, "You don’t want them, do your parents not want them either?"

Lu Yuan replied without hesitation, "If they want one, they can have their own, it’s not like they can’t."

Meng Qianqian: "Oh."

Lu Yuan paused: "Wait, are you really not considering..."

"Hm?"

Meng Qianqian blinked at him.

Lu Yuan looked away, "Never mind, it’s nothing."

Meng Qianqian knew.

Although he seemed strong, he never forced her in matters of affection.

Hm... escaping to cure cold poison doesn’t count.

She was willing, it wasn’t entirely out of gratitude.

There are many ways to repay someone, it’s not necessary to devote oneself.

She was determined to drag her enemy to hell, and perhaps she would also be caught in damnation.

So what she could give was only this physical body.

"Grand Commander."

She looked up, her eyes curving as she looked at him.

"What is it?"

Lu Yuan asked coldly.

Meng Qianqian smiled, "I miss my great-grandmother, could you send a letter I write tonight to her, Grand Commander?"

"Hm."

Lu Yuan responded softly, gripping her hand tightly.

As if afraid she might escape, as if he never wanted to let go of her hand this lifetime.

"Grand Commander."

"What now?"

Meng Qianqian: "Just calling your name."

Lu Yuan said, "Meng Xiaojiu."

Meng Qianqian looked at him peculiarly, "Hm?"

Lu Yuan calmly said, "Nothing, just calling your name."

Meng Qianqian smiled knowingly.

A vendor selling Peace Locks cheerfully approached, "Young master, buy a pair of Peace Locks, good for both sons and daughters, bringing double blessings, safety, and happiness!"

Lu Yuan said, "She won’t give me a son."

The vendor was stunned.

Lu Yuan also said, "If you can convince her to give me one, I’ll buy all your Peace Locks."

Vendor: "..."

Meng Qianqian gently shook the hand they were holding, "Don’t talk nonsense."

Lu Yuan snorted, "Which part is nonsense? That you don’t want to give me a son, or that I’d buy his Peace Locks?"

This was a hurdle that couldn’t be passed over.

Meng Qianqian pointed to the sugar-coated hawthorn, "I want to eat sugar-coated hawthorn."

Lu Yuan straightforwardly said, "You don’t like it."

Meng Qianqian said, "Sometimes one wants to try things they don’t like."

Lu Yuan said, "Including men you don’t like?"

Meng Qianqian closed her eyes.

This conversation couldn’t continue.

"Come out."

Lu Yuan casually said.

Meng Qianqian’s eyes shifted, immediately focused, and caught sight of a sneaky figure.

She turned around with sharp eyes, looking at the person.

The person, seeing they were exposed, no longer hid, appearing and saluting Lu Yuan, "Prince Changsun."

Lu Yuan asked coldly, "Followed us all this way, have you seen enough?"

The person bowed their head silently.

Meng Qianqian frowned secretly.

This person had followed them all the way, yet she hadn’t noticed at all.

If it were in the past, she would never have gone this far.

It’s all because of this guy, disrupting her peace of mind.

Lu Yuan spoke coldly, "Will you confess yourself, or should I treat you as an assassin and deal with you here and now?"

The person kneeled on one knee, "Under the command of Your Majesty, I am secretly protecting Prince Changsun."

Lu Yuan laughed, "Were you told to spy on me, to see if I was acting suspiciously?"

The person’s head hung even lower.

Meng Qianqian suddenly realized, "No wonder you suddenly came shopping and stayed out for so long. I thought you... were really accompanying me."

Lu Yuan scoffed disdainfully, "What is he to me?"

Meng Qianqian’s heart jumped again.

Lu Yuan’s lips curved slightly, "Looks like he hasn’t lost all his senses. If he truly trusted me completely, it would be more worrying."

Meng Qianqian’s cheeks flushed red, she mumbled a reply, "Mm."

He’s right, Emperor Liang’s amnesia means their words are one-sided to him; if he could arbitrarily believe them, he could arbitrarily believe others.

Emperor Liang retained his judgment, proving the Heart-devouring Gu had not destroyed his mind.

He was still that wise Emperor.

Though it’s rational, not everyone could be so broad-minded.

In essence, Lu Yuan is also an extremely wise person and filled with filial love towards Emperor Liang.

Lu Yuan said to the Hidden Guard, "The task my Imperial Grandfather entrusted you has been botched, the punishment won’t be light, right?"

The Hidden Guard nervously clenched his fingers.

Lu Yuan beckoned him over.

The Hidden Guard stood up and approached.

Lu Yuan handed the sleeping little one to him, "Take her back to report to my Imperial Grandfather, and you can be spared a death."

The Hidden Guard left, holding Treasure Piggy.

Lu Yuan called Cui Hu, "Follow them."

Cui Hu was startled, "Ah?"

Lu Yuan said coldly, "What’s the ’ah’? If he turns out to be a traitor, remember to snatch the child back!"

As soon as Cui Hu heard this, he quickly used Qinggong to chase after them.

Meng Qianqian looked at him strangely, "What are you doing, sending away both of them?"

Lu Yuan’s lips curved, he bent down and whispered in her ear, "Do what you want to do."

His warm breath fell on her ear, like a soft feather tickling her, making her ear feel itchy.

Her ears grew slightly hot, redness spread to the base of her ears.

Lu Yuan led her to an elegant courtyard.

Meng Qianqian asked, "Where is this?"

"A newly bought house."

Lu Yuan entered the courtyard, dismissed the servants, and took her to a room with a faint floral scent.

At the moment the door was pushed open, Meng Qianqian grabbed his hand, "No!"

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow, "You’ve been thinking all the way. Are you sure you don’t want it?"

Meng Qianqian remained composed, "I, I, I didn’t!"

Lu Yuan opened the door and pulled her into the room.

"I said no—"

During the struggle, she stumbled into the room, but fortunately, Lu Yuan held her firmly.

She lay in Lu Yuan’s arms, looking at a table full of bookshelves and the already prepared writing materials, slightly surprised, "You... want to bring me... to write letters?"

Lu Yuan folded his hands behind his back, speaking idly, "Didn’t you say you wanted to write a letter to your great-grandmother?"

Meng Qianqian cleared her throat, speaking solemnly, "Oh, I did say that."

Lu Yuan looked at her with a meaningful gaze, "What else did you think it was? Or did I guess wrong?"

"No mistake, no mistake! It’s just this, I’ll write now."

Meng Qianqian was so embarrassed she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

Had she taken the wrong medicine or was she possessed?

She actually thought this guy wanted to spend a romantic evening with her...

She quickly picked up the brush, but due to her nervousness, she dropped ink on the table.

She grabbed a cloth to wipe it, only to accidentally knock over the inkstone, covering herself with ink stains.

She tried to wipe the ink off, but ended up tripping on a chair.

Lu Yuan watched her panic and embarrassment, desperately maintaining composure, unable to suppress the rising corners of his mouth.

She tidied up for half the day, only getting messier as she went.

Lu Yuan walked up to her, bent over, and lifted her into his arms.

Meng Qianqian hurriedly said, "I haven’t finished tidying... I didn’t mean to..."

Lu Yuan said, "Someone else will come to tidy it up."

Meng Qianqian circled her arms around his neck, blinked, and asked, "Then what are you doing?"

Lu Yuan carried her out of the study, "Doing what needs to be done."

Meng Qianqian stared directly at him, "What needs to be done?"

Lu Yuan kicked open the door to the room, "What I’ve been thinking about all along."

He strode elegantly across the threshold with his long legs.

This was a luxurious and exquisite bedroom, every decoration meticulously chosen, every table and chair of a style she liked.

Passing the screen was a carved and painted Stepping Bed.

He placed her on the soft bed.

Meng Qianqian grabbed his lapel, staring into his eyes uninterrupted, "This time... it won’t be about picking a Stepping Bed, will it?"

Lu Yuan looked at her with suppressed desire, speaking with restraint, "What does the lady say?"

Meng Qianqian murmured softly, "Are you now... Prince Changsun... or Grand Commander?"

If he was Grand Commander, it would be rightful.

For Prince Changsun, it would take more pursuing.

Lu Yuan pinned her hands above her head, his magnetic voice alluring her, "Today I am Grand Commander, tomorrow I will be Prince Changsun."

Meng Qianqian’s breath quickened, her chest starting to heave.

The sound of her own pounding heartbeat seemed to be the only thing she could hear.

His pupils reflected her dazed expression.

She saw him reach out and remove her hairpin.

Her black hair spread across the bed.

She also lifted her hand to take his hair crown.

His dark hair fell, intertwining with her black locks.

He swept his sleeve, drawing the curtain down, leaning heavily into her for a kiss.