Chapter 106: The Emperor Invites Me to Dinner, Just the Two of Us

“Ah, why? Isn’t the Empress supposed to be unconscious?” The young palace maid was openly defying the Empress—was she tired of living so long? It was just to check on the supposedly unconscious Empress, right? If she truly were unconscious, how could she be casting spells? Su Jingluo thought there was nothing to worry about. Besides, why would the maid take her out of the palace? Could she be connected to Xiao Jingxuan as well?

“Are you here for Xiao Jingxuan?” Su Jingluo asked the maid quietly.

The maid glanced around nervously and whispered, “Yes, Princess, Lord Xiao is anxious for your return, so we must leave the palace quickly. The Empress isn’t actually unconscious; it’s the Empress Dowager who has a headache. She’s been constantly bothering the Empress to set rules, and when her headache flares up, she takes it out on the Empress. Even pretending to be ill, the Empress Dowager won’t relent. So the Empress can only feign unconsciousness.”

Hahaha, the family dynamics in the Tian household were no better. Su Jingluo was grateful she didn’t have a mother-in-law.

“If the unconsciousness is fake, then sending you there can’t be good,” the maid continued. “I’m not the usual messenger maid; I came ahead to meet you before the messenger arrived and to escort you out of the palace.” She hurriedly explained, fearing Su Jingluo wouldn’t believe her.

It made sense, and Su Jingluo agreed. She couldn’t afford to provoke a mentally twisted woman already tormented by her mother-in-law in this deep palace. So, clutching her belongings, she took quick, small steps toward the palace gates.

“Junior sister, why are you in such a hurry?”

Hearing the words “junior sister” made Su Jingluo shudder, thinking the Empress had dropped the act and leapt out. After a moment, she realized it was a man’s voice.

Turning around with the maid, they saw the Emperor standing behind them, hands clasped behind his back.

“Your Majesty!” Su Jingluo and the maid quickly knelt and greeted him respectfully.

“Rise, rise. Junior sister, where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?” The Emperor looked at Su Jingluo with concern.

The maid turned pale, her whole body cold—her undercover days were clearly coming to an end.

“This maid told me the Empress was unconscious and urged me to go see her. She said it was serious, so I hurried to the Empress’s palace and didn’t see Your Majesty,” Su Jingluo quickly covered for the maid. The maid’s ashen face regained some color.

“Hmph, unconscious? The Empress is merely overworked and doesn’t need a doctor. You should return and let her rest properly. Don’t trouble Jinglu anymore,” the Emperor frowned. He was well aware of the Empress’s games—caught between her mother-in-law and the scheming daughter-in-law, even the Emperor felt the strain. He promptly dismissed the maid.

“Then, I shall return to my residence. The Empress Dowager’s illness has been attended to. There’s nothing more for me to do,” Su Jingluo said. She hadn’t intended to visit the Empress anyway, so now that the Emperor had intervened, she was eager to go home.

“No need to rush. You’ve worked hard tending to the Empress Dowager and it’s past lunch time. You must be starving. Come with me to have some food and wine,” the Emperor stepped forward, reaching out to take Su Jingluo’s hand. She dodged, and the Emperor awkwardly withdrew but his enthusiasm could not be concealed.

Su Jingluo didn’t want to go—who knew if this was a trap? Xiao Jingxuan must be pacing the floor anxiously at home while she was here drinking with the Emperor. How heartless would that be?

“No, no, I’m not hungry. Your Majesty is so busy, I cannot trouble you,” Su Jingluo hurriedly declined.

“Not busy. Even if you aren’t hungry, you must have something with me. I haven’t had a proper meal alone with Jinglu in all these years. Today, I won’t take no for an answer.” The Emperor’s eyes held a hint of pleading, his handsome face tinged with anticipation.