Zuo Qiuyu’s face looked ashen. Even Zuo Qiuchen’s countenance fell.
After all, Long Tianyu had spoken the truth.
If such a piece of information meant to be kept as a top-secret was to be leaked, it would be lethal.
However, from Zuo Qiuchen and Zuo Qiuyu’s expressions, it seemed that they were not aware of what part of this was bad.
Lin Mengya looked down and pondered, then she gazed at Long Tianyu and with a serious expression on her face, she said, “I believe that they didn’t do this on purpose.”
Long Tianyu was not satisfied with what he heard, but Lin Mengya tugged at his sleeve and gave him an earnest, wistful look that soon softened his heart.
After all, they were Lin Mengya’s elder cousins.
Perhaps, Lin Mengya would eventually still help them out anyways regardless of how desperately he tried to stop her.
With a sigh in his heart, he wondered how this lass always managed to make him give in to her.
“Since the secret had been leaked, there was no way I could avoid going to the Pavilion of Herbs. However, let me make this clear in the first place. I’ve helped you with regard to the chief elder because my right was in his mercy. Secondly, I know that my mother must have created a lot of trouble when she left without a word, although you did not mention it to me. Of course, there wasn’t anything wrong pursuing her goal in life, but she was after all a citizen of Lintian. I believe the current situation wouldn’t be what she wanted.”
In reality, Lin Mengya was very clear that while Zuo Qiuyu and Zuo Qiuchen lured her closer to the Pavilion of Herb, every step of the way was a conscious choice on her part.
She believed that the two of them would not force it upon her to go if she refused.
She had more or less grasped their personalities over this period of interactions with them.
At Lin Mengya’s words, the three men fell into deep silence instantly.
It was true that each of them had his own objective, but the only common baseline was that Lin Mengya must not suffer any harm.
Be it for Long Tianyu or the two Zuo brothers, Lin Mengya occupied a significant part in their hearts.
Therefore, if she were to make a choice eventually, they could only submit to her choice regardless of whether they were happy with it or not.
“In this case, all of you should start preparing for the journey. We’ll set out in two days.”
Zuo Qiuchen’s face did not break out into a smile, instead, he looked somber.
After all, this concerned his nation. However, he felt much assured because Zuo Qiuyu, Lin Mengya, and Long Tianyu were the people he trusted most now.
Lin Mengya gave Long Tianyu an indicative nod and thereafter, Zuo Qiuchen and Zuo Qiuyu took their leave.
Night had fallen. Sumei had by then moved her things into the courtyard and waiting to be admitted.
As Zuo Qiuchen and Zuo Qiuyu walked pass her, they treated her like she did not exist at all.
Sumei, feeling a sense of guilt in her, did not dare to lift up her head to glimpse at them.
“Your Highness, the prince, and princess, Sumei is here,” announced Baishao, who was standing at the door.
While the big shots were having a serious discussion a moment ago, she had taken up the job of guarding the door.
Perhaps it was her fierce attitude that intimidated Sumei.
Although Sumei had already arrived earlier, she had remained standing in the corridor and refrained from acting impetuously.
“Alright, prepare a room for her. Tonight she will stand guard in the corridor.”
Lin Mengya did not intend to see this contemptible girl. Whatever Sumei was holding in her hands was of no importance to Lin Mengya.
This was because to Lin Mengya, Sumei was merely a tentative try.
Her purpose of letting Sumei stay was merely to numb the pair of eyes behind her.
“Your Highness, do rest yourself in my room tonight,” Lin Mengya said casually.
Immediately, Long Tianyu’s eye lit up.
Such an invitation was rather unfamiliar to Long Tianyu.
For some unknown reason, a feeling of anticipation crossed his heart.
Lin Mengya would be speechless if she knew about his feelings.
In the presence of Long Tianyu, Baishao returned to her room after helping Lin Mengya wash up.
Long Tianyu lay on the mattress on the floor and glanced at Lin Mengya on the bed and realized that she had closed her eyes. It was then that he realized his affection was unreciprocated.
Nevertheless, he could not help feeling the sweetness of being in the same room as her, so he could have a close look at her.
What was wrong with him? He shook his head in puzzlement.
“Ahem, ahem, ahem…”
All of a sudden, the sounds of coughing echoed from the corridor.
Without taking a look, Long Tianyu knew that they were from Sumei, who had been made to stay in the corridor.
Instinctively, he smiled.
What a ruthless move from Mengya.
Perhaps even Sumei did not expect Lin Mengya to let her keep watch at night by the corridor.
In reality, there had to be guards keeping watch at night in the corridors be it in the palace or the mansion of the princes.
However, most of the guards who stood watch for the night were men. They were usually given a heating stove for warm water as well as thick blankets.
Even during summer, they would be provided with a mattress and mosquito repellent.
Baishao certainly did not provide Sumei with anything except a well-worn blanket.
Sumei deserved this for whatever she had done, and there was no feeling of pity on Long Tianyu’s part.
Over here, apart from Lin Mengya, he could not be bothered about the life and death of all other people.
“Your Highness, it seems that your little beauty is almost going to cough her lungs out.”
Long Tianyu turned and looked towards Lin Mengya only to realize that while she kept her eyes closed, there was a subtle smile on her face.
It seemed like she was playing a joke on him.
“Stop spouting nonsense. Is she disturbing you?”
Long Tianyu sat up and looked at Lin Mengya with a frown. He was worried that Sumei would disturb Lin Mengya’s sleep.
“She’s not too noisy, but it seems that Sumei doesn’t have very good health. Why don’t we provide her with more?”
Her eyes opened abruptly and there was a cheeky look in the pupils of her eyes.
Long Tianyu merely nodded. He wondered what Lin Mengya had up her sleeves again.
She got up quietly and indicated for Long Tianyu to get the basin of water by the side.
Long Tianyu immediately understood her intention.
Long Tianyu carried the basin of water, trailed behind and tiptoed towards the window.
Under the moonlight, the figure of Sumei was leaning on the wall, wrapped up in the blanket. She must be cursing Lin Mengya at this moment.
The basin of cold water which suddenly came down on her instantly chilled her heart.
With the basin in her hand, Lin Mengya watched Sumei sprang up immediately and began screaming then.
A wide smile broke out on Lin Mengya’s face at that moment, but it seemed like pleasure had a sting in the tail. The remaining water from the basin dripped onto the tabletop where her feet were.
Instantly, her body tipped and she quickly lost her balance.
“Oops…”
Suddenly, a large hand came towards her and she was immediately folded into a firm embrace.
Thereafter, very coincidentally, she moved quickly towards Long Tianyu’s lips.
The exclamation which was about to leave her mouth was replaced by a firm kiss on the mouth.
Long Tianyu’s arms tightened around her as if she were a child and he lifted her into the air.
The sudden kiss made Long Tianyu’s heart explode with joy.
For the first time, he lifted his face to hers as he received her kiss. He could not bear to break free from the kiss and did not feel the least awkward about it.
An opportunity like this whereby Lin Mengya took the initiative to be intimate, was really hard to come by.
“You, you, you…”
Lin Mengya stuttered as she blushed and looked down at the man who acted innocent.
Long Tianyu had always been one to express himself with actions rather than words. He put his big hand on her head and exerted some pressure on it so he could finish this unexpected kiss.
Outside the window stood Sumei, who was so drenched that she looked like a ghost. By the time she stood up, what came into her eyes was the two people in white undergarments, locked in a passionate kiss.
In that instant, she burned with jealousy from the bottom of her heart so much that she had lost her rationality.
This man had refused to be tempted by her no matter how much she tried to seduce him. He had remained immovable all these while.
How was it that these two people were kissing so passionately right in front of her eyes!?
Jealousy and dissatisfaction consumed her heart in that instant.
No! This man should also belong to her!
She would disregard what other people thought of her. To her, she was already his concubine.
If he was not willing, no one could force it on him!
What was happening right now must be the work of Lin Mengya! She must have forced him into doing this!
This cursed woman! Not only did she flirt with other men, but she also did this right in front of her to provoke her to anger.
Was it not because of her celebrated status that she was behaving in such a wanton and reckless manner?
Although it was true that that person had said that once she displayed the item in her possession, she could swap places with Lin Mengya.
By that time, would Lin Mengya still be able to behave so aggressively?
Would those men be swooning over Lin Mengya still?
Finally, they broke away from the deep, passionate kiss.
Actually, Lin Mengya was merely feeling a little surprised at first.
However, she actually felt rather liberated by what happened.
Perhaps it was because she was a modern woman. She and Long Tianyu had developed a mutual tacit understanding in terms of their relationship.
On top of that, they were rightfully husband and wife by name. Intimate gestures such as embracing and kissing were nothing to be embarrassed about.
Although this was the case, Lin Mengya could not help blushing deeply, which showed that she was not as thick-skinned as she imagined.
She could not keep her eyes on Long Tianyu but quickly turned away.
It was at that moment that she glimpsed the hideous face filled with jealousy.
Did she not pour that basin of water on Sumei in order to provoke her?
Immediately, Lin Mengya used her left arm to hook onto Long Tianyu’s neck possessively and gave his forehead a light kiss.
Thereafter, with an overbearing tone, Lin Mengya directed her words at Sumei, saying, “What are you looking at? Haven’t you seen the intimacy between a man and his wife? Aren’t you afraid that your eyes may hurt from staring?”
