PDLP Chapter 202 Overt and covert fighting
Chapter 202 Overt and covert fighting
"Your Highness," the guard's voice interrupted Lu Shengyuan's thoughts, "The Crown Princess requests an audience."
Lu Shengyuan frowned when he heard this.
Crown Princess? What is she doing here at this time?
"Let her in."
A moment later, the Crown Princess walked into the study gracefully. Her eyes lingered between Lu Shengyuan and Lin Wanqing for a moment, then she bowed.
"I have met the prince and the princess."
Lu Shengyuan looked at her and said in a cold voice, "What are you doing here?"
The Crown Princess smiled slightly and said softly, "I heard that the prince was unwell, so I came to visit him."
As she spoke, she glanced at the portrait on the table, "Huh? This painting..."
Lin Wanqing's heart tightened and she subconsciously looked at Lu Shengyuan.
Lu Shengyuan had a cold expression on his face, staring at the Crown Princess with a sharp gaze.
"What do you think is wrong, Princess?"
The Crown Princess was startled by his look, but quickly regained her composure.
"No...I don't know him," she shook her head, "I just think the person in the painting looks familiar."
Lu Shengyuan looked at her coldly, with a hint of suspicion in his eyes.
"is it?"
The Crown Princess felt a little guilty when he looked at her, so she quickly changed the subject.
"Your Majesty, I came here not only to visit you, but also to discuss something with you."
"explain."
Lu Shengyuan's attitude remained cold.
The Crown Princess took a deep breath and spoke slowly, "I would like to invite the Princess to the palace to discuss matters of court etiquette with me."
Lu Shengyuan frowned when he heard this.
"Court etiquette?"
He looked at Lin Wanqing, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.
"The princess knows nothing about court etiquette, so I'm afraid she can't help you."
The Crown Princess seemed to have anticipated his words and quickly explained, "Your Highness has misunderstood. I simply wish to invite you to the palace to learn court etiquette with me. After all, you will be co-chairing palace affairs with me in the future."
What she said was so logical and reasonable that it was impossible to refute it.
However, Lu Shengyuan still frowned and did not express his opinion.
Seeing this, Lin Wanqing felt a little moved.
Lu Shengyuan was protecting her and didn't want her to be involved in the court struggles.
However, she also knew that she couldn't hide under his wings forever.
So, she bowed gracefully and said softly, "Your Highness, I am willing to follow the Crown Princess into the palace to learn court etiquette."
Upon hearing this, Lu Shengyuan turned to look at her, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
She is actually willing to enter the palace?
He looked at her deeply, then turned to the Crown Princess and said, "Since the princess is willing, then you can take her there."
The Crown Princess was delighted when she heard this and quickly thanked him, "Thank you, Your Highness!"
Lin Wanqing also smiled slightly, but was secretly alert in his heart.
Entering the palace this time may not be that easy.
Sure enough, after the Crown Princess brought her into the palace, she did not go directly to learn court etiquette, but took her for a stroll around the palace.
Lin Wanqing was confused, but did not show it. She just silently observed everything around her.
Suddenly, a noise came from not far away.
The Crown Princess's face changed, and she pulled Lin Wanqing into the rockery nearby.
Lin Wanqing was shocked and didn't know what was going on.
She looked out through the gap in the rockery and saw a group of palace maids and eunuchs surrounding a woman in luxurious clothes walking towards her.
The woman had a gorgeous appearance and noble temperament, and it was obvious at first glance that she was not an ordinary person.
"Who is that?" Lin Wanqing couldn't help but ask.
The Crown Princess's expression was somewhat grim: "That's the Imperial Concubine."
Lin Wanqing's heart moved when he heard this.
Imperial Concubine? That means she is the current emperor's favorite concubine?
She watched the group of people walking away, but ripples appeared in her heart.
The Crown Princess pulled her out of the rockery, her face now calm again.
"let's go."
Lin Wanqing nodded, but her heart was full of doubts.
The scene just now was obviously not a coincidence. The Crown Princess obviously brought her here on purpose.
What is her purpose in doing this?
In the following days, Lin Wanqing continued to learn court etiquette in the palace.
Although the process was a bit boring, she learned a lot.
The Crown Princess was also very caring towards her and answered almost every question she asked.
However, the more this happened, the more doubts Lin Wanqing felt.
She always felt that the Crown Princess was too good to her, so good that it seemed unreal.
On this day, Lin Wanqing finally couldn't help but ask the question in her heart: "Crown Princess, why are you so kind to me?"
The Crown Princess was slightly stunned when she heard this, then she laughed.
"Because you are Lu Shengyuan's princess."
Her smile was so sincere that no one could see any flaws.
However, Lin Wanqing was not fooled by her smile.
"Is it just because of this?" she demanded.
The Crown Princess looked at her, a complicated look in her eyes.
"Of course it's not just because of this," she sighed, "In fact, I've been looking for someone I can trust."
"Someone you trust?" Lin Wanqing looked at her in confusion.
"Yes," the Crown Princess nodded, "Life in the palace is not as beautiful as outsiders imagine. It is full of fighting and calculations. I have been looking for someone I can trust and who can face it all with me."
She looked at Lin Wanqing, her eyes full of anticipation: "I think you are the one."
Lin Wanqing looked at her, her heart filled with shock.
She didn't expect that the Crown Princess would say such words to her.
"But...I..." She didn't know what to say for a moment.
The Crown Princess smiled and patted her hands: "It's okay, take your time. As long as you are willing, we will definitely become good friends."
good friend?
Lin Wanqing looked at the Crown Princess's smiling face, but her heart was full of doubts.
Can she really trust the Crown Princess?
In the following days, the Crown Princess took even better care of Lin Wanqing.
Not only did she personally instruct Lin Wanqing on court etiquette, she also took her to many court banquets.
At these banquets, Lin Wanqing met many dignitaries and heard many palace secrets.
She gradually felt that the Crown Princess seemed to be someone she could really trust.
However, just when she was about to let down her guard, an unexpected piece of news made her alert again.
"What? The Imperial Concubine wants to see me?" Lin Wanqing looked at the palace maid who came to deliver the message, her heart filled with surprise.
The maid nodded and said, "Yes, Princess, the Imperial Concubine wants to invite you into the palace for a chat."
Lin Wanqing was confused and didn't know why the imperial concubine suddenly summoned her.
She looked at the Crown Princess, only to see that she was also surprised.
"I don't know what's going on," the Crown Princess shook her head. "But since the Imperial Concubine wants to see you, then go and see her. Remember to be careful."
Lin Wanqing nodded, but her heart was filled with anxiety.
Entering the palace this time may not be that easy.
Lin Wanqing followed the palace maid into a magnificent palace.
In the palace, the imperial concubine was sitting on the throne, looking at her with a smile on her face.