Chapter 82: Master of Face‑Changing Gao Yang

Li Lizhi is here?

Chen Yan twisted his eyebrows, turned his head, and met Gao Yang's calm, water-like gaze.

In a daze, he seemed to understand something.

Gao Yang... could it be that she's angry because of Li Lizhi again?

Thinking carefully, last night he and Li Lizhi left the harem together, talked a lot along the way, and walked very slowly.

At that time, many palace maids or eunuchs probably saw them.

Moreover, yesterday he and Li Lizhi stood for a long time near Cheng Tian Men, and many patrolling soldiers also saw them.

As a princess, Gao Yang could very likely learn of this the next day.

But even if she knows what happened yesterday, it shouldn't make Gao Yang this strange, right?

After all, last time he sent Li Lizhi a beauty poem, which, strictly speaking, was even more serious than this.

Last time Gao Yang didn't react this oddly...

Chen Yan pondered silently for a moment and considered a possibility.

Could it be... that Li Lizhi lied last night?

Before he could think further, Gao Yang suddenly reached out, slipped her arm around his, and said with a smile, "Since the princess has arrived, I'll go with you to take a look."

"After all, I am the future matriarch of this household; when there are guests, how could I not step forward?"

"Oh, right." Gao Yang paused, then said, "We came in a hurry today and haven't yet seen Xiao Sizi, so I brought her some of her favorite snacks."

Chen Yan: "......"

No, sisters.

Are you serious about this face‑changing?

Even magic tricks aren't as fast as you!

It was just "my palace, my palace" a moment ago, and now I'm the one on top.

Besides, the future matriarch isn't the current matriarch, so you have to put on a fake front.

Chen Yan glanced at his own arm, his expression odd, and asked, "Then what are you doing?"

"Are we that close?"

Gao Yang said helplessly, "There's no choice. Chen Lang is handsome and talented; if I don't keep an eye on him and some outside pixie lures him away, what would I do?"

"I don't want to spend the rest of my life alone in an empty room, becoming a resentful wife with no presence."

Chen Yan couldn't hold back upon hearing that.

Gao Yang?

Alone in an empty room?

How exactly are these words combined?

What a damn niche!

It's more absurd than a blade slicing a neck and sparking.

Chen Yan steadied his mind, speaking more seriously than ever, "Rest assured, I will never let you be alone in an empty room; whatever game you want to play, I'll be with you."

"Huh?" Gao Yang was puzzled after hearing that.

Why does Gao Yang feel Chen Yan's reaction is so strange?

Why did it suddenly become so serious?

Gao Yang pondered for a while, still unable to understand why.

She decided not to think about it; after all, it's a good thing for her, no need to worry too much.

"Then, Chen Lang... let's go!"

Gao Yang curved her mouth, embraced Chen Yan's arm, opened the door, and walked out.

With Qing'er looking as if she saw a ghost, Gao Yang proceeded to the main hall as if no one were there.

On the road, Gao Yang felt a faint anticipation; she really wanted to see Li Lizhi's expression if she learned that Gao Yang was at Weinan Bo Fu and was walking arm‑in‑arm with Chen Yan to meet her.

What expression would she have?

Surely...

It will be interesting, right?

"Sister, I'm also here~"

Xiao Sizi leaned against Li Lizhi's chest, stretched out her tiny hand, pinched a piece of the 'transparent flower cake' she had brought, and placed it near Li Lizhi's mouth.

Li Lizhi sat on the chair, staring blankly at the main hall's doorway.

It wasn't until Sizi's voice sounded that she reacted.

Li Lizhi pulled out a faint smile, gently bit a piece of the transparent flower cake, and softly said, "Delicious, thank you, Sizi~"

Transparent flower cake, a snack commonly found in the palace.

Made by wrapping bean paste or date paste in Wuxing rice skin, it appears semi‑transparent like a petal, both in appearance and taste.

Xiao Sizi used to love transparent flower cake, so she brought some when she came.

"Sister, is it really good?" Sizi said happily.

Li Lizhi looked up at the main hall door, whispered, "Sizi, look, sister brought you something tasty, is sister good?"

Sizi quickly nodded, "Good, good, sister is fine~"

"Then sister will ask you a few questions, okay?"

"What?" Sizi tilted her head, her little face full of confusion.

Li Lizhi pursed her lips, lowered her voice: "Sizi, sister asks, Gao Yang just came here too, right?"

Speaking of this, Sizi pursed her lips and nodded heavily, "Is duck, itchy older sister came, but itchy older sister is not obedient~"

She kicked her older brother's gate, and her older brother woke her up seven times~

Li Lizhi listened, feeling confused; after carefully thinking it over several times, she roughly understood Sizi's words.

It should be said that Gao Yang kicked Chen Yan's main gate, and Chen Yan went to reprimand her.

Just......

Would Gao Yang really do such an irrational thing?

Li Lizhi expressed doubt.

The two of them had previously only erupted in a fierce contest; the surface of the contest was the responsibility for the restaurant business, but its essence was Chen Yan.

Although Gao Yang gave up for a ridiculous reason in the end, Li Lizhi did not think Gao Yang would give up on Chen Yan.

Otherwise, after knowing she was scheming against Chen Yan, Gao Yang probably wouldn't even bother to contend with her.

To sneer at things one dislikes is in line with Gao Yang's character.

Then, since she wants to contend, why would she also go and kick someone's gate, making them dislike such an act?

Li Lizhi simply couldn't understand the logic behind Gao Yang's actions.

Could it be that she really thinks that having a marriage contract with Chen Yan would let her sit securely at the Fishing Terrace, sleeping soundly and free of worry?

Just as she was idly wondering, the door of the main hall was knocked on, and then it opened.

Li Lizhi hurriedly rose while holding Sizi, but saw Gao Yang walking in with Chen Yan's arm linked, a proper smile on her face.

Upon seeing her, Gao Yang naturally greeted: "Imperial Sister, you've come too?"

Don't be polite; just treat this place as your own home.

Chen Yan's eyelid twitched; he slightly tugged his arm, but found it locked in Gao Yang's tight embrace, unable to pull free.

To avoid embarrassing her in front of Li Lizhi, he could only helplessly maintain this posture.

Gao Yang, posing as the madam of the Bo Mansion, without waiting for Li Lizhi's reply, shouted toward the back: "Who was it... Qing'er, right?"

"This palace's Imperial Sister has arrived; why isn't tea being served?"

"You can't even handle such a small thing; how can you be a maid?"

Chen Yan: "......"

Qing'er: "......"

Li Lizhi stared at their linked arms, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, and said politely: "Gao Yang younger sister, there's no need to blame Qing'er; it was I who told Qing'er not to serve tea, so don't blame her."

"I see." Gao Yang suddenly understood, then said with a reproachful tone: "Imperial Sister, it's not the younger sister saying you; fortunately you are today at the Weinan Bo Fu, in your own family's place."

"If you were outside, visiting as a guest but not accepting the host's tea, what would they think of you?"

"Or rather..." Gao Yang said meaningfully: "Imperial Sister, insisting on her status, must she have me and Sir Chen personally pour tea before she'll drink?"

"......"