Chapter 182: You like my shoes that much? Fine, sis

When Lu Yuan raised his head to look, he saw a face that was utterly familiar yet now extremely unfamiliar—an absolutely beautiful face.

Lu Yuan was dazed.

To be honest, before this, Lu Yuan really hadn't even considered linking Gu Qingwan with the current emperor.

Not even a bit.

Mainly…

When Gu Qingwan was with me, she truly didn't seem like an empress at all.

Now, Lu Yuan really was dazed.

This face was still Gu Qingwan's, but her aura was completely different from when she was at Lu Yuan's home.

One could say there was nothing alike about them.

Gu Qingwan tilted her head, looking somewhat teasingly at Lu Yuan kneeling below.

Her aura was like that of a Nine Heavenly Phoenix, immensely oppressive.

That majestic aura, plus her offhand, seemingly lazy demeanor.

This made it impossible for Lu Yuan to associate the empress before him with the Gu Qingwan at his home.

At this moment, Gu Qingwan was also silently watching Lu Yuan kneeling on the ground.

To be honest, Gu Qingwan really hadn't expected to meet Lu Yuan this soon.

Even just now, after Lu Yuan's ennoblement ceremony ended, Gu Qingwan hadn't thought of meeting him.

Gu Qingwan initially thought… let's wait until my brother returns to discuss this, otherwise…

Should the two be frank with each other, and if there's no one to mediate between them…

Gu Qingwan felt a little afraid.

But… after thinking it over, Gu Qingwan wondered, what was there to fear?

Nothing to fear!

I haven't done anything wrong to Lu Yuan, and I still go to his place every day to serve him~

Over these past ten-odd days, my relationship with Lu Yuan has been very good, and Gu Qingwan feels there's nothing wrong.

As for whether Lu Yuan will fear me after learning my identity…

Gu Qingwan felt… judging by Lu Yuan's character…

He should only be afraid at first, for a while.

As long as I treat Lu Yuan better than others, being generous everywhere, he won't be afraid later.

After all… Lu Yuan is just the type who gets arrogant when given an inch~

As for the earlier fear…

Let him be afraid!!

Just make you, this little troublemaker, afraid!

Who let you bully my sister every day, have her serve you every day, and call her "older brother" every day!

Just make you afraid!!

Besides these, the reason Gu Qingwan ultimately made this decision is…

Gu Qingwan felt… even if my brother returns, he's probably not capable enough to help between us!

He might even cause trouble.

Forgive Gu Qingwan's frankness, but my brother and Su Liyan's brother—these two brothers aren't exactly bright.

Especially my brother—sometimes Gu Qingwan really wants to curse, "idiot!"

……

Meanwhile…

Gu Lie, who had just arrived in the south, sneezed hard inside the mansion.

Then he rubbed his nose and muttered:

"It feels like the south isn't warm at all; these two days I still feel cold—what's going on? There's no snow here, yet I feel chilly."

An official beside him, fawningly offering tea, spoke.

……

Lu Brother, get up—why are you still kneeling?

Could it be you like my shoes?

Gu Qingwan raised her brows slightly, looking at Lu Yuan kneeling on the ground, and said:

Lu Yuan: "????"

Lu Yuan now truly had a face full of question marks.

"You… aren't… Your Majesty…"

Lu Yuan was completely dazed.

Meanwhile, the Grand Eunuch beside him, smiling, supported the somewhat weak-legged Lu Yuan and said:

"Get up, Lord Lu—why don't you recognize Your Majesty?"

After being helped up by the Grand Eunuch, Lu Yuan swallowed, opened his mouth, wanting to say something but not knowing how.

Gu Qingwan stood where she was, expressionless, merely tilting her head slightly to look at Lu Yuan and said:

"By the way, Lu Brother, you're celebrating your birthday today—I've been calling you brother; isn't that a bit off?"

Lu Yuan, having regained his composure, quickly lowered his head and said:

"No, no… wrong generation, wrong generation…"

Gu Qingwan looked at Lu Yuan, now completely frightened and dazed, slightly raised her head, curled the corner of her mouth into a perfect arc, lifted her chin slightly, and said:

Then what should you call me from now on?

Lu Yuan was startled, then hurriedly said:

Call Your Majesty……

Lu Yuan admitted that he is currently cowardly.

But… staying alive… isn't disgraceful!

Not disgraceful at all!!

This so-called serving a ruler is like serving a tiger!

Although it's said that before, the two's relationship was really very good.

But… but that's different!

Before that was a young lady from a wealthy family!

This is the Empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty!!

If I still dare to act recklessly, messing around……

Maybe nothing now, but there will definitely be trouble later!

This is just like what……

This is like a company's senior leader, easygoing, friendly, willing to joke with the staff below, messing around.

But……

He can make this joke, but you absolutely cannot!

You must always keep your position straight!

Although Lu Yuan is young, he still understands some things clearly.

In this situation, if Lu Yuan were to again proudly put his hands on his hips and pat Gu Qingwan's shoulder, as if at home……

Idly flicking Gu Qingwan's forehead.

As soon as this scene appeared, Lu Yuan instantly thought of what words to carve on his own tombstone.

Although, Lu Yuan felt that Gu Qingwan probably wouldn't do anything to him.

After all, ignorance is no crime, and I didn't know before either.

Moreover, I have made contributions to the Great Zhou Dynasty.

On what grounds would they mess with me?

But… one must still put on the proper attitude.

In this situation, you dare to act arrogant before the Empress!!

They're all fully equipped, level 18 angels, and you insist on finding someone to oppose?

Go study for three years, you dog-head!!

And after Lu Yuan finished speaking, Gu Qingwan suddenly let out a cold snort.

That sound startled Lu Yuan's little heart into a tremor.

What does that mean?

Are we settling accounts later??

When Lu Yuan lowered his head, looking clueless, trying to find an excuse.

Gu Qingwan's jade hand suddenly lifted from below.

Lu Yuan didn't even notice; today Gu Qingwan's fingers were coated with bright red nail polish.

When Lu Yuan looked clueless.

Gu Qingwan's jade finger pressed against Lu Yuan's chin, then lifted his head up.

When Lu Yuan looked clueless, the originally stern, cold‑eyed Gu Qingwan's mouth corner slightly curled into a smile.

Afterward, Gu Qingwan looked down at Lu Yuan from above, head held high, and said:

「Wrong!

From now on you must call me older sister, understand, younger brother?!!

Lu Yuan startled, whether he understood or not, he hurriedly said:

「I understand, I understand. 」

After saying that, Gu Qingwan's smile grew ever brighter.

Afterward, Gu Qingwan's jade hand pinched Lu Yuan's cheek, just as Lu Yuan would pinch his wife's cheek.

Gu Qingwan's body lowered slightly, putting her face at the same height as Lu Yuan's, their noses less than a few centimeters apart.

「Of course, this is when we're in private; if we're in the court, you must also call me Your Majesty. 」

「Remember that, or else older sister will beat you up~」

Gu Qingwan now is like a cat toying with a mouse in her hand.

Such an unmatched superior's aura left Lu Yuan unable to say anything; he merely swallowed saliva, then nodded and said:

「Yes……imperial……older sister…………」

Seeing his current state, Gu Qingwan was extremely satisfied.

Afterward, Gu Qingwan rose and walked toward the throne, saying:

「Fetch a chair for my obedient younger brother. 」

The Grand Eunuch beside him hurriedly said:

「Yes, Your Majesty. 」

Lu Yuan stood there dazed; soon, the Grand Eunuch had someone bring in a red‑wood chair.

The two Little Eunuchs had just set down the chair and were about to leave when Gu Qingwan, already seated on the throne, glanced at them briefly and then said coldly:

"Put this chair by my side."

The two little eunuchs were startled, then, following Gu Qingwan's request, lifted the chair and placed it beside Gu Qingwan's dragon throne.

Finally, after the two little eunuchs had gone out.

The senior eunuch, understanding implicitly, directly closed the door.

Instantly, only Lu Yuan, Gu Qingwan, and the senior eunuch remained in the hall.

The senior eunuch, after closing the door, stood motionless beneath the dragon throne, like a statue.

Lu Yuan was now almost like a statue—he dared not move, dare not look, dare not speak.

After Gu Qingwan finished reading a memorial, she slightly raised her head, glanced at Lu Yuan still standing below, raised her eyebrows, and said:

"Still standing there doing what? Has your stomachache gotten better?"

"Why don't you quickly come sit beside your older sister?!"

Lu Yuan: "..."

I'm numb...

Physically, I'm numb too.

Originally, during the ennoblement just now, I had been kneeling there, and now my legs really are a bit numb.

Mainly, Lu Yuan couldn't quite figure out what Gu Qingwan was up to.

This...

This... being called 'older sister' and all that...

It's making one's head spin.

In the end, Lu Yuan honestly went over to Gu Qingwan's side.

What can be done? The emperor ordered me to sit here—how could I not sit?

At this moment, Gu Qingwan held the memorial in her hand, leaning sideways against the imperial throne.

Her beautiful legs were crossed together; the raised beautiful leg, with the foot's toes hooked in high heels, swayed back and forth.

It seemed Gu Qingwan's mood was quite pleased.

Lu Yuan, meanwhile, kept his head lowered and said nothing.

He pondered all that had happened these days.

Damn it, Lu Yuan really hadn't noticed!!

Or rather...

There were some things that, when noticed as strange back then, one couldn't possibly think in this direction.

Looking back now, it seems there's something off about this.

But back then, I certainly wouldn't have thought about it like that.

After the fact, Zhuge Liang's hindsight is the most meaningless.

While Lu Yuan lowered his head in recollection, Gu Qingwan beside him, while looking at the memorial, said:

"By the way, regarding older sister's matter, when you go back don't tell Liyan, otherwise older sister and Liyan won't be able to play together."

After Gu Qingwan's identity changed, her voice changed accordingly.

Her voice was that of extreme coldness, devoid of emotion.

Extremely aloof.

However, hearing Gu Qingwan's words, Lu Yuan felt a bit dazed.

What does that mean?

This Gu Qingwan... isn't... does the emperor still intend to go to my home?

Lu Yuan felt a bit dazed, then quickly nodded and said:

"I understand... Your Majesty..."

As soon as Lu Yuan finished speaking, the Gu Qingwan holding the memorial immediately put it down, raised her eyebrows at Lu Yuan, and said:

"Want to get beaten?"

"Call me older sister!"

Lu Yuan startled, then with a black line on his face hastily said:

"I understand... older sister..."

After Lu Yuan finished speaking with his head lowered, a hint of a beautiful smile appeared at the corner of Gu Qingwan's mouth, and only then did she pick up the memorial again and say:

"What would you like to eat for lunch today? Tell older sister."

Lu Yuan: "???"

Lu Yuan now wanted to drink the northwest wind, to calm down.

Lu Yuan remained silent, and Gu Qingwan continued in her cold tone:

"At noon, older sister will fry you some steamed bun slices to eat."

"You weren't just saying the other day, after you're ennobled, go back and I'll fry you some steamed bun slices to eat, right?"

After Gu Qingwan finished speaking, the senior eunuch below, a bit dazed, slightly turned his head and glanced upward.

This emperor...

Is going to fry steamed bun slices for Lu Yuan to eat??

The senior eunuch doesn't know what Gu Qingwan does every day at Lu Yuan's home.

After all, only the Qing Cang Guard knows about this, and he couldn't possibly go inquire.

Hearing this, the senior eunuch felt a bit dazed.

How does the emperor go to Lu Yuan's house and even help cook?

And at this moment, Lu Yuan felt a bit numb; does he still dare to eat?

He ate at noon, and left at night.

Immediately, Lu Yuan hurriedly waved his hand and said:

"No, no…… Sis…… older sister, I'm not hungry…… I don't really want to eat now……"

After Lu Yuan finished speaking, Gu Qingwan again put down the memorial in her hand, raised her eyebrows and said coldly:

"Are you trying to deceive the ruler?"

Lu Yuan: "????"

This damn!!

You're doing this on purpose, right?!

You're playing with people, right!!

Lu Yuan, looking bewildered, raised his head to look at Gu Qingwan.

At this moment, Gu Qingwan had no expression, her face extremely indifferent.

But her beautiful eyes were slightly curved.

Gu Qingwan is hiding a smile.

On purpose.

Lu Yuan could tell, Gu Qingwan was just teasing him, playing with him.

Just like a mischievous older sister teasing an honest younger brother.

It's obvious, Lu Yuan is not an honest person.

But given the current situation, even if not honest, he must be honest.

What the hell, can he still stand up and give Gu Qingwan a flick on the forehead?

Finally, Lu Yuan, speechless, said:

"Then…… then…… let's have fried mantou slices."

After hearing Lu Yuan finish speaking, Gu Qingwan again picked up the memorial, held it in front of herself, blocking the smile on her face, then spoke in a coquettish voice:

"This is what it means to be an obedient younger brother who listens to his older sister~"

"From now on, the younger brother must listen like this; only then will the older sister like you, understand? ~"

Lu Yuan, feeling speechless, said:

"Understood."

Afterwards, Gu Qingwan continued to look at the memorial in her hand.

And Lu Yuan lowered his head, his face full of black lines.

Not long after, after Gu Qingwan finished reading the memorial in her hand and was about to switch to another, seeing Lu Yuan's current appearance, she almost laughed out loud.

However, Gu Qingwan's expression management is absolutely top-notch.

When switching to another memorial, Gu Qingwan remained expressionless, speaking solemnly:

"You like my shoes this much? Alright, sister rewards them to you."

Having said that, Gu Qingwan lifted her leg and extended it toward Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan, looking dumbfounded, looked at the beautiful foot that Gu Qingwan extended.

Lu Yuan: "????"

You're not done, right!!

Thanks to Lu Deng Zailiang and finally the black night old brother for the 588 book coin reward, thank you very much~

Thanks to book friend 2022033, book friend 2017029, these two old brothers for the 100 book coin reward, thank you very much~

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(End of chapter)