Volume Two, Chapter Forty-Two

"Yes. I obey Your Majesty's decree."

Zhu Bafu bowed to accept the decree, but Your Majesty's next words unsettled her.

"Attend us. Help Lord Zhu into the Imperial Palanquin."

Li Chenjing's brows drew together. He glanced toward Zhao Huangpu, only to find Zhao Huangpu looking right back at him, mockery and challenge plain in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, I can ride a horse like Lord Li." The little eunuchs set down the Imperial Palanquin and crouched to help her aboard. His Majesty's palanquin was broad as a mat, with room for two, but everyone knew the place beside him was usually reserved for a favored consort. What would it look like for a lowly official like her to climb in?

"You want to ride with Little Jing?" He raised a displeased brow.

The author has something to say:

I meant to update yesterday, QAQ, but even after writing until three in the morning, I only had fifteen hundred words, so I had to update today instead. I'll try to update tomorrow and get back to daily updates~~~ QAQ My lovelies, I really have no saved chapters left. Everything here is fresh off the press~~~ I'll be able to hand in volume four of the Taiwan edition soon, hahaha~~~~

Chapter 84: Volume Two, Chapter Forty-Two

"You want to ride with Little Jing?" He raised a displeased brow.

"No! Of course not! I can ride on my own!"

"On your own? What if you fall?" His concern sounded perfectly reasonable. "Last time, I was behind you to hold you steady. Otherwise, you would have fallen off the horse."

Her riding skills admittedly weren't great, but they weren't that bad, were they?

She still wanted to argue, but several little eunuchs dropped to their knees and urged, "Lord Zhu, please board the palanquin."