CH 127.2

Chapter 127.2 – Bargaining

On the thirteenth day of the first month, people began hanging the lanterns, and the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth was not far away.

Just after opening for a couple days, the government office went on vacation again. Lu Qipei stayed at home to make lanterns, but Qi Yang took the time to go to the palace again. When she returned, she had a relaxed expression as she told Lu Qipei, “Royal Brother’s health has improved a lot, and he should be able to climb up and view the lanterns this year.”

The Emperor lived deep in the palace, so although he talked about sharing happiness with the common people, he had very few opportunities to really interact with them. Climbing up and viewing the lanterns is one of them. During the Lantern Festival, the Emperor would personally climb the tall buildings in the palace to light lanterns and pray for the common people.

Although it was still from afar, there would be bright lights there, and the people could see the figures there. The Emperor would also have a panoramic view of half the capital from his vantage point.

This was a rare opportunity for the Emperor to meet the common people. At first, the Emperor would bring the Empress up to pray for blessings. After the Empress passed away, the Emperor began taking the Crown Prince up, also making him stand in front of the people from early on.

This habit continued until four years ago. The Crown Prince’s foundation was damaged when he returned from the war in the northern border, and he became slightly more ill and weaker every winter. Regardless of if he was sick during the Lantern Festival, even if his body was healthy at that time, the Emperor would not dare easily let him climb up.

After all, the weather had not warmed up yet during the Lantern Festival, and the wind was stronger on tall buildings. If the Crown Prince fell ill while lighting the lanterns, things would not end there easily. It wasn’t just about the Crown Prince’s illness, but his weakness would also be completely exposed. It might just be a small effect like causing fluctuation in the hearts of the people in the capital, but it could also be a big impact like the weakness of Liang’s successors giving neighboring countries opportunities to take advantage of.

Due to all these concerns, the Crown Prince had not accompanied the Emperor up for several years. But this year was different. Although the Crown Prince’s body had deteriorated due to his serious illness, the Emperor had also aged.

The aging Emperor didn’t know how long he could hold on, so he wanted to do his best to help his son go on the right path.

It was necessary for the Crown Prince who had been absent for several years to climb up the stairs again. But the Emperor’s illness last year not only took a toll on his own body, it also affected the Crown Prince’s hard-earned recovery. When she las saw him on New Year’s Eve, the Crown Prince was still sickly, but in half a month, he was able to climb up and view the lanterns. Obviously, he had been working hard to recover lately.

This was clearly good news for Qi Yang. Lu Qipei didn’t particularly care about it, and show Qi Yang the peach blossom lantern she had made. “It’s not as good as the ones the Ministry of Engineering made. If Ah Ning is unsatisfied, how about taking them out with you tonight?”

Upon hearing this, Qi Yang immediately forgot about the recovering Crown Prince. She happily took the lantern that Lu Qipei made herself, her heart full of emotions. “What do you mean not good? The one Ah Pei made is obviously better. The peach blossom lantern that the Ministry of Engineering made is only suitable for hanging at the door!”

There was no one other than Qi Yang who could speak such sweet words so confidently and eloquently.

Lu Qipei was very happy to hear it, and looked at Qi Yang with a gentle smile and eyes shining bright like the stars.

Qi Yang was truly unable to resist when she saw that, and she was momentarily bewitched by her beauty. She didn’t even care about the maids in the room, and leaned forward to kiss Lu Qipei’s lips. Before the latter could respond, she withdrew and made a random excuse, “This is your rewards.”

Hearing this, Lu Qipei glanced around and saw the maids who had already turned red and lowered their heads, immediately retreating quietly. Seeing that there was no one else around, Lu Qipei grabbed Qi Yang’s waist and kissed her back, one that lingered longer than the previous one. Finally, she let go and said, “My skills are ordinary. Your Highness gave me too much compensation, so I’m returning some back to you.”

Qi Yang pursed her lips, her eyes slightly moist, and she immediately caught a glimpse of Lu Qipei’s pale thin lips stained with her own lip balm. She didn’t feel shy, only feeling that the bright red color really matched the latter’s jade-like face, and it looked uniquely charming.

Anyways, the other party had teased her just now, and Qi Yang was not feeling so polite right now. She propped up Lu Qipei’s chin with one hand and gave a light snort, “If This Princess said it’s good, the it’s good. How dare you bargain with me!?”

After saying that, Her Royal Highness The Princess kissed her again, her gaze a little deeper than before.

The two of them were playing a game, using “bargaining” as a guise to play a trick and kiss the other… Fortunately, no one else heard their conversation, otherwise those childish words would really shock a lot of people.

Fortunately, the game ended before going any further, and Lu Qipei hugged Qi Yang for a while before reluctantly releasing her.

Qi Yang used her thumb to help wipe off the balm on her lips, then said with a bright smile, “Actually, Ah Pei looks very good with a lip balm. Your lip color is too pale.” As she said that, she propped up the latter’s face again and said, “When can I help you put on makeup again?”

Lu Qipei had always had makeup on her. Even since she was a child, she had always looked almost identical to Lu Qicheng, and it was partly thanks to some touch ups. Then as she grew older, to add some edge on her face that was originally too soft and make it look more manly, touch-ups were no longer enough, and she had to also deliberately put on makeup.

But after being dressed up for so long, Qi Yang had never seen Lu Qipei’s real feminine look, and she couldn’t help feeling emotional for a while.

Of course, Lu Qipei could hear this emotion. She picked up a strand of hair that was scattered near Qi Yang’s ear and pulled it back. Then, after thinking for a while, she said, “If you really want to see it, come back at night, and you can do whatever you want.”

Author notes:

Qi Yang (excited): Quick, Ah Pei, change into women’s clothing. I want to see how my wife looks in women’s clothing!

Lu Qipei had no choice but to change into women’s clothing, and Lu Sheng happened to barge in…

Lu Sheng (?): Who am I, where am I, am I still dreaming!?