Forced to Love (GL) - Chapter 25

Zhao Qingsui opened her eyes, a thin layer of mist covering her gaze, making it hard to see clearly.

The mist softened the sharpness usually found in her eyes, giving off a different feeling.

The faint candlelight behind her cast a large shadow over Zhao Qingsui’s body from Lingxi’s head.

But in just a moment, the mist dissipated, and her gaze focused.

Zhao Qingsui’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Lingxi instantly retreated and knelt beside the bed, holding up a teacup with both hands.

“Your Highness, I have not acted improperly. I only got up to pour water for you because I heard you call Su Rui in your sleep.”

Zhao Qingsui sat up and remained silent at the edge of the bed. Lingxi kept her head lowered, unable to see her expression.

The candle flame flickered, casting alternating light and shadow throughout the room.

The teacup in Lingxi’s hands was suddenly taken away, and then she heard the person sitting in front of the bed clear her throat.

“Lord Lu, you are quite bold. Without my permission, you lifted the bed curtain first.”

Zhao Qingsui’s voice was calm, but perhaps because she had just woken up, it carried a slight softness—similar to usual, yet different from before.

It was more like a formal reprimand, but with an unintentional hint of indifference.

“I acknowledge my mistake. Please, Your Highness, do not be angry.”

Lingxi lowered herself further, her vision filled with the enlarged patterns of the dark red carpet.

Zhao Qingsui glanced at the person kneeling by the bed, who admitted guilt without hesitation. Her eyes flickered slightly, and her lips pressed together for a brief moment.

“Then tell me, Lord Lu, how should this offense be settled?”

Lingxi’s expression froze momentarily. “I leave it to Your Highness to decide.”

Zhao Qingsui pondered, “In that case, very well.”

Lingxi’s heart tightened. Unable to see the expression of the person before her, she felt as though she was wandering in endless darkness.

A faint rustling sound broke the silence, like fabric brushing against fabric or smooth skin gliding over silk.

The next moment, Lingxi heard Zhao Qingsui’s voice drift through the bed curtains.

“Then, for tomorrow’s tea ceremony, Lord Lu must perform well.”

Lingxi was momentarily stunned. When she looked up, Zhao Qingsui had already lain back down, with the bed curtains drawn, concealing her expression.

“Yes.”

The candlelight was extinguished once more. Lingxi lay flat on the floor but found it impossible to sleep. She stared at the wooden beams above, her thoughts drifting far away.

At dawn, the rising sun shone through the window, instantly brightening the entire room. The golden glow spread like a special layer of pearl light, casting a protective sheen over everything.

The sudden brightness forced Lingxi’s dark eyes to adjust. She sat up; her head still heavy. For a moment, she couldn’t distinguish whether last night had truly happened—it felt unreal.

A knock on the door suddenly came from outside. Su Rui’s voice inquired if they had woken up.

The bed curtains beside her rustled. When Lingxi looked over, the person inside was already rising.

The events of the previous night flashed before her eyes in an instant. Lingxi quickly stood up, tidied the bedding, placed it aside, then bowed toward the person behind the bed curtains.

“Your Highness, I will step out and let Su Rui assist you in getting dressed.”

“Mm.”

Su Rui had been waiting at the door early in the morning. When no one responded to her knock, she was about to knock again when Lingxi pushed the door open and stepped out quickly.

Su Rui slightly bowed to her. “Prince Consort.”

“Her Highness is awake. You may enter.”

As Su Rui looked at Lingxi, she noticed faint bruises around her eyes.

Lingxi didn’t give her another glance and left immediately to change into her regular clothes in the guest room that Chai Gao had prepared the previous day. She didn’t notice the hint of confusion in Su Rui’s eyes.

Shortly after Lingxi left, Su Rui entered with the maids to assist Zhao Qingsui in dressing.

“Your Highness, just now, when the Prince Consort left, she didn’t look well, as if she didn’t sleep properly.”

Zhao Qingsui paused slightly while slipping her arm through her sleeve, her eyebrows lifting subtly. “Oh? Is that so?”

She turned slightly and looked at the empty space before the bed, lost in thought. As she was about to leave the room, she stopped again.

“Tomorrow, prepare some nourishing porridge for the Prince Consort.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

…

Lingxi accompanied Zhao Qingsui to the Lu family’s main hall to offer tea to Lu Zheng. After a few polite exchanges, the two left the Lu residence and entered the palace.

Inside the carriage, Zhao Qingsui sat in the main seat while Lingxi sat to the side, hands resting properly on her lap, her gaze fixed forward without shifting.

Zhao Qingsui glanced at her briefly and then casually picked up a book, running her fingers over its cover.

This Lord Lu—was she really as ruthless and cruel as people said? Or was she merely hiding her true nature so deeply that it was difficult to perceive?

Last night, she calmly explained herself, admitted fault without hesitation, and hurriedly left in the morning. The contradictions overlapped in Zhao Qingsui’s mind, making her narrow her eyes slightly.

A cold breeze slipped through the carriage curtains, causing Zhao Qingsui to cough lightly. Lingxi quickly reached out to offer her a cup of tea. On the other side, Su Rui also moved, but her hand paused mid-air.

“Your Highness, please moisten your throat.”

Zhao Qingsui looked up at Lingxi, her fingers brushing against the cup’s warm surface.

“Mm.”

Lingxi lowered her gaze slightly. Zhao Qingsui’s pale fingers, in contrast to the cup’s warmth, resembled a winter plum blooming in a snowy landscape—striking yet delicate.

When the carriage arrived at the palace gates, they stepped out and walked inside. The wind was sharp and biting. Lingxi took the cloak from Su Rui’s hands and draped it over Zhao Qingsui’s shoulders.

“Father, Lu Mu and I have come to greet you.”

“Your Majesty, I wish you good health and longevity.”

“Good, very good. Finally, something that pleases me.”

The emperor stroked his beard and laughed.

“Bring them seats.”

“Your Majesty, please take good care of your health. The nation prospers with you at its helm. Surely, this is also the hope of the people of Datang.”

“Well said, Prince Consort. Father, you must prioritize your health.”

As Lingxi rose, her gaze met Zhao Qingsui’s for a brief moment. They looked at each other for a few seconds before turning away.

Zhao Cong studied the two with a thoughtful expression. “Married for only a day, and already you two are speaking in harmony?”

“Father jests.”

“I dare not. This is merely the wish of Her Highness and myself.”

“Truly a perfect match!”

The emperor laughed heartily and instructed Eunuch Huang to arrange a meal for them.

During the meal, Lingxi carefully served Zhao Qingsui, selecting dishes for her and pouring soup, her concern evident.

The emperor, seeing this, was greatly pleased.

After the meal, the two of them said goodbye to Zhao Chong and left.

On the way out, Lingxi again took the cloak from Su Rui and placed it over Zhao Qingsui’s shoulders.

It seemed like a habit—not something recent, but something that had already become a natural part of her, like eating three meals a day.

The Dali Court had an urgent case. Even though it was the second day of the wedding, Lingxi could not delay. When they reached the palace gate, she asked Zhao Qingsui for permission to leave.

After getting her approval, Lingxi took the reins from Chai Gao, mounted her horse, and held the reins. But before leaving, she turned back to look at Zhao Qingsui.

Her dark eyes were calm but familiar.

Zhao Qingsui watched her back as she left. The wind was blocked by the cloak behind her. Only after Lingxi’s figure disappeared did Zhao Qingsui lower her eyes.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.” Su Rui lowered her head and answered.

After Lingxi arrived at the Dali Court, she received congratulations from her subordinates.

“Thank you, same to you.”

She casually replied a few words and walked straight to Li Cai.

“Lord Li, did you find something?”

Just a moment ago, Chai Gao had told her that Li Cai’s men had reported new progress on the earlier clues. That was why she quickly left the palace and rode over.

“Calling Lord Lu back on the second day of her wedding is truly my fault,” Li Cai said.

“No need to be polite, Lord Li. This is a serious matter. Of course I had to come.”

“Yes, come and look. After asking around, we found a theater troupe called ‘Flower Moon’.” Li Cai brought Lingxi to the city map and pointed out the location of the troupe.

“A theater troupe?”

“Yes. I also thought it was strange. But even if we are wrong ten thousand times, we cannot miss a single clue.” Li Cai nodded at the map.

“Mm, you are right, Lord Li. There’s no time to lose. I’ll take people to check it out right away.”
Lingxi memorized the detailed location on the map.

“Then I’ll trouble you, Lord Lu.”

Lingxi changed into plain clothes, then led her people out of the Dali Court and went straight to the location.

The theater troupe was in a busy market area. Many people were walking by—street vendors shouting to sell goods, and teahouses with open shops.

The troupe had started from the same kind of noisy streets, so nothing seemed out of place. Lingxi looked around but didn’t find anything strange.

She kept walking until she reached a corner where a large wooden door blocked the way. From inside, she could hear cheers from time to time. The door was closed, but not locked.

Lingxi pushed the door open. What she saw first was a large open space filled with people. Further in, there was a wooden stage.

On the stage, people were singing opera. There were drumbeats and the creaking of wooden boards as they walked on the stage.

Lingxi didn’t watch opera, so she couldn’t tell what was being performed. She didn’t even know which roles were which.

Her gaze moved from the stage to the audience. The crowd sat watching and cheered loudly, following the actors’ performance.

Lingxi walked further in. She hadn’t gone far when someone suddenly rushed at her from the side. Lingxi glanced quickly, moved lightly, and the person missed and fell onto the ground.

“Ah… you bullied me! You bullied me!”

The person suddenly cried out loudly, her voice so loud it drowned out the opera. Everyone turned to look.

“I didn’t bully you,” Lingxi said calmly, standing still.

Someone nearby went to help the person up. But she pointed in another direction and shouted, “Hey! Thief! Don’t run!”
Lingxi turned her head in confusion. Just then, a strong force hit her from the front, and two arms wrapped tightly around her like a trap.

A cold light appeared in her eyes. Just as Lingxi was about to fight back, she saw Su Rui standing outside the crowd.

Su Rui frowned from afar.