Chun Qiao was slightly startled and carefully lowered her eyes to glance at Lin Wanyu's expression.
She didn't understand whether Lin Wanyu wanted Miss Wang to come or not.
Lin Wanyu waited for a while but didn't get a reply. She looked up and just caught Chun Qiao's eye.
Chun Qiao lowered her head guiltily and reported truthfully, "His Highness has decided to cancel the engagement."
"Cancel it?"
Lin Wanyu frowned slightly. Her fair face was full of disbelief. "This was a marriage bestowed by the Emperor. Can His Highness cancel it as he pleases?"
Seeing her like this, Chun Qiao was a bit puzzled and tentatively asked, "So, miss, do you want His Highness to keep this engagement?"
Lin Wanyu suddenly came to her senses. "His Highness's affairs should be decided by himself. I'm just a servant. How could I have the qualification to interfere? I'm just asking out of curiosity."
Even though she was wearing gorgeous clothes and had a head full of jingling hairpins today, her status was still just a servant who couldn't even be counted as a concubine.
It was just that her master took pity on her and favored her with some things out of temporary freshness. She couldn't be muddle - headed.
"It's okay. You can go and get busy. I'll take a nap."
Since there was nothing to do anyway, it would be better to take a rest first. Only by getting enough rest could she plan better.
Chun Qiao responded and backed out, closing the door behind her.
She had been on high alert all day yesterday. Now that she relaxed, she slept until sunset.
Lin Wanyu tidied herself up. Just as she pushed open the door, she ran into Chun Qiao head - on.
"Miss, His Highness said he would come later to have dinner with you."
As the words fell, Lin Wanyu's hand holding the handkerchief trembled slightly. The amorous and lingering scene of last night reappeared in front of her eyes. It was as if a fire was gradually burning in her heart...
"Okay, then I'll make some preparations."
Turning around, the refreshments were still on the table. Lin Wanyu steadied her mind and said in a low voice, "Miss Zhou brought so many delicate refreshments. I should return the favor. Please do me a favor and go there for me."
Chun Qiao was a bit puzzled but still agreed.
Lin Wanyu took a jade bracelet from the dressing table box. She put the tea soup sent by Zhou Danlin, untouched, into the food box and handed it all to Chun Qiao.
The tea soup made by Zhou Danlin was usually made in Yangzhou when a distinguished guest came.
If this Miss Zhou was smart, she would naturally understand her meaning.
As soon as it got dark, lanterns were lit everywhere in the Wanhua Pavilion. The kitchen also sent the meals on time.
Lin Wanyu stood quietly under the corridor, waiting for Lu Huaijin to come.
She waited and waited, but no one came. It was almost the Hour of the Boar. Not only didn't Lu Huaijin come, but Zhou Danlin didn't show up either.
"Chun Qiao, did His Highness really say he would come for dinner today?"
Chun Qiao nodded. "Yes, His Highness sent Sichen to pass the message."
If it was Chun Cheng who came to say this, she would surely think carefully about it. But today, the one who passed the message was Sichen.
Sichen was much more reliable than Chun Cheng.
Lin Wanyu nodded slightly and continued to stand there waiting.
The evening breeze was cool, and her summer clothes were thin. In a short while, Lin Wanyu couldn't help sneezing.
The gong sound of the Hour of the Boar came slowly. There was still no movement at the courtyard gate.
"Miss, why don't you go into the room and wait? I'll go to the main hall to have a look."
Lin Wanyu responded, went into the room to find a cloak and put it on, then continued to stand under the corridor waiting.
In a noble family, the most important thing was that the etiquette should not be abolished.
A quarter of an hour later, Chun Qiao rushed in through the door. Her face was gloomy. "His Highness hasn't returned yet. Sichen has already led people out to look for him. Miss, please stay in the yard well. I'll go and help too."
Lu Huaijin hadn't returned yet?
Lin Wanyu frowned slightly and quickly nodded in agreement. "Okay, okay, okay. Go quickly. Don't worry about me."
Chun Qiao responded and walked quickly out of the yard. In a short while, she disappeared into the night.
That night, the Wanhua Pavilion was brightly lit. Lin Wanyu sat on the couch, completely sleepless, waiting at any time for someone from the front yard to come and summon her to serve.
In the middle of the night, a dull thunder roared in the sky. Lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the whole palace.
The strong wind blew open the door and instantly blew out several lanterns at the door.
Lin Wanyu was so frightened that her heart skipped a beat. She quickly walked to the door to close it. Just then, she saw the courtyard gate being pushed open. Chun Qiao and Zhou Danlin entered the courtyard at the same time.
"Miss, His Highness is back. He needs someone to serve him now."
"Sister, I heard that His Highness hadn't returned and was a bit worried. So I thought I'd come and ask you. I just happened to meet Chun Qiao outside the door."
Lin Wanyu lowered her eyes to look at her. The young woman in front of her was wearing a lake - blue brocade silk dress. Her pink and white face was carefully made up. It was obvious that she had come prepared.
Moreover, Chun Qiao had just arrived, and she happened to come too. There couldn't be so many coincidences in this world.
This Miss Zhou was really a smart and delicate person.
But for now, these weren't things she should consider. Lu Huaijin needed someone to serve him. Coincidentally, Zhou Danlin was here. This was a good opportunity.
Lu Huaijin was just interested in her for a moment. If there was someone who knew how to take care of him and served him at this time, his heart would probably gradually shift.
Thinking of this, Lin Wanyu made up her mind. She pretended to be anxious and walked outside, asking as she walked, "What's wrong with His Highness?"
Chun Qiao followed closely behind and said in a low voice, "His Highness is injured. The imperial doctor just bandaged him and said someone needed to watch over him tonight."
Lin Wanyu stopped in her tracks and frowned tightly. "Injured?"
"Yes."
Lin Wanyu originally thought that he was either drunk or for some other reason and needed someone to go and serve him. She didn't expect that he was actually injured.
After all, he had helped her several times. Although his temper was unpredictable, she really thought he was a good person in her heart.
Now that he was injured, was it inappropriate for her to still scheme against him?
"Miss?"
As Chun Qiao's voice fell, another dull thunder flashed across the sky. Lin Wanyu was so frightened that her heart skipped a beat. Without paying attention, she tripped over the threshold and sprained her ankle.
The bone - piercing pain made her couldn't help gasping.
Seeing this, Zhou Danlin quickly ran over and helped her up. "Sister, are you okay?"
This was originally Lin Wanyu's plan. She pretended to fall and sprained her ankle so that she couldn't serve Lu Huaijin and let Zhou Danlin go instead.
Now...
Lin Wanyu was always afraid of pain. Now her eyes were already red. "I'm okay. Chun Qiao, I'm afraid I can't go and serve His Highness now. How about asking Miss Zhou to go?"
Since she had made up her mind, she couldn't give up halfway.
Chun Qiao was stunned. "But..."
Before Chun Qiao could finish her words, she was interrupted by Zhou Danlin. "Sister, you have a good rest. I'll take good care of His Highness."
When she said this, her eyes were full of determination.
Lin Wanyu nodded and withdrew her hand from Zhou Danlin's palm. Holding on to the courtyard gate, she limped into the yard.
Watching Lin Wanyu enter the yard, Zhou Danlin turned around, looked at Chun Qiao and asked with a smile, "Did His Highness say who should go and serve him?"