Qin Yu buried her head in Luo Shangyu’s broad chest, holding the girl’s soft body tightly as she released all her pent-up stress.
‘The feel of this is really nice!’ Qin Yu thought to herself.
Luo Shangyu was startled by Qin Yu’s sudden embrace and thought about pushing her away, but she held back, allowing Qin Yu to cling to her.
Luo Shangyu wrapped her arms around Qin Yu and gently patted her back, comforting her overwhelmed heart.
The nearby maids turned their heads away, avoiding the scene but still sneaking glances occasionally.
“What a juicy gossip,” one maid whispered.
“Yeah! So lucky that I’m on duty today!”
“This is too good! Pretty girls just belong together!”
The maids only dared to whisper quietly, not wanting to disturb the two who were embracing.
After a long while, Qin Yu finally finished venting and let go of Luo Shangyu, standing up.
“Thank you. I feel much better now!”
“Mm, as long as you feel better.”
Qin Yu felt a bit more energetic, as if her heart was once again filled with fighting spirit.
After dinner, the wind outside gradually grew stronger, passing through the palace, pavilions, and the eaves’ dougong brackets, producing a low whooshing sound.
“Shall we go for a walk?” Luo Shangyu asked.
“Sure!” Qin Yu had been exhausted this afternoon; now she just wanted to relax.
“Let’s go to the Imperial Garden! I think this is your first time there, right?”
The two left the Eastern Palace and walked toward the Imperial Garden.
The autumn wind howled, the night was dark and windy.
Qin Yu led Luo Shangyu out of the Eastern Palace, following the maids as they walked across the dimly lit palace square.
The group arrived at Yude Hall in the back palace, then passed through a long suspended corridor above, crossing the entire back palace to reach the Imperial Garden.
The Imperial Garden was utterly silent, with no one in sight.
Just then, an old man appeared and bowed to Qin Yu: “Crown Princess, your unexpected visit is an honor. It is my fault for not preparing lanterns for you. Please forgive this humble servant’s neglect!”
“Who are you?” Qin Yu asked.
“I am the palace attendant in charge of the Imperial Garden. I will immediately light the lanterns for you!”
With that, the old man turned to light the lanterns.
“No need, I just wanted to take a quick look,” Qin Yu hurriedly replied.
She didn’t want to trouble the old man with lighting the entire garden for her small whim.
“Understood!” The old man promptly agreed.
“Then allow me to introduce the scenery of the Imperial Garden to you!”
“No need!” Qin Yu shook her head quickly.
“I’ll just look around myself…”
With that, Qin Yu turned to the maids who had guided them: “You all can go back now! We can find our own way.”
The maids responded and withdrew, and the old man returned to his post.
“Let’s go!” Qin Yu took Luo Shangyu’s hand and led her around the Imperial Garden.
The moonlight peeked in and out of the clouds, casting a glow that illuminated the neat flower beds, rugged artificial hills, and various miniature bonsai.
“Hmm… It’s hard to see clearly when it’s this dark!” Qin Yu murmured softly.
“But the scenery under the moonlight has its own charm! The hazy, faint shapes have a unique beauty,” Luo Shangyu said, curiously admiring the strange sights.
The Imperial Garden had been built over a millennium, housing many rare plants and flowers, along with pavilions and water pavilions crafted by master artisans of past dynasties.
“It’s chilly!” Qin Yu shivered.
She was only wearing a simple dress, typical summer attire.
Qin Yu glanced secretly at Luo Shangyu, who didn’t seem cold at all and was still carefully admiring the moonlit beauty.
‘Strange, Luo Shangyu is wearing the same dress as me, so why doesn’t she feel cold?’ Qin Yu wondered as she brought Luo Shangyu to a small bridge.
“This is…” Luo Shangyu looked at the bridge in disbelief.
“Is this Yongchang Bridge?”
Qin Yu smiled faintly and explained, “Heh heh, this is a replica of the Yongchang Bridge that has stood unbroken for ten thousand years! Although a replica, it was built by the same designer who constructed the original Yongchang Bridge, so it’s just as durable.”
“The most amazing thing is…” Qin Yu led Luo Shangyu onto the bridge and pointed to the fish below.
“The water under the bridge is home to glowfish, a species long thought extinct!”
Luo Shangyu followed Qin Yu’s finger to the water’s surface, where scattered points of light flickered.
Looking closer, each light was a tiny fish.
Even Luo Shangyu, a millennium-old being, had never seen this fish before, showing how rare the glowfish were.
The two wandered around the Imperial Garden for hours, unable to finish even half of it.
“What a magnificent project,” Luo Shangyu marveled.
“Definitely! This is the result of continuous construction accumulated by emperors of the Chengji Empire throughout generations!” Qin Yu said proudly.
By the time they returned to the Eastern Palace, it was already eleven at night.
Passing by Yude Hall again, they didn’t hear the usual nightly music and licentious noises.
‘It seems Father’s illness is really serious, to the point of giving up his favorite entertainments,’ Qin Yu thought.
Before bed, Qin Yu finished washing up and sat on the edge of her bed, reading a comic book.
Suddenly, a hand snatched the comic from Qin Yu — it was Luo Shangyu.
“Time to sleep. Otherwise, you’ll be tired tomorrow!” Luo Shangyu said sternly.
“Ah?” Qin Yu reluctantly protested, “I’m at the best part! You can’t interrupt me now!”
“Fine, five more minutes!” Luo Shangyu relented after a moment.
Five minutes later, Qin Yu put down the comic as promised.
Luo Shangyu picked it up, ready to leave the room. Suddenly, Qin Yu called out.
Luo Shangyu stopped, puzzled.
“Please… stay and sleep with me…”
Qin Yu immediately regretted the words: ‘what a terrible line!’
“Eh eh eh?” Luo Shangyu was stunned.
What was going on?
“I want to hold you…” Qin Yu whispered shyly, half her face hidden by the blanket.
“Hold you all night?”
(ー_ー)!!
“Mm, holding you is way better than hugging a pillow!”
Luo Shangyu thought it over and didn’t refuse: “Alright.”
Sitting beside Qin Yu, Luo Shangyu pointed to the pillow on Qin Yu’s bed.
“By the way, do you usually sleep hugging something?”
“Um…” Qin Yu felt a bit embarrassed.
How could a grown man like her be fond of hugging a pillow to sleep?
But then she reminded herself she had crossed over, assumed a new identity — no need to care so much.
“Haha, I used to love hugging something to sleep too,” Luo Shangyu said as she crawled under the blanket.
“That was a long, long time ago. When you’re little, it’s normal to hug things to sleep!”
Qin Yu slid under the covers as well.
A maid standing in the dark corner of the room stepped out to extinguish the lights, then quietly left, leaving Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu their private space.
As soon as the maid stepped out, she told another maid about Qin Yu’s request for Luo Shangyu to sleep with her.
Soon, the news spread through the maids.
That night, rumors titled “Things the Crown Princess and Princess Can’t Help But Talk About” flew throughout the palace.
Guards and maids began discussing Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu’s intimate moments.
Unaware of being the center of gossip, the two lay on the bed, enjoying the night.
Qin Yu turned on her side, trying to hug Luo Shangyu like a pillow, but their height difference made this impossible.
Qin Yu was 1.42 meters tall; Luo Shangyu was 1.68 meters—there was no comparison.
“Hmph!” Luo Shangyu scoffed, “Qin Yu, height is a real disadvantage!”
“I’m only fourteen!” Qin Yu tried to protest.
Qin Yu struggled to find a comfortable way to hug her, but the twenty-plus centimeter height gap made her movements awkward.
“Don’t bother trying!” Luo Shangyu slid her arm beneath Qin Yu and with the other arm wrapped her securely.
“Ah?” Qin Yu was startled by Luo Shangyu’s firm hold, becoming stiff as she was embraced.
Pressed tightly against Luo Shangyu’s soft body, Qin Yu felt incredibly comfortable—far better than hugging her pillow!
Luo Shangyu’s hand gently stroked Qin Yu’s back.
Qin Yu purred like a cat enjoying the soothing touch, her face glowing with pleasure as her body relaxed.
Qin Yu felt her lower abdomen pressed against Luo Shangyu’s.
The soft, elastic touch intrigued her, and when she pressed lightly, she sensed a subtle layer of muscle beneath the skin.
The autumn nights in the Chengji Empire were cold, with temperatures dipping to ten degrees Celsius, but in Luo Shangyu’s arms was warmth, softness—Qin Yu soon drifted into dreams.
Luo Shangyu listened as Qin Yu’s breathing grew deep and steady, knowing she had fallen asleep.
She slightly opened her eyes and gazed at Qin Yu’s sleeping face.
Outside, moonlight pierced through the clouds, spilling into the room.
Qin Yu’s hair fanned across the pillow, silvered by moonlight.
The shadows cast by her long eyebrows framed her delicate cheeks.
Her small mouth parted slightly, breath misting warmly, still carrying the unique scent of youth.
“Hehe~” Luo Shangyu smiled at the beautiful moment.