Reborn into the palace, she seduces the emperor's heart, driving the chief minister to madness!

Chapter 154 Playing the Matchmaker

A cool breeze brushed her face, and Chu Qingyin was slightly taken aback, her steps unconsciously halting.

She hadn't expected Lu Zhiheng to be there.

Since the last welcome-home banquet, perhaps it was Pei Yuanling's intention, she had not heard any news about him again.

After calming herself down, Chu Qingyin regained her composure and slowly walked towards the waterside pavilion.

When Pei Yuanling saw her arrive, a faint smile flashed in his eyes: "Yinyin, you've come."

Chu Qingyin curtsied and said, "Your Majesty, I am late. Please forgive me."

Pei Yuanling slightly raised his finger: "It's not late. I just happened to be playing chess with Chief Minister Lu. There's nothing important here."

Lu Zhiheng stood up and bowed at the opportune moment, saying, "May Your Highness, the Noble Consort, enjoy boundless blessings."

Chu Qingyin smiled and nodded, "Greetings, Lord Lu."

"Alright, everyone, sit down."

Pei Yuanling observed their expressions discreetly, and seeing nothing amiss, he beckoned to Chu Qingyin: "Come, Yinyin, sit beside me."

Chu Qingyin smiled and agreed, then sat down next to Pei Yuanling.

After the three of them sat down, Pei Yuanling continued playing chess with Lu Zhiheng.

Chu Qingyin watched quietly from the side, and occasionally when their eyes met, she would look at Pei Yuanling tenderly, her affection for him undisguised.

Watching the two play chess back and forth, she simply took the fan from Xianglan's hand and fanned the man beside her.

Chu Qingyin's chess skills were not particularly outstanding; she could only discern the general situation, and it seemed that Chief Minister Lu had the upper hand.

Pei Yuanling placed a piece, looked up at the woman beside him, and asked with a smile, "Yinyin, what do you think of this game?"

Chu Qingyin lowered her head slightly, her eyebrows furrowed: "I'm not afraid Your Majesty will laugh at me, but my chess skills are not good enough to understand the intricacies of this game. I only see that Chief Minister Lu's moves are unpredictable, while Your Majesty plays steadily and surely, so I'm sure you have a backup plan."

Her voice was soft and melodious, like a gentle breeze in spring.

Lu Zhiheng's gaze swept across the chessboard, and he said casually, "Your Majesty flatters me. His Majesty's chess skills are also not to be underestimated."

His fingers tapped lightly on the edge of the chessboard, but his gaze inadvertently drifted towards Chu Qingyin. Seeing her focused on the game, her eyes reflecting the black and white pieces, her expression serene, a strange feeling stirred within him.

"You are too modest, my dear minister. The game is only halfway through, and the outcome is still uncertain."

Pei Yuanling placed a piece on the board. "I heard from Yinyin that when you were in trouble, Minister Lu took good care of you. I suppose the two of you are quite familiar with each other now."

The question was asked casually, but Chu Qingyin and Lu Zhiheng became wary.

With her long eyelashes drooping slightly, Chu Qingyin feigned calmness and did not answer immediately. Instead, she picked up a lychee from the plate and slowly peeled it.

Once the tender white flesh was revealed, she held the lychee to Pei Yuanling's lips and said with a light laugh, "Yes, the last banquet ended unhappily, and I didn't have a chance to thank Lord Lu."

At this point, saying you're not familiar with them would seem insincere.

"Your Majesty, how should I thank Lord Lu?"

Chu Qingyin moved closer at just the right moment, nestling her whole body against him, one hand holding his wrist, her tone sweet and coquettish, as if she were pleading.

Pei Yuanling opened his mouth and ate the lychee, then took Chu Qingyin's hand and said with a smile, "Minister Lu is an important official in the court, so this gift of thanks should not be too small. I recently received a jade ruyi from Nanzhao as a token of my gratitude. How about I give it to Minister Lu as a thank you gift?"

As she spoke, her eyes glanced at Lu Zhiheng almost imperceptibly, with a hint of something deeper in them.

Previously, Pei Yuanling had bestowed some gold and silver as a reward, which seemed very generous, but these were things that the people of the capital had never lacked and were not considered rare items.

However, the jade ruyi, a tribute item from a foreign land, carries a different meaning.

Lu Zhiheng's expression remained unchanged. He simply cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, it is my duty, and I dare not take credit for it. I appreciate your and the Empress's kindness."

Although she was speaking to Pei Yuanling, her gaze lingered on Chu Qingyin for a moment.

In that instant, he seemed to see an indescribable complexity in Chu Qingyin's eyes.

"Very well, since Minister Lu has said so, I will not bring this up again," Pei Yuanling sighed, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin didn't say anything more and quietly peeled lychees for Pei Yuanling, her movements gentle.

Those slender, jade-like fingers complemented the crystal-clear lychee, making them exceptionally beautiful.

She knew Pei Yuanling's temperament well; these words were definitely not just casual conversation. Although the two had reconciled, given Pei Yuanling's personality, he would never let it go so easily.

Gathering the two of them here today is probably a test.

The game of chess continued, but Pei Yuanling's mind was not on the game; he would occasionally observe the expressions of Lu Zhiheng and Chu Qingyin.

Chu Qingyin remained quietly watching from the side, fanning herself with her round fan. The iris embroidery on the fan swayed gently with her movements, and the butterfly embroidered on it was incredibly lifelike and lively.

She would occasionally feed Pei Yuanling some fruit, or whisper in his ear to discuss where to go next.

The emperor and empress got along extremely well, their behavior was intimate, and they were very affectionate.

Pei Yuanling held Chu Qingyin's hand seemingly casually, squeezing and kissing it every now and then.

"His Majesty……"

Chu Qingyin leaned slightly, her face flushed, but she did not refuse. She simply lowered her head and whispered, "Lord Lu is still here."

Pei Yuanling chuckled lightly, a handsome smile curving his lips, as if teasing, "What, is my beloved concubine shy?"

"Your Majesty, please don't make fun of me." Chu Qingyin's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't argue. Instead, she put another lychee into his mouth.

As Lu Zhiheng watched the interaction between the two, his handsome eyebrows furrowed involuntarily, but his gaze remained fixed on the chessboard, as if he were struggling with where to place his piece.

The man gradually slowed down his moves, carefully considering each step. However, without realizing it, the game became increasingly chaotic, and he gradually found himself at a disadvantage.

Beneath the seemingly peaceful chess game in this small waterside pavilion, undercurrents are surging, and the subtle relationship between the three is like the black and white pieces on the chessboard.

Pei Yuanling took in his emotional shifts but remained calm. After placing the final piece to decide the outcome, he suddenly spoke up: "Lord Lu is twenty-four, isn't he? Yet you don't have a single concubine in your household."

"If you wouldn't be interested in ordinary gifts, how about I give you a virtuous wife instead?"

For the emperor to personally bestow a marriage upon someone is an immense honor that no one can ever hope to obtain.

At twenty-four, he was no longer considered young; some officials in the court already had children who were three or four years old.

"My sister-in-law was terrified when you fell into this predicament. I heard that she knelt before the Buddha day and night to pray for your safe return, and even made a vow to the Bodhisattva that she would give up ten years of her lifespan in exchange for your safety. Such deep affection is truly touching."

Pei Yuanling raised his eyes and looked steadily at the young minister sitting opposite him: "If you are willing, I will bestow a marriage contract upon you two, which would be a beautiful story."

The fact that Wang Jingyi admires Grand Secretary Lu has already caused quite a stir in the capital, and she seems determined to marry no one but him.

"Your Majesty, I still stand by my previous opinion."

Lu Zhiheng remained unfazed, simply putting down the chess piece, lifting his robe, and kneeling on the ground, neither humble nor arrogant, saying, "This humble subject has no romantic feelings for Miss Wang. I beg Your Majesty to rescind your decree and not ruin Miss Wang's life."

"Lu Aiqing, judging from your appearance, could it be that you already have a girl you like?"

Pei Yuanling raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze sweeping over Chu Qingyin almost imperceptibly.

Upon seeing this, Chu Qingyin immediately put on an extremely dignified smile and echoed, "Indeed, Prime Minister Lu is an upright man, truly a dragon among men. I wonder which noble lady has won his favor."

"Lord Lu, don't keep it to yourself. Tell us quickly, and His Majesty and I can act as matchmakers for you."