1459: Held Their Breaths

Held Their Breaths

Lu Liangwei's voice softened quite a bit when speaking to this niece of hers, as if afraid she would scare Lu Xue off.1

"Aunt Liangwei must be joking with me." Lu Xue had always been shy and when she smiled, there was a shyness to her that made others feel a need to love her more. When it came to this aunt of hers, Lu Xue respected her a lot. "My parents have instructed me to ask after you as well." 

"Are your parents doing well at the frontier?" Lu Liangwei rubbed her head.

Lu Xue nodded. "They're doing quite well." 

"That's good."

Lu Liangwei helped her to sit on the soft bed and sent someone to bring her three children over.

It was not long before Yaoyao came running to Grand Phoenix Palace while pulling Ji'er along.

Lu Xue was about to get up to bow to her two older cousins when Lu Liangwei pressed her down. "There is no need for such formalities between family." 

Lu Xue had no choice but to sit back down, but she still greeted Yaoyao and Ji'er politely. "Cousin Yaoyao, Cousin Ji'er."

"Cousin Xue'er." Yaoyao sat next to her excitedly and began asking about how she was doing.

Lu Xue answered her questions one by one.

Ji'er spoke with Lu Xue for a while and went to sit next to Lu Liangwei.

Lu Liangwei held Ji'er's hand. She felt heartache for Ji'er when she saw how she was more silent than usual. Lu Liangwei did not let it show and asked, "By the way, why didn't your Royal Brother come over with you?" 

"Royal Brother is still in the imperial study," Ji'er replied.

Lu Liangwei rubbed her head and hugged her tighter.

This child might not have cried or made a big fuss, but she was still quite sad with Lil Qi leaving without saying goodbye.

Lu Xue noticed Cousin Ji'er acting abnormal and asked her a few questions in concern.

Ji'er shook her head. "I'm fine."

It was then that Yaoyao suggested, "Let's play in the imperial garden."

Lu Liangwei looked at Lu Xue and found that she was looking quite well today. She smiled and said, "Go ahead, then. Remember to come back for lunch at noontime. I've informed the imperial kitchen to prepare your favorite dishes."

"Alright, Mother," Yaoyao replied. She held each of the girls' hands and ran off.

Lu Liangwei smiled and shook her head as she watched the three children go off.

Yaoyao suggested playing blindfold hide and seek when they arrived at the imperial garden.

Ji'er was not feeling enthusiastic about it.

Lu Xue had not played with her cousins for quite a long time and she agreed with whatever Yaoyao suggested.

Yaoyao took out a handkerchief and looked to and from both of them. In the end, she said to Lu Xue, "My good cousin, can you be the one blindfolded in the first round?"

Lu Xue nodded. "Alright."

Yaoyao covered her eyes with the handkerchief.

"Alright, we can start now." Yaoyao clapped her hand and both she and Ji'er circled Lu Xue until Lu Xue called out for them to stop. Both sisters stopped and held their breaths.

Lu Xue may not be in good health, but she had excellent hearing. In addition to that, Lu Tingchen and Chu Jiu taught her martial arts skills and internal strength skills, which was why she could quickly tell the location of her cousins.

Yaoyao and Ji'er knew this and they held their breaths after both of them stopped. They did not move at all.

It was during this time that Long Yin came over with his subordinates.

When Yaoyao spotted him, she waved him over and signaled him to walk quietly.

Long Yin did not usually join in such childish games, but when he saw his young cousin standing there with a blindfold, he changed his mind and quietly walked over. He stood still between his sisters.

Lu Xue went toward where her cousins were standing and reached her hand out after some thought.

Yaoyao and Ji'er immediately crouched. Only Long Yin was left standing tall where he was.

Lu Xue moved her hands about and did not manage to touch anything. So, she moved to the side.

This time, she finally caught something and a smile appeared on her lips.

To Lu Xue, it was easy to tell between her cousins even though they looked exactly the same.

That was because Cousin Ji'er had a red mole between her eyes.

Cousin Yaoyao did not have any mole. If she could feel the mole, it must be Ji'er.

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