The horse carriage picked up pace and arrived at the closed palace door in no time. The guard standing watch hurriedly opened the door. The horse carriage flew past it. Lin Haihai held tightly onto Yang Shaolun. Parting with him was never easy.

“I’ll go find the empress with you!” Yang Shaolun whispered to her.

Lin Haihai looked up at him and reluctantly let go. It wasn’t time for them to hold hands in public yet, but she believed that day would come.

“Okay.” Lin Haihai nodded. “You can be involved. It’s not like we’re telling each other secrets!”

He got off the carriage and had her wait inside. Then he shot Xiao Yuan a glance, who understood him without missing a beat. Once Xiao Yuan dismissed all the palace maids and eunuchs, Yang Shaolun parted the curtains and carried Lin Haihai out of the carriage.

She awkwardly looked at Chen Luoqing and Xiao Yuan. She wasn’t frail enough to warrant that, but she would never shoot down his way of showing her affection. Chen Luoqing and Xiao Yuan politely looked into the distance rather than looking at her.

He took her hand as they walked through the Imperial Garden, which had been emptied on purpose. The two of them shared this moment of happiness. Nothing else mattered as long as they could walk together hand-in-hand like this.

“I’ll...