Aris cheerfully waved her hand.
“Take care, sister. If you find any interesting books, bring some for me to read too! Oh, and take Georgiana with you.”
As if she truly believed I was going to the library.
“Why Georgiana?”
Aris stuck out her tongue playfully.
“Why? You don’t plan to carry the books yourself, do you? They’re heavy.”
“You’re so considerate, Aris. That’s a good idea.”
Hubert joined in. He must feel safer with Georgiana tailing me.
“I’d love to read Dupeng’s books first, but I’ll let you have them. I have other books to read first.”
Hmm. As far as I knew, Aris only used books for stacking games. She wouldn’t fancy Dupeng, known for his esoteric writing style.
Yet Hubert smiled at her like he was looking at a generous, kind child.
“So kind.”
He stroked her hair, and she smiled sweetly.
Such obvious affection, yet Hubert seems to find it endearing.
Quite strange for someone so smart.
Sometimes, it felt like he deliberately doted on Aris.
Regardless of my thoughts, the two of them were like a cozy pair of mice.
“For Aris’s sake, I must get those Dupeng books.”
“Really? My friends will be so jealous. Hubert, you’re the best.”
Wouldn’t a high-quality dress be a better choice?
I instinctively wrapped my arms around myself, then startled. Goosebumps had risen on my skin.
They were too calm.
Too calm for sacrificing a person.
“How did you get here?”
“Here’s my library pass.”
“Ah, it’s been verified. The library is this way.”
The carriage passed the guards. I slightly lifted the curtain, then quickly dropped it. Jenny took a deep breath.
“Are you okay, Jenny?”
She nodded slightly.
“But is this really okay? How dare I pretend to be you, miss?”
True to her words, Jenny was wearing my clothes. Conversely, I was dressed in Jenny’s. We had swapped as soon as we got into the carriage.
Jenny’s words brought a bitter smile. Once, I thought the same.
I was pondering whether I deserved the Lorenst family name.
A pointless worry.
“Did you prepare everything I asked for?”
“Yes. Everything’s loaded under the carriage.”
“Good.”
“What about Georgiana?”
I thought for a moment and then said,
“Once we get off the carriage, you distract Georgiana for a bit.”
“And after that? She’ll keep following me, and she’ll notice something’s off.”
“Tell her to deliver the gifts we brought to the Prince’s side.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Remember, you are me. The Count’s daughter. Just be confident.”
“Yes!”
“It’s better to say we can’t trust royal staff. And you’ll keep pretending to read at the royal library. Don’t worry about the royal escort Hubert assigned. He’s just a guide, unaware of anything.”
“Do I need to shake him off too?”
“No. Keep him around to buy time. He’ll be our witness.”
That would have been the proof of my role as the Prince’s plaything in my past life.
‘But this time, I’ll use it differently.’
Jenny got off the carriage first.
“Georgiana! Can you come here and help adjust the dress?”
I listened to her imitating my tone, talking to Georgiana, who seemed to suspect nothing unusual.
“Isn’t Jenny there?”
“She’s been unwell and is lying down.”
“Goodness, what a fragile girl.”
Despite it being night and Jenny imitating my speech closely, Georgiana didn’t catch on.
“Your actions are so slow. Stop lazing around and follow quickly.”
Jenny’s brisk response sounded like a veiled complaint.
I chuckled inwardly.
‘Sounds like she’s grinding her teeth.’
Listening to their fading footsteps, I took a deep breath.
‘Now the crucial part starts.’
My previously trembling hands had steadied.
I peeked out of the carriage. It was clear.
I quickly got out before the royal servants arrived.
It wasn’t hard to find the luggage we had pre-loaded. I opened the lid of the largest box.
‘Hubert, I’ll make good use of the excuse you gave me.’
Mumbling to myself, I climbed into the empty box.
‘I’m really going to the library.’
Though it’s Jenny in my clothes, not me.
But after tonight, everyone will know one thing for sure.
Egrain Lorenst officially visited the royal library to read books.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
