Lu Liangwei was dumbfounded.

Why did Jiu run away?

Judging from the way she sprinted off, it looked as if she had just spotted some monstrous beast.

She was usually not such an irresponsible person.

Whenever Lu Liangwei left her sleeping quarters, Jiu would follow her every step of the way. Today, however, she abandoned her halfway just like that.

Lu Liangwei was astounded.

However, she soon found out why Jiu had suddenly bolted off.

Looking at the man approaching her, all of a sudden, she felt like running away too.

He did not happen to hear what she said just now, did he?

At the sight of his thunderous expression, she swallowed nervously and let out a hollow laugh. “Are you done with work, Your Majesty? Why do you have time to visit the imperial garden today?”

There was a half-smile on Long Yang’s face. “If I hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have known that you were still thinking of your selected husband.”

Lu Liangwei sighed inwardly. Indeed, it was not a good day for a heart-to-heart talk with another person—she did not expect that he would stumble upon her making that casual remark.

“Yes, I have been thinking of my selected husband.” She shot him a sidelong glance, blinking mischievously, before giving a solemn nod.

Long Yang’s expression immediately clouded over, and he pulled her into his arms and said with jealousy in his voice, “Oh? There were a lot of competitors back then, and it seems that someone has caught your eye. Why don’t you tell me who it is, and I’ll help find him and let him be your husband?”

Lu Liangwei’s heart trembled at the sound of his murderous tone. If there was really such a person, she did not doubt that Long Yang would slash him in half.

Given the situation, even if such a man really existed, she would never tell him. She would be dooming him to death if she did.

Pouting, she said accusingly, “I’m a timid pregnant woman. Don’t scare me.”

“Timid? You certainly seem bold to me. You’re the Empress, yet you neglect womanly virtue and long for another man. What a breach of propriety!” Long Yang’s eyes were narrowed, his teeth bared.

Seeing him like this, Lu Liangwei could not help bursting into laughter.

Long Yang’s face turned even darker. His deep eyes squinted slowly, and he tightened his arms around her. “Stop laughing.”

Lu Liangwei was hardly afraid as she stood up on her tiptoes and pinched his cheeks, grinning. “You’re adorable when you’re like this, Your Majesty!”

Long Yang’s breath hitched, and a blush colored his handsome face. He pulled her hands down and snapped, “What nonsense are you saying?”

Lu Liangwei replied mischievously, “Do you remember the match I hosted last year to choose a bridegroom?”

The mention of that event reminded Long Yang of the selected husband she had been talking about, and he frowned in displeasure. “Why? Are you still thinking of your might-have-been husband?”

Lu Liangwei looked at him and nodded. “Yes.”

The veins on Long Yang’s forehead bulged. Enraged by her answer, he reached out and grasped her chin, his voice intimidating, “Lu Liangwei, just because I dote on you doesn’t mean you can be so insolent!”

This girl was really capable of driving him crazy!

Lu Liangwei blinked.

No matter how angry he was, he could never bring himself to hurt her.

He seemed menacing, but his hold on her chin was contrastingly gentle, as if he was afraid of hurting her even in the slightest.

Since he was so adorable, Lu Liangwei decided to stop teasing him.

She grinned and said, “I recall that you went to the arena on the last day, and you even defeated the previous winner and became the final victor. Tell me, then—who was my selected husband?”

Long Yang was stunned. When he met the girl’s playful gaze, unease flickered across his face, and he loosened his grip on her. “I just remembered that I still have some important affairs to handle in the imperial study, so I’ll have to go now. You can go back on your own later.”

Just when he was about to leave, Lu Liangwei quickly grabbed his arm.

She looked at him with a smirk. “Why so hasty? You looked so angry just now, I thought you were going to eat me up.”