“All right, go ahead. We’ll be back in a while.” Lu Liangwei nodded in approval.

Zhu Yu left, carrying the basket in her arms.

Long Yang had been watching Lu Liangwei all this while, and seeing that she had stopped picking waxberries, he took her hand.

“Do you still want to continue your walk?”

Lu Liangwei thought for a while, then said, “Let’s go to the peach orchard.” The peaches during this time were the juiciest and sweetest.

Some time ago, the imperial holiday home had started delivering fresh peaches to the palace every day for her to sample, but since she was already here, she wanted to visit the orchard personally.

“All right,” Long Yang agreed warmly, then took her hand and led her to the peach forest.

Zhao Qian, Chu Qi, and Chu Jiu followed them all the way.

When they arrived at the peach orchard, there were already a few farmers picking peaches.

Taken aback by the Emperor and Empress’s visit, they froze in place, at a loss for how to react.

The housekeeper of the imperial holiday home hurried over and scolded them, “What are you standing there for? Get on your knees and greet His Majesty and Her Highness!”

Seeing that the farmers’ hands were full, Long Yang cast a glance at the housekeeper and said to them, “That won’t be necessary. For the time being, all of you may leave and take a break from work.”

More people meant more chaos. Although they may not harbor any malicious intentions, he disliked the idea of Weiwei being spied on during her fruit picking.

The housekeeper quickly led the farmers away.

The peach orchard returned to its tranquil state.

Looking at the tall and sturdy peach trees, Lu Liangwei remembered how she had been able to climb them agilely at this time last year, but now, she could only gaze at them wistfully.

However, that did not dampen her enthusiasm for peach picking in the slightest.

She made her way to the base of a tree, and looking up at one of the branches drooping from the weight of the peaches, she said to Long Yang excitedly, “Your Majesty, can you reach that branch?”

Long Yang’s towering height enabled him to reach it effortlessly.

He already knew what Lu Liangwei wanted without needing her to explain. With a little force, he pulled down the branch laden with peaches and angled it toward her. “Go ahead, pick them.”

Lu Liangwei plucked the largest one.

“The others look good too,” said Long Yang.

Lu Liangwei shook her head, holding the large pink peach in her hands contentedly.

Long Yang could only release his grip.

Without the pressure to hold it down, the branch snapped back in place, quivering a little before finally returning to its motionless state.

After taking a few more steps, Lu Liangwei set her eyes on another large peach, and Long Yang repeated his action of bending the branch.

Lu Liangwei’s hands were full now, so she had no choice but to turn and pass the first peach to Chu Qi who was standing closest to her.

Chu Qi’s lips twitched slightly as he stared at the peach in his hands.

Zhao Qian could tell from his expression that he was scheming something, and he quickly warned, “Her Highness only wants you to hold it for her. It’s not for you to eat.”

Chu Qi shot him a look. “Meanie!”

Zhao Qian, “…”

How was he a meanie?

After working together for so long, he had come to know this brat like the back of his hand.

He had clearly been eyeing the peach greedily just now.

Chu Qi glanced at Lu Liangwei, who was standing in front of another tree, her eyes fixed on another peach.

Seeing this, Chu Qi suddenly shot his hand out and felt around Zhao Qian’s pockets for a while before fishing out a spotless white handkerchief.

Zhao Qian glared at him. “Hey, what do you think you’re doing?”

“Lend me your handkerchief,” said Chu Qi flatly.

Zhao Qian was still trying to figure out why Chu Qi wanted to borrow his handkerchief when he saw the insufferable brat wrap it around the peach in his hands and rub it vigorously.