Wanwan knew her mistress was upset and couldn't help but call out, "Your Highness, it's too cold. Let's go inside."
Yun Xiao remained still, gazing at the sparkling white world. It was so beautiful, so pure, but she wondered what filth and ugliness lay hidden beneath this white veil.
In front of the Jinhua Palace gate, many tall trees were planted. At this moment, snow weighed down their branches, causing them to sway gently. Blown by the wind, the snow scattered in all directions. Snowflakes fell thickly, covering the courtyard and corridors.
Warm sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting golden rays. The floating snow melted in an instant. How fragile its crystalline life was. Beautiful things were always so fleeting, much like family.
She felt the familial love Yun Mo had given her, but when she wanted to reciprocate, he was already gone.
"Let's go back."
Yun Xiao turned around. Wanwan dared not say anything more and followed her inside. Xiuxiu followed behind. The group entered the grand hall, and servants began tidying up.
Yun Xiao felt an emptiness in her heart, unable to adjust immediately. She went into the inner chamber and lay down on the couch to rest.
She thought of Liuxing. Judging by his skills, he must be a top-tier expert. Even if he couldn't deal with a formidable character like Murong Chong, he could handle ordinary people.
And she herself had some abilities. From now on, if anyone in the palace dared to provoke her, she would not be polite.
A bloodthirsty glint flashed in Yun Xiao's eyes as she gazed indifferently at the sky.
The sleeping quarters were empty. She couldn't help but call out, "Liuxing."
There was no one there initially, but as her voice sounded, a response came, "Yes, Mistress."
A black shadow flashed before her eyes, and a person stood still, respectfully before Yun Xiao. However, a fleeting look of astonishment crossed his handsome face. He had thought his mistress was foolish. How could she appear so sharp and capable now?
"Are you wondering why I'm not foolish?"
Yun Xiao curled her lips. She had intended to give Liuxing a smile, but in the end, it was only a wry smile. She truly had no mood to laugh.
"Actually, I stopped being foolish a long time ago. I just didn't tell Father to avoid conflict between the imperial family and the Yun King's Mansion. But in the end, this conflict still exists."
Yun Xiao sighed. Some things could not be resolved properly simply because one party made concessions; instead, they often made matters worse.
"Don't always follow me. Keep an eye on the recent movements in the capital. If there's any news, report it to me immediately."
Yun Xiao waved her hand. She wanted to understand the goings-on in Yanjing City and did not want to stay cooped up in the deep palace like an ignorant fool.
However, Liuxing did not agree and spoke calmly.
"This subordinate will not leave your side. I must ensure your safety. As for the news you require, I will find it out and report it to you immediately. In fact, I am not alone; there is another hidden guard named Jingyun."
"Oh," Yun Xiao raised an eyebrow. She hadn't expected to have two hidden guards protecting her. This was truly excellent. These two must be very capable, making things much easier for her from now on.
Even leaving the palace would be as easy as pie. However, she wouldn't leave now because she hadn't properly dealt with the people in the palace yet. Most importantly, she couldn't leave rashly and implicate her father and brother.
That dog-like emperor must be making trouble for the Yun King's Mansion with all his might now. She couldn't let him succeed. As for herself, she wished he would get so annoyed that he would depose her.
Yun Xiao pondered and waved her hand. "Alright, Liuxing. Have Jingyun pay attention to the capital's movements and report any situations to me. You may also go. I will call you if I need anything."
"Yes, Mistress."
Liuxing flashed away.
The room fell silent. Wanwan entered with a tray containing a bowl of freshly stewed bird's nest. "Your Highness, have some of this to warm up your body."
"Put it down. I have no appetite," Yun Xiao lay on the couch, thinking of her father and brother setting off from the capital. How could she eat anything...
The Yun King's departure from the capital caused the common folk of the capital to sigh for three to five days, and then the matter slowly faded.
In the vast Yanjing, there were many new events every day. How could they dwell on one thing forever? Recently, the most talked-about event was that someone who should have been dead had miraculously reappeared in front of everyone, alive and well.
This caused several major medical halls to lose face and become a laughingstock among the citizens of Yanjing.
These medical halls were all quite renowned, with Renxin Tang being the most prestigious.
Not only were their consultation fees high, but they were also arrogant. Even a mere apprentice in the shop was usually haughty.
Unexpectedly, they had stumbled this time, causing their business to plummet. They harbored a great deal of anger towards the person who had saved the patient.
Rumor had it that this mysterious physician was a man, as handsome as Pan An, with superb medical skills, known as the Ghost Hand.
He appeared and disappeared without a trace, and his martial arts were extraordinary.
Various rumors abounded, eventually turning him into a deified figure.
Liuxing delivered the news to the palace. Yun Xiao blinked her large eyes, not reacting for a long time. Was that person talking about her? When did she become a man, and one as handsome as Pan An? If she were truly like that, could she have been captured by Ye Wuyun's subordinates?
Wanwan on the side was laughing so hard she couldn't straighten up. Xiuxiu looked at her inexplicably, wondering what was wrong with her.
"What's wrong? You're laughing so much."
Wanwan clutched her stomach and shook her head repeatedly. "It's nothing, nothing. I just can't help but laugh."
"Baffling," Xiuxiu shot her a glance, turned around, and walked past the screen to do her work.
In the inner chamber, Yun Xiao rolled her eyes and glared at her, speaking coolly, "Is it really that funny?"
Seeing her mistress's posture, Wanwan quickly restrained herself and replied obediently, "Actually, those people weren't wrong. Our mistress's medical skills are indeed superb, and this servant is very impressed. But why are you so eager to laugh?"
As she finished speaking, her lips twitched again. She held back because Yun Xiao had raised her hand, and two gleaming silver needles appeared between her fingers. It looked as if she would seal her acupoints with silver needles if she said another word. How could she dare to laugh?
"Your Highness, I didn't expect you to become famous so quickly. But why were you called the Ghost Hand back then?"
Wanwan spoke softly, not understanding why her mistress was called the Ghost Hand.
"Ghost Hand signifies superb medical skills. You don't even understand this?" Yun Xiao snorted and put away the silver needles. Her mood had mostly recovered in the past two days; she had bounced back from the sadness of her father and brother's departure.
Unexpectedly, hearing such a curious anecdote today was rather interesting. It was just that by saving someone at the right time, she had become someone who appeared and disappeared without a trace.
It wasn't Wanwan's fault; even she herself found it amusing. How could it be so mystifyingly profound? Indeed, rumors were hard to believe.
As the two were talking, Xiuxiu walked in from outside and spoke respectfully.
"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager has sent Eunuch Lin to invite Your Highness to Changxin Palace."