"Liu'er, rest well."
His imperial yellow figure shifted, flashing away from the Grand Hall of Weiyang Palace.
Liu Liu watched his retreating form, finally sighing with relief. What was wrong with this man? Ever since he brought her back today, he seemed different. He was much better than his usual violent self, and he even seemed to tolerate her more. What exactly had happened?
As Liu Liu was puzzling over this, Cui'er and Cai Xia, followed by others, rushed in from outside the Grand Hall, falling to their knees and crying.
"Your Highness, you've returned! We thought Your Highness had abandoned us."
Seeing this, Liu Liu waved her hand, torn between amusement and exasperation. "All of you, get up. What is this? Aren't I back? You should be happy."
"Yes, we are very happy, Your Highness. After Your Highness left, His Majesty was also very sad and stayed in Weiyang Palace for many days. That Jin Jiali, who used her unborn child to harm Your Highness, was also confined to the cold palace by His Majesty. Now, no one will harm Your Highness anymore."
Cai Xia said tearfully. Naturally, they were happy that their mistress had returned, but they couldn't help but cry. The tears just wouldn't stop falling. What could they do?
Especially Cui'er, who looked at her mistress with eyes as pitiable as a kitten abandoned, blinking sorrowfully. Seeing the somber atmosphere in the hall, Liu Liu quickly instructed the maids to get up.
"Alright, get up. Be happy now. You wouldn't want Your Highness to be in a bad mood, would you?"
At her words, the maids immediately wiped their tears and moved aside. Cui'er quickly got up and walked to Liu Liu's side, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at her mistress, as if she had suffered immense grievances.
Liu Liu knew she was at fault this time for leaving Cui'er behind in the palace alone. Although the situation didn't allow her to take her along, she still felt a pang of guilt, as Cui'er had always been by her side.
"It's alright, don't be sad. At worst, I'll take you with me from now on."
As soon as Liu Liu finished speaking, Cai Xia and Ming Yue exclaimed, "Your Highness, if you leave again, please take us with you."
Liu Liu looked at the few people before her, both amused and exasperated. Why did they all want to follow her? She couldn't even leave herself, let alone have them follow her. It was detestable that Feng Xie had sealed her inner strength. It was truly infuriating.
Liu Liu gritted her teeth, but there was nothing she could do.
"I'm hungry. Prepare something and bring it up."
Liu Liu quickly changed the subject. She didn't want to discuss this endlessly. Cai Xia and Ming Yue immediately went out to order the meal. The food was soon prepared and served.
Liu Liu was indeed hungry and ate heartily. After she had eaten her fill, she dismissed the maids, saying she needed to rest. The continuous running of the past few days had been too tiring.
She hadn't slept well last night either, having worried all night. Now, she no longer had to worry. Knowing that Feng Xie would not harm her aunt and the others in the short term, she felt reassured.
That night, she slept very soundly. Cui'er hadn't slept at all. Perhaps she was terrified, fearing that her mistress would run away in the night. When Liu Liu opened her eyes, she saw Cui'er guarding her bedside, her eyes wide open, staring at her. Liu Liu couldn't help but speak with concern.
"Cui'er, why aren't you sleeping? I'm fine."
"But I was afraid Your Highness would disappear again and leave me alone in this imperial palace. I was panicking, so I couldn't sleep."
Hearing her words, Liu Liu felt guilty. She reached out and took Cui'er's hand to comfort her.
"Now you can rest assured. Even if I wanted to leave this place, I can't. Because His Majesty has sealed my inner strength. Now, I am like an ordinary person and cannot leave this imperial palace at all."
"Ah, why would His Majesty do that? No wonder I felt Your Highness's body seemed to have weakened?"
When Cui'er heard her mistress's words, she became indignant, and her expression darkened. Liu Liu pulled her hand and shook her head. She didn't want these matters to be known by other palace maids.
"Perhaps he's afraid I'll leave the imperial palace again. Forget it, I'll think of a way later. For now, I just want to see if Master and the others are alright."
Cui'er fell silent. As a mere maid, she knew nothing about the assassins' attack. She only knew that they had been arrested by His Majesty.
She wasn't even sure which prison they were held in. Cui'er reached out to help Liu Liu get up, wash, and then apply rouge to her face.
If her mistress didn't wear this rouge, it was hard to imagine how stunningly beautiful she would be. Even as a woman, she was mesmerized by her appearance.
After Liu Liu had tidied herself up in the sleeping quarters, Cai Xia cautiously entered from outside. "Your Highness, has the Princess returned?"
Liu Liu quickly turned around to look at Cai Xia. A rare warmth appeared on her usually composed face, and the corners of her lips curved into a smile. "You mean Wuyang? She has returned."
"Yes, Your Highness. However, the Princess doesn't look well. I heard from the palace maids at Jinhua Palace that the Princess has become very thin and seems somewhat dazed. They say she hasn't spoken a word yet, and the Empress Dowager has already gone to see her."
Hearing Cai Xia's words, Liu Liu immediately knew that Wuyang had suffered grievances outside. She became anxious. That girl was as pure as a blank sheet of paper. Who could bear to harm her? Liu Liu's expression turned grim as she led Cui'er and Cai Xia towards Jinhua Palace.
Jinhua Palace was under Weiyang Palace, so it wasn't far from where Liu Liu lived. After navigating a few turns, they arrived. Eunuchs were guarding the entrance of Jinhua Palace. Upon seeing Liu Liu approach, they respectfully bowed.
"Your servant greets Your Highness."
Liu Liu nodded and asked the young eunuch in a deep voice, "How is the Princess?"
The young eunuch hurriedly lowered his head to report, "Your servant is not very clear. The Empress Dowager has just entered. Your Highness the Empress may enter. The Princess is in the Grand Hall."
Cui'er, behind Liu Liu, stepped forward to support her mistress as she ascended the stone steps of Jinhua Palace. Palace maids waiting at the entrance supported Liu Liu and bowed to her before inviting the Empress into the palace.
In the Grand Hall of Jinhua Palace, the entire place was draped in red gauze, and a rich fragrance filled the air. In the center, a small maid was kneeling and repeatedly kowtowing.
The Empress Dowager, seated on the high throne, glared at the maid below with a furious expression. Seeing this scene, Liu Liu knew this must be Luo Yi, the maid who had left the palace with the Princess.
Given the Princess's condition, her personal maid would surely be punished. Liu Liu raised her face to look at Wuyang beside the Empress Dowager. Her gaze was vacant. Even when her own mother was about to punish her maid, she showed no reaction. Liu Liu felt a pang of heartache.
She hadn't expected Feng Wuyang to become like this after going out. Liu Liu's nose stung. It seemed Wuyang had suffered greatly during her excursion. The emotional pain, for someone as innocent as her, was surely unbearable, which led to this state.
Liu Liu slowly walked up to the Empress Dowager and paid her respects.
"Liu'er greets Mother Empress."
Upon seeing Liu Liu appear, the Empress Dowager waved her hand eagerly, signaling Liu Liu to rise. Wuyang's favorite person was this second cousin, so Liu Liu's arrival was perfect for her to speak with Wuyang and see if she could help her regain her senses.