Ten Mile Slope was covered in lush greenery, tinged with a golden hue. As the wind blew, leaves rustled.
Dry, yellowed leaves swirled down, dancing in the air before landing in the mountain stream and being carried away. The carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain.
They could only walk up. Liu Liu ordered Ri Ying to lead a few subordinates to guard the foot of the mountain. The mountain housed a nunnery, and men were forbidden. Ri Ying glanced up.
Wisps of smoke curled up from halfway up the mountain, indicating the presence of a nunnery. Ri Ying looked around. There seemed to be only one path. They only needed to guard the foot of the mountain. He bowed and accepted the order.
"Your subordinate obeys. Empress, please be careful."
Liu Liu turned and walked up the mountain, climbing rocks and stone steps, overcoming various obstacles. Soon, she saw a row of grey buildings and approached a round archway.
A young Taoist nun was sweeping fallen leaves. The sound of sutra chanting occasionally drifted from the nunnery. Liu Liu walked forward, followed by Ming Yue and Cai Xia, who excitedly looked around and whispered amongst themselves. Cui Er shushed them, signaling for them to be quiet.
Buddhist temples were places of tranquility. They must not disturb others' chanting.
Cai Xia and Ming Yue smiled shyly and said no more, following their mistress as they walked ahead.
The young Taoist nun looked up and saw the richly dressed woman before her. Recognizing her as someone from a wealthy family, she respectfully stepped forward, clasping her hands together. "May I ask what you need, benefactor?"
"I wish to see Master Ming Hui. Is she here?"
"She is performing morning prayers. Madam, please follow me."
The young Taoist nun did not recognize Liu Liu. She bowed slightly, indicating for Liu Liu to follow her inside. They passed through several main rooms.
They were settled in the side rooms at the back, and another servant was instructed to bring tea. The nun went to invite the master performing morning prayers.
Liu Liu nodded, and the young Taoist nun retreated. The group did not have to wait long.
After just a few sips of tea, Master Ming Hui rushed in. The moment she saw Liu Liu, she smiled with delight and reached out to hold Liu Liu's hand. "Liu Liu, you've come!"
"Yes," Liu Liu nodded and turned to instruct Cui Er beside her to take Cai Xia and Ming Yue out for a stroll.
She had something to say to the Master. Ming Yue and Cai Xia had been restless for a while. Upon hearing their mistress's words, they immediately agreed and followed Cui Er outside, strolling around the nunnery.
In the side room, Master Ming Hui saw Liu Liu's cold and distant expression, her eyes fixed on her. She couldn't help but shiver. What did Liu Liu mean?
Why was she looking at her like that? Master Ming Hui dared not meet her gaze. She walked to the side, sat down, and spoke softly.
"What's wrong, Liu Liu? Why are you looking at your master like this?"
"Master, are you my birth mother?" Liu Liu asked directly. Master Ming Hui was startled, her face paling. She looked back at Liu Liu in disbelief, her mouth agape. After a long moment, she reacted and quickly shook her head, scolding her. "Liu Liu, what nonsense are you talking about? How can your master be your birth mother? Don't speak such things. Your parents would be saddened if they heard."
Liu Liu remained silent, a chill emanating from her. She gazed at her master, clearly seeing panic in her eyes. Her usually indifferent master was flustered. Didn't this prove everything? Was she truly her birth mother?
"Master, are you really Liu Liu's birth mother? If not, why are you afraid? If you are, why don't you acknowledge me? And why secretly teach me martial arts from afar?"
Although she wasn't the original Liu Liu, she was still somewhat agitated, and her words came out a bit sharply. Master Ming Hui seemed unable to bear the shock. Her face turned pale and gloomy. Her lips moved a few times, but she couldn't utter a word. Finally, she gritted her teeth and said,
"Liu Liu, your master swears to you, I am definitely not your mother."
Liu Liu looked at her intently. She believed her master's words. She looked at her so earnestly and sincerely, but she was not her birth mother.
At least she knew some inside stories from back then. A flicker of curiosity crossed her face, and the corners of her lips curved. "Liu Liu believes Master, but Master must know that I am not from the Liu family."
"Why do you say that?" Master Ming Hui seemed somewhat dismayed. Her usually beautiful face was shrouded in coldness. Her tone was resentful, angry at the gossiper who said Liu Liu wasn't from the Liu family.
"Liu Liu, your parents dote on you so much, how could you not be from the Liu family? Don't overthink it. Who has been speaking nonsense to you?" If she knew who was spreading such rumors, she would kill them. If such words reached the Emperor's ears, Liu Liu would lose her life. Who had such malicious intentions? Master Ming Hui maintained her stance and refused to say anything. However, Liu Liu, as sharp as ever, sensed from her master's flustered attitude that she was indeed not a child of the Liu family. Could she really be that Princess Liuli from the previous dynasty?
"Am I truly Princess Liuli, a princess of a fallen kingdom?" Astonishment, not hatred, flashed across her delicate face. This was because the original Liu Liu was no longer there; only she existed.
A soul from the twenty-first century. But if she were truly a princess, it would undoubtedly cause great turmoil, and the people she loved and who loved her could be harmed. Therefore, she must protect them.
"Princess?" This time, Ming Hui was completely stunned. Then, she stood up frantically, radiating a chilling aura. With a sweep of her long sleeves, many things in the side room were knocked over. She stood there, panting heavily, her face contorted with distress, her chest heaving, her expression ferocious and terrifying, her eyes flashing with a greenish light.
"What princess are you? How can you be a princess? You are the child of the Su family, how can you be a princess? How can you be the child of those damned, despicable people."
Ming Hui's rage erupted, and she became furious in the side room. Liu Liu hadn't expected her master to lose control and immediately felt heartbroken. She quickly got up, hugged her master's body, and repeatedly said, "Master, don't be anxious. Liu Liu won't ask anymore. Don't be angry. It's Liu Liu's fault."
Liu Liu's words strangely calmed Master Ming Hui. She gasped, slowly relaxed, and leaned into Liu Liu's embrace, sobbing. After crying until she was exhausted, she raised her face and looked at Liu Liu earnestly.
"Liu Liu, don't ask anything. When Master thinks it through, she will tell you the truth of the matter. But please believe your master, you are not a princess of the previous dynasty. Your surname is Su, and your name is Su Liuli. As for anything else, when you are meant to know, Master will let you know. Telling you now will only cause you pain."
Liu Liu dared not say anything. Seeing her master so distressed, how could she dare to ask? However, she was very curious about what had happened back then to cause her master such immense pain.
She also learned that her name was not Liu Liu, nor was she some princess. Her name was Su Liuli, a beautiful name. She supposed her birth parents had placed great love and hope in her.
"Okay, Master, I won't ask. I'll wait until you are willing to tell me."
Liu Liu's voice softened as she gently patted her master's shoulder. In fact, even if her master told her now, she wouldn't break down.
Because she wasn't the real Su Liuli, but she was enduring all of this for Su Liuli, even the bad consequences. Therefore, she had to be careful.
"Liu Liu is so good. Who said you were a princess?"
A fleeting, fierce glint flashed in Master's eyes. Liu Liu saw it clearly and secretly speculated. Even if her master wasn't her birth mother, she should be a relative. Then who was she?
Listening to her master's question, a faint smile appeared on her face. "A eunuch named Jiang Cheng, he called me Liuli. A guard named Zhao Mei, he called me princess."
"Jiang Cheng? Zhao Jiu?" Ming Hui's eyes showed confusion. She didn't recognize either of these two names.
But it was clear they had changed their names. If they remained in the imperial palace, how could they not change their names?
As for that eunuch, could it be Ah Li, the eunuch who sent Liuli out of the palace back then? Thinking of him, Ming Hui's heart stirred. She quickly reached out and grabbed Liu Liu's hand. "Where is that eunuch named Jiang Cheng now?"