"Reporting to Your Majesty, the eunuch has sent those pigeons to Weiyang Palace. The consort ordered them released."
Xiao Wanzi saw the Emperor's expression was grim and uncertain, his brows furrowed in thought, half of his profile like a divine being from a painting.
Radiating an aura of nobility, he stood cautiously to the side. He wasn't foolish enough to mention their plea for the consort to accept the pigeons; the Emperor would surely kill him.
Upon hearing Xiao Wanzi's words, Feng Xie's stern expression softened slightly, slowly relaxing. Ripples stirred in his gem-like eyes, dazzling to behold. After a long moment, the Emperor's magnetic voice finally spoke, "You may withdraw and wait."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Xiao Wanzi retreated, and the study returned to calm. Feng Xie's heart finally settled.
That woman released the pigeons. Although she was still angry with him, she had at least let the pigeons go, which indicated she wasn't so enraged as to lose her senses. Having the pigeons sent back was good. Time would slowly mend the rift between them, Feng Xie thought with self-assurance.
Regarding this pigeon incident, Liu Liu knew it was instigated by Jin Jiali. Jin Jiali must have extracted the information about the pigeons from Qiao'er's mouth.
Fortunately, Qiao'er didn't tell her everything, otherwise, she wouldn't have any peace here. Qiao'er probably only mentioned a few things she considered unimportant.
Thinking of Jin Jiali's schemes against her, Liu Yi felt indignant and resentful, her expression grim. She would not let Jin Jiali off.
She was waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity to eliminate Jin Jiali in one fell swoop. If others do not offend me, I will not offend them. Since she wanted to fight her, she should have the courage to bear her wrath, Liu Liu's lips curled into a cold smile.
That day, seeing the pigeons, she had become anxious. She didn't know what the note said. Liu Liu frowned, but she knew it was something trivial, otherwise, His Majesty would never have let her off easily, and would have sent someone to return the pigeons.
Someone like Feng Xie would likely not tolerate any factor that threatened his empire.
Lost in thought, Liu Liu went to her chambers for a rest, only waking in the evening.
On a full moon night, a light frost draped the secluded path, weeds grew lushly, and the surroundings were silent. Only the wind swept across the palace roofs, making pleasant sounds from the corner eaves. Glazed tiles shimmered, and the vast imperial palace was shrouded in a veil of mist, like the drizzling Jiangnan, possessing a graceful beauty.
The cold night was silent. From afar, the sound of fighting could be heard, exceptionally fierce.
Liu Liu raised her eyebrows in surprise. Had assassins entered the palace again today? Thinking of Mei Dai's unauthorized entry into the palace last time, Liu Liu felt a prickle of unease. She shifted her feet and started to walk out. The eunuchs in Weiyang Palace quickly opened… as they saw their consort about to leave.
"Your Ladyship, please do not! There is fighting outside; it is dangerous, Your Ladyship?"
Liu Liu was not afraid of any fighting. She was worried that her subordinates had entered the palace. She completely ignored the shouts behind her, rushed out following the sound, and flashed out of Weiyang Palace.
Outside the palace gate, bathed in moonlight, stood a man in silver dancing attire, clad in enchanting red, looking devilishly beautiful under the moonlight. Liu Liu was stunned. She hadn't expected this assassin to be Hua Wuyou. What was he doing in the palace?
An aura of coldness emanated from him. The wind stirred his red robe, making him appear like a blooming Lycoris radiata in the night, beckoning to lonely souls.
Liu Liu's heart relaxed. As long as it wasn't Mei Dai, her pure and clear face was illuminated by the soft moonlight. What did their affairs have to do with her?
She turned to go back, but Hua Wuyou's sharp eyes caught sight of her shadow. He flashed over and embraced her with his long arms.
However, to the guards, this man appeared to be kidnapping the Empress. At that moment, everyone stopped fighting and stared blankly at the sudden turn of events.
The commander of the guards, Zhao Mei, stared at Hua Wuyou with a grim expression, his voice trembling slightly. He waved a hand, signaling his men not to act rashly, and said coldly, "Audacious assassin, release her at once!"
Hua Wuyou looked at the man opposite him. Seeing his anxious expression, he found it amusing. He wouldn't harm the woman in his arms, so why was he so nervous?
This was the Emperor's woman. Did a mere guard dare to have wild thoughts? He playfully reached out to touch Liu Liu's cheek, his arm partially obscuring her face.
To Zhao Mei's eyes, it looked as if the man was strangling Liu Liu. "Stop! We'll let you go."
Zhao Mei exclaimed, and not only Hua Wuyou but even Liu Liu was surprised.
In her memory, Zhao Mei wasn't particularly memorable, except for his insistence on her slapping him. Other than that, she had no impression of him. Yet, he was actually concerned about her life and death.
Perhaps this man was simply too kind-hearted, Liu Liu guessed wildly. Seeing Hua Wuyou's sleeve partially covering their view, causing a misunderstanding, she coldly glared at him in annoyance.
"Hurry and leave. Don't cause trouble here," she said. She didn't know why Hua Wuyou wanted to kill Feng Xie, but that was their private feud, unrelated to her.
Hua Wuyou looked at the woman in his arms with burning eyes. He recalled how she had stroked his silver hair when they first met, like fine silk. Meeting her again, she was willing to help him and urged him to leave quickly. His heart was instantly filled with warmth.
No matter whose she was, she would ultimately be his. He smiled and reached out to touch her face.
Because he would kill Feng Xie. Once Feng Xie was dead, everything here would be his, including the woman in his arms. He didn't care about anything in the imperial palace; let it be as it may. But no one would snatch the woman in his arms from him.
"Alright, remember to miss me," he smiled, enchanting like a poppy blooming in the dark night. After that, he unfurled his robe and soared into the sky.
Liu Liu glared coldly at the retreating figure, then turned to look at Zhao Mei beside her. She gave a faint smile, a touch of gratitude in her heart. In the moonlight, she was as elegant as an immortal. Turning, she was about to walk back into Weiyang Palace.
Suddenly, a sharp and overbearing arrow aura shot through the air. She leaped to block it, but was forcefully pushed aside by a body. Someone had taken an arrow for her.
She could have dodged it, but others didn't know that. Who was this person who took the arrow for her? She urgently turned her head to look. Under the moonlight, Jiang Cheng, the chief eunuch of the inner palace, lay on the ground. Liu Liu screamed frantically.
"Jiang Cheng, what's wrong? What's wrong?" She reached out, touching the arrow tip, feeling sticky blood. The air was filled with a腥味 (xīngwèi - fishy/bloody smell).
Tears welled up in Liu Liu's eyes. She quickly supported Jiang Cheng. He managed a weak smile, "Your Ladyship, are you alright?"
Liu Liu choked out, "You're the one who's not alright. Jiang Cheng, why are you so good to me? What is this all for?"
Jiang Cheng reached out, took Liu Liu's hand, and gently caressed it. Blood continued to gush from his chest, and Liu Liu's tears flowed.
Since entering the palace, Jiang Cheng had always protected her. Gradually, she had come to regard him as family. She never expected him to take an arrow for her, and she didn't even have a chance to repay him. Jiang Cheng softly murmured, "Liuli, my little Liuli." He tilted his head and died.
Liu Liu was stunned. Jiang Cheng was dead. He was truly dead. The person who had always doted on her was dead. Her heart ached, ached so much. Who killed him?
Liu Liu quickly looked towards a corner. She saw a fiery red shadow on the glazed tile roof fighting angrily with the person who shot the arrow. Soon, that person was killed. Liu Liu's heart finally felt a little relieved. Who was that person?
Why did they want to kill her? The Jiang Cheng in her arms was slowly growing cold. His last words lingered in her mind: Liuli. He called her Liuli. Why did he call her Liuli?