“Don't speak of this matter casually. I don’t want anyone to know, including the Emperor,” Liu Liu said, picking up a brush to paint the birthmark on her face, reapplying it as before.
Cui'er didn't understand why her mistress was doing this. She had become beautiful, even more so than a renowned beauty in the capital, so why hide her own beauty? Despite her confusion, she didn't dare to speak up and merely nodded dejectedly.
“Alright, this servant understands.”
Under the glow of the palace lanterns, her reflection in the bronze mirror was still a face with a rosy hue. Being in this inner palace, she had to be on guard at all times, especially against Feng Xie, who might suddenly come to see her in the middle of the night.
If he saw through her disguise, he would not be able to leave her. She wasn't so magnanimous as to share him with other women, so she couldn't let him see her beauty unexpectedly.
Men, deep down, had their base instincts. Everyone liked beautiful women, and what's more, that man had just said he liked her. If he were to then accuse her of deliberate concealment, wouldn't she lose more than she gained?
The thought of Jin Jiali's pregnancy made her heart grow cold. She waved to Cui'er to leave, wanting to be alone for a while. Cui'er slowly withdrew, along with the palace maids on duty, who remained stationed outside the sleeping chambers to attend to the concubine if she needed anything.
In the vast sleeping chambers, silence reigned. Liu Liu slowly walked to the bed, thinking about the recent events in the palace: Qiao'er and Jiang Cheng being murdered, Jin Jiali’s pregnancy, and her own transformation into Su Liuli.
Although that name and person were unfamiliar to her, she feared that the name might attract more misfortune. Liu Liu quickly pulled her brocade robe, covering her face. She didn't want to think about anything else; whatever it was, she would deal with it tomorrow.
Before she could seek trouble, trouble found her.
The sky was clear, and fluffy clouds drifted lazily in the air. Weiyang Palace was adorned with numerous pavilions and towers, with meticulously arranged rockeries and clear, green pools, presenting a beautiful scene.
She led Cui'er, strolling leisurely through the palace. She didn't want to step out of Weiyang Palace, considering herself a person of caution now. She preferred to stay here in peace rather than invite trouble.
Warm sunlight pierced through the clouds, gently illuminating the earth. The autumn breeze carried a languid aura, making one feel lazy all over. Not far ahead was a tranquil lake, its surface rippling with gentle waves that rose and fell, creating dancing reflections.
Liu Liu stood quietly by the lake, gazing at the serene scene before her. Her restless heart was instantly calmed. In the distance, a eunuch ran over, panting.
“Your Highness, Your Highness, it’s bad news! Eunuch Xiao Wanzi is leading a group of people to request Your Highness’s presence at Guangyang Palace.”
Liu Liu’s raised eyebrows twitched, a sense of foreboding creeping into her heart. However, she showed no outward reaction. She glanced at Xiao Anzi nonchalantly, “What’s the hurry? Speak slowly. Why does Xiao Wanzi want me to go to Guangyang Palace?”
Xiao Anzi stopped, patting his chest. Once his breathing stabilized, he quickly replied, “This servant doesn't know. In short, he led a large group of people straight into Weiyang Palace, saying the Emperor wants Your Highness to go to Guangyang Palace. They are waiting in the main hall of Weiyang Palace.”
Upon hearing Xiao Anzi’s words, Cui'er became anxious. She tugged at Liu Liu’s hand and said worriedly, “Is Your Highness going to be in trouble? It must be that Jin Jiali causing trouble again.”
Although Liu Liu didn't understand the reason, she didn't know what had happened yet. So, she decided to go and see. She led Cui'er and Xiao Anzi back to the main hall of Weiyang Palace.
As soon as Xiao Wanzi saw Liu Liu, his eyes flickered before he quickly said, “Your Highness, the Emperor has sent this servant to invite Your Highness to Guangyang Palace.”
“Is there something wrong?” Liu Liu asked casually, her expression indifferent. Xiao Wanzi hesitated for a moment, then said nothing more, merely respectfully inviting Liu Liu to Guangyang Palace. Liu Liu’s lips curled into a cold smile. She wanted to see what tricks Jin Jiali had up her sleeve. Her gaze flashed with a sharp glint as she quickly left Weiyang Palace for Guangyang Palace.
Guangyang Palace was not far from Weiyang Palace, and they arrived soon. In front of the ornate palace gates stood rows of palace maids and eunuchs. Liu Liu let out a soft hum, “This servant (this humble servant) has seen Her Highness the Empress.”
Liu Liu didn’t even glance at the palace maids and eunuchs and walked directly into Guangyang Palace. The main hall of Guangyang Palace was draped with gauze curtains and hung with pearl screens, filled with the scent of musk. It was silent. Seated on the high throne was Emperor Feng Xie, his handsome features contorted with a gloomy expression. Seated beside the Emperor was the Empress Dowager, whose usually kind face was also quite grim. Without a word, she gazed at Liu Liu, who stood below.
Liu Liu had no idea what had happened. She simply curtsied gracefully, “Liu Liu greets His Majesty, the Empress Dowager.”
Feng Xie, clad in a golden brocade robe embroidered with a hundred dragons, his handsome, ethereal face framed by narrow phoenix eyes and a pair of glass-like pupils, stared coldly and ferociously at Liu Liu, a stark contrast to his gentle demeanor the previous night. His magnetic voice suddenly rang out, cold and stern.
“Liu Liu, how dare you commit such a heinous and rebellious act?”
Liu Liu was stunned. She looked up at the man on the throne, not understanding. The surroundings seemed to churn, like the eve of a storm. He clenched his fists, veins bulging, and heavily struck the high table before him. The table cracked in response, revealing the extent of his current fury.
“Please, Your Majesty, enlighten me. What heinous and rebellious act has Liu Liu committed?” She truly didn’t know what she had done to make him so enraged. Even rejecting him last night hadn’t elicited such anger.
The Empress Dowager, who had been silently seated beside Feng Xie, now looked at Liu Liu sternly and spoke with a pained tone.
“Liu'er, as you are the Empress, you should be appeasing the inner court. Even if Consort Shu became pregnant before you, you shouldn’t have secretly administered medicine and caused the miscarriage of that fetus. That is a royal bloodline! What will the world say about you?”
Liu Liu’s head buzzed. Jin Jiali’s scheme was truly vicious. She had even abandoned her own child. It seemed she was determined to fight her to the death. Clearly, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager believed it implicitly, because even a tiger wouldn't harm its cubs, so how could anyone harm their own child? She glanced at the Emperor and Empress Dowager on the throne.
“Liu Liu will only say this once. Whether you believe it or not is irrelevant to me. I did not administer medicine to harm Consort Shu into miscarrying. Even if she desires my position as Empress, she can have it. Let alone a small fetus. I am not so cruel as to do such a thing.”
Her words, chillingly cold, echoed throughout the hall, causing ripples. Feng Xie was taken aback. Seeing her resolute and earnest young face, he was inclined to believe her words.
With her proud and unyielding personality, she would never commit such a treasonous act. However, why would the accusing eunuch claim to have seen the Empress in Guangyang Palace? What was she doing here in Guangyang Palace?
Feng Xie’s unfathomable black eyes deepened, a smile playing on his lips. He believed this woman had not harmed Consort Shu, but he simply wanted to punish her severely, for her defiance, for her pride. His expression suddenly turned cold.
“Bold Empress Liu, daring to arbitrarily administer poison! Guards, lock her up in the back palace dungeon!”
As Feng Xie’s words fell, the Empress Dowager beside him raised an eyebrow in disapproval, “Your Majesty, since Liu'er says she didn’t administer the poison, and we cannot simply conclude she did based on the words of a mere eunuch, we should investigate properly.”