"Reporting to Your Majesty, Lord Nangong has just gone out. This servant doesn't know where he went."
Liu Liu hadn't expected Nangong Yue to actually be in the imperial palace. She had originally planned to find him at his home if he wasn't there, but now he was within the palace walls.
But he had gone out. In such a vast imperial palace, where could she find him? Liu Liu frowned in thought, then a flash of inspiration struck her. Could Nangong Yue have gone to the Fragrant Grove?
Her figure shifted and she darted out. The young eunuchs behind her exchanged bewildered glances and slowly stood up.
Liu Liu rushed into the Fragrant Grove and, from a distance, indeed spotted a white figure. Her heart leaped with joy, and she sped towards him, weaving through the rustling leaves.
Nangong Yue, clad in white, stood amidst the trees. His handsome face bore a faint air of detachment, and he was playing a flute. The melody was gentle and elegant, still imbued with a hint of melancholy.
Liu Liu slowed her steps as she approached him from behind. Before he could finish his tune, she reached out, grabbed him, and cried out in anger.
"Nangong Yue, when lives are at stake, you are here playing the flute? Is this not too much?"
The rain had dampened Nangong Yue's long hair, strands clinging to his sharply defined face. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips, and his eyes held a world-weary indifference. He cast a glance at Liu Liu, then raised the flute to his lips again, as if her words had no effect on him.
Raindrops struck the falling leaves, creating a crisp sound that mingled with the clear, cold notes of the flute, flowing slowly in the misty rain. Impatient, Liu Liu raised her hand and knocked the flute from Nangong Yue's grasp, staring at him coldly. "Nangong Yue, are you even human? Are you someone born of a father and mother?"
Nangong Yue flinched at Liu Liu's words and turned to face her. His handsome face was framed by long eyelashes, glistening with water droplets, making it impossible to distinguish whether they were tears or rain. He then let out a fierce roar.
"I am a child abandoned by my parents. Who cares about my life or death? Since that's the case, why should I care about others? So many people die in this world every day. Do I have to save them one by one? Even if I save others, who will save me?"
Liu Liu hadn't expected Nangong Yue to have such a painful past. How could his parents cruelly abandon such an outstanding child, a child unmatched in heaven and earth?
Why could someone be so heartless as to abandon him? Her throat felt tight.
Yet, she couldn't comfort him. She was neither his kin nor truly his friend; she had only heard him play a few melodies on a cold, desolate night.
"Nangong Yue, I'm sorry. I didn't know you had such a past." Liu Liu's lips moved. Although what he said made sense.
At times, she was that kind of person too. They were damnably similar in some ways, but she was different; for her family and friends, she would spare no effort.
"But my sister is gravely ill. Please, you must help me treat her. My dearest and most loving sister is sick."
Nangong Yue turned to look at Liu Liu. Both of them had their clothes soaked. One with unbound black hair, the other with hair elegantly pinned up. Their faces bore a surprising resemblance.
Though one was the Prime Minister's daughter and the other was an imperial physician, one the moon in the sky and the other a shadow in the water, the two of them saw familiar reflections in each other's pupils.
It turned out they shared a similar disposition. He yearned for familial affection, while she guarded it with her life.
Suddenly, Nangong Yue threw his head back and laughed heartily, startling countless small animals in the grove. They scattered and fled, creating rustling sounds. Liu Liu didn't understand why he was laughing, but then she saw him abruptly stop, his face darkening as he gazed at her, his voice cold and devoid of warmth.
"I know Your Majesty always thinks highly of yourself. Since you are asking me now, then kneel. If Your Majesty kneels and begs me, I will then attend to Madam Huang."
Nangong Yue's words drifted into the light rain. Several palace maids who had rushed over from a distance overheard this and were greatly alarmed, calling out from afar, "Your Majesty, you cannot!"
Liu Liu smiled at the one who was staring at her. It seemed he had been estranged from his loved ones for a very long time, lacking even the most basic judgment. To save her sister, what did it matter if she knelt?
Even if he asked for her life at this moment, she would offer it without hesitation, just for him to save her sister's life.
Raindrops struck her hair and trickled down her cheeks, mixing with her tears and flowing into her mouth, tasting bitter. It was impossible to say whether it was rain or tears, but in any case, she was happy.
A look of pride flashed across her small face. Doing something for a loved one was a source of pride. She slowly began to kneel. Time seemed to stand still at this moment. His eyes widened, utterly disbelieving. He knew how proud she was, yet for her loved ones, she could cast aside her self-respect. This act of kneeling struck a chord in his heart.
"How I wish I had such a loved one. Even trading my life for it would be worthwhile." He flicked his long sleeve, stopping her from kneeling at the last moment, his voice carrying warmth.
"I promise. You don't need to kneel. But you owe me a favor, which you must repay in the future."
"Alright," she smiled, her radiance like stars, blinding his eyes. He gazed intently, unable to help but murmur, "If there was a loved one willing to kneel like this for me, I would die without regret."
"You will have it. As long as you are sincere, you will have it," she said with certainty, happy that she had finally persuaded Nangong Yue.
As long as Nangong Yue took the case, she believed her sister would be fine. He was a disciple of the renowned "Ghost's Dread" in the martial world. If even ghosts feared him, were there any people they couldn't cure?
"Thank you," he said, then his figure flickered. He took the flute and left the Fragrant Grove, leaving behind a distant call, "Wait for me at the palace gate. I will report to the Emperor."
"Okay," she smiled. Sister, you will surely be fine. The palace maids standing behind her, seeing their mistress's happiness, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Cui'er asked with concern, "Your Majesty, you haven't had breakfast yet. Should we eat before leaving the palace?"
"No need. I don't want to delay for a moment. I'll go back and change, and then I'll go see my sister immediately. I wonder how she is?"
Liu Liu walked past Cui'er, heading towards the Huaqing Palace. Cui'er, Qiao'er, Cai Xia, and Ming Yue followed closely, trotting all the way to the Huaqing Palace.
They hadn't expected their mistress to actually persuade Imperial Physician Nangong. If their mistress hadn't been about to kneel, Imperial Physician Nangong probably wouldn't have gone at all.
However, Imperial Physician Nangong didn't really make their mistress kneel; it was likely just a test. But their mistress was truly willing to do anything for her family.
A luxurious carriage was already parked in front of the Huaqing Palace. It seemed the Emperor hadn't forgotten what he had said last night. Liu Liu changed her clothes, led Cui'er and Qiao'er into the carriage, and together they left the imperial palace, waiting outside the outer gate.
In the Yongyuan Hall of the Imperial Palace, Feng Xie lazily looked at Nangong Yue standing in the sleeping chambers. He had been sleeping soundly and had not attended the morning court today, as he was too exhausted from traveling all night. He hadn't expected Nangong Yue to come to his sleeping chambers so early and announce he was going to see Madam Huang.
Madam Huang was the elder sister of Empress Liu. This news startled the Emperor awake because Nangong Yue had always been as cold as ice, and apart from the Emperor, he had never treated anyone else.
He disdained even glancing at princes and ministers, yet now he was saying he would go see someone for treatment. How could the Emperor not be astonished?