"Jie Lan, Feng Lie will fall in love with you. You are a beautiful woman?" She spoke her true feelings. She and Feng Lie had no chance anymore. If he was happy, she, as a friend, naturally wished him happiness.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Can Jie Lan be friends with you?"
Jie Lan tilted her small face, so gentle, her long, curled eyelashes blinking, looking incredibly cute and lively.
This made Liu Liu unable to refuse. She nodded. Jie Lan smiled happily and instructed the palace maids behind her, "Go to Ying Feng Pavilion and prepare a few dishes. I'm inviting Her Majesty to dine at Ying Feng Pavilion today."
"Yes, Princess." Jie Lan's personal maid bowed and went to prepare. Liu Liu had intended to refuse, but seeing Jie Lan's delighted expression, she couldn't bear to dampen her spirits. Moreover, it was rare to make a friend with similar interests.
Ying Feng Pavilion was specially prepared for Princess Jie Lan by Jiang Cheng, the chief eunuch of the harem. It was a palace within Wei Yang Palace. Liu Liu passed through corridors and pavilions, finally seeing the true appearance of Wei Yang Palace.
This palace originally should have been hers, but the Emperor had not given it to her. It was magnificently grand and resplendent, truly worthy of being among the Three Palaces.
It stood majestically in the sunlight, like a pearl in the harem. No wonder women loved to reside in Wei Yang Palace; it was a symbol of status and power.
But what was the use of all this? All of this in the harem was built upon the Emperor's moods. One moment it was yours, the next it could belong to someone else. Liu Liu pursed her lips and sneered, winding her way into Ying Feng Pavilion.
Ying Feng Pavilion, three vigorous characters were carved on the jade plaque. The stone steps in front of the gate were made of white jade, with green pines standing tall on both sides. Various chrysanthemums stood in the wind. It was not yet the blooming season, only a scene of vibrant greenery.
The sky was blue, the water was blue, the clouds were light, and the wind was gentle.
There was a pavilion every three steps and a bridge every five steps. Pavilions and towers were arranged in a crisscrossing manner, with willow trees and osmanthus flowers, and a jade lake rippling with waves. It was exceptionally secluded and tranquil.
"What a lovely place! Does the Princess find it to her liking?" Liu Liu turned and asked Princess Jie Lan, who had been holding her hand. She saw infinite longing in Jie Lan's eyes, her gaze somewhat distant.
Hearing Liu Liu's words, she smiled and replied softly, "It is a lovely place, but after lunch, I will be leaving here to go to Prince Yan's residence."
"Oh," Liu Liu nodded. She had forgotten that Princess Jie Lan would be staying at Prince Yan's residence for the next three months.
She heard that there were two extremely beautiful consorts in that residence. She reckoned they wouldn't dare to trouble the Princess, and she hoped Feng Lie would recognize the Princess's good qualities, so as not to betray the Princess's affections.
"Your Highness need not worry. Prince Yan has always been upright and honorable. I believe Princess Jie Lan will live very comfortably at Prince Yan's residence."
Liu Liu's intention was to comfort Jie Lan, as she was worried about her being dejected. Unexpectedly, after hearing her words, Jie Lan became animated. She took Liu Liu's hand and they sat on a soft couch nearby. A palace maid served tea and then withdrew. Jie Lan gazed at Liu Liu.
"I heard that Prince Yan is Your Majesty's cousin. Therefore, Your Majesty must know Prince Yan very well. Could Your Majesty tell me about Prince Yan? Only by knowing oneself and the enemy can one further conquer his wild and untamed heart, isn't that so?"
Jie Lan smiled coquettishly. Liu Liu's eyes grew a little dim. She hadn't expected Jie Lan to know about her relationship with Prince Yan in such a short time. It seemed she was determined to win him over.
Liu Liu's expression was faint, like drifting clouds in the sky, always elusive. Jie Lan looked at her with envy. Your Majesty is so special.
The birthmark on her face doesn't look bad either. Why did the Emperor insist she was ugly and make her live in some dilapidated palace? Even I feel indignant for her.
"Actually, Feng Lie is not as arrogant and unruly as he appears. His heart is quite soft, but he doesn't easily open himself to others. If someone can enter his heart, I believe he will love them for a lifetime. I hope the Princess is the one who can unlock it."
"Yes, I will strive for that," Jie Lan nodded forcefully. Since she had traveled thousands of miles to Tian Feng and met a man she liked, she would do her best no matter what.
At this moment, a palace maid walked in from outside the hall and bowed respectfully to Jie Lan, "Princess, lunch has been prepared. Please, Your Highness and Your Majesty, proceed to the side pavilion."
"Alright, you go prepare then," Jie Lan waved her hand. The little palace maid withdrew, and the two women stood up and followed behind another maid towards the exit.
After lunch, Liu Liu had intended to return, but Jie Lan pulled her aside for a chat. Liu Liu listened quietly.
Princess Jie Lan spoke of the interesting customs of her own country. Liu Liu, who was not accustomed to such displays, was amused by her. Her smile was like the unfolding of faint clouds, and the warm sunlight shone on the glazed palace pavilions in autumn.
"You should smile more often. Your smile is so pure and attractive, drawing people in." Jie Lan sighed softly. Even as a woman, she was captivated by her. She believed the Emperor would fall in love with such a woman. Jie Lan was lost in thought when Liu Liu stood up.
"Liu Liu thanks the Princess for lunch. Let's meet again another day." With that, she left Ying Feng Pavilion as elegantly as a wisp of light breeze, returning to Hua Qing Palace.
In Hua Qing Palace, Liu Liu lay casually on the soft couch, lost in thought. Cui Er poured a cup of tea and stood by her side, watching her. Her Majesty was deep in thought, and Cui Er dared not disturb her. After a long while, she heard Liu Liu's clear voice: "Cui Er, has there been any news from outside recently?"
Cui Er shook her head, unsure what Her Majesty was referring to. She heard that Her Majesty had sold Black Street. She really didn't know where Chu Feng and Duan Mu had gone.
"No, Your Majesty. What news are you looking for?"
Liu Liu ignored her, took the tea pot from Cui Er's hand, and took a sip. She was preparing to rest in her sleeping quarters. She had been called up by the Empress Dowager early this morning and was now feeling tired. She yawned.
Liu Liu stood up. Just then, Qiao Er rushed in, holding a pure white dove, the one Liu Liu kept. As soon as it saw Liu Liu, it flapped its wings, appearing very excited. Liu Liu was also very happy and quickly went to Qiao Er's side, taking the dove.
A sealed letter was tied to the dove's leg. Liu Liu took it down and looked at it. It turned out that Seven Star Tower had been officially established. They had already accepted many missions, escorting goods and ships.
They had just received a commission for a bounty of one hundred thousand taels of silver to kill someone. This person was usually wicked, having killed his sworn brother and taken possession of his brother's wife.
This wife had secretly sent one hundred thousand taels of silver to Seven Star Tower, requesting them to kill this villain who bullied his brother and took his wife. Chu Feng was undecided whether to accept this bounty.
Therefore, he had sent a message by carrier pigeon to seek the楼主's opinion. Liu Liu's eyes brightened. She hadn't expected Seven Star Tower to be on the right track so quickly. One hundred thousand taels for a life, and it was for a heinous criminal. How could they not accept it? It was both making money and doing good deeds; they weren't that foolish.
Liu Liu wrote a letter, tied it to the dove as usual, and patted its head, signaling it to take the letter back. The carrier pigeon was reluctant to leave and only flew away after Liu Liu urged it repeatedly, circling a few times above Hua Qing Palace.
"Your Majesty, what did the letter say?" Cui Er asked from behind Liu Liu. She always felt that Your Majesty was being secretive, wondering what she was up to.
"It's nothing. It's Dai Mei and the others writing to tell me they are all well," Liu Liu lowered her long eyelashes, hiding the glint in her eyes.
She couldn't tell Cui Er things she shouldn't know, otherwise someone in the palace would definitely try to deal with her. What she was doing was protecting them from being coerced.
"Dai Mei and Chu Feng?" Cui Er had been worried about them all along. Hearing that they had sent a letter now, she finally felt a bit relieved. She looked at her Majesty with joy.