The fellow who had fallen asleep was truly, devastatingly captivating. His face was smooth and full, his eyebrows finely arched and sculpted as if by a blade. Long lashes, like fans, veiled his eyes.
Most of the time, those eyes were proud and chillingly cold; it was almost better when they remained closed.
His nose was aquiline, and below it, his lips were thin. Now, they were slightly parted, their delicate curves a soft pink, shimmering with a moist sheen. They were utterly captivating. Liu Liu couldn't resist reaching out to touch them. Such smooth skin!
She had first seen him when she was twelve, and he had struck her as a celestial being. Later, she learned he disliked her, so she always avoided him.
Even when her mother entered the palace, she never accompanied her. Who would have known that fate's key would lock the two of them together?
Liu Liu was lost in thought when a gust of wind from the window brought her back to her senses. What was she doing? She quickly withdrew her hand, hitched her skirt, and left the sleeping chambers.
The night was cool as water, the moonlight thick and heavy. The palace maids and eunuchs at the door dozed at odd angles. The Empress's attendance upon the Emperor was different from other consorts; she could stay the entire night in Yongyuan Hall. The guards couldn't leave freely, so they dozed along the long corridor outside the door.
As Liu Liu approached the door, Xiao Wanzi was immediately startled awake. He raised his head in surprise. Had she left already? Was His Majesty that weak? His mouth opened wide as he bowed respectfully, "Your Ladyship is returning!"
The moment Xiao Wanzi spoke, Ming Yue and Cai Xia also woke up. They quickly stood up and went to support Liu Liu, "Your Ladyship, are we returning?"
"Mmm, let's go," Liu Liu nodded calmly, then glanced back at Xiao Wanzi. Her clear voice resonated in the moonlit night, "His Majesty is tired. Do not disturb him."
"Yes, Your Ladyship," Xiao Wanzi replied, his jaw nearly dropping.
Her Ladyship was acting rather unusually tonight. She was usually so indifferent, yet tonight she cared for His Majesty. And His Majesty had actually become tired and fallen asleep in such a short time.
He remembered that in the past, when His Majesty favored a concubine, he would even have him send them back. How could he be so tired now? Although suspicious, His Majesty was asleep, and he dared not disturb him.
A gleam of intelligence flashed in Liu Liu's eyes, and a faint smile touched her lips, yet it carried the chilling air of the night. She led her entourage of young maids away from Yongyuan Hall.
As soon as Empress Liu Liu left, Xiao Wanzi, still uneasy, entered the sleeping chambers. Through the gauze curtain, indistinctly visible, His Majesty was indeed sleeping soundly on the large bed. He breathed a sigh of relief and slowly retreated, guarding the door.
Returning to Huaqing Palace, the thought of having dealt with Feng Xie filled Liu Liu with an indescribable sense of relief. Her spirits soared, and she felt refreshed.
She had even kicked him several times. She imagined he would be sore all over tomorrow morning, yet unable to find any marks. The more she thought about it, the more pleased she became, and a triumphant smile curved her lips.
Cui'er gazed at her mistress curiously. Had her mistress developed feelings for His Majesty after staying with him for just a moment? she wondered secretly.
"Your Ladyship, what are you so happy about? It's late, you should rest."
"Alright," Liu Liu took a sip of tea, rose, and entered the sleeping chambers. Cui'er and Qiao'er attended her as she prepared to rest.
She had a good night's sleep, and even in her dreams, she kicked Feng Xie several times, letting out a silent chuckle. She only stirred when the surrounding air grew cold, as if something frosty were near. She pulled the thin blanket closer, intending to sleep more.
But the strange sensation persisted, so she irritably opened her eyes. White light seeped through the white paper of the window.
It was already dawn. She yawned and rolled over, preparing to sleep again. Her hand, however, brushed against something firm and hard. She squeezed it; it felt like a person's arm. A jolt of surprise went through her. She looked up and saw a man lying sideways just outside the bed.
A man with a face as dark as thunder.
Who else could this man be but Feng Xie? His handsome, enchanting face was now cold and imposing. His eyes were sharp, glinting with a bloodthirsty rage.
The dark anger in his gaze was like that of a wolf on the plains, ready to tear into its prey. A killing aura emanated from him. Seeing her open eyes and innocent gaze fixed upon him,
He heard his own teeth grinding. With a hand as fast as lightning, he grabbed her by the neck and spoke fiercely,
"Liu Liu, you audacious woman! How dare you drug His Majesty? You're courting death."
The force on her neck increased. Liu Liu hadn't expected this man to come charging in so early. Caught off guard, she began to cough uncontrollably, her face turning ashen.
Cui'er, who had been guarding the sleeping chamber door, heard her mistress's cough and rushed in. Seeing the Emperor's hand around the Empress's neck, she was so terrified that she immediately dropped to her knees.
"Your Majesty, spare her! Your Majesty, spare my mistress!"
Feng Xie raised his hand and unleashed a palm strike that sent Cui'er flying to the ground. However, he did release his grip.
Liu Liu simultaneously retracted the inner force that had gathered in her palm. She sat up, gazing coldly at Feng Xie. The two of them faced each other. In her eyes was disdain, contempt. She didn't care about this man's favor.
In his eyes was fury, coldness. If he favored her, she should have smiled and expressed her gratitude, not drugged him. This was enough to seal her death.
But he knew she was unafraid of his punishment. Yet, everyone had a weakness. Feng Xie suddenly smiled, a smile full of ill intent, cold and sinister, like a ghost from hell, chilling and terrifying.
"I wonder if the Prime Minister suggested that the Empress drug His Majesty? Or perhaps Liu Ting? If I were to hand this matter over to the Dali Temple for investigation, would it condemn the Liu family to hell from this point onwards?"
His words were spoken lightly, as if from clear skies, yet they were so chilling. In the biting cold, he was casually tossing over a hundred lives into the abyss. His words were so playful. It was no wonder people said accompanying the emperor was like accompanying a tiger; it was indeed true. In her clear eyes, there wasn't just coldness, but also deep reproach.
"Your Majesty, don't forget my father is your maternal uncle. How could you say such things? My father has rendered meritorious service to the Tianfeng Dynasty. You actually threaten me with this?"
"Threaten? Why would I need to threaten you? Let's just hand this matter over to the Dali Temple for investigation," Feng Xie said. With a swift movement, he got off the bed and headed for the door. Liu Liu leaped from the bed and quickly blocked his path.
"Alright, give me ten days. I will surely satisfy you."
Liu Liu's face was grim. She was absolutely unwilling to attend him, but she couldn't let him blow this drugging incident out of proportion. She had no choice but to resort to a delaying tactic. For now, she had to try not to provoke his anger.
A storm of emotions flickered in Feng Xie's eyes. As astute as he was, how could he not understand Liu Liu's scheme? He reached out his fair hand and grasped her palm-sized face, stroking it forcefully. Then, he suddenly pinched her chin and spoke with chilling arrogance,
"I will only give you five days. Come to Yongyuan Hall in five days. If you can please me, then yesterday's drugging incident will be wiped clean. Otherwise, do not blame me for being merciless."
As Feng Xie finished speaking, he flicked his hand and turned, leaving the sleeping chambers. Cui'er, lying on the floor, was already stunned. Her Ladyship had actually drugged His Majesty.
No wonder she had left so early last night. It turned out her Ladyship had drugged him, and nothing had happened last night. Thinking of His Majesty's anger just now, Cui'er shivered. Seeing that her Ladyship showed no reaction, she quickly got up and rushed to Liu Liu's side, asking anxiously,
"Your Ladyship, are you alright? Are you alright?"