“You don't need me to escort you. Go back on your own.”
“Don't you dare come looking for me again!” Liu Liu roared, her body shifting as she fled back to Huaqing Palace. Nan Gongyue’s figure grew smaller and smaller, yet he remained standing there, fixed in place.
Raindrops struck him, but he felt no chill, only a deep, gnawing pain in his heart. Why did everyone he cared about refuse to approach him? Was he truly such a failure as a person?
He crouched down, burying his face in his hands, tears flowing silently. The rain continued to fall upon him.
The next morning, Liu Liu fell ill. An imperial physician was summoned. Fortunately, it was merely a chill that led to a fever. After taking some medicine, she would be fine.
Liu'er found Liu Liu's sudden illness quite unexpected. As she helped Liu Liu take her medicine, she asked curiously, “Your Highness, what happened? How did you fall ill?”
Liu Liu, who was taking her medicine, paused. Her body felt weak, and she leaned against the cushions, her mind replaying the kiss from the previous night. A wave of shame and annoyance washed over her.
However, the sensation of that touch was undeniably beautiful. She had never imagined a kiss could be so pure. The thought sent a flush of heat to her cheeks.
Who would have thought a twenty-year-old woman would be so flustered by a mere kiss? She gave a self-deprecating laugh. Seeing Cui'er still waiting for her reply, she quickly shook her head.
“It’s nothing. I’m just sick. Why are you asking so many questions?”
Cui'er knew in her heart that her mistress was hiding something. Moreover, her face had turned red with shyness, which was incredibly endearing. She took away the medicine bowl.
As Liu Liu, feeling unwell, was about to lie down for a rest, Xiao Anzi rushed in with great urgency, nearly colliding with Cui'er. Cui'er raised an eyebrow displeasedly. “What is it? You’re in such a hurry. Her Highness is ill; no one is allowed to disturb her unless it’s important!”
Xiao Anzi ignored Cui'er, rushing straight in, shouting as he ran, “Your Highness, it’s bad! Something terrible has happened! Your Highness, something terrible has happened!”
Liu Liu was startled, a cold sweat breaking out on her skin. Life in the palace was never peaceful. What had happened now? She sat up properly. Xiao Anzi had already burst in, dropping to his knees with a thud. His clean-cut face was ashen.
“Your Highness, the Imperial Uncle has been arrested by the Emperor!”
Xiao Anzi's words stunned Liu Liu. She was momentarily disoriented by such news. The Imperial Uncle? If she was now the Empress, then her elder brother would become the Imperial Uncle.
“Brother is back?” Liu Liu exclaimed with delight, before quickly realizing the gravity of the situation. Her brother had been arrested. Why? Her already pale face turned a bruised purple. Her weak body swayed, and she looked down at the kneeling Xiao Anzi.
“You say the Imperial Uncle was arrested? When did this happen?”
“Reporting to Your Highness, this happened this morning. The Head Eunuch secretly sent someone to inform me, saying the Imperial Uncle entered the palace early this morning and got into a fight with the Emperor. He has now been imprisoned in the great jail.”
Xiao Anzi reported respectfully. As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Liu could no longer concern herself with her illness. She scrambled out of bed swiftly.
“Cui'er, help me get dressed.”
“Your Highness?” Cui'er looked worried. Her Highness was still ill, but the eldest young master had been arrested. Her Highness would surely not stand idly by. She could only walk over and assist Liu Liu with her dressing and washing. Soon, she was ready.
With a shift of her body, Liu Liu moved towards the exit. Xiao Anzi scrambled to his feet, following closely behind her and calling out, “Your Highness, where are you going?”
“To see the Emperor,” Liu Liu tossed back the words, already descending the stone steps before the palace gate. Her figure was slender and frail, yet she stood remarkably straight, her steps unsteady.
They had never seen their Empress appear so flustered. It was evident that the Imperial Uncle held immense importance in her heart.
The other palace maids and eunuchs in Huaqing Palace, seeing the Empress’s uneasy expression and furrowed brows, did not know what had transpired. They quickly questioned Xiao Anzi, who was following the Empress.
“What happened?”
“The Imperial Uncle was arrested?” Xiao Anzi dropped the statement, then followed the Empress with Cui'er, both heading towards Yongyuan Hall, where the Emperor resided.
In Yongyuan Hall, verdant smoke curled from golden censers. The wicks of the palace lanterns had not yet been extinguished, and the pearl-inlaid jade curtains clinked musically from time to time. The opulent main hall was now silent.
The air was heavy with a chilling sternness. Palace maids and eunuchs knelt on the ground, none daring to utter a word. Only the man seated on the high throne wore a frosty expression, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
His handsome features were creased in a smile, but it was a cold, captivating smile. He tugged at the white silk of his robe, revealing his alluring collarbone. Sweat trickled down his cheeks, dampening his long gown. His hair was slightly disheveled, clearly the result of a fierce battle.
That Liu Ting truly had the audacity of a leopard! To dare storm into his sleeping quarters early in the morning and engage him in a fight was infuriating.
He was the Emperor of a nation; how could he allow Liu Ting to act so recklessly? He had fought him for the sake of his ugly sister.
If not for the difficulty of the imperial edict, he would never have married his sister. Now that he had married her, instead of showing gratitude, she had attacked him. What an infuriating fellow! Had it been anyone else, he would have annihilated their entire clan by now. Yet, he had only been struck once and thrown into jail.
Feng Xie sat on his throne, his face dark with suppressed anger. Xiao Wanzi walked in from outside the hall, speaking cautiously.
“Your Majesty, the Empress requests an audience.”
Upon hearing this, Feng Xie’s handsome face contorted. His phoenix brows knitted in a wintry gaze, his skin as delicate as thin ice. His expression was one of pure, cold arrogance. A small lock of his hair, damp from the recent intense fight, clung to his face, radiating a formidable anger. He snorted coldly.
“Tell her to scram. I don’t wish to see anyone.”
Feng Xie knew exactly why this woman had come. Though she was considered ugly, she was always so proud. When had she ever sought him out before?
As soon as he had imprisoned her brother, she had come forward. These siblings truly shared a deep bond. However, she should not try to put on such a show before him. He would not be swayed by their antics.
“Yes.” Xiao Wanzi bowed and walked out. No one in the hall dared to make a sound. Feng Xie scanned the room, his anger finally subsiding somewhat. With a chilling wave of his hand, he said, “All of you may leave.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The eunuchs and palace maids breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if they had just returned from the gates of hell. Breaking out in a cold sweat, they wiped the perspiration from their brows with their sleeves as they exited Yongyuan Hall.
They saw the Empress standing before the palace gate, accompanied by a palace maid and a eunuch. They bowed respectfully and then retreated.
In the main hall, the Emperor leaned back on the soft couch, his brows furrowed, resting his eyes. He had not slept the previous night, having been troubled by matters in Jingzhou. He had only managed to close his eyes in the morning, only for that damned Liu Ting to run to Yongyuan Hall and fight with him. What a detestable fellow. He would not let him off easily this time.
As Feng Xie was lost in thought, Xiao Wanzi tiptoed in and spoke with utmost caution.
“Your Majesty, the Empress says she can resolve the urgent crisis in Jingzhou and requests an audience with Your Majesty.”
As soon as Xiao Wanzi finished speaking, Feng Xie’s eyes snapped open, his gaze dazzling and piercing. The corners of his sensual lips curved into a smile. This news was too good to be true for him.
However, his joyful emotion lasted only a moment before it subsided. Perhaps this was merely an excuse fabricated by that woman to see him. He couldn’t believe he had so naively believed it. But if she dared to deceive him, he would show her how he dealt with punishment.