"Yes, Your Highness," the two young eunuchs responded and retreated.
Cui'er and Qiao'er attended to the Empress's washing. Lian Hou supported her onto the couch to rest. Cui'er noticed that her mistress had been silent for a long time.
Having served her young lady for twenty years, how could she not understand her? Her heart was very delicate.
How could she not be saddened by what happened today? Cui'er knelt down with a plop. Qiao'er, not knowing what had happened, followed her and knelt as well.
Liu Liu, who had closed her eyes to rest, did not know what Cui'er wanted. She asked strangely, "What are you two doing?"
"If Your Highness is unhappy, let us leave here. We have places to go anyway. Seeing Your Highness bullied like this makes my heart ache," Cui'er sobbed, weeping. Qiao'er, influenced by her, also began to cry.
Seeing this scene, Liu Liu felt both amused and exasperated. She waved her hand.
"Alright, you two, get up. Go rest. Do not overthink things. If I leave here, the Liu family will be in trouble, do you understand? Unless the Emperor decrees my divorce, but there's no rush for these matters. I will find a way. There is no need to rush. Tomorrow morning, Mother and Sister will come. Do not be so prone to crying, as it will only upset them. They have likely heard about my situation here. If you continue to cry and wail, won't it just add to their worries?"
"Yes, we understand," the two young maids wiped away their tears and stood up. Cui'er covered Liu Liu with the silk quilt and led Qiao'er out.
Because of Cui'er's words, Liu Liu's thoughts churned. She had considered leaving, but it was not possible at the moment. At the very least, she would wait for this storm to pass before finding a mutually beneficial way to leave the palace. Thinking hazily, she fell asleep.
The next day, she got up early because it was the day for the Liu family women to enter the palace. The Empress was to host a banquet for them.
Liu Liu ordered the cooks to prepare dishes early in the morning. Mother and Sister would arrive early; they must miss her, and she missed them too.
Indeed, soon the voices of Xiao Anzi and Xiao Nianzi rang out, "Your Highness, they are here, they are here! The sedan chairs are being carried into Huaqing Palace."
Upon hearing Xiao Anzi's words, Liu Liu's figure flashed, and she dashed out. She saw the soft sedan chairs being carried into Huaqing Palace.
A young eunuch lifted the curtain, and from the front sedan chair emerged her beautiful mother. Her sister followed closely behind. Liu Liu stepped forward and called out softly.
"Mother?"
Madam Liu could no longer suppress the sadness in her heart. She reached out, embraced her daughter, and repeatedly said, "Liu'er, I'm sorry. It's all your parents' fault. Your father regrets it. He asked me to tell you he is sorry and that he has caused you to suffer."
"Mother, it's alright. Please don't blame yourselves," Liu Liu comforted her mother softly as she nestled in her arms. Her father's doting love was something she could never repay, nor could her brother and sister. They all loved her dearly, so she would never act recklessly and harm them.
Liu Si, standing behind, looked at the two embracing figures and said gently, "Mother, don't blame yourself. Si'er believes that younger sister will handle things well. Don't forget that Liu'er is different."
Liu Liu emerged from her mother's embrace and then rushed into her sister's arms, nuzzling her like a puppy. Liu Si held her and whispered in her ear, "Sister believes Liu'er will live very, very well in the palace."
Liu Liu raised her head. Her sister seemed even thinner. She couldn't help but feel concerned. She stood up and took Liu Si's hand, "Sister, you've lost weight again. Has your husband bullied you? If I find out, I will never forgive him."
"No, Sister is fine," Liu Si shook her head, a gentle smile appearing at the corner of her lips. Her pain was only in her heart. What power did Huang Tianbiao have to hurt her?
"That's good," Liu Liu nodded, then reached out to take her sister's hand, while with her other hand she led her mother into the main hall of Huaqing Palace, seating them on the couches and positioning herself between them.
At this moment, she was a pure and lovely young woman, the cherished darling in her family's eyes. Her brother had likely not returned. If he had, he would have caused a great uproar in the palace.
He had always doted on her. If he knew his sister had suffered such injustice, how could he not be heartbroken?
"Mother, has brother not returned yet?" Liu Liu snuggled softly into her mother's embrace. Madam Liu held her, a hint of worry in her brow. If Ting'er returned, she feared it would be a huge mess, which truly worried her.
"He hasn't returned yet. He should be back in the capital in about ten days to half a month," Liu Si answered for Madam Liu.
Thinking of her brother's return, Liu Liu smiled happily. But when she thought of the current situation, she worried, just like her mother. She quickly shook her mother's arm, "Mother, please don't tell brother about my affairs yet. He's just returned. Let's talk about it after some time."
"I fear he will find out within two days. I truly don't know what the situation will be like then," Madam Liu sighed.
Now Liu'er was suffering. If Ting'er were to have an accident later, she would resent her husband even more, who only thought of serving the court.
He even sent his own daughter to the palace. If the Emperor had shown Liu'er even a sliver of affection, she, as a mother, would have been more at ease. But instead, she encountered so many troubles.
"Mother, nothing will happen," Liu Si comforted her mother. Liu Liu also reached out to make Madam Liu smile.
Looking at her two worried daughters, Madam Liu immediately changed the subject. She had come specifically to see Liu'er today. She was already vexed in the palace, and if she made her daughter unhappy as well.
"Come, let Mother see if Liu'er has lost weight."
Liu Liu immediately stood up and turned around for her mother to see. Her complexion was good, and her mindset was also positive; she seemed like nothing had happened. Fortunately, Liu'er had not intended to enter the palace from the beginning, and her current situation was still acceptable. She finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hmm, not bad," Madam Liu nodded and glanced at her elder daughter. Liu Si also nodded, "Yes, Liu'er's complexion is fine. This way, Sister and Mother can be at ease."
"Yes, please don't worry about me. Nothing will happen to me. Besides, although the Emperor has granted me a deserted palace, nothing else is wrong. You don't need to worry," Liu Liu smiled nonchalantly. Her small face was rosy, and her eyes seemed to hold the clear waves of a deep green pond.
For a moment, the three of them laughed. The main hall of Huaqing Palace was filled with a spring breeze. The eunuch Xiao Anzi respectfully approached, "Your Highness, the banquet is ready. Please proceed."
"Good," Liu Liu reached out and pulled her mother and sister up. "Let's go. We can chat while we eat and taste the palace's culinary skills. The chief eunuch of the inner court, Jiang Cheng, has taken great care of me. He sent two cooks, and their dishes are delicious," Liu Liu praised.
Madam Liu and Liu Si listened to their sister's playful tone and finally smiled with relief.
"For our picky Liu'er to praise them, then this cook's dishes must be very good. Mother wants to taste them properly."
"Yes, Sister also wants to taste them," Liu Si nodded in agreement with her mother. In fact, she had eaten very little recently, but she didn't want to make her sister sad, so she tried her best to appear interested.
Even her mother did not know that the doctor had diagnosed her with anorexia. Several times she had forced herself to eat, but she had vomited it all back up, which was why she was getting thinner and thinner.