Mo Chou immediately walked over, "Miss, please go inside and rest."
"Mmm," Mu Qingyao nodded, turned, and walked behind the screen, ignoring the Princess at the door.
Hua Lige was afraid the Princess would cause more trouble. Seeing the sword she was carrying so boldly, he knew what she was here for tonight.
"Princess, His Majesty has sent me to escort you back to the palace. Please do not make things difficult for me."
"Hua Lige? You?" Murong Xingzhu was a little annoyed but dared not act out.
Since Hua Lige had come on the Emperor's verbal command, if she refused to return, he might force her back. She decided it was better to obey. However, Murong Xingzhu did not forget Qingyao, who had already bypassed the screen.
"I'll come find you to play again later."
Inside the chamber, Mu Qingyao acted as if she hadn't heard. She couldn't be bothered with this madcap girl.
Her moods changed so quickly. Earlier, she was aggressively trying to kill her, and now she treated her as a friend. It was truly vexing.
However, having one less enemy in the palace was a good thing. So, as long as they didn't interfere with each other, she wouldn't bother her. If this girl dared to provoke her again in the future, she would definitely not let her off.
"Princess?"
Hua Lige really wanted to cover the Princess's mouth. This girl was always acting on impulse. Perhaps she had been too protected by the Emperor, her thoughts were very simple – good is good, bad is bad, never beating around the bush.
"Alright, let's go."
Murong Xingzhu waved her hand. Hua Lige reached out, embracing the Princess's slender waist, picked up a blue-clothed girl with his other hand, leaped, and disappeared into the night.
In the chamber, Mo Chou was helping Qingyao tidy her hair. Mei Xin stood by, waiting. Thinking of the Princess earlier, she felt a bit scared. That was a Princess! Miss's courage was truly immense, to disregard even a Princess.
"Miss, I heard there are two princesses in the palace?"
Mei Xin recounted the gossip she had heard to Qingyao:
"This one tonight should be Princess Xingzhu. I heard she is the Emperor's own full sister. The other is born of the Empress Dowager, the younger sister of Prince Beijin, named Princess Ruyin. Rumor has it that Princess Xingzhu is very righteous, but that Princess Ruyin is a formidable character. Miss, you must be careful if you encounter Princess Ruyin in the future."
Mu Qingyao remained still, gazing into the ancient bronze mirror on the dressing table. A faint smile touched her lips, and the person in the mirror appeared peerlessly beautiful and enchanting. Mo Chou was stunned and slowly said, "Miss is truly beautiful."
"Of course, Miss is the number one beauty in the capital."
Mei Xin said proudly. This was a widely spread pleasantry in Lin'an City recently: Miss Mu the Third from the Prime Minister's mansion is the number one beauty in the capital, admired at first sight by the Emperor, and bestowed the title of Empress.
Qingyao glared at Mei Xin in the mirror, "Mei Xin, have you been too idle lately?"
"Miss, I wasn't wrong," Mei Xin pouted and quickly changed the subject, "Did you hear what I said? That Princess Ruyin is not a good character. After Miss enters the palace, stay far away from her."
Princess Ruyin? Mu Qingyao's expression turned cold. Her eyes were unfathomable as she coolly replied, "I know."
As long as others did not offend her, she generally wouldn't provoke them. But if anyone dared to cross her, she would absolutely not let them have an easy time.
"I'm tired."
Mu Qingyao stood up and walked to the bed. Mei Xin and Mo Chou attended to her rest. Miss was indeed tired today, first being abducted by that detestable man, and then being assassinated by the Princess. Misfortunes never come singly, but thankfully, she had weathered it all without major incident.
Perhaps it was due to not offering incense recently, Mei Xin muttered to herself. It seemed she needed to find time to offer incense and increase her blessings.
The two maids quietly withdrew. The night grew darker...
Liuli Palace, bathed in brilliant light.
Seated high on a throne was a magnificent and noble man. Ice encased his dazzling, jade-like face, and a suppressed rage emanated from him as he coldly regarded the kneeling woman below.
"Murong Xingzhu, how dare you leave the palace without permission."
Murong Xingzhu looked up at her Imperial Brother on the throne. Her Imperial Brother had always doted on her, but this time he seemed truly angry. In his captivatingly deep dark eyes, unfathomable currents churned, and his thin lips were pressed tightly together.
"Imperial Brother, Xingzhu knows she was wrong. Please don't be angry."
Murong Xingzhu spoke obediently, her head bowed. The person she cared about most in her life was her Imperial Brother. She had never met her mother since childhood; it was her Imperial Brother who had been by her side.
To her, he was no different from the most precious treasure in the world. Because he was so precious, she had been extremely indignant when she learned that her Imperial Brother had made that infatuated woman his Empress, instinctively feeling that woman was not worthy of him.
However, after meeting that woman tonight, it was completely different from what she had heard.
That woman possessed an innate arrogance, like an unreachable rainbow in the clouds, dazzling and captivating. In this world, perhaps only such a woman could be worthy of her Imperial Brother.
At this moment, Murong Xingzhu suddenly accepted Qingyao.
At least, she was the most fitting person for her Imperial Brother that she had seen so far.
"Xingzhu, do you know how much danger awaits you outside the palace? If something were to happen to you, how would Imperial Brother explain it to Mother?"
The man's deep, killing voice carried a rare hint of worry, and a fleeting self-reproach crossed his handsome face.
Murong Xingzhu quickly scrambled up from the ground. The storm had passed. She knew her Imperial Brother wouldn't truly be angry with her; he was just too worried about her.
"Imperial Brother, if I go out again, I will tell you," the little girl quickly rushed to the high seat and hugged her Imperial Brother's neck affectionately.
Murong Liuzun's hard, cold demeanor softened slightly, but he did not completely forgive this little girl. He cast a cold glance at Lan Yi, who was in a corner of the great hall.
"Lan Yi, your mistress has committed such an act. You are inexcusable. Go down and receive twenty lashes."
"No, Imperial Brother, it's not Lan Yi's fault."
Murong Xingzhu exclaimed in alarm and quickly pleaded with her Imperial Brother. This time, it truly wasn't Lan Yi's fault. Lan Yi had begged her not to go; it was she who insisted on leaving the palace.
Poor Lan Yi, a mere palace maid, dared not defy her young mistress and could only accompany her to the Prime Minister's mansion.
She had initially thought the Princess's martial arts were decent, and even if she couldn't kill Miss Mu the Third, she could at least frighten her. Who knew that Miss Mu the Third had such a powerful person by her side?
In the end, it was she, the little maid, who suffered. Lan Yi's face turned deathly pale. She quickly kowtowed, "This servant accepts the decree."
It was fortunate the Emperor hadn't killed her. For anyone else, tonight would have been difficult to survive. The Emperor, out of consideration for the Princess, spared her life.
"No. If you say one more word, I will immediately have Lan Yi thrown into prison."
Murong Liuzun spoke ferociously. This time, he could not indulge Xingzhu any further. He wanted her to know that when she did something wrong, it would implicate those around her, and only then would she learn her lesson. Otherwise, who knew what greater mistakes she would make.