“Alright, enough about him. Little sister, how did you get back? Did General Shenwu escort you? Did Wen Tang return with you?”
“Wen Tang brother is also at the border town?” Ling Yao ignored the preceding words.
She hadn’t heard Xiao Shan mention this.
But what else had that man said besides spouting nonsense?
“Of course he is. When I returned, General Xiao said he had some unfinished business, so he stayed. Didn’t you see him?”
“......No.”
This scoundrel, wasn’t his petty jealousy acting up again? Why wouldn’t he let Wen Tang brother return? He was a commander of the Imperial Guards, capable of guarding the palace, but lacked experience in warfare!
“Then I must send him a message immediately to have him return. You don’t know how hard his past year has been, little sister. Now you can finally mend the broken mirror…”
“Second brother, what are you talking about!”
How could they mend a broken mirror? She and Wen Tang brother were once connected by their identities as the Great Yao Divine Monarch, but she had only ever seen him as an ordinary elder brother. They weren’t even a broken mirror yet! Now that she was married, it was even more impossible.
“Don’t talk nonsense. Wen Tang brother should have better choices.”
“What choices does he have? If he were willing to choose someone else, would he have run to the border, single-mindedly trying to win you back? Don’t worry, whether you are the Divine Maiden or not, he only likes you. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have rejected Lingxi, broken ties with the Prime Minister, and run to the border without hesitation,” the Second Prince said, a little agitated. “Little sister, you don’t know how difficult his past year has been. You haven’t seen him in his madness…”
“Second brother, I am married.”
“He won’t mind!”
“I mind! You should go now. I’m tired and want to rest.”
“Little sister…” The Second Prince stared at her blankly. Why did he feel that his little sister was angry? Was she angry at him?
She had never been angry at him before. What was happening?
Seeing her stern face, devoid of her usual sweet and naive demeanor, he suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity.
“Then you rest first.”
The Second Prince turned away dejectedly and left the hall. He didn’t leave, however, but sat on the stone steps nearby, lost in thought.
Ling Yao felt that she had spoken too harshly and was somewhat annoyed. Her second brother was as important to her as her father. She had actually driven him away so unceremoniously just now.
But this palace was full of Renan King’s people. She dared not speak too clearly. Her second brother was a simple person, and he seemed to have no defenses against Renan King.
Her belly, only three to four months along, was already bulging like a ball. She had kept her cloak on the entire time and hadn’t dared to take it off. In this palace, she didn’t dare to trust anyone.
When it was time for dinner, exquisite dishes were served. If she hadn’t known her father’s situation, she would have thought it was still the same Fengque Tower as before. This uncle seemed truly considerate.
“Little sister? Have you rested?” The Second Prince’s pitiful and cautious voice came from outside.
“Second brother, you’ve been outside?”
It was the middle of winter, how cold it must be outside!
“Come in quickly!”
The Second Prince’s face was pale from the cold. Perhaps accustomed to Xiao Shan’s imposing figure, she used to find her second brother’s celestial demeanor, elegant and detached, but now she felt he was too thin and should be a bit stronger.
“Come and warm yourself by the fire. Don’t catch a cold.”
Seeing her busy looking for a brazier, her face filled with worry, the Second Prince’s heart ached and softened.
It was just strange, she hadn’t taken off her cloak. Was she that cold? Little sister used to be afraid of the cold. Fengque Tower’s main hall had countless braziers. This side hall was certainly not comparable.
“Add another brazier,” he turned and ordered the palace attendants.
The attendants responded and left.
“Little sister, if you’re cold, why don’t you tell your maids? Haven’t you adapted to your own home yet?”
Ling Yao had never thought her second brother was so foolish before, because she was even more foolish than her second brother. But at least she was confined to Fengque Tower since birth, and her knowledge came from books and hearsay. Her second brother was different; his experiences and knowledge were broader. She didn’t know how he had developed such a pure nature.
He actually thought this place was home…
Without the Emperor’s protection, this was clearly a wolf’s den.
The siblings ate together. The Second Prince saw that she ate a lot, and even ate more meat, which she didn’t like before. He thought she must have suffered outside. He heard that the Xiongnu ate raw meat and drank cattle blood. How could his pampered little sister endure it? She must not have had a good meal.
The Second Prince felt a lump in his throat and his eyes reddened again.
“Little sister, you couldn’t leave Fengque Tower before, and you didn’t even recognize the entire palace. Now that you are no longer the Divine Maiden, second brother will take you for a stroll?”
Ling Yao’s eyes lit up, “Can I move around freely?”
“Of course! Who would dare stop you in your own home?” Seeing her happy expression, the Second Prince couldn’t help but feel happy too. His little sister had been too pitiful before. Now that there were no more worries, he would definitely take her for a good tour.
The guards outside Fengque Tower indeed did not stop them. Ling Yao couldn’t help but feel her spirits lift.
However, two attendant palace maids followed behind her.
Before, Ling Yao had also sneaked out, but she always went to secluded places. This was the first time she was walking so openly on the palace’s main avenues.
The imperial palace was so vast!
It felt so good to walk in the sunlight.
At midnight, Ling Yao was awakened by Yu Liu. Yu Liu and Yu Shan had arrived through a secret passage.
By this time, Ling Yao had a new plan. Upon hearing it, Yu Liu and Yu Shan immediately dealt with the two palace maids, disguised themselves as them, and stayed with her in Fengque Tower.
In the main hall, Ling Xi was in so much pain that her forehead was covered in sweat. The wound on her leg was growing larger. It had started as a thumb-sized wound, but now it was the size of an egg, emitting a black aura and a rotten smell. Several types of medicine had been applied, but there was no improvement.
“I am the Divine Maiden, Feng Ling Yao is not. This pain is nothing. I just need to endure it. When Father Emperor recovers, he will come to see me and marry me to the Great Yao Divine Monarch. I just need to endure it… When will Father Emperor come to see me… Wen Tang brother, when will you return?”
She muttered to herself, comforting herself, while enduring the excruciating pain and looking into the distance blankly.
“Why can’t I master the Immortal Crossing? I’m the best dancer, why can’t I learn it?”
“Why did Feng Ling Yao return? Is she here to steal the position of Divine Maiden? No, no, I must practice. I can’t let her take it away.”
She got up, ignoring the gaping wound on her leg, and slowly began to step.
The next time she entered the altar, she would definitely be able to activate it. She wouldn’t make another mistake.
The Great Shaman said that diligent practice leads to proficiency.
But it really hurt!