Feng Lie watched Liu Liu's cold and gloomy expression, lazily pouring another cup of tea. This tea was truly excellent.
Liu Liu angrily rebuked him, "Are you just enjoying tea? As the dignified Prince Yan, to be so uncouth, it truly lacks refinement."
Feng Lie ignored her. He knew she possessed a kind heart, her eyes radiating a pure and honest glow, which had always suited his taste. Feng Lie’s gaze, through the warm, misty tea, studied her. What were her thoughts about entering the palace?
If only she weren't so ugly, he might have taken her as his wife. Unfortunately, he dared not challenge the gossip of the entire capital. He heard she was to enter the palace as a consort in a few days, which meant she wouldn't be alone for life. This, perhaps, was a form of pity between friends.
Liu Liu was an extraordinary woman. Seeing him, Prince Yan, which other woman wouldn't try to curry favor and fawn over him? She was the sole exception. He hoped his imperial brother would cherish her.
But if even he found her appearance displeasing, would his imperial brother, who had such particular tastes, truly favor this woman?
A hint of an unreadable emotion flickered in Feng Lie's eyes before vanishing without a trace. He wished her happiness.
"I hope you can take things with a more open mind when you enter the palace," Feng Lie said, his wish genuine and profound. His gaze swept over the woman opposite him.
Coincidentally, the half of Liu Liu's face without the birthmark was facing him. Her eyebrows curved like a crescent moon, her bright eyes sparkled like stars, her nose was high and small, defiantly upturned, and her lips, as delicate as cherry blossoms, were vivid like blood.
If it weren't for the unsightly birthmark on that half of her face, she would have been a beauty of unparalleled grace.
"What is there for me to not take with an open mind? Are you overthinking? Worried I won't be favored in the palace?" Liu Liu glared at Feng Lie with amusement, throwing a challenging remark.
Liu Si quickly tugged at her sister's arm, "Liu'er, Prince Yan is only looking out for you. Just listen to him, don't quarrel every time you meet."
Liu Liu glanced at the two people in the pavilion. Seeing their worried expressions, her heart was touched by their concern. However, there was truly no need for this; she would live very well.
She, Liu Liu, had her own way of living. She was never a woman who lived solely on a man's favor. She had so many people who cared for her; there was no need for her to harbor such unfounded worries.
"Sister, don't worry about me anymore. I'm perfectly fine. Am I just a bit ugly? Must all ugly people commit suicide? Even without the Emperor's favor, I will live well and happily. So, you can both rest assured," Liu Liu finished speaking.
Liu Si and Feng Lie, upon hearing this, finally breathed a sigh of relief. This was indeed for the best, saving them from their worries. Everything was fate. Perhaps her destiny lay within the palace walls; this was all they could think.
"I heard this year's selection of consorts is very intense. All the unmarried daughters of first-rank officials have entered the palace for the selection, is that right?" Liu Si asked Feng Lie curiously. Naturally, now that her sister was fine, she no longer needed to inquire guardededly.
"Mhm," Feng Lie nodded, then paused to think, "There seem to be over seventy candidates?"
"Over seventy?" Liu Si and Liu Liu exclaimed in unison, their mouths agape wide enough to fit an egg. Was this Emperor that lustful, to have over seventy young ladies enter the palace for selection? A stud!
The Emperor was indeed no good man, Liu Liu thought indignantly, unaware that the Emperor had actually put a stop to it, otherwise there would have been hundreds of candidates.
"However, my imperial brother has never been a man of lust. I believe he will select a few to keep and send the rest home to await marriage."
Feng Lie stated with certainty. He understood his imperial brother very well. Feng Xie was not only a wise emperor but also an emperor who cared for his people. Therefore, he would not ruin these women's lives; he would only select a few women to be consorts.
Others might not catch his eye. Few women in the world could truly capture his attention.
"Oh, if only Liu'er could be sent home," Liu Si sighed, taking Liu Liu's hand and asking cautiously, "Sister, if the Emperor sends you home to wait for marriage, would you be sad?"
"Sad?" Liu Liu's eyes widened in disbelief, a smile curling at the corner of her lips. "I would light three sticks of incense a day to thank Heaven for letting me return. I didn't want to enter the palace in the first place."
"Impossible. My imperial brother would absolutely not let her go home," Feng Lie immediately interjected, interrupting the sisters' fantasy.
"Why?" The Liu sisters both asked at once. The Emperor wouldn't possibly favor Liu Liu's 'ugly' appearance. Since he didn't like her, why would he keep her?
Feng Lie's eyes swept over Liu Liu's face, a playful smile gracing his lips. He picked up the tea pot before him and swirled it.
For once, Liu Liu generously poured Feng Lie a cup of tea, then grumbled, "Hurry up and tell me, or I'll knock the tea you're drinking right out of your hands!"
Feng Lie immediately rolled his eyes. This woman was too much. He had only drunk a few cups of her tea, and she wanted to knock it out of him? The most poisonous heart belongs to a woman, he muttered inwardly, but in action, he dared not delay.
Because he knew Liu Liu's martial arts were not weak. As for who among them had superior martial arts, they had never sparred, so he didn't know. Only he knew that Liu Liu could practice martial arts, so most of the time, he dared not provoke her.
"Let me tell you, because Liu'er ran away from home this time, the entire capital was abuzz. They said my imperial brother had a hidden ailment, which was why Liu'er was unwilling to marry him. When my imperial brother heard this, he was nearly driven mad. So, you see, how could he possibly let Liu'er go home? He would definitely keep Liu'er in the palace and neglect her."
Upon hearing Feng Lie's words, Liu Si's face immediately clouded over with worry as she gazed at her sister.
Liu Liu, in contrast to her sister, was beaming with joy and in turn comforted her sister.
"It's okay, Sister, don't worry. Actually, as long as the Emperor doesn't cause me trouble, I'm quite willing to enter the palace. Staying home all day worrying Father and Mother is worse than entering the palace. That way, I'll be a bit freer. The Emperor likes his beauties, and I like my freedom. We'll be mutually independent, and life will surely be very happy."
Liu Si and Feng Lie looked at Liu Liu's cheerful demeanor and couldn't bear to shatter her illusion. They feared the Emperor would not let her have such an easy time and would constantly cause her trouble.
Although the current Emperor was wise and intelligent, his pride was even more intense than others. Liu Liu had caused him to lose face this time, and no matter what, the Emperor would likely not let her off easily.
Fortunately, the Empress Dowager was her aunt. Even if the Emperor truly wanted to deal with her, he would have to consider the Empress Dowager's face.
In any case, her life after entering the palace would certainly not be as smooth as she imagined.
Afraid that her own emotions might upset Liu Liu, Liu Si quickly asked Feng Lie, "I heard that the capital's number one talented woman and number one beauty have both entered the palace for selection. His Majesty is truly blessed with beauty. Has Prince Yan not considered asking the Emperor to grant him a marriage?"