Dai Mei saw Liu Liu all the way to the carriage at the door, and gently reminded her, "Boss, you go back first. There's still business to be done at the building."
Liu Liu nodded. As soon as she stepped out, she sensed that someone was monitoring Yan Hong Lou. Frowning, she said faintly, "Dai Mei, someone is monitoring Yan Hong Lou. Pay attention to the recent guests."
Dai Mei was startled. She scanned the surroundings and indeed saw someone watching. She quickly nodded calmly, "Yes, Dai Mei understands."
Liu Liu lowered the carriage curtain and ordered the driver to go. The carriage whinnied and returned to Yun Xiao Ge. As soon as she got back, Cui Er was anxiously waiting at the door, looking restless. Seeing Liu Liu return, she hurried forward and lifted the curtain.
"Young Master Qi, you're back. Master Ming Hui has arrived."
"Master? What is she here for?" Liu Liu was very surprised. Since she learned martial arts, her master had rarely seen her. Even when she went to see her, it was only a few times. Liu Liu quickly got off the carriage and walked towards Yun Xiao Ge.
"Master?" Upon entering the building, Liu Liu called out to the slender figure. The figure turned around.
She saw her Master, with eyebrows like smoke and a gentle, ethereal aura, clad in a pure white Daoist robe, with a white scarf draped over her head and a whisk in her hand. She looked like a lotus fairy descending to earth.
"Liu'er," Master Ming Hui looked at the young girl before her, dressed as a man, with an unrestrained and innocent demeanor. The fact that she could manage this entire street so meticulously was truly astonishing to her.
Liu Liu stepped forward, helped her Master to sit down, signaled Cui Er to serve tea, and affectionately clung to her Master.
Her Master's affection for her was no less than that of her parents, and sometimes even more intense. She often wondered if it was because her Master had no daughters.
Cui Er served the tea and withdrew. Liu Liu personally picked up the tea bowl and offered it to her Master. Ming Hui, with a smile in her eyes, took the tea bowl, took a sip, put it down, and said meaningfully.
"Liu'er, Master heard that your father wants you to enter the palace for the imperial selection. Is that true?"
Liu Liu was stunned. How did Master know about this? She quickly nodded.
"Yes, Father said I'm getting too old, so he wants me to enter the palace for the selection. Master knows my personality; I've never liked being constrained, so I ran away. But who told you?"
"The capital is abuzz with talk that the second daughter of the Liu family has run away from home to avoid a marriage. Master heard the rumors and came," Ming Hui reached out and stroked Liu Liu's head.
"What? I only left home, and the capital is already spreading rumors about it? Who spread this?" Liu Liu exclaimed. She immediately understood who had spread the news. He must have his own agenda for doing this. That old fox always had a purpose in everything he did.
"Never mind who spread it. Master just wants to tell you one thing. Liu'er, you must not enter the palace. You must remember Master's words," Ming Hui said earnestly, her bright face filled with anxiety. She tightly held Liu Liu's delicate hand, as if afraid she would go to the palace.
Liu Liu was surprised. She never knew her Master disliked her entering the palace. Why?
"I don't want to enter the palace," Liu Liu replied. Was Master too agitated? Her nails dug into her flesh without her realizing it. Liu Liu winced and gave a soft cry. Master Ming Hui came to her senses, realizing she had lost her composure, and coughed to cover it up.
"Master knows that Liu'er's personality is not suited for life in the palace, which is why I give you this advice."
Is that really it? A question flashed in Liu Liu's eyes. She couldn't help but recall a time when she and her Master discussed the emperor's benevolent governance. Her Master had been terrifying then.
"What benevolence is he? Would benevolence kill so many people? He's nothing but a bandit. Does this empire belong to the Feng family? It was built through schemes and tricks, built on the bones of countless flesh and blood. Benevolence?"
At that moment, her Master's eyes held a destructive killing intent, like a ferocious desire to devour flesh and drink blood, an insatiable urge to kill.
Liu Liu was startled by the memory of those eyes. What grudge did this Master have with the current emperor? She secretly speculated, cautiously looking up at her Master. However, her Master's expression had returned to normal.
If the previous emperor was overthrown, it must have been due to his extravagance and cruelty, his inhumanity. It was only a matter of time before he was replaced, Liu Liu thought.
However, she didn't want to say such things in front of her Master, lest she get angry again. Looking at the people now living in peace and prosperity, with the economy becoming increasingly prosperous, she felt it was fine.
Even if this empire was seized, it was taken by the capable. Why would they rather let the people suffer than maintain that instability?
As Liu Liu was lost in thought, Master Ming Hui had already stood up, preparing to return to the nunnery. Liu Liu reluctantly held her back, "Master, please stay and keep Liu'er company."
"Master is already an outsider. You have your own life. Take care of yourself in the future. Remember not to enter the palace; it's not a place for you," Master Ming Hui reminded her disciple before leaving. Liu Liu nodded, staring blankly as her Master walked away. Cui Er walked in, saw Liu Liu's somewhat displeased expression, and asked cautiously.
"Young Master Qi, are you alright?"
Liu Liu came back to her senses. What was wrong with her? She didn't want to enter the palace anyway, and whatever her Master thought, it was for her own good. Thinking of this, she felt much better.
"It's nothing. Master doesn't want me to enter the palace," Liu Liu said casually. Cui Er was very surprised, "Why is Master Ming Hui interfering in Miss's marriage? This should be a matter for Master and Madam. Even as her Master, she shouldn't be like this."
"Don't speak ill of my Master," Liu Liu said, swatting Cui Er's forehead. The little girl rolled her eyes helplessly. She wasn't speaking ill of her, just expressing her confusion. Miss is truly violent. Whoever she marries in the future will have a hard time.
In Tian Feng Dynasty, within Ci Ning Palace.
A handsome, devilish, cold and charming man wore a bright yellow brocade robe embroidered with dragons. A purple gold crown adorned his head, making his entire face appear even more handsome and outstanding. His narrow, elongated eyebrows slanted towards his temples, and his star-like eyes flowed, resembling the cold, enchanting crescent moon in the night sky, exuding a faint chill.
Beneath his aloof and straight nose were sexy, seductive thin lips. At this moment, his lips were tightly pressed together, forming a resolute and cold frost flower, as he coldly stared at the woman on the throne.
Although the woman was advanced in age, she was still graceful and charming. Her delicate face revealed helplessness. She pouted slightly and said weakly, "Why is my son so angry? Liu'er is your cousin, after all. Isn't it better to have a marriage between relatives?"
"A marriage between relatives? Not only is she ugly, but she's also past the age of marriage. She's twenty years old and still unmarried. Forget about me marrying her; I wouldn't even want to arrange a marriage for her, let alone harm those who are loyal to me?"
Feng Xie, the young, powerful, and devilishly charming emperor of Tian Feng Dynasty, stared intently at his own mother, his eyes burning with fierce anger.
This matter must have been orchestrated by his mother and his maternal uncle, the Prime Minister, to have that ugly woman enter the palace for the selection. Entering the palace for selection at the ripe old age of twenty would make him a laughingstock in the eyes of the world!
Feng Xie's complexion was ghastly green and sinister. A chilling aura enveloped him. Even the Empress Dowager, seated on the throne, dared not protest loudly.
She knew that her son had governed such a vast country with absolute authority in just two years, naturally possessing a dictatorial streak. As his mother, she naturally couldn't control him.
However, there was one person who could, and that was his father. His father had left an imperial decree: if Liu Liu was willing to enter the palace for the selection, she would surely become the Empress. For now, it was best not to let her son know. The Empress Dowager's lips curved into a smile as she spoke softly.
"But your uncle has already spoken, and besides Liu'er, apart from the birthmark on her face, there's nothing wrong with her. The child has many virtues!" The Empress Dowager glanced sideways at her son.
Feng Xie, already furious, felt his head was about to catch fire upon hearing his mother's words. He strode to his mother's side, looming over her with the posture of Mount Tai, staring at her intently.