The quiet hall was filled with Liu Liu's cold, unyielding voice, which slowly echoed.
Prime Minister Liu snorted, waved his hand for Cui'er to stand aside, and paced down with a stern face. The servants in the hall held their breath, wondering if the master intended to harm the young lady. He didn't look happy.
Madam Liu anxiously spoke, "Master," Liu'er was the apple of both their eyes. Please don't punish her, or she would be heartbroken.
Unexpectedly, Prime Minister Liu reached Liu Liu, his expression changed, and he forced a fawning smile. "Liu'er, have you suffered outside? Someone, prepare food immediately and send it to Miss's Tingfeng Tower."
Upon hearing the master's words, the steward of the Liu residence quickly ordered his subordinates to prepare. He knew that the master would not be angry with the young lady.
Liu Liu faced her foxy father. What was this man up to again? He must be plotting something. Hmph, don't think I, Liu Liu, am easily fooled. Let's see what tricks he can come up with. I'll counter every move, exploit every loophole, and see what he can do to me.
Father Prime Minister was not the current prime minister because he was the Emperor's maternal uncle, but because of his intelligence, resourcefulness, and extraordinary courage, he had assisted the current Emperor in stabilizing the country and thus held the position of Prime Minister.
"Speak, what is it now?" Liu Liu's words were cool and clear. She shifted her body and sat on the nearby couch, picked up a tea urn, and began to drink tea, leisurely waiting for her father's next words.
Prime Minister Liu followed closely behind his daughter and spoke cautiously, "Liu'er, you must enter the palace this time. The Emperor has already issued a decree. If you dare to disobey, he will punish our Liu family. Do you want to see your father and brother suffer such hardships?"
Upon hearing her father's words, Liu Liu put down the tea urn. It turned out her father wanted her to enter the palace and even invoked the Emperor. She didn't believe the Emperor would be so bored. With so much state affairs to handle, would he bother with such trivial matters?
Was it possible? The thought of Feng Xie's handsome, dark, and cold face surfaced in her mind. That man was utterly heartless. Who would want to enter the palace to compete with a host of women for a man without a heart?
Liu Liu's lips curled into a cold smile, and she waved her slender hand.
Prime Minister Liu looked at his daughter's small hand with confusion. What did Liu'er mean?
Liu Liu coldly tossed out a sentence, "Didn't you say that if I didn't enter the palace, the Emperor would punish you and my brother? Where is the imperial decree? Bring it here. Otherwise, it's just empty talk."
Prime Minister Liu was caught off guard by his daughter's move. Liu'er seemed to be getting smarter and smarter, which was truly a headache for a father. Having a child who is too intelligent was quite a torment, but she had inherited quite a bit of his traits. He sighed inwardly, what should he do? He racked his brains for a solution.
Just then, the steward hurried in to report, "Master, someone from the palace is here, asking for the master to receive the imperial decree."
Prime Minister Liu heard this and thought, "Speak of the devil!" It seemed the Emperor had thought of it before he did. He quickly adjusted his robes, ordered the steward to immediately welcome the eunuch in, and then he, along with the entire family, knelt down to respectfully receive the imperial decree.
"The imperial decree arrives," with a high-pitched voice, a eunuch dressed in crane robes, holding a whisk, entered the hall. Prime Minister Liu immediately spoke loudly, "Your subject Liu Wenjie receives the decree."
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees, ordering Liu Liu, daughter of Prime Minister Liu Wenjie, to enter the palace for the selection of consorts in five days. Failure to comply will be considered disobedience. Respect this decree."
"Your subject thanks you." Liu Wenjie's lips were curled into a smug smile. His gaze swept over his daughter's stunned face, and he couldn't help but feel delighted. Daughter, you're still too young to fight with your daddy.
The eunuch waved his whisk and handed the bright yellow imperial decree to Liu Wenjie, smiling and congratulating him, "Congratulations, Prime Minister Liu. Having such a daughter is truly a great fortune."
It was unclear whether there was more disparagement or praise in these words. In any case, Liu Wenjie clasped his hands in thanks to the chief eunuch and called for the steward to escort the chief eunuch to the side hall to be entertained properly. The chief eunuch waved his hand.
"This servant must return to the palace to report to the Emperor. Prime Minister Liu need not be polite," he said, striding out of the Liu residence.
Liu Wenjie and his household rose, but Liu Liu remained kneeling on the ground, her small head unable to react for a long time. What was wrong with the Emperor? He had actually issued a decree.
She was so ugly, why did he want her to enter the palace? Was it to deal with her?
Seeing her young lady kneeling on the ground with a troubled expression, Cui'er quickly stepped forward to help her up.
Liu Wenjie laughed happily and instructed Cui'er to take the young lady back to Tingfeng Tower for a meal.
Now he was not worried about his daughter running away, because his daughter was kind-hearted and extremely filial. He would never let her parents take the blame for her. Therefore, Liu Wenjie's eyes were already narrowed into a slit.
Cui'er helped her young lady towards Tingfeng Tower. The young lady was frighteningly quiet all the way. Whenever the young lady was quiet, she would get a scalp itch. She cautiously spoke, "Miss, are you alright?"
Liu Liu did not respond. What did the Emperor mean? He had issued a decree, so should she run away? Anyway, the Emperor was related to their family, so he wouldn't do anything to them.
Did he really want to kill his maternal relatives? But how many emperors in history had killed their own maternal uncles? If she left, and her family was imprisoned, she would probably regret it to death.
Turning around the long corridor towards Tingfeng Tower, the dimly lit lanterns swayed gently in the wind, bringing a sense of unease in the stillness.
Cui'er worriedly thought, "Has the young lady really gone foolish? Now that the decree has been issued, it's impossible not to enter the palace."
Liu Liu knew that Feng Xie disliked her, so why did he want her to enter the palace? She was already twenty years old, long past the age for imperial selection. What was all this for?
She really couldn't understand. She let out a long sigh and glanced at Cui'er. What was with that sad look on the girl's face?
"What's wrong, Cui'er?" Liu Liu asked inexplicably.
Cui'er breathed a sigh of relief, then burst into tears, weeping as she chided Liu Liu, "Miss, you scared me to death! I called you several times just now, and you didn't respond. Your maid thought you were scared silly."
Liu Liu was immediately amused by Cui'er's words. Was she scared silly just because that man issued a decree? She, Qi Ye, cherished her life very much. Would she be scared silly because of a man? This could be considered the funniest joke of the day.
Although she didn't like entering the palace, she would take things as they came. She could live anywhere. After thinking it over, perhaps Feng Xie wanted her to enter the palace because he was pressured by the Empress Dowager and her father. Then he would definitely not want to see her in the future.
It wouldn't be bad to stay in the palace like this, saving her from constant worry about her marriage at home. She could have a carefree time inside and outside the palace.
"It's nothing, I was just too engrossed in my thoughts. I'm a bit hungry. Let's go back and eat."
Cui'er responded, "Yes, Miss."
At Tingfeng Tower, lanterns were hung high in front of the door, and inside, the maids had already prepared various pastries for Liu Liu. As soon as she walked in, the young maids respectfully said, "Miss, the pastries are ready."
Liu Liu washed up and sat at the table, starting to eat the pastries. After being away for a few days, what she missed most was the taste of these pastries. Although the food outside was good, it wasn't as flavorful as home. She was a sentimental person.