The three of them arrived at Cining Palace. The palace maids and eunuchs stood by the entrance, their faces etched with worry, sighing repeatedly. As Liu Liu and the others approached, they heard sighs of relief from everyone, followed by respectful bows.
"Your servant greets Her Majesty the Empress."
"Rise," Liu Liu said as she entered the main hall, waving for the young palace maids to get up. Cui Er and Ming Yue followed their mistress inside.
The grand hall, adorned with gold and jade, was silent. The usual cheerfulness was absent, replaced by an atmosphere of gloom and distress.
Qing An, the Grand Eunuch by the Empress Dowager's side, approached Liu Liu and bowed. He spoke with concern, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has not taken breakfast. What shall we do? She did not sleep all night, and if she doesn't eat, your servants fear she will not be able to endure."
"Oh, I understand. I'll go take a look," Liu Liu nodded.
The Empress Dowager had always doted on Wu Yang. Her sudden departure from home would surely cause the Empress Dowager sleepless nights. This was a natural emotion for any parent.
The Grand Eunuch Qing An led Liu Liu into the Empress Dowager's sleeping quarters. The gauze curtains were not drawn. The Empress Dowager lay motionlessly on the crimson bed, facing inward, her features obscured.
Upon hearing someone enter, she spoke with displeasure, "Why have you come in again? Did I not tell you not to disturb this empress?"
Liu Liu approached the bedside and said softly, "Mother Empress, it is Liu Er, come to see Mother Empress."
Upon hearing Liu Liu's voice, the Empress Dowager felt a little more at ease. She turned her head. The once majestic and noble demeanor was gone. Her face was full of worry, her hair disheveled, making her appear like an ordinary old woman.
She quickly reached out and grasped Liu Liu's hand, "Liu Er, is there any news? Is there any news of Wu Yang?"
Liu Liu's face darkened. She feared striking her aunt, but she couldn't let her live in constant delusion. She slowly squatted beside the bed and spoke gently.
"Mother Empress, there is no clue yet. However, His Majesty has already dispatched people. The world is vast, but it all belongs to the King. I believe Wu Yang will return soon."
The Empress Dowager's hopeful eyes immediately dimmed. She reached out and held Liu Liu's hand, speaking weakly, "Liu Er, why is it that this empress is so unfortunate? All my children cause such worry. His Majesty and Liu Er, Feng Lie and that Princess Jie Lan, and now Wu Yang. Does this empress truly owe them something?"
The Empress Dowager sighed repeatedly. Liu Liu took her hand. Who would have thought that the noble Empress Dowager also had troubles, and not any fewer than others?
"Mother Empress, please do not worry. Wu Yang will be fine. She is no longer a child. Perhaps she has encountered some hardship outside and will return to the palace soon. Then she will obediently stay in the palace to await her marriage. Otherwise, if she always wants to leave the palace, she will have no interest in marriage. Although as parents, we do not wish for our children to suffer, everyone must grow up. Only by facing setbacks will they understand how precious what they once possessed truly is. Mother Empress, Wu Yang is fortunate to have you dote on and love her so. She will understand. I believe she will return to the palace before long."
Liu Liu's face was calm, her voice possessing a magic that soothed the heart. She was so focused on comforting the Empress Dowager that she didn't realize a tall figure stood fixedly at the entrance of the sleeping quarters, listening to her words, light as drifting clouds, which fell directly into people's hearts.
Feng Xie, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, leaned against the screen at the entrance of the sleeping quarters. He had just finished morning court and, worried about the Empress Dowager, had come to check on her. He hadn't expected the Empress to be here as well.
He happened to hear her gently comforting the Empress Dowager. Her voice was clear and tranquil, yet it possessed a strange ability to calm the heart. Coupled with her placid expression, it was as if nothing bad could possibly happen.
Feng Xie stood motionless, a deep emotion in his eyes. A faint smile touched his lips, softening his handsome face from its usual coldness.
Instead, it held a hint of the warmth of sunshine. Gazing at the woman inside the sleeping quarters, the nine-dragon crown on his head swayed slightly, casting a golden light. Cui Er looked up and saw the Emperor standing by the door, quickly bowing.
"Your servant greets His Majesty."
Feng Xie waved his hand, and he had already walked in, gliding in like a gust of wind. Upon hearing Cui Er's call, Liu Liu recalled the events of the previous night. She unconsciously pursed her lips, which still ached. This morning, she had applied medicine and lipstick, preventing the already anxious Empress Dowager from noticing.
However, upon seeing Feng Xie appear, she couldn't help but remember last night's events. Her expression turned cold, but she noticed a glistening, alluring light flash in Feng Xie's eyes. The corners of his lips curved into a smile, his entire face radiating an indescribable aura, as if he were plotting something.
Liu Liu let out a cold snort, only to find faint traces of injury on his lips as well. Though very subtle, they were noticeable if one paid close attention.
Seeing Liu Liu looking at his lips, Feng Xie immediately licked them with a devilish charm. His ambiguous demeanor was clearly a tease, languid and casual, incredibly sexy.
Liu Liu truly wanted to throw a punch at this man posing like this. Did he think she was a brainless bimbo? She took a heavy breath, deciding to ignore this man.
The Empress Dowager saw the undercurrent of tension, the ambiguous emotions between the Emperor and the Empress.
Although there was a hint of animosity, the mutual gaze was a sign of attraction. They were just too young to know it yet. The Empress Dowager chuckled slyly, as if she were an old fox, completely forgetting about Feng Wu Yang's departure from the palace.
Seeing the Empress Dowager's spirits improve, the Grand Eunuch Qing An stepped forward and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, allow your servant to help you up for breakfast."
Upon hearing Qing An's words, a dark line flashed across Feng Xie's face. His long eyelashes twitched, revealing anger. He glared at Qing An, "How do you serve Her Majesty the Empress Dowager? Tomorrow, I shall transfer you to the Department of Rituals. You cannot even handle such a small matter."
Hearing the Emperor's words, Qing An's face turned pale. He immediately knelt and kowtowed. The Department of Rituals was exclusively for castration and punishment. He dared not go there.
Only perverted eunuchs dared to work in the Department of Rituals. Grand Eunuch Qing An had served the Empress Dowager for many years and naturally had some favor. The Empress Dowager frowned upon seeing the Emperor severely punish Qing An.
"This is not Xiao An Zi's fault. Do not send him to the Department of Rituals. Xiao An Zi, come and help this empress get up for her meal." Hearing this, Qing An thanked the Empress Dowager and then the Emperor before daring to rise and assist Her Majesty.
The Emperor looked at everything before him, a cold, enchanting smile playing on his lips. He knew how to manage his mother. This had successfully made her get up for breakfast.
Seeing the Empress Dowager getting up and the Emperor still in the sleeping quarters, Liu Liu didn't want to be in the same room as this man. She quickly stood up, "Mother Empress, Liu Er will take her leave. I will come speak with Mother Empress another day."
"Alright, you may go," the Empress Dowager waved her hand. Liu Liu turned her slender figure, bowed to the Emperor, and without waiting for Feng Xie to speak, she turned and left the sleeping quarters.
Behind her, a pair of burning, meaningful eyes followed her intently. Watching her avoid him as if he were a plague god made him feel somewhat displeased, and angry.
This woman was his Empress. Recalling the scene of her embracing his younger brother last night, an inexplicable rage ignited within him. His expression turned somber, his phoenix eyes slightly raised, and the corners of his lips curved into a chilling smile, devoid of warmth.
He didn't dislike kissing that woman; in fact, he rather enjoyed it. These past few days, his mind had been filled with her indifferent and aloof demeanor, as calm as clouds floating in the sky, always making him feel as though she might drift away at any moment.
Therefore, he wanted to summon her for an imperial night's sleep. Perhaps after tonight, his longing for her would subside. He had seen too many beauties in his life, and it was rare for an unattractive woman to linger in his thoughts. However, it was merely his fleeting curiosity.