A message arrived as soon as they were seated.
The Empress of the Danfeng Kingdom did not cause much stir, but there was news about another person, the ghost doctor Wuqing. Due to his distinctive identifying marks, sitting in a wheelchair, and his head full of white hair, he was easily located. He was staying at another inn.
Emperor Xian sat in his room, contemplating where to start. He needed to find out where Yao'er was.
Should he go and see Wuqing? He didn't know if Wuqing knew Yao'er's whereabouts. Since he had also appeared here, it meant Yao'er was truly in this place.
"Changting, make arrangements. I want to meet the officials here, preferably influential ones."
Emperor Xian turned and commanded Changting, who was by his side. He decided against meeting Wuqing for now. He would first investigate the Empress's recent activities, see how the Empress dealt with the arrogant behavior of the Empress Consort, and then decide whether to meet Her Majesty the Empress. If it was useless to meet her, there would be no need to do so.
"Yes, Master."
Changting led the men and departed swiftly. Emperor Xian leaned back on a soft couch, closing his eyes to rest, with two imperial guards stationed outside the door.
At this moment, a subordinate's respectful voice was heard from outside: "Princess, you've arrived?"
"Has Father Emperor slept?"
It was Xiao Yuer's voice. Knowing she was there, Emperor Xian's pupils brightened instantly. His cold and enchanting voice rang out, "Come in."
"Yes, Master."
The subordinate responded, opening the door and respectfully inviting the princess in. Xiao Yuer was dressed in a pink-green silk gown, with two princess buns styled on her head, devoid of any other ornamentation. Mo Chou had lightly arranged her with two large red brocade ribbons, making her appear incredibly elegant. She walked in briskly from outside.
The reason she came was because she had heard something from Mo Chou.
So, her Father Emperor's full name was Mu Rong Liu Zun. That meant calling the wild mountain wolf "Little Zun" was disrespectful to her Father Emperor. She felt it was necessary to apologize to her Father Emperor.
"Father Emperor."
"Xiao Yuer has arrived," Emperor Xian raised an eyebrow, his eyes, shimmering with the deep blue of a clear pool, gazing at his daughter.
Xiao Yuer, uncharacteristically, performed a proper bow to the Emperor, a most earnest admission of her conduct. She looked up at the man before her. Half of his face was hidden by his black hair, while the other side of his eye corner gleamed with the seductive hue of a begonia. His appearance was truly handsome and cool, but she still preferred her Father Emperor's previous look—wild, domineering, and exceptionally handsome.
"Father Emperor, I will change Little Zun's name."
As soon as she finished speaking, she quickly covered her mouth. She had called him that again. Old habits die hard.
On the soft couch, Emperor Xian's lips curved slightly. His expression softened, showing no anger. His deep, wine-like voice sounded, "Xiao Yuer must be very tired. You should rest early. Father Emperor doesn't mind."
With such leniency from an Emperor, Xiao Yuer's resolve to change the name grew stronger. However, seeing her Father Emperor looked very tired, and knowing he must be worried about her mother's safety, Xiao Yuer consciously took her leave.
In the room, Mo Chou paced back and forth with a worried expression. Although she knew the Emperor doted on the little princess and wouldn't do anything to her, she was still anxious. It wasn't until Xiao Yuer walked in with a relaxed expression that her heart truly settled.
"Little Ancestor, you truly don't make things easy. Is His Majesty angry?"
"No," Xiao Yuer rolled her eyes dismissively. Father Emperor was a good person. She really didn't understand what Mo Chou was worried about. However, she was happy that Mo Chou cared about her. But she wondered how her mother was now? The moment Xiao Yuer thought of Qing Yao's safety, she immediately slumped, lying listlessly on the soft couch.
"How is Mother now?"
"Little Miss, please don't worry. Master will be fine. Heaven helps those who help themselves. The heavens will surely protect her and ensure she's unharmed. She has overcome dangers and found good fortune so many times."
Mo Chou also felt uneasy in her heart, but she still comforted Xiao Yuer like this. This time, it seemed more dangerous than any previous occasion because that man didn't play by the rules; he was ruthless, cruel, and unprincipled.
The room fell silent. Whether it was due to excessive sadness or genuine fatigue, Xiao Yuer had fallen asleep on the soft couch. Sunlight streamed in through the cracks of the window lattice, illuminating her fair and tender little face.
Her brows were slender, her eyelashes dense and straight. Her eyes and eyebrows were very much like the Emperor's. At a glance, one would know whose child she was. How strange, Mo Chou mused, raising an eyebrow. Clearly, she was the young lady's child, but she didn't resemble the young lady much. Instead, she looked more like the Emperor.
As evening approached, in the most elegant and luxurious private room of the Wangyue Tower.
A man reclined casually in his seat, his demeanor lazy and unrestrained. His ink-black hair was casually tied up with a silk ribbon, yet a few stray strands fell diagonally to cover half his face. The other half of his face was as handsome as jade, with a vibrant begonia blooming, alluring and enchanting. An untamed spirit flowed around him.
In the Danfeng Kingdom, where women reigned supreme, such a man who seemed to transcend all things was rare. Thus, as the woman walking in from outside the private room entered, her pupils flashed with amazement, and her lips curved into a smile. She was precisely Zhou Jiefang, the Minister of Rites of the Danfeng Kingdom.
Around thirty years old, her well-maintained face showed eyes staring directly at the man opposite her, much like a tiger fixated on its prey.
Without waiting for an invitation, she sat directly opposite Yin Xuan. Changting walked in and personally served them tea. Yin Xuan waved his hand, and Changting slowly withdrew, standing guard outside the private room. The subordinates brought by the Minister of Rites, two women, also stood outside guarding. They looked at Changting and Duankhun with sharp eyes, as if they had seen excellent prey, scrutinizing them from head to toe, wishing they could pounce immediately.
Changting and Duankhun cast contemptuous glances back, their gazes sharp as knives, causing the two women to restrain themselves slightly.
Inside the private room, Zhou Jiefang, while appraising Yin Xuan, asked with a fawning smile, "What business do you have with me?"
Yin Xuan suddenly raised his gaze. His dark pupils were like a pool filled with ice, causing a bone-chilling coldness. Zhou Jiefang's chest tightened, and she immediately dismissed her lustful thoughts. Although the Danfeng Kingdom was a place where women were superior, for the sake of good relations with other countries, many powerful men entered. Therefore, she didn't want to misjudge the situation and suffer a loss.
"I wish to make a transaction with Minister Zhou."
As Yin Xuan's deep, cold voice sounded, a bank note appeared in his hand and was placed directly on the table. Zhou Jiefang reached out and took it. Seeing the sum, her eyes widened in surprise, appearing quite shocked. She looked up at the man opposite her.
Who was he? Not only was he alluring, but he was also unfathomably profound. His generosity indicated he was either wealthy or noble. What transaction did he want to discuss with her? She hesitated, daring not to act. A bank note of ten thousand taels was not something to be treated lightly.
"First, tell me what it is."
"I want to inquire if the Empress has been behaving unusually recently?"
This was Yin Xuan's most pressing concern. If the Empress was completely normal, it would be much easier. Now that Wuqing refused to obey the Empress Consort's orders, he feared Wuqing might set his sights on the Empress.
"She's been fine, quite well, everything is normal."
Zhou Jiefang blinked in confusion. Why was this man inquiring about the Empress? Could he be wanting to enter the harem as a consort? That was impossible. Zhou Jiefang chuckled at the thought.
"Do you wish to enter the harem? That's impossible. Everyone knows how beautiful the Empress Consort of our Danfeng Kingdom is, and how jealous he is. The Empress has always favored him exclusively. If you entered the palace, you would merely be seeking death. If he disliked you, you might not be able to survive."
As she spoke, the Minister of Rites lowered her voice. Considering his beauty, she truly didn't want him to go to his death.