Tonight, there was no moon, and the sky was pitch black, like a vast curtain draped overhead, suffocating.
"Miss?"
"Let's go, it's nothing."
Qing Yao swept her gaze around, her expression somewhat cold. In the dark night, it seemed as if a pair of eyes were watching them, but with her current abilities, she couldn't precisely pinpoint the watcher's location.
Who was it? Stalking her from the shadows. It seemed she needed to make some plans. Her eyes suddenly turned cold. She was already caught in a game...
They returned to Qingyuan without incident.
It seemed that person harbored no ill intentions, but this feeling of being monitored was utterly dreadful.
In her chambers, Mu Qing Yao stood by the window, gazing motionlessly at the courtyard outside.
The green bamboo, illuminated by candlelight, flickered with a hazy, dappled light.
Mei Xin brought her specially made short shirt and shorts, and softly called to her, "Miss, the water is ready. Go bathe."
"Mhm," Qing Yao nodded, casting aside the fog in her mind. She followed Mei Xin to the adjacent bathing room. After a simple wash, she returned to her chambers to rest. Because her hair had gotten wet while bathing, Mei Xin sat by the bed, drying it for her with a dry cloth.
"Miss, go to bed early. You can think about things tomorrow."
Qing Yao nodded slightly. Her dark eyes gazed at Mei Xin, two small sparks flickering in their depths, like brilliant, dazzling flowers. Mei Xin was stunned by the sight and smiled, pursing her lips. She stood up and carefully lowered the gauze curtain for her mistress.
"You may go rest as well."
"Yes, Miss," Mei Xin replied, slowly retreating. The mistress's chambers were divided into inner and outer sections. She would lie in the outer room. If the mistress needed anything, she only had to give a command, and Mei Xin would hear it.
In the bedroom, Mu Qing Yao opened her eyes wide, gazing at the gauze curtain overhead. A thin layer of frost covered her face, her eyes filled with an ominous glint.
Who was it? Stalking her from the shadows? Would he appear tonight?
Judging by the current situation, she was about to be entangled in a world-shattering conflict.
Since she intended to enter the palace as empress, she could not expect to escape unscathed. If she couldn't retreat, she must formulate a perfect strategy...
And then there was her Prime Minister father's unusual behavior tonight. He had tightly held her hand, repeatedly questioning her.
"Qing Yao, who exactly are you? You are not my daughter."
It seemed Prime Minister Mu was not foolish. He had raised his daughter for eighteen years; how could he not know a thing or two? Yet, the person before him, apart from her appearance, bore no resemblance to him in any other way.
How was she to answer? She feared even if she told him, Prime Minister Father wouldn't believe her. Why bother troubling him?
Fortunately, she managed to placate him in the end. Regardless of whether Prime Minister Father believed her or not, he liked the poised and dignified daughter before him, so he accepted it.
Qing Yao thought of all this and slowly drifted to sleep. She was truly exhausted today.
Early the next morning, the steward Uncle Zhong came with something to report. "Where is Miss? A young lady wishes to see Miss."
Green Er stood by the corridor with a basin of water, politely replying, "Miss is not awake yet. Uncle Zhong, please have someone lead that young lady to Qingyuan. Miss will see her when she wakes."
"Alright," Uncle Zhong withdrew. Green Er carried the water into the mistress's chamber. Mei Xin was tidying things in the outer room. She had also heard the conversation outside and softly inquired, "What's going on?"
Green Er put down the basin of water she was holding, pointed towards the inner room with her finger, and carefully said, "Uncle Zhong came to say a young lady wishes to see Miss. I had someone lead her over. Has Miss woken up?"
Mei Xin was about to shake her head. She hadn't heard any movement from the inner room; Miss was probably still asleep.
Just then, a beautiful figure walked in from outside. The two maids looked up. Who else could it be but Miss?
Miss had woken up long ago. Seeing her dripping with sweat and her face flushed, it turned out she had gone to practice martial arts.
Miss is truly diligent, Mei Xin walked over with a smile to attend to Mu Qing Yao.
"Why didn't Miss call for this servant?"
"I saw you were sleeping soundly, so I didn't call you. I went out to stretch my limbs. It's nothing, don't make a fuss."
Mu Qing Yao spoke calmly. After washing up, she asked, "I heard you say earlier that someone wants to see me. Who is it?"
"We don't know. Uncle Zhong said it was a young lady who came early this morning. I had Uncle Zhong bring her over," Green Er reported dutifully. Mu Qing Yao nodded. "Alright, let's go have breakfast and see who it is that wants to see me."
"Yes, Miss," the three master and servants walked out together, following the corridor towards the front. They soon reached the parlor, where Xiao Lian had already prepared breakfast.
As Mu Qing Yao sat down, she heard a young maid's voice from outside, "Miss, the person has been brought over."
Mei Xin walked to the door and cheerfully instructed, "Come in. Miss is currently having her meal."
A slender figure walked in, graceful and elegant, like a soft, boneless willow. Her movements were light and her steps steady.
Mu Qing Yao immediately recognized that this girl had a foundation in martial arts. Her walk was neither hurried nor slow, neither tense nor relaxed. It seemed her skills were quite good.
She subtly raised her eyes to appraise the woman standing below. Her features were delicate and refined, she was slender and frail, appearing as if a gust of wind could topple her. Only her eyes revealed a deep stubbornness.
"You wish to see me?"
Mu Qing Yao asked calmly. She didn't recall ever meeting such a woman, nor did she have any memory of such a person.
"This humble girl thanks Miss Mu San for saving my life."
"Saving my life?"
Mu Qing Yao playfully savored these words. She didn't remember saving anyone.
Could it be... a flash of inspiration struck her. Could it be the person thrown out of that inn? She had thought it was a man, but it turned out to be a woman, which was somewhat unexpected.
"It was a small effort, no need for politeness."
Mu Qing Yao had finished her breakfast. Mei Xin stepped forward and respectfully offered a silk cloth, attending to her mistress. Green Er and Xiao Lian cleared the items on the table.
The parlor fell quiet all at once.
The woman standing below heard Mu Qing Yao's words, a flicker of hope flashed in her eyes, and she suddenly knelt on the ground, "This humble girl has a favor to ask."
Mu Qing Yao remained seated at the head of the table, motionless. Mei Xin raised her eyebrows in surprise and proceeded to pour a cup of fragrant tea for her mistress, standing quietly to the side, awaiting her command.
"Speak."
Qing Yao's voice was calm, revealing no emotion whatsoever. She gazed faintly at the kneeling woman.
Is this woman being a bit too much? She had saved her once, which was an exception. She absolutely wouldn't extend her hand a second time, unless... her eyes narrowed sharply. She began to seriously observe the slender woman: fine eyebrows, large eyes, a somewhat sallow complexion, a thin body, possibly caused by malnutrition.