"He is dead. He died protecting me. Before he died, he called me Liu Li, so I began to doubt my own identity."
Thinking of Jiang Cheng's death, Liu Liu was filled with self-blame. That old man had been truly sincere towards her, and her current status in the palace was all thanks to his protection.
Abbess Ming Hui gasped. She hadn't expected Jiang Cheng to be dead. She was certain that this Jiang Cheng was A Li.
From the moment Liu Li was born, he had been with her. He loved her dearly. Later, it was he who risked his life disguised as a palace maid to smuggle Liu Li out of the palace, begging Prime Minister Liu to take her in.
She hadn't expected him to die so soon. A wave of sadness washed over Ming Hui, and she wept in sorrow.
Seeing her master both furious and tearful, Liu Liu dared not press further. She gently tried to console her, and the two of them ceased discussing Liu Er's background.
Abbess Ming Hui was very concerned about Liu Liu's life in the palace. Seeing the slight furrow in her brow, she angrily questioned her.
"Is Liu Er's life in the palace not going well? Tell your master, and your master will help you kill that dog emperor for daring to treat Liu Er poorly."
Seeing her master's demeanor, Liu Liu dared not reveal any bad news and quickly nodded, assuring her that she was living very well.
While the emperor hadn't treated her well before, she was living well now. The emperor had even bestowed the Weiyang Palace upon her, so her master could rest assured. Although Ming Hui Thai had her suspicions, she didn't say anything further, repeatedly cautioning Liu Liu to be careful.
Liu Liu nodded. Knowing that Shi Xi was likely her relative, she felt a deep sense of kinship and believed that everything Shi Xi did was for her own good.
"Master, please don't try to assassinate the emperor anymore. If your whereabouts are exposed, it will lead to the deaths of many people."
Liu Liu cautioned carefully. Ming Hui was stunned for a moment. Although she desperately wanted to kill the emperor, she knew the emperor was not wrong, and he governed the country well.
But thinking of the past events, she felt hatred so strong that she could barely eat. If the emperor truly treated Liu Er well, she might feel at ease. Yet, he tormented her in every way possible. How could she not be indignant?
Seeing her master fall silent, Liu Liu anxiously took her hand. "Master, have you ever considered that if you attempt an assassination, Feng Xie will surely uncover the truth? It won't matter if I face trouble, but the Liu family will be implicated. That is a grave crime, do you understand? I don't want to harm them. They love me so dearly. If I ultimately implicate them, then Liu Er would rather die to atone."
A look of determination flashed across Liu Liu's small face, her clear eyes shimmering with clear ripples. Ming Hui absolutely did not want Liu Liu to suffer even the slightest harm, so she quickly agreed, "Alright, Master promises you."
As soon as she finished speaking, the door to the side room creaked open, and Qing Feng, her face a mask of fury, walked in. Her eyes widened, filled with disbelief, and she pointed at Abbess Ming Hui.
"Master, how can you abandon our revenge for her, just because she's called Su Liu Li?"
"Qing Feng," Ming Hui said, her face filled with anger. She hadn't expected Qing Feng to have overheard their conversation, and a coldness flashed across her face.
Before Abbess Ming Hui could speak, Qing Feng swiftly moved in front of Liu Liu, grabbed her tightly, and shrieked.
"Who exactly are you? Why can Master abandon revenge for you? What about us in the nunnery? What should we do? We live for revenge, but now Master is going to give up seeking it!"
Seeing Qing Feng's frenzy, Ming Hui raised her hand and slapped her. She ordered in a deep voice, "Let go of her, let go of her immediately! What's gotten into you? Go back to the front chamber and reflect on your actions."
"Master?" Qing Feng clutched half her face, unable to believe her master had struck her for this woman. Her usually doting master had hit her because of this woman. Anger, even hatred, flashed in her eyes as she glared at Liu Liu and fled.
Liu Liu turned and saw a flicker of worry in her master's eyes. She knew her master actually felt sorry for Qing Feng, as Qing Feng had been raised by her. Regardless, their affection was genuine. Liu Liu gently pushed her master.
"Go see Senior Sister. I'm fine. But Master, please think more about what Liu Er said. If the emperor finds out your intentions, all these people will not survive. Their parents surely wish for them to live safely rather than seek revenge. After all, a change of dynasty always has its sacrifices."
Listening to Liu Liu's calm words, a glint flashed in Abbess Ming Hui's eyes, and a myriad of emotions filled her. If Liu Er had grown up among these children back then, could she still be so indifferent and calm?
The purpose of these people's lives seemed to be revenge. If they were asked to abandon it all at once, it would likely be difficult. But Liu Er's words struck her like a heavy blow.
If these people died without achieving their revenge, how could she face their deceased parents?
"Alright, Master will think about it," Ming Hui said, then stood up and left. She was truly worried about Qing Feng. With her impulsive nature, she might do something rash later.
Liu Liu watched her master's retreating back. It was a lonely and ancient back, no longer carrying the lightness of the past. What kind of hatred had made her master so aged?
Lost in thought, Liu Liu stood up, exited the side room, and walked along the eaves towards the back mountain. There was a winding path behind the nunnery, and Dai Mei would surely come from behind.
At the back mountain, a continuous range of peaks, the gentle breeze rustled the golden branches, creating waves of golden sea, an exceptionally magnificent sight.
Dai Mei was indeed waiting for her under a tree. As Liu Liu approached, she pounced on her, hugging her and jumping a few times. Liu Liu pursed her lips and smiled. She hadn't expected the usually enchanting Dai Mei to have such a cute side. She patted her shoulder.
"Why did you come to the capital?"
Dai Mei was taken aback. She released Liu Liu and said earnestly, "Didn't I send Xiao Bai to deliver a letter to you last time? Why are you asking like this?"
Upon hearing Dai Mei's words, Liu Liu's expression immediately turned cold, and a thin smile touched her lips. "Don't mention it. Xiao Bai was shot and killed by Jin Shaoyuan. I've been dispirited for days because of it."
"What? This detestable man! Why did he shoot Xiao Bai? These wealthy people are so self-important. I really want to teach him a good lesson."
Dai Mei gritted her small, silvery teeth, her charming eyes glaring with hatred. Liu Liu didn't want to dwell on this topic anymore. The mention of Xiao Bai made her heart ache.
She had raised Xiao Bai. The thought of it being shot and killed made her wish she could shoot an arrow into that man. For now, what she wanted to know was how Dai Mei had come to the capital.
"Dai Mei, let's not talk about Xiao Bai. Why did you come to the capital? Did you come alone?"
Her tone was one of utmost concern. Dai Mei smiled coyly. "No, Zhi Gu and I came together. She's at the inn, and I came out for a stroll during the day. I didn't expect to see the楼主 (Louzhu -楼主/Tower Master/Head of the organization). When will the楼主 return to Xiaoyao Island? Everyone feels like they're fighting a losing battle without someone to set the overall direction."
Dai Mei sighed. Although the Seven Stars Tower's reputation in the martial world was good, without the楼主's steady command, they felt uneasy. They didn't dare to take on many daring and risky tasks for fear of damaging the Seven Stars Tower's reputation.
Thus, everyone anxiously awaited the楼主's return. Only the three of them knew it was unlikely, because the楼主 was the current Empress. How could she abandon being the Empress to be a mere楼主 of the Seven Stars Tower? xxs壹贰
"Go back and tell everyone that perhaps I will return to Xiaoyao Island soon." This thought grew more urgent. Jin Jiali was pregnant, and the emperor had spared her. So, were Chao Er and Jiang Cheng's deaths to be left unavenged?
She could not condone such actions. Moreover, there was likely a mystery surrounding her own identity. Judging by her master's demeanor, this mystery was undoubtedly related to the Feng family. She truly didn't know what would happen then.
Therefore, she wanted to leave the imperial palace before the truth was revealed and return to Xiaoyao Island.