"Isn't that so?" Liu Liu retorted. Although she was ugly, she knew she was a woman. As a woman, she was naturally the weaker sex, unable to rule the world like men.
"I never imagined that you ugly woman not only have a terrible attitude but also dare to secretly bewitch Prince Yan, causing him to offend me and even wish to marry you. How absurd!" Feng Xie's eyes were as sharp as a knife as he thought of Feng Lie's words. An inexplicable anger surged within him.
He couldn't believe that an ugly woman dared to bewitch a prince. This crime alone was enough to warrant severe punishment, yet she dared to face him without fear.
"Prince Yan?" A chill flickered in Liu Liu's eyes. Wasn't Feng Lie looking for trouble? Before entering the palace, she had once harbored the hope that he would marry her. Even if he didn't love her or married someone else, she could have tolerated it, just wanting a peaceful place to live. But he hesitated, so why was he saying this now? Was he tired of her living too comfortably?
"Liu Liu doesn't know where Your Majesty's words come from. Must a woman be punished just because a man admires her?"
"Admires? You dare to say admires? That a dignified prince admires you, this ugly woman? He merely pities you, do you know that?" Upon hearing these words, Feng Xie became as ferocious as a bloodthirsty tiger in the forest. He moved swiftly, lifting Liu Liu, wishing he could drink her blood and eat her flesh.
He didn't know if he was so enraged that he had lost his mind. In any case, he felt an urge to fight someone, a feeling that spread through him, coursed through his veins, and stimulated his brain.
All he wanted was to see what this ugly woman had that made his outstanding younger brother admire her so much.
"What are you doing? Let me down," Liu Liu's heart ached. Why was an ugly woman not worthy of admiration? she said coldly.
Feng Xie stared intently at her face, trying to find what made this ugly woman so admirable. Her face was delicate, a beautiful melon-seed shape. Her eyebrows were like willow leaves, and her eyes, bright with anger, sparkled. Her eyelashes were long and curled, her nose slightly upturned, and her lips were as lovely as diamond petals.
If there was any flaw, it was a large birthmark covering half her face, obscuring her delicate beauty.
"So you are quite good-looking," Feng Xie murmured. He reached out and caressed her face, completely disregarding Liu Liu's retreating body. He touched it carefully, finding the texture exceptionally pleasant, smooth as the finest silk, making one want to touch it again and again.
Liu Liu was surprised that this man had touched her face. After a moment of shock, she quickly raised her leg to kick him.
Although she couldn't use martial arts, it didn't mean her limbs were immobile. She struggled to retreat, but without martial arts, she was no match for Feng Xie. Her hands were quickly pinned by the man in front of her, who stared at her with cold, malevolent eyes.
Liu Liu's anger flared. She was not someone to be easily bullied. Even without martial arts, she would not allow herself to be pushed around repeatedly.
Although her hands were held high in the air by Feng Xie, her feet dangled. She kicked out. Feng Xie dodged, but this was a feint. She had anticipated his dodge and, before he could even move, kicked him hard with her other foot.
His dodge led him directly into the path of her kick. It wasn't a heavy blow, but it wasn't light either. The pain caused his brows to furrow slightly, and his expression instantly turned grim as he roared.
"Liu Liu, you have great courage to dare to injure me."
"Yes, I injured you. If you have the ability, kill me," Liu Liu replied firmly. A tear rolled down her delicate face, stunning Feng Xie.
She, who was usually so indifferent, shed tears. This caught him off guard, and for a moment, he didn't know how to punish her.
But the next second, he remembered that this woman had dared to kick him. He released her hands, and Liu Liu fell to the ground. From above, a cold and charming voice came.
"Daring Liu Empress, from this day forward, you are confined to your chambers and shall never leave Huaqing Palace again." After Feng Xie spoke, he fell silent for two minutes. He thought that if she apologized, he might let her out, perhaps even favor her later, as she hadn't disgusted him and had instead sparked some expectation. Unfortunately, Liu Liu straightened her back, her voice colder than the February wind.
"Liu Liu obeys your command. I only ask that Your Majesty never step foot into Huaqing Palace again. Since you have imprisoned Liu Liu, I am a person bearing a crime, and I fear I might tarnish Your Majesty's noble person."
Feng Xie gritted his teeth, his face ashen, and growled, "Very well, remember your words. Do not let me know of any improper thoughts you harbor."
As Feng Xie finished speaking, he flashed away from the Huaqing Palace main hall. If he didn't leave, his impulse would be to strangle this woman. Couldn't she be a little softer? Perhaps he would have relented and let her go.
In the main hall, two clear tears rolled down Liu Liu's bright eyes. She was the one being bullied, yet she had to accept it as if it were a favor. Pain spread through her heart, but she felt both pain and happiness.
He would finally have nothing to do with her, which meant she could leave the palace. These days had almost driven her mad. The thought of leaving the palace made her gloominess dissipate slightly. She wiped away her tears, not wanting the young maids entering the palace to know.
However, Cui'er, her maid since childhood, noticed carefully and asked with concern, "Miss, what's wrong? Your eyes are red."
Cui'er was astonished. She knew what kind of person her Miss was. What had the Emperor done to make her cry?
"It's nothing. I've been imprisoned here by the Emperor. You all might have to stay in Huaqing Palace from now on. If anyone wishes to leave, I'll have Jiang Cheng transfer you," Liu Liu looked at Mingyue and Caixia, as well as the two young eunuchs. As for Cui'er and Qiao'er, they had entered with her and could not be transferred to other palaces.
Upon hearing Liu Liu's words, Caixia, Mingyue, and the young eunuchs, Xiao Anzi and Xiao Nianzi, began to cry. They hadn't expected the Emperor to imprison such a kind empress here. However, this place was quite good, free from schemes and intrigues, and they were unwilling to go anywhere else.
"Empress Niangniang, your servants are willing to remain in Huaqing Palace. Niangniang, please do not send us away. We are willing to stay here."
Liu Liu nodded. Since they wouldn't leave, they could stay. She was a little tired after the day's turmoil and just wanted to rest.
"I'm tired and want to rest for a while. You all should go and attend to your duties," Liu Liu stood up and walked towards the sleeping quarters. Cui'er quickly supported her as she walked towards the sleeping quarters, while the others behind her respectfully replied, "Yes, Niangniang."
As Liu Liu was tired from the afternoon and also troubled, she didn't have dinner. Even when she woke up, she kept her eyes open, gazing fixedly at the intricately patterned canopy above her head, her body still.
Cui'er and the others checked on her several times. Each time, she closed her eyes, and the young maids dared not disturb her. It was late into the night, and they assumed their Niangniang would not wake up again, so they went to sleep.
In the vast Huaqing Palace, she was the only one awake. The surroundings were silent, save for the flickering of the lamp.
At this time usually, she would listen to Nangong Yue play the flute. But tonight, she didn't want to move. Even the flute she loved couldn't stir her.
Her mind was chaotic. One moment it was Feng Xie's disgusted gaze, the next it was Nangong Yue's sorrowful face. Suddenly, amidst the silence, the sound of a flute arose, so clear. She sat up, wondering in confusion.
Had her ears malfunctioned? That Xiangchun Forest was far from Huaqing Palace; she shouldn't be able to hear the flute. It seemed her hearing was faulty, and she lay back down.
But the flute didn't stop. Instead, it became clearer and clearer, as melancholic and cold as ever, and it seemed to carry a trace of anxiety. Who had made him so anxious that even his usually steady flute playing carried frustration?
She draped a cloak over herself and walked out.