A woman was walking towards them on the opposite street, her face covered by a thin veil, her expression unreadable. Close behind her followed an ugly young man, chattering incessantly as they approached.
"Miss, aren't you afraid of being recognized? Why did you take off that mask again?"
"I'm afraid of going into the palace, but not of people outside. Even if they know I'm the second daughter of the Liu family, so what? Besides, I'm still wearing a veil; who can see my face? With that human-skin mask, everyone knows I'm Qi Ye and they're scared to death. That's too tiring!"
As Liu Liu spoke, she walked into the teahouse. She turned and surveyed the surroundings, then found a corner seat by the wall and beckoned to a waiter for a pot of good tea.
On the second floor, Feng Xie, with a hidden, cold demeanor, thought of the veiled woman below. Logically, a young lady from a prominent family should not leave her chambers. Yet here was a woman boldly coming to a teahouse for tea. However, her actions were admirable.
Feng Xie sipped his tea while admiring the street scene. Under his rule, the capital was more prosperous and flourishing than during his father's reign, reaching its peak. His mood naturally lifted.
Below, Liu Liu drank her tea and watched the various people in the teahouse. She overheard them constantly discussing her elopement. With a triumphant cold snort, she thought, "Feng Xie, let the world laugh at you. Perhaps you really do have an ailment!" A smug expression flashed across her veiled face, and a sweet smile curved her lips.
"Let's go," Cui'er said, looking at her mistress's cunning eyes. She knew her mistress must be feeling very pleased, but her father must be searching everywhere for her. Yet, she showed no concern. If her father found out she was here, he would surely take her back.
"Alright," Liu Liu agreed, standing up. At the same moment, the door to the private room upstairs opened, and Feng Xie emerged with an air of calm confidence, followed by his two subordinates and Xiao Wanzi.
Feng Xie descended the stairs with elegance. His narrow phoenix eyes flashed with proud coldness. He wore a white brocade robe, his waist cinched with a python jade belt from which hung a jade pendant of vivid green. He looked like an immortal descended to the mortal realm, yet a touch of devilish charm adorned the corner of his eye.
Liu Liu reached the foot of the stairs and unexpectedly bumped into a broad, muscular chest as someone descended from above. Such firm muscles! Liu Liu stepped back two paces and steadied herself, reaching up to rub her head as she looked up.
In an instant, she gazed into a thousand-year-old abyss, turbulent like a surging river, yet impossible to fathom or grasp.
This face was arrogant and demonic. "My heavens!" she gasped. On his angular face, finely drawn eyebrows slanted upwards, and his peach blossom eyes gleamed with radiant light. A noble aura enveloped him. Liu Liu felt a slight looseness at her ear; her veil had slipped aside. She quickly readjusted it and lowered her head.
He was Emperor Feng Xie, a devastatingly handsome emperor, a symbol of power and wealth, a golden bachelor. No wonder so many women wished to marry him. Not only was he handsome, but he also exuded a devilishly cold charm.
He was even more charismatic now than in his twenties. Feng Xie's thin lips curved lazily, his casual movements filled with captivating allure.
Liu Liu quickly retreated a step. This man could manage a vast country in perfect order; he wasn't to be trifled with. She should leave quickly. "My apologies, sir," she said, shifting her body to walk away.
Unbeknownst to her, a pair of eyes behind her flashed with disdain, a cold, charming smile playing on his lips. This woman dared to play tricks in front of him. She might be ugly, but her mind was quite cunning.
However, to play tricks in front of him, Feng Xie, was simply seeking her own destruction. His eyes instantly ignited with murderous intent. His hands, clenched into fists beneath his brocade robe, longed to grip her neck. How dare she make him, Feng Xie, a laughingstock for others!
But death might be too easy for her. Feng Xie suddenly smiled, and the world seemed to change. The atmosphere instantly relaxed. If she wanted to play, he would indulge her. Lately, he had been too bored, he thought with a roguish grin.
He was a cat, to first enjoy the pleasure of toying with the mouse before finally crushing it.
Feng Xie spoke in a deep voice, issuing an order: "Yue Ying, follow those two women. Ri Ying, go immediately to Prime Minister Liu's mansion and tell Prime Minister Liu to bring the second daughter, Liu Liu, back to the mansion."
"Yes, my lord," the two subordinates, though surprised, did not dare to speak. They respectfully accepted the order and left to carry it out.
Xiao Wanzi glanced at the Emperor and asked for instructions, "They've all left. What about us?"
"Settle the bill and return to the palace," Feng Xie said, striding out. His light steps revealed his good mood. Xiao Wanzi breathed a sigh of relief, settled the bill, and quickly followed the Emperor back to the palace.
Liu Liu wandered the streets for a while. By the time she realized something was wrong, it was too late. Her father was blocking her path with a large group of people. Liu Liu immediately thought of that detestable man Feng Xie notifying her father. Her veil had slipped earlier, and he had seen her face.
"Feng Xie, you dog emperor! To look so handsome, yet be so vile," Liu Liu cursed a few times, then looked up at her father with a sheepish smile.
Prime Minister Liu stared coldly at his daughter: "Liu Liu, you've gone too far! Where do you think you're going? Be careful, or I'll break your legs. You don't even listen to your parents and dare to run away from home."
"If you hadn't been so cruel, would I have run away from home?" Liu Liu retorted righteously, completely disregarding her father's anger and waving her hand as if nothing were wrong.
Many people on the street were whispering and discussing the matter. Prime Minister Liu naturally did not want this family disgrace to be spread further. He waved his hand, signaling the household guards to escort his daughter back.
Liu Liu ignored the guards and walked ahead towards the Liu mansion. If she didn't want her parents to know she knew martial arts, these guards would have been dealt with long ago. Cui'er followed her mistress back to the mansion, trembling with fear. Her master had glared at her several times. Could it be that he intended to make an example of her? "Oh no, master, it has nothing to do with me! It was the mistress who wanted to run away from home. I'm also very tired," Cui'er thought to herself.
Cui'er rehearsed her plea internally and returned to the Prime Minister's mansion with a ashen face.
In the main hall of the Prime Minister's mansion, the bright candlelight illuminated the entire hall as if it were day.
Prime Minister Liu and Madam Liu sat regally on their seats, while Liu Liu and Cui'er, the two runaway women, stood in the center of the hall. Below them stood the Liu mansion's steward and several servants. Everyone watched the master with trembling hearts. The master had always doted on his daughter and had never been this angry before.
"Kneel!" Prime Minister Liu shouted, his sword-like eyebrows raised, his tone cold and domineering. Liu Liu stood in the center with a displeased expression, as if unaffected. Cui'er, however, was already terrified and had collapsed to her knees with a thud, begging tearfully.
"Master, it was the mistress who wanted to run away from home; it has nothing to do with me. I advised the mistress, but she wouldn't listen to me. I couldn't do anything, master. Please spare this slave," she said, sniffling and wiping tears, stealing glances at her master's face.
Prime Minister Liu pointed at Cui'er, who was kneeling on the ground, and asked Liu Liu displeasedly, "Is what Cui'er says true?"
Liu Liu glared at Cui'er with annoyance. This girl was a true traitor. Even if she was afraid of her father's punishment, she didn't need to switch allegiances so quickly. She looked up at her father, her expression conveying, "What can you do to me?"
"Yes, Cui'er did advise me. However, I will never change my mind once I've decided something. Cui'er naturally could not stop me. If father makes me go into the palace again, I will run away once more."