"It's fine," the green-clothed woman shook her head. Her current mission was to remain hidden and protect that woman.
Was her only use for protection a single woman? The green-clothed woman felt a touch of helplessness cross her face.
"Alright, be careful not to let her see you. Keep your distance," the man speaking was Nangong Yue. He gave careful instructions to the green-clothed woman.
His expression was like that of a devoted man doting on his beloved. The moment he turned, the moonlight reflected on his face, as cold and detached as a thin veil, making one think that everything just now had been a mere illusion.
"Yes," the green-clothed woman nodded, then flickered away from the palace wall. Nangong Yue also disappeared.
After a night passed, Liu Liu's mood had indeed improved considerably. Last night had just been too unfair. It wasn't her fault at all, yet that Feng Xie had blamed her. What did it have to do with her?
It was Feng Lie who had gone mad, running to her chambers in the middle of the night without sleep. That damned emperor had actually blamed her. How unlucky!
Liu Liu washed up, had breakfast, and prepared to accompany the Empress Dowager. Since Wuyang had run away from the palace, her aunt must be very worried. As her niece, she naturally couldn't be indifferent.
She had to make the Empress Dowager happy. Wuyang would be fine. She was so clever and mischievous, she would surely be alright. Those who encountered her, however, were the ones who would have trouble.
The weather today was beautiful, the sunlight bright and dazzling, carrying the last trace of summer's heat, lingering reluctantly.
Liu Liu stood up and got off the phoenix couch. Xiao Anzi rushed in from outside, panting slightly, and spoke urgently, "Your Highness, Consort Shu and Consort De are here to pay their respects to Her Majesty the Empress."
"Pay respects?" Liu Liu glanced at Cui'er, raising her eyebrows in surprise.
Those two women had never paid her respects before. For them to come now, was there something fishy going on? She had almost forgotten who had revealed that the Emperor suspected her of leaving the palace, which had caused them at Huaqing Palace to be bullied.
"Your Highness, don't pay attention to them. Last time, they almost killed someone. This time, no matter what, do not let them in," Cui'er refused outright.
Qiao'er, standing beside her, also nodded vigorously. Recalling the previous incident, she still felt lingering fear. At that time, she had truly feared that she couldn't endure the torture and would confess everything.
Although she didn't want to betray her Highness, the bone-chilling pain was sometimes unbearable. She would die and then revive, wishing for death at that moment. But in the end, they would torture her until she fainted.
Seeing Qiao'er's pale face, and even Xiao Anzi's unhappy expression, Liu Liu knew that her attendants were scared of Consort Shu. In fact, someone like Consort Shu wasn't terrifying. What was truly terrifying was if she was being used, and the mastermind behind it was the real danger.
Liu Liu analyzed inwardly. Jin Jiali was the type of woman with a big chest but no brain. She shouldn't have such meticulous thoughts. So, who could it be? Zhang Xiuyi, or Lou Sijing? Those two women appeared gentle and refined, earning good reputations in the palace.
The most malicious was Jin Jiali. More than half of the servants in Guangyang Palace feared her, which showed how tyrannical she was usually.
Liu Liu stopped and looked at Xiao Anzi, "Aren't there guards outside the door?"
Xiao Anzi was stunned for a moment, not expecting Her Highness to know. The Emperor had sent Commander Zhao with several guards to watch the entrance of Huaqing Palace early in the morning, making their comings and goings quite inconvenient.
However, since His Majesty had issued an imperial decree, who would dare to say anything more? They had initially feared Her Highness would be angry upon waking, but they hadn't expected Her Highness to face it so calmly.
"Since there are guards, leave it to them. It's not our concern, is it?" Liu Liu raised her eyebrows, elegant like a chrysanthemum, neither proud nor humble. She would deal with whatever came her way. She didn't need to fear two minor consorts, did she?
"Yes, Your Highness," Xiao Anzi nodded and hurried out of the main hall of Huaqing Palace.
Liu Liu had intended to visit the Empress Dowager. Upon learning that Jin Jiali and Lou Sijing were waiting at the entrance of Huaqing Palace, she returned to the phoenix couch. She didn't believe those two women had the ability to stand waiting under the sun.
In front of Huaqing Palace, the lush willow branches were tinged with golden hues. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves, falling upon them. Jin Jiali and Lou Sijing frowned, looking displeasantly towards Huaqing Palace.
It had been a long time since anyone had come out from within. They finally realized with delayed understanding that the woman had played a trick on them. Vile woman! They had heard that the Emperor favored her, so they had come to curry favor, only to find she wouldn't see them.
Jin Jiali's alluring eyes, like silken threads, gazed at Zhao Mei, who was guarding the entrance. She hadn't expected Zhao Mei to be so handsome.
Most importantly, he was tall and possessed well-defined muscles. Even though he wore a robe, one could imagine his strength. Recalling their business with him that night, she wondered what he had thought. She spoke softly.
"Lord Zhao, we wish to see Her Majesty the Empress. It seems Her Majesty has something preventing her from coming out. Lord Zhao, please let us in."
"His Majesty has decreed that no one is allowed to enter Huaqing Palace. Consort Shu, please do not make things difficult for this subordinate," Zhao Jiu bowed, his posture upright, his words sincere. Auras of righteousness surrounded him, leaving no room for negotiation.
Jin Jiali stomped her foot in annoyance, as if coqueting with Zhao Jiu. Lou Sijing stared at her meaningfully, covered her mouth with a silk handkerchief, and smiled. She nudged Jin Jiali and whispered.
"Let's go. Don't disturb Lord Zhao by standing here."
After saying that, she didn't forget to secretly appraise Zhao Jiu. This man was indeed good. Although he couldn't compare to the Emperor, he wasn't much inferior.
Especially his strong physique. Women who had experienced intimacy couldn't help but have more thoughts. The two women giggled and left Huaqing Palace.
In fact, they hadn't gone far, but had stopped in a shaded area. They wanted to see if that ugly woman would come out. Logically, she would come out soon because the little princess was missing, and this woman would surely go to accompany the Empress Dowager.
They stood waiting on her path, intending to "chance" upon her. Then they would see what she could say. Jin Jiali and Lou Sijing laughed, a faint dark glint flashing in their eyes.
Xiao Anzi had been watching the movements at the door. As soon as Jin Jiali and Lou Sijing left with their maids, he rushed into the hall to report to Her Highness, "They've all left, Your Highness."
"I doubt they've truly left." People like them who loved to show off, would they really leave without seeing her?
Liu Liu slightly pursed her lips, a smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. Indifferently, she signaled Cui'er and Ming Yue, her two maids, to accompany her to the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace. Qiao'er and Caixia were inside the hall organizing things.
"Let's take another path," Liu Liu said softly, having resolved the matter with ease. Let those two women wait. She wondered how long they could last.
A cold smile flickered across Liu Liu's lips, like the elusive clouds in the sky, making it impossible to know if they would drift away or scatter in the next moment.
"Yes, Your Highness," Cui'er led the way, and Ming Yue extended her hand to support Her Highness as she walked out.
Outside the main hall, the sunlight was comfortable, shining on the three of them. A breeze blew, lifting a corner of their long skirts, swinging in a half-circle before falling back down.
The sky was a clear azure, white clouds leisurely unfurling, drifting leisurely through the air. Liu Liu looked up, her expression fluctuating. She truly wished she could be like those clouds, elusive and free.
The two young maids behind her dared not speak, standing silently. Liu Liu looked for a while before returning to her senses.
"Let's go, to Cining Palace."
"Yes, Your Highness," the three of them walked along another bluestone path towards Cining Palace. This path was farther from Cining Palace. Wild grass grew on both sides, some of it withered yellow. Tall trees were planted there.
Vines grew on the tall trees, and on the vines, some thorny wild flowers bloomed. These wild flowers had strong vitality and were blooming vibrantly. Cui'er walked ahead, fearing that the thorns would prick Her Highness, and brushed them aside.