"Alright, don't be too anxious. A year has passed, and even if you're in a hurry, you have to take it slow."
The First Prince summoned Yu Liu, instructed her to take good care of the young lady, then went out to reprimand the guards before leaving the separate courtyard.
She couldn't help but worry. That person was her father, who had once occupied her entire life.
She dared not think further.
During the past year, while she had suffered, her father had also been suffering.
But she knew nothing about it, and had even resented him, unwilling to think of him.
Father, would you blame her?
She was Xue Niang, and also Ling Yao.
"Miss, the hot water is ready. Shall this servant help you bathe?"
Ling Yao looked at Yu Liu. The maid lowered her eyes, acting demure and proper, seemingly no different. Yet, as sensitive as she was, Ling Yao still felt something was odd.
It seemed she was even more respectful.
Was it because she was shocked by Ling Yao's act of killing just now?
Ling Yao calmed herself, touching her belly. She felt less guarded towards the First Prince now and didn't think too deeply about it. Leaning on Yu Liu's arm, she got up.
Behind the carved screen, the wooden tub was made of the finest cypress wood, smooth and emitting a faint fragrance. On the shelf beside it, various essential oils, spices, and flower petals were all prepared.
Though not as luxurious as the former Feng Que Lou, it was evident the First Prince had put in great effort.
Yet, she still preferred the rough wooden tub in that humble courtyard, and the man who carefully scrubbed it and tested its temperature.
"Get out!"
As Yu Liu helped her remove her outer clothes, she suddenly remembered her own back and sharply ordered.
"Yes, Miss." Yu Liu bowed and retreated.
Her painted brows furrowed slightly. Ling Yao recalled the kick she had given Feng Ling, sending a woman who wasn't exactly frail several meters away.
She was nothing like the delicate person she seemed at first glance.
And her respectful and cautious demeanor towards the First Prince, only lacking fear.
Her sharp command just now was instinctive. If it were before, Yu Liu would have been flustered and apologized, not reacted so quickly and retreated with practiced obedience.
Was she truly Yu Liu?
If not, whose person was she?
Ling Yao lay on the edge of the bathtub, her mind racing. She was also filled with annoyance. Indeed, leaving the mountain village had made everything complicated.
It was exhausting.
She rested her head on the edge and, lulled by the steam, fell asleep.
"You ungrateful thing, the water's gone cold. You really don't care about your body, I'm angry!"
"A Shan?"
Ling Yao turned back with joy. His rugged face, his full beard, just like when she first met him. Only his bright, piercing tiger-like eyes showed anger and concern.
"You've come! You've finally come to find me!" She opened her arms and rushed towards him without hesitation.
The space in front of her was empty. She shivered and suddenly woke up.
"Miss? Shall this servant come in?" Yu Liu's voice from outside was soft, with a hint of urgency.
So, it was just a dream.
The water had become a bit cool. Ling Yao quickly got up. After changing into her inner garments, she called Yu Liu in.
With everything tidied up, she rested against the headboard. Yu Liu carefully wrung out her hair. Her hands were calloused, and she had grazed a strand of hair just now.
"Yu Liu, lift your head."
Xue Niang's eyes met hers directly. Yu Liu's clear eyes seemed to waver, showing a brief moment of confusion, but she quickly shook her head, her gaze regaining its clarity.
This person possessed a powerful consciousness; she was indeed not the original Yu Liu.
"Who are you?"
Yu Liu was somewhat confused by the situation. After a single glance at her young lady, she felt as if those eyes were bottomless black holes, about to suck her in. Her mind went blank for a moment. What was happening?
Hearing her young lady's question, she was a little surprised. She thought, as expected of the mistress, she had been discovered so soon.
However, her master had also said there was no need to deliberately conceal herself.
Since the mistress asked, she would naturally tell the truth.
"This subordinate is Chi Gui. Greetings, Mistress."
Chi Gui? What kind of ghost?
Ling Yao was somewhat surprised by her straightforwardness. "You're really not Yu Liu?"
"Yes. At the master's command, I was specifically sent to look after the Mistress. This subordinate is Chi Gui, one of the Five Ghosts of the Ghost King Sect, skilled in disguise."
The Ghost King Sect? That's not...
So, Xiao Shan had sent her. The heavy stone that had been weighing on her heart for days was finally lifted with a sigh of relief. She felt invigorated.
This meant Xiao Shan knew she was here.
"Where is he? Why hasn't he come?"
Since he could disguise himself, he could also impersonate others, so no one would know he was the deceased General Shen Wu.
"This subordinate does not know. This subordinate's mission was to protect the Mistress's safety. As for the master's important matters, this subordinate has no right to know."
"Is that so!"
Ling Yao felt a slight disappointment. These past few days, she had dreamt of him many times. She couldn't distinguish between ordinary dreams and prophetic ones.
Touching her flat abdomen, she had so much she wanted to tell him.
However, knowing news of him had improved her mood. Her spirit and body had both recovered, and the vomiting symptoms of the past few days were not as severe.
Walking in the courtyard, all the guards were respectful towards her. Yu Liu helped her to sit in the pavilion.
From Chi Gui, she learned that this place was in the outskirts of the capital, indeed a secret villa of the First Prince. The First Prince was not favored by the Emperor, had few assets, and the people he could use were those he had gathered and won over in the past year or two. In the crisis-ridden capital, it was already difficult for him to remain unharmed.
Previously, she hadn't understood and had been wary of him. Now, knowing his predicament, she should discuss with him how to enter the palace as soon as possible to check on her father's condition.
"Miss, I'll have someone stew some snow fungus soup for you."
Ling Yao nodded and looked at the guards standing respectfully on both sides of the courtyard.
"Come here."
Wei Hu's body stiffened. He respectfully came forward, "What are Miss's orders?"
"Tell your master to come here."
Good heavens, with such an entitled tone, anyone would think she was the master's master.
But Wei Hu dared not utter a word. Even the capable people around the master could be killed without consequence. He knew how much status she held in the master's heart.
However, the master was being closely watched by that fellow named Lu recently, making things inconvenient.
What to do?
"I told you to go, do you have any other questions? Whether he comes or not is up to the master's decision!" Yu Liu reprimanded unceremoniously.
"...Yes, this subordinate will go now."
Wei Hu's face turned red from the scolding. Was this what they called "one person's success lifts their whole family"? Even a maid who served tea and water had become arrogant. Just a few days ago, this maid wasn't like this and even called him brother!
After Wei Hu went to inform him, the First Prince arrived late at night.
"Ling Yao, what is it?"
His face looked somewhat haggard. The prominent phoenix eyes showed obvious bloodshot veins, as if he hadn't slept for a long time. The gloomy and wicked aura was gone, replaced by a sense of vulnerability.
Here, he had shed his defenses and pretense. If his other women saw him like this, they would surely be heartbroken.
Damn it, he didn't know what was wrong with that Lu family. He hadn't done anything recently. First, the old man kept a close eye on him, and now it was the younger one. They were like sticky plasters, impossible to shake off.
It prevented him from doing anything freely.
"First Prince, I want to enter the palace."