Chapter 327 327: Eating

However, Wuyou ignored him and went straight to Xiao Yunjing. She paid her respects and asked, “Your Majesty, did you summon this servant for something?”

Xiao Yunjing pointed to Liu Desheng, who was standing beside him, his eyes welling up with joyous tears. “He was the one who carried you out of the Snow Maiden Clan years ago.”

“Ah? Liu Desheng?” Wuyou exclaimed in surprise.

Looking at Wuyou and her face that so resembled the Saintess, Liu Desheng became emotional and immediately knelt before her. “This servant greets Miss! So Miss was right before my eyes all along, and this old servant was unaware. Please forgive me, Miss!”

Wuyou helped Liu Desheng up and turned to Xiao Yunjing. “Your Majesty, may this servant borrow Liu Desheng for a while?”

Xiao Yunjing nodded.

Wuyou took Liu Desheng to the Imperial Garden to ask about her parents.

Xiao Yunjing watched the joyful Wuyou and sighed inwardly. They had been so busy these days and had forgotten about this matter. Today, they finally fulfilled this wish for Li’er.

Xiao Yunjing ate something casually and went to play with the three little ones for a while before heading to the royal study.

I’ll have to go to the Happiness and Longevity Palace by noon. Who knows what trouble Mother is stirring up this time?

「In Fengqi Palace」

Gu Qingli stood before Wuqing, looking down at her. “Wuqing, you’re keeping me from leaving because you’re afraid I’ll go to my parents and tell them the truth, aren’t you?”

Gu Qingli was truly out of options; Wuqing wouldn’t yield to persuasion or pressure. Why is Wuqing so submissive to that outsider? Why is she so indifferent to me? I was the one who saved her back then! The more Gu Qingli thought about it, the angrier she became.

Wuqing shook her head, her expression unchanged. “Your Majesty the Empress is overthinking things.”

“Then why won’t you let me leave?”

“This servant does not know. This servant is merely following the Emperor’s orders.”

“A fine excuse, ‘following the Emperor’s orders’!”

SLAP!

As she spoke, Gu Qingli slapped Wuqing across the face. “You ungrateful wretch! You are my servant! How dare you obey that dog Emperor’s orders?”

Wuqing remained standing there, expressionless, without uttering a word. No matter how Gu Qingli insulted or struck her, she acted as if she heard nothing, completely indifferent.

Gu Qingli is right (about why she’s confined). It’s true, it wasn’t Miss (Wuyou) who saved me back then; Gu Qingli did. But I just can’t bring myself to like her. So, I’ll endure her abuse. I only feel guilt towards Gu Qingli; I’ve already repaid the debt of her saving my life. When the Secret Sect sent me to assassinate her, I risked everything, betrayed them, and even killed my comrades to save her. Later, if Master hadn’t dismantled the Secret Sect, a traitor like me would have been killed long ago. So, I’ve repaid Gu Qingli for saving my life, and I owe my life to Master for saving me. My life belongs to Miss and Master.

Wuqing’s attitude enraged Gu Qingli. She frantically picked up objects and threw them at Wuqing, who simply raised a hand to catch each one and set it down.

No way! These are all Miss’s favorite things. They mustn’t be broken.

Gu Qingli threw one item, and Wuqing caught it; she threw another, and Wuqing caught that too.

This continued until Gu Qingli, exhausted, collapsed to the floor, glaring furiously at Wuqing.

Wuqing quietly tidied up the items, returned them to their original places, and then resumed her position at the palace gate.

She stood there like an immovable door guardian.

「In the Happiness and Longevity Palace」

Xiao Yuling had prepared a table laden with delicious food, waiting for Xiao Yunjing.

Xiao Yuxian chatted with Xiao Yuling. The words she had prepared the previous night wouldn’t come out, so she could only talk about various happenings in the Capital City over the years.

From time to time, she would also mention her maternal family, but she studiously avoided any mention of the Mu Residence.

Meanwhile, Mu Wan’er stood at the palace gate, eagerly craning her neck in anticipation of Xiao Yunjing’s arrival.

As noon approached, Xiao Yunjing finally put down the memorials in his hand and headed to the Happiness and Longevity Palace with another eunuch, Yang Shi.

At the gate of the Happiness and Longevity Palace, Mu Wan’er saw the tall figure gradually approaching from a distance.

She clutched her wildly beating heart. I’ve imagined what the Emperor looked like, but I never expected him to be such an extraordinarily charismatic man!

Mu Wan’er was so infatuated that a blush spread from her face all the way to her neck.

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The palace maids beside her were hardly any better. Every time they saw the Emperor, their hearts would pound. Unfortunately, the Emperor had never once glanced their way.

When Xiao Yunjing approached, all the palace maids and Mu Wan’er immediately knelt to greet him.

“This servant respectfully greets Your Majesty!” the palace maids chorused.

“This subject, Mu Wan’er, respectfully greets Your Majesty!”

Xiao Yunjing didn’t even look at them. As usual, he entered the Happiness and Longevity Palace, merely waving his hand at them.

Mu Wan’er quickly got up and followed him.

Xiao Yuling, who was waiting inside, was informed of Xiao Yunjing’s arrival and came out to greet him with Xiao Yuxian.

“Mother, why did you come out?” Xiao Yunjing frowned, stepped forward, bowed to Xiao Yuling, and glanced at Xiao Yuxian beside her.

“This subject greets Your Majesty,” Xiao Yuxian quickly curtsied.

“Aunt, please dispense with the formalities,” Xiao Yunjing said indifferently. This Xiao Yuxian looks a little older than I remember. I never had much interaction with her in my past life or this one, and now Mother has brought her directly into the palace.

“Come, Wan’er, come and greet your cousin, the Emperor.” Seeing her son’s lack of reaction, Xiao Yuling immediately called to Mu Wan’er, who was standing behind him.

Mu Wan’er obediently approached Xiao Yunjing, curtsied gracefully, and said shyly, “Wan’er greets Cousin!”

Xiao Yunjing merely gave her a cursory glance, not even extending a hand, and said flatly, “Rise. No need for such ceremony. Let’s eat.”

I’m just here to eat. I have too much to do; I don’t have time for this mother and daughter. One look at Mu Wan’er and I know what Mother is planning. It seems I’ll have to make it clear to her: in this lifetime, I will marry no one but Li’er. She keeps creating these situations for me, and I’m too tired to deal with them.

“Let’s eat, let’s eat.” Seeing her son showed no interest in Mu Wan’er, Xiao Yuling immediately pulled Mu Wan’er up, and they walked into the dining hall.

The rule was ‘no talking during meals, no conversation in bed.’ Xiao Yunjing didn’t utter a single word throughout the meal. After finishing and wiping his mouth, he bid farewell to Xiao Yuling and the other two and departed.

“This rotten brat!” Xiao Yuling slammed her chopsticks heavily on the table, cursing angrily.

“Don’t be angry. His Majesty is occupied with countless state affairs. It was already a blessing that he could dine with us,” Xiao Yuxian immediately rose to help soothe Xiao Yuling, also giving Mu Wan’er a pointed look.

It seems the Emperor really dislikes us mother and daughter. He didn’t even glance at Wan’er, let alone speak to her. Xiao Yuxian felt a pang of disappointment. But I’ve endured plenty of cold shoulders, so it’s not too upsetting. The one we need to hold onto is Xiao Yuling.

Mu Wan’er also rose and approached Xiao Yuling to comfort her. “Aunt, Wan’er will stay with you.”

Soothed by their comforting words, Xiao Yuling felt much better. She patted Mu Wan’er’s hand. “Wan’er, you’re so sensible. Alright, stay in the palace and keep this tiresome old woman company.”

Mu Wan’er linked her arm through Xiao Yuling’s. “Aunt, you’re not old or tiresome at all! Wan’er likes you the most!”

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