The poor Mu Xiaoxiao continued to willingly work as a laborer.
In the main hall of the Qian Palace, Long Yutian was anxious. "Is Zhao Changping still in the Qibao Palace?"
Xiao Xuanzi hurriedly responded: "Reporting to Your Majesty, she is still there. Mu Cairen has already fallen asleep on the table, but Zhao Changping is still busy."
"Do you believe he is an immortal?" Long Yutian suddenly stopped and asked Xiao Xuanzi.
"This servant originally did not believe in such things, but seeing him fly up, this servant felt like an immortal from a play riding a strange mount, rising into the air," Xiao Xuanzi answered carefully.
Even if not an immortal, he was certainly not an ordinary person, possibly a Taoist from an immortal mountain. But Zhao Changping and Mu Xiaoxiao were extremely close. Since Mu Xiaoxiao was an assassin, was Zhao Changping a friend or foe? Could he be used for oneself, to predict good or bad omens for the Upper Dragon Dynasty?
"Pass down the order: Keep a close watch on Zhao Changping. Report everything he does, says, and everyone he meets."
Xiao Xuanzi bowed and retreated: "Yes."
Mysterious Bedside Flower
At the second watch, Long Yutian received a report that Zhao Changping had also fallen asleep. So Long Yutian quietly went to the Qibao Palace. Opening the door, he saw that Mu Xiaoxiao was not asleep on the table as the servants had reported, but Zhao Changping was sleeping sprawled around the table.
Next to Zhao Changping, a large hole had been dug on the ground, with a big pot set up. The fire had gone out, but something in the pot was still bubbling. On the table were pieces of white iron sheets. It looked more like an ironsmith's smelting hut than a imperial consort's residence!
Long Yutian shook his head, thinking Mu Xiaoxiao had always been shocking, completely defying all logic. Hmm, where was Mu Xiaoxiao? Inquiring with his informants, the little eunuch was terrified but insisted he had seen Mu Xiaoxiao sleeping by the table. Long Yutian entered the inner hall, went around the screen, and saw Mu Xiaoxiao. His heart finally settled, and he quietly exhaled.
There was a flower by the pillow! Chrysanthemum, with a few drops of dew, exuding a fresh fragrance - freshly picked! Someone had been here, just moments ago, possibly even when they entered! Long Yutian's heart turned cold. When had his vigilance become so low? When had he allowed danger to come so close without knowing? He had survived countless battles during the struggle for the throne, and now, was he going to die carelessly on the throne? "No! I absolutely will not allow it!" Long Yutian unconsciously spoke out, looking at Mu Xiaoxiao, saying hatefully: "Mu Xiaoxiao, how many more secrets do you have? Hmph, no matter who you are, no matter how powerful your organization, I will crush you all!"
No one could challenge the emperor's authority, no one!
"Everyone here is an enemy!" These were the words his mother gave him. That time he had planned their accidental meeting. Long Yutian knew clearly how severe the consequences would be, but his mother was ill, and his trusted informants had learned she had been sick for over ten days, refusing medicine. He wanted to see her, to tell her to live for her son, to wait until he could control everything. However, he said nothing and could say nothing. It was then that his mother said this sentence - "Everyone in this palace is an enemy". He didn't know whose hand had or would shed his mother's blood, or his own.
Bizarre Scars 1
Would this seemingly simple Mu Xiaoxiao one day become the executioner who would dethrone him and cut off his limbs? He couldn't be sure, but he dared not take risks!
Bowing in self-reflection, Long Yutian knew he must be more restrained in the future, not moving unless the enemy moves, but keeping his heart clear. As for Zhao Changping, if she could be used, use her; if not, destroy her.
The night wind was quiet, insects chirping softly. The harmony between heaven and earth was low and long. No one noticed the trembling of a banana leaf, no one noticed the dimming of a lamp. The black-clad person came quietly and left quietly, leaving only a fragrant flower in Mu Xiaoxiao's dream.
The flower-clothed person returned. Waking up in the morning, she heard Su Su tell her this news, and Mu Xiaoxiao jumped up excitedly, hastily rubbing her face and running to Ling Yuan. Halfway there, she remembered Zhao Changping and had Su Su notify her.
The flower-clothed person was ill. Extremely pale, eyes lifeless, so tired that they could barely lift a hand, yet still struggling to bow.
Mu Xiaoxiao was angry: "I've already said that you don't need to bow when you see me, have you been treating my words like the wind?"
The flower-clothed person saw Mu Xiaoxiao's distress and care, and their heart was in turmoil. Unable to speak, they could only look up with reddened eyes, full of tears.
"How did you end up like this? Are you sick? Did someone bully you? You became like this after going out of the palace. What did you experience? Why didn't you bring more guards with you? Wuwu..."
Go out of the palace? How could this man-eating place be easily left by a mere performer? Bring guards? Mu Xiaoxiao, you're adorably stupid. "Let me take a look at you," the flower-clothed person gestured for Mu Xiaoxiao to sit beside them.
Mu Xiaoxiao was unusually obedient, sitting close, but her sobs didn't stop, because she saw the flower-clothed person's body - where the blanket didn't cover, the fair skin was black and purple, with deep and shallow scars like centipedes of varying lengths. What about the unseen places? Were they also covered in so many wounds?
Mu Xiaoxiao burst into loud crying: "Flower-clothed person, what exactly have you been through?
In the past, on TV, Xiao Yanzi from “My Fair Princess” left the imperial palace and was caught by a bad boss, subjected to hunger tactics and whip beatings. Could the Flower-Clothed Person have experienced something similar?
Mysterious Scars 2
The Flower-Clothed Person reached out to wipe away her tears, but moving even slightly made all his wounds hurt. He took a sharp breath, lay down, and looked at Mu Xiaoxiao’s tear-stained face, laughing happily. All the pain was because of this silly girl, and all the joy came from her too!
That day, on the grass, Mu Xiaoxiao was so close, her eyelashes fluttering, stirring his heart, making him unable to resist kissing her. The world has never had impenetrable walls, especially when someone is paying close attention. Punishment was inevitable. To protect Mu Xiaoxiao, to preserve the status quo, he had to accept this perverted punishment. For four consecutive days, he stayed in bed, toyed with by that witch-like woman. Mu Xiaoxiao, I am so dirty. The Flower-Clothed Person wanted to cry out but bit his lips, suppressing all words. He wasn’t sure if Mu Xiaoxiao would look down on him, but this was his last warmth, and he dared not gamble.
The Flower-Clothed Person laughed, tears continuously flowing from his eyes. He increasingly hated his own incompetence and this world. Years ago, he was a boy exploited by a fat man, and Long Yutian rescued him. The Flower-Clothed Person once thought everything would be smooth, that he would never again need to please others with his appearance. He thought he could live well. However, the hand of power was not his. That lofty person, with just a smile, decided the entire life of the Flower-Clothed Person.
“We grant you the surname Hua, reward you with the Ling Garden, and give you the most honorable treatment. Do not disappoint our expectations.”
Looking at Mu Xiaoxiao, his heart was filled with bleak despair. When will we be able to be autonomous? This is clearly our own life, so why can’t we decide how to live!!!
I don’t believe it! I cannot believe it!
“Mu Xiaoxiao, do you believe there will be a day when I can decide my own fate?” he mumbled, his voice hoarse.
