When she awoke, the sun was high, casting a golden hue over the dilapidated palace, making it appear majestic. The once frightening hall had returned to its original state, the pillars still covered in dust and clutter. Xiao Tu was puzzled, sensing something long sealed was about to surface. Perhaps this ‘palace visit’ wasn’t such a bad thing after all.
Rubbing her stomach, she realized she hadn’t eaten since last night. Was this the plan to starve her here? No one had brought food; was this her ‘hospitality’?
Leaving the palace, she found the gate open but guarded. With a resigned smile, she used her invisibility spell to slip past the ‘door gods’ and out of the palace. Outside, there was no one in sight. After wandering aimlessly through the winding corridors, she was drawn by the aroma of food to a charming courtyard.
‘Young Master, please eat more,’ urged an anxious servant boy, his concern evident.
‘No, I really can’t eat anymore,’ came a gentle voice, like a spring breeze, followed by a soft cough. It must be a stunning beauty. Sneaking closer, Xiao Tu saw it was a man, more beautiful than any woman, with delicate features and a slender figure, yet his health seemed fragile, a sickly beauty that inspired pity.
‘Brother, you shouldn’t eat these greasy foods. You should have something lighter.'” Here is the of the Chinese text into English:
Gazing at the table full of delicious dishes, all of which were greasy meat, I remembered what Bai Hua had said when Shui Shui was injured – to eat something light. I was just thinking about it in my heart, but unexpectedly, the words slipped out. Mo Li, who was drinking water, was startled and almost knocked over his cup. A complex look flashed across his eyes. “Who are you, daring to trespass into the ‘Purple Garden’?” the young attendant shouted angrily, determined to protect his young master from further suffering. “Xiao Zhu, don’t be rude. Miss, who might you be?” Mo Li set down his cup, his face full of curiosity. How could there be such a woman in this deep palace?
Xiaotu gave a mischievous smile, “I? I was ‘invited’ by your empress to be a guest, but I got lost.” She emphasized the word ‘invited’ deliberately. Although puzzled, Mo Li did not ask further, and seeing her staring straight at the food on the table, he couldn’t help but laugh. This laugh delighted Xiao Zhu; it had been a long time since the young master had shown such a genuine smile. “Brother, you should smile more often; it’s good for your health,” said Xiaotu, her eyes scanning the serene little courtyard, which was starkly different from the grand imperial palace. Surrounded by opulent palaces, this simple courtyard, though lacking in royal splendor, had a unique charm. This place was truly beautiful, with a natural, unpretentious beauty.
“Gurgle…” An unladylike sound came from her stomach, and Mo Li burst into hearty laughter. This girl was so amusing. Xiaotu’s face flushed red, and she silently cursed her stomach for being so uncooperative. “Miss, if you don’t mind, why not have lunch here? I can’t eat this greasy food anyway; it would be a waste,” Mo Li offered her a way out. Today, he laughed twice, not the false kind, but genuine laughter.
“Sure, sure, thank you, brother.” Xiaotu, who was starving, happily agreed. The meal ended in laughter and chatter. In the afternoon, Xiaotu lazily lay on the lawn, sleepiness creeping upon her. Was last night’s dream real? “Brother, do you know what kind of person the empress is?” she asked, hearing his footsteps, her eyes still closed. His steps paused; Mo Li stood still, unsure how to answer, a bitter smile spreading across his lips. Silence was his response.
Chapter Thirty-Five: The Prince Arrives
Three days had passed since the prince came to the palace. Every night, dreams continued, and she even heard a call in her dreams, feeling something was sprouting within her. Every day, she would invisibly leave the palace to dine with Mo Li. Life was peaceful, enjoying the afternoon sunlight, without seeing the empress, as if she had been forgotten. Yet again, one afternoon, after filling her stomach, she lay on the lawn, staring at the sky, her mind full of doubts.
“Here, have an apple.” Mo Li handed her a washed apple. She took a big bite, closing her eyes in satisfaction. In the sky, a butterfly kite was soaring, its beautiful wings looking pretty. Suddenly, the string snapped, and the kite plummeted, landing beside Xiaotu. Picking up the kite, she examined it closely; it was indeed beautiful. “Brother, look, this kite is really pretty,” she said, showing it to Mo Li.
“Yes, it’s nice. Look, there’s even a heart drawn on it. I bet some young palace maid is lovesick,” Mo Li said, pointing at a pink heart on the kite. Upon closer inspection, there were two names inside the heart: “Xia Yuye, Muyao.” Her hand trembled, dropping the kite. Xia Yuye, Muyao… only these two names echoed in her mind, telling herself it couldn’t be such a coincidence…
“What’s wrong?” Mo Li noticed her pale face.
“Yuye, the kite fell here.” A crisp voice carried a tone of happiness and sweetness.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make you another one,” Xia Yuye said affectionately, stroking Muyao’s hair, making her blush with happiness.
“Princess Ying,” Mo Li recognized the visitor, the empress’s favorite princess, Princess Ying. Muyao thought she was addressing a concubine from the cold palace and said, “I’m here to get the kite.” She then took Xia Yuye’s arm and walked into the courtyard. Their eyes met, and he felt that familiar sensation again, a name flashed through his mind, “Doll”… Who was “Doll”? Who…?
Meeting her for the second time, he saw her happy face, his gaze filled with indulgence, yet he felt a pang of pain in his heart. “Miss, we meet again. I didn’t expect it to be such a coincidence; you’re the guest the empress ‘invited’ into the palace, right?” There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice, emphasizing the word ‘invited’.
“Yes, I’ve truly come to understand the hospitality of your royal family,” Xiaotu retorted with a sweet smile, not one to be easily intimidated.
“Different people receive different hospitality,” he said, a bit frustrated, but as he spoke, a breeze carrying the scent of cherry blossoms blew by, and a crisp slap resounded. A handprint appeared on the beautiful face. Mo Li laughed; he hadn’t expected the seemingly gentle Xiaotu to have a fiery side.
“Ouch… it hurts, Yuye, it hurts,” Muyao cried, covering her face and leaning into Xia Yuye’s embrace, sobbing. She was a princess, how could she stand such an insult, but with Xia Yuye there, she couldn’t retaliate.
“You’ve gone too far. Guards, by my order as the prince consort, get out of the palace!” Xia Yuye said angrily, his instinct telling him she was not safe here. Why not use this opportunity to send her away? His protective instincts kicked in.
“No, Yuye, she was invited by the empress,” Muyao said with tearful eyes.
“Haha, how funny, I don’t want to leave,” Xiaotu replied, determined to get to the bottom of this. The word “prince consort” deeply hurt her.
“Why is it so lively here today?” Here is the English of the provided Chinese text:
A stern female voice rang out, and the confused face turned pale. Mu Yao also stopped crying, and a gleam of triumph flashed in her eyes. “Mother Empress.” Like a butterfly, Mu Yao ran towards the noble Empress not far away. The grand procession was imposing, with a host of maids following. Murong Youxue, dressed in a splendid golden robe, appeared before everyone, her nobility not lacking in grace, truly exuding the aura of royalty.
“Yao’er, what happened to you?” Seeing her beloved daughter upset, she couldn’t help but feel angry.
“You must be the Empress,” Xiaotu approached Murong Youxue and said.
