Chapter 32

Zhuo Qing's long hair was already coiled into a bun. Now that she had removed the hat and paired it with the deep blue long robe, she looked even more like a handsome young man. Lou Xiyan was satisfied to keep her by his side and chuckled lightly: "You just need to stay obediently by my side later and keep your head down." Her eyes were too clear and too sharp; they were not the eyes a servant would have. As long as she did not make eye contact with anyone, it would be fine.

Zhuo Qing groaned and whispered: "I... will try my best." Recalling Xiao Liuzi's appearance earlier, Zhuo Qing admitted that she could never learn that in a lifetime; she could only... try her best...

"Let's go." Compared to Zhuo Qing's dejection, Lou Xiyan appeared quite at ease. He led Zhuo Qing toward the direction of the Great Hall, though he did not expect at this moment that tonight would be so restless...

Outside Ganyang Hall

Zhuo Qing kept her head down, following at Lou Xiyan's side. After walking for less than ten minutes, she heard the bustling, noisy sounds coming from ahead. Zhuo Qing looked up and saw palace lanterns swirling and candles burning brightly in the distance, with a magnificent and majestic Great Hall standing before her. This palace occupied a large area; it felt even more majestic than the architecture of the Beijing Forbidden City. Or rather, when looking at the Forbidden City, it was with the mindset of a tourist; with the passage of time, one could no longer feel that royal aura. Now, looking at the palace before her, the palace maids, eunuchs, guards, and ministers were all so real that Zhuo Qing inexplicably felt a sense of trance.

Lou Xiyan held Zhuo Qing's hand lightly and asked in a low voice: "What's wrong? Are you uncomfortable?"

Zhuo Qing shook her head and sighed: "No, just a bit tired." Recalling herself when she toured the Forbidden City and looking at herself now, the twists of fate could be bizarre to such an extent!

Seeing her mood suddenly drop and exhaustion appearing in her eyes, Lou Xiyan said softly: "Soon. Once the banquet is halfway through, we will leave."

Lou Xiyan's gentle comfort made Zhuo Qing smile. Wasn't she always one to adapt to circumstances? Since it was already a settled fact, why be sentimental?! Taking a secret breath, Zhuo Qing stepped forward easily and replied as she walked: "I'm fine, let's go. Don't worry, I will remember to keep my head down."

Lou Xiyan chuckled. He really shouldn't have let her pose as a servant, because no servant would walk in front of their master! She would never learn how to be a servant, and he did not need her to be one.

The two walked all the way, and many ministers who had arrived early were already gathered in front of the Great Hall, exchanging greetings. Seeing Lou Xiyan approach, they immediately cleared a path and bowed in greeting one after another. Lou Xiyan nodded in return to each one and walked toward the hall entrance. Zhuo Qing kept her head slightly lowered, walking forward boredly, until a pair of pure black boots stopped before her eyes.

"General Su," Lou Xiyan's unique deep voice sounded with a smile.

"Prime Minister Lou," the cold, low voice made one tremble for no reason.

"General Su's return from the northern patrol is truly a meritorious service." Lou Xiyan chatted with the owner of the black boots. Zhuo Qing, whose lowered eyes were about to close, suddenly opened them. General Su? The man who possessed the third young lady of the Qing family? Zhuo Qing could not help but lift her head slightly, wanting to take a close look at this legendary, mighty general who traversed the Six Kingdoms!

This man could not be called handsome; his physique was extremely robust and tall, actually half a head taller than Lou Xiyan. His bronze skin and satin-like black hair were wildly half-tied behind his head, wearing neither a hair crown nor a long hairpin. With sword-like brows and star-like eyes, his chiseled, stone-carved face highlighted his uninhibited personality. Dressed in a dark gray robe with no accessories on his body, he looked so simple compared to the meticulously dressed officials at the banquet that it didn't seem like he was there to attend a feast. However, there are always some people in this world who, even without the reflection of fine clothing, still make people afraid to ignore them. That heroic and unruly spirit, tempered by long years on the battlefield and washed by blood and rain, could not be covered up no matter what.

There was not much expression on Su Ling's resolute face; he merely replied casually: "Prime Minister Lou is too kind, it is merely my duty."

Just as he was speaking, he suddenly looked sharply in the direction where Zhuo Qing was. Zhuo Qing was so startled that she quickly lowered her head. It was over; she had already looked very discreetly, and even that was discovered?

Lou Xiyan's usual low chuckle sounded in front of her: "General Su, please."

As far as the eye could see, there were only Lou Xiyan and his guard. Su Ling coldly withdrew his gaze, but the strange feeling in his heart did not dissipate. He had clearly felt a prying gaze just now, but unfortunately, he had let the person hide.

"Please." Together with Lou Xiyan, the two stepped into the hall.

Fortunately, Lou Xiyan blocked her in time. Zhuo Qing breathed a sigh of relief. What a sharp gaze, what an imposing aura. If Gu Yun was the third young lady of the Qing family, and she encountered this man who could make people tremble with just a single look, the result... may the Heavens bless her!

Lou Xiyan and Su Ling entered the hall one after another, and the civil and military officials followed behind them. Inside and outside the entire Ganyang Hall, palace maids and eunuchs were busy moving back and forth. Two women dressed as palace maids hid one after another behind a large stone pillar outside the hall, peering inside from time to time, their behavior truly suspicious.

"Princess, it is inappropriate for us to go to this occasion. You are even dressed like this; if the Emperor blames us..." Princess Zhaoyang's personal maid, Xiao Lian, had a worried face, looking at the Princess who was dressed exactly like her, her heart pounding. From the afternoon until now, her mouth had gone dry from talking, but the Princess ignored her completely. What was to be done?!

Yan Ruxuan's eyes were fixed only on that tall, slender figure disappearing at the entrance of the Great Hall, and she replied indifferently: "There are so many people at the palace banquet, the Imperial Brother will not notice me at all."

She knew the Princess would say that. Following the Princess's gaze, there was no need to guess who she would see. Xiao Lian's eyes lit up, and she whispered: "Princess, why not let this servant wait outside the hall? Once the Prime Minister comes out after the banquet, this servant will immediately invite him to Qingxuan Hall. You don't have to go in!" Wasn't the Princess here for the Prime Minister? As long as she could persuade this little ancestor, she would do anything!

Without hiding the sorrow in her eyes, Yan Ruxuan replied weakly: "If he were willing to go, he would have gone long ago." He had not stepped into Qingxuan Hall for a long time. Sometimes she really wanted to ask him, why? Did he really dislike her that much? But every time she met his cold, clear eyes, she could not ask, fearing that his answer would be something she could not bear.

Xiao Lian pulled her hem tightly, and Yan Ruxuan said impatiently: "Enough, if you are afraid, go back to the palace."

Hearing the Princess's annoyance, Xiao Lian quickly whispered: "What is the Princess saying? This servant will go wherever the Princess goes!" She was the Princess's personal maid; if something happened to her master, could she, the personal maid, escape it?!

Nodding with relief and grabbing Xiao Lian's hand, Yan Ruxuan took a deep breath and said: "Alright then, let's go in now." She needed someone to give her courage!

Xiao Lian groaned in her heart, but there was no other way; she could only follow the Princess into the bustling Ganyang Hall!

The two pretended to be calm and followed behind a group of palace maids entering to serve. Xiao Lian pulled Yan Ruxuan to stand at the very back of the palace hall. After looking around for a while, Xiao Lian whispered happily: "Princess, look, the Prime Minister is there."

(End of chapter)