Under the cover of darkness, Ming Shu returned to the Heavenly Temple.
âLittle Ci.â
As Ming Shu reached her door, the kind voice of the old master rang from behind her.
Ming Shu raised her smiling face and turned around. âMaster, youâre still awake?â
The old master shook his head and sighed. âYou are too willful, Little Ci, you were not like this before.â
Since the Heavenly Temple had arranged people to protect her, it was natural for the master to know everything Ming Shu had done.
âPeople will change.â Ming Shu laughed. âI canât live in the past forever.â
Of course, the old master knew people would change, but she had changed so radically.
He always feltâŠ
She had changed into another person.
The old master waved his hand slowly, as if he was very tired. âThings have been settled about Princess Rong Hua. Go in and take a rest. If the emperor sends people here to investigate, just cooperate with them and donât fool around. Iâll deal with the person who framed you.â
âOkay,â Ming Shu agreed immediately.
She pushed the door open and walked inside. The old master, however, stood outside for a while before leaving.
The room was just the same as when she left it, but Ming Shu stood still at the door and stared behind the screen.
âHiding in the room of a young lady in the middle of the night, this is not something that a noble lord should do.â
No one answered. Ming Shu waited patiently.
I have plenty of time and patience.
The time for a cup of tea had passed, and the man behind the screen finally lost his patience, turning around to get out.
Wearing the black suit of royal lords, was King Huai.
Ye Cong also came out, following his lord. He didnât dare to look around casually, trying to reduce his presence.
âThe royal princess colluded with an assassin to steal the princess of a country,â King Huai said in a serious tone upon getting out, trying to hold onto the upper hand in this conversation.
Ming Shu raised her eyebrows. âThatâs right. What do you want?â
âTo borrow your room for a while.â At this point, the palace was full of guards, and the Heavenly Temple was the only place that was safe for these two.
Ming Shu widened her smile and her tone became even gentler. âKing Huai, if I should shout aloud right now, what will you do?â
âItâs not good for either of us. You wouldnât want that to happen.â King Huai was still calm. His eyes unintentionally fell on somewhere in the room, and his pupils slightly shrunk, but then returned to normal after a while.
Standing beside him, Ye Cong was very anxious. My lord, thatâs not the right tone for negotiation, okay?! What are you thinking?
âWell, IâŠâ Ming Shu dragged out her words. âIn fact, I donât care much about what would happen, as long as I am happy.â
King Huaiâs cold face changed a bit, finally, but his tone was still the same. âYou can try it.â
Ye Cong: ââŠâ
I always feel these two are going to have a fight.
Lord, we are asking for help now, canât we be a little thankful? Humble?
âHumph.â Ming Shu snorted and went to the table, pouring a cup of tea. âOkay, Iâll try it. Letâs see whom His Majesty will believe.â
Ming Shu drank up the tea in one gulp, smiling.
Surely, King Huai knew that if she really sent up the alarm, then his royal brother would believe the Heavenly Temple, taking the opportunity to eradicate him.
âYour Royal Highness, please donâtâŠâ Ye Cong stopped King Huai in time. He couldnât let his lord continue to ruin this negotiation, so he tried hard to explain: âWe donât mean you any harm, Your Highness, we just need to borrow your place for a while to hide. And since we are not having any direct conflict of interest, thereâs no need for us to worsen our relationship, right?â
The subtext of this sentence was probably: We both know each otherâs âcrime,â so if we turn against each other⊠itâs not good for any of us.
âItâs not me who is worsening our relationship. Itâs your lord whoâs doing it.âWhat an arrogant man! He is asking me for help and hiding in my room, but with that attitude! What does he think my room is? A vegetable market?
Ye Cong whispered to King Huai for a while. Then he walked over to Ming Shu and lowered his voice. âYour Highness, my lord is not a talkative person and meant no harm. Please donât blame him for his words. I want to apologize for our rudeness. Your Highness, could you let us hide here for a little longer?â
Ming Shu smiled, and said very slowly but clearly: âYouâre not welcome here. If you donât get out of my room right now, Iâll call the guards.â
âYour HighnessâŠâ
âNeither of us are innocent. If His Majesty finds out, itâs hard to say who will be punished the worst.â Ming Shu paused. âBut⊠Iâve got the Heavenly Temple at my back. What do you think, Uncle?â
She did lead the assassin to the palace of Princess Rong Hua and helped him take her away, but King Huai also appeared in the palace in the middle of the night, with unclear intentions.
âLetâs go.â
âLordâŠâ
âLeave.â King Huai sounded as cold as a stone.
Ye Cong had to follow King Huai and left Ming Shuâs room.
The Heavenly Temple was quiet, but outside the Heavenly Temple it was not quiet at all. The patrolling guards seemed to be searching everywhere.
âLord, we canât go out right now, there are too many guards outside.â Ye Cong was very worried. If the lord hadnât showed his gloomy face and arrogant attitude, they wouldnât have been put into such a passive situation.
âDid you see that painting?â King Huai suddenly asked.
âPainting?â Ye Cong was a bit confused.
Ye Cong didnât dare to look around at the time. It was the royal princessâs boudoir. Even if she was not the royal princess, she was still a girl. He was a man, and he must behave himself very well in her room, so he didnât notice any painting.
But Ye Cong quickly thought of something. He was a little shocked. âWhy is that painting in her room?â
King Huai stared hard into the direction of the emperorâs palace. âExcept that person, who else could give it to her?â
Ye Cong was frightened a little, then murmured, âHis Majesty is too bold, who would think heâd give the painting to the royal princess.â
King Huai sneered. âThe Heavenly Temple is the safest location.â
Too many secrets were hidden in the Heavenly Temple, so it boasted many powerful top martial artists.
The emperor placed the painting in the Heavenly Temple, which was a smart decision.
âKing Huai, Your Highness.â A voice full of vicissitudes sounded from the darkness.
Ye Cong immediately tensed. He didnât even notice that someone was approaching them, how annoying!
âNo need to be nervous.â The master came out from the darkness, a kindly smile on his face. âYour Highness came to visit this late, I apologize for not welcoming you sooner.â
âNo, I should apologize for my sudden visit.â King Huai spoke like this, but his tone and behavior were not apologetic at all.
âHohoho.â The old master laughed in a low voice. âI remember when you left the capital city, you were still a child. Now so many years have passed.â
King Huai kept silent.
The master stroked his beard and continued: âThe Heavenly Temple is unwilling to be involved in these unnecessary battles.â
King Huai said, âThe Heavenly Temple has never been able to stay out of such disputes.â
The master sighed. âThe Heavenly Temple has guarded the royal family for generations. Itâs a shackle and a fate that cannot be broken for us. But Little Ci, I only want her to live a steady and safe life.â
âAs a prophet, itâs impossible for her to have a stable and safe life.â
âThatâs why I have one thing to ask from you.â Old master suddenly changed the topic.
King Huai was speechless.
There were hundreds of MMP flooding across his mind. He just wanted to maintain his character setting, why was it so hard? What on earth did this old man want to do?!
Couldnât he let me be a cold noble lord quietly?
And that strange royal princess. She always inspired a feeling of familiarity, but he had never seen her beforeâŠ
This is such a bizarre story.
Note: MMP = a popular swear word used online, like WTF.
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