Before long,the Palace Mistress had heard all about the family of Cheng Biyuan, includingall the news that had stirred up everyone recently, and all about the meetingbetween Gong Zixuan and Cheng Xiao Xiao.
Afterlistening to all of it, the Palace Mistress was quiet for a long while. AndGone Zixuan did not disturb her. The entire study was quiet.
After a longwhile, the Palace Mistress looked up, started at her daughter Gong Zixuan andasked, âXuanâer, what about you? Whatâs your take on all this?â
âMom, Idonât necessarily think we need to find out all the details. Everybody hastheir own secrets, including us at the Palace of Mystical Beasts. From anoutsiderâs standpoint, arenât we full of mysteries as well? But we donât shareevery details with everyone.â
âUh,Xuanâer, you are quite right. No matter how the maiden Cheng became a masterbeast tamer, thatâs her secret and thatâs no need for us to get to the bottomof it. That will certainly be offensive!â
The palacemistressâs beautiful eyes sparkled and a gentle smile appeared on her jade-likeface, âIt looks like my Xuanâer had found herself a good sister on her trip!â
âMy hunchsays that little sister Xiao Xiao is a nice girl, not someone evil!â smiledGone Zixuan tenderly, confidence filled her eyes.
âMom believesin you!â Naturally the palace mistress knew about her daughterâs secret1, sheasked, âOh right, didnât you say maiden Cheng gave you a gift? Take it out so Ican take a look!â
âYes, mom!â
From herdimension bracelet, Gong Zixuan retrieved a bright and shiny jade vine thatlooked like it has just been cut off from a the tree branch. Surprised flashedthrough the palace mistressâs eyes, âThe mystical qi on this vine is strong, this is no normal vine!â
âYes, mom, Ialso feel that this vine is full of life. No, I should say that it is a life.Anyhow, it gives me that sensation!â said Gone Zixuan seriously.\nâXuanâer youare definitely right, I have the same feeling as well!â The palace mistresspicked up the vine and said, âThat is quite mysterious that the maiden Chengwill possess such items!â
âI agree,mom. She told me when I am in grave danger, this vine can help me, or save mylife, I wonder if that is true!â
âThat iscertainly possible!â nodded the palace mistress, âRegardless, this is verythoughtful on her part, thatâs all you need to remember!â
âIunderstand, mom!â
âPalaceMistress, mistress, if young master Mo knows that Miss Cheng has these kind ofvines, I am sure he will be very interested!â interjected Junâer all of asudden.
âMo Xuanzun?Hmmm, as a marvelous mathematician who can predict the future, and his affinitytoward anything odd or unusual, he just might go look for Cheng Xiao Xiao!â
âHo ho hoâŠ.âWhen Mo Xuanzun of the Temple of Heavenly Plans were brought up, Gone Zixuancouldnât help but smiled with her hand over her mouth, âI wish he knows aboutit, itâd be quite interesting if he indeed goes looking for little sister XiaoXiao!â
âOh,Xuanâer, you will let him go looking for her?â teased the palace mistress.
âMomâŠâ GongZixuan wasnât smiling any more, âMom, you know I have only thought of MoXuanzun as a brother. Will you please stop worrying? My little sister Xiao Xiaoisnât bad. Maybe they will hit it off!â
âPalaceMistress, I feel that Miss Cheng and Mr. Mo will make a good couple!â
Notexpecting that to come so abruptly from Junâer, the palace mistress and herdaughter couldnât help but to exchange a look, they felt both surprised andinteresting about her statement.
âOh, why doyou say that?â asked Gong Zixuan.
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Note:
1.           What secret is this? đ
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