496: Overnight stay at an inn

Mysterious Clarity Master slightly cupped his hands in salute, his tone still respectful yet carrying the certainty of a completed mission:

"Your Majesty is wise. This humble official will certainly report truthfully to City Lord Situ. Thus, may Your Majesty be at peace, may the Empress be at peace, may the Northern Frontier be at peace, and may the Tianqi Dynasty also be at peace."

Having said this, he spoke no more, nor did he linger any longer. He turned and walked towards the exit of the Imperial Study, his steps steady, never looking back.

The door of the Imperial Study was gently closed by the palace attendant, cutting off the chill and clamor from inside and out. The hall once again fell into silence, yet this silence felt even more oppressive than before.

Li Xuan sat on the Dragon Throne, looking at the memorials scattered across the floor and the empty doorway. Suddenly, he swept his sleeve, knocking all the brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, teacups, and porcelain on the imperial desk to the ground.

"Clang—Crash—"

The sound of shattering porcelain echoed particularly harshly in the spacious hall, intertwining with the gradually rising wind and snow outside the window, making it all the more desolate.

The inkstone shattered, ink splattered everywhere, staining the bright yellow carpet black, much like the venomous resentment in his heart at this moment.

"Situ Jun... You dare threaten me, dare covet my Empress, dare ride roughshod over me..."

He growled in a low voice, his voice hoarse and trembling, his eyes filled with venomous resentment and unwillingness, almost overflowing:

"You just wait! The humiliation of today, I will repay a hundredfold! Once my national fortune recovers and the court situation stabilizes, I will make you pay a painful price for your actions today! I will definitely report to the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty about you concealing your Cultivation, and I will definitely have you torn to pieces! Die a miserable death!"

But after the anger, only endless helplessness remained.

He slumped on the Dragon Throne, looking at the mess on the floor, his eyes filled with exhaustion and despair.

He knew well that, as he was now, he still couldn't touch Situ Jun. He could only endure for the time being, burying this humiliation and unwillingness deep in his heart, waiting for another day... Over at Kunning Palace, Liu Airu strolled in the Imperial Garden for a while before feeling physically and mentally exhausted. She no longer had the heart to wander and, leaning on Xiao He's support, slowly returned to her bedchamber.

Just as she sat down on the soft couch, Xiao He brought over a cup of warm, clear tea. She had just taken the teacup, not yet taking a sip, when another personal maid hurried in, looking flustered and slightly out of breath, as if eager to report something.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"

The maid quickly approached, lowering her voice with a sense of urgency:

"Just now, this Servant Girl heard from a little eunuch in the Imperial Study that Daoist Mysterious Clarity Master just went to see His Majesty. When he came out, his expression was grave. His Majesty flew into a rage inside the hall, smashing many things. The commotion was huge!"

Liu Airu's heart tightened. The teacup in her hand nearly slipped, and scalding tea splashed onto her fingertips, yet she didn't notice at all. She only felt icy cold all over, spreading from her fingertips to the depths of her heart.

"Mysterious Clarity Master? He went to see His Majesty?"

She instantly understood: it must be that Situ Jun, before leaving, entrusted Mysterious Clarity Master, and Mysterious Clarity Master had gone to fulfill that promise, persuading Li Xuan to stay away from her and protect her safety.

A complex mix of emotions instantly surged in her heart: gratitude, warmth, and also worry.

After all, for her sake, he was willing to oppose the ruler, willing to risk offending Li Xuan, just to hold up a stable haven for her within this deep palace.

He had left, yet he still remembered her safety, still arranged everything for her.

But such an act was like adding fuel to the fire. It would only make Li Xuan more suspicious of her, more resentful of Situ Jun, and would also leave her increasingly isolated and helpless within this deep palace.

"Your Highness, are you alright? Why is your face so pale?"

Seeing Liu Airu's pale face and cold fingertips, Xiao He quickly stepped forward to support her, her face full of concern.

Liu Airu shook her head, raised her hand to press against her chest. There, her heart was beating rapidly. Sourness and warmth intertwined, welling up in her eyes, making the tip of her nose slightly ache.

She gently pushed Xiao He away, slowly closed her eyes, and once again, the affectionate image of Situ Jun before his departure surfaced in her mind.

Tears quietly slid down, dripping onto the back of her hand. The warm liquid soaked her sleeve... Dusk gathered, the setting sun like blood, dyeing the trees along the Official Road a mournfully brilliant orange-red.

Situ Jun's group of Spirit Beast carriages traveled for a day and, before nightfall, slowly stopped in front of an inn named 'Mingyan Lou'.

This place was already a thousand li outside the Tianqi imperial city, far from the capital's bustle and oppression. The surroundings gradually showed the rugged features of the Northern Frontier.

Though not top-tier, the inn was clean and tidy, with upturned eaves and corners, exuding a sense of ancient tranquility in the dusk.

Because Situ Jun's group had a heavy, imposing aura and natural pressure around them, the Innkeeper and Waiters had already been properly arranged by the Guards in advance, not daring to show the slightest neglect. They had long prepared the two best upper rooms, one for Situ Jun and one for Xia Wei. The remaining Guards were dispersed to guard inside and outside the inn, maintaining strict vigilance.

"City Lord, it's getting late. Let's rest here tonight and set off again early tomorrow morning," the Guard Captain, Iron Tiger Wang, requested in a low voice.

Situ Jun lifted the curtain and stepped down from the carriage. His dark robe outlined his tall figure in the dusk. He swept his gaze over the inn and nodded slightly:

"Mm, give the order: maintain strict vigilance, no mistakes allowed."

"Yes!" Iron Tiger Wang acknowledged the order and immediately arranged the personnel.

Xia Wei also slowly stepped down from the carriage with the support of her maid. She wore a light green palace dress, the skirt hanging gently, her figure slender and graceful, her steps light, like Cui Zhu swaying in the wind, pure and elegant.

Perhaps due to a day of tiring jostling, her hair was slightly disheveled, and her face looked somewhat pale, which only added to her delicate, pitiable beauty. This attracted a few covert glances from guests in the inn, but upon meeting the Guards' icy stares, they hurriedly averted their eyes, not daring to look again.

Situ Jun glanced at her, his tone flat:

"It's been a tiring journey. Go back to your room and rest first. Later, I'll have someone send some food over."

"Thank you for your concern, City Lord."

Xia Wei curtsied, her voice soft, carrying a hint of gratitude. Her gaze secretly swept over his deep profile, her heart slightly stirred. Then, following her maid, she lightly went upstairs and entered the guest room on the west side.

Her room was elegantly furnished. By the window stood a Pearwood Dressing Table. In the corner stood a Carved Wardrobe. The bed was covered with clean, plain bedding. The air still carried a faint scent of incense. Though not as luxurious as the palace, it was warm and comfortable.

In the corner, an oil lamp burned, its dim yellow glow filling the room, dispelling some of the chill.

Xia Wei stood in the room, looking around, a hundred emotions mingling in her heart.

Having entered the palace for twenty years, she had been like a bird trapped in a gilded cage.

Now, she could follow Situ Jun, far away from that man-eating deep palace. Though the road ahead was unknown, it also gave rise to a longing for freedom within her.

"Your Highness, hot water is ready. You may bathe and rest," came the respectful voice of a maid from outside the door.

"Come in," Xia Wei collected her thoughts and replied softly.

Two maids entered carrying two large buckets of steaming hot water. They poured the water into the Carved Bathtub in the center of the room.

The tub walls were carved with Intertwining Lotus Patterns. As the hot water poured in, steam rose, instantly filling the entire room with warmth.

The maids also scattered a few dried flower petals and Spiritual Plants. The air immediately filled with an elegant floral fragrance.

"You may leave. I can manage myself," Xia Wei instructed.

"Yes," the maids respectfully withdrew, gently closing the door.

Left alone in the room, Xia Wei slowly let out a sigh of relief. The jostling in the carriage had covered her with dust, and coupled with the tension in her heart, she finally could rest a little now, feeling utterly exhausted.

She walked to the window, pushed it half open. The evening breeze, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees and a faint smell of dust, rushed in, stirring the stray hairs at her temples and dispelling some of the heaviness.

Outside the window, dusk deepened. The last trace of afterglow on the horizon faded, and stars quietly climbed into the night sky, cold and bright.

Gazing at the distant, hazy mountains, she thought of the icy coldness of the Tianqi deep palace, of Li Xuan's indifference and suspicion, and then of Situ Jun's strength and forthrightness. A mix of feelings churned in her heart: relief at escaping, but also anxiety about the future.

Coming back to her senses, she slowly walked to the bathtub, reached out to test the water temperature. It was warm and suitable, steam rising in wisps.

She raised her hand, gently untied the sash of her light green palace dress. The garment slipped off, as if shedding a layer of restraint.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating her figure.