175: Inside and outside the palace gates

"Your Majesty, Lord Montoya has been in that person's room ever since they boarded the ship."

Peng Tianyu spoke with the utmost respect.

It was no wonder Kong Jiamu couldn't get the video call authorization from him; he needed to report to The Emperor himself.

The lights in the bedchamber were dim. Numerous attendants stood inside, but all were standing silently with their heads bowed; not a single sound was made.

Layers upon layers of gauze curtains partially hid the bed. One could only vaguely see someone leaning back against the bed, while another person knelt by the bedside.

"Heh."

A faint chuckle drifted out from behind the gauze curtains. The man lying on the bed, the master of the Empire, Emperor Haoyuan, Long Jingyuan, teased his subordinate.

"Well? Now that you've seen it with your own eyes, do you believe it?"

"I thank Your Majesty for the fulfillment. I truly did not expect Lord Montoya to be so filled with such gain and loss."

"That's enough. I see he doesn't know much, otherwise... you might not have been able to bring the person back to me."

The Emperor showed a dangerous expression. The attendant serving him medicine lowered their head cautiously, not wishing to know too much.

"You may leave."

The attendant carried the tray and exited gracefully from within the bed curtains.

"Your Majesty, you spoil Lord Montoya and Master Kong too much..." Peng Tianyu was deeply worried. Braving the disapproving gaze of the Palace Steward, he spoke up to advise The Emperor.

He didn't believe The Emperor should worry so much about those two's private affairs.

The Emperor did not get angry at his overstepping. Instead, he quipped with some amusement, "Fine, I spoil you a lot too."

Captain Peng, who usually looked cold and gloomy, instantly flushed red. He performed a salute and said no more.

The Emperor's words meant the topic was over.

He did not accept his subordinate's counsel.

"Your Majesty..."

The Steward took the communicator handed over by an attendant and reported softly.

"A communication request from Master Kong."

The Emperor acted as if he hadn't heard, his fingers wearing the power ring tapping lightly on the edge of the bed.

There was no wind in the room, and the incense smoke rose straight up. The Steward waited silently for a moment before retreating to his original position, handing the communicator back to the attendant with a gentle wave of his hand.

The Peacock, who was waiting on the small planet, only saw the polite, smiling face of an attendant when the video call connected.

"His Majesty is unavailable at the moment."

"Then when will he be available?"

The Peacock was just that flashy and aggressive. Having grown up by The Emperor's side, he was very familiar with all the attendants.

But the young attendant only smiled at him apologetically and did not answer his question.

"Fine! Xiao Nan! You're starting to play tricks on me now, aren't you!"

Kong Jiamu pointed at him, incredulous.

This Xiao Nan gave a bitter smile and looked at him pleadingly. What else could Kong Jiamu do? He could only hang up the video call in a huff, planning to return to the Capital City as soon as possible even if the matter at hand hadn't reached a conclusion.

***

The starship's speed was astonishing, and Xiuyin Star was not far from the Capital.

In just two days, Tu Nan had already set foot on the Capital Star.

As soon as the hatch opened, a cold wind whistled in.

It was winter here, and large snowflakes were drifting in the sky. Tu Nan was caught off guard.

"Please, the car sent by the palace has arrived."

Captain Peng signaled for the group to disembark and change vehicles.

The members of the Imperial Guard were still dressed as before, seemingly unafraid of the cold. A line of red figures filed out from the starship.

"She hasn't fixed her appearance yet. How can she meet His Majesty so carelessly? It's not proper."

Peng Tianyu didn't care. "We can't keep His Majesty waiting. She can wash up once we're in the palace."

Hain frowned. Why was he so casual? Even if The Emperor was in a hurry, the Steward wouldn't let a noble be so rude.

But it wasn't appropriate for him to argue with this man. Peng Tianyu, this martial brute, had never liked him... don't think he couldn't tell.

"Wait a moment." He opened his luggage, took out a thick white cloak, wrapped it around Tu Nan, and adjusted the ties for her.

He then took out a coat to wrap the Two Children in and held them in his arms.

Only then did he nod.

"Let's go."

Tu Nan smiled gratefully.

The group finally got into the car and drove toward the palace.

***

The palace grounds were vast, but it was essentially a forest or garden interspersed with a few palaces.

The upward curve of the palace eaves and the arched lines of the roof ridges were all exceptionally familiar to Tu Nan.

The essence of traditional Eastern culture definitely flowed through this place.

As they walked toward a warm pavilion, a guard officer came out to greet them with a smile, first greeting Hain.

This was the one who had spoken with Kong Jiamu earlier.

"Lord, you have returned." His way of addressing Hain showed a close relationship between them.

"Yifei." Hain's expression relaxed slightly. "Are you on duty today?"

Nan Yifei nodded with a smile, clearly having a very close relationship with Hain.

After a brief exchange with Hain, he then looked at Peng Tianyu and relayed the order: "Captain Peng, His Majesty says you've worked hard. He wants you to go back and rest today; come back tomorrow to report."

Peng Tianyu nodded and left without a word.

"This must be Miss Tu Nan." Nan Yifei turned his gaze toward Tu Nan, smiling broadly. "It's been a long journey. Please follow me."

Tu Nan asked in confusion, "Me... alone?"

Nan Yifei clasped his hands and bowed slightly, both answering her and explaining to Hain.

"His Majesty only summoned you." Looking at the Two Children standing beside her and the worried Hain, he smiled and revealed a bit of information to Hain.

"Don't worry, the location is the Evernight Garden."

Hain breathed a sigh of relief and comforted Tu Nan: "If it's in the garden, it's not a formal audience, and it won't be long. I expect His Majesty just felt like summoning you for a chat."

"I'll wait here with the two little ones. Go on."

No matter how worried Hain was, he suppressed his emotions now, hoping to keep Tu Nan calm.

"Wait for me, babies." Tu Nan knelt down, kissed the two little cuties' cheeks, and instructed them in her mind.

[Don't cause trouble here, okay? Be good and listen to Father Hain.]

The two little ones reluctantly let her go and turned to hug Hain's legs.

Tu Nan followed Nan Yifei deeper into the palace.

Gardens appeared one after another, and harmless animals gradually began to appear on both sides of the road... real animals. Deer, sheep, swans, and such.

There were also cats.

Tu Nan had already seen several cats, some agile and some plump, running through the snow from one warm pavilion to another.

Seeing her attention drawn to these small animals, Nan Yifei, who was leading the way, explained: "These are all the Empress Dowager's preferences. She said the palace would be too lonely without Children, so she had to raise more small animals to keep her company."

Nan Yifei was very friendly toward Hain, so perhaps he would be willing to say a few more words. Tu Nan tried to strike up a conversation.

"In such a large palace, are there no Children?" She already knew The Emperor had no heir, so she naturally didn't dare to bring the topic directly to him.

Nan Yifei smiled. "Perhaps the Empress Dowager would like to see your Children." He diverted the topic flawlessly and didn't speak again until he pushed open a courtyard gate woven from hedges.

A large field of deep blue flowers was blooming in the snow.

A hot spring pool was lazily emitting steam.

Beside the hot spring, a small pavilion stood.

"Please wait in the pavilion for a moment while I go to inform His Majesty."

Nan Yifei bowed and withdrew.

Snow covered the path. As Tu Nan walked past, she left one footprint after another on the clean snow.

It seemed she was the first guest here.

Today.