Chapter 162: Turmoil Within the Palace

The State of Wu is a wondrous and profoundly hidden realm, and its royal family has for generations pursued a forbidden art—one capable of awakening the Undead Army sealed deep within the monarch’s forbidden grounds.

Ancient texts of Wu record that the forbidden art required to rouse the Undead Army can only be channeled by a blind maiden. Not only is she able to awaken the immortal soldiers, but she can also elevate the ancestral soul-summoning technique practiced by the royal bloodline.

"Your Majesty, now that the blind maiden has been found, we no longer need to fear the invasion of the Ji State. On the contrary, with the aid of the Undead Army, unifying the realm will be effortlessly within our grasp," the counselor said.

Yet his words evoked no resonance in Zuoqiu Liye. He kept his gaze fixed upon the documents in his hands, his peerless countenance under the lamplight carrying a trace of icy detachment.

Seeing that he offered no reply, the counselor immediately realized his own overstepping. None who attained a position before the monarch were foolish or arrogant; that modicum of discernment was essential.

"It was merely my tongue running away with me just now. I pray Your Majesty will not take offense." The man was quite smooth. Though aware he might have displeased Zuoqiu Liye, he did not lower his head to yield, appearing rather daring.

Hearing this, Zuoqiu Liye closed the documents in his hands, his fox-like eyes sweeping over him. "Did I bring a blind maiden back with me on this journey, Lord Yan?"

His little Xue was no longer a blind maiden now...

The following day, the Zuoqiu Palace was abuzz with discussion. Their monarch had actually brought a woman back to the palace. That very night, she was assigned to Wangchen Palace—the residence directly adjacent to the monarch's own Richen Palace, which was sufficient proof of the high regard the sovereign held for her.

Among the consorts of the Zuoqiu Palace, the most powerful and favored was undoubtedly Lady Lüqi. Not only did she reign supreme within the harem, but more importantly, she was capable of handling affairs for the monarch. Yet now that Lady Lüqi was away from the palace, it seemed her standing would inevitably be supplanted by this mysterious woman.

Regarding the sudden arrival of this enigmatic woman, the consorts in the palace were consumed with curiosity.

After all, apart from the one residing in Chenxi Palace, there seemed to be no other woman who could command such deep concern from the monarch.

Even toward Lady Lüqi, the sovereign had always maintained a lukewarm demeanor, though compared to the other consorts in the Zuoqiu Palace, that alone was already an immense grace.

Of the shifting currents within the Zuoqiu Palace, Xue Xue remained entirely oblivious. What she plotted now was naturally how to obtain the holy medicine; once secured, she was resolved to leave this cage and return to Ziqing's side.

She rose early that morning. The maids of Wangchen Palace proved exceedingly deft, entering early to attend to her dressing and hair-combing.

Her garments appeared to have been prepared in advance; a set of deep purple ceremonial robes and a set of gently elegant cyan gowns were presented before her.

"My Lady, see which set you prefer to wear." Daijuan held up the two sets of garments for her to choose.

"I care nothing for these worldly externals." Xue Xue shook her head. As for what to wear, she had no preference whatsoever; even clad in coarse burlap and hemp, it could not conceal the reality that she was currently trapped within the palace of the State of Wu.

Daijuan understood instantly, selecting the pale cyan gown to leave behind.

"Does your monarch impose any restrictions upon me as a guest? Are there things I cannot do or places I cannot go..."

"There have been no such commands thus far. However, if My Lady has any important matters to discuss with the monarch, you need only instruct us maidservants to report it," Daijuan replied, her words and demeanor thoroughly respectful, devoid of the slightest contempt for a woman who had just arrived at the Zuoqiu Palace with an unknown background.

Is that so? Then could this imply she was free within the Zuoqiu Palace, save for the inability to leave its walls?

With the arrival of daylight, she finally discerned the true appearance of Wangchen Palace. The structures were gorgeously opulent yet everywhere breathed an air of quiet elegance.

This Wangchen Palace must have been decorated with exhaustive devotion...

She did not linger long within the courtyard. Sure enough, she smoothly stepped out of Wangchen Palace, and the guards stationed at the palace gates did not block her path. However, the handful of maids trailing behind her could not be shaken off; they followed closely at her heels, lowering their heads to revere her as their mistress rather than a captive.

Xue Xue closely surveyed the layout of the Zuoqiu Palace. Though she appeared to be wandering aimlessly, she was actually searching for a way out. She could not simply sit and wait for death, waiting for Zuoqiu Liye to hand the holy medicine over to her. Instead, she could take the initiative...

Yet before she had wandered for long, she encountered two female consorts approaching from ahead.

They were exquisitely attired, their grooming ranging from the understated to the utterly alluring.

The two consorts likely spotted her as well—no, to be precise, they had clearly come for her.

As they finally drew closer, those two pairs of eyes held a hint of probing inquiry.

"This maid pays respects to Your Ladyships." Daijuan took the lead in breaking the pair's scrutiny of Xue Xue.

"It is Daijuan. You are a capable aide by the monarch's side. Now you are..." The alluring consort looked at Daijuan, her tone moderate.

"This maid is simply fulfilling her duties," Daijuan said steadily, her words meticulous.

"To have Aunt Daijuan attend to her is truly this young lady's good fortune." The delicate-featured consort glanced at Xue Xue, who remained silent. The woman looked quite extraordinary, showing not the slightest timidity upon meeting two consorts of the harem. "I wonder of which noble house this young lady is the daughter?"

"Your Ladyship, that is not something you ought to ask," Daijuan retorted, lifting her head with a chilling tone.

"Do not be angry, Aunt. This consort was merely asking casually..." the delicate-featured consort said awkwardly.

"You younger sister do not know, but I hear the maids in Wangchen Palace all address her as Lady Ji," the alluring consort remarked, her tone thick with malicious embellishment.

"Lady Ji? Is that a rank bestowed by the monarch?"

"Not at all. Ji is my husband's surname, so it is only proper they address me as Lady Ji." Xue Xue watched the two women singing in harmony before her. If they were not tired of putting on a show, she was certainly tired of watching them.

They merely wished to discover her background, so she would simply tell them outright.

She was a married woman and posed no threat to them whatsoever.

Hearing this, the two consorts seemed startled by her reply. They presumably never expected their monarch to bring a married woman back to the palace, let alone one who would state her own identity with such unblushing justification.

Having spoken, Xue Xue brushed past them directly, refusing to exchange further words.

The two consorts watched the receding figure of Xue Xue and her retinue, their faces flashing with schadenfreude.

"Just a married woman, yet she dares harbor delusions of ascending the branch to become a phoenix," the alluring consort scoffed disdainfully, a surge of jealousy rising within her at the sight of Xue Xue being surrounded and fawned upon by maids.

"Hmph, not even looking to see what weight she carries. If the one in Chenxi Palace discovers this, I fear this married 'Lady Ji' will meet a wretched end." The delicate-featured face twisted slightly into a grimace of malice.

Xue Xue wandered about the Zuoqiu Palace for a while longer, yet found nothing of strategic advantage.

For the next few days, she continued to stroll through the palace grounds, while Zuoqiu Liye seemed to have forgotten her entirely; she did not lay eyes upon him once.

It was not until her fifth day in the Zuoqiu Palace, shortly after she finished her morning meal, that Zuoqiu Liye slowly materialized before her.

She had been resting her head on her hand atop a chaise longue, lost in thought with a half-opened book resting on her knees, its pages rustling softly in the breeze.

Only when a pair of brocaded boots entered her field of vision did she slowly lift her head.

Having not seen him for days, he appeared no different than before. If one insisted on pointing out a change, it was that his face carried an extra measure of radiant vigor.

"Little Xue seems to grow more spirited by the day. Is it the water of our State of Wu that nurtures people so?" Seeing that pair of liquid eyes gazing calmly at him, Zuoqiu Liye slowly bent down, stretching out his hand to cage her against the daybed.

"Does the monarch not know that water is flowing, and it belongs to no man nor any realm?" If there were a path to follow, it could reach anywhere.

And she was snow, ever-flowing as well.

"What a pity; your little snowflake cannot drift far."

Is that so? Hearing his words, Xue Xue's lips curved into an enigmatic smile.

Afterward, Zuoqiu Liye did not linger in Wangchen Palace. Reversing his silence of the previous few days, he instead led her away as if heading somewhere specific.

They each boarded a sedan chair, traveling for an unknown duration before the sedans finally halted. Ahead lay a pebble path too narrow for the palanquins to pass, just wide enough for two people to walk side by side, stretching endlessly into the distance with no end in sight.

The two stepped onto the path, accompanied only by four attendants while the rest remained behind to await orders.

Xue Xue scrutinized her surroundings. Enclosed by trimmed hedges that climbed along the railings, the pruned shrubbery appeared uniform and neat.

Yet, where was he taking her?

Treading upon the uneven cobblestone path, the route felt endless. Perhaps he was leading her to retrieve the holy medicine?

No, this was not Zuoqiu Liye's style; he could not possibly be so kind-hearted.

At last, the party reached their destination.

An ancient yet tasteful courtyard came into view. Above the entrance hung a plaque bearing delicate yet majestic calligraphy: *Chenxi Palace*.

This place is...

A palace, seemingly the residence of a harem consort. Yet it was different, exuding a strange combination of eerie stillness and gentle grace, its ancient aura faintly revealing the trials of changing times.

"This old servant pays respects to Your Majesty. Her Ladyship has been waiting inside for you." With a creak, the vermilion doors swung open, and an elderly maid with graying hair emerged, speaking in a mild and amiable tone.

Zuoqiu Liye stepped into the palace first, with Xue Xue following closely behind, observing this eerie compound.

The layout within the courtyard was quiet and exquisite, instantly striking to the eye.

As Xue Xue looked about, guards ahead carried something covered in white cloth past a neighboring corridor. What they bore appeared to be a human body...

The white brocade cloth was stained with patches of fresh blood.

Her gaze involuntarily followed, until a gust of wind lifted a corner of the white cloth, exposing a face to her line of sight.

A pale, lifeless face—precisely one of the consorts who had spoken to her just days before.