Chapter 479 The people from Anhua Palace, you're taking them away.

As soon as Ji Qingwu stepped in, a white jade chess piece rolled to her feet.

She bent down to pick it up and said with a smile, "So you're a master."

Master Liaoran had already suppressed his astonishment and stood up, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."

With outsiders present, Ji Qingwu was extremely courteous, and she stepped forward to stand before the emperor.

Since it was still her wedding day and she was required to wear red, she changed into a bright yellow brocade phoenix robe with red lotus embroidery and piping. The hem of her skirt swayed, and she walked with a graceful, lotus-like gait.

Ji Qingwu turned sideways, curtsied, and greeted them respectfully and gently.

"Your Majesty, may Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings."

Zhao Mingyan finally heard the Empress address him as "Your Majesty," and he smiled with satisfaction.

"Come to my side."

Ji Qingwu was wearing a skirt, so she couldn't sit cross-legged like a man; she could only kneel.

Zhao Mingyan looked at her and said, "Awu, why did you come so quickly? You're all sweaty. No one's rushing you, so take your time."

Master Liaoran, who had been waiting all morning for the emperor, silently watched as the emperor picked up a handkerchief and expertly wiped the empress's sweat, even smoothing her wind-blown hair.

Master Liaoran turned his gaze away and sighed.

Ji Qingwu walked in a hurry because she was eager to know who was coming today.

She sized up the renowned master; his appearance hadn't changed much since their last meeting in the meditation room at Hanshan Temple.

Although he practiced Buddhism while still keeping his hair, he still exuded a refined and serene aura, and was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old.

Ji Qingwu's eyes darted around. She noticed Master Liaoran's loss of composure as soon as she entered the room, and her relationship with Liang Muhui must be more than just a casual one.

Zhao Mingyan pointed to the chessboard on the table, and Li Yuzong immediately came over to tidy it up, also bringing out six plates of exquisite pastries.

Master Liaoran glanced at the pastries and was about to reach for them when the Emperor moved the plate of crab roe pastries in front of Ji Qingwu.

Zhao Mingyan smiled and said, "Try it and see if there's any difference between it and what Awu ate at Cining Palace before?"

Ji Qingwu wasn't focused on the food, but since Emperor Wusu had said so, she could only absentmindedly pick up a piece and take a small bite.

The tea was fragrant and crispy with a rich filling. Ji Qingwu nodded, narrowed his eyes, and Zhao Mingyan took a sip of tea in a good mood.

Master Liaoran really wanted to recite a few lines of the Heart Sutra to calm his mind. He said, "Why is the Emperor so stingy even with a piece of pastry?"

Zhao Mingyan said, "Because this wasn't prepared for you. If you want to eat it, have the imperial kitchen pack it up for you to take away before you leave."

Master Liaoran said, "What you eat from the Emperor will have to be returned sooner or later, so I won't take it with me."

Zhao Mingyan poured a cup of tea and placed it next to Ji Qingwu, casually saying, "You don't have to take the snacks, but you must take the people from Anhua Palace with you."

Master Liaoran and Ji Qingwu were both taken aback.

Ji Qingwu turned to look at the emperor, frowning as he said, "That's not what I meant."

She had no intention of expelling Liang Muhui from the palace. Even though this former princess had been engaged to the emperor, it was all in the past.

Zhao Mingyan grasped her hand, which was hanging down on the table, and held it tightly.

Ji Qingwu pursed her lips, glanced at him, and said nothing more.

Zhao Mingyan said, "She is a descendant of the previous dynasty. If her identity is discovered by others, you know that I will not spare her life."

"But I am at ease if you are watching over her."

Master Liaoran's palm was pressed on the table, his knuckles turning blue from the force, showing no sign of the purity and tranquility expected of a monk.

Zhao Mingyan said, "Shen Wei, you should go and see her."

*

Anhua Palace.

There is a maze at the entrance, the same kind of formation as the one in the backyard of the meditation room at Hanshan Temple.

Liang Muhui was reading a book in a rocking chair woven from vines when the courtyard gate was pushed open.

Because no one had been here for a long time, the door hinges were rusted and made a grating creaking sound.

Without looking up, she said, "Your Majesty is newly married, yet you still have time to visit me?"

Within the palace, no one but Emperor Wusu could break this formation.

Liang Muhui flipped through the book and said cheerfully, "Yan'er saw your Empress at the door last time. She is beautiful and has a good temperament. Your Majesty really got a great deal."

The newcomer walked straight up to her without saying a word. Liang Muhui frowned and said, "Excuse me, please move aside. You're blocking the light. I was just watching the scene where Zhang Sheng betrayed his beloved girl and was killed with a single blow."

The man stepped aside, and the light shone back onto Liang Muhui's face.

"Mumu, I've come to take you home."

Upon hearing this sound, Liang Muhui paused.

She got goosebumps all over her body and threw the book at the person's face.

She glared at him and shouted, "Shen Wei, are you out of your mind?! How dare you call me 'Mu Mu'? If you want to die, go find another grave, don't defile my little patch of land!"

Hearing the commotion, the maid Yan'er ran over from the backyard and grabbed Liang Muhui, who looked like she was about to explode. She then saw that the person standing in the courtyard was Shen Wei.

Yan'er said tremblingly, "Princess, please don't be angry. Getting angry will harm your health."

Liang Muhui pulled out a rusty sword from somewhere and said, "When I'm angry, I always hurt others!"

As he spoke, the sword pierced Shen Wei's waist, but did not go through.

Liang Muhui cursed again, quite regretfully.

The sword had become dull, making it difficult to stab in, and Liang Muhui's grip strength was no longer as great as when she used to cause trouble in the capital.

But blood still flowed out, quickly staining the sword red.

Liang Muhui drew her sword without hesitation and said, "Who are you trying to impress with your feigned affection, Master? Even a dog wouldn't want to watch."

Shen Wei seemed oblivious to the pain and said, "Come with me."

Liang Muhui said, "Let me guess, what's wrong with the master this time? He's not drunk or poisoned. Oh, I know."

She raised her eyebrows and said, "The Emperor has ordered people to leave. He doesn't want to keep me, this cursed lone star, any longer?"

Shen Wei said, "You are not a cursed lone star."

Seeing that he didn't deny it, Liang Muhui knew his wicked nature and knew that he definitely wouldn't come to see her unless absolutely necessary.

Liang Muhui said, "Get out of here! Don't die here."

Outside the palace walls, Ji Qingwu peeked out and saw the scene inside the courtyard. He took a breath and quickly bent down.

He whispered, "Your Majesty, the master has been struck by a sword and collapsed. Should we send someone in to save him?"

Zhao Mingyan calmly replied, "No need, it's alright."

Ji Qingwu straightened up again, peered over, and said, "Oh dear, Liang Muhui has stepped on his wound a few more times."

Zhao Mingyan said nonchalantly, "He won't die."

Ji Qingwu exclaimed in surprise, "Liang Muhui is gone. She must have gone back to her room. Your Majesty, please put me down."

The palace wall was three meters high. Ji Qingwu was really curious about what was happening inside. Just now, Zhao Mingyan volunteered to be a human ladder to carry her up to see. There were no outsiders around, so she rode on the emperor's shoulders.

But before she could even land, another person appeared by the gate.