The candles in Lin'an Palace burned late into the night, but instead of receiving an imperial decree to execute them without mercy, they saw the group of people returning unharmed.
Concubine Xin excitedly rushed over to greet him: "Big Brother, when I was leaving just now, I heard the sound of fighting in Shoukang Palace. You..."
"The Emperor wanted to test my skills, and both he and I were holding back. We stopped when the time was right."
"Where are my fellow apprentices? Did you guys also fight one by one?"
The youngest one chewed some candy and said, "No, the emperor didn't even come to see us. The fruits in the side halls are delicious, much better than those in Liuyanzhai in the capital!"
Wei Shuyi called the eldest brother over and said, "Until now, I haven't asked for your name, Taoist priest. I don't know what to call you."
"Yu Pei, the Yu of having surplus food at home, the Pei of having abundant rain."
"Master Yu, what did the emperor say?" She carefully inquired about the follow-up, "Did he allow you to come to Sangyuxuan to be a palace maid, or..."
"I don't know." "Huh?"
Yu Pei scratched his hair that looked like dry grass: "Is there a place to wash up here? My head itches."
Wen Yu immediately led the way: "Everyone, please follow me. The bath water is ready."
Watching their departing backs, Wei Shuyi did not stop them.
For some reason, she felt a kinship with the Taoist priest the moment they met. Since he said he had no knowledge of the matter, it probably meant that the emperor hadn't jumped to conclusions on the spot.
"Sister Noble, what's going on? Will the Emperor let them stay in the palace?"
"It's late at night, and they need to rest. Sister Xin, please hurry back to Jiaofeng Palace! Who knows, the imperial edict might arrive early tomorrow morning."
Seeing that she couldn't get any information out of him, Xin Xuanshi sighed and did as she was told.
Wei Shuyi leaned against the door frame again, gazing at the twinkling lights of the palace next door: "Sister, you must hold on! It's almost time, I'll be able to rescue you soon!"
The next day.
Eunuch Yang personally came to Sangyuxuan to read the imperial edict: Yu Pei, as an outstanding individual, was granted a special palace by the emperor, not far from Lin'an Palace. Three other men were selected and appointed to positions in the astrology department, while the rest were released back to the capital.
"Master Yu, your palace is within the harem. Does the emperor have any other requests?"
While everyone else was hugging and saying goodbye, Wei Shuyi slowly moved to Yu Pei's side.
She still felt it wasn't worth it: why would a good man give up a part of himself just for the sake of distance?
"Follow the rules. I'll go over there to go through the process later!"
"You really don't regret it?"
He waved his hand: "Come, come closer."
Then, he quietly took off a corner of the mask!
She was shocked to see the ugly, winding scars on Yu Pei's face, still prominent, like protruding lumps of flesh. Furthermore, extremely dark spots also covered his jaw. No matter how you looked at him, he looked like the monsters often described in novels!
It’s no wonder that he covers himself with a mask and refuses to show himself to others.
Yu Pei also noticed her fleeting panic: "No matter whether you are a man or a woman, everyone loves beauty. If you had a face like mine, I'm afraid you would want to die. Reincarnation can end the pain sooner. But I don't care. As long as I can live well and finish my unfinished business, what does it matter if I have more or less pounds on my body?"
"May I ask, what is Daoist Master Yu's unfinished business..."
"Here, there it is."
The direction of his finger was exactly the location of Yiqingtai.
Wei Shuyi stared at the green smoke rising from the platform. "Could it be that there was a conflict between you and the Imperial Master?"
"I'm not as skilled as him, and thanks to him, my appearance has been ruined."
"Your face was made by the Imperial Master?!"
Yu Pei withdrew his gaze and habitually wanted to reach out and pat her shoulder, but suddenly remembered that this was in Yonghua Palace, and he took a step back awkwardly.
"My dear, don't be so naive. I was just saying it casually to tease you!"
——A new official starts with three things.
Finally, a voice different from the predictions of the Imperial Master was heard from the Astrology Department.
"A talented person is pregnant, and it's suspected to be twins. This is a blessing for the Great Zhou. How could she be an unlucky person?"
"That day, the talented Liang suddenly had a bloody discharge in Yongshou Palace, and no one asked if it was Empress Zhaoyi's fault. Instead, all the blame was placed on the talented Liang? Are people of low rank destined to endure?"
"The Imperial Master's words determined the outcome. It's hard not to wonder if there's some kind of vested interest between him and Rong Zhaoyi!"
…
They were all born in the market town, and were particularly good at spreading rumors and making people uneasy.
Yu Pei had been cleansed, his beard shaved clean, his straw hair bound by his official cap. He first arrived outside the Hall of Eternal Life and requested an audience with the emperor.
"Master Yu, the emperor wants you to come in!"
"good."
He wasn't very familiar with the rules yet, and his gestures of greeting were a little unfamiliar, but fortunately Xie Yanci didn't blame him.
"Master Yu, what do you want to say to me today?"
"The talented woman in the East Wing of Lin'an Palace is about to give birth in the next few days," he reported honestly while kneeling. "I can firmly believe that she is not an ominous person, but rather a woman of pure and kind heart. With her care, the future heir will surely become a dragon and phoenix among men."
Regarding this matter, Xie Yanci also heard the latest rumors in the palace.
On that day, it was indeed the Imperial Preceptor's sudden appearance that saved Rong Zhaoyi from punishment. If "unlucky" was truly a cover-up, then the person behind the scheme... was incredibly despicable!
"The Imperial Master once said that only by staying away from talented people can the safety of Noble Lady Yi and her daughter be guaranteed. But the reality is, Your Majesty should be able to see clearly that no one in Lin'an Palace has been harmed."
"Master Yu, the talented man... is he really being wronged?"
Yu Pei looked up at the young emperor and said, "I understand your majesty's feelings. The country and its people, passed down through the ages, must not be abandoned by evil spirits. However, the world is controlled by the emperor, not fate! She is just a concubine, not a favored concubine who brings disaster. Can she really shake the foundation of the country? If your majesty believes it, is he overestimating the words of the imperial teacher, or underestimating his own way of governing the country? I think neither is a good thing."
For a long time, his officials had responded to his iron-fisted approach with fear and obedience. Even those who had originally clung to various factions gradually became royalists.
It is also because of this that there are fewer and fewer people who can speak their true feelings and tell him the truth.
Yu Huai was one of them. When playing chess privately, they would often discuss the current situation.
But the Yu Pei in front of him is another one.
Even if it means speaking frankly and risking the emperor's wrath, you must make your words clear!
Xie Yanci inexplicably wanted to reward the concubines in Lin'an Palace: being able to find him a future loyal minister was far more important than any other flattery.
"Then according to the Taoist, what should I do?"
"The Emperor must personally dispel the rumors of the curse, open the palace gates, treat the talented woman well, and allow her... a safe birth."
The emperor keenly noticed the pause and frowned, "Why are you hesitating in the second half of the sentence?"
"My dear Lady Liang, your fortune is very poor. I'm afraid your days are numbered."
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