"Is this any easier?" Yu asked with a smile.
I nodded slightly. "Yes."
Has Liu Lieyu arrived?
"Mm." You nodded gently. "You'll come with me to see him first, and then it will be the banquet."
"Okay." I was actually a little afraid to see Liu Lieyu, but I felt more at ease with You by my side.
You tightened her grip on my slightly cold hand. "Don't be afraid, I'll always be by your side."
"I'm not afraid."
The place where You met with Liu Lieyu was the outer hall where Liu Lieyu usually handled government affairs.
All the way, I kept thinking about what it would be like to see Liu Lieyu. My days in Guixu, what Liu Lieyu did to You in his past life, and how he imprisoned You's soul in this life—it all seemed like a scene of carnage.
Even the longest road eventually comes to an end. The palace where I was to meet Liu Lieyu was right in front of me. My back was covered in cold sweat, and my palms were also covered in a thin layer of sweat.
You sensed my nervousness, stopped and gently hugged me, whispering in my ear, "Don't be afraid, just keep looking at me."
"Mmm." I looked into his dark, gentle eyes and nodded gently, mentally encouraging myself.
You held my hand tightly. When the doorman saw You and me arrive, he bowed to us and opened the door.
The door slowly opened, and through the crack I saw Liu Lieyu's familiar face.
I gasped. I wanted to look at You's face right now, but I felt it would be too deliberate. It would only make Liu Lieyu think that I didn't dare to look at him because I had something to hide.
Although I was panicking inside, I maintained a calm and composed demeanor on the surface. I gave Liu Lieyu a cold glance, then looked ahead and followed You's footsteps.
Although I didn't go to see Liu Lieyu, as soon as I entered the room I felt his cold gaze, as if I were being entangled by a venomous snake.
You and I took our seats in the main seats, while Liu Lieyu sat below us.
You sat in the very center of the main hall, while Liu Lieyu sat on the left side below. I sat on You's right. I don't know if this arrangement was intentional, because with this seating arrangement, You was able to block Liu Lieyu's view for me.
Liu Lieyu spoke first, "Sun and Moon Lord or Youyuan?" I couldn't see Liu Lieyu's face, but I could hear his sinister chuckle, "Dijun? My good brother, you've really played a brilliant game."
You glanced at Liu Lieyu indifferently and said casually, "Is this how you talk to your brother?"
Liu Lieyu remained silent, and the atmosphere in the entire hall instantly plummeted to zero. I could sense that Liu Lieyu and You were secretly competing with each other.
I breathed a sigh of relief. I was glad I was sitting here. If I were sitting to You's left, I wouldn't be able to stand Liu Lieyu's gaze alone.
Since Liu Lieyu couldn't see me, I sat comfortably in the chair and started daydreaming.
The cold atmosphere in the main hall? What does that have to do with me? Am I supposed to be part of the atmosphere-setting team to lighten the mood?
The fact that the two of them didn't immediately start fighting was already a good sign of the atmosphere; I certainly didn't expect them to be having such a pleasant and harmonious conversation.
You and Liu Lieyu, these two big shots, remained silent, secretly competing with each other, while the others were even more miserable.
From my perspective, I could see several of Liu Lieyu's subordinates and Guixu's subjects, all of whom were bowing their heads, looking like ostriches.
The atmosphere in the main hall remained silent for a long time, with neither side speaking.
Just as I was lost in thought, Liu Lieyu suddenly called out to me, "This Lady Jun looks remarkably similar to my missing imperial concubine."
I was suddenly called out, completely bewildered, and internally I was screaming, "Who's your empress?! Don't call me out!"
You gently touched my hand that was resting on my knee, coming to my rescue, and said, "You must have seen wrong."
"Really?" Liu Lieyu chuckled. "It seems we really are brothers; even our taste in women is similar."
You coldly glanced at them and said sarcastically, "How could you even make your own imperial concubine disappear?"
Liu Lieyu was speechless for a moment. In front of everyone, Liu Lieyu naturally wouldn't say that I was his imperial concubine. Although everyone outside knew about this, it was really unacceptable to say it in public, especially for someone as proud as Liu Lieyu. How could he admit that his wife didn't want him?
Seeing that the atmosphere had eased a little, Liu Lieyu's ministers tried to change the subject to cover up his embarrassment.
Most of our officials are unaware of my true identity, nor are they aware of my entanglement with Liu Lieyu.
The officials from both sides exchanged some information, mostly consisting of mutual flattery and backstabbing.
After being choked by You, Liu Lieyu stopped talking.
Liu Lieyu remained silent, and You naturally didn't interrupt either. I spent the rest of the time listening to the exchange between the ministers of both sides.
I couldn't concentrate on these boring things at all, and I started to get sleepy after listening for a short while.
Just as I was drifting off to sleep, You suddenly nudged me.
I opened my eyes blankly, looked around helplessly, but no one was watching me. I then turned my head to look at You.
"We're going to the banquet in a little while."
"A banquet?" I rubbed my stomach. Finally, I could eat something and enjoy some song and dance performances. Although the song and dance performances here weren't that interesting, the pretty young ladies were much more pleasing to the eye than the bunch of stinky men in the audience.
Sure enough, not long after, one of my familiar ministers, Lord Qi, spoke up, “You have all been in my Abyss for quite some time. After this discussion, I imagine your lips are dry. We have prepared a banquet for you. Please come and take a look.”
"Good." Liu Lieyu's ministers echoed in agreement.
Immediately, a servant led You and me to our destination, while Liu Lieyu was also led by a servant from the Abyss. I had just followed You down the steps.
Suddenly, a chilling aura emanated from my right side. When I turned around, I was surprised to see Liu Lieyu!
I panicked for a moment, but quickly recovered. I gripped You's hand tightly. Wasn't Liu Lieyu on the other side? Logically, he should be walking on You's left. Why did he come to my side? He must have done it on purpose.
You noticed Liu Lieyu's change as well. You turned her head and gave Liu Lieyu a cold look, then wrapped one arm around my waist, half-embracing me.
"Don't be afraid," You whispered in my ear.
I nodded slightly and followed You step by step, trying my best to ignore Liu Lieyu on my right.
Liu Lieyu's gaze lingered on my face; I could imagine his cold, sinister look without even turning around.
"Isn't it a bit strange of you to look at your sister-in-law like that?" You Piantou's dark eyes stared coldly at Liu Lieyu.
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