The emperor knew that the two of them were having a disagreement. Seeing that Nie Feiyan looked unhappy, he immediately pulled her away and whispered in her ear, "If you don't like Ye Xiao, there are many talented young men in our Scorpio Kingdom. Your father will introduce them to you one by one. Don't be upset about this." After saying that, he secretly turned his head and winked at Ye Xiao.
Having served as a subject for so many years and gained the emperor's favor, Ye Xiao naturally understood the emperor's intentions to some extent. He guessed that the emperor also intended for him to become the emperor's son-in-law, but since he and Nie Feiyan had just quarreled, he had to set an example first.
To be honest, if it were before, when Nie Feiyan was just a talented and wealthy young lady from an ordinary rich family, he would never have been so shameless as to apologize and beg her. But now that Nie Feiyan is a princess, he, as a subject, doesn't feel it's a big deal to beg for forgiveness.
Therefore, when Ye Xiao saw Nie Feiyan quietly leave her seat midway through the banquet, he quickly followed her out.
Nie Feiyan came out after hearing a message from a palace maid. When she saw a handsome palace maid outside the banquet hall, she ignored the maid's bow and quickly went up to her and asked, "How is it? Have you heard anything about Mr. Dongfang?"
Upon hearing the words "Mr. Dongfang," Ye Xiao felt as if struck by lightning. Why had he chased after them? They were asking about the illegitimate son!
The palace servant respectfully reported, "Your Highness, we have heard that Mr. Dongfang has moved to a villa in the suburbs for the time being."
Nie Feiyan: "A separate courtyard? What separate courtyard?"
The palace servant hesitated for a moment, but seeing Nie Feiyan's gaze turn sharp, she quickly replied, "Is it the legendary West Cave Villa?"
"West Cave Villa?" Before Nie Feiyan could speak, the palace maid who had sent the message to her exclaimed in surprise.
Nie Feiyan asked curiously, "Xiao Chan, have you heard of this villa?"
Xiao Chan said, "When we first entered the palace, the aunt who taught us mentioned that it was said to be the place where emperors of past dynasties practiced cultivation."
Nie Feiyan asked, somewhat puzzled, "The place where the late emperor cultivated himself?"
Xiao Chan: "That's right. Although the former emperors have abdicated, some of them possess profound spiritual energy and long lifespans, some even living for hundreds of years. After their abdication, the former emperors would go to this West Cave Villa. However, I have only heard of it and am not sure if it really exists."
Nie Feiyan exclaimed with delight, "This is it! How noble were the emperors of all dynasties? Only they were worthy of Mr. Dongfang's divine music, which seemed to have fallen from the heavens." She then asked the palace servant, "Where is the West Cave Villa?"
The palace attendant hurriedly bowed and said, "It is said that the location of the West Cave Villa was passed down orally between the late emperor and the prince who was about to ascend the throne before his abdication..."
Nie Feiyan: "So, only Father Emperor knows its location?!" Without waiting for the palace servants to reply, she returned to the main hall where the banquet was being held, completely unaware that Ye Xiao was in the corner, so angry that he was about to faint.
The emperor was genuinely surprised when she said she wanted to go to the West Cave Villa. He said, “Child, the West Cave Villa is not a place that just anyone can go to. I have been on the throne for more than thirty years, but I can count the number of times I have been there on one hand. Our ancestors left an instruction that the imperial family members should not go to the West Cave Villa without a decree.”
Nie Feiyan almost burst into tears upon hearing this.
The emperor asked, "Why did you suddenly decide to go there?"
Nie Feiyan: "I heard that after Mr. Dongfang left the Qin House, he temporarily stayed at the West Cave Villa?"
"Ah? How is that possible?" the emperor said in surprise. "I remember the Mr. Dongfang you mentioned was just a musician."
Nie Feiyan thought for a moment and said, "My royal uncle also likes his music very much. You can ask him if you don't believe me."
The emperor laughed and said, "Since you say that my uncle likes it, then of course he likes it. How could I not believe it?" He thought to himself: Not to mention my uncle, even I have my favorite musicians and dancers. This is perfectly normal.
Nie Feiyan realized that the emperor hadn't taken her words to heart at all. After thinking for a moment, she added, "Because the two sages of Xuanyuan value Mr. Dongfang so highly, my uncle also values Mr. Dongfang very much."
The emperor exclaimed in shock, "The Two Saints of Xuan Yuan?"
Nie Feiyan nodded.
The Emperor said, “I often hear my uncle mention these two saints, saying they are extremely powerful. Also, the West Cave Villa is said to be their property…”
Only he, the emperor, knew that the West Cave Villa was the place where previous emperors cultivated themselves, and that once a previous emperor entered the West Cave Villa, he was forbidden from concerning himself with worldly affairs. This "previous emperors" actually included not only the previous emperors of the Scorpion Kingdom, but also many emperors from previous dynasties and the dynasties before that, who were believed to have long since passed away.
It is said that they were able to stay at the West Cave Villa because they once possessed the Imperial Seal of the State and were imbued with the "divine energy" contained within it. However, how long they would live after entering the West Cave Villa was truly hard to say.
In any case, the oldest person he knew was Nie Bang, the founding emperor of their Scorpion Kingdom, who was nearly 350 years old. Although many of the later emperors lived in the West Cave Villa, their lifespans varied.
The emperor's grandfather and father were still alive, and he had paid them a visit during his last visit. However, it seemed that only these three were residing in the villa at that time. In other words, the other emperors who had entered the West Cave Villa had already passed away.
Nie Feiyan suddenly realized, "That's it! No wonder he went to stay at the West Cave Villa temporarily; it must have been the Second Saint's idea."
The emperor pondered and said, "I have never met the two emperors, but I have only heard my uncle mention them. I will go and ask my uncle."
He gave his uncle a wink, and the old uncle immediately understood. He pretended to have something to do and temporarily left his seat. A moment later, the emperor also went to relieve himself.
About a quarter of an hour later, the emperor and his uncle returned one after the other.
The Emperor said to Nie Feiyan, "My uncle said that judging from the attitude of the Great Sage Jiang Bai, one of the two saints, towards Mr. Dongfang, it is indeed possible that he may be temporarily moved to the West Cave Villa."
No wonder he's been sending people to inquire about Mr. Dongfang these past few days without any success. If it weren't for the fact that I regularly send gifts to the West Cave Villa, Mr. Dongfang would probably have vanished without a trace.
Nie Feiyan exclaimed with delight, "Then, may we go to the West Cave Villa to pay our respects to Mr. Dongfang?"
The emperor looked troubled and said, "Yan'er, even if you are the emperor, you are not allowed to go to the West Cave Villa without the decree of your ancestors."
Upon hearing this, Nie Feiyan immediately became saddened and said, "So, it seems I'll rarely hear Mr. Dongfang's divine songs again?!"
The emperor earnestly advised, "Yan'er, there are many musicians who can play beautiful music, why worry about it? Besides, a musician is just a musician, you shouldn't focus too much on one. You should take a look at the many sons of nobles at this banquet today. Look at them, there are many handsome and talented young men among them."
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