Chapter 136: Interrupting Our Important Business

"So, what should I do now?" I looked at Putai with sorrowful eyes and said, "I gave my word to Senior Sister Liuying. If I break my promise to her now and leave her deeply disappointed, she will be heartbroken. Though she appears strong on the surface, she is fragile at heart. After Second Uncle left without a word, abandoning her alone in Luofu Palace, only she knows how she has endured these past three thousand years."

As I spoke, my heart ached slightly. "Over these three thousand years, because of Second Uncle’s departure, Senior Sister Liuying’s status at Lingyun Mountain has withered day by day. Even disciples who entered the palace long after her now rely on their own families' slight prestige in the Immortal Realm to constantly harass her at Luofu Palace. Especially that Lan Duo'er—she even went so far as to cut off the hair that reached Senior Sister's ankles, and she also..."

"And... she even slashed her face." I gritted my teeth and continued, "She has endured so much suffering, exhausting every ounce of her strength waiting here just for the chance to see Second Uncle again. If I go to her now and tell her that I cannot help her, that she will never see him again, Senior Sister Liuying will surely shatter. Without Second Uncle as her spiritual anchor, she might truly be destroyed."

She was already like a withered butterfly in early winter, waiting for Second Uncle’s return—it was the only hope supporting her continued existence.

"I have it."

Suddenly, Putai folded his fan and tapped it sharply against his palm. He looked at me with a smile and said, "It is actually quite simple to make Fengqiao Yexue believe what Xiao Yao says."

"You have a way?"

I had thought all was lost, but hearing this, I could not hide my excitement. I scrambled to my feet and rushed before him, grabbing his lapels and asking, "What is the solution? How can we ensure Xiao Yao finds Fengqiao Yexue as quickly as possible, and how can we make him believe her words so that he comes to Lingyun Mountain to take Fengshi Liuying away?"

Putai smiled, reached out to gently detach my hands from his lapels, and held them firmly in his own without letting go. Raising his gaze, the amusement in his peach-blossom eyes rippled like a pool of spring water. He whispered to me, "Go to Luofu Palace now and ask Fengshi Liuying for a personal item. It would be even better if you could obtain something that Fengqiao Yexue once gave her."

A personal item? Hearing Putai say this, my mind immediately went back to my first encounter with Fengshi Liuying as we were heading toward the kitchens a few days ago. I had spilled steaming hot porridge onto her plain white gown, and she had raised her hand to pull a silk handkerchief from her sleeve, though she could not bear to use it to wipe the mess. I felt certain that the handkerchief must have extraordinary meaning to her; it was highly likely that it was a keepsake from Fengqiao Yexue.

"Very well, Putai, wait here for a moment. I shall return shortly."

Without waiting for his nod of agreement, I turned and hurried out of the room, running toward Luofu Palace.

Fengshi Liuying, the thing you have longed for and obsessed over finally has a glimmer of hope. I am going to tell you the good news now—you must wait for him, wait for him to come and take you away.

Along the way, my emotions remained impossible to calm. Upon arriving at the gates of Luofu Palace, the paulownia trees were drenched by the rain, and the ground was covered in fallen leaves. A cold wind blew, scattering the leaves into the nearby pond.

Crossing the threshold, I hurried toward the room where Fengshi Liuying rested. "Senior Sister, Senior Sister Liuying, I have good news for you!"

"What good news?"

Fen Dudu ran out from the room, trotting up to me. He tilted his little head and looked at me with curious, questioning eyes.

At that moment, I was in high spirits. I leaned down, pinched his chubby cheeks, and gritted my teeth, pretending to be fierce. "These are grown-up matters; why is a little brat like you asking? While I was away, have you been taking good care of Auntie Liuying?"

"I have!" Fen Dudu nodded at me, his chubby face showing a hint of confusion. "Dudu has been taking good care of Auntie Liuying, helping her with tea and meals, but Auntie doesn't speak or eat. She just stares blankly at the sky and ignores little Dudu."

"Good, you've done well enough." I released his cheeks and reached into my robes to pull out a few delicate pastries, placing them in his small hands. I said softly, "I have some things to discuss with Auntie Liuying now. Fen Dudu, go stand guard at the door for us. Don't let anyone in to disturb our important discussion, okay?"

"Okay, okay, okay!"

Hearing that we were discussing important matters, Fen Dudu adopted a serious expression. He stuffed one pastry into his mouth and tucked the remaining two into his sleeves. He looked up and promised, "Dudu will guard the door well and won't let anyone in to disturb your important discussion with Auntie Liuying."