88 Can they meet? (1/2)

”Are they gone yet?” Zhi Shao Yao asked. There was a space underneath the passenger seat's sitting pad inside the carriage, she had been hiding inside it since before the guards took the carriage from the storage room that was located beside the Hu family's stable.

After Hu Zi and Fa Sui git out of the carriage, the palace servant took the carriage from the guards while they follow their Mistress.

The palace servant put the carriage in a place they had prepared beforehand.

When she could no longer hear the servant's footsteps, she pushed the sitting pad up. ”Xiao Yi, the coast is clear.” She signaled.

Hu Xiang Yi came out of the passenger seat right in front of Zhi Shao Yao's.

He looked up to the girl who was stretching her hand in an attempt to help him up.

Hu Xiang Yi was still very small; so she didn't plan to let him follow her, but he spotted her when she sneaked into the carriage and followed her after.

When Hu Xiang Yi put his leg out of the box-like passenger seat, he almost stumbled and fall, his movement caused the carriage to shake. Zhi Shao Yao rushed and gently caught his fall.

”Don't make a sound.” She put her index finger in front of her lips. She looked worried, wondering if her plan will go smoothly like this.

-----

The door was open and Hu Zi slowly walked inside.

Her gleaming purple eyes captivated the nobles that were chatting inside the grand hall. They stopped talking, the music stopped playing, and the whole hall fell into silence. Their eyes were on her.

”She is pretty…” Jin Lei who wore a yellow robe that night praised. ”When she is not mad, her eyes shine and charm people away.”

The green-robed crown prince, Jin Min, looked at the girl who was looking around, seemingly looking for someone. ”Who is she looking for?” he frowned as he pinched his eyes. He was shocked when he saw Hu Zi walked toward the empress. ”Royal Mother? What kind of business is she doing with Royal Mother?”

”I don't think her real goal is Royal Mother, Big Brother.” Jin Lei patted his brother's shoulder. ”Look, I think she just wanted to ask about something.”

Hu Zi looked at the empress, signaling something, the empress shook her head, indicating that she didn't know the whereabouts of the man Hu Zi was looking for either.

-----

The moon was shining brightly on his grand blue clothes. The hems of his blue robe had golden patterns embroidered. On his head, there were beautiful decorations made of feathers which surprisingly he made himself.

His already pale complexion looked even paler, his body also felt very heavy.

He had been spending his time after he went home inside the imperial library, looking for a clue that could lead him to stop this endless torture, this endless thirst.

But he didn't find any.

Wondering if his thirst could even be sated before his body grew any weaker and finally died, he left his small courtyard, opening the door and walked on the road that would lead him to the main palace.

He touched his head, feeling a bit dizzy. He didn't want to go to the banquet. But he needed to, the empress especially told him to not miss this one event.

The event was held at the same time as the winter festival near the Dragon Lake, the same lake where Hu Zi and Shou met. The banquet invited many important people, just like that time years ago, the late great general would also need to attend if he was still alive and not on a mission.