After Discovering The Emperor Was A Woman… - Chapter 6

“Of course. Have I ever lied to you?”

Liu Zhuoyi’s expression did not change. He reached up and removed several leaves and twigs tangled in his sister’s hair, then noticed that the hem of her skirt was covered in mud. She looked dusty and pitiful, and his voice softened despite himself.

“No matter what happens, you still have your eldest brother. Put your mind at ease and stop dwelling on it. You were caught in the rain today, so hurry back, wash up, and get some proper rest.”

Liu Jiuning nodded.

Although she was still panicking inside, she knew she was not fighting alone. Her eldest brother had always kept his word, so she could trust him.

Although…

Even if the entire family tried their hardest, it might not make much difference. A few years ago, the most beloved daughter of a marquis outside the imperial clan had still vanished from the world just like that.

The emperor would never care what anyone else thought.

But no matter what happened, Liu Jiuning had at least struggled to survive. She would not have failed this hard-won second life.

Everyone had to die eventually. If her life truly could not be saved, she only hoped it would not be as painful as her death in her previous life.

At that thought, Liu Jiuning calmed down considerably. Lowering her eyes, she replied, “I understand. Eldest Brother, you should rest early too.”

“Young Miss, why are you covered in— Greetings, Eldest Young Master.”

Lühe stopped halfway through her sentence and bowed to Liu Zhuoyi. The maids and guards following behind her quickly did the same.

They had waited for most of the day without seeing their young mistress. Even after questioning the monks in the temple, they had received no answers.

The sky had already grown dark, and they had all been frantic with worry.

Now they had run into the eldest young master—the strictest member of the household and someone highly favored by the emperor.

They were not merely worried anymore.

They were terrified.

Liu Zhuoyi waved at the maids and guards.

He had not intended to say anything, but after remembering that Ninth Sister had saved the emperor, his expression turned cold.

“She wandered too far into the rear mountain because she was too playful and lost her way. Fortunately, she happened to encounter me. There are at least ten of you, yet you could not even keep watch over one young girl. What use are any of you? When we return, every one of you will report to my courtyard to receive the rod.”

Then he looked at Liu Jiuning.

“And you. Even when playing around, you should know your limits. You went into the rear mountain alone. Were you trying to feed yourself to the serpents? Go back and reflect properly on what you did.”

With that, he wasted no more words, swept his sleeve, and walked away.

“Young Miss.”

Cuizhu supported Liu Jiuning by the arm. Seeing her dazed and haggard expression, she assumed the eldest young master had scolded her the entire way back.

She lowered her voice and began coaxing her gently.

“Let us return to the room and change your clothes first. Eldest Young Master is only angry right now. He did not even punish you immediately. Once his anger fades tomorrow, he certainly will not hold it against you…”

Liu Jiuning nodded silently and obediently allowed Cuizhu to guide her inside.

No matter what the maid said, she nodded and cooperated with every movement, as quiet as a beautiful doll without a soul.

Seeing her like this, the maids all began talking at once, trying to cheer their mistress up.

Unfortunately, they were destined to fail.

After changing her clothes, taking a hot bath, and finishing a vegetarian meal, Liu Jiuning climbed into bed and waved for all the maids gathered in the room to leave.

Only when she was alone and every lamp had been extinguished did she release a silent sigh.

Liu Jiuning stared wide-eyed into the darkness and seriously considered whether the emperor might send a shadow guard to assassinate her.

After thinking carefully, she decided there was no need.

This emperor was not the sort of person who feared court officials or powerful clans. If she wanted to silence Liu Jiuning, she could simply draw her sword and kill her on the spot.

Why go to so much trouble?

…

Then again, the emperor had been injured at the time. One strike might not have been enough to kill her.

Perhaps she would have needed to stab her several more times.

No matter how she looked at it, the emperor had countless ways to kill her.

It was hardly the first time Li Nanchu had done such a thing either. There was truly no need to send a shadow guard in secret.

As Liu Jiuning continued thinking, she unknowingly fell asleep.

She had been drenched in the rain, dragged a person around while searching for a cave, and even attempted to cut away rotten flesh to treat a wound. Her body was thoroughly exhausted.

On top of that, she had unexpectedly discovered the emperor’s true sex. She had spent half the day tense, frightened, and worried for her life.

She had finally reached her limit.

Perhaps she was simply unusually carefree, or perhaps there was some other reason.

Either way, she slept exceptionally well.

The next time she opened her eyes, it was only because the birds outside were chirping so loudly that they forced her awake.

After such a good night’s sleep, Liu Jiuning had been in a fairly pleasant mood. She rolled over and planned to lie there a little longer.

Then she remembered everything that had happened yesterday—the dramatic events that seemed like something from a television show, novel, or dream, except they also happened to involve her life.

Her heart immediately plummeted.

She abruptly sat up, threw off the blanket, and put on her shoes.

People always said that death came for everyone, but that did not mean she wanted to die!

She still had to keep struggling. Remaining alive was the best hope of all!

Thus, Liu Jiuning decided to seek out Master Changkong.

Putting everything else aside, the old monk was the Imperial Preceptor and possessed genuine abilities. Foreseeing the future was surely one of his basic skills, and his fortune-telling was incredibly accurate.

He simply refused to speak plainly most of the time.

She only wanted to ask him one thing.

Could she survive this crisis?

At least then she would have something to hope for.

And if she could not…

Then she would eat when she wanted, drink when she wanted, and sleep when she wanted.

She would eat the most delicious food, drink the finest beverages, play to her heart’s content, and enjoy the last days of her life properly.

Once she made up her mind, she acted immediately.

Liu Jiuning called the maids inside. With everyone’s help, she washed, changed clothes, and ate a meatless breakfast before leaving with a large group of attendants.

She had not intended to bring so many people.

Unfortunately, after being reprimanded by her eldest brother, the maids and guards now had someone backing them. They refused to cooperate with even her most reasonable and well-supported demands.

Of course, before looking for the Imperial Preceptor, Liu Jiuning asked one of the senior monks she knew well. Only after learning that Master Changkong was free today and currently in his courtyard did she lead her maids and attendants there.

Before they reached Master Changkong’s courtyard, she ordered them all to remain where they were.

Her exact words were, “Too many people must not disturb the Imperial Preceptor.”

She had chosen the location quite cleverly. It was far from the courtyard, yet they could still clearly see its entrance.

The maids and guards could not object to their mistress’s words. Besides, Master Changkong always preferred peace and quiet when receiving visitors. Other nobles did not bring their attendants inside either.

They could only agree.

Having briefly regained her freedom, Liu Jiuning sighed in relief.

She saw the little monk sitting upright outside the entrance, prayer beads in hand. Seated on a meditation cushion, he was staring intently at the ground.

She walked over, intending to ask him a question.

Before she could speak, the little monk rolling the beads between his fingers spoke first.

“Amitabha. Master is inside. Benefactor Jiuning may enter as she pleases.”

Liu Jiuning did not stand on ceremony.

“I’ll go in and find him, then.”

She walked straight past the bald little monk, who was watching a line of ants carry food.

The moment she entered the courtyard, she saw Master Changkong turning over medicinal herbs laid out to dry.

She hurried forward and crouched beside the old monk. As she helped turn the half-dried herbs spread across the rough cloth, she greeted him.

“Good morning, Master!”

“Benefactor Jiuning, it is no longer morning,” Master Changkong replied with a smile, never pausing in his work.

“I know that. I just wanted to greet you.”

Liu Jiuning had no intention of circling around the subject.

The old monk was not an ordinary man. He might already know why she had come.

She cleared her throat and continued, “Actually, I came to ask you something today. You know I want to find a nunnery and live there for ten or twenty years. I’ve been terribly troubled over it lately. You have a profound affinity with Buddhism, know the past, and understand the future. Could you take a look and tell me whether I’ll succeed in settling at a nunnery?”

If she succeeded, would that not mean she survived?

After all, settling in a nunnery was not something that could be arranged in a day or two.

Besides, Liu Jiuning knew from the novel how powerful the emperor’s shadow guards were. If they wished, they could seemingly be everywhere at once.

Perhaps this very courtyard was surrounded by them right now!

Her words were not only meant for the old monk.

They were also meant for the shadow guards.

Her heart was already wholly devoted to entering a nunnery.

Considering that, could they not let her live for a few more years?

Liu Jiuning knew her thinking was far too naive and held little hope that it would work. She was merely asking the old monk in a roundabout way whether she would live long enough to reach a nunnery.

Hearing her question, Master Changkong stopped moving.

He smiled without answering and said, “Amitabha. When the time is ripe, Benefactor will naturally understand.”

…

Could he not speak normally for once instead of making her guess at profound, mysterious riddles?

It was not that Liu Jiuning was unwilling to wait.

She was afraid she would not survive long enough to reach that moment!

Thinking perhaps she had not been direct enough, she spoke again.

“Let us set that matter aside for now. Master, you also know how difficult it was for me to obtain this life. I have no great ambitions and no particular goals. I only want to eat, drink, and wait for death while happily living out the rest of my years. Lately, however, I keep feeling unwell—tightness in my chest, shortness of breath, and things like that. Do you think I need medicine? Will I still be able to live peacefully until I die of old age?”

At the same time, Li Nanchu, who was reclining against the bed while reading a scroll, turned her gaze toward the wooden window covered with a thin layer of paper.

Listening to the two voices outside, she fell into thought.