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However, to Nian Sulan Pitiful, Leng Junyu seemed oblivious to her gaze. His Cold Eyes were deep and calm, like a thousand-year-old autumn pond, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.
After a long silence, Leng Junyu finally spoke softly amidst the attentive crowd.
"A child can only say, Three Thousand Weak Waters, I Only Take One Ladle. I will only take one ladle. If I have someone I like, I will naturally marry 'him'!"
Leng Junyu's voice was firm, yet the meaning behind his words was ambiguous, leaving everyone uncertain whether he had someone he liked or not.
Seeing this, the Empress Dowager felt anxious but didn't know what to say.
At that moment, Nian Sulan felt her heart turn completely cold.
Her eyes were filled with deep disappointment.
Because it was clear that even if Leng Junyu had someone he liked, that person would definitely not be her.
Otherwise, if he had any feelings for her, he could have easily accepted the Empress Dowager's suggestion. Instead, he had firmly rejected it. Was it truly a case of unrequited love?
As Nian Sulan lamented in her heart, standing behind Leng Junyu, Le Yao Yao was equally puzzled.
What did this living Yama mean by his words?!
Did he have someone he liked? Or not?!
Though unsure about that detail, one thing was certain: this living Yama was indeed a romantic at heart!
Three Thousand Weak Waters, I Only Take One Ladle. Just one ladle...
The Empress Dowager, having tested the waters regarding Leng Junyu's marriage prospects without success, lingered at West Lake for a while, enjoying some Tea Cakes before feeling fatigued.
After all, the elderly do not possess the stamina of youth. Observing this, the Queen graciously accompanied the Empress Dowager back, and upon seeing them, the Emperor also suggested returning to the palace.
Thus, the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Queen made their way back to the palace with several guards in tow.
With the departure of those prominent figures, the atmosphere in the Pavilion lightened, allowing for more open conversation among those remaining.
Dongfang Bai invited Le Yao Yao to sit down and enjoy some Tea Cakes as well.
Le Yao Yao, seeing this, felt no need to hold back. After standing for such a long time, she was indeed quite exhausted.
After savoring some Tea Cakes, Le Yao Yao proposed releasing river lanterns at West Lake. After all, their lanterns were still in their hands!
At that moment, although it was late in the evening, the annual Lotus Festival drew crowds to West Lake, bustling with activity and leaving no empty seats.
During the day, West Lake was breathtakingly beautiful.
Azure Water shimmered gently, with distant mountains stretching endlessly. Schools of fish frolicked in the water, and the lotus flowers blanketing West Lake displayed a myriad of forms, creating a breathtaking scene akin to an ink wash painting.
Although West Lake at night lacked the vibrant colors of the day, it possessed a unique charm of its own.
At this moment, the bright moon hung high in the sky, adorned by twinkling stars. The dark expanse above melded seamlessly with the earth below, indistinguishable from one another.
On the surface of the pitch-black West Lake floated delicate river lanterns.
These lanterns, lit with candles, made the lotus flowers appear as if they were blooming enchantingly in the night, truly beautiful!
Finding a good spot, Le Yao Yao picked up a candle, lit her river lantern, and immediately placed it in the water. Watching her lantern drift downstream, she clasped her hands together in sincere prayer before finally opening her eyes.
A glance to her side revealed Dongfang Bai slightly bending over to place his lantern in the water. Curiosity got the better of Le Yao Yao, prompting her to ask.
"Brother Bai, what wish did you make this year?"
Upon hearing Le Yao Yao's question, Dongfang Bai paused for a moment, then a charming smile graced his lips, radiating warmth and elegance.
However, before Dongfang Bai could respond, Nangong Junxi chimed in as if he were reading Dongfang Bai's mind.
"This is obvious; he surely wishes to find his long-lost sister!"
After all, this had been Dongfang Bai's wish for many years.
Le Yao Yao furrowed her dark eyebrows slightly, her gaze fixed intently on Dongfang Bai's face.
Although the man before her usually appeared calm and carefree, he was actually trying to hide the pain he felt inside.
Thinking of this, Le Yao Yao seemed to recall something and asked, "Have you not found your sister yet?!"
Not long ago, Dongfang Bai had mentioned to her that he had a sister who had been missing for many years, so Le Yao Yao was not unfamiliar with the matter.
However, seeing that Dongfang Bai had never given up on searching for his sister made her feel quite sympathetic towards him.
What if he never found her? Dongfang Bai would surely be very sad!
As Le Yao Yao pondered this, she noticed Dongfang Bai gently shaking his head upon hearing her question, a shadow of sorrow passing through his eyes.
Seeing Dongfang Bai's distressed expression made Le Yao Yao's heart ache. In an attempt to comfort him, she blurted out without thinking, "If only I were your sister..."
Then he wouldn’t have to search so hard.
In truth, when Le Yao Yao said this, she didn’t think much of it; after all, she knew that such coincidences were unlikely. How could she possibly be Dongfang Bai's sister?
Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished speaking, Dongfang Bai beside her was taken aback, clearly shocked by her words.
However, the moment of shock quickly passed, and he regained his composure. Yet, the look he directed at Le Yao Yao was filled with inscrutable depth.
Dongfang Bai remained silent, but Nangong Junxi, who happened to overhear Le Yao Yao's words, couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Haha, you little servant, you are so amusing! How could you possibly be Dongfang Bai's sister? His sister is a young lady, and you, you are just a eunuch! Really!"
"Hmph! I was just saying it for fun, can't I say anything at all!?"
Seeing Nangong Junxi laughing so heartily, Le Yao Yao also found her own words somewhat funny in retrospect. After all, in the eyes of the world, she was just a little eunuch; how could she be Dongfang Bai's sister!? Although Dongfang Bai knew she was a girl...
Thinking of this, Le Yao Yao felt a mix of annoyance and embarrassment on her pretty face and chased after Nangong Junxi to playfully hit him.
After a moment of surprise, Dongfang Bai simply smiled it off. After all, what are the odds of such coincidences in this world?
In contrast to the playful banter between Le Yao Yao and Nangong Junxi, Nian Sulan nearby appeared particularly quiet today.
Leng Junyu stood by the shore of West Lake, quietly admiring the scenery.
With his hands clasped behind him, the man in black blended seamlessly with the night. The evening breeze gently lifted his long hair, causing his garments to flutter and showcasing his imposing and noble demeanor.
Many men and women near West Lake couldn't help but cast sidelong glances at such an outstanding and commanding figure, filled with envy and admiration.
The man, however, remained indifferent, his handsome face still exuding a cold and aloof demeanor, which only added to his noble and commanding presence, making him seem even more like a figure that could only be admired from afar and never approached.
She gazed intently at the man beside her; he was so remarkable, the one she had admired since childhood. Yet, she knew all too well that her feelings were like flowers falling in love with a stream—unreciprocated.
Wasn’t she good enough?
She was aware of how much he adored his mother’s exquisite dancing. As a child, she had often hidden nearby to watch his mother practice, dreaming of the day when she would dance beautifully enough to capture his attention.
Now that she had returned after mastering her craft, her dance had failed to earn even a moment of his gaze.
Why was this happening?
Lost in thought, Nian Sulan felt a wave of despair wash over her.
With a soft sigh escaping her lips, she glanced over and noticed the man slightly turning his head, his gaze focused intently on something as if captivated by an amusing sight.
Curiosity piqued, Nian Sulan followed his line of sight and was instantly struck by shock when she saw the Little Servant playfully teasing the Seventh Prince not far away.
Oh my!
Could it be that her efforts were not the issue? Instead, Cousin Yu had already found someone he liked—someone who wasn’t a girl but another boy!?
The possibility left Nian Sulan's beautiful eyes wide open in disbelief, her expression betraying her incredulity.
Because she had fully recovered, the next day, Le Yao Yao woke up early. After a simple wash and getting dressed, she went to attend to the Living Yama as he prepared for his morning routine.
Once the Living Yama left for court, Le Yao Yao finished her breakfast and immediately went to clean the Elegant Breeze Pavilion.
Since the Elegant Breeze Pavilion was cleaned daily, it wasn't particularly messy.
However, Le Yao Yao still wiped down the room and swept the floor as usual.
As noon approached, the sun shone brightly, casting its alluring rays down, making the ground seem to emit wisps of Azure Smoke.
Thinking about the new Peonies in the front yard, she quickly grabbed a bucket and scoop, intending to water the flowers.
When Le Yao Yao arrived at the front yard, she found it empty.
After all, the Elegant Breeze Pavilion did not allow idle people to enter.
Currently residing in the Elegant Breeze Pavilion were only the Living Yama, Mei and Xing, and herself—just four people in total.
Every day when the Living Yama left, Mei and Xing would have different tasks and often wouldn't return for several days at a time.
Le Yao Yao enjoyed her leisurely life. At this moment, she set down the bucket and picked up the scoop to water the flowers continuously.
It was summer now, and the Peonies were blooming beautifully.
The flowers were large and vibrant, captivatingly exquisite.
As Le Yao Yao watered the flowers, she gazed at the blooming Peony and couldn't help but think of someone.
The Peony was so enchanting and vibrant, it truly resembled Nian Sulan.
With this thought in mind, Le Yao Yao set down her spoon and reached out to sniff the Peony.
However, just at that moment, the Peony suddenly transformed into a beautiful face, startling Le Yao Yao greatly.
"Ah!" she exclaimed, stepping back in surprise, nearly collapsing to the ground.
At first, she had thought it was a flower spirit!
But after her initial shock, as she looked at the woman in red standing beside the Peony, she let out a huge sigh of relief.
It turned out that this person was not a flower spirit but Miss Nian!
Today, Miss Nian wore a soft silk skirt that matched the color of the Peony.
Her long black hair was adorned with a silk flower resembling a Peony. With her exquisite features carefully made up, standing next to the Peony, one could easily mistake her for a fairy of the flower!
However, Le Yao Yao knew she was human, so after her fright subsided, she quickly patted her racing heart to calm herself.
Then, recalling something important, she hurriedly bowed to Miss Nian. After all, she understood this basic etiquette.
Seeing Le Yao Yao bowing to her, Nian Sulan smiled warmly and kindly, her demeanor slightly different from her usual charming and proud self.
"Eunuch Yao, did I scare you just now?"
"Uh, a little bit."
Upon hearing Nian Sulan's words, Le Yao Yao quickly forced a smile and said, "I truly apologize. I was too rude earlier and frightened Brother Yao."
With that, Nian Sulan's face was filled with an expression of regret.
Seeing this, Le Yao Yao hurriedly shook her hand and replied, "It's really nothing. I've been easily scared since I was young. Miss Nian, please don't take it to heart."
"Hehe, Brother Yao is quite amusing!"
Nian Sulan's lips curled into a smile upon hearing Le Yao Yao's words, her expression both subtle and charming.
That smile was beautiful, as if she had practiced it countless times in front of a mirror.
However, for some reason, despite the beauty of the woman before her and her seemingly friendly demeanor, Le Yao Yao couldn't bring herself to genuinely like her. There was an unsettling feeling that Nian Sulan was not being sincere.
But whether she was genuine or not had nothing to do with her own affairs; it seemed that Nian Sulan had come to seek the King of Hell.
With this thought in mind, Le Yao Yao felt a slight heaviness in her heart.
It seemed that this lively Yama, Tao Hua, was quite impressive, having such a beautiful woman interested in him.
While she thought this in her heart, Le Yao Yao maintained a gentle smile on her face as she spoke to Nian Sulan.
"Miss Nian, are you here to see the prince? The prince is currently attending court and isn't here right now."
Le Yao Yao thought that after saying this, Nian Sulan would surely take the hint and leave.
However, to her surprise, Nian Sulan merely smiled and replied.
"I know the prince is in court, but I'm not here to see him."
"Uh? If you're not here for the prince, then who are you looking for?"
Le Yao Yao was puzzled by Nian Sulan's words. After all, Nian Sulan had always shown great affection for the lively Yama, as if she cared for no one else but him. Now, unexpectedly, she claimed not to be looking for him. Who could she possibly be seeking?
As Le Yao Yao pondered this confusion, Nian Sulan didn't keep her in suspense any longer and directly stated,
"Eunuch Yao, I am here to see you!"
"Ah?!"
Hearing Nian Sulan's words, Le Yao Yao was truly taken aback.
After all, she had barely exchanged a few words with Nian Sulan. Today, she had deliberately come to find her, and Le Yao Yao couldn't help but wonder what it was about.
Feeling puzzled, Le Yao Yao remained silent, simply waiting for further explanation.
Noticing Le Yao Yao's surprise, Nian Sulan quickly regained her composure, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth as she got straight to the point.
"Today, I won't beat around the bush with Eunuch Yao; I'll just say it directly!"
At this point, Nian Sulan paused for a moment. Her previously cheerful demeanor shifted to one of seriousness as she looked at Le Yao Yao and spoke clearly.
"With Eunuch Yao's intelligence and wisdom, I’m sure you wouldn’t be content to be someone’s servant for life. I’ve heard about the recent flood and drought; it was Eunuch Yao who came up with a brilliant plan. And during the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration, Eunuch Yao’s two performances brought her immense joy. You’ve made significant contributions, so why would someone as talented as Eunuch Yao be willing to serve others for a lifetime?"
Upon hearing Nian Sulan's words, Le Yao Yao's delicate face fell into thought.
Nian Sulan was right; she didn’t want to be someone’s servant forever. But even if she didn’t want that, what could she do?!
Right now, she was penniless. Every time she managed to earn some silver, it seemed to slip away due to various reasons. She thought perhaps she was just having a streak of bad luck!
These were all facts, but what exactly did Nian Sulan mean by saying this?!
Le Yao Yao felt confused but didn’t immediately respond.
Standing opposite her, Nian Sulan seemed to sense her thoughts. The serious expression on her face suddenly transformed into a bright smile as she returned to her previous warm and friendly demeanor.
The speed at which she turned her face left others in the dust.
"So, if I can help Eunuch Yao get rid of his status as a servant and give him a sum of silver, I wonder if Eunuch Yao would accept?"
Nian Sulan said this with a hint of seduction in her tone.
Although her words were indeed very tempting, after all, being able to shed the identity of a eunuch was something she had always dreamed of.
Having crossed over from the twenty-first century, where she was educated to believe in equality for all, arriving here had left her feeling like a lowly servant. Even now, it still made her feel quite suffocated.
However, that was something beyond her control.
After all, her predecessor had signed a Contract of Servitude upon entering the royal residence. That contract clearly stated that even if one had the money to buy their freedom, they would have to wait three years. So, she felt quite helpless, especially since she was currently penniless!
Thus, if she could escape her status as a servant and also receive some money, it would be nothing short of perfect.
However, Le Yao Yao also understood that there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Nian Sulan's sudden visit and her kindness towards a servant she barely knew surely had some ulterior motive.
Thinking this through, Le Yao Yao fell silent for a moment before speaking up.
"Miss Nian has offered such a great temptation to this servant; I am flattered. However, I would like to know why Miss Nian is doing this?"
Free pies do not fall from the sky; they only lead to traps.
Especially since Nian Sulan had not shown herself to be a good person during the few days Le Yao Yao had spent with her.
Perhaps it was due to her fortunate birth and striking appearance, but she had never shown any kindness to the servants.
However, in front of the living Yama, she always presented herself as charming and captivating.
Thus, Le Yao Yao was not a fool; although Nian Sulan's allure was great, she did not let it cloud her judgment.
This time, Nian Sulan must have some ulterior motive for acting this way!
As Le Yao Yao pondered this, she noticed that Nian Sulan, standing across from her, seemed somewhat surprised by her calm demeanor after hearing those words.
After all, during their time together, Nian Sulan had perceived this Little Servant as carefree and simple-minded. Yet here she was, maintaining her composure in the face of such temptation.
Feeling a slight shock, Nian Sulan quickly regained her composure and wore a more sympathetic expression as she spoke.
"If we're talking about motives, I simply don't want to see someone like Eunuch Yao go to waste. With Eunuch Yao's abilities, if he were to leave the palace, he could certainly make a name for himself!"
Nian Sulan spoke with genuine emotion. Her expression showed no cracks; it remained perfect.
However, despite this, Le Yao Yao did not immediately agree.
The current situation reminded her of a television drama she had watched before. Someone like Nian Sulan would surely have an agenda unknown to her.
Was Nian Sulan trying to get her to leave the palace!?
But why?
She was in the royal residence; it shouldn't have bothered her, right?
Thinking this, Le Yao Yao felt puzzled.
However, Nian Sulan did not immediately urge Le Yao Yao to respond; she simply waited quietly for her answer.
Moreover, she was certain that with such favorable conditions offered, even a fool would understand what to do.
If she had any ulterior motives, it was merely to have this servant leave the royal residence.
After all, since last night’s probing by Aunt in the Pavilion and Cousin Yu's rejection,
she had a vague suspicion that Cousin Yu actually had someone in mind, but that person was not her; it was this Little Servant standing before her!
Though this realization seemed utterly absurd, she believed in being cautious. Anything that hindered her and Cousin Yu had to be eliminated.
Just as Nian Sulan was firmly thinking this, she was completely unaware that a figure had quietly appeared beside her shortly after her arrival.
At this moment, seeing Le Yao Yao frowning in contemplation, his handsome brows furrowed slightly. Before Le Yao Yao could say anything, he immediately spoke up sharply.
"What are you talking about?!"
His voice remained deep, but there was an unmistakable hint of anger underlying it.
Upon hearing this, both Le Yao Yao and Nian Sulan turned their heads toward the source of the voice.
Leng Junyu had appeared behind them again, though they could not tell when he had arrived.
Clearly, he had overheard most of their earlier conversation.
His unruly and proud face was now shrouded in a chilling coldness, making him look like a vengeful spirit emerging from the depths of hell at first glance.
Seeing the visibly displeased figure, Le Yao Yao instinctively shrank her neck in fear.
She thought to herself that this living embodiment of hell was truly elusive, sending shivers down her spine.
However, she hadn’t done anything wrong, so why should she be so afraid?
Moreover, most of the earlier remarks had come from Nian Sulan; she hadn’t agreed to any of it!
With that thought, Le Yao Yao felt a bit better.
In contrast to Le Yao Yao's self-soothing demeanor, Nian Sulan stood frozen in shock at Leng Junyu's sudden appearance. Her carefully made-up face lost all color.
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