
Xie Ruo walked amidst the darkness alone, looking for a way out in silence. His eyes went around, filled with confusion.
Frustratingly dark and silent, Xie Ruo persisted in it until finally a few figures appeared several meters away. One of them was Xie Ran.
Xie Ran smiled, both of his hands tightly grasping the two familiar figures of Xie Ruo. The figure that Xie Ruo had longed for, yet could only see them in a short period of time and ended up in a miserable ending.
"Dad ... Mommy ...." Xie Ruo wanted to approach, but an invisible barrier blocked his way like an indestructible transparent glass.
"Xie Ruo, it's free" said Xie Ran. His smile widened while looking at his two parents who were by his side. "I told you, you'd be sorry."
Right after Xie Ran said it, two other figures appeared behind. A very familiar figure Xie Ruo. The white hair and wrinkled look did not change, adding to Xie Ruo's longing.
Just, why are they there?
"Grandpa, Grandma, why are you there?"
He could have let his father and mother go because they had a hard time, but not with his grandmother and grandfather. He must break this barrier immediately.
"If you want to come, I can help." Xie Ran remained at his charming smile, looking at Xie Ruo who was constantly trying to break the barrier.
"Xie Ran, give them back." Xie Ruo looked at the woman sharply.
"In this world there is only losing and winning. You're on time, then you win. Too late, then lose." Xie Ruo turned around followed by the two couples behind him, moving away from Xie Ruo's gaze.
"Don't ...." Xie Ruo hit the barrier hard many times. He took out the magic in his hand and forcibly damaged the barrier.
A crack appeared accompanied by silver rays, Xie Ruo raised his leg and kicked him hard. The barrier shattered like broken glass, escaping Xie Ruo from the barrier to chase after them.
He just didn't want his grandparents to follow him. Grandpa and grandmother are still alive, nothing should happen.
The focus is on five figures who are getting away. Xie Ruo's hand was trying to grab them, hoping to catch them, but the farther the distance felt each time he ran.
Until finally his father and mother disappeared in the dark as if entering something. Xie Ran turned to look at him with a smile, before finally taking the middle-aged couple away. Their gazes were full of sadness as they looked back, before disappearing into the darkness.
"No!" Xie Ruo sped up his pace and was about to enter into the darkness, yet someone pulled one of his arms along with the sound of someone calling out to him.
Xie Ruo did not hear anything, but he felt his body float up and fall into someone's embrace. At the same time, he came out of the darkness.
"I'm here, don't be afraid." Qu Xuanzi hugged him tightly. He could feel, his female body trembling violently with fear.
"What's going on?" Xie Ruo was confused. Suddenly he was in another room. He just remembered that he should have been here, his room in the imperial palace.
"Someone controls your mind" Qu Xuanzi replied. He was very surprised when he came back and saw Xie Ruo who was about to jump from the window in a state of uneasiness. This tower was so tall, he could not imagine what would happen if it was just a little late. "Just relax, as long as there's me, no one can hurt you."
"Magic charm, she put it on a black rose," muttered Xie Ruo. He was aware of one thing, someone instilled enchantment magic into his mind in full planning. In this way, he would be filled with delusions, unable to discern reality and illusions.
The thing that made Xie Ruo hesitate, the enchantment magic book was still on him, how could it fall into the hands of the enemy? Especially in there showed Xie Ran and his family.
Qu Xuanzi raised Xie Ruo's stiff body and was filled with fear. He kissed her on the forehead, then said, "Don't think of anything complicated, take a break."
Qu Xuanzi did not want Xie Ruo to the point of stress thinking about it. Xie Ruo could be easily exposed to the attacks of enchantment magic due to his unstable and thoughtful emotions. The Demon God deliberately made him an emotion, so that the effectiveness of enchantment magic can work optimally.
It's just, what's the purpose? The Demon God would not rush to kill Xie Ruo as it still required pure energy. There must be another motive.
In the end Xie Ruo nodded obediently. He leaned against the chest of Qu Xuanzi's field, as the man went to bed. Xie Ruo was still unwilling to take off the hug despite being laid down, as it would only make him very afraid.
"Sleep, I'm with you." Qu Xuanzi rubbed Xie Ruo's head gently, while hugging him warmly.
Someone dared to do something to Xie Ruo, Qu Xuanzi would look for him. He knew, the person who did that was not a Demon God, but someone else who was originally too lazy to notice. That person could only blame themselves for offending the wrong person.
"I don't know how many more people are after me. When my weakness was revealed, I was afraid they would take advantage of it." Xie Ruo sighed. This is not just within the scope of his family. Now, her pregnancy was also a more visible weakness. He's too scared.
"Previously anyone wanted to harm you too?"
"Only a servant misunderstands, using a little trick to make me angry. No need to think about it." Xie Ruo was curious, had the Demon Emperor already killed Xu Ziyan? In fact she preferred that Xu Ziyan die sooner, because the secret of her pregnancy was in that woman. It would be dangerous if it was broken.
"Although only a servant, he doesn't deserve to live." Qu Xuanzi had already intended to find the servant and kill him. Just be careful when I meet you alive.
Indeed, Qu Xuanzi and the Demon Emperor were basically not much different.
"Are you going again?" ask Xie Ruo. Qu Xuanzi was busy, where there was plenty of time to be with him at all times.
"No," Qu Xuanzi replied. He did not want to be far away from Xie Ruo anymore. What if something unwanted happens? Although Xie Ruo was strong, but what if such an incident had been repeated?
"There's no way you're going to stay with me, you're not unemployed." Xie Ruo was also not unemployed.
"I can become unemployed and continue with you," Qu Xuanzi replied clearly. After all, he had already left everything to Huo Yuzheng, Xie Ruo's second disciple. "I plan to take you back to the Upper World."
Xie Ruo nodded. At the very least, the Upper World is better than being cooped up in a tower alone. "I'm waiting for him."
...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...
The sun under the winter shines. Early in the morning, Xie Ruo had already asked for rice pudding. Luckily the chef of the imperial palace used to make it so there was no need to be so bothered.
Qu Xuanzi's existence was faint among the servants, they did not see the man everywhere but sensed an extremely powerful existence. On the other hand, Xie Ruo was always with Qu Xuanzi no matter where he was. Qu Xuanzi had his own way so only Xie Ruo could see him.
Qu Xuanzi was looking for the right time to take Xie Ruo away, not wanting anyone to question Xie Ruo's whereabouts when it suddenly disappeared. That's why he had to wait a little.
Since the class had arrived, Xie Ruo half-heartedly followed the activities. Qu Xuanzi still followed him like a ghost, and waited by the side of the room while leaning back paying attention.
This time, the Ming State Master gave material on the association of the upper class and its influences. Xie Ruo was too lazy to listen because he thought it was so insignificant. Will he stay here? Will he marry again?
Xie Ruo just played the brush with his finger, cool himself without paying attention. The problem of upper class association, he already understands. In his past life, he had followed an upper class association consisting of office mothers and business wives. Even though he was just passing by to say hello like a snot boy, he still knew what was discussed because it was needed to get information. In the end, he didn't care either.
"Do I need to do something so you can get out of class?" Qu Xuanzi could not bear to look at the frustrated-looking Xie Ruo in his eyes.
"No need." Xie Ruo immediately refused in a whispering voice. "If you act, I'll just feel sorry for the old man."
"Your Majesty, what are you doing?" The Ming State Master suddenly realized Xie Ruo was acting increasingly strange. Now he actually saw Xie Ruo who turned his head in the other direction as if he was talking to someone.
Xie Ruo made a warm-up move by twisting his 90° waist several times so that it looked strange in the eyes of the Ming Country Master. The woman just reasoned.
"Then, what do you think of the lotus feast held by Consort Su in honor of the ancestors?" The Ming State Master tested it. Consort Su was the concubine of the emperor's grandfather. Although it had been a very long time, the party was very iconic in history before Consort Su became the Queen Mother. The lazy Xie Ruo definitely did not know.
But unfortunately, Xie Ruo knew all that. Although he did not care, he had read it from the complete archive with the date and until when the party was held by inviting many young noblewomen. By the way, Wen Xi had also come for once in a while for her debut among the top.
Xie Ruo lightly replied, "Consort Su's party, did not go as it should because of my mother's arrival, should I say about this? The previous emperor liked my mother, the party ended with my mother wielding a sword, catapulting the reputation of the Xie Clan to a terrifying degree. Isn't that how it is? By the way, that day was an embarrassing day for Consort Su because her limelight had been stolen."
State Master Ming fell silent. How can he get into the details of this one? At first he only wanted to trap Xie Ruo with a lotus party whose history was changed, but who would have thought Xie Ruo exposed his secret. Did the Xie Clan tell him?
The Ming State Master was unwilling to lose and tried to suppress Xie Ruo. "That's part of the rumor, will Your Majesty easily believe it? In that case, I want to ask, what about Consort Su's Party?"
"Of course it's too extravagant, that's what made my mother wreak an accidental mess. Just because of some noble miss, the matter of being a ram. The budget of the palace suffered a drastic decrease only because of a ruined lavish feast. Instead of increasing the reputation of the empire, it left the empire on the verge of bankruptcy. Especially when the economic problem was in crisis, other palaces pressured the empire so it had to fight for a better country. Supposedly, Consort Su could look up not to use the palace budget excessively. Not because he's in control of the harem, acting at will and spending money in vain."
"You ...." The Ming State Master almost vomited blood hearing the grievance of Xie Ruo who was blatantly criticizing the Empress Dowager. It really .... "Do you know who Consort Su is? Why are you talking so recklessly?"
"Of course you know, isn't Consort Su the Queen Mother? The woman who nurtured the Emperor with a 'full heart' yet died in a miserable manner after the emperor ascended the throne?"
The Ming State Master was greatly shocked by Xie Ruo's words. Really, where does the woman know the history that has been perfectly covered? Is it because of the Ninth Princess?
"The bottom line, it is not good for someone to use too much budget for a lavish party that is meaningless. Even though it is a venue for talent selection and matchmaking, it still cannot be too luxurious, especially when the people are miserable. Just imagine, the people out there are starving while the nobles are feasting festively and luxuriously, what will the people think? In the end, the reputation of the royal family would be ruined just because of one person. Therefore, I suggest to worship the palace money, budgeting the princes and princesses normally to teach them to skimp so as not to regret later on. That much money, it would be great if used to buy good food." Thinking of food, Xie Ruo became hungry. He wants banana milk.
The Ming State Master felt a sense of hesitation in dealing with Xie Ruo's off-topic opinion. Why are you suddenly talking about a harem budget?
But even so, State Master Ming still had to side with the Queen Mother as the Emperor's mother. The woman in front of him was completely unethical and had to be taught a lesson.
Qu Xuanzi who was leaning on the side of the room only smiled. His Ruoruo knew very well how to suppress someone with words. Indirectly, Xie Ruo was insinuating all state officials.
"If the budget of the harem palace is reduced, the princes and princesses will object. All this time their lives have been nothing short of, what if this causes them shortages and massive protests?"
"Let them build their own business, itung-itung to test creativity. Not just know asking for and throwing money without effort. That is why, there must be education about business and other business opportunities, not just teaching literature and art. There are so many jobs in the world, such as doctor or healer, teacher, forge, secret agent, hunting, businessman, selling, beast conqueror, and others. So, princes and princesses are not only concerned with the throne alone, but living productively and fruitfully for everyone. If you don't want to, kill yourself instead of wasting oxygen." Like Xie Ruo for example.
The corner of the eyes of the Ming State Master twitched. He had never heard anyone dare to say such a thing about the imperial family. Even ... told them to kill themselves!
The Ming State Master coughed to melt the atmosphere. "Your Majesty, this is off topic."
"Absolutely not, are we not talking about the upper class? A healthy upper-class association is the best thing, not throwing obscure parties to make many women as whirlwinds and power-hungry."
"Your Majesty, this has crossed the line!" The Ming State Master nearly fainted from Xie Ruo's overly fluent remarks without any guilt. Really, he would not ask the woman anything more in the future. How dare Xie Ruo say that the party held by nobles makes someone pel*cur and thirst for power! The talk is so outrageous and dirty!
"Did I have a wrong word? Then, sorry." Xie Ruo did not know where his mistake was, but it seemed like his remark was very offensive to this poor old man. As a supporter of the Queen Mother who loves wealth, it is only natural that the old man is frustrated. But he just straightened out what should have been straightened out. Not harm.
"Then, Your Majesty, you want to make the entire palace frugally?"
Xie Ruo nodded. "Not frugal, not rich. I'm like that too, what's wrong?"
The office is too rich. Is it a little difficult to save? They can still eat well, unlike commoners and homeless people. It was not cruel, it taught them to build concern and improve the reputation of the empire in the eyes of the people.
"If you're afraid that someone is corrupt because they're not satisfied with their income, just kill the person. Rather than the empire bankrupt because of one man."
"Your Majesty, this is not the attitude of an empress but of a court official."
"So you're saying I'm rude and mean?" Xie Ruo looked at him cynically.
"It's not. Court officials put justice before personal interests, that's His Majesty's nature." The Ming State Master felt like he wanted to disappear right now.
"Second Miss Xie is not just a court official, but a goddess worthy of admiration."
Zhong Guofeng suddenly appeared with his resolute voice surprising the Ming State Master. The Ming State Master spontaneously knelt down, feeling relieved when the Emperor came. It was the same as saving her from that immoral woman.
"Why are you here? I'm not welcoming." Xie Ruo said coldly.
Zhong Guofeng looked at Xie Ruo for a while, then smiled. "Of course to meet my future wife, what's wrong?"
Is wrong! So wrong! Xie Ruo felt very eager to pick up that annoying mouth so as not to invite a lot of trouble. Really, he could already feel Qu Xuanzi's deteriorating mood.
Xie Ruo smelled the waves of vinegar.
"Second Miss Xie, isn't it nice of me to flatter you as a goddess? I think Miss is very reasonable. It is time for the people of the palace to frugally, forget about the glamorous lifestyle and show off, start focusing on developing the country through the people and the welfare of the people. For traitors of the state, it should not be allowed to live. They're just wasteful garbage of oxygen." Then Zhong Guofeng's gaze shifted to the Ming State Master. "Ming Country Master, it is impossible to include a filthy traitor of the country. Master must agree, too, right?"
The Ming State Master was extremely depressed. He nodded forcefully, confirming all of Zhong Guofeng's words. He must not offend this emperor.
"Then you know what to do." Zhong Guofeng lowered his smile.
The Ming State Master quickly got up and left after paying his respects. He could not risk offending imperial members, especially Zhong Guofeng. He still loves life.
Zhong Guofeng walked up to Xie Ruo, with a perfectly fluffy smile. "Have I helped enough?"
"Sorry, but not necessary."
"I remember who tricked me yesterday so I could free you, you think I don't know your little trick?" Zhong Guofeng raised his hand to touch Xie Ruo's face, yet Xie Ruo immediately went the other way.
More precisely, go towards Qu Xuanzi so that the man would not cast magic towards Zhong Guofeng. That'll create a commotion.
"Because you already know, then go." Xie Ruo had to quickly drive out Zhong Guofeng before there was a commotion.
Zhong Guofeng chuckled as he walked up to Xie Ruo. "What if I don't want to? Ruoruo, you are so evil not to let me meet my own son."
He raised his hand about to pull Xie Ruo's arm, but suddenly Xie Ruo's arm was taken first by someone who suddenly appeared. The possessive grip, until it placed Xie Ruo behind him and faced head-on with Zhong Guofeng. Qu Xuanzi could not tolerate others touching Xie Ruo, including his own clone.
"Well, it turns out that there's His Majesty the Celestial Emperor, nice to meet you." Zhong Guofeng greeted with that annoying smile.
But Qu Xuanzi's welcome, was just a cold stare and a word, "Omong is empty."
Xie Ruo peeked out from Qu Xuanzi's back. Again he felt deja vu.
He remembered that this had happened in the same location. Xie Ruo felt back in time.