Chapter 32 - 20: The Blind-Eyed but Clear-Hearted Young Marquis
Tianmiao, a member of the clan of Fortune-tellers, has been personally verified by the Emperor, so the Crown Princess Consort naturally doesn’t dare to neglect her.
"Fort... Miss Tian, this way please." The Crown Princess Consort almost blurted out "Fortune-teller" directly, but fortunately changed her words in time. Having learned from Commandery Princess Yong’an that Fortune-tellers love good food, she had already ordered people to prepare the palace’s most popular snacks and the best tea.
Watching Tianmiao sit at the table with the Crown Princess Consort and Commandery Princess Yong’an, many people sneakily glanced over, eager to figure out what was so different about the Fortune-teller.
Tianmiao sat calmly at her seat, eating, drinking tea, and casually chatting a bit. Kong Hou, standing not far away, watched her master answering the Empress’s questions so amiably, internally shouting. She swore by the wings of Dong Xiao that her master was only being amiable because the Crown Princess Consort had prepared food and drink that suited her tastes. Otherwise, judging by her attitude towards the Emperor...
That day the Emperor had come empty-handed asking some nonsense, and her master was hardly pleased.
Commandery Princess Yong’an and the Crown Princess Consort were originally chatting happily, when they turned to Tianmiao and said: "Miss Tian, can we go together to pray when the time comes? Huh? Where’s Miss Tian?"
The people at the table then looked at each other, all with a puzzled look.
When did Tianmiao disappear? How did none of them know? When did she leave the table?
"Go and have someone look for Miss Tian, see if she went to change her clothes," instructed the Crown Princess Consort to her personal Chief Palace Maid. However, she was still somewhat bewildered; how did she not notice Miss Tian leaving the table?
Meanwhile, Tianmiao was leisurely walking by the lake in the Eastern Palace. The lake, obviously crafted with great care, was surrounded by various jagged artificial rocks arranged in an artful manner, with a small island in the middle. On Lake Heart Island, there was also a pavilion with a stone table and stone chairs, a chessboard carved into the stone table.
"Boss, what’s with Ji Liruo not slapping her away? It’s fake enough to make me wanna puke." Kong Hou muttered softly behind Tianmiao.
Tianmiao stopped in her tracks, slightly turning her head to look at Lake Heart Island, smiled, then slowly said: "Kong Hou, you don’t understand humans..."
"Huh? What does that have to do with anything? I don’t understand humans, but I can kill a lot of them," Kong Hou said with a clueless face.
Dong Xiao felt like laughing again, but decided to hold it in. Adorably silly, that was just Kong Hou’s nature.
Tianmiao didn’t hold back; she chuckled aloud, turned, and reached out to pat Kong Hou’s head. Two round dragon horns immediately appeared on Kong Hou’s forehead. She nudged the dragon horns forward, looking contently at Tianmiao’s touch.
"Kong Hou, humans are very complex creatures." Tianmiao withdrew her hand and once again looked at Lake Heart Island, her gaze turning distant, "For humans, the most painful thing is not death. But rather..."
Tianmiao didn’t finish her sentence, leaving Kong Hou feeling itchy inside, wanting to ask but not daring to.
Dong Xiao also showed a puzzled expression.
For humans, if the most painful thing isn’t death, then what could it be?
Just as Kong Hou and Dong Xiao were pondering over this, a voice came from ahead, interrupting their thoughts.
"Xiao Anning, I have something to say to you."
"Your Imperial Grandson, what is it?" Xiao Anning’s gentle voice came forth as usual.
"Go tell Grandfather Emperor that you don’t agree to this marriage." Liu Ming’s tone was commanding.
"What? Why?" asked Xiao Anning in a puzzled tone.
"Because you don’t deserve it!" Liu Ming almost shouted, his voice full of anger, disdain, contempt, and mockery, "Because you’re just a blind person!"