The First Genocide's Grudge

  "Ouch!" Lifi suddenly felt a sharp pain in her thigh, let out a cry of pain, and fell to the ground again.

  This time, although she didn't twist her waist, those legs were absolutely twisted, and the pain made her entire face scrunched up as she yelled at a nearby palace maid: "You dead girl, I told you to support me properly, when we get back I'll have someone break your arms..."

  "Poor girls... Those maidservants are so pitiful, they're going to suffer at the hands of their cruel master."

  "Hurry up and help me get up!"

  "Yes, yes, yes!" The several maidservants bustled around, helping Empress Li to her feet.

  Just as she was about to get up, Empress Li let out another cry of "Ah yo": "You wicked servants, do you want to murder me? I know that all of you want to harm me. When we return, I will have to teach you a lesson!"

  "Poor girls..." Those maids were wronged, their eyes brimming with tears, but they didn't dare to argue strongly.

  "This palace is not dead yet, why are you all crying with a funeral face? Are your father or mother dead? Hurry up and invite the imperial physician..." The angry scolding voice of Empress Li gradually faded away.

  Mei'er and Xiao Xian almost laughed their guts out. Mei'er, in a great mood, took a step to the side and said: "Xiao Xian, it's still early, why don't we go for a walk over there?"

  She didn't forget the appointment with the Western Xia king, she had to familiarize herself with the environment here, although she had all of Wu Chen'er's memories, but in these three years, it was hard to say if there were no changes.

  "Yes! Saintess!" Xiao Xian also happily followed after her.

  The two of them strolled around, naturally going to places where there were fewer people. Where there are many people, there is much gossip and trouble, and Mei'er didn't want to stir up so many problems. After today's incident, she had become the archenemy of those women in the palace, and now she didn't know how many women were waiting to tear her apart.

  Two people walked and chatted casually, arriving at a place. Although it was inside the palace, there were high walls on all sides, with only one gate that could be entered, and that gate was surprisingly black, which was vastly different from the crimson lacquered large gates in other parts of the imperial palace.

  "How strange, what kind of place is this? Why is it so quiet?" Mei'er furrowed her brow secretly. This place was quite far from the imperial palace and seemed rather eerie. Could it be that someone was being held captive here?

  Just as he was about to go in and take a look, two guards suddenly jumped out from somewhere.

  "Halt! Who are you?" The two guards gazed at Mei'er and Xiaoxian with a wary expression, their long swords already drawn and blocking the way in front of them, as if they would strike out if they dared to take another step forward.

  "How dare you! This is the Holy Maiden of Western Xia, show some respect!" a nearby fairy shouted.

  Those two guards looked at each other as soon as they heard the Western Xia Holy Girl, and knelt down on one knee: "It turns out to be the Holy Girl, I have been rude earlier! Please forgive me, Holy Girl!"

  "Ignorance is no excuse! Get up!" Mei'er didn't want to make enemies everywhere, so she pretended to be curious and said: "Two generals, I was strolling around with my maid earlier and saw that this place was a bit strange. Out of curiosity, I wanted to take a look inside. If it caused any inconvenience for the two generals, please forgive me!"

  "Your Highness, please be careful with your words! However, this is a heavily guarded area and the Emperor has already given orders that no unauthorized personnel are allowed to enter the palace. Your Highness, please return!" The two guards didn't expect the Western Xia princess not only to be beautiful but also to speak so politely, they themselves became more courteous in their response.

  "Excuse me, Generals!" Mei'er smiled coyly and turned to leave, but after taking two steps, she turned back around, seemingly very curious, and asked: "Are there people locked up in here?"

  "Uh..." The two of them, although they had a good impression of this beautiful woman in front of them, didn't dare to reveal the secret arbitrarily.

  "Since the two generals are having a hard time, then forget it! Let's just pretend I didn't ask." Mei's eyelashes drooped lightly, her face full of disappointment, making people feel apologetic and guilty for refusing her request.

  "Holy maiden, this is the Proton Temple, and it's heavily guarded inside. Anyone who enters will surely die. We didn't let you in earlier because we were afraid of hurting you!" The two of them told the truth.

  Is this the Proton Palace? This is actually the Proton Palace! Mei'er couldn't help but take a few more glances, and finally understood Shang Li Tian's intentions.

  "Fortunately, the two generals were kind-hearted. I and my maid are not familiar with the palace, so we walked and walked, and came here. It was really lucky earlier! Also fortunately, these two men came out, otherwise, she and Xiaoxian would have rashly rushed in, who knows, now they might have been shot into a beehive or chopped into eight pieces."

  After leaving there, Mei'er and Xiaoxian returned to the palace along the original road. Along the way, Mei'er's mind was thinking about the appearance of the prince's mansion just now.

  Heart thinks that Shang is arrogant enough to lock up those princes in his own palace, leaving enemies by his side. Although it's a gamble, this is also a clever move.

  Think about it, the proton palace is surrounded by high walls as high as ten feet, locking those protons inside, just like being locked in a big cage. The walls are so high and heavily guarded, with countless hidden sentries. Unless the people inside can fly or escape through the earth, they will be completely trapped and unable to escape.

  And having the hostages detained in his own palace, it would be almost impossible for people from those countries to rescue them out of the heavily guarded gates. As long as the hostages are by Shang's side, the kings of those countries will be hesitant and dare not act rashly!

  This merchant is indeed a king among men, his methods are too extreme.

  In fact, the Red Leaf Palace of the Zither Department was not far from Mei'er's place, both were in a remote area. However, Mei'er knew that if she wanted to enter the Zither Department and see the person she was looking for, it would probably take some effort.

  Days passed by, the seemingly calm Shangguo Hou Palace was already turbulent, Mei'er who couldn't find an opportunity to enter the Zizhong Palace started to get anxious.

  "Little fairy, that proton palace seems to be flawless, how can we get in?"

  "Huh?" Xiaoxian was confused by Mei'er's sudden question: "Holy Maiden, why do you want to enter the Imperial Palace?" Until now, Xiaoxian still didn't know about the agreement between Mei'er and the King of Western Xia.

  "Oh, when I left Western Xia, the King of Western Xia instructed me that after arriving here, I should find an opportunity to check on the Second Prince's situation and then tell him about it so he can be at ease. But now I'm thinking, the guards at the hostage palace are so strict, those inside can't come out and we outside can't go in, isn't that impossible to meet?"

  Xiao Xian listened and thought for a moment, then said: "Sheng Nu, actually, I heard them say that the hostages can still go out and move around during festivals, but only in the Shui Xian Garden next to the hostage palace. However, on that day, the guards there are more vigilant than usual."

  It seems that Xiaoxian's occasional outings and casual chats with those girls have been somewhat effective.

  "When will it be a holiday then?" Mei'er really didn't understand this ancient festival.

  "In a few days, I heard that the Harvest Festival here is very grand, with every household beating drums and gongs, symbolizing a good harvest in autumn. Even the Emperor has to leave the palace to worship the mountain god for the people's prosperity and the country's peace, and on this day, the hostages can also leave the hostage palace to kneel down at the Water Immortal Garden to pray for their own country."

  "So, if I want to see the Second Prince, then it must be on that day. If I miss it, I'll have to wait for several months?" Mei'er's beautiful eyes rolled around quickly as she thought rapidly in her mind.

  Xiao Xian nodded: "Yes, that day the concubines in the palace who cannot go out of the palace to pray for blessings with Sheng Shang can also come to Shui Xian Garden to pray for their families, but..."

  "But what?" Mei'er subconsciously furrowed her brow.

  "However, I've heard that this time for the Harvest Festival, Her Majesty the Empress won't be going, so all the imperial consorts will be waiting at the Gate of Imperial Audience for Your Majesty. Are you not planning to go, Your Highness?"

  "Why go there and wait for him?" Mei'er was really puzzled, it seemed that Wu Chen'er's memory didn't have these things, she really didn't understand.

  Xiao Xian rubbed her shoulders with a helpless expression: "Holy girl, the Holy One dotes on Empress Dowager alone, and usually doesn't even glance at other concubines. Some of them don't even know what she looks like. But which concubine wouldn't want to bask in the emperor's favor? The empress is ill and can't go, but when the Holy One returns, he must pass by there, so those concubines will naturally seize this opportunity to wait for him, hoping to be favored!"

  "So many people are rushing to see a man, is it interesting?" Mei'er suddenly thought of those star-chasing fans, when they saw their idol arrive, they screamed with all their might, as if they were crazy.

  I guess the scene on that day was about the same.

  "Saintly girl, all the women who entered the palace want to gain the emperor's favor. Have you never thought of gaining his favor?" Although Xiaoxian knew that Meier and Shang Litian had an irreconcilable feud, but this stalemate wasn't a solution either. They had been here for many days, and except for the day they saw Shang Litian in the grand hall, they hadn't even seen his shadow these past few days. Yet their master acted as if nothing was wrong.

  "Little fairy, do you think I should fight for favor?" Mei'er's eyes were cold and calm. To say nothing of Shang Li Tian not coming, even if he did come, she would absolutely not let him touch her body once.

  "But, Holy Maiden, if you don't go, won't that arouse suspicion?" Little Immortal was even more worried.

  Mei'er thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. She should be acting like she wants to be pampered at this point, otherwise it would be suspicious if she's too calm. After thinking for a bit, she said: "Little fairy, on that day, let's go to the Water Immortal Pool first, then we'll see."

  "Good!" Little Fairy nodded and suddenly lowered her voice: "Holy Girl, 'Spider' has crawled over again!"

  Mei'er looked out and saw that figure leaning there again, with a raised lip corner. Since she had come, she had to put on a good show.

  Then in the morning, Xiaoxian handed over a look, Xiaoxian understood, and immediately took out incense from one side, lit it up and handed it to Mei'er's hand.